Strong advocates of baseball and girls’ basketball are the latest additions to the OVAC Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.

Selected in the “OVAC Family” category is Steve Wojcik, who was not only a well-decorated athlete and a coach but also served the conference for decades, while this year’s “OVAC Contributor” is Mike DelRe, a state championship coach who greatly contributed to the early foundation of girls’ basketball in the conference.

Wojcik and DelRe will be saluted at the 21st OVAC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in August at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling.

Previously announced members of the Class of ’25 were Errin Baynes of Wheeling Park and Alex Young of Indian Creek (2010s Athletes); Clay Tucker of Martins Ferry and Derek Wolfe of Beaver Local (2000s Athletes); Richie Mamie of Bellaire and Chet Pobolish of Buckeye Local (1990s Athletes); Ann Osborne of St. Clairsville and Heath Haynes of Linsly (1980s Athletes); Gary Fonner of Bishop Donahue and Ernie Andria of Wintersville (1970s Athletes), Pat Korsnick of Wheeling Central and Gerald Schultze of Wheeling High (1960s Athletes).

Here’s a look at the latest group of selections:

Steve Wojcik (Wheeling Central Catholic High School, Class of 1969) — When you’ve been around the sport of baseball as a player, coach and commissioner for more than six decades, it’s likely that your resume will be impressive and that’s certainly the case with Wojcik.

In addition to being a standout on the diamond in high school and college with a four-year stint in the minor leagues and a lengthy resume in coaching, Wojcik served the conference for the better part of four decades, first as a member of the OVAC Baseball Committee from 1980-1998 and as the OVAC Baseball Commissioner from 2002-2017.

Known for running the sport with an “iron fist” during his tenure, “Woj” coordinated many aspects including the playoffs, all-star game and all-conference selections. He was also among those responsible for the OVAC Baseball College Showcase which took place for several years at the I-470 Complex in Elm Grove, W. Va.

He began playing the game he loves as an eight-year old and blossomed into a talented player at Wheeling Central where he earned three letters as a left-handed pitcher and first baseman.

Wojcik posted a three-year record of 22-6 on the mound, including 4-2 as a sophomore, 8-3 as a junior and 10-1 as a senior.

He also batted .390 as a senior and was named first team All-West Virginia (one class), co-captain of the All-Valley squad and to the All-West Virginia Catholic Tournament Team. The Maroon Knights won two W. Va. Catholic State Championships during his three seasons.

Wojcik took his talents to the collegiate level where, as freshman at Davis & Elkins, he went 7-2 and earned all-conference honorable mention. He transferred to West Liberty State College and after sitting out a year, he sparkled for three seasons with a 30-6 career pitching record.

That included a 7-0 record as a sophomore, gaining all-WVIAC honors; 8-1 as a junior, repeating as an all-conference selection and helping the Hilltoppers win the WVIAC Championship; and 8-3 as a senior with an overall ERA of 1.00 which ranked sixth nationally in the NAIA. He led WLSC to another conference title and an NAIA Regional berth and was the WVIAC “Pitcher of the Year and an honorable mention NAIA All-American selection. He was a West Liberty Hall of Fame selection in 1997.

Wojcik was signed as a free agent by the New York Mets in 1974 and spent four seasons in the minor leagues (Class A and AA), posting a combined 27-22 record with a 3.74 ERA

He joined the coaching ranks in 1980 as the head coach at Bridgeport High, serving in that role until 1996. He then spent two seasons as the pitching coach at Wheeling Park (1997-98), pitching coach at West Liberty (1999-2006) and finally returning to Bridgeport for three more seasons (2007-09).

Mike DelRe (Moundsville High School, Class of 1965) – His contributions to Ohio Valley Athletic Conference in girls’ basketball go beyond court success. DelRe was also actively involved in establishing the first OVAC Girls Basketball Championships in 1976 while serving as a member of the OVAC Girls Basketball Committee.

DelRe not only started the girls’ hoop program at Madonna High School in 1972-73, he led the Lady Blue Dons to the top of the mountain in 1978 when the Lady Blue Dons captured the West Virginia Class AA State Championship with a spotless 23-0 record, defeating University High by a 65-55 score in the title contest. The team averaged an impressive 85 points per game in the era before the three-point goal was established and the state championship marked the first-ever (Ohio or West Virginia) for an OVAC team in girls’ hoops.

Madonna captured OVAC titles under DelRe in 1977, 1978 and 1979. He coached in the OVAC Samuel A. Mumley All-Star Basketball Game three times (1978, 2002, 2004).

He served two years as the head women’s basketball coach at the College of Steubenville (now Franciscan University) before returning to Madonna.

DelRe also has been involved in athletics in a variety of other roles – starting the volleyball program at Madonna, coaching tennis at Weir, serving as a girls’ basketball assistant for five years at Madonna and as finally as the Director of Athletics at Weir for five years where, although “retiring” in 2017, he’s still heavily involved in the Red Riders’ athletic program.

For his contributions as well as coaching success, DelRe received the Rich Saffield Girls Coach Award at the OVAC Samuel A. Mumley Basketball Classic in 2021.

The Moundsville High graduate earned his bachelor’s degree from West Liberty State College and his master’s from West Virginia University.