Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9501040005
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: F-1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When Coach John Cooke first took the field three years ago, only 13 players showed up at the first practice, which helps explain why the team had lost 20 games in a row. That first year, Catholic added six more losses to its losing streak, before finally winning its last two. In 1993, the Celtics improved to 4-6. But in 1994? Well, in 1994, Roanoke Catholic saw a miracle.
The Celtics rolled through their regular season undefeated, then kept on going through the playoffs. On Nov. 19, Roanoke Catholic capped its season by winning the Virginia Independent Schools Division I state championship, stifling Broadwater Academy 13-0 in a defensive struggle at Victory Stadium.
Not bad for a team that fielded only about 20 players, and no training programs.
"We have no eighth grade or junior varsity," Cooke once observed. "It makes you think. We have to start all over every year. I've talked with players and with parents to get people interested in playing. We've had a lot of people talk about coming out, but you never know until they come out next year.''
The state title was a big deal for the tiny private school. How big? Big enough that Celtics fans engaged in the old tradition of ballot-box stuffing. Almost half the votes cast in our InfoLine poll were for Roanoke Catholic. If this had been a football game, the refs would have called it at halftime. Instead, we'll give credit where credit is due - but also let you know what would have been the Top 10 stories of the year if Roanoke Catholic fans hadn't been so busy dialing the phones.
Total points: 3,528.
Keywords:
YEAR 1994
by CNB