Mount Gilead High School received great news this week:
Coach Denny West has been named to receive the Fred Dafler Career State Coach
of the Year Award by the from the Ohio Association of Track and Cross
Country Coaches.
Mount Gilead High School received great news this week:
Coach Denny West has been named to receive the Fred Dafler Career State Coach
of the Year Award by the from the Ohio Association of Track and Cross
Country Coaches.
Those who know Coach West also know that no one is more deserving of the award.
If you've lived around Mount Gilead for very long, then you've no doubt seen Coach West out running with his team, or you might have also noticed that he and wife Gail were out working with young kids' running programs. Or not...running is sometimes not the glamorous sport that draws crowds like football does, especially in Mount Gilead, but under Coach West it certainly has been MGHS' most highly successful sports program.
The MGHS Girls Cross Country Team won the MOAC TEN years in a row from 1991-2000 under West's direction, and appeared as Regional Qualifiers TEN times.
The Boys' Cross Country team during West's reign as coach has recorded FIVE MOAC championships and has reach the State of Ohio Championships FIVE times, plus recorded NINE Regional appearances.
In addition, NINE individuals have reached State competition and FIVE times have attained "All-Ohio" status.
Total coaching record: 3,365 wins versus 1,636 losses. Phenomenal!
But coaching Cross Country and Track isn't even close to all of Denny West's accomplishments. The kids who know him have a real respect for West. If you've been to a National Honor Society induction ceremony, you've no doubt heard Coach West introduce at least one and probably more than one student -- that's a great honor for anyone. Denny has also encouraged several high school special needs students to participate in cross country. Michael at age 30 stills runs everyday at the high school and participates in the local road races. James continues to support his high school after graduation by returning to sporting events and he also participates in local road races. Brandon continues to participate in the Special Olympics in his adult life.
Denny along with his wife Gail started the youth running club for our community. They had children from around the county participate.
He also chaired the Track Restoration Project for MGHS, after many fund raisers and activities; a new track was put into place this fall.
Congratulations to Coach Denny West !!
Cross Country Team- Girls Team Record
1991 MOAC champs District champs Regional
Qualifier 64-13
1992 MOAC champs Regional Qualifier
State Qualifier(17th) 99-12
1993 MOAC champs District champs Regional
Qualifier 86-14
1994 MOAC champs Regional
Qualifier 57-38
1995 MOAC champs
67-62
1996 MOAC champs Regional
Qualifier 102-41
1997 MOAC champs Regional
Qualifier 131-22
1998 MOAC champs Regional
Qualifier 114-41
1999 MOAC champs Regional
Qualifier 115-50
2000 MOAC
champs 68-61
2001 Regional
Qualifier 74-79
2004 Regional
Qualifier 94-41
Cross Country Team- Boys
1995 Regional
Qualifier 97-57
1997 MOAC runner
up
101-68
1998 MOAC champs District runner up Regional
Qualifier 119-38
1999 MOAC runner up Regional
Qualifier 108-46
2000 Regional
Qualifier 97-54
2003 MOAC runner up Regional Qualifier
State Qualifier (13th) 145-58
2004 MOAC champs District champs Regional Qualifier State
Qualifier (9th) 162-17
2005 MOAC champs District champs Regional Qualifier State
Qualifier (5th) 158-11
2006 MOAC champs District champs Regional Qualifier State
Qualifier (8th) 188-10
2007 MOAC champs District champs Regional Qualifier State
Qualifier (6th) 182-8
Cross Country Individuals
1991 Janet Sarver
State
Qualifier
1993 Clayton Hershner MOAC
Champ State Qualifier
1998 Branton Boehm MOAC runner up
State Qualifier
1999 Jana Irwin MOAC champ District
champ State Qualifier –all Ohio
2000 Jake Haughn MOAC champ District
champ State Qualifier -3rd all Ohio
2001 Jake Haughn MOAC champ District
champ State Qualifier – all Ohio
2005 Cameron Johnson MOAC champ District champ
State Qualifier- all Ohio
2006 Cameron Johnson MOAC champ District champ
State Qualifier- all Ohio
2007 Colton Johnson MOAC runner
up State Qualifier- all Ohio
CC coaching record - boys- W -1,886 L -769
CC coaching record- girls W- 1,479 L- 867
Total coaching record- W- 3,365 L-1,636
1984 Boys Cross Country New Mexico State Champions- Denny coached the team to an undefeated season.
Track Individuals
2001 Rick March Pole
Vault State Qualifier 7th place
2001 Jake Haughn 1600 Run State
Qualifier 7th place
2001 Jake Haughn 3200 Run State
Qualifier
2002 Jake Haughn 3200 Run State
Qualifier 1st place- state record holder
2002 Evan Hartman High Jump State Qualifier
2nd place
2002 Lee Rizor Pole Vault State
Qualifier 8th place
2007 4X800 Relay State
Qualifier 12th place
2007 Cameron Johnson 1600 Run State Qualifier
6th place
2007 Cameron Johnson 3200 Run State Qualifier
Personal Honors in
coaching profession:
District Coach of the Year
Girls- 1991 and 1993
Boys- 2004,2005,2006 and 2007