Marshall's Sikula to be honored at Victory Awards

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall baseball player Arik Sikula of Hurricane is among the athletes and coaches being recognized May 4 at the Victory Awards Dinner.

The 4 p.m. banquet at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown is conducted annually by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Tickets are $20 apiece and can be purchased at the sports department of The Herald-Dispatch. The ticket deadline is April 28.

No tickets will be sold at the door.

Sikula, a Marshall freshman relief pitcher, was the 2007 state high school baseball player of the year.

Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton and NBA pioneer Earl Lloyd are being inducted into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

West Virginia quarterback Pat White will receive the Hardman Award for Amateur Athlete of the Year. WVU men's basketball coach Bob Huggins will be presented with the Furfari Award for College Coach of the Year.

Ron Kidd of Beckley Woodrow Wilson is the High School Coach of the Year.

Other award winners to high school athletes include:

Football: Kennedy Award -- Jordan Roberts, Scott; Hunt Award -- Josh Jenkins, Parkersburg; Sam Huff Award -- Rodney Hudson, George Washington.

Basketball: Evans Award -- Bryant Irwin, Bridgeport; Thom Award -- Jolysa Brown, Summers County.

Trackperson: McCoy Award -- Chelsea Carrier, Buckhannon-Upshur.

Wrestling: Dutton Award -- Seth Easter, Nitro.

All-state football, boys basketball and girls basketball first team selections will be recognized along with state championship coaches in all sports.

The Morehouse Award for writers will go to Cliff Nichols of the Fairmont Times-West Virginian.