Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 25, 1993 TAG: 9304250096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Blacksburg's tennis team, led by transfers Marek Pfiel and his brother, Michal, might be Timesland's team to beat. Marek Pfiel also threatens to replace Glenvar's Nick Varney and Salem's Edel Veloso as the area's best boys' tennis player.
Last year, Varney beat Veloso and Cave Spring's Scott Hunter (now graduated) for top honors. Varney, as a freshman, led Glenvar to the Group A state championship while Veloso, a junior, sparked Salem to second in the Group AA ranks.
However, this season is another matter. Glenvar, hurt by injuries and losses from last year's squad, has struggled. Varney also isn't as sharp as he was a year ago.
Veloso has played No. 2 for Salem much of the spring behind teammate David Arnold. Veloso beat Arnold in a challenge match this past week to regain the top position but the two must play once more this spring to determine the final positions.
Meanwhile, the Pfiel brothers, who came to Blacksburg from Utah, have teamed with freshman Robert Gibb and Justin Turner to give the Indians four strong players. Blacksburg beat Salem 5-4 earlier this spring and the two squads have another showdown tentatively scheduled for May 5 in Salem.
Blacksburg is coached by Virginia Tech student Carter Turner, a part-time coach in his first year. Turner played on the 1987 team for Salem coach Dave Petersen.
"That team lost to Langley in the Group AAA finals and it was probably the strongest Salem squad we've had here," Petersen said.
"I think this Blacksburg team and that Salem squad would match up well," Turner said. "I think we have a good chance to win the state. I don't know what the other teams are like, but Salem was state runner-up last year and I think we're as good as they are. I think we can beat them when it comes down to it."
Marek Pfiel, a junior, is in his last year of eligibility after losing credit for some courses he took in Germany. Michal Pfiel is a freshman, which means good things for the Indians for the next few years.
Glenvar lost twice to Group AA Northside, but the Highlanders were without Wes Jones, out with a stress fracture, and Eric Starkloff, who had a sprained wrist. Jones, Starkloff, Varney and Richard Bryant return from last year's top six on the state championship squad along with No. 7 Aaron Johnson.
"For a single A team, we have a strong squad. I don't know if it's strong enough to win the state, but we have a strong enough team to get there," Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said.
The Highlanders were second in Group A for two years before winning last year's title. Varney was the difference in his first year of eligibility.
"Nick and Eric are getting better each week, but they haven't reached the point they were last year. Bryant, Johnson and Jones are playing better than they did last year," Lawrence said.
\ RICHLANDS' UPDATE: Richlands is not expected to name a football coach to replace Dennis Vaught until a new principal is named. Brenda Lawson, who resigned this spring to return to the classroom, will be replaced at the Tazewell County school board meeting on May 10.
"We're in no hurry," Tazewell County School Superintendent Woodrow Mullins said, indicating the new principal would be in charge of hiring a new coach. Mullins added that Lawson's resignation had nothing to do with the issue of Vaught admitting that his team used illegal cleats in the Group AA Division 4 state semifinal game against Salem.
Vaught, a former Patrick Henry coach who was suspended from coaching for the 1993-94 school year because of the state semifinal incident, has been offered a teaching contract. Vaught said this week he intends to sign the contract.
"I cannot guarantee that he will be teaching at Richlands High School. But he'll be teaching somewhere in the county," Mullins said.
The contract would presumably give Vaught tenure in the Tazewell County system and leaves open the possibility that he'll return as a coach for the 1995 season.
\ SOCCER RECORD: When Charles Cunningham scored five goals as Roanoke Catholic beat James River 11-2 in boys' soccer earlier this spring, it was good for a school record. It eclipsed the old mark of four goals by Andy Fox for the Celtics.
\ NEW DIVISIONS: The 28th annual Cosmopolitan Invitational, the longest continual high school track meet of its kind in the state, will have a different divisional setup when it's held next weekend at Salem High.
As usual, the best high school teams and individuals from the Roanoke area will compete. The changes come at the junior high level.
Gone is the old junior high division (seventh through ninth grades). There will be a middle school (seventh and eighth grades) division and a new junior division (9th and 10th graders who don't run in the varsity meet).
by CNB