Play by Play coming soon.....

Click on photo below to watch the preview....{click on mid-def for better resolution}...ENJOY!!!

First Week of Football Training Camp

In Derrick's own words...."it's hard". But the hard work will go a long way for this crew. Coach Roger Waialae is paying close attention to the details and enforcing the discipline needed for this team to succeed. Full Story HERE
As a mom far away from her son at college, I'm totally loving the documentation on the team's new blog, the Hilltopper Huddle. I won't miss a thing with his season except for him of course. In the meantime, enjoy some of the selected images of Derrick. Thanks photogs for your documentation. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season!!! and for the guys on the gridiron, keep working hard!!!

Hilltopper Football Schedule...

The HillToppers Football Schedule
Aug 29, 2009 AT Edinboro Edinboro, PA 1:30 PM
Sep 5, 2009 VS Walsh West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Sep 12, 2009 VS Lake Erie West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Sep 19, 2009 AT WV Wesleyan Buckhannon, WV 1:00 PM
Sep 26, 2009 VS Fairmont West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 3, 2009 AT Glenville Glenville, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 10, 2009 VS WV State (HOMECOMING) West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 17, 2009 AT Shepherd Shepherdstown, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 24, 2009 AT Charleston Charleston, WV 2:00 PM
Oct 31, 2009 VS Seton Hill West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Nov 7, 2009 VS Concord West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM

Derrick starts as HillTopper today {Div II Collegiate Football}

Derrick Rovira, an all state football defensive player from Weir High, WV will begin his adventure as a West Liberty State College HillTopper today.

News from the Hilltoppers athletic Site:
(news conference with Coach Waialae currently being featured)

West Liberty Picked to Contend for WVIAC Grid Crown

Hilltoppers among six teams receiving first-place votes in coaches’ poll

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Coach Roger Waialae’s West Liberty squad was one of six football teams to receive at least one first-place vote here Saturday afternoon when the results of the West Virginia Conference’s annual preseason coaches’ poll were announced.

The only WVIAC team with winning records in each of the past four seasons, the Hilltoppers were ranked fourth in one of the most tightly-packed preseason polls in years.

Defending champion Glenville State was the No. 1 pick of the nine coaches with four first-place votes. The next five teams – Charleston, Seton Hill, West Liberty, Shepherd and Fairmont State – all received one first-place vote to form a virtual logjam just behind the Pioneers. West Virginia State, Concord and West Virginia Wesleyan rounded out the poll.

West Liberty must replace All-Region running back Branden Ore, All-American cornerback Darren Banks and record-setting placekicker Billy Hager but Waialae believes his Hilltoppers will be able to show the league coaches that they’re better strategists than prognosticators.

“We did lose three of our top players,” Waialae said, “but this is probably the best team I’ve had coming back since I came here. For the first time, we won’t have to play a lot of freshmen and sophomores. We’re going to be a junior- and senior-laden team and I’m excited about that.

“We have Zach Amedro coming back healthy for his junior season at quarterback. Zach played hurt most of last year but he’s still thrown for more yards in his first two seasons than anyone in the history of our league. Eddie Hills is back. He led the conference in receiving last year as a wide receiver after putting up back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his first two years.

“We have eight starters coming back on defense, which is tremendously important in this league. Our inside linebackers – Nick Harding and Clay Beeler – were the top tacklers in the WVIAC last season. We have just about everybody back except Darren in the secondary and I think we’re going to be better up front.”

Waialae said a strong recruiting class with a good mix of collegiate transfers and high-profile freshmen could be the key to taking West Liberty from second place – its home for the past three seasons – to first.

“We needed to do a better job of protecting our quarterback and pressuring the other team’s quarterback,” Waialae said, “so we made a big push to recruit offensive and defensive linemen and I think it paid off.

“The most improved area of our football team is our offensive line. Guys who started every game for us a year ago will be fighting to keep those jobs this month. We’re deeper and faster on the defensive line, as well. We could rotate as many as 12 defensive linemen every game. We’ve done a lot of good things at West Liberty over the past four seasons. Now it’s time to take that next step.”

More of the story.... click HERE

The HillToppers Football Schedule
Aug 29, 2009 AT Edinboro Edinboro, PA 1:30 PM
Sep 5, 2009 VS Walsh West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Sep 12, 2009 VS Lake Erie West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Sep 19, 2009 AT WV Wesleyan Buckhannon, WV 1:00 PM
Sep 26, 2009 VS Fairmont West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 3, 2009 AT Glenville Glenville, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 10, 2009 VS WV State (HOMECOMING) West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 17, 2009 AT Shepherd Shepherdstown, WV 1:00 PM
Oct 24, 2009 AT Charleston Charleston, WV 2:00 PM
Oct 31, 2009 VS Seton Hill West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM
Nov 7, 2009 VS Concord West Liberty, WV 1:00 PM

Good Luck Derrick!!!! See you on the gridiron!!!

Who will be the best this year???

National Discussion About the 2009 HS Football Season - Who will be the best this year? http://bit.ly/BestFB2009

If your son is a Senior this coming football season, and is totally interested in playing college ball, don't wait for the recruiters....start the recruiting process now. But here is a tidbit....start the recruiting process earlier in their Sophmore year....this gives recruiters a few years to eye up his stats and get some games viewed. Good luck this year!!!

A peek of "GridIron Supremacy"...

completion coming soon, real soon...promise!!! Working on the details!!!

Derrick Rovira signs Letter of Intent with West Liberty State College

Derrick Rovira of Weir High School, Weirton, WV signed his letter of intent with West Liberty State College of West Virginia. He recorded in his senior year with the Red Riders, 124 tackles {individual leader on team), 12 QB Sacks, 24 Stops for Loss, 6 forced fumbles, 1 safety on defense; and with 801 yards rushing (second lead on the team) with 11 TD's. He received West Virginia AA First Team for Defense, a Big 22 candidancy, and the Dapper Dan Athletic Achievement award. In speaking with West Liberty's head coach Roger Waialae today, he said that he is very excited to have Derrick on board with the HillToppers. As well, you can't imagine how all of us are feeling right now. We are all very proud of Derrick's accomplishments and absolutely cannot wait for the football season to start again!!! And you know what the best part of all this is, their colors are black and gold!!!! Whoa hoooooo!!!

West Liberty State College participates in the NCAA Division II Football league and the WVIAC Athletic Conference.

42nd annual Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Club’s Charity Awards Banquet.

Derrick Rovira Again.....one of the 13 honorees to receive the Dapper Dan Special Achievement award on February 14th.

The Weir Red Rider defensive lineman earned his second W. Va. Class AA all-state honor this season. The three-year starter has led the team in tackles every year and also played fullback and tight end on offense.

That's my boy!!! Full article can be viewed HERE.

Derrick Rovira, #1 Seed in West Virginia

(photo by Mike Mathison, sports editor, Weirton Daily Times)

My son, Derrick Rovira, never seizes to impress me. It does break my heart that I'm not able to attend every football game or every wrestling match, and even see who he takes to the high school dances. But he knows I'm always cheering for him, even if it is all the way out here in California. But last weekend, my boy finally made the headlines...despite the fact that he only took 3rd at his latest wrestling tournament, he did have the opportunity to wrestle the best in the Ohio Valley.

Article from the Weirton Daily Times, written by sports editor, Mike Mathison:
WHEELING — Weir High’s Derrick Rovira is the No. 1 seeded wrestler in the state of West Virginia at 215 pounds. But, in last weekend’s Ron Mauck Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Wrestling Championship, Rovira was the No. 5 seed in the same weight class. “I was actually kind of happy,” Rovira said of his OVAC seeding. “Coach (Ray Pernell) put me in a good spot.” Rovira ripped through his first three opponents, pinning Cambridge’s Keith Doty in 21 seconds, Edison’s Brandon Bradley in 1:17 and earning a 11-6 decision over John Marshall’s Sam Gilmore, the No. 4 seed. He then had to take on No. 1 seed and friend Branko Busick in the semifinals. “It didn’t really matter to me when I wrestled Branko,” said Rovira. “I might as well wrestle the best early. It wasn’t tough wrestling Branko. I just kind of forgot we were friends. “This is really good competition to get ready for regionals and states.” Busick won, 16-5, and then beat St. Clairsville’s Levi Holcomb for the title. Rovira moved onto the third place match against Monroe Central’s Schuyler Bondy, the No. 2 seed. He pinned Bondy in 4:21. “I thought we were in pretty good position as the fifth seed,” Pernell said. “I knew if we did well we would face Branko in the semifinals. But, you can only get better when you wrestle the best. “Branko is one of the top wrestlers. “It paid off because Derrick came back through the losers bracket and finished third.” Rovira pinned No. 8 seeded Dave Vaughn of Shadyside in the consolation semifinals in 2:59. He finished 4-1 in the tournament with three victories by fall. That’s pretty impressive stuff for a guy who has been wrestling at the high school level for the last two years. Rovira finished third a year ago at the state tournament. He dropped a 5-4 decision to Point Pleasant’s Casey Hogg in the quarterfinals and fought his way back to beat St. Marys’ C.D. Cox 11-8 for third place. Currently, Hogg is ranked No. 3 at 285 and Cox No. 4 at 189. The Red Riders senior is 25-2 four weeks before the regional tournament Feb. 20-21 at Tyler Consolidated High School. “Derrick’s confidence should be up there, but we have to forget about this next week and get back to work,” said Pernell. “Last year at this time is when he started to improve. “Hopefully we can keep it going. “As long as my assistant (son Justin Pernell) keeps pounding on him, keeps working him, making him run and working hard, he’ll improve. And, he’ll do that. “I feel this is the tournament for kids to see how they are doing. If you place here, you are doing well. For him being two years in and to finish third is great (Rovira went 2-2 at the 2008 OVAC and did not place). “He works hard. “If we continue to work hard, trying to improve each day we’ll be OK. If we are happy with what we did here, we’ll be in trouble. “But, he won’t be that way. He’ll keep working.” (Mathison can be contacted at mmathison@heraldstaronline.com)

Very very proud of you Derrick!!!