THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 27, 1994 TAG: 9411240274
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 34 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Since the Virginia High School League field hockey tournament began in the fall of 1977, I have been blessed with covering the affair and the teams that have participated in it.
Covering field hockey in Virginia Beach is a blessing in itself, as the Beach District is the most dominating in the history of the state event.
Beach teams have won 12 state titles - Cox leads with a national record nine championships and six in a row, while Kempsville has three. The Beach has finished second six times, with four of those coming against winner Cox.
At this year's state event at Vienna's Oakton High in Northern Virginia, the Falcons' accomplishments and reputation proceeded them.
But even knowing what the team could do, state field hockey buffs only could marvel at the way the Falcons play hockey.
The ball control, the passing, the stickwork, the speed, the shots - all drew oohs and aahs from those watching the games. Opponents even left the field shaking their heads.
Fans were no less impressed with the level of play exhibited by Bayside, which helped solidify the Beach's lock on state dominance in the sport with another second-place finish for the Beach.
And while the other Beach teams can take considerable credit for honing the Falcons into the team they have been - it is the Cox players and coach Nancy Fowlkes who have made a dynasty arguably equaled by no other state high school team in any sport in the modern era of scholastic athletics.
The only team in the history of this state that can boast greater success is the Granby wrestling teams, which won 12 straight between 1960 and 1971 and 21 of 22.
So why is Cox so darned good at field hockey? It is a pretty simple picture.
During the days when women's athletics were more or less club activities, Emilie Tilley of Cox was running up a remarkable winning record of 98-2-7 - still the best winning percentage (95) in state field hockey history.
Fowlkes played for Tilley and then took over the program for her 22 years ago.
Excellence is a way of life at Cox.
In the meantime, Debbie Lowrance and many other former players were starting youth camps and summer leagues. Players have grown up with the sport - a must for success nowadays.
Local players attend summer camps, most notably the one put on by Beth Anders at Old Dominion University - arguably the most dominating collegiate team in history.
The success has been a snowball effect. Young players who know they are going to be at Cox appear to work harder to be ready to meet the challenge of playing on a team with the Falcons reputation.
As one player put it before the state tournament: ``You don't want to be on the first team in a while to lose a state tournament.''
Winning it is almost expected.
And rightfully so! MEMO: Got an interesting sports-related story to tell. If so, call The Beacon
at 490-7228 and let us know about it, or write to The Beacon, Sports
Department, 4565 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va., 23462. The
fax number is 490-7235.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RALPH FITZGERALD
Cox's victory gave Beach teams 12 state field hockey titles,
including the Falcons' national record of nine championships and six
in a row. Kempsville has the other three.
by CNB