Ten inductees honored at 2024 MOV Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet

VIENNA, W.Va. (WTAP) – Saturday night was a special night for sports in the Mid-Ohio Valley with the 26th Annual Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet taking place at the Grand Pointe Conference and Reception Center.

Ten inductees were honored in this year’s class and they included Jim Wharton, Fred Sauro, Tim Phillips, Rod O’Donnell, Megan McAuley, Bryan Canterbury, Michael Cox, Janet Frazier, Dugan Hill, and David Mossor.

Jim Wharton was the WTAP Sports Director from 1984 to 2021 and won awards in West Virginia and Ohio.

He is grateful to be inducted in this year’s class alongside all these successful people.

“It really helps bring back memories of all the years that I worked at the station, all the athletes and coaches that I covered,” said Wharton. “And to think that I’m going to be in such great company, especially with the group that’s going in tonight. It’s humbling to be included in this and I’m really thankful and grateful of the Hall of Fame committee.”

Now retired Williamstown girls basketball coach Fred Sauro is the all-time winningest girls basketball coach in West Virginia, and is fresh off leading his team to another state championship game.

He talks about his fondest memory of his coaching career at Williamstown.

“I think the fondest memory has to be us winning the 2003 state championship,” says Sauro. “We had a super team and pursued our goals all the way. And those kids definitely made an impact and won the state championship going away.”

Tim Phillips was a very accomplished swimmer at Parkersburg High School and also at Ohio State. He later went on to swim for Team USA.

He points to winning relays his first two years at PHS as one of his biggest memories of his high school career.

“I had a great career,” Phillips said. “A lot of it was done at PHS and I think some of the things that I really think back to was my freshman and sophomore year. We won relays and just being able to celebrate those championships. We had with a team environment.”

Rod O’Donnell coached at Belpre for cross country and track and he is a Coach of the Year in Ohio and West Virginia. He currently coaches track and field at Parkersburg.

One of his biggest memories of his coaching career is seeing his athletes leave school to live successful lives.

“Well that’s pretty hard to pick out because we’ve had a lot of great ones,” O’Donnell says. “I think seeing kids go on after their done and be successful in their life. I know a lot of people say that, but I just am so proud of so many of our guys, the friendships we’ve made, and the support I’ve received everywhere I’ve been is all very, very special.”

Megan McAuley played four sports at Marietta High School. She was a 1,000-point scorer in basketball, set records as a runner, and was a soccer player.

She is very happy she was given the chance to compete in four different sports at Marietta.

“Honestly, I think it was just really special that Marietta was a place where I could be a four-sport athlete,” said McAuley. “That’s not an opportunity that a lot of athletes have, especially now these days when kids are being encouraged to play one sport year-round. So, I think just having the opportunity to be able to do that and be encouraged to do that.”

Michael Cox was a football player and track and field runner for the St. Marys Blue Devils. He was a two-time all stater on the gridiron.

Active Ritchie County softball coach David Mossor is in his 41st season with the Rebels and is a 24-time conference champion.

H. Dugan Hill was an all-state runner for Caldwell High School and won a state championship in 1973.

Ravenswood’s Bryan Canterbury won eight consecutive state championships in cross country from 2000 to 2008.

Janet Frazier was a player and coach at Wirt County. She played basketball and volleyball and led the volleyball team to 11 championships as coach.

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