Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995 TAG: 9509280003
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Is it a high-powered football player? A tall basketball prospect who can turn the program around?
No to both questions. It is a top-flight runner. Glenvar's Trish Nervo has had inquiries from these schools about recruiting her to continue a cross country career that should reach its high school zenith this fall when she goes for a fourth consecutive state Group A title.
Nervo beat Blacksburg's Sarah Hendricks, who should compete for the Group AA crown, by 17 seconds two weekends ago at the Blue Ridge Invitational. They may face each other again in the Metro meet Oct. 14 in Salem.
``Trish didn't start running until the week before school,'' said Glenvar cross country coach Dickie Myers. ``She was working at her father's camp, but she only needs a week or two to get into running shape.''
Whether Nervo gets a full scholarship is questionable because cross country is a non-revenue sport. Based on her performances in the Kinney's national meets, Nervo is considered a blue chipper in this sport.
Myers thinks there is solid interest from Virginia, which has called several times. Nervo wants to start making visits and Stanford is high on her list.
NEW BLUE RIDGE: At least one coach likes the new Blue Ridge District that takes in Blacksburg and Christiansburg next year. Northside basketball coach Billy Pope, whose teams have been the dominant power in the Blue Ridge the past five or six years, says the new additions won't change the way he does things.
``I think we're in a great district, one of the best in the state,'' Pope said. ``People spend time looking at negatives. Look at the positives. Bringing in two good teams makes scheduling easier. I'm going to concentrate on what's good about it. I have opinions, but once it's done, it's done. Just look ahead.''
Montgomery County school superintendent Dr. Herman Bartlett shuns any involvement he might have had in bringing about the addition of Blacksburg and Christiansburg to the Blue Ridge. While Bartlett was in the background, his principals, George Porterfield of Christiansburg and Alfred Smith of Blacksburg, made his wishes known. That played a huge part in the final lineup.
``I think George and Alfred deserve the credit,'' Bartlett said. ``I supported them. We worked as a team in a very cooperative spirit and hopefully did what was right for our students and our community.''
OLD COACH RETURNS: One of the year's better volleyball matchups takes place tonight at 6:30 at Patrick Henry when Cave Spring takes on the Patriots.
The game marks the return of long-time PH coach Penny Williams, who accepted the same position with the Knights this year. She left a Patriots team that is picked to win the Roanoke Valley District under new coach Marty Swan.
This won't be Williams' first rematch with her old team. PH defeated the Knights 15-3, 18-15 in the semifinals of the Albemarle Invitational. The Patriots lost to Albemarle in the championship match for their only loss of the season.
TRIPLE, DOUBLE: When Lord Botetourt beat county rival James River 73-35 in girls' basketball two weeks ago, Sarah Hicks scored 31 points.
That wasn't the big news, though, for the unbeaten Cavaliers. Her junior running mate, guard Sara Moore, came up with a rare triple double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists that undoubtedly contributed to Hicks' success.
PAINFUL FOR CRAIG: As if things haven't been bad enough for Craig County fall sports with two winless teams, the girls' basketball squad has been limping along without Betsy Boardwine, the leading returning scorer from last year's squad with an 8.1 average.
The senior guard, who was to return this week, suffered a severely turned ankle and was still in a brace last week when the Rockets lost a tough 43-41 Pioneer District game at home to Highland.
NEGATIVE TALENT: Remember when Virginia used to supply at least one tall man a year to the bumper crop of college basketball recruiting? Those were the days of J.R. Reid, Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson and Ralph Sampson.
In Reidel's Roundball Review, the top 100 seniors after summer basketball includes only one player from Virginia - Oak Hill's Ricardo Crumble, a 6-foot-7 forward from Cleveland, Ohio. Of course, he's not really from Virginia. He just happens to play at a school that accepts out-of-state players. He's 97th on the list.
Of 20 additional players on the edge of the top 100, none are from the Old Dominion.
There's good news concerning the top 100 juniors. Three Virginians are listed - 6-6 Brian Williams (James River in Richmond) at the 68th spot, 6-4 guard John Valentine (Thomas Jefferson of Richmond) at 75th and 6-9 center Brian Beristicker (Virginia Beach of Kempsville) at 97th.
Henry Powell, a 6-6 forward at Deep Creek, is one of the top 10 juniors on the edge.
The glory years should return two years from now. Jason Capel, whose father Jeff is head coach at Old Dominion University, is listed as the top of the sophomore class, represented by only 60 picks. He's a 6-6 forward/guard at Indian River and his brother, Jeff Jr., is one of the top college players at Duke.
Joining Capel on the sophomore list are 6-3 guard Ronald Curry (Hampton) at fifth spot. Curry, the Crabbers' quarterback, may elect to play college football.
Among the top 35 freshmen, 5-9 guard Tim Lyles (Episcopal in Alexandria) checks in at the 33rd spot.
Memo: ALso ran in September 28, 1995 Neighbors.