School type Public, High School Principal Doug Ward | Established 1910 Superintendent Randy Keathley Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 | |
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Williamson High School (WHS) was a public high school in Williamson, West Virginia. It closed in June 2011.
Contents
History
Williamson High School graduated its first class in 1910. During its existence, the school was housed in three different buildings. Chattaroy High School merged into Williamson in 1963 while Liberty High School merged into WHS in 1966.
On June 7, 2011, Williamson High School closed its doors forever. The final bell rang at 2:43pm EST. In August 2011, the 101-year-old school was consolidated with Gilbert, Matewan and Burch High Schools to form the newly established Mingo Central High School. MCHS was constructed 25 miles south of Williamson at a height of 1,940 feet, on top of a reclaimed surface mining site in Newtown, WV (approx. 7 miles south of Matewan).
Fight Song
The Fight Song of Williamson High School is adapted from West Virginia University's "Hail West Virginia". It was most commonly played, or sung, at Williamson High School sporting events.
"It's Williamson High School, It's Williamson High School, We're Proud of Every Student Here!
Come on you Old Grads, Join With Us Young Lads, It's Williamson High School Now We Cheer, Rah Rah!
Now Is the Time, Boys, To Make a Big Noise, No Matter What the People Say
For There is None to Fear, the Gang's All Here, So Hail To Williamson High School, Hail! W-O-L-F-P-A-C-K, Wolfpack, Wolfpack, All the Way!"
Sports
Williamson High School excelled when it came to Athletics, WHS owned 13 State Titles over its 101 Year History.
Boys' Basketball - 1964(AA), 1983(AA), 1986(AA), 1988(AA), 1989(AA), 2001(A)
Football - 1926, 1944, 1960(AA), 1961(AA)
Baseball - 1948, 1965 (AAA)
Cheerleading - 1995(A)
Baseball
WHS owned two West Virginia State Baseball Titles.
1948-Vs. Charles Town
Class "AAA"
1965-Vs. Parkersburg High School
Boys Basketball
WHS was home to one of West Virginia's most successful high school basketball programs, including six state championships. Williamson High School was the last public high school to win a State Championship in West Virginia's Class "A" division (2001) until nearby Tug Valley High School captured the Class "A" Title in 2013. WHS was the only WV school to compete in championship games in each class (A,AA,& AAA). On March 16, 2011, the Wolfpack played the final basketball game in school history, against the Charleston Catholic High School Irish, in the first round of the Class A State Tournament. Williamson led at halftime, 22–18, but eventually lost 45–32.
Williamson's overall record was: 1,272–722–2 (1,996 games played).
Coaches
John Martin [1918–1919]----(3–2)-(60%)
James Dotson [1920-1920]----(7–9–1)-
Everett Howton [1920–1923]----(17–17)-(50%)
Frank Wolf [1923–1928]----(44–36–1)-
Carlton Schafer [1928–1933]----(70–38)-(64.8%)
Ellis Johnson [1933–1935]----(29–7)-(80.5%)
Len Priode [1935]----(7–5)-(58.3%)
Ben Hamilton [1935–1939]----(73–31)-(70.2%)
Tony Gentile [1939–1960]----(229–160)-(58.9%)
Ben Hamilton [1960–1961]----(20–6)-(76.9%)
George Ritchie [1961–1977]----(268–94)-(74.0%)
Allan Hatcher [1977–1983]----(103–36)-(74.1%)
David Hatfield [1983–1999]----(271–129)-(67.7%)
Curt Fletcher [1999–2011]----(130–152)-(46.1%)
Post-Season Records
In the post-season, Williamson holds 45 Sectional Titles, the most among Mingo County schools.
Williamson High School has reached:
Quarter Finals-26 Times
Semi Finals-15 Times
Runner-Up-4 Times
State Champions-6 Times
State Tournament Appearances
Class "A"
1924 (Bluefield Tournament) Defeated Athens High School (23–3), Defeated Gary High School (12–8), Lost to Bluefield High School (6–25).
1927 Defeated Duval High School (41–7), Defeated Huntington High School (21–19), Defeated Point Pleasant High School (19–15), Lost to Ceredo-Kenova High School (11–25).
1930
1934
1938
1950 (Lost in Quarter-Finals Vs. Wheeling High School (??-?? FINAL)
1999 (Lost in Quarter-Finals) Vs. Parkersburg Catholic High School (??-?? FINAL)
2001 (State Title) Vs. Oceana High School (59–49 FINAL)
2002
2004
2011 (Lost in Quarter-Finals) Vs. Charleston Catholic High School (32–45 FINAL)
Class "AA"
1964 (State Title) Vs. Magnolia High School (80–68 FINAL)
1983 (State Title) Vs. Northfork High School (66–60 FINAL)
1985 (Lost in Semi-Finals) Vs. Dunbar High School (57–64)
1986 (State Title) Vs. Wheeling Central Catholic High School (48–46 FINAL)
1987 (Lost In Semi-Finals) Vs. Huntington Vinson High School (70-71 FINAL)
1988 (State Title) Vs. St. Mary's High School (68–44 FINAL)
1989 (State Title) Vs. Wheeling Central Catholic High School (74–65 FINAL)
1990 (Lost in Quarter-Finals) Vs. Wheeling Central Catholic High School (60–75 FINAL)
1991 (Lost in Semi-Finals) Vs. Wheeling Central Catholic High School (54-57 FINAL)
1992 (State Runner-Up) Vs. Greenbrier West High School (70–74 FINAL)
1993 (Lost in Quarter-Finals) Vs. Tolsia High School (74–76 FINAL in 2OT)
1995 (Lost in Semi-Finals) Vs. Bluefield High School (51-54 FINAL)
1996 (State Runner-Up) Vs. Bluefield High School (52–77 FINAL)
Class "AAA"
1965 (State Runner-Up) Vs. Woodrow Wilson High School (67–69 FINAL)
1981 (State Runner-Up) Vs. Princeton High School (47–51 FINAL)
Girls Basketball
The Williamson High School girls basketball program saw several highlights through its history. Uniquely, the team went by several different names throughout the years including; Wolfettes, Lady Wolves, and Lady Wolfpack. Coach Vivian Elkins led the team to the schools' first ever State Tournament appearance in 1978 (Class "AAA"). The following year, W.L. Bostic guided the WHS squad back to the Class "AAA" State Tournament in 1979. Coach Jack New took the 1985 squad to the Class "AA" State Tournament and the final appearance came for the girls team in the 1996 season under the direction of Venita Lee. The girls basketball team played games at the old "Cracker Box Gym" at the original Williamson High School, the newer "Rainbow Gym" at the final WHS Building and at the Williamson Field House. The unofficial all-time record of WHS Girls' Basketball is: (323-426-2), .431% thru 751 Games Played.
Coaches
Lillian Johnson-[1917-1920]----(Unknown)
Esther Henderson-[1920-1923]----(7-8-1)
Mary Turkovich-[1923-1925]----(4-10)
Anne Roberts-[1925-1927]----(Unknown)
Roena Devall-[1927-1928]----(6-7-1)
Virginia Laird=[1928-1929]----(3-6)
No Team from 1929-1937
Interclass Basketball in 1937-1938
No Team from 1939-1972
Vivan Elkins-[1973-1974]----(8-0)
Don Gilman-[1974-1976]-(12-4)
George Ritchie-[1976-1977]-(13-5)
Vivian Elkins-[1977-1979]-(35-7)
W.L. Bostic-[1979-1980]-(16-7)
Jack New-[1980-1988]-(90-73)
No Team 1988-1989 Season
Venita Lee-[1989-1997]-(49-94)
Okey Smith-[1997-2001]-(20-54)
No Team 2002-2003 Season
Greg Miller-[2003-2008]-(30-77)
Robin Porter-[2008-2011]-(26-45)
Overall Record-[323-426-2)-.431%
State Tournament Appearances
Class "AAA"
1978
1979
Class "AA"
1985
1996
Football
On Friday, November 5, 2010, Williamson High School played its final football game ever at Lefty Hamilton Park against the Valley (Fayette) High School Greyhounds.
The game was broadcast live over local radio stations, something that hadn't been done in several years.
The final score was Williamson-34 Valley (Fayette)-12 The Wolfpack's overall football record came to rest at: 426–408–28
Coaches
Everett Howton-[1921–1922]----(7–4)
Frank Wolf-[1923–1927]----(37–10–1)
Carlton Schafer-[1928–1932]----(23–20–2)
Ellis Johnson-[1933–1934]----(5–10–1)
Ben Hamilton-[1935–1938]----(28–43)
Tony Gentile-[1939–1941]----(17–9–1)
Carlos Ratliff-[1942]----(2–3–2)
Marvin Varney-[1943–1944]----(19–1)
Tony Gentile-[1945–1951]----(50–32–7)
Harry Hatfield-[1952–1954]----(9–15–2)
John Moricle-[1955–1969]----(82–65–3)
Dick Roddy-[1970–1974]----(12–32–5)
Mike Bankston-[1975–1980]----(20–40)
Tim Adams-[1981–1984]----(6–34)
Dave Hatfield-[1985]----(2–8)
Tim Adams-[1986–1987]----(6–14)
Steve Cantees-[1988–1989]----(8–12)
Greg Smith-[1990–1994]----(25–25)
Tony Clusky-[1995–2004]----(60–48)
Curt Fletcher-[2005]----(1–9)
Doug Ward-[2006–2010]----(22–28)
Postseason
Williamson High School had 11 playoff berths in the following years including 4 State Championships:
1926-State Title-(11–0)-Defeated Magnolia High School (14–13 FINAL)
1944-State Title-(10–0)-(The WV Sports Writers Association named State Football Champions from 1937 to 1946)
Class "AA"
1960-State Title-(9–1–1)-(Co-Champions)-Tied Mount Hope High School (7–7 FINAL)
1961-State Title-(9–2)-Defeated Mount Hope High School (20–13 FINAL)
Class "A"
1990–1st Round-(8–3)-Defeated by Cameron High School (0–6 FINAL)
1992–1st Round-(6–5)-Defeated by Wirt County High School (7–13 FINAL)
1998–1st Round-(6–5)-Defeated by Moorefield High School (6–64 FINAL)
1999–1st Round-(7–4)-Defeated by Fayetteville High School (20–56 FINAL)
2000-State Quarterfinals-(9–3)-Defeated Parkersburg Catholic High School (20–0 FINAL), Defeated by Cameron High School (0–26 FINAL)
2001-State Semi-Finals-(11–2)-Defeated Valley (Fayette) High School (40–18 FINAL), Defeated Mount Hope High School (46–20 FINAL), Defeated by Wheeling Central Catholic High School (36–14 FINAL)
2002–1st Round-(8–3)-Defeated by Meadow Bridge High School (22–28 FINAL)