Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411170061
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
It depends whom you talk to, but the smart money still says that 11 months from now, the Virginia High School League will OK the switch.
Opponents of the move from the Blue Ridge District are fearful that Region IV will give in to the demands of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. That means those two schools would be placed in the Blue Ridge along with William Byrd, Northside, Salem, Lord Botetourt, Alleghany and Rockbridge County.
If so, that's going to be a super district. What scares some people in the Blue Ridge District is that it will be tougher to get out of the district than out of the regional to the state. The Blue Ridge will be at a disadvantage because it will be so more competitive than other Region IV districts.
There are other opponents to the move. One Region IV basketball coach says he's always dreamed of taking a team to the state's final four. He admits if the Blue Ridge with all its basketball power moves to Region IV, he can forget about the state tournament.
Here's why this move will happen, though. The rest of the state is not going to stand for Region IV to have a membership of 12 teams to fight for state berths while other regions have 18 or more teams.
If the Blue Ridge balks, one high-standing VHSL official says, the Group AA board has the votes to make it happen. The Blue Ridge is too committed to the move to back out now. So listen to the rumors, but realize that balance is coming to the Group AA regional set up. Right now the Blue Ridge is in the catbird seat and is unable to back out.
Now, here's some more on the new alignment. Principals in the Seminole and Piedmont Districts have already decided on a split into three districts. Supposedly, the Pittsylvania County schools - Gretna, Tunstall, Dan River and Chatham - will merge with Altavista, William Campbell, and possibly Nelson County and Buckingham County in forming a new district.
The Piedmont will then consist of Laurel Park, Martinsville, Magna Vista, Patrick County, Bassett and Fieldale-Collinsville. The Seminole will have Staunton River, Liberty, Brookville, Rustburg, Appomattox County, Jefferson Forest and possibly Nelson County.
Now Heritage is ready to drop to Group AA, giving the Seminole another school. Amherst County is expected to have Group AAA enrollment and though the Lancers will ask for an exemption to remain Group AA the way Carroll County did when it had Group AAA enrollment, the Lancers will be denied permission.
Heritage's drop will come just prior to a similar move in the future by E.C. Glass, which is also Group AA in enrollment size.
All this is more reason why the Blue Ridge will have to move.
Here's another scary note. If Heritage and E.C. Glass drop, it means the loss of two more Group AAA schools in this part of the state. Roanoke Valley District schools that have played the two Lynchburg opponents will have to find two teams. That means greater travel.
If William Fleming ever drops to Group AA size, don't bet the Colonels won't drop to Group AA for the same reasons as Heritage is considering such a move - less travel and bigger crowds from visiting schools that are closer to Roanoke or Lynchburg as the case may be.
CHALLENGE TO NERVO: When Glenvar's Trish Nervo tries for her third consecutive Group A cross country state championship Saturday, she could face one of her toughest challengers in Valerie Echevarria of Brentsville District.
Echevarria, only a freshman, has lost only once in a meet that featured many Group AAA Northern Virginia runners.
One thing that is in favor of Nervo is that she's been to the state before and is two years ahead of Echevarria in experience. However, Echevarria might be an athlete who can make the final two years of Nervo's competition in running on a state level very interesting.
FAMILIAR FACES: James River's Doug Ross keeps seeing players trying to beat his team who once looked as if they would help the Knights challenge for the Pioneer District League crown.
The most notable one is sophomore running back Wesley Cox of Lord Botetourt, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards. When his family moved after a fire in their house, they went into the Botetourt zone and he transfered from James River.
When James River played Parry McCluer, Kevin Camp was at linebacker for the Fighting Blues. He once played for James River.
Chris Briggs didn't get a chance to play for the Knights. He intended to when he came from Shawsville where he had played junior varsity football. Before this season started, he returned to the Shawnees and played last week against James River.
Oddly, Ross doesn't worry himself about losing Cox's 1,000 yards. ``We happen to be fairly deep at running back. I wish we had played better defensive against Botetourt, because Cox is the one that hurt us. He's a good player,'' said Ross.
FUTURE OPPONENT: Pulaski County is expecing to lose a football game against Bluefield next year because West Virginia schools renew contracts on odd-numbered years instead of even-numbered as they do in Virginia.
It might be tough for the Cougars to find a game except that they might try to flip-flop dates with Anacostia, D.C., to leave the first week open. Then they can add a game against Richlands for one year as the Blue Tornado might also lose a contest with a West Virginia school.
KEY VICTORY: When Woodbridge beat Stonewall Jackson-Manassas Friday, it set up Pulaski County for another long homestand in the Group AAA playoffs. Stonewall Jackson might have more VHSL rating points than the Cougars, but they won't finish as district champions after the loss to Woodbridge. District championships take precedent over points.
Just as happened last year, Pulaski County will play all regional and the first-round state game in Dublin as long as it is victorious. As has happened the last two seasons, if the Cougars are alive for the state championship game, they'll travel to either the Northern or Central Region.
by CNB