ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥

The KnightsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ standout was one of several Mountain State athletes recognized by the sports drink company for their 2023-24 exploits. Among others, Lincoln CountyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Josie Bird won for softball, WinfieldÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brayden Marshall for boys cross country and George WashingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Michael Luechauer for boys soccer.

LunsfordÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s throw topped the mark of St. AlbansÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Randy Barnes, who threw 66-9.5 in the Gazette Relays in 1985. Barnes went on to win a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics after taking the silver in 1988. Lunsford throw ranked ninth nationally in the 2024 season.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s an honor to even be nominated,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� said Lunsford, who helped the Knights to a state title. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBeing fortunate to win it is pretty special. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve had a tremendous amount of support from my family, coaches, teammates and the community.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Lunsford, who received a full track and field scholarship to Ohio State University, also won the Adidas Indoor Nationals in March, heaving the shot put 62-1.25. He placed seventh in the Nike Indoor Nationals a week earlier. Lunsford won a Class AAA state championship with a throw of 65 feet, 3.75 inches. Lunsford finished second in the state in the discus throw, tossing 156-7.

Lunsford, a first-team all-state selection in football, threw the shot put 64-3 four times last season, a mark just 23 boys in the nation met in 2024. He said the individual honor is appreciated, but winning a state title trumps any personal accomplishment.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWhile winning an individual award validates all the hard work, it doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t compare to celebrating a state championship with my teammates,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Lunsford said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOur senior class wanted Cabell Midland and coach (Chris) Parsons back on top and we managed to do that.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

The Gatorade Award also takes into account activities outside of the studentÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s particular sport. Lunsford volunteered with youth football leagues. He also maintained a 3.0 grade point average.

Lunsford is the first Cabell Midland track performer to win the Gatorade Award since 2019, when thrower Gavin Beverage did so.

Bird won the Gatorade award for the third consecutive season. The Indiana University signee captained the Class AAA all-state team as a catcher. She hit 11 home runs, drove in 38 runs and batted .563 last season.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s such an honor,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Bird said.

Bird has volunteered locally as a peer buddy for Special Olympics Spring Games and sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s served as a mentor for younger athletes in Lincoln County through the PanthersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Big Sis/Little Sis program. She has also donated her time by walking dogs at a local animal shelter and sent care packages to members of the military deployed overseas during the holidays.

Marshall claimed the Gatorade cross country honor for the second consecutive season. A North Carolina State University recruit, Marshall helped Winfield to a third straight state championship. He won the Class AA boys race in 15:29.62.

Marshall broke a pair of course records during the regular season and his fifth-place finish at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships earned him him first-team All-American status. His performance was the best in history by a West Virginia runner on the San Diego course. He also took sixth in the Race of Champions at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, North Carolina.

Luechauer, who signed with the University of California-San Diego, led the Patriots to a Class AAA state championship last season. He scored 36 goals and assisted on 12 others to help GW to a 20-2-1 record.

The fifth GW player to be named GatoradeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s soccer player of the year in West Virginia, Luechauer scored the lone goal in a victory over Hurricane in the state title game. A member of the schoolÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s student council, Luechauer also served as a tutor, a youth soccer coach and volunteered at a senior center. He has a 4.41 grade point average.

Among other West Virginia Gatorade honorees, WilliamstownÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Alyssa Sauro was honored for both girls cross country and track. MorgantownÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Gracie Brown is the girls soccer honoree, Gilmer CountyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Bryant Yoak claimed baseball recognition, MorgantownÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Sharron Young won it in boys basketball, Wheeling ParkÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Alexis Bordas did so in girls basketball, Philip BarbourÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s MacKenna Halfin took volleyball honors and MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Murphy Clement is the football winner.