WHEELING — The Wheeling Central Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame is primed to induct its 2022 class.

All of the honorees will be feted during the Maroon Knights’ sixth Hall of Fame Brunch on Saturday, Sept. 10, sponsored by the Robinson Automotive Group at the CCHS Great Hall.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for this event and are $25 per person. They can be purchased by contacting the school at 304-233-1660 or stopping by between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the month of August.

The brunch begins at 10 a.m. Doors open at 9 a.m.

The Hall of Fame inductees will also be guests and recognized at halftime festivities at the Maroon Knights’ football game against Bellaire on Friday, Sept. 9. The game will be played at Wheeling University’s Bishop Schmitt Field.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

This year’s Wheeling Central Hall of Fame class features a trio of talented hoopsters, one of whom who also distinguished himself on the football field.

DAVID CONTRAGUERRO (Class of 2003) – Wheeling Central’s rich basketball history features countless great players. David Contraguerro definitely falls into that category.

He helped to lead the Maroon Knights to state championships in 2002 and 2003. In addition, he was selected to the All-Tournament team both seasons, serving as captain as a senior.

The four-year all-stater broke the Wheeling Central as well as Ohio County all-time scoring records. He was a two-time first-team All-Valley and All-OVAC honoree, tabbed captain during his senior campaign.

Contraguerro was accorded McDonald All-American honors in 2003. That same year he was chosen the West Virginia Player-of-the -Year and the state’s Gatorade Player-of-the-Year.

The talented hoopster garnered several of player-of-the-week honors, being cited by the Elks and WTRF. He was also presented the 2003 Terry Hawkins Sportsmanship Award.

The four-time Who’s Who Award recipient finished his prep career by playing in the OVAC Sam Mumley All-Star Game.

He is currently co-owner of the Flooring Center in Wheeling.

RICKY YAHN (Class of 2002) – Yahn was another standout hoopster in a long line of basketball standouts at Wheeling Central. He was co-captain of the 2002 Maroon Knight state championship team which also claimed the OVAC 2A crown.

Yahn garnered first-team All-State, All-OVAC and All-Valley honors as a senior. He was also tabbed to the All-State Tournament Class A Team. A year prior, he was named honorable mention All-State and All-OVAC.

Yahn was accorded a very prestigious honor in 2013 as he was chosen as one of the “100 Greatest Basketball Players” to compete in the 100-year history of the West Virginia Boys’ Basketball State Tournament.

He concluded his prep career by being selected for the OVAC and West Virginia North/South All-Star games.

Yahn’s hoop career didn’t end when he picked up his Wheeling Central diploma. Far from it, as he scripted a stellar career at Wheeling Jesuit University.

The three-year Cardinal starter help to lead Jesuit to 80 wins in his four campaigns. The Cards were the WVIAC tourney champs, while advancing to the NCAA D-II National Tournament. Both marked firsts in school hoop annals.

Yahn was first-team All-WVIAC selection as a senior, a year after garnering honorable mention accolades. He was also a 2005 WVIAC All-Tournament selection.

Yahn ended his illustrious Jesuit career with 1,467 points (eighth most at the time and currently still 13th). He holds the school record with 282 three-point goals. He also has the second most productive game in school annals with a 45-point outburst.

Yahn has also enjoyed a successful coaching career, serving on the staffs at George Mason, Cornell and Longwood. He is currently the head coach and assistant athletic director at Concordia University.

CLAYTON FITZSIMMONS (Class of 2001) – Just as Contraguerro and Yahn excelled on the hardwood, so did Fitzsimmons. He also, however, was a gridiron star for the Maroon Knights.

The two-way stalwart helped carry Wheeling Central to the 2000 football state championship, being named the title game’s MVP after finding the end zone four times. During that state championship season, the elusive running back tallied an amazing 34 touchdowns.

His outstanding senior campaign vaulted him onto the Kennedy Award nominee list, emblematic of the state’s premier football player. The Maroon grid captain, who also excelled in the Knight secondary, was named first-team All-OVAC, All-Valley and All-State in both his junior and senior seasons.

Fitzsimmons was also a standout in basketball during his prep days at the East Wheeling school.

The savvy guard garnered first-team All-OVAC honors as both a junior and senior. He was a first-team All-Valley selection as a junior and second as a senior, a campaign in which he filled the role as the Maroon captain.

Fitzsimmons was a three-time special mention all-state honoree.

After his illustrious prep career, Fitzsimmons matriculated to the Ivy League. He was a four-year performer for Cornell, lettering his final two seasons as a wide receiver.

Fitzsimmons is a practicing attorney with his father and brother in the Fitzsimmons law firm.

Next week, another group of Hall of Fame candidates will be announced.