Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9412230081
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Highlanders used a tremendous finish in spring sports last year to win the Group A cup that is symbolic of team athletic supremacy and is based on how a school finishes in state tournament play.
Glenvar won Group A state baseball and boys' tennis in the spring while the softball team made the semifinals. That was enough for a 60-point victory over Powell Valley.
Now the Highlanders have another Group A golf title in the bag, just as they did last year when they started on the way to taking the Central Fidelity Cup.
``I think [winning another cup] is a goal we all have. We realized the golf and tennis teams have almost everybody back,'' said Glenvar athletic director Roger Martin.
Last year's victory might not have come about had it not been for the baseball team winning a Group A title. That is not likely to happen this year.
``We do have a lot of players back except for [pitcher] Jason Anderson, catcher Joey Hutton, second baseman Tim Carroll, third baseman David Henderson and Rob Robinson in the outfield. We think we can do well again, but it would be an overachievement to get back in the state in baseball,'' said Martin.
Still, girls' basketball has nearly everyone back and earned points by reaching the state tournament a year ago. Now the Highlanders are in the opposite bracket from Timesland's No.1 team, defending Group A state champion Floyd County. So the Highlanders have the potential to score more Central Fidelity points in girls' basketball than last year.
Ditto for the softball team with All-Timesland pitcher Amy Layman back. The Highlanders have a history of winning state softball titles and that's not out of the question next year.
The boys' basketball team has a shot at doing well, and a trip to the state tournament won't be out of the question. That would make for some of the points that might not be earned in baseball.
Another spot for extra points might come in girls' track behind super runner Trish Nervo. If she wins the Group A 1,600- and 3,200-meter races in the state, those 20 points could put the Highlanders among the top eight finishing teams and earn them points toward the Central Fidelity Cup.
This past year, Nervo won the 3,200 and didn't enter the 1,600. She's stronger, though, and might try both races. Oddly, it made little difference last year for points in the state tournament were not split as evenly as they usually are and 20 by Nervo would not have enabled the Highlanders to finish among the top eight teams and earn Central Fidelity point.
``We realized we would be in the running [this year],'' said Martin. ``It's a challenge we placed on ourselves after a coaches' meeting about everything. One of the discussions we brought up was how proud we were of the accomplishment and how we could win two [cups] in a row.''
BACK AT CATHOLIC: As if unbeaten Roanoke Catholic needs help, linebacker Chris Roberts returned to make 11 tackles in the Celtics' 34-6 victory over Hargrave Military. Roberts had been thought to be out for the year with a broken ankle, and he was regarded as possibly the best returning player from last year outside of P.J. Moyer.
Catholic has also gotten help from foreign-exchange student Amaury Medeiros as a placekicker. He has made 23-of-28 attempts at extra points with two blocks. He missed one 40-yard field goal.
PLAYOFF BOUND: With William Fleming football coach Sherley Stuart ready to announce his retirement at the end of the season, Cave Spring has probably seen the last of him. That's not very good for the Knights after they took a 20-12 victory from Fleming this past week.
Cave Spring's only other victory against a Stuart-coached team came three years ago when the Knights prevailed 21-16. That team went to the Group AAA Division 5 playoffs - and lost 7-0 at Albemarle.
So what about this year's Cave Spring team in the playoffs? The Knights have a shot at making the Division 6 post season party, but must certainly beat Salem this week or Pulaski County on the final night. Even then, it might take Gar-Field losing another game and Patrick Henry being upset by William Fleming.
If Cave Spring does make the playoffs, it will be because of some innovative schedule making on the part of Knight football coach Steve Spangler and athletic director Otis Dowdy.
Cave Spring gradually shed many Western District teams and loaded up with Blue Ridge District and other Group AA opponents. They traded Group AAA losses for AA victories. While Group AAA teams get two points less for beating an AA squad, they still get riding points.
The victory over once-beaten Northside, for example, has already provided the Knights with seven riding points which is like beating a Group AAA team that has five victories.
If Cave Spring beats Salem, the Knights have a claim to being Blue Ridge District champion for they will have beaten the district's three strongest squads - the Spartans, Northside and Rockbridge County.
The Knights also beat perennial Group AA toughies Blacksburg and Martinsville, but those teams haven't produced the usual number of riding points. Playing below in classification admits that a program isn't as strong as it should be, but for Cave Spring it might be a way to make the postseason party.
ANOTHER SURPRISE: Remember how we smiled when Patrick County principal Bill Dillon said several years ago his school would soon compete for the Piedmont District football title? Patrick County had never had a winning season.
The Cougars were so bad that one year when Tim Goad was named Timesland's defensive player of the year, his Patrick County team had an 0-10 record and regularly gave up 40 points a game. No one questioned that selection, though, for Goad went on to become All-ACC at North Carolina and now plays defense for the New England Patriots.
When Patrick County blanked Laurel Park Friday, it assured the Cougars of their first winning season. They are also in the hunt for a playoff berth in Group AA, Division 4 and still have a shot at the Piedmont District title. So Dillon was correct.
First-year coach Addison Kendrick has done a great job and has the school's third consecutive outstanding running back in Andy Stanley, who has over 1,600 yards rushing. Patrick County is no longer a Timesland school, but the Cougars have lived up to a principal's boast. Now the school has good records to go along with good teams.
by CNB