WHEELING – High school sports play big in the Ohio Valley lifestyle.

To that end, the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference is the vehicle that drives prep athletics. The OVAC is comprised of 51 schools, encompassing more than 18,000 students.

Tuesday marks a special day for the OVAC — it is the 75th birthday for the nation’s largest functioning conference. That is a remarkable lifespan in today’s era of member-flopping schools.

Tom Rataiczak has led the OVAC for the past 19 years as executive secretary. He has taken the conference to a new level, expanding membership and adding a host of new championship tournaments.

The Bellaire native, who also doubles as conference treasurer, knows the impact of the OVAC better than anyone.

“The OVAC is the Ohio Valley. I’ve said this for years before I ever got involved in the conference. Nothing can replace high school sports. All you need to do is check the Friday night lights, the gyms, or the fields and see the communities supporting their teams,” Rataiczak said. “Go to state tournaments and see the Ohio Valley crowds compared to other areas. No comparison. I’ve watched championships where I truly thought every person in the town was in attendance.

“Back when the mills and mines were flourishing, high school sports were the main topic of discussion, and that still holds true today. The people who have stayed in the Valley love their towns, their schools, their athletes,” he added. “The OVAC logo is probably one of the most recognizable logos in the area. OVAC championships equal bragging rights for another year, or even longer.”

While the conference is flourishing like never before with Rataiczak at the helm, the OVAC would not be where it would be if not for the vision of those who laid the foundation some eight decades ago.

So what does the current executive/secretary think of the OVAC turning 75 years-old?

“Several things. First and foremost, I think of the foresight of nine men who saw the opportunity to create a conference to assist and serve the then-flourishing athletic programs in the valley,” Rataiczak said. “Like our country’s Founding Fathers, they were able to see well beyond their early meetings to establish something that would last and endure for years to come.

“Second, I believe that the greatest accomplishment of the conference has been its ability to have all 20 charter members still members 75 years later. In scholastic conferences, this is unheard of,” he continued. “Third, being over the 70 year mark myself, I realize how blessed we have been to be able to to survive this long.”

While Rataiczak sings the praises of those who established the conference, the growth the OVAC has experienced under his two decades of direction is amazing. Member schools, student-athletes and prep fans all have benefitted during Rataiczak’s tenure.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the OVAC for the past 19 years. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment I have achieved has been finding and working with the greatest staff I’ve ever experienced at any level: directors, commissioners and board members. These men and women are the lifeblood of the conference and are dedicated to seeing that whatever they are responsible for is done in a first-class manner,” Rataiczak offered. “Just when I think we’ve maxed out, one of them comes up with a new idea, a new challenge, a new direction to elevate things a little higher. When I look at what WE have accomplished over the last two decades, I’m amazed. The OVAC Museum is like none other in the country. The Hall of Fame is such an impressive collection of valley greats who have carried their school and OVAC banners around the world.

“The basketball championship has allowed schools, coaches and athletes to “settle it on the court,” all the while returning over $250,000 to those schools who participated. The track championship allows every school, from smallest to largest, to have the opportunity to go head-to-head with the best. The Band Showcase is a must-see for any band fan,” he added. “The Varsity Board each year exposes student leaders to new ideas in leadership to take back to their schools and share with their peers. The OVAC website is absolutely incredible not only in communicating with member schools but in preserving the athletic history of the valley. The Notebook of Champions itself can entertain a sports enthusiast for days and generate more trivia than one could ever imagine. All this is because of the committed, dedicated people we have helping us. Our greatest resource? Our people. I am so proud of each and every one of them, and my life has been made richer because of them.”

With 75 years under its expansive belt, what does the future hold for the OVAC?

“I truly believe that the OVAC will be around for another 75 years, again, due to the efforts of nine men in 1943. However, it won’t be without its challenges. Club teams and travel teams, while extremely popular, fail to “connect” with communities, so entire towns don’t follow them like they would their local athletes. While this allows gifted athletes to perform in the off-season, it doesn’t build the loyalty to the school that high school teams do,” Rataiczak said. “Decreasing enrollments in schools cause programs to struggle to survive. While some call for adding more sports to their program, schools lack the numbers and the funding to keep existing sports going. Decreasing enrollments mean decreased attendance at games. While people won’t think twice about spending $15 for a movie ticket or $50 for a concert ticket, they scream long and loud at paying $5 for a school sport. Schools can no longer afford to exist on a $5 gate ticket as their expenses continue to grow. Solid booster groups have been replaced with numerous parent groups. While the intention is good, the old booster groups saw to it that every student in every sport was taken care of. Look at most booster groups and you will find members who have been around for 20-plus years, not three.

“On a similar note, athletic directors used to be a lifelong person in that role until they retired. We have some ADs who have been at a school for 20 or more years, but the average AD burns out after 5-6 years today. You can’t build solid athletic programs when the AD changes every five years,” he continued. “Officials are becoming a major concern, as younger people don’t want to join the ranks. Without officials, we can’t have games. Each year we lose some of the younger ones who say they can’t take the abuse from fans, who are getting worse each year. So are there challenges? ABSOLUTELY. But no more than those that faced the Founding Fathers back in 1943. I believe our greatest challenge will be finding the quality replacements for our existing directors and commissioners who will be as dedicated as the ones we currently have.”

BUBBA’S BITS

THE MARTINS Ferry Hall of Honor is holding its annual induction ceremonies a week from today. Among the honorees is Dan McGrew. The former Purple Riders’ grid star played collegiately at Purdue and professionally with the Buffalo Bills. After his playing days, he scripted a superb head coaching resume at a host of high schools, including St. John Central, Meadowbrook and Weir.

FORMER MARTINS Ferry three-sport star Shaye DeLeonardis is now a member of the University of Akron softball team. The Purple Rider grad is a hurler for the Zips.

ONE OF professional golf’s shining moments plays out this week. The Masters unfolds Thursday at Augusta with Tiger Woods cast as the favorite. I like the chances of two golfers — Justin Thomas and Phil Mickelson. Thomas is flirting with golf’s No. 1 rating while Lefty has regaining his winning touch. I will go with Thomas to win his second major.

FORMER WHEELING Park football standout Theo Blackston, now a junior at Merchurst, has earned impressive pre-season plaudits. The 6-foot, 235-pound fullback has been named a third-team D-II All-American by the Don Hansen Football Gazette Committee.

KUDOS TO the Marshall County BOE. Board members made a good hire in Jason Willis as John Marshall’s head football coach. Willis is a lifelong Monarch, former standout JM athlete and a character individual.

CAMBRIDGE HIGH coaching icon Gene Ford will be inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame on May 5. He coached for 25 years at Cambridge, amassing a record of 400-183 with five state tournament appearances. He ended his career coaching the Muskingum University men’s program.