During Friday’s Class AA title game between Bridgeport and Frankfort, discussion among several sports writers led to the announcement that the West Virginia Sports Writers Association will be increasing the number of individual awards presented to prep football players at individual positions. Charleston Daily Mail Prep Sports Editor Derek Taylor, past president of the Association, said it was time to make some changes.

 

“There were a couple of different reasons. One thing is that we’re dealing with an all-state committee making decisions now that is a new generation in comparison to when I started attending (meetings) in 1998. Now, I’m one of the oldest on the committee,” said Taylor. “The younger writers are more in tune to recognizing more individuals.”

 

Another reason is that Taylor said the success of the College Football Awards show, which is highlighted with the naming of the Heisman Trophy winner, also figured into the mix. He said the hope is to create the same type of buzz at the prep level.

 

“That’s the plan that we hope develops from this,” he said.

 

Already, the WVSWA provides awards for three categories. The Kennedy Award winner, which goes to the top player in West Virginia, is announced Dec. 28. The top interior lineman award, the Hunt Award, is announced Dec. 23, while the Huff Award given to West Virginia’s top defensive lineman comes out on Christmas Day.

 

Now, there will be several other honors. Among the awards being given out by the WVSWA are honors for the top running back, wide receiver, quarterback, linebacker, defensive back and special teams player. The special teams’ honoree will be announced Dec. 15, the linebacker Dec. 16, running back on Dec. 17, the wide receiver will be named Dec. 18, the quarterback honors will come out Dec. 19 and the state’s top defensive back will be listed on Dec. 20.

 

Taylor said the winners have been chosen, but the names for the awards are still up for discussion. He said they will be named after many of the state's most prominent athletes at the new positions being recognized.

 

Bridgeport has never had a Kennedy Award winner, but has had individuals finish as high as second. Last year, standout tailback and defensive back Anthony Bonamico was one of the top finishers for that honor. Bridgeport has had Huff Award winner as Alex Sutton became the only BHS player - and the only Harrison County player - to earn the award, which came in 2010. The late Barry Myers was a Hunt Award winner in 1972 and Garrett Stanley earned the honor in 2011.

 

Connect-Bridgeport.com, which is a member of the WVSWA, hopes to have those awards on our site once they are released.

 

Editor's Note: Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.