Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 12, 1994 TAG: 9401120038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. Dougherty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
They went into the water. The 36-degree water of the New River, that is.
It was the New River Scuba Center of Christiansburg's third annual New Year's Day Plunge. "We had pretty good numbers, and we had a lot of surface support," said DIANE BOURNE of the scuba center. "Somebody came up with the idea of going diving on the first day of the year, and it caught on."
The six divers were the most participants in the history of the event. In 1992, four dove. Last year, five entered the water.
Divers who braved the cold this year were MIKE BOURNE of Christiansburg and the scuba center; CONNIE QUESENBERRY of Christiansburg; JIM COLLEY of Pearisburg; JAMES ARMENTROUT of Radford; WAYNE AKERS of Pulaski; and TOM COLEMAN of Salem.
The divers went into the river at the center's training spot below the Peppers Ferry Bridge on Virginia 114. The air temperature was as warm as it would get all day; but at 35 degrees, it still was colder than the water.
The divers spent 35 minutes in the river. During the dive, they spotted catfish swimming around and bream hiding on the bottom.
Of course, the divers prepared for the cold. Five wore dry suits to ward off the elements.
Meanwhile, Coleman dove wearing a wet suit, which allowed him to experience the coldness of the water. And he seemed to enjoy it. "He didn't want to get out," Diane Bourne said.
The surface support group consisted of five people, including Diane Bourne. They videotaped the entire expedition. They cheered when the divers entered the water. They cheered when the divers emerged from the depths of the New River. And most importantly, they built a fire so the divers could warm up after their New Year's Day celebration.
\ BASKETBALL BOUNCES: Craft's Crew tied the Pulaski Parks and Recreation Department record for consecutive wins with its 36th straight - a 102-58 defeat of Bad Boys. DOREA JONES led Craft's with 32 points, while BOBBY HUNTER added 26 and DAVID SMITH, 19.
The victory kept Craft's Crew (5-0) tied for second in the league with Athletes Choice.
Stevens Funeral Home (7-0) won twice to stay on top. Former Pulaski County High and Radford University standout RON SHELBURNE and RANDY OLVERSON helped Stevens rally from a 21-point halftime deficit to beat Satellite Services, 69-66. In its next game, Stevens pulled away late to down Pepsi Cola, 66-55.
Athletes Choice stayed unbeaten as WATER BROOKS scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half in a 78-65 win over C&L Campers.
In other action, EDDIE SLOSS and MIKE SAMSON each topped the 40-point plateau. Sloss scored a league-high 42 to lead fourth-place Slam Dunk Cards (5-1) over Coca-Cola, 118-66. Samson scored 41 against Satellite Services but it wasn't enough as Pulaski Hospital fell, 68-67.
Samson did help Pulaski Hospital gain its first victory of the season as it beat McDonald's, 64-63, in overtime. Samson's pair of free throws sent the game into the extra period, in which he made four baskets. McDonald's later won its first game of the season, downing Pepsi Cola, 79-74. RYAN BLACKBURN and MIKE WORRELL each scored 16 to lead a balanced attack for McDonald's.
Roundball action began in Blacksburg with Men's A League games last weekend. The Team, First National Bank and London Underground all emerged victorious. London Underground's QUINTON NOTTINGHAM scored a league-high 31 in the opening weekend.
Others scoring 20 or more included LLOYD ZELAZNY, who had 23 for The Team; MIKE CLENDING, with 23 for Big Tools; TIM MCGUIRE, who poured in 20 for First National Bank; and DAVE HERBSTER, who had 20 for P.K.'s.
\ IN BLACKSBURG: The aquatic center will be open special hours this month: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. Sundays. The facility will close at 3 p.m. Wednesday and Jan. 21 for swim meets. For more information about aquatic center programs, call TERRI KIRK at 961-1852.
For information about any Blacksburg recreation or community center programs, call PHIL CONNER at 961-1135 Monday-Thursday afternoons and evenings.
\ IN CHRISTIANSBURG: Registration continues for an April 17 trip, sponsored by the Recreation Department, to the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina. Cost is $45; anyone under 21 must be accompanied by a paying adult. For more information on this or other programs, call CHUCK MUNCY at 382-2349.
\ INFORMATION, PLEASE: Community Sports notebook is here to let people know what is happening in valley recreational sports, so help us help you by letting us know what you know.
Write to us at the Roanoke Times & World-News, New River Valley Bureau, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073. Or you can drop off information at our office at 114 Peppers Ferry Road, across from New River Valley Mall, or fax it to us at 381-1656.
Include first and last names, and please include a contact phone number. Information must be received by Thursday at 5 p.m. to appear in Community Sports the following Wednesday.
by CNB