WHEELING – Union Local won a program-record nine football games last fall, going 1-1 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Division V, Region 19 playoffs, nearly taking down perennial power Wheelersburg in the second round.

As a reward for their superb season, the Jets staff has been selected to coach the Ohio All Stars in the 79th annual OVAC Rudy Mumley Game on Saturday, July 19 on the artificial surface of Wheeling Island Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“This is a very important game. It’s a big game for the entire Ohio Valley. It’s special,” Union Local head coach Bernie Thompson said. “I’m just honored to be a part of it.”

This will be the third time Thompson has been involved in the mid-summer classic. He was a team captain of the 2011 Ohio team as a player and then served on then-UL head coach Bruce Stiles’ staff in 2018.

“I’m looking forward to representing the state of Ohio in this game.”

Thompson is in his seventh year as head coach of his alma mater. The Waynesburg University graduate has been coaching for nine seasons.

He and his wife, Karlie, reside in Belmont, Ohio.

His staff includes:

VAUGHN BUTLER will also be participating in his third All-Star Game, having served as an assistant coach. He was on the Buckeye Trail staff of Randy Thompson in 2007 and then joined Thompson on Stiles’ staff 11 years later.

The Union Local and Fairmont State University graduate is also an assistant boys’ basketball coach and has also coached baseball and track in his 30 years.

He and his wife, Lisa, have four daughters – Brenynn (Ryan) Mowery, Payten (Bradlee) Gibson, Saige Butler and Sutherland Butler. They reside in Morristown.

TYLER GRANT will be making his debut in the game. The Union Local graduate has been an assistant for nine years.

He played baseball and football for the Jets.

He and his wife, Layne, have three children – Chase, Leighton and Beckett. They reside in Powhatan Point.

TONY GREGOR has also been at Union Local for the past nine years. He played in the 1997 OVAC game.

Also a junior high boys basketball coach, Gregor attended OUE and Belmont College. He played baseball and football for the Jets.

Gregor and his wife, Nikki, have two daughters – Kierra and Ryley – along with a son – Brody. They reside in Bethesda.

DAKOTA HESS is a member of the Jets Junior High football staff but will be working with the varsity staff during camp week and on game night.

The 2022 UL graduate played in the 2022 All-Star Game after graduation. He was also a member of the baseball and basketball programs during his high school career.

He resides in Jacobsburg with his mother, Michelle, father, Jim, and younger brother, Logan.

JIM HESS watched his oldest son Dakota play in the game. His youngest, Logan, is a member of this year’s squad.

Currently the head baseball coach and an assistant boys’ basketball coach, Hess has been involved with the football program for the past 10 years. He played baseball, basketball and football during his days as a Jet.

He and his wife, Michelle, reside in Jacobsburg with their sons.

RYAN KUTCHER has spent the last 13 years on the Jets staff. He has never been a part of the All-Star game.

Kutcher graduated from Union Local High School and Muskingum University. He played football and ran track as a Jet.

He resides in Belmont.

ANTHONY ROCCHIO graduated from Bellaire where he played baseball, basketball and football. He was a member of the UL staff for the 2018 game.

Rocchio has now been with the Jets program for nine years.

He and his wife, Andrea, reside in St. Clairsville with their daughter, Alane, and son, Rone.