Mike Carson

Sistersville’s only basketball All-American, Mike Carson (Class of 1969) became one of the most accomplished players in school history. A 6-foot-7 forward, Carson earned multiple national All-American honors, including recognition from Scholastic Magazine and four preseason All-American selections.

He began turning heads as a freshman starter in 1965–66, helping lead the Tigers to the state Class A semifinals. As a sophomore, he exploded offensively — including a 54-point performance against Wirt and a 35-point game against Ravenswood — and went on to average 32 points per game that season, eventually leading the state with a 30.4 average. He averaged 29.6 as a senior.

Carson finished his career with 2,269 points, ranking among Ohio Valley history’s leading scorers at the time, and was heavily recruited nationally before signing with West Virginia University. He remains one of the most celebrated athletes in Sistersville history.

Richard "Radar" Summers

One of the most electrifying scorers in Sistersville High School history, Richard “Radar” Summers left an unforgettable mark on West Virginia basketball. Known for his relentless outside shooting and work ethic — honed on a backyard hoop where the grass disappeared from hours of practice — Summers averaged 38.2 points per game in 1977–78, one of the highest single-season averages in state history.

He famously scored 74 points in one game against Wirt County and once poured in 121 points over two nights. A first-team All-State selection as a senior, Summers finished his career with 1,824 points and went on to play at Concord College before building a successful career in education and coaching.

If a sport had a net, Richard Summers was in his wheelhouse.

Joel Wilson

A powerful and relentless running back, Joel Wilson became one of the most dominant players in Sistersville High School football history. Standing 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds, Wilson rushed for 4,556 career yards, including 2,048 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior. During the 1984 playoffs alone, he piled up 590 yards and nine touchdowns in just three games, leading the Tigers to a state championship.

Wilson was the first Sistersville player to win the prestigious Kennedy Award as West Virginia’s outstanding high school football player. Durable, physical, and nearly impossible to tackle, he was described by his coach as a “runaway train” — a player who simply refused to be brought down.

After high school, Wilson continued his career at the collegiate level, finishing at Glenville State.

Brian Swisher

If Sistersville football in the early 1980s had speed, it had Brian Swisher. A dynamic wide receiver and track standout, Swisher caught at least one pass in all 36 games of his high school career — an Ohio Valley record — and became the first Sistersville player to earn first-team All-State honors three consecutive seasons.

As a senior, he recorded 59 receptions for 1,009 yards and a state-record 15 touchdown catches, finishing with 147 career receptions for 2,534 yards and 29 receiving touchdowns. He also scored 162 total points as a senior and helped power one of the most explosive offenses in school history.

A state champion sprinter in the 100-meter dash and later a multi-year starter at Marshall University, Swisher’s speed made him one of the most electrifying athletes ever to wear a Sistersville uniform.

C.R. Howdyshell

When Sistersville football needed revival, C.R. Howdyshell helped bring it back to life.

After a difficult 1–9 season in 1977, Howdyshell became the driving force behind one of the greatest turnarounds in West Virginia high school football history. In 1978, Sistersville surged to an 11–1 record, ranked No. 1 in Class A and advanced to the state semifinals.

Howdyshell carried the ball an Ohio Valley–record 389 times for 2,315 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging an incredible 210 yards per game despite missing one contest. He set multiple rushing records, including a 317-yard performance against Gilmer County, and earned First Team All-State honors. He also finished runner-up for the prestigious Kennedy Award.

More than statistics, Howdyshell was a leader. His determination and offseason recruiting efforts helped “unbury” a struggling program and lay the foundation for one of the most dominant eras in Sistersville football history.

Jeff Swisher

Few players in West Virginia history delivered moments like Jeff Swisher.

After scoring three touchdowns as a sophomore in the 1984 state championship game, Swisher went on to build one of the most dominant careers ever at Sistersville. In 1985, he rushed for 1,653 yards and earned First Team All-State honors while helping secure another state title. But his senior season elevated him into legendary territory.

In one nationally recognized performance, Swisher rushed 22 times for 448 yards and nine touchdowns in a single game — a state record at the time and one of the top performances in the nation that season. He finished his career with 5,321 rushing yards and 79 touchdowns, scoring 548 total points, an Ohio Valley record.

A Kennedy Award winner as the state’s best player and the centerpiece of three consecutive state championships, Swisher solidified the Swisher name as one of the most impactful families in Sistersville football history. He later continued his career at Glenville State.

Bill Patterson

Bill Patterson was the definition of a complete athlete.

A key figure in Sistersville’s mid-1970s resurgence, Patterson excelled in both football and basketball, becoming the first Sistersville athlete since Kenny Mikes to earn First Team All-State honors in two sports during the same academic year. He was First Team All-State in football in 1974 and 1975 and earned First Team All-State basketball honors in 1976 after a standout junior and senior campaign.

On the basketball court, Patterson averaged 22.7 points and 16.1 rebounds as a senior, leading Sistersville to a 22–3 record and serving as team captain. In football, he was a dominant defensive end, recording 11 sacks as a junior and helping power an 8–2 team — the program’s best record in a decade at the time.

Whether as a scorer, rebounder, defender, or relentless pass rusher, Patterson consistently delivered. He later continued his career at Salem College, finishing with over 1,000 collegiate points.

No matter the sport, Bill Patterson could play it — and play it very well.