Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509070033
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
In Timesland, the first major appeal was announced Aug.31, when officials at Laurel Park and Fieldale-Collinsville said they want to join Chatham, Dan River, Altavista and William Campbell to form a Group A South Central District for Region C.
Nothing will be settled until the VHSL's executive council meets Sept.18-19 to adopt some reclassification and realignment plan.
If nothing else, the proposed plan has broken the logjam in what formerly was had been one of the biggest gridlocks logjams in the state - trying the state's attempt to balance the regions and districts. Oops, ``logjam'' is another cliche, but it best fits the state of affairs among VHSL principals and officials for the past two decades.
Officials in some regions have been ready for a fight over the VHSL proposal for realignment and reclassification. Laurel Park and Fieldale-Collinsville administrators do not fall into that category They would rather play in Group A than appeal to step up in classification and join their current Piedmont District rivals.
Can the South Central, which will not be greeted warmly by Region C schools, force the Hogoheegee District to move to Region D? If so, what happens to Hogoheegee members Rural Retreat and George Wythe, along with Narrows, a Mountain Empire District school?
Under a proposal the VHSL did not adopt, a new South Central District was to enter Region C with the Hogoheegee going to Region D. Wythe and Rural Retreat were to move to the Mountain Empire District, joining county rival Fort Chiswell. Narrows was to move to the Three Rivers, where archrival Giles resides
There are questions about this latest proposal.
First, Chatham, one of the proposed South Central members, is a Group AA school. It is the smallest in that classification and Laurel Park principal Charles Preston said the school is asking the VHSL to allow it play in Group A.
To keep the Group AA balance in Regions III and IV, the principals of the proposed South Central District would move Pittsylvania County schools Tunstall and Gretna into the Piedmont District, which is to play in Region IV.
Members of the Highlands and Southwest districts in Region IV already are incensed over the prospect of the Piedmont joining them because of the increased travel that would necessitate. Gretna stretches out the mileage even more between the two farthest points, with Lee at the other end of Region IV about two days away by any mode of travel short of an airplane.
Notice the South Central plan didn't touch the proposed Group AA Blue Ridge District that includes the six current members, along with Blacksburg and Christiansburg. No one talks about that district in more than hushed whispers.
Want to use the words ``etched in stone?'' Well, they apply to Blacksburg and Christiansburg being in the Blue Ridge District, no matter the region.
Dr.Herman Bartlett, the Montgomery County schools superintendent, used some very strong methods of persuasion to make it clear his two Group AA schools would not join Richlands, Grundy, Tazewell and Graham in the Southwest District. The VHSL, Blue Ridge and everyone else blinked, preferring to avoid a potential court date if Christiansburg and Blacksburg weren't in the Blue Ridge.
Carroll County originally was to move to the Piedmont District, a league whose members are closer to the Cavaliers geographically but over some very treacherous roads in the winter.
The Piedmont didn't want that and neither did Carroll County. The Southwest District wants teams and will accept Carroll County. When that appeal is made, it likely will be accepted.
NEW CELTIC COACH: Roanoke lawyer Dick Wall always has dabbled in basketball coaching. He is best known for his work at Radford, helping first Buddy Martin, then Brenda King.
Last year, he aided Roger Henderson, the Roanoke Catholic boys' coach. His son, Chad, was a sophomore on that team.
Henderson, who lived in Christiansburg, took a job as a minister and had to give up coaching the Celtics. So Wall will take over the head coach's job in what is his first love, if not the most profitable way to make a living.
``I didn't play college basketball,'' said Wall, who did enjoy some of the best Southeastern Conference and ACC play as an undergraduate at Vanderbilt and in law school at the University of Virginia.
``I've probably coached one team or another since getting out of law school,'' added Wall, who also has coached AAU and recreation teams.
BACK AT SALEM: After one year's absence, David Turk is returning this winter as Salem's volleyball coach.
Turk resigned following the 1993 season to spend more time with his family. He had a 166-48 coaching record at Lord Botetourt and Salem, winning eight district and three regional titles.
TIME DIFFERENCE: For the most part, night high school football games start at 7:30. Pulaski County long has had a tradition of 8 p.m. starts to accommodate its fans who are working.
The other exception is the home games for Piedmont District teams. They start at 7 p.m., which will affect fans from Patrick Henry, Cave Spring, William Byrd and James River this week.
BEWARE COACHES: The Virginia High School League is following the NCAA in adopting tougher standards for sportsmanship this year.
Previously, only players were forced to sit out the next athletic contest after being ejected from a game. During the 1994-95 school year, several basketball coaches earned the heave-ho when they were assessed a second technical foul, but they were allowed to return to the bench for the next game.
No more. Now any coach who is ejected follows his or her player to the stands for a game.
TV GUIDE: WJPR/WFXR (Channels 21/27) again is carrying delayed-tape broadcasts of a high school game of the week beginning Sunday.
The broadcasts, featuring Dave Ross as play-by-play announcer, will run for an hour starting at 8 a.m. The first broadcast is Sunday, with Amherst County facing Rustburg.
The rest of the September schedule is: 17, James River vs. Lord Botetourt; and 24, Cave Spring vs. Heritage.
In October, the games are: 1, William Byrd vs. Northside on the first; 8, E.C. Glass against Patrick Henry; 15, Roanoke Catholic vs. Lynchburg Christian; 22, Pulaski County against William Fleming; and 29, Jefferson Forest vs. Brookville.
In November, it will be: 5, either Cave Spring-Salem or Patrick Henry-Pulaski County; and 12, Northside-Salem.
STATISTICAL OPENER: Coaches of girls' basketball and football teams should be aware of a new date for the start of reporting their team's statistical leaders. The first date for taking the Timesland leaders will be Sept.18 instead of Sept.11.
Memo: NOTE: Also ran in September 7, 1995 Neighbors.