Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 20, 1995 TAG: 9504210029
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Highlander senior had already won two Group A state individual tennis championships and played on teams that won five state titles in golf and tennis.
Yet as the point guard of the school's basketball team, Varney and the Highlanders had floundered in mediocrity. During Varney's career, Glenvar hadn't won a Region C game despite having the potential to be a state competitor.
``The motivation wasn't there early in the year,'' Varney said. ``Then I realized that I only have half a season to do something. If I don't, I won't have another chance.''
After that, Glenvar took the Pioneer District title, lost a close game for the Region C championship and then advanced to the Group A state title game before losing 51-46 to defending champ William Monroe.
Glenvar might never have been in that position had it not been for Varney. In several games, he took charge. His finest moment might have come in the state semifinals when he keyed a rally that overcame a 10-point deficit in the last four minutes as the Highlanders beat Nandua 60-56.
``Nick matured as a person,'' said Glenvar coach Art Lawrence, who tutors Varney in both tennis and basketball. ``He's always been a quiet, laid-back individual. On the court, Nick became more vocal with his teammates, as far as giving leadership.
``The key [to a basketball team] is the point guard. It's such an important position. It's not just handling the ball, but also in shooting and leadership. He still leads more by action, even on the tennis courts.''
Talk to Varney now, and one gets the sense of speaking with a mature young man ready to take on life at college. A year ago, he was a teen-ager who enjoyed sports, but not leading the team.
He has been one of Timesland's most successful three-sport athletes in years. Yet he's intelligent enough to realize that he might not be the best tennis, golf or basketball participant since Timesland - referring to the schools covered by the Roanoke Times & World-News - was created in the late 1960s.
``I have to keep things in perspective,'' Varney said. ``It's Group A competition. I realize that competing in Group A is not as tough as in Group AA or AAA. If I hadn't gone to Glenvar, it would have been much tougher to win all the state championships.
``I haven't put myself on a pedestal. It [the success] wouldn't be that way if we were a Group AA or AAA school.''
Varney is a realist. In the history of state Group AA and AAA athletic competition, no athlete has dominated in three sports as different as tennis, golf and basketball the way Varney has at Group A.
Varney believes he could step up the competition if he were on a higher level. And he'll tell you in a minute that winning a state title in Group A is just as exciting as winning in AA or AAA.
Varney got his start at tennis and golf when his father, Nick, took him and his older sister Kim out to play the two sports. Varney was just five years old. Basketball came later.
``Not many people know this, but [Nick's] also an accomplished pianist,'' his father said. ``He was in state competition, but when he turned 13, Nick had to make up his mind whether to stay with music or sports. So he had to drop [piano competition] after eight years.
``I credit the strength in his wrist to the piano. He still practices it every day.''
Though young Varney has been more successful in tennis, with a 57-2 overall record, than golf or basketball, it's not his favorite sport. Like he did when he gave up music for sports, Varney had to make another choice. Golf is the winner, and he'll attend Division I North Carolina-Greensboro on a partial athletic scholarship in golf.
``Tennis is probably No. 3, and basketball is No. 2,'' Lawrence said. ``I understand that. He always gave me 100 percent in tennis and basketball, but given a choice, he'd rather be out on a golf course. When you have a kid as gifted as Nick, you love to have him no matter which sport he prefers.''
Last week, the first day of spring vacation, the two Varneys headed to the golf course at Hanging Rock. They play all the time.
``My dad likes golf the most and still enjoys playing,'' said the younger Varney. ``He isn't as active as he used to be. My mother, Kathy, plays tennis, but not golf.
``I have no regrets what I've done [in high school] so far, except for basketball. It's over with, though I could have worked harder my junior and senior years.''
Spoken like a man and not a boy, which is what Varney has become during his senior season.
by CNB