MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (August 19, 2024) – Some knew him as Mr. Clutch. Others referred to him as The Logo. To the West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, he is simply the greatest Mountaineer ever.
WVU Athletics has announced that it will honor the great Jerry West throughout the 2024-25 athletic season, culminating in a special weekend men’s basketball game dedicated to his memory and legacy at WVU. Opponent and game date will be determined once the men’s basketball schedule is finalized by the Big 12.
Specialized commemorative items will be available during the dedicated game and ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase a mini replica of the famous Jerry West statue that stands at the Blue Gate of the WVU Coliseum. Ticket holders who purchase the mini replica statue will only be able to receive it at the selected game. The men’s basketball team will also wear Jerry West era throwback uniforms in the selected game similar to those worn in 2004 when WVU celebrated 100 Years of Mountaineer basketball.
The department also announced that starting with the first game of the 2024-25 regular season, tonight’s women’s soccer’s matchup against Delaware, all 18 varsity sports teams will honor West for the entire year with a commemorative logo of his famous number 44 on their uniform, warm-up or helmet depending on the sport. Plus, all men’s basketball promotional material for the year will feature the West No. 44 logo, which will also adorn the sidelines of the Coliseum court for the 2024-25 season. Finally, all teams will honor West at different times of the year with social media videos honoring his legacy at WVU.
This Week in Men’s Soccer: West Virginia kicks off the 2024 season this Thursday, Aug. 22, against Purdue Fort Wayne … kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
Notes: The Mountaineers are ranked No. 3 in both the United Soccer Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer Preseason polls … it is the highest preseason ranking for WVU in program history, surpassing No. 6 in 2022 … junior Marcus Caldeira was named the Sun Belt Offensive Preseason Player of the Year … Caldeira, senior Max Broughton, senior Ryan Baer, and senior Frederik Jorgensen all earned spots on the Sun Belt All-Preseason Team … the Mountaineers were picked second in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll, only behind defending SBC champion Marshall … Caldeira and Jorgensen were named Players to Watch by United Soccer Coaches.
This Week in Women’s Soccer: The Mountaineers prepare for their first road match of the 2024 campaign, when they travel to No. 5 Clemson on Friday, Aug. 23 … kickoff at Riggs Field in Clemson, South Carolina, is tabbed for 7 p.m. ET.
Last Week in Women’s Soccer: West Virginia started the 2024 campaign 2-0 after collecting wins over Delaware and Radford last week … in the season opener against Delaware on Aug. 15 … goals from junior forward Ajanae Respass and fifth-year senior Lilly McCarthy propelled WVU to a 2-0 win over the Blue Hens … senior defender Annika Leslie was credited with the assist on Respass’ game winner … against Radford on Aug. 18, a pair of goals from junior forward Taylor White helped the Mountaineers claim a 5-0 win over the Highlanders … in addition to White’s brace, fifth-year senior midfielders Lilly McCarthy and AJ Rodriguez and senior forward Dilary Heredia-Beltran also found the back of the net in the win … Respass, redshirt freshman Gianna Koss, senior forward Chloe Adler, Heredia-Beltran and sophomore forwards Abbey Olexa and Olivia Shertzer were credited with assists … redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Smith made five saves across the two matches last week, earning her first career shutouts.
Notes: Ten Mountaineers earned their first career game action for West Virginia during the opening weekend of the 2024 season … additionally, Respass, Koss and redshirt sophomore Roxanne Vilian earned their first starting nods for WVU … Thursday’s match marked the first ever between West Virginia and Delaware, with the Mountaineers moving to 1-0 over the Blue Hens … the win also improved WVU’s mark over first-time opponents to 7-3-2 over the last six years … West Virginia opened the season with a win for the fourth time in the last six seasons … the Mountaineers are now 2-0 to start a season for first time since 2020 … White’s brace marked the first two-goal performance by a Mountaineer since Rodriguez scored two at Oklahoma on Oct. 23, 2022.
WVU Athletics has announced that it will honor the great Jerry West throughout the 2024-25 athletic season, culminating in a special weekend men’s basketball game dedicated to his memory and legacy at WVU. Opponent and game date will be determined once the men’s basketball schedule is finalized by the Big 12.
Specialized commemorative items will be available during the dedicated game and ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase a mini replica of the famous Jerry West statue that stands at the Blue Gate of the WVU Coliseum. Ticket holders who purchase the mini replica statue will only be able to receive it at the selected game. The men’s basketball team will also wear Jerry West era throwback uniforms in the selected game similar to those worn in 2004 when WVU celebrated 100 Years of Mountaineer basketball.
The department also announced that starting with the first game of the 2024-25 regular season, tonight’s women’s soccer’s matchup against Delaware, all 18 varsity sports teams will honor West for the entire year with a commemorative logo of his famous number 44 on their uniform, warm-up or helmet depending on the sport. Plus, all men’s basketball promotional material for the year will feature the West No. 44 logo, which will also adorn the sidelines of the Coliseum court for the 2024-25 season. Finally, all teams will honor West at different times of the year with social media videos honoring his legacy at WVU.
This Week in Men’s Soccer: West Virginia kicks off the 2024 season this Thursday, Aug. 22, against Purdue Fort Wayne … kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
Notes: The Mountaineers are ranked No. 3 in both the United Soccer Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer Preseason polls … it is the highest preseason ranking for WVU in program history, surpassing No. 6 in 2022 … junior Marcus Caldeira was named the Sun Belt Offensive Preseason Player of the Year … Caldeira, senior Max Broughton, senior Ryan Baer, and senior Frederik Jorgensen all earned spots on the Sun Belt All-Preseason Team … the Mountaineers were picked second in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll, only behind defending SBC champion Marshall … Caldeira and Jorgensen were named Players to Watch by United Soccer Coaches.
This Week in Women’s Soccer: The Mountaineers prepare for their first road match of the 2024 campaign, when they travel to No. 5 Clemson on Friday, Aug. 23 … kickoff at Riggs Field in Clemson, South Carolina, is tabbed for 7 p.m. ET.
Last Week in Women’s Soccer: West Virginia started the 2024 campaign 2-0 after collecting wins over Delaware and Radford last week … in the season opener against Delaware on Aug. 15 … goals from junior forward Ajanae Respass and fifth-year senior Lilly McCarthy propelled WVU to a 2-0 win over the Blue Hens … senior defender Annika Leslie was credited with the assist on Respass’ game winner … against Radford on Aug. 18, a pair of goals from junior forward Taylor White helped the Mountaineers claim a 5-0 win over the Highlanders … in addition to White’s brace, fifth-year senior midfielders Lilly McCarthy and AJ Rodriguez and senior forward Dilary Heredia-Beltran also found the back of the net in the win … Respass, redshirt freshman Gianna Koss, senior forward Chloe Adler, Heredia-Beltran and sophomore forwards Abbey Olexa and Olivia Shertzer were credited with assists … redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Smith made five saves across the two matches last week, earning her first career shutouts.
Notes: Ten Mountaineers earned their first career game action for West Virginia during the opening weekend of the 2024 season … additionally, Respass, Koss and redshirt sophomore Roxanne Vilian earned their first starting nods for WVU … Thursday’s match marked the first ever between West Virginia and Delaware, with the Mountaineers moving to 1-0 over the Blue Hens … the win also improved WVU’s mark over first-time opponents to 7-3-2 over the last six years … West Virginia opened the season with a win for the fourth time in the last six seasons … the Mountaineers are now 2-0 to start a season for first time since 2020 … White’s brace marked the first two-goal performance by a Mountaineer since Rodriguez scored two at Oklahoma on Oct. 23, 2022.
