Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509220053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Blacksburg High basketball standout April Rogers is living up to the lofty standards accorded the daughter of former Hokie running back Phil Rogers.
``I have gotten used to people back in Gate City, which is where my father is from, saying, `Hey, it's Phil's daughter'," Rogers said. ``They say that about both me and my younger brother, but it doesn't bother us."
Rogers said that her father, the first man in Tech history to gain more than 1,000 yards on the ground, has been a big influence on her athletic career.
``He has really been supportive of me over the years," Rogers said. ``He played ball also so he has been able to give me advice when I ask for it. Sometimes he even gives it when I don't ask."
The athletic success that the elder Rogers enjoyed on the gridiron has trickled down to April on the hardwood. Rogers was a member of Blacksburg's 1992 Group AA state championship squad as a freshman.
``It was a really big thrill to win the state championship," Rogers said. ``I was on the team the year we won our second straight title. I remember seeing some of the girls' rings from the season before and I remember thinking that it would be nice to have one."
Blacksburg coach Mickey McGuigan said that Rogers was an instrumental part of the Indians state championship run in '92. McGuigan pulled Rogers up to the varsity team during the middle of the season in the hope that Rogers could provide Blacksburg with a defensive stopper.
``We thought that she could really help the team out on the defensive end," McGuigan said. ``We already had a good scoring team, but we needed help with our defense."
McGuigan said that he told Rogers when she arrived on the varsity team that her playing time would be a direct reflection of the effort she gave in practice.
``I told her I couldn't guarantee her anything except that she would get out of it exactly what she put into practice," McGuigan said. ``A couple of weeks later she earned herself a spot in the starting lineup."
Rogers' most noteworthy contribution to the team came in the state tournament against Charlottesville High. Rogers, who averaged four points a game her freshman season, exceeded that by six before halftime.
``She flowed out on the break really well and got her points off of fast breaks," McGuigan said. ``She really gave us the momentum we needed to win that game."
Since the championship season of '92, Rogers' role has expanded. Since the time when Rogers was first called in as a defensive specialist , her offensive responsibilities have increased each season.
Rogers is averaging 15.1 points per game, tops on the Blacksburg team. Rogers also leads the team in assists and steals.
``At first the switch was a little hard for me," Rogers said. ``When I came up to the team as a freshman it was for my defense. Now I'm still expected to play defense, but I also have to score more now."
``April has done a good job adjusting to being a scorew," McGuigan said. ``In her second year we asked her to start doing more offensively. That's a lot of pressure to put on a young kid,"
``But she's become a leader on this team. Over the last three years she's had to score more for us, but she's done a good job, especially considering that she still draws the toughest defensive assignments for us as well."
Now that Rogers has her own athletic identity, she's known less as the daughter of a college football star.
by CNB