By: Brayton Boggs
Every March, sports fans gather in Charleston to watch the state high school basketball championships. These competitions are the culmination of the winter sports season in West Virginia.
This year, the girls competed from March 11th-15th while the boys played from March 18th-22nd. In each tournament, thirty-two teams across four classifications vied for a state title. The Charleston Coliseum was the venue with nearby hotels providing accommodations for the teams throughout the week.
State tournament week is a memorable experience for all involved. Players, coaches, officials, and fanatics can enjoy the matchups while watching some of the state’s best athletes on display.
Braeden McGrew, a former Wesleyan basketball player, was one of those talented athletes who competed in the state tournament for Winfield High School in 2018.
“Growing up, playing in the civic center was always a dream. Making this dream a reality with my teammates was surreal and truly unforgettable,” McGrew said. “I have played many games in my life, but very few stick out as much as our state tournament run. The community support and overall atmosphere was amazing.”
While the tournament has been held in Charleston since 1972*, the origin story can be traced back over a century to West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Seeing an opportunity to advertise the new gymnasium, an innovative student named Harry Stansbury engineered the first “tournament” in 1914. Only two teams competed with Elkins High School being crowned champion, but this was only the beginning**.
Just two years later, twenty-five teams from across the state were welcomed to Buckhannon. President Wallace Fleming added to the fun by creating a “rooting club” competition where the most enthusiastic fans would receive a trophy for their school***. Today, the WSAZ news channel chooses a “Student Section of the Week” in a similar contest.
Wesleyan students were deeply involved, as well. Exams were postponed as each team was assigned students to care for their well-being, which included transportation and meal delivery****.
Paula McGrew, the college historian, highlights the dedication of those involved in organizing the tournament.
“Judging by the fact that there was a planning committee of faculty and students, it is fair to say that the tournament was a big deal for both high school basketball and the college. The event was a revenue enhancer as well as a recruiting tool,” McGrew said. “I think that this was an early indicator that Wesleyan was interested in the region and the state and not just focused on itself.”
The tournament ran smoothly for over ten years. In 1926, however, issues were raised over lackluster hotels and the fact that thirty-two teams were forced to play the games in just two days*****. By 1939, the tournament had outgrown Stansbury’s original vision, and it was temporarily moved to Morgantown until permanently settling in Charleston.
What started as a promotional event has transformed into a tournament that basketball enthusiasts circle on their calendars every year. Whoever says that West Virginia Wesleyan isn’t a sports school is dead wrong!
** https://wvswa.org/index461.htm
***https://pagesintime.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p271901coll13/id/5611/rec/1
****https://pagesintime.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p271901coll13/id/7269/rec/1
*****https://pagesintime.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p271901coll13/id/6185/rec/1
Picture: Logo for the WV State High School Basketball Tournaments sponsored by the WV Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) and Chick-fil-A
THE PHAROS 
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