For fans of Harrison Central athletics, the outside accolades for the Huskies just keeps getting better and better! Earlier this week the names of the athletes who were named as “All-Valley” were released. Among those that were identified as such, no less than eleven Huskies were honored as included. This 2023-24 Class of the All-Valley Athletes contained a total of 354 athletes coming from 25 of the Ohio Valley Schools. That total number of athletes selected included in the recognition process includes both boys and girls.
The breakdown of the number of athletes selected, along with the sport of honor is: Wrestling, 39 students; Small School Football, 73; Big School Football, 66; Cross Country, 10; Girls’ Volleyball, 12; Girls’ Basketball, 30; Boys’ Basketball, 30; Golf, 14; Swimming, 14; Girls’ Soccer, 33; and Boys’ Soccer, 33.
The schools represented in the selection process are Harrison Central, Oak Glen, Brooke, Magnolia, Barnesville, Wheeling Park, Wheeling Catholic Central, Toronto, Union Local, Shadyside, Bellaire, Cameron, St. Clairsville, Steubenville, Linsly, Buckeye Local, Martins Ferry, Edison, Valley, Monroe Central, John Marshall, Weir, Steubenville Catholic Central, and Beallsville.
As listed, those Harrison Central athletes and their honor level is as follows:
Angi Ferri – Basketball (Honorable Mention); Hayden Cassidy – Football/Basketball (Honorable Mention); Mykel Quito – Football (Big School Football 1st Team); Lucas Thomas – Football/Wrestling (1st Team Big School Football and Wrestling); Parker Hutton – Football (Big School Football 1st Team); Cam McAfee – Football (Big School Football 1st Team); Landen Thomas – Football/Wrestling (Honorable Mention/1st Team); Brady Hyre – Football (Big School Football Honorable Mention); Kaily Banal – Golf (1st Team); Kat Carman – Soccer (Honorable Mention), and Jaydis Yoho – Soccer (Honorable Mention).
Some individual stats released and listed in the 1st Team Big School Football Honors are:
-Mykel Quito, a junior at Harrison, used 217 carries to accumulate 1,451 yards, and scored 22 touchdowns. He was recognized as 1st Team Eastern District and was named Division V All-Ohio with 3rd Team Honors.
-Lucas Thomas, a senior at Harrison, recorded 33 career starts and had 49 tackles. Nine of his tackles went for losses and he also registered three sacks. He was Division V 2nd Team and All-State Offense Ohio.
– Parker Hutton, a senior at Harrison, broke several receiving records in Husky Football. He would finish the 2023 season with a total of 729 yards off 49 grabs. Within those 49 catches he would total 14 touchdowns. On defense he would register 70 tackles and pick the offenses for five interceptions.
-Cam McAfee, a junior, picked the competition for a total of nine takeaways. He created four forced fumbles, and recovered two, while punishing the opposition with 84 tackles. On offense he was able to average a 44-yard return average off a couple kick-off returns.
Some stats noted and listed in the 1st Team Wrestling individually are:
-Lucas Thomas won the OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament in the 215-pound class. He was runner-up the Ohio Division III State Tournament. That runner-up status is the consecutive time for Thomas. His skills helped him to an athletic/academic career at Clarion University.
-Landon Thomas was the Ohio Division III State Tournament runner-up. He would also place 2nd in the Ron Mauck tournament. He would claim the championship in both the sectional and district meets.
