Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180159
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Every other year, Virginia High School League schools that wish to change districts or classifications have until Sept. 30 to make their applications.
In recent odd years, Salem, Northside, George Wythe, Giles and Narrows have made decisions to drop a classification. Fieldale-Collinsville moved up to Group AA.
Those moves were made by school boards or superintendents without public hearings that tend to divide a school community.
Then there is Radford. In the past two odd years - 1989 and 1991 - the Bobcats have remained in the Group AA New River District. That's despite the fact that Radford, with an enrollment of fewer than 500 students, could play in the Group A Mountain Empire District. In both cases, there was a bitter public dispute over whether Radford should leave the New River District and drop to the Group A ranks.
Now it's 1993 and again the Mountain Empire District, New River District, Region C and Region IV are awaiting Radford's decision.
Will the Bobcats stay in Group AA, where they can continue to play traditional rivals but the risk of losing is much greater? Or will they drop to Group A, where their teams would play unfamiliar opponents but would have a better chance to win some titles?
The coaches at Radford, who have been burned for airing their feelings in the past, won't discuss the issue this time.
Dr. Michael Wright, the Radford City schools superintendent, says, "I don't have any information at this time."
Radford principal Buddy Martin, who was the boys' basketball coach in 1989 when this issue first became a heated topic, says he understands that if a vote is needed, "it will take place on Sept. 30 at the regularly scheduled school board meeting."
If Radford drops then, the Mountain Empire District will have roughly four hours to figure out whether it splits or remains one district. Region IV and the New River District will have no time to figure out what they're going to do.
One Mountain Empire athletic director has worked out a new district scenario for Region C:
Hogoheegee - Lebanon, Castlewood, Holston, Patrick Henry-Glade Spring, Northwood, Chilhowie, Honaker and John Battle. (Honaker reportedly wants to return to the Hogoheegee from Region D, and John Battle already has decided to drop from the Group AA Highlands District to Group A.)
Unnamed district 1 - George Wythe, Rural Retreat, Fort Chiswell, Galax, Grayson County, Bland and Rocky Gap.
Unnamed district 2 - Auburn, Giles, Narrows, Shawsville, Floyd County and Radford.
Pioneer District - Remains as is, with Bath County, Craig County, Glenvar, James River, Highland, Parry McCluer and Covington.
The athletic director suggesting this alignment points out that each district would have six football-playing schools. But if Radforddoesn't drop, Region C probably will stay the same.
As for Radford, I'm betting on the status quo. I've been through 1989 and 1991 meetings, and I get no feeling that the Bobcats will change. Of course, in the past two odd years I had the odd notion that Radford would drop and give its athletes a chance to win some state championships.
\ NOT MOVING: Two teams expected to be forced to move because of their enrollments are safe. First, Amherst County, the state's fourth-largest Group AA school, has lost enrollment and dropped from last year's listing of 929 students to 888, athletic director Randy Thomas says.
It was Thomas and others who two years ago said Amherst would top 1,000 students by 1993 and be forced to join the Group AAA Western District. That would have necessitated some fast shuffling by Roanoke Valley District athletic directors whose teams have football and basketball games against Western District teams.
The other school that can breathe a sigh of relief is Powell Valley, the largest school in Group A, with 488 students. Phil Robins, Powell Valley's football coach and athletic director, said Friday the enrollment on opening day was less than 500. That means Region IV will not be gaining a team to replace John Battle - or possibly Radford.
\ PETERSEN LEAVES: Dave Petersen, longtime boys' tennis coach at Salem, has been hired as an assistant principal at Blacksburg.
Coincidentally, when Petersen won his first boys' state team title in the spring, the key to the championship was a 5-4 victory over Blacksburg in a semifinal.
Blacksburg is coached by part-timer Carter Turner. If he doesn't return, will Petersen take over?
"It's my understanding that [Montgomery County school] administrators are not allowed to coach because that's the first thing that would come to everyone's attention," said Warren Murphy, the Indians' athletic director. "For now, Carter Turner is still our coach."
Blacksburg will have a strong team again, though it will be without Marek Pfeil, the Group AA singles champion.
Pfeil, a senior academically, attended school as an exchange student in Germany. Even though he didn't compete in Germany, last year was his fourth year since he enrolled in high school. The VHSL says a student must complete athletic eligibility in four years.
Murphy says that because Pfeil went to Germany voluntarily, the VHSL will not grant him an extra year of eligibility. Still, the Indians have a strong nucleus led by Pfeil's younger brother, Mike.
\ VETTER UPDATE: Coach Stu Vetter has landed yet another outstanding high school player from the state's public schools.
Frankie Johnson, a 6-foot-5 forward who averaged 18 points and was an All-Group AA selection during the 1992-93 season at R.E. Lee-Staunton, has joined Vetter's Prospect Hall basketball team in Frederick, Md.
by CNB