Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 23, 1993 TAG: 9305230103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
In the boys' competition, Tiki Barber and Ronde Barber of Cave Spring - the first juniors to win when they shared the award last year - are among the top contenders again, so for the first time, there is a chance at a repeat.
After the winter sports season, the Barbers had heated competition from Glenvar's Brandon Semones. It seemed as if it would be a three-way race among the Barbers and Semones.
Since spring sports began, though, more athletes have joined what will be a very tight competition.
The Barber twins are having a tremendous track season. However, Tiki is running injured with a pulled hamstring and sore ankles left over from football. Ronde is not hampered by injuries.
Regional and state track competition begins in the next two weeks. That's where the Barbers pulled away to win last year's award.
Semones gave up running track because of a pulled hamstring last year. He is playing baseball but has not been outstanding. If Semones wins, he will have to do it on the strength of being Timesland's defensive football player of the year and wrestler of the year.
It's also possible that one Barber might win instead of again sharing the award with his twin.
There are at least four other boys making moves. Northside's Kelly Dampeer, a solid hitter in baseball, a steady performer in basketball and an All-Timesland defensive back, is in the race as is Alleghany's Michael Hunter, an All-Timesland basketball player, a quarterback in football and one of the better Group AA track performers.
There are two outstanding juniors. William Fleming's Eddie Jones is having a solid spring hitting baseballs; he was an All-Timesland wrestler and a second-team All-Timesland running back in football. Tunstall's Khris Law was an All-Timesland return specialist and one of the Piedmont District's top basketball scorers. He is also the offensive leader for Tunstall's unbeaten baseball team.
Among the girls, Blacksburg's Katie Ollendick and Salem's Michelle Harrison were leading coming out of fall and winter competition. This battle figured to come down to spring sports where last year Ollendick was Timesland's girls' track athlete of the year as a junior and Harrison was softball player of the year.
How things have changed.
George Wythe's Eve Kendall, a second-team All-Timesland volleyball and basketball choice, beat Ollendick a few weeks ago in the 400-meter run, which is Ollendick's specialty.
Harrison is having a great softball season, but she is getting strong competition for player-of-the-year honors from two teammates - Yo Helm and freshman Rhonda Rankin - as well as Tunstall's Brenda LaFlamme.
Glenvar's Bobbie Jo Wright, All-Timesland in volleyball, also might make a bid for the girls' athlete-of-the-year award. She was outstanding in basketball and is a candidate for all sorts of softball honors if she leads Glenvar to a third consecutive Group A state title.
\ COACHING FRATERNITY: 'Tis the season for moves, and Grayson County boys' basketball coach Rick Cormany gave up his position a couple of weeks ago to become a guidance counselor at Radford High School.
It might have been a well-timed move because Radford boys' and girls' basketball coach Brenda King has interviewed at Christiansburg for the girls' job. If she should get that position, Cormany might be back in coaching sooner than expected.
"I'm getting married in July, and [my fiancee] has a degree in nutrition from Virginia Tech," said Cormany. "We felt we needed to relocate where she has a chance to find a job or go back to school [to get a degree as a registered dietitian]."
Cormany says he applied for the Radford counselor position before he knew King was contemplating a move.
"I'd be just like everybody else. I'd have to apply for the [Radford] job [if King moves]," Cormany said.
He's not like everyone else, though. In 10 years as a head boys' basketball coach at Rocky Gap and Grayson County, Cormany's record is 160-76 with seven of the teams reaching the Region C tournament.
"When you ask for a counseling position, they ask if you're willing to coach," said Cormany, who answered affirmatively. "Don't read anything into that. I'd like to stay involved in basketball, but I don't have a problem taking a couple of years off and watching [college] practices if the coaches will let me."
Meanwhile, Staunton River boys' basketball coach Eddie Carter interviewed this week for the vacancy at Amherst County. Carter was an assistant coach at that school in the early 1980s, and he still lives in Amherst County. He commutes every day to Staunton River. He is regarded as the leading candidate.
Robert Lineburg, son of Radford football coach Norm Lineburg and assistant basketball coach at Emory & Henry, has applied for the Brookville basketball job.
The interesting thing about this situation is that Robert's brother, Mark Lineburg, is Brookville's head football coach. He was hired with little experience and had a good first season last year, so look for Robert Lineburg to be a a good possibility for the Bees' job.
\ HOW GOOD? The Blue Ridge District might be the strongest overall in state Group AA softball circles. Lord Botetourt coach Andy Ward figures there are five players who merit consideration for player-of-the-year honors.
Everyone knows about Salem's Harrison, Helm and Rhonda Rankin along with Botetourt's Janell Sowers.
The fifth? Ward says first baseman Ashley Moore had a slugging percentage of .913 going into this week with three doubles, two triples, two homers and 22 singles.
by CNB