×

Mothers are the real MVPs in sports

Photo Provided COLTON MCKIVITZ and his mom, Wendy, pose for a picture prior to Colton’s graduation from West Virginia University. Wendy has been Colton’s unquestioned, biggest fan. Colton was drafted in the fifth round of last month’s NFL Draft.

WHEELING — Mothers and sports go hand-in-hand.

Whether they are coaching, driving their children to practice or racking up the miles to support their kids for road games, mothers in sports are the unsung heroes.

Wendy McKivitz knows the life all too well. The mother of Union Local and West Virginia lineman Colton McKivitz, who was recently drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of this year’s NFL Draft, has been everywhere and has enjoyed every minute of it.

“We have had the best time,” Wendy said. “With West Virginia being in the Big 12, we’ve traveled so much. We’ve been to Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, bowl games in Florida and just getting to go to Morgantown for home games, it’s just been a blast.

“We’ve had so many adventures and tried lots of different food and there have been a lot of sight-seeing adventures and you get to cheer on the Mountaineers so it’s been a blast.”

Her latest adventure came not even a month ago and she didn’t even have to leave her house.

Instead she sat with her husband Matt McKivitz as they watched their son get drafted into the NFL. However, Colton was watching this life-changing moment from Arizona, with his parents in Centerville due to the threat of COVID-19.

“That was the hard part as a mom,” Wendy said. “We literally Facetimed the entire first and second nights and started at noon on Saturday so we could be with him for this big adventure and to see him get that call on the IPad screen. We had it hooked up to the TV so we could see him bigger.

“The phone rang and we were wondering what was going on because Miami was on the clock way too long and they haven’t even talked to him. Then we saw San Francisco traded up and the pick was in. That’s when he began saying ‘yes sir, yes sir’. It was so exciting to hear it all play out.

“He talked to the general manager John Lynch, the owner and the coach. When he got off the phone he just looked at the IPad and looked at us and he was all smiles.”

It will be back to the IPad today as the McKivitz family celebrates Mother’s Day.

“We’re going to make our favorite meal at the house and Facetime Colton on the IPad,” Wendy said. “I’ll bring my daughter (Molly) in and her husband (former UL baseball standout Darby Waller). They’re expecting their first child so it will be an exciting Mother’s Day.”

Another busy mother in the sports’ world is Cari Woods, the mother of Wheeling Park all-state basketball star Shanley Woods, Park all-state hockey standout Tommy Woods and Triadelphia 7th grade hoopster LaLa Woods.

Shanley just signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her playing career at Wheeling University next season and says she couldn’t have done it without her number one fan.

“I have my mom to thank for all of my success in basketball,” Shanley said. “She’s always been my biggest supporter but also my biggest critic too, which I think has helped me so much.”

Cari even had the chance to coach her daughter at the eighth grade level, preparing her for the years ahead.

“She was my coach in eighth grade and let me tell you, having your mom as your coach can be very rough at times, but I think it really prepared me. I don’t think she’s ever missed a game, whether it be for Park or AAU.

“She inspires me to work hard like she does.”

Not only does Cari find the time to make it to all of Shanley’s games but magically juggles the crazy schedules of all three athletic children.

“My mom somehow manages to schedule all of our workouts and get us to where we need to be.

“My favorite memory is when I tweaked my knee and the ref said I couldn’t wear my gray knee sleeve and that I needed a black one. So, my mom rushed down the hill to CVS minutes before the game and got me two different knee sleeves so I could pick the one I liked better. That sums her up — always putting others first.

“I hope I can be half the woman she is when I grow up. I have her to thank for everything.”

Sharp-shooting Morgan Brunner finished up a remarkable career for the West Liberty women’s basketball team this past winter and her brother Jon-Michael Brunner is the head coach of Wheeling Post 1’s baseball team.

Together, they have kept their mother, Robin, on her toes. She’s answered the call every time.

“As I get older, I am beginning to realize the most amazing quality my mom has,” Jon-Michael said. “It’s her ability to sacrifice. Similar to baseball’s sacrifice bunt, giving yourself up for the good of the team. My mom is on the all-time leading sac bunt list. Staying up late to wash my uniforms and cook dinner, picking Morgan up from practice just to hustle her home to help with homework, while my dad and I were on the road with baseball — sacrificing everything for us.

“I wish everyone could have a mom like mine. Just not my mom.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today