(Posted Aug. 27, 2018)
The West Jefferson High School Athletic Hall of Fame has three new members.
On Aug. 24, prior to West Jefferson’s home football game against Philo, D.J. Mendenhall, Rachel McAninch and Dustin Blake were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Athletic Hall of Fame Committee made the nominations. Members of the Booster Roughrider Club voted on the honorees.
While at West Jefferson, Mendenhall (2007-10) was a two-time first-team all-state quarterback in football in 2009 and 2010. He holds school records for career total offense and career passing. He was a two-time all-Madison County and, in 2008, was named district back of the year. In 2009, Mendenhall was named first-team all-district and Division 5 offensive player of the year. he was a three-time first-team Mid-State League honoree and four-time first-team Mid-State League honoree in basketball.
McAninch (2006-09) played and lettered in basketball and softball for West Jefferson all four years of her high school career. In 2008, she received first-team all-state honors as a pitcher. She also was first-team all-district. She had a batting average of .361, pitched 815 strike-outs, and had an ERA of 0.95 and a record of 56 wins and 19 losses. In 2009, McAninch was named honorable mention pitcher and first-team all-district. In 2007, she was first-team all-league and all-district. After high school, she attended the University of Mount Union where she received numerous academic, athletic and community honors.
Blake (1995-99) earned varsity letters in football, basketball, track and baseball while at West Jefferson. In 1998 in football, he rushed for over 1,000 yards, leading the Roughriders to a BAC championship and a 10-0 season. In basketball, he was a captain and averaged over 17 points per game. In football and basketball, he was named first-team all-district, first-team all-conference and Madison County Player of the Year. In track, he was a captain and member of the state-qualifying 4×100 relay team. Blake went on to play football for Mount Union College, where he was a member of three national championship teams and was named first-team all-conference in 2002.
