VIENNA — Coaching at West Liberty is like basketball heaven and former Marietta High School standout Ben Howlett is glad to be at the controls.

Howlett, who gained notoriety as a scorer at Marietta and just completed his sixth season coaching the men’s basketball team at West Liberty, was one of six individuals inducted into the Class of 2021 for the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame during Saturday’s banquet at Grand Pointe Conference and Reception Center.

Howlett was one of two individuals representing Marietta. Former Marietta College baseball standout and current Ashland University coach John Schaly also was inducted.

In all, a total of 12 individuals were inducted. The MOV Sports Hall of Fame also welcomed another six members from the Class of 2022.

“West Liberty hired me at 30 years old, and I always told everyone I didn’t want the job following (Jim Crutchfield),” Howlett said. “They handed me the keys to the Corvette. I was very scared. A lot of guys transferred that first year, but we had a bunch of role players who developed into starters and we finished 26-4.

“That first year I felt like I have to win, and that was all I cared about. Now I am enjoying the time with my players and having a lot of fun.”

Despite losing in the first round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament this past season, Howlett has become one of the fastest coaches in NCAA history to register 100 wins. Recruiting is crucial to his success.

The Hilltoppers are known for their high-octane offense and their success rate in the postseason. The program practically sells itself. However, Howlett weeds out recruits who don’t fit the system.

“I think you can eliminate a lot of problems if you recruit the right kids,” Howlett said. “We recruit guys we don’t have to worry about – guys who don’t need my assistant coaches having to walk with them to classes.

“There have been guys we wanted basketball-wise, but they didn’t fit the mold attitude-wise. They thought they were playing for themselves and their own stats. We take a good blend of players and guys who want to blend in as a team.”

Howlett, who was married less than two weeks ago, owns several scoring records at Marietta – career points (1.362), season scoring average (30.3 ppg), points in a single game (48) and points in a single season (637).

Those offensive numbers followed him as a player at West Liberty. During his senior year with the Hilltoppers, he finished as the nation’s fourth leading scorer at 23 points per game.

After graduation, Howlett returned to the Mid-Ohio Valley as a part-time assistant coach at Ohio Valley University before Crutchfield lured him back to West Liberty as a full-time assistant coach at the age of 23.

“I was always told if you are happy somewhere, why leave,” Howlett said. “I am really happy here at West Liberty. People up there are just phenomenal. It’s a basketball crazy school. Not a whole lot goes on at West Liberty, but when basketball is played it’s a sellout. People care.

“I’m young, but I have spent 13 years of my life here and it’s home to me. It’s a blessing and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

The other half of the Marietta connection recognized as part of the Class of 2021, Schaly handled the duties at second base for four years for a Marietta College baseball team which was ranked No. 1 in Division III each year.

In his senior year, Schaly was named First Team All-American and recognized as the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

With Saturday’s induction, Schaly joined his two mentors who were previously named to the MOV Sports Hall of Fame – his father Don Schaly and former Marietta College hitting instructor and assistant coach Paul Page.

“I would say 90 percent of what I do, I learned from dad,” John Schaly said. “There were guys 18, 19 and 20 years old trying to figure out what to do with their lives. I knew – I knew I wanted to stay in the game to coach because of my father.”

The oldest of four boys, John Schaly has coached baseball at the college level for 35 seasons, including the past 25 at Division II Ashland University where he has guided the Eagles to five College World Series appearances.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work and effort, and having a good system, which I learned from dad,” Schaly said. “I’ve been very fortunate. It’s been a fun ride.”

Another athlete from Washington County was inducted as part of the Class of 2021. Belpre High School’s Carl Alloway excelled in both football and track. As a member of the Glenville State College football team, he led the West Virginia Conference in rushing during his junior year.

Rounding out the Class of 2021 were Wirt County’s Erica Dye Cross, Ravenswood’s Bernie Rees and Parkersburg’s Phil Parsons.

Cross, who is married to former state champion wrestler Josh Cross, advanced to the WVSSAC High School High School State Wrestling Tournament, finishing fourth as a junior and second as a senior.

She also competed internationally, winning a gold medal and being named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2001 Klippan Open in Sweden.

Parsons played three years of football as a Big Red, but his claim to fame occurred on the track. The 1966 PHS graduate was a member of the state champion shuttle hurdle relay team that set a school and state record. The record still stands as the PHS track and field standard.

Coaching has been Parsons’ passion, especially with youth sports.

“It’s been 52 years since I competed at my last meet – it seems like yesterday,” Parsons said. “Coaching youth sports is great. My father unfortunately died at the age of 95 – he instilled in me to never quit and not give up. He had great faith in me and I try to do that for others. I miss him.”

Rees made a living outside the 3-point arc. He owns the school record for all-time 3-point percentage and most 3-pointers in a season. His 964 points included a game where he made 10-of-10 from beyond 3-point range.

Rees touched on several individuals who made an impact on his life. Current Ravenswood boys basketball coach Mick Price ranked among the top of the list.

“Mick builds character,” Rees said. “He has poured his life into Jackson County, West Virginia.”

Two individuals from Ohio were among the six inducted into the Class of 2022: Fort Frye’s Donald Lowe and Shenandoah’s Jesse Wells.

Lowe became an expert in the field of athletic training. While attending Kent State, the 1960 Fort Frye grad treated the likes of Thurman Munson, Jack Lambert and Nick Saban. He transitioned to Syracuse and worked with Donovan McNabb and Art Monk.

The athletic training area in the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center is named the Donald and Mary Lowe Sports Medicine Facility.

Lowe also made a stop at Georgia Tech and his United States Olympic Committee experience took him to the 1983 Pan American Games. He also was a member of the 1992 Olympic training staff in Barcelona.

“There was a gentleman working on an article on me several years ago In Marietta, and he said small town boy made good,” Lowe said. “I’ve received numerous awards. To be recognized for this Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame is very special.”

Wells was a member of the Shenandoah wrestling program which advanced to state – and marked the first time that had happened for any SHS sport. As a member of the Mount Union football team, he finished his career as the school’s all-timer leading tackler for a defensive lineman.

Wells, who played three seasons in the Arena Football League, accepted the head coaching position for the Shenandoah football team which had won just two games in its three previous seasons. Over the next six seasons under Wells, the Zeps qualified for the playoffs three times.

The four remaining inductees for the Class of 2022 includes Ravenswood’s Kim Creel, Ripley’s Alannah Sheets, St. Marys’ Joe Safety and Ripley’s Mitch Smith.

Creel and Sheets both used basketball as an avenue for success. After graduating from Ravenswood High School, Creel enrolled at Glenville State College at the age of 17. As a freshman, she started on the first GSC women’s basketball team to advance to the NAIA National Tournament.

“I can’t believe it’s been 35 years since all that happened,” Creel said. “I remember growing up and my dad driving the Ford tractor following behind me while I was running. When I got to Glenville, I had to grow up quick.”

Sheets, a 2010 Ripley graduate, left a legacy during her playing career at Shawnee State. She ranks first or second in nine career categories. She scored 1,967 career points, which third all-time at the school.

Sheets, who works for the FBI and has a son who just turned a year old, is engaged to be married in October.

Among those Sheets thanks were high school and college coaches.

“Ripley coach Steve Hunt had a passion for the game that was undeniable,” Sheets said. “As for college, I did not get a lot of offers because I was so small. But they put me in positions to be successful.”

Smith became Ripley’s first wrestler to win three high school state championships. At West Liberty, he became a two-time All-American and finished 58-9 as a Hilltopper.

“I was 9 years old and I remember my mom putting us kids in the car – and driving 2 ¢ hours one way to practice,” Smith said. “I was fortunate to get great support from my family.”

Safety has gone full circle since graduating from St. Marys in 1970. His career in public relation started by being in the right place at the right time.

Safety was an usher at a friend’s wedding when he met someone who was the neighbor of an executive with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

By the age of 23, Safety was an executive in P.R. with the Pirates. After the Pirates won the World Series in 1979, he spent three years working for George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees.

Safety then moved out West working for the Los Angeles Clippers. He retired from the NBA in 2013. Today, he lives in St. Marys and works alongside the Chamber of Commerce.

“St. Marys is where I am from – it is what I am,” Safety said. “I am perfectly satisfied with this lifestyle and I am glad to be back.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com