Front (L to R) Kara Brown(mother), Deke Brown, Keith Brown (father)
Back Charlestown Football Coach Jason Hawkins

Last night while surrounded by family, friends, and coaches, Charlestown senior Deke Brown signed his celebratory letter of intent to attend school and play football at Hanover College in the fall.

Nestled in 650 acres of a wooded campus and located on the banks of the scenic Ohio River, Hanover College is a private, liberal arts institution where brains and beauty truly intersect. Their rigorous interdisciplinary academic program with 34 majors attracts the best and the brightest from across the region and beyond.

Hanover College competes at the NCAA Division III level in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, including Anderson University, Bluffton University (Ohio), Defiance College (Ohio), Earlham College, Franklin College, Hanover College, Manchester University, Mount St. Joseph University (Ohio), Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology & Transylvania University (Ky.) Hanover is home to twenty varsity sports including men’s and women’s basketball,  cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field, men’s baseball, football and swimming, and women’s softball and volleyball.

Brown, who played linebacker for the Pirates and has etched his name into the record books for as one of the top three tacklers in Charlestown history, will major in secondary education with a focus on history. When asked about his choice to play at Hanover College with the Panthers, Brown replied, “I was impressed by Hanover’s football program and I know I’ll get a great education.”

Charlestown football coach Jason Hawkins told those in attendance at the signing that he expects big things for Brown at Hanover and said, “Deke was incredibly hard working all four years of high school football and he not only got better, but he made those around him better. He never complained about his role, practices, or anything else. He has just came out and went to work. We are very proud of Deke and wish him well as he continues his football and academic career at Hanover College.”

WPMQ, The Pirate Network congratulates Deke and wishes him a healthy and prosperous future as a Hanover College Panther.

Article contributed by WPMQ, The Pirate Network staff member Gracie Snell.

Charlestown Pirate Football (3-6) will begin 2020 IHSAA Class 3A Sectional #31 play this Friday, October 23rd, hosting the Pirates of Greensburg HS (5-4) in the Bone Yard.

Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm this Friday (instead of the usual 7:00 pm) and tickets are only available through the GoFan app at www.gofan.co/app/events/119064.  Football Sectional tickets are $6.00 each.

The winner of Friday’s Sectional #31 first round game will face the winner of the Franklin County (4-2) at Batesville game (4-5).

As a reminder, due to COVID-19, the proper wearing of face masks is requested when moving throughout the stadium, between your seat and the entrance.  Please exercise social distancing when selecting a seat in Dutch Reis Field.

IHSAA Post Season Contest Restrictions:
1.  Banners and posters are not allowed.
2.  No battery powered or electronic noise makers, fireworks, recorded music, sirens or whistles are allowed.
3.  Throwing of articles, including toilet tissue and baby powder, is not allowed.
4.  No live animal mascots are permitted at anytime.
5. The facility should be as neutral as possible without any enhancements that emphasize a home team.

The following Event Guidelines for Friday’s football contest; Charlestown Pirates at the Brownstown Braves has been issued by the Brownstown Central HS Athletic Department.

Unfortunately, NO TICKET PRE-SALES will be available through Charlestown HS.

Attendance Guidelines:

Masks will be required to enter all events. Fans will be expected to wear their masks unless seated and social distanced. Masks must be worn when not seated and moving around the facility. Fans will be expected to wear their masks unless seated and social distanced. Immediate family and those who rode to the game may sit together.

Masks may be purchased at the ticket gate for $1.

Fans experiencing Covid symptoms should not attend.  Fans are asked to bring exact change at all ticket gates to limit the exchange of cash between patrons ($5 admission).

Sanitation stations will be available at ticket gates, concessions stands, press boxes, and restrooms.

All spectators must exit the facility at the event’s conclusion. Fans transporting participants should wait for them at their vehicles in the parking lot.  Social distancing marking will be used at ticket gates, concessions areas, and restrooms.

Football Seating Capacities:

Spectator seating capacity:  Home – 250  /  Visitors – 250  Ticket Sales – Admission gates will open 1 hour before event begins.  Vouchers will be distributed in advance to home and visitor participants’ families. Visitors’ vouchers may be redeemed to purchase a ticket at the North gate.  Visitors should park in the main school lot off Elm Street (north of FB field).  Spectators are permitted to bring lawn/bag chairs to sit on grassy areas around the facility to promote social distancing.  No pass-outs policy will be in place, encouraging one-way traffic before and after games at ticket gates.

Restroom Facilities are available at the visitor’s side and the home side of the field.

Concessions stands are available at the visitor’s side and the home side of the field.

Football fans across the nation have long been acquainted with helmet stickers. For over 40 years, they have been used in college football–and more recently some high schools–to signify special achievements on offense, defense, and special teams. Many young players have grown up watching college football and recognize the buckeye tree leaf of Ohio State, the paw of the Clemson Tiger, or the tomahawk of the Florida State Seminoles and think to themselves how cool it would be to earn something so simple, yet so meaningful to represent their work in the sport. 

Sometimes, however, helmet stickers mean something much more than those tackles and touchdowns. Tonight when our Pirates take the field, fans should pay close attention to two stickers that have been affixed to their helmets for the 2020 season. The first of those stickers is the #5 in memory of Pirate football great Tyler Odle, who tragically passed away in a car accident in May. Playing for the Pirates from 2009-2012, Odle broke the record for Most Receiving Yards in a Career (1,964), Most Receptions in a Career (110), Most TD Receptions in a Career (26), Most TD Passes Caught in a Season (14), and Most Receptions in a Game (12). The Odle family would like to thank the entire community and Pirate family and issued the following sentiment: “Tyler meant the world to us and we will forever be saddened by his loss! We are beyond grateful that his legacy will always be honored in our town.”  It should also be mentioned that the #5 jersey will not be worn in 2020. 

The second sticker is comprised of a Charlestown Pirate, a Clarksville General, and a black ribbon accented with blue for Charlestown, yellow for Clarksville, red for Parkinson’s disease, and a DH in honor and memory of the late Coach Dennis Hawkins, father of Pirate coach, Jason Hawkins. Dennis Hawkins was the head coach at Clarksville High School for 25 years, leading the Generals to over 100 victories, several Mid Southern Conference championships, three sectional titles in 1985, 1997, and 1999, and the state championship in 1997 where they finished runners up. The stickers were designed by WPMQ staff members on the vision of football parents and were their gift to the football program. The Hawkins family was truly touched by the thoughtfulness of the gesture and said, “Our dad loved football, especially Clarksville and Charlestown football. He passed away on August 4th with Parkinson’s. The family would like to thank the football players for wearing the sticker and all those who helped make and buy them. We appreciate you all honoring Coach Hawkins’ legacy.”

Story contributed by WPMQ Staff

Last night, Sam Burns of the Pirate football team signed to play football for Wisconsin Lutheran College in front of family, friends, and coaches.

Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) is an independent, nationally ranked Christian college in Milwaukee that serves 1,200 traditional undergraduate, adult, and graduate students through its on-campus and online programming. The college, which prepares students for lives of Christian leadership, is recognized for its academic excellence and superior student experience. Caring, Christian faculty work directly with students, who benefit from numerous research, service, and co-curricular opportunities designed to enhance academic and spiritual growth.

Wisconsin Lutheran College athletic department sponsors 16 (8 men / 8 women) varsity sports, competing at the NCAA Division IiI level. Known as the Warriors, Wisconsin Lutheran College is a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). The NACC began its first season of competition in the fall of 2006, then known as the Northern Athletics Conference. The conference consists of 13 private colleges and universities from the shared-border states of Illinois and Wisconsin, all of which are NCAA Division III members.

When asked about deciding on his future as a Warrior, Sam said, “The reason I chose Wisconsin Lutheran was because their facilities, dorms and football staff were extremely nice and felt like home. The signing process was fun. I had a great time. The staff at Wisconsin Lutheran was very helpful to give me the signing paper and I am glad to have this opportunity to continue playing football while also getting my education.”

Pirate football coach Jason Hawkins said, “Sam has done a great job transforming his body into a player that can play at the next level. He had a very good senior year and is a great kid. We will miss him.”

The Charlestown High School athletic department and WPMQ, The Pirate Network congratulates Sam and wishes him a healthy and prosperous future as a Warrior!

Article and photo contributed by WPMQ staff.