Bridgeport High School standout Zach Rohrig was honored with the Curt Warner Running Back of the Year Award at the 77^th annual Victory Awards Dinner on Sunday at River City in Wheeling.

 

Video of Rohrig’s introduction and his acceptance speech can be found below.

 

Rohrig, a two-time first-team Class AAA All-State selection and the third player in Harrison County history to win back-to-back Loria Awards, was named the Warner Award winner after finishing his senior season with 1,822 rushing yards on 237 attempts and 25 touchdowns. He also had another stellar year as a defensive back, finishing 2023 with 35 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

 

 His 1,822 yards and 25 TDs were the biggest chunk of the Indians’ most prolific offense in school history as they finished with 5,420 yards and 82 touchdowns – both totals setting new school records. He also passed former BHS greats (all first-team all-state players) like Wes Tonkery, Dylan Tonkery, C.R. Rohrbough, Alex Sutton, Dante Bonamico, Anthony Bonamico, Brett Hathaway, Cam Cole and Corey Wagner, all the way to No. 3 on the school’s all-time rushing list with 3,671 yards, trailing only Jake Bowen (4,406) and Steve Stout (3,724).

 

Since the West Virginia Sports Writers Association introduced the Warner, House (Quarterback of the Year), Moss (Receiver of the Year), Howley (Linebacker of the Year), Lee (Defensive Back of the Year) and Walker (Special Teams Player of the Year) in 2014, the only other BHS player to win one of the position awards was Dante Bonamico, the 2015 Lee Award winner.

 

Also at Sunday’s event, the longest-running of its kind in the country,  two new members were inducted into the W.Va. Sports Hall of Fame in Kenny Griffith and Bruce Meredith. Griffith, a Wellsburg High School graduate, became a national college basketball record-setter and Small College All-American at Alderson-Broaddus College.

 

Meredith, a graduate of Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, became West Virginia University's first rifle national champion and two-time All-American, who later competed in four Olympic Games.

 

 Other major award winners honored were:

 Kennedy Award (Prep Football Player of Year)--Dom Collins, Princeton.

 Sam Huff Award (Top Defensive Player)--Rashad Reid, Martinsburg.

 Stydahar Award (Top Lineman)--Rashad Reid, Martinsburg.

 House Award (Top Quarterback)--Maxwell Molessa, Williamstown.

 Warner Award (Top Running Back)--Zach Rohrig, Bridgeport.

 Moss Award (Top Receiver)--Dom Collins, Princeton.

 Howley Award (Top Linebacker)--Casey Minor, North Marion.

 Lee Award (Top Defensive Back)--Zah Jackson, Huntington.

 Walker Award (Top Special Teams Player)--Jonny Aya-ay, Huntington.

 Evans Award (Boys Basketball Player of Year)--Sharron Young, Morgantown.

 Ostrowski Award (Girls Basketball Player of Year)--Alexis Bordas, Wheeling Park; and Ashlynn Van Tassel, Cameron.

 Dutton Award (Wrestler of Year)--Gage Wright, Parkersburg South.

 Lowery Award (Baseball Player of Year)--Noah Braham, University.

 McCoy Male Track Athlete of Year--Brayden Marshall, Winfield.

 McCoy Female Track Athlete of Year--Irene Riggs, Morgantown.

 Softball Player of Year--Mikie Lieving, Wahama.

 Boys Soccer Player of Year--Joey Pinkerton, Pt. Pleasant.

 Girls Soccer Player of Year--Gracie Brown, Morgantown.

 Volleyball Player of Year--MacKenna Halfin, Philip Barbour.

 Morehouse Award (Journalism)--Bob Hertzel, Morgantown.

 Kennedy Foundation Scholarships--Murphy Clement, Martinsville; Matt Frye, Scott.

Doug Huff Award – Kyndall Perry, Nitro

Van Meter Award (High School Coach of the Year) – Dave Tallman, Morgantown

Furfari Award (College Coach of the Year) – Kim Caldwell, Marshall

Hardman Award (Amateur Athlete of Year) – J.J. Wetherholt, WVU

 

Editor’s Note:Photo of Rohrig (left) and Chris Johnson, Connect-Bridgeport writer, All-State Football and Girls Basketball Chairman and lifetime member of the WVSWA. Johnson introduced Rohrig at the banquet.