June 3 Edition
The Bridgeport News

by Jeff Toquinto
News Editor

During the fall, Alex McElfresh made an impact on the
Bridgeport boys soccer team. Phillip McElfresh
impacted the BHS football team during that same time of the year.
When the two got together in the spring for an effort
on the track field, good things happened. The twins,
who helped lead Bridgeport to a fifth place finish in
the recent Class AAA state track meet, signed last
week to compete for the track and field program at
West Virginia Wesleyan College.
That should be good news for the Bobcats. While at
BHS, the McElfresh's were dominant on the track.
Phillip has school records in the 100 and 200 meter
dashes, as well as being part of the school record
setting 4x100, 4x200 and shuttle hurdle relay teams.
Not coincidentally, Alex is part of the 4x100 and
4x200 record setting teams.
Now, the pair will be heading to Buckhannon. And for a
while, that wasn't a guarantee.
"I just didn't think I'd have time for sports at
college, but when (WVWC) coach (Jesse) Skiles asked me
to do a tour of Wesleyan, things changed," said
Phillip. "I decided that if I was going to run, I'd
run for coach Skiles because he's like (BHS) coach
(Jon) Griffith. He can be your coach and your friend."
Alex's decision to go to WVWC was based on a similar
story. Like his brother, he was looking at West
Virginia University and other schools before running into Skiles.
"He talked to me about doing the decathlon and
considering Wesleyan," said Alex. "I put the
information together in an application to the school
and was accepted. After that, I visited the school. I
liked the school, coach Skiles and how they made you
feel at home. Coach Skiles makes this all work."
For both, it should really feel like home. The pair
will be roommates, along with fellow BHS graduate
Grant Burton, who also will run track at WVWC.
Even though the pair are comfortable with their
selection, both know they have plenty of work to do.
Competition at the NCAA Division II level won't be easy.
For Phillip, the goal will be improving on events he's
already familiar with. He'll e looking at the 100, 200 and 4x100.
"He puts in lots of hours in the off season getting
stronger, more flexible and quicker," said Griffith.
"He needs to keep doing all the things he has been
doing. His biggest challenge may be patience. It may
take a year or two to work into a starting role for coach Skiles."
He'll also need some patience with his school work.
Phillip is taking part in a 3-2 program at West
Virginia Wesleyan. The program has him in Buckhannon
for three years studying engineering and physics and
then going to the University of Virginia for two years
to get his master's degree.
"Along with a lot of studying and hitting the books,
I've got to hit the weights and get bigger and get my
times down on the athletic side," Phillip said. "At
the college level you've got to have good times or
your not competitive."
The role Alex will likely take with the Wesleyan track
program is different. While working with sprints at
BHS, that may only be part of the effort at WVWC as
Skiles has asked him to entertain competing in the
decathlon. That event is not part of the prep track landscape.
"I know he will work very hard to master the events in
the decathlon and improve his performances," said
Griffith. "He will need to work on his endurance for
the 1,500 meter as well as learning a lot about field
events and how to hurdle."
The only aspect Alex is completely familiar with is
the sprint events in the decathlon. The other events -
including high jump, javelin, pole vaulting - are all new.
"It's a new experience," said Alex. "I'm honored to be
asked by coach Skiles to come to the program so I'll
do anything they ask me to do."
Alex will also be involved in a science-related field
at WVWC. He'll be studying chemistry with the hope of
getting into pharmacueticals, bio chemistry or even
into research and development..
"As much as I look forward to track and the work I'll
be doing to strengthen my legs and overcome my massive
hamstring problems, I chose Wesleyan because it was a
small school with good academics," said Alex. "I enjoy
the academic side of things, particularly the
sciences, and Wesleyan offers a strong academic challenge."