BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. — It was supposed to be a week of celebration at Clay-Battelle High School in Monongalia County but homecoming week activities came to a tragic halt Monday night when student Sydney Rush was killed in a single-vehicle crash.
“She was just a star in everything she did,” said CBHS supporter Joe Statler.
Rush, 16, was the secretary of the CBHS Class of 2015, member of the National Honor Society, Young Life, and 4-H. Sydney was a 2011 state cheerleading champion, a 2013 state track champion in the 4×100 and 4×200, and was awarded “Gloria’s Race” in the 4×100 in 2012 and 2013.
“You could just see the grief on the kids’ faces,” Statler said.
Clay-Battelle has postponed homecoming events, including Friday’s football game with Valley-Wetzel.
“We just thought the kids need some time to handle this in their own way,” football coach Ryan Wilson said.
The game has been rescheduled for Monday while the rest of the homecoming events will be rescheduled for later this fall.
Friends may call at the Tennant Funeral Home in Hundred Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. and Thursday from 2-9 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Sydney Rush Memorial Fund, c/o Huntington National Bank, PO Box 65, Blacksville, WV 26521
State police investigators said Rush was headed westbound on Mason-Dixon Highway when her Volkswagen Beetle ran off the road and hit a tree around 9:15 p.m.