THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030148
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Gordon
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
Most of the area schools have shown an increase in enrollment, but Lakeland and Franklin reported a drop in students, according to the latest Virginia High School League directory.
Lakeland lost 50 students, from 900 to 850, and Franklin fell from 425 to 400. But Nansemond River increased from 745 to 811, Smithfield jumped from 600 to 650 and Southampton climbed from 483 to 505.
Rising above the 500 plateau made Southampton a legitimate AA school for the first time. For the past few years, the Indians were an A-sized school and had to petition for permission to compete on a AA level.
Bruton maintained its 400 students and is one of two schools - Franklin being the other - that had to petition for the right to play in the AA Bay Rivers District. And although Franklin lost students, according to the report, the Broncos rejoined the Group AA Bay Rivers District.
Poquoson rose from 511 to 545 and York lifted from 678 to 741.
The next level is AAA and schools must have 1,001 students to compete in that bracket, unless of course, they petition for the higher rating. Unless there is a sudden growth surge, it probably will be a couple of years before either Nansemond River or Lakeland are ready to move up.
When that time comes, several observers have suggested that the two Suffolk public schools might join the AAA Southeastern District's Chesapeake schools to form a revised league.
Chesapeake schools and their latest figures are Deep Creek, 1,119; Great Bridge, 2,078, Indian River, 1,212; Oscar Smith, 1,100 and Western Branch, 1,131.
Hickory High, which will draw most of its pupils from Great Bridge, is scheduled to open next fall.
GRID GAME MOVES UP: The final regular season game between Lakeland and Nansemond River has been moved from Friday, Nov. 11, to Thursday, Nov. 10. Kickoff is still slated for 7:30 p.m. at Nansemond River's Arrowhead Stadium.
Reason for the change is that Nov. 11 is Veterans Day and a federal holiday. Suffolk schools will be closed that day and to avoid conflict with a possible three-day weekend for some people, officials moved the game to Nov. 10.
However, most of the other schools in the western Tidewater area don't recognize Veterans Day and will remain open. Thus, their football games will remain on Nov. 11.
Franklin will play at Southampton, Smithfield will visit Poquoson, Windsor will travel to New Kent and Surry County will be on the road against Sussex Central - all on Nov. 11.
A possible key game in the Bay Rivers District will be between York and Bruton at Bailey Field. Although York County students are out of school Nov. 11, it is a teachers' work day and the game is still slated for that night.
WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR: Another Lakeland team that is looking ahead to next year is the golf squad.
``We were pleased with the season,'' said Darryl Yandle in her second season as golf coach. ``We were third place in the district all season, but that is better than last year when we finished fifth.
``But we didn't play as a third place team in the district. We shot 40 shots above our average.''
Still, both Jose Cristia and Chris Ricks qualified for the regional tourney, and Cristia advanced to the state tournament in Jonesville last week. Ricks missed the cutoff by only three strokes.
``However, I've got everyone coming back next year except Jose,'' Yandle said. ``We will have six good golfers.''
Rejoining the team, though, will be junior Brett Waldo, who had back surgery and could not compete this campaign. It has been a long slow recovery for him, according to Yandle.
``Trouble is that it is not going to get any easier against York and Nansemond River,'' the coach said. ``Nansemond River has everyone coming back.
``Most of my team are juniors. Lord help year after next.''
BOWLING BITS: Warren Faison of Cornett's Garage fired a 147 and a 363 to take high game, high series honors in the Suffolk Mixed Nuts bowling league last week. Other top bowlers were Bob Gardner, Barton Ford, 357, Miriam Pugh, Golden Corral, 336, Alison Pugh, Ferguson & Rawls, 332, and Terrye Bradshaw, JUWACO, 322.
In the Suffolk Tuesday Night Ladies' league, Louise Brinkley of Suffolk Glass rolled the high game of 144 while Peggy Cornett of Morris & Piland recorded the high set of 345. Brinkley had a 341, Anita Joyce of Starr Motors registered a 331 and Karen Smith of Ocean Threads threw a 321.
TENNIS ANNIVERSARY: Suffolk's past tennis champions will be special guests Saturday when the Suffolk Tennis Association has its 40th anniversary celebration.
Former champions will be hitting some tennis balls at Lake Meade Landing, beginning at 10 a.m. Then a dinner and awards banquet is slated for the Suffolk Shrine Club, 500 Elizabeth Lane, starting with a social at 6:30 p.m. Trophies will be presented for all local champions.
Ginger Owen is the chairman and Francis West is the honorary chairman. For reservations, which are required, call Howard Mast at 539-3723 (home) or 683-2393 (work).
FIELD TRIAL RESULTS: North Carolina dogs took several prizes at the Suffolk Field Trials last weekend. They swept the junior handler and novice divisions and placed well in the young puppy and advance puppy brackets.
Dee Watley of Chesapeake captured the classic category with his dog Jake. And in the gun dog class, Bod Edwards won with Chief and Richard Seymour finished second and third with Clint and Lee, respectively.
Other divisions and top three places by dog, owner and hometown were:
Young puppy: 1. Prince, Jeff Scott, Chesapeake; 2. Mac, Ed Taylor, Edenton, N.C.; 3. Lemon, Brian Phillips, Edenton, N.C.
Advance puppy: 1. Duce, John Reeves, Norfolk; 2. Ruby, Jeff Scott, Chesapeake; 3. Beauty, G.C. Hall, Aulander, N.C.
Junior handler: 1. Dot, Ashley Edmundson, Old Sparta, N.C.; 2. Rex, Pamela Edmundson, Old Sparta, N.C.; 3. Prince, Conner Scott, Chesapeake.
Novice: 1. Jill, Gerald Jordan, Camden, N.C.; 2. Ty, Snook Scott, Enfield, N.C.; 3. Rock, John Booth, Manteo, N.C. ILLUSTRATION: Staff file photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
A Southampton defender creeps up behind Nansemond River quarterback
Leon ``Snake'' Porter, who finds some running room during their
recent Bay Rivers District clash.
by CNB