UPDATED: A generation apart, many connections from 1993 Mustangs to 2016 Final Four Lynchburg-Clay team

It was bound to happen. And we should be glad. It’s a good thing. It’s also a Lynchburg thing. And a Clay Township thing.

“It” refers to the inevitable discussions that began Saturday evening after Coach Matt Carson’s Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs captured the second boys basketball regional championship in school history by defeating Marion Pleasant, 68-50, at the Ohio University Convocation Center.

Only a single generation separates the 2015-16 regional champion Mustangs from the other regional champion Mustangs – the 1992-93 edition coached by Joe Wills, who currently serves as the superintendent of Greenfield Exempted Village Schools.

In fact, some of the current Mustangs were on hand to honor the 1993 Mustangs on the 20th anniversary of that championship season. Lynchburg-Clay hosted a Hall of Fame Night on Jan. 11, 2013 and honored the 1993 Final Four Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs: players Paul Cluxton, John Etienne, Mark Faust, Brian Glover, Tyler Julliard, Greg Koch, Jason McLaughlin, Mark Partin, M.C. Rosselott, Raymond Smith, Richard Warner, Jason West and Chad McConnaughey; coaches Joe Wills, Mark Pierson and Gordon Sininger; cheerleaders and statistician Tara (Davidson) Gragg, Joey (Jackson) Brewer, Stephanie (Allen) Roush, Kristy (Griffith) Warner, Sheizka Komala, Brandy (Soldano) Pitzer, Becky (Soldano) McConnaughey, and Heather (Wallace) Tarr, and adviser Joni Minton.

Following the Mustangs’ March 12 victory, Highland County Recorder Chad E. McConnaughey and I exchanged emails discussing some connections between the two outstanding teams.

Let’s begin with Chad’s thoughts.

“First, Mustang Nation is electric right now,” Chad said after the game.

Now, for a few of Chad’s observations from 1993 to 2016.

• Jason McLaughlin, a player on the 1993 Final Four team, and his son, Eric, who is a member of the 2016 Final Four team.

• 1993 assistant coach Mark Pierson and his son, Devin, who is a player on the 2016 team.

• Devin Pierson’s cousin, Samantha Pierson, is also a current cheerleader.

• Mark Faust was a player on the 1993 Final Four team, and today he is the Lynchburg-Clay athletic director.

• Todd Faust is an assistant coach for the 2016 Mustangs, and he is Mark’s brother.

• 1993 Mustangs’ statistician Tara (Davidson) Gragg’s daughter, Hunter, is a cheerleader for the 2016 team.

• Jesse Mount was the LC scorekeeper in 1993. Jesse is still the LC scorekeeper.

• In 1993, Jesse also served as the team’s bus driver. In 1993, Raymond Smith was the team’s always-hustling point guard on offense and defense. Today, Raymond serves as the team driver. 

• Quintin Smith plays on the jayvee team and is the varsity videographer. He is Raymond’s son.

• In 1993, Jason West was a player for the Mustangs. In 2016, his dad, Gary, is an L-Clay school board member.

• Chad McConnaughey was a player on the 1993 team. Today, he is an L-Clay school board member. Also, assistant coach Jason McConnaughey is his brother.

“It’s just amazing,” Chad noted, then asked: “Have we missed someone?”

I’m sure we have.

Here are a few more connections. (Readers are encouraged to share others by commenting here or emailing me at roryeryan@gmail.com.)

• As a former sports editor, I covered the “Amazin’ Mustangs” of 1992-93. My family attended the Final Four game in March 1993 at St. John Arena. My oldest daughter, Caitlin, was 4 years old. This week, she and her husband, HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha, will cover the 2016 Final Four at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.

I remember driving to Ohio State with my wife, Pam, mother, Rosemary, and two very young daughters, Caitlin and Meghan, in March 1993 to watch Lynchburg-Clay take on New Riegel on a Friday afternoon. The outcome wasn't what we'd hoped, but I recall my mother – who is not a sports fan – saying, "I can see why people get excited over high school basketball."

Ya think?

• In 1993, a Ryan covered the game. In 2016, a Ryan (senior Morgan Ryan) will be in uniform for LC. He scored the final points in the Mustangs’ regional title game March 12.

• In 1993, LC Coach Joe Wills’ brother, famous radio professional Bill Wills, was with WLW Radio in Cincinnati. Today, Bill Wills is with a Cleveland station and the Mustangs will be playing a Cleveland team, No. 8 ranked Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph (21-5).

• I did not own a cell phone in 1993. In 2016, I still do not own a cell phone. Just thought I’d throw that in. I threw away my last cell phone near Cleveland. Seemed fitting.

• Current Lynchburg principal Linda Hatten coached the Lady Mustangs in 1993. (Thanks to Commissioner Tom Horst for pointing this out.)

• Chad McConnaughey, a player on the 1993 team, is married to Becky (Soldano) McConnaughey, a cheerleader on that team. (Funny, Chad may have overlooked this obvious connection!)

• In 1993, the iconic photo of the Mustangs' celebration was of Brian Glover with his arms raised victoriusly. In 2016, HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha captured the iconic image of Josh Ahrmann with arms raised in similar style. (See the photo slideshow with Stephen's Final Four story.)

• In 1993, Lynchburg-Clay AD Glenn Moberly told me the Mustangs were pretty good in the classroom, too, posting a cumulative GPA of 3.2. These 1993 players have gone on to distinguished careers in business, education, public service and other fields.

The 2016 Mustangs also excel in academics. In fact, one player, Noah Scott, has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy, and another, Josh Goble (one of my former players at the Hillsboro Christian Academy), will earn his high school diploma and a college degree at the same time this year. Eight current players are on the LC Honor Roll this year. These are, indeed, fine young men with promising futures.

• Speaking of academics, any reference from me about the 1993 Mustangs would not be complete if I failed to mention Jamie Burton, who served as an unpaid sports photographer and covered several local teams. (Except when they played Wilmington.) In a postseason tribute to his alma mater, Jamie also made mention of a special teacher at Lynchburg, Mr. Jeffrey D. Wolfe, who passed away on Feb. 22, 1993, in the midst of that memorable season. Thanks, Jamie. (You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.)

• In 1993, Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie B. Blankenship called the Final Four game from St. John Arena. In 2016, Ernie’s grandson, Zach Blankenship, will play in the Final Four.

Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about Ernie Blankenship. He hired me in October 1980 at a time when I desperately needed a job. For many years thereafter, Ernie always helped me along the way. He provided good advice, personal and professional references, and somehow managed not to kill me for a late-night testing of the company’s firefighting equipment. Ernie and I talked on the floor of St. John Arena before the Mustangs’ Final Four game against New Riegel. I remember Ernie saying that everyone there really ought to enjoy the moment. Moments like this are rare.

Maybe that’s the message this week for all Lynchburg-Clay fans and all high school sports fans. Enjoy this. It’s very special.

Through hard work, great talent, solid coaching and overall teamwork, the 2016 Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs – just like the 1993 team – have demonstrated what a small school in a small conference can accomplish in Ohio High School Athletics.

Congratulations, Coach Carson and the 2016 Champion Mustangs.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.