CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. — The Cabell County Board of Education used the opening portion of its Jan. 6 meeting to recognize fall middle‑school athletic champions and Huntington High JROTC Cadet Command Sergeant Major Kiara Figures for winning the 2025 Girls Ultimate Raider State Championship.

Dr. Ashley Stevens introduced the group of winners and invited coaches and student representatives to describe their seasons. "We went 9 and 0, won the Cabell County championship," said Chris Toppins, identified as the head football coach at Barbersville Middle School, describing a season in which his starting defense allowed about "58 points on the season." Toppins credited returning eighth graders and year‑round preparation, including summer conditioning.

Cindy Oxley, the girls and boys tennis coach, told the board her girls’ team has won the county championship three years running and "have not lost a single team match" over that stretch. Captains of the Barbersville Middle School cheer team described daily practices and dedicated coaching, and several coaches and parents praised student commitment across sports.

Cadet Command Sergeant Major Kiara Figures, of Huntington High’s JROTC, told the board the program "has been such a big thing in my life" and thanked instructors she said "pour absolute their entire heart and soul into this program." The board said photos would follow the presentation and noted upcoming Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) forums on Jan. 13 (Huntington High) and Jan. 22 (Cabell Midland).

The recognitions occupied the early portion of the meeting; no formal board action was required for these acknowledgements.