OK, fellas, time to man up.

They'd better because the guys are losing the battle of the sexes.

Think not?

Just check out the West Virginia high school landscape.

Who was the most sought after prep athlete in the Mountain State during the 2008-09 school year?

Here's a hint.

It wasn't a male.

Instead, that distinction goes to Chapmanville Regional High's Andi Williamson.

The hard-throwing softball pitcher was heavily recruited by such schools as Tennessee, Georgia, Syracuse and Marshall before finally committing to the Tennessee Volunteers.

When is the last time two SEC powers battled over a West Virginia prep star?

Actually, not that long ago. In 2007, Florida and Kentucky fought long and hard over Huntington High basketball star Patrick Patterson.

Yet, the truth of the matter is such fights over West Virginia prospects are few and far between.

Except in girls sports.

Again, look at this school year.

West Virginia produced more NCAA Division I recruits than usual.

The list includes Huntington's C.J. Crawford (Marshall football), South Charleston's Aaron Dobson (MU football), Cabell Midland's Cole Bowers (West Virginia University football), Keyser's Taige Redman (WVU football), Clarksburg's Brett Erwin (Elon basketball) and Keyser's Jeremy Green (Ohio University football).

There's also Martinsburg baseball star Brandon King, who declined a scholarship offer from Tennessee to sign with Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals.

Yet, were any of those guys more heavily recruited than a girl named Andi?

Nope.

And guess what?

The West Virginia girls are going to win this battle of the sexes again this upcoming school year.

Not that there aren't some excellent prospects among the guys.

There's Mountain State Academy point guard Noah Cottrill, who was offered scholarships by WVU, Marshall and Florida before giving the Mountaineers a verbal commitment.

There's South Charleston's Blake Brooks, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman who is getting lots of Division I-A interest.

There's Riverside's Raheem Waiters, 6-2, 175-pound wide receiver who already has verbally committed to Marshall.

And there's Bridgeport's Wes Tonkery, 6-1, 175-pound defensive back who has verbally committed to WVU, according to ScoutWVPreps.com.

But will any of those guys -- or their male brethren -- be recruited more heavily than Huntington High girls basketball star Whitney Bays?

No way, Josephina.

The 6-2 forward is being sought by every -- repeat, every -- big-time women's collegiate program in the country.

There hasn't been a West Virginia athlete with this sort of consensus recruiting since. ... well, since 2004 when every school wanted a girls basketball star named Alexis Hornbuckle.

The South Charleston star eventually signed with Tennessee, leading the Volunteers to a national championship her senior season.

And the year after Hornbuckle -- 2005 -- yet another female athlete was the most sought after prospect in West Virginia.

This time it was South Charleston point guard Renee Montgomery, who signed with UConn and led the Huskies to the 2009 national championship.

So, you see, the girls have been dominating the West Virginia prep scene consistently.

The only recent exception was 2007 with O.J. Mayo and Patterson at Huntington High, along with Parkersburg football star Josh Jenkins.

Otherwise? Girls have ruled.

So, guys, it is indeed time to man up.

Peyton, Eli, Archie. ... all the Manning you can muster.

Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.

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