by Jamie Harris

The Paw Paw Pirates delivered a performance for the ages at the WVSSAC Class A State Track and Field Championships, powered by two exceptional seniors whose efforts etched their names into program history.

Leading the charge was Shayla Tanouye, who closed out one of the most decorated careers the school has ever seen with a breathtaking all-around performance, while Joselyn Smith secured All-State honors and anchored the Pirates in the field events.

Together, their efforts propelled Paw Paw to a tie for 10th place overall with 31.5 points, standing tall among the state’s elite programs in a meet won by Wheeling Central Catholic.

Although she did not repeat as a state champion in either the long jump or 300-meter hurdles, Shayla Tanouye proved once again that she is one of the premier athletes in West Virginia, delivering elite performances across four events.

Tanouye finished: Second place – 100-meter hurdles; second place – 300-meter hurdles; second place – long jump (16-4.75) and sixth place – high jump (4-6).

Her remarkable versatility and consistency allowed her to pile up 26.5 of Paw Paw’s 31.5 total team points, an astonishing contribution that made her the third-highest individual scorer across the entire Class A girls state meet.

In a championship setting where every point matters, Tanouye carried the Pirates into the top 10 almost single-handedly, competing relentlessly from the runway to the track to the high jump pit.

With this performance, she cements her legacy as the most decorated female athlete in Paw Paw High School history, a career defined not only by championships, but by sustained excellence, leadership and dominance across multiple disciplines.

Senior Joselyn Smith added to the Pirates’ success with a powerful showing in the throwing events, earning All-State honors with a fourth-place finish in the shot put (31-3).

Smith also competed in the discus, placing 10th (86-9) and demonstrating her all-around strength and consistency. Her shot put performance contributed valuable points to the team total and underscored her growth into one of the top field event athletes in the region.

Her finish ensured that Paw Paw’s senior class would leave Charleston with multiple All-State recognitions, a fitting end to their careers.

The Pirates saw additional efforts from their lineup:

• Nathan Dick finished 12th in the boys shot put (36-6.25);
• Alexis Kidwell placed 15th in the girls shot put (26-6).

While the spotlight belonged to Tanouye and Smith, these contributions added depth and experience to the Pirates’ state presence.

In a field dominated by some of the state’s deepest and most established programs, Paw Paw’s tie for 10th place stands as a testament to determination, preparation and elite individual performances.

But beyond the team finish, this meet will be remembered for Shayla Tanouye’s unforgettable final chapter, a performance that showcased heart, resilience and unmatched versatility and for Joselyn Smith’s All-State achievement, which added strength and balance to the Pirates’ success.

As these seniors close the door on their high school careers, their impact on Paw Paw athletics is undeniable.

Tanouye leaves behind a standard that future Pirates will chase for years not just in medals and points, but in effort and excellence. Smith departs as a dependable force in the field events and a key contributor to a state-level team finish.

For Paw Paw, this was more than a meet; it was a celebration of legacy, leadership and Pirate pride at its finest.