THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 6, 1995 TAG: 9507040130
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 163 lines
WHEN PHIL BRASWELL became athletic director at Nansemond River High School in its inaugural year, he was a little worried about the Warriors' competition.
``We were going to be pushed into a division with Tabb, York and Poquoson, and they were winning state titles all over the place,'' Braswell said. ``I said to myself, `How are we going to compete in this league?'.''
After five years of play in the Bay Rivers District, Nansemond River has proved it can compete - this year more than any other.
The Virginia High School League last week awarded the Warriors the Group AA Central Fidelity Cup, which recognizes the best athletic program in state competition. The trophy will be presented to Nansemond River in a ceremony during the Warriors' first football game next season.
``Getting in with those teams made us a lot better,'' said Braswell, who also coaches the Warrior baseball team. ``If we were going to compete at the state level, we knew we had to get good in this conference. Basically that's what happened.''
Nansemond River finished with 192.5 points, edging York by 2.5 points. Christiansburg finished third with 170. Schools get points for finishing first through eighth in state playoffs.
The deciding factor for the Warriors was a 6-4 softball victory over York in the state semifinals.
``We knew we needed to beat York to win it,'' said Jerry Varacallo, who coaches the Nansemond River softball and football teams. ``We didn't want to tell the girls that because it would have put added pressure on them. I knew about it, though.''
The Warriors went on to the softball state final, where they lost to Richlands, 8-2.
``(Winning the Central Fidelity Cup) takes the sting out of losing in the state final,'' Varacallo said. ``Now the girls can point at that trophy and know they had a big part in it.''
Nansemond River also earned points for a state semifinal appearance in baseball, in which it lost to Courtland.
Most of the Warriors' points came from sports early in the school year. Nansemond River won the basketball state championship, made the semifinals in football and was a quarterfinalist in volleyball.
The teams playing in the spring knew it was up to them to perform well to earn the Warriors' first Central Fidelity Cup.
``We expected to get a lot of points in the winter with basketball,'' Varacallo said. ``(The coaches and players) knew we had a shot to win the cup, but it was up to the spring sports to do well. The kids worked hard and responded.''
Baseball player Cody Flowers said, ``It was on the softball and baseball teams' shoulders. Winning the cup depended on how far we each got in the tournament.''
Braswell said the girls' sports put Nansemond River over the top this year.
``No girls' sport had ever won a district title before this year,'' he said. ``Girls basketball, volleyball and field hockey have been getting better and better, so we thought they would be a big key.''
Girls basketball, volleyball and field hockey joined football, boys basketball and baseball in winning district championships. The Warriors also had four district tournament champions - golf, volleyball and boys and girls basketball.
``All the girls sports finished up really strong,'' said Chrissy Mims, who played volleyball, field hockey and softball. ``Usually, softball and field hockey don't do as well as the other sports, so they made a contribution.''
Nansemond River coaches agreed.
``This was definitely a break-through year for our girls sports,'' field hockey coach Bucky Payton said. ``A lot of the girls played three sports, so that says a lot for how hard they had to work.''
``It proves we have a good crop of female athletes,'' Varacallo said. ``It was important for the school and the female program. Now we're not known for male or female sports, and it shows we have good diversity.''
Winning the cup also shows other schools that a solid athletic program is possible with strong academic standards.
The VHSL requires that athletes pass five courses in order to compete in sports, while students in Suffolk must maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average in their classes to participate.
``It has affected us because we do have kids who aren't participating,'' Braswell said. ``Right now, we just have a an abundance of good athletes, and it's worked out pretty well. It makes being successful real satisfying because it proves that you can win and maintain a strong academic program.''
``Our program tells the kids if they want to play ball they have to pick up their books,'' girls basketball coach Sandra McCray said. ``It enables us to get not only good athletes, but good students.''
Added Varacallo: ``It proves we're trying to develop the true scholar athlete, and it's a tremendous accomplishment.''
Coaches said that it took a lot of extra work by the student-athletes to perform well in the classroom and on the field.
``(At Nansemond River) the kids will do what they have to do to stay eligible,'' Payton said. ``It shows the quality students that we have.''
Said McCray: ``If they want to compete, they know they have to meet the challenge of getting good grades first.''
Another reason for the Warriors' ascent could be Tabb High's leaving to compete in Group AAA last year.
``No doubt about it,'' Braswell said when asked if Tabb's departure helped. ``But we began to catch up with them. We started to beat them in a lot of the sports and they made us better.''
Braswell used football as an example.
``We hadn't even scored on them the first two or three years we played them,'' he said. ``The last year we played them (1994), we beat them 7-6 in the regular season and then beat them 28-0 in the regional championship.''
The Warriors aren't going to let anything ruin winning the Central Fidelity Cup.
``It's a real special honor,'' Varacallo said. ``The kids worked hard and should be proud.''
McCray agreed.
``It's a fantastic honor,'' she said. ``It's something the kids can cherish for years.''
Said Braswell: ``It's the ultimate honor that any school can get. It's like winning the World Series.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
CHARGING TO THE TOP OF GROUP AA
ON THE COVER
Donald Turner helped the Nansemond River High football team make it
to the semifinals, which contributed points toward winning the
Central Fidelity Cup. Staff photo by Michael Kestner.
Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River player Antoine Willie takes the ball to the basket.
Kari Harrell, left, and Nicole Angelillo give each other a high five
before the softball finals.
Susan Estes, left, blocks a Lakeland High player during a regular
season field hockey game.
Jason Taylor hurls the ball in a Bay Rivers District tournament
game.
Donald Turner, right, helps lead the Warriors to the regional
football title.
Mary Swickard, left, and Meredith Pearson warm up before the state
volleyball tournament.
Susan Estes, left, blocks a Lakeland High field hockey player.
Angie Gatling, right, gets off a shot against Franklin's Mandi
Vick.
CUP POINTS
Group AA
Nansemond River, 192.5 points
York, 190
Christiansburg, 170
Spotswood, 165
Blacksburg, 150
Western Albemarle, 147.5
Salem, 145
William Byrd, 137.5
John Handley, 135
Robert E. Lee, 112.5
Points are awarded for finishing first through eighth in state
tournaments.
by CNB