BY KYLE LOVERN
FOR THE MOUNTIAN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK — The second annual Tug Valley Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held before the home football game Sept. 16 with six new inductees receiving the prestigious honor.
A “Meet and Greet” reception began the event with a nice crowd of family members and boosters in attendance. It was followed by the induction ceremony. The event was held at the TVHS cafeteria.
Jeffrey Reynolds, director of the TVHS HOF and Museum served as master of ceremonies for the event. Dr. Doug Ward, principal of the school, gave some opening remarks and stressed the academic success the school has had in recent years.
Two former teammates, who helped lead Tug Valley to back-to-back basketball state championships, highlighted the six inductees. Mikey Newsome and Austin Brewer, important members of the 2012 and 2013 titles, were both inducted into this second group of hall of famers. Both were introduced by their coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson.
Brewer and Newsome played basketball together in Buddy League, AAU, middle school and high school.
Seth Ooten, a 3- sport star and current coach at TVHS, was also inducted. Tristan Bailey Spaulding, who holds the all-time assist record in hoops for the school, entered the HOF. Other inductees included Jonathan Dingess, who played in four sports (including golf) in the mid-2000s, along with former football and baseball coach and former athletic director Tony Clusky. Clusky has the career wins lead for football at TVHS.
Ooten and Bailey-Spaulding were introduced by AD and girls basketball coach Clyde Farley, while longtime assistant coach Tyler Hodge introduced Clusky for his induction. Clusky inducted and introduced Dingess.
Here is a look at the second induction class for 2022, which includes their accomplishments.
AUSTIN BREWER: A member of the 2013 first team All-State Class A Basketball team and was a member of both the 2012 Class AA State Championship Boys Basketball Team and the 2013 Class A State Championship Boys Basketball team. He was also the Player of the Year in 2013 by a couple of regional publications.
TONY CLUSKY: A longtime Tug Valley High School Coach who coached the Panthers Football Program for over eight years over two different terms as the Panthers head football coach. Clusky, the winningest head football coach in school history with a Tug Valley career winning percentage of 66 percent, led the Panthers Football Program to the West Virginia State Football Playoffs on six different occasions. Clusky also served as the Panthers head baseball coach for three seasons and athletic director for 11 years.
JONATHAN DINGESS: A TVHS Class of 2007 graduate, Jonathan was a four-sport standout for the Panthers excelling in football, basketball, baseball and golf. He lettered in basketball and baseball for the Panthers.
MIKEY NEWSOME: A two-time All-State basketball player for the Panthers. He was a member of the back-to-back 2012-2013 State Championship Basketball Teams. Mikey was a member of the first team All-State Class AA Basketball teams in 2012 and first team All-State Class AA Basketball team in 2013.
SETH OOTEN: A Class of 2003 Graduate of Tug Valley High, Seth Ooten was a multiple-sport standout athlete for the Panthers. Ooten was a highly gifted and versatile athlete excelling in football, baseball and basketball for TVHS. He was a four-year letterman in baseball and basketball. Seth was a member of the 2001 Class AA 2nd Team All-State Team in football and led all West Virginia classes in touchdown passes that season with 21. He was a member of the Panther’s 2001 Class AA Boys Basketball State Runner-up Team and was a Class AA All-State Team Honorable Mention recipient in both 2001 and 2002.
TRISTAN BAILEY SPAULDING: A class of 2004 TVHS Graduate, Tristan played four years girls basketball for TVHS and helped lead the Lady Panthers to state tournament appearances in both 2003 and 2004. She was a AA 2nd Team All-State Team Selection in girls basketball in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Tristan was also a member of the 2004 USA Junior National Girls Basketball Team.