By PAMELA SCOTT JOHNSON

Sports Editor

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission denied former Williamson High School students’ requests to participate in atheletics at Tug Valley High after WHS closed its doors for the final time this month.

Williamson was combined with Burch, Matewan and Gilbert to form Mingo Central closing the four schools permanently. MCHS is located at King Coal Highway in Matewan.

Of the four schools, Williamson students have been the only ones to transfer to Tug Valley. The main reason given is the distance they must travel to get to the new school. Without the completion of the highway, Williamson residents can be at TVHS in half the time.

Several WHS students chose not to make the trip and opted to become a Panther instead. However, the WVSSAC considers these students as transfers and denied all requests.

In a Memorandum of Understanding, the SSAC was asked to grant the choice of transfer to all Mingo County students. Had the memorandum asked that only Williamson students be given the right to play athletics at Tug Valley, the SSAC told the parents they would have agreed because of the proximity of the students to the school.

Superintendent Randy Keithly refused to change the wording. However, county board members sent a signed letter to the SSAC stating they hoped the association would look favorably on these kids.

One board member said this is not meant to be “anti-Mingo Central” but when parents of Williamson children voice concerns through phone calls and at board meetings “something should be done to help them.”

TV’s Principal Johnny Branch said there is one more appeal process the parents can take.

“We are obviously disappointed,” he said.

A Kermit citizen, who asked not to be named, believes the SSAC’s ruling will force Mingo County children to cross the state line and attend Belfry High School.

“The State BOE and the WVSSAC set an example when allowing the kids from Harts, which is located in Lincoln County, transfer across the county line to attend Chapmanville Regional High School that is located in Logan County,” he said. “They were given the opportunity to go to either school, as long as they did it the first year. The County BOE and The SSAC is using political views and powers to make Mingo Central look good by trying to force the students to attend the school they do not want to attend. By doing this, they're hurting the kids.” back when the consolidation took place in lincoln county, those kids were given the opportunity to transfer across county line and attend chapmanville. they're making themselves look bad and push kids across the river.

This was the parents' second attempt with the SSAC. Branch said the organization stated they seldom grant waivers even though the students spent the last two months of school as Tug Valley Panthers.

Mingo Central High School will open its doors this August.

The Daily News was unable to reach the SSAC for a comment. Check WDN for updates as information is made available.