Paden City Asks SSAC to Play in State Tourney

Wildcats can only participate if they return to school

PADEN CITY -- The Paden City volleyball team has asked the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission for permission to participate in this week's Class A State Tournament in Charleston.

The Wildcats, along with Valley and Magnolia, were forced to forfeit in last week's Region One, Section One Tournament after the Wetzel County Schools went to remote learning.

"We were told by the SSAC that it is in the hands of Wetzel County Schools and that we have to be in school to play," Paden City coach Yeater said. "It's been a county effort to try to email and call the SSAC and even Governor Justice. The biggest thing to him is that he has set up these guidelines and there is a county not following them. We've talked to the health department, Wetzel County Board members and we've spent hours trying to get answers. We can't say we didn't give it a good fight. We tried hard for the whole county."

Paden City lost in last year's state championship to Wirt County and was looking to get over that hump this year.

"Other counties are trying to get to gold (on the state's color-coded map) so that they can play and we are already gold and we are fighting to play," Yeater said. "First and foremost they are student athletes who are being denied a classroom setting and having extra curricular activities stripped away from them when we have been following the guidelines."

The Wildcats still have no players on the roster who have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Our kids can't get these memories back," Yeater said. "These are actions that will not only impact their today but the rest of their lives."