BECKLEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – During Tuesday’s regular meeting, the Beckley City Council recognized the Shady Spring Tigers Varsity Boys Basketball Team for their recently won AAA title, the first-ever in program history.
Tigers’ Head Coach Ronnie Olson, as well as other coaches and members of the team, were present during the meeting and were awarded certificates of acknowledgment for their accomplishment. Not all members of the team were able to attend the meeting.
Members of council congratulated the team and commended the boys on a great season and even better championship game: one that made all of Raleigh County proud.
Lootpress spoke with Olson after the meeting who said it was an honor to be recognized by the city.
“It felt great to be recognized because it was a very special moment for our school,” he said. “Obviously history was made and it needed to be recognized.”
Olson continued, speaking of his team’s determination, selflessness and family-like dynamic, all of which played a large role in winning the championship.
Read more about the Shady Spring Tigers’ AAA title here.
When asked to say a few words at the meeting, Olson spoke of his pride for his team but also of how they chose to honor Dwayne Richardson, the student and basketball player from Woodrow Wilson High School who was shot and killed on May 3, 2021.
“…it speaks volumes for the way our young kids conduct themselves and the way they care about others. I told them I felt it brought our communities together. We are all family in our eyes even though we play and compete versus one another.”