ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9606030126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HIGH SCHOOLS
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
Remember you heard this here first - more than a year ago.
When Region III schools were trying to decide which district was going to Region IV to balance everything on the Group AA level in this part of the state, Christiansburg and Blacksburg made it known they wanted to join the Blue Ridge District.
For a while it appeared as if this might be the alignment. An article in this paper pointed out that if Christiansburg and Blacksburg joined the Blue Ridge, it would be the state's most powerful Group AA league for athletic competition.
Hearts melted and tongues wilted once the six Blue Ridge District schools - Alleghany, Rockbridge County, William Byrd, Salem, Northside and Lord Botetourt - realized what monster was on the verge of being created.
Despite some Blue Ridge District schools not wanting such a strong league, the Montgomery County school system insisted its schools be placed with the Blue Ridge District. It didn't come out exactly the way it was first planned since that new league will be in Region III instead of Region IV in 1996-97.
Say the eight schools had been together this year. It's easy to see what a powerhouse the Blue Ridge District will be.
The Blue Ridge has done very well, with the jury still out on baseball, boys' tennis and soccer as far as determining a state champion.
The eight schools that will make up next year's Blue Ridge District have won state championships in boys' cross country (Christiansburg), girls' basketball (Lord Botetourt) and golf (Northside). The district has second-place finishes on a state level in girls' basketball (William Byrd) and boys' track (Christiansburg).
Still to be determined is whether one of these eight schools wins state titles in boys' soccer (William Byrd will play for the championship this week) or baseball (William Byrd is in the Group AA tournament).
In addition, Northside (boys' basketball), Salem (girls' tennis) and William Byrd (volleyball) were all in the final four. William Byrd was third in the state in wrestling and Blacksburg placed third in Group AA girls' track tournament.
The Virginia High School League awards 15 official team championships for boys and girls on a Group AA level. If the Blue Ridge wins as many as two in the spring, it will have claimed a third of those available.
There's more evidence of strength. There will be no stronger boys' soccer league than the Blue Ridge District. Three of this year's Group AA semifinalists - Blacksburg, William Byrd and Salem - are future or present Blue Ridge District members. The only thing the new alignment will do is cut down one of those teams from making the state.
Suffice to say, Blue Ridge District sports will not be for the faint-of-heart next year when it comes to quality competition and ability.
CENTRAL FIDELITY CUP: William Byrd's baseball team may have unofficially locked up the Central Fidelity Cup for overall athletic excellence awarded by the Virginia High School League in each classification.
Second-place Grundy, despite making the state baseball tournament, really couldn't catch the Terriers. Nansemond River, tied for third, lost any shot it had when the boys' 1,600-meter relay team was disqualified at the state meet and left the Warriors finished tied for fifth. If Nansemond River had won that event, it would have been second and would have helped them in their quest to catch Byrd.
NEW AT PULASKI COUNTY: Pulaski County might be searching for a new athletic director as Ron Kanipe probably will have his job split up so that he remains only as the school's director of activities.
It needs only the approval of the Pulaski County school board for Paul Wheeler and Jack Turner to complete the staff for veteran coach Joel Hicks and giving the Cougars one of the best football organizations in Timesland. Wheeler, a former head coach at three schools, has two state titles (Rustburg) and one state runner-up (George Wythe) on his resume while Turner, an assistant at Franklin County, is a former All-Timesland player for Hicks.
Wheeler is the likely successor when Hicks retires, but Hicks says he's rejuvenated and it might not happen for a while.
COACHING ROUNDUP: There is no word on the Patrick Henry boys' basketball opening as the committee is conducting further interviews. Former Albemarle coach Rich Lyons, despite stronger qualifications than most applicants, was not among the first group grilled by Roanoke City officials. He was invited for the latest interviews.
Former Radford athlete Kevin Saunders is moving from William Campbell to Osbourn in Northern Virginia as the head football coach. Also in the Seminole District, Brookville has picked assistant Randy Foster as its new boys' basketball coach, succeeding Larry Leonard, who was at the school for two years.
NOT OVERLOOKED: In listing candidates for Timesland Boys' Athlete of the Year last week, Grayson County people wondered what happened to three-sport star Chad Shaffner.
While Shaffner had good years in boys' basketball and football, he wasn't an All-Timesland selection, which an athlete has to be in order to be an athlete of the year. However, he's not out of the race for baseball, which is his best sport and it could project him back into the thick of the battle.
DEFINITELY OVERLOOKED: Staunton River girls' shot putter Paula Nowlin was lost in the euphoria over the Eagles' boys' state championship last weekend. Nowlin, though, finished second in the state with a performance of 39 feet, 1 inch - her personal best. Nowlin was tied for sixth seed with two other girls, meaning she upset four participants for her high finish.
LENGTH: Medium: 98 linesby CNB