Local Sports

Randolph County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony set

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Randolph County Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be Saturday at the Gandy Dancer Theater. The Inter-Mountain will be running profiles and photos of this year’s class in the days leading up to the ceremony.

The 1970-1971 Tygarts Valley Bulldogs delivered one of the most memorable seasons in school history, finishing with an outstanding 21-4 record. They started the season with six straight wins and finished the season winning 13 of the final 14 games earning a reputation as one of the toughest Class A teams in the region.

The Bulldogs lost to only one Class A opponent all year, Parsons, whom they later defeated in a second matchup -- showcasing their resilience and ability to rise to the moment.

Their only other regular-season setbacks came against strong Class AA programs, Pocahontas County and Webster Springs, both of whom the Bulldogs also avenged in later contests. Throughout the season, TV HSdemonstrated discipline, teamwork and a competitive spirit that made them a force across northern West Virginia.

In sectional tournament play, the Bulldogs powered past Parsons, Mountaineer, nd Union, earning their place among the elite. They continued their run in the regional tournament, defeating Tunnelton before falling to Piedmont--at a time when only four regional champions advanced to the state tournament, making their postseason achievements even more significant.

The team featured a balanced and dynamic scoring attack led by:

· Dante Reda - 490 points

· Randy Phillips - 437 points

· Bob Henline - 229 points

· Tom Wamsley - 192 points

· John Hughes - 137 points

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Penny Crawford began her teaching career in 1972 at Elkins Junior High School. In 1974, she found herself at Elkins High School as a teacher of physical education and health. It was here she became an advocate for girls' sports.

She began her coaching career in 1974 rekindling the girls' basketball program. Her first season of the new basketball program consisted of only two games. In 1975, the program schedule moved to a full 16 game schedule. As the basketball season came to an end, she became the first head coach for the initial girls track and field team in1975. She held this position until the 1980 season. The cheer squad called in 1976 and Crawford also became the cheer squad advisor. She held that position until 1984.

After taking a few years off, she again began to coach. In 1995, Elkins High School began a program of girls' volleyball with Crawford as the head coach. The squad became the NCAC sectional champions in 2001 and Crawford was honored as the NCAC Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2001. In 2001, she also found EHS standout, Amber Kiess, who was named NCAC Volleyball Player of the Year.

In 2005, the WVSSAC selected Crawford as the State of West Virginia Volleyball Coach of the Year. Tiger player Kayla Smith was selected to the All-State Volleyball team that same year. In 2007, Crawford retired from teaching and coaching to rest and recover, only to return to the volleyball bench for the 2009 season. After taking this short time off, Crawford rejoined the volleyball team as head coach, continuing in this position until 2023. During the 2009 -2023, along with everything else, Crawford served on the West Virginia state volleyball rules committee.

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As a graduate of Elkins High School in 1976, Tim Hornick played both football and baseball. Voted to the first defensive team by the coaches of the Big 10 were Elkins co-captains Jeff Severino at a defensive back position and defensive end Tim Hornick their senior year.

He was also the recipient of Honorable Mention honors on the AAA All-State Football team along with teammates John Zizzi and John Yeager. His excellence in punting the ball led Hornick to be voted All-Big 10 punter honorable mention with a 70- yard punt against Notre Dame in 1975.

During his baseball career, Tim excelled as a defensive catcher as well as having the second highest batting average with a .412 mark and finished second in RBI production for the team. He was voted second team All-Big 10 in 1975 and then first team All-Big 10 in 1976 as a catcher- having a .400 batting average. Tim was a powerful left-handed hitter.