Daugherty Family Celebrates Triple Championship Weekend
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WHEELING -- Having just one state championship in the family is enough to make a parent proud.
But what about daughters individually winning two state championships in the same day, coupled with a third daughter helping to coach an NCAA Division II women's basketball team to conference championship less than 24 hours later?
Wheeling Park High School football coach and athletic director Chris Daugherty and his wife Jenna experienced just that situation last weekend, when each of their three daughters brought home a championship trophy.
The challenge for a parent has to be how to give each daughter's event the time, attention and emotion it deserves.
"That is what was so neat from an aspect as a parent," Chris Daugherty explained.
Last Saturday, the Daughertys' oldest daughter Josie, 24 -- a graduate assistant coach with the Fairmont State women's basketball team - was set to coach the team in the Mountain East Conference Basketball Tournament semifinal in Wheeling.
Middle daughter Natalie, meanwhile - a senior at WPHS -- was on the basketball court in Charleston and won the state championship with the WPHS girls basketball team.
At the same time on Saturday, youngest daughter Danielle -- a junior at WPHS -- was in Morgantown with the school's renowned speech and debate team competing for the state championship.
The speech team won its 44th consecutive state championship that day, with Danielle Daugherty taking home an individual state title for humorous/dramatic interpretation.
Chris and Jenna Daugherty were at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center watching Natalie live, but also keeping tabs on their phone as to what was happening at the Fairmont State game with Josie in Wheeling.
No parents or members of the public are permitted to attend or watch the speech and debate competition and Danielle, so they awaited notification from her also by phone.
After Natalie and Danielle won their respective championships, the Daughertys returned home to watch oldest daughter Josie and the Fairmont State girls team win the MEC Championship on Sunday.
"By Sunday at 4 p.m., all the championships were won," Chris Daugherty said. "It has been a blessing, seeing all three of those girls win and realize their dreams.
"To see them come together and have success on the same weekend was special for me and my wife."
While Daugherty himself did not win a state championship as a player, he has won two as a coach - one in football, and one in track.
He noted that all three daughters grew up playing basketball, but as Danielle approached high school she had other dreams.
"She used to play basketball, but when she made the speech and debate team, it was a full-time job," he explained.
Chris Daugherty acknowledges Danielle is the best at arguing.
"She trains everyday after school," he said.
Mom Jenna added she was ecstatic for each of her daughters.
"I'm so happy for each of them for winning and finding their own pathways," she said. "I couldn't be more proud. I definitely envisioned them all three succeeding, but not necessarily in the same weekend.
"We always encouraged them to be the best at what they wanted to do. Anytime they had any worries, we always gave it to God and prayed. That's a big part of our life."
Josie Daugherty was in Wheeling for a few days to celebrate the championship weekend with her sisters and family.
"It's very surreal, and there are so many emotions," she said. "It's a cool feeling. "We are so blessed we all three could be in the position to win championships.
"I decided to come home so that we could do all the emotions and celebrate as a family together."
Josie played two years at Fairmont State before coaching four years at WPHS. This is her first year as a graduate assistant coach at Fairmont State.
"It feels very good," added Natalie Daugherty. "I'm very proud of my sisters -- especially my younger sister. She got first place by herself, as well."
She was caught a little off-guard by her and her sisters all winning championships at the same time.
"No, I didn't expect anything like this to happen at all," Natalie said. "I didn't process that we were all up for championships in the same weekend."
She credited her parents for helping them to achieve.
"My mom always supports me in all I do, especially basketball," Natalie continued. "My dad is a coach, and it's nice to have a coach as a dad in general."
Danielle Daugherty still has a year of high school to go, and she sees herself possibly being captain or a division leader on the speech team.
"That we would all win at the same time was unexpected," she said. "Our family is very busy with all we do. We don't have time to stop and think about things.
"But now thinking we worked very hard and are being recognized. Not just by family members, but by the town as well," she said.