ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997 TAG: 9703030091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: High Schools
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
William Byrd officials are punishing student-athletes who were present this past weekend for a party held at a private residence where alcoholic beverages were consumed.
School officials learned of the party, and principal Bob Patterson said Friday he is adhering to previously set guidelines in addressing the situation.
At Byrd, athletes and their parents sign a pledge to abstain from drugs, alcohol and tobacco products. If student-athletes or cheerleaders violate this rule, a first offense calls for a four-week suspension and counseling. If they are present where these products are used illegally, they are subject to a two-week suspension and counseling.
``We have these rules in place so that when a situation occurs like this one, we can help younger people make better decisions,'' Patterson said. ``We are letting them know it's not appropriate to be around that situation or partaking in it. It's better for their future if we take action.''
Patterson said about 30 athletes have been punished. The party involved 100 to 200 guests at the home of two William Byrd athletes, whose parents were out of town.
The names of those present haven't been released. Although Vinton police did visit the house, there were no arrests.
The mother of the two athletes who held the party said she and her husband have taken action to ensure this doesn't happen again.
She was unaware her sons had planned to hold a party while they were out of town and said it mushroomed into something bigger than the boys anticipated. She felt it was the choice of those who weren't invited to attend the party, and that her sons didn't drag them into the situation.
According to several sources, some parents are pointing a finger at others for the troubles of their children despite having signed the pledge.
Byrd officials learned about the party when guests boasted at school about what they thought they had gotten away with during the weekend.
Patterson left it to coaches in individual sports to mete punishment. Those coaches, whose sports were in the winter or fall, might take more action if returning athletes were involved to let people know Byrd is upholding the high standards it sets for athletes, who are in the public eye and are regarded as leaders among the student body.
ADDING TEAMS: We don't have the official list, but softball teams are being added at a furious pace in Timesland.
This spring, Pulaski County in the Roanoke Valley District and Bland and Grayson County in the Mountain Empire District will field teams. Also, Floyd County is picking up soccer, another sport that is enjoying a growth spurt.
IN THE SWIM OF THINGS: Three Roanoke Valley District schools participated in the Virginia High School League's first Group AAA swimming championships. Past meets have been sanctioned, but not run by the VHSL.
In the boys' competition, Pulaski County finished 18th, ahead of Cave Spring (33rd) and Patrick Henry (35th). Among the girls, Cave Spring was ninth and Patrick Henry 42nd. Pulaski County didn't enter. The Knights won their sixth consecutive RVD boys' and girls' titles under coach Kit Reavis, who is retiring after this season.
After winning the RVD title, the Knights' girls went on to finish second in the Northwest Region behind E.C. Glass while the boys were seventh. The girls' only regular-season loss was to Glass. The boys lost twice, to North Cross and the Hilltoppers.
In Group AAA, four swimmers from Cave Spring finished in the top eight, led by freshman Jamie Trivett, who was fourth in the 100-meter freestyle. Others were: freshman Ashley Neighbors, fifth 100 breast stroke; Molly Henderson, seventh 100 backstroke; and Mandy Lippitt, eighth 200 individual medley.
Pulaski County's Aaron Workman had the best RVD performance, with a third in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breast stroke. The Cougars' Graham Gravely was eighth in the 500 freestyle.
Patrick Henry had three swimmers place among the top 16, but none in the top eight.
ANOTHER UNBEATEN: Grant Smythers, who was an assistant girls' basketball coach for Blacksburg's two Group AA championship teams, had an unbeaten season as the coach of the Carroll County junior varsity.
The Cavaliers were 20-0 and defeated Tazewell 48-37 in the Southwest District tournament championship. Cheston Stoneman, a 6-foot-3 freshman who played shooting forward, averaged 17.1 points to lead the team.
STILL LOOKING: The VHSL still is looking for a site to hold the Group A and AA girls' basketball championships Nov.21-22. Virginia High School, site of last year's tournament, has volunteered to play host again. Officials at Virginia High did a very good job, but VHSL officials estimated revenue in Bristol was down $5,000 from the 1995 tournament held in Salem.
For that reason, the VHSL still is looking for another site.
ON THE MARK: Two of Timesland's most improved basketball players were Blacksburg's Philip Klaus and Roanoke Valley Christian's Rebecca Bryant.
What did they have in common? Each scored exactly 500 points this season.
Klaus had 305 in 1995-96 to lead the Indians in scoring. When Blacksburg stepped into the tougher Blue Ridge District this season, the 6-5 center stepped up his game and stamped himself as the area's top NCAA Division III prospect, if he doesn't play at a higher level.
As a sophomore, Klaus was Blacksburg's second-leading scorer. He finished his career with 1,087 points.
Bryant, a sophomore, finished with 309 a season ago. In three seasons, including her eighth-grade year, she has scored 1,015 points.
NEARING 1,000: After two years, Patrick Henry's Boo Battle, the Roanoke Valley District's player of the year, has scored 879 points.
Together, he and guard Ronnie Kasey, who had 421 points, totaled 958 this winter.
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB