THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508040226
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
TWO PROPOSALS released last week by the Virginia High School League Redistricting and Reclassification Committee have forced Suffolk high school officials and students to put off their summer vacations and think about some important changes.
Both plans put Nansemond River High into Group AAA beginning in 1996, while Lakeland would remain in Group AA. Moving the Warriors up would mean several girls sports would switch seasons and could put an end to the Nansemond River-Lakeland intercity rivalry.
The Redistricting and Reclassification Committee will meet again Aug. 22 to consider reaction from each district and pick one plan to forward to a 26-person Executive Committee for final approval.
``It's not real thrilling because it doesn't look like we have a choice (about moving up to Group AAA),'' said Nansemond River football and softball coach Jerry Varacallo. ``It's good that we'd be stepping up, but the talent pool in Triple-A is so much better.''
Lakeland athletic director and football coach Ed Smither said he expected the Cavaliers to become Triple-A and was relieved that both plans keep them in Group AA.
``Each school was sent sort of a what you'd like to do form and we thought it would be best to stay in the Bay Rivers District and Double-A,'' Smithers said. ``I really thought we'd be Triple-A, but I felt like we haven't been quite ready for that yet.''
Smithers said that a third proposal could be introduced for the Aug. 22 meeting so things could change easily.
Varacallo and Smithers agreed that a move up to Group AAA would be difficult for either school.
``There's a real difference in depth,'' Smithers said. ``Triple-A schools have so many more kids that they can put out on the field.''
``We've scrimmaged some Triple-A schools (Western Branch and Churchland) the last few years and they've roughed us up pretty good,'' Varacallo said. ``It would definitely take a few years of adjustment.''
Nansemond River athletes agreed.
``I'd rather stay in Double-A,'' said Kari Harrell, who played field hockey, volleyball and softball. ``It's not that we can't win. We could give teams a run, but we wouldn't be as on top as we are now.''
``It would be a lot more competitive for us, definitely,'' said baseball player Cody Flowers. ``I don't know if our results would be as good as they have been.''
Another dilemma for schools moving from Group AA to AAA would be the shifting of girls sports seasons. Girls basketball would switch from fall to winter, while girls volleyball would move from winter to fall and girls tennis from spring to fall.
``That's a situation that makes no sense,'' said Nansemond River field hockey coach Bucky Payton. ``We have a lot of kids that play year-round, and now we'll have to make these girls choose. Girls could no longer play field hockey and volleyball, and both of those programs would be much weaker.''
``If they change the seasons, we won't get to play all the sports we want to,'' Harrell said. ``It would be difficult to choose which sport to play.''
Losing the inter-city rivalry is also a possibility if the Warriors become Triple-A and the Cavaliers remain Double-A. Plan 1 would not allow schools to play higher than their classification, while the second plan would permit Group AA schools to play schools in Group AAA.
``I'd be very disappointed if I couldn't play (Nansemond River),'' said Mary Donnan Debranski, who played volleyball, basketball and tennis for Lakeland. ``There was always a good fan turnout. If we didn't have a good season, beating them would be the second best thing.''
Said Harrell: ``(Not playing Lakeland) would take all the fun out of the season.''
Coaches said losing the rivalry would hurt the city and the school's income.
``I can't imagine Nansemond River and Lakeland not being a rivalry,'' Payton said. ``Playing other schools would not draw like Nansemond River-Lakeland draws in Suffolk.''
``I'm sure it would have a financial impact and that would have an adverse affect,'' Smithers said. ``People in Suffolk look forward to those games. I'm sure we would try to play if possible.''
Smither said that the inter-city rivalry may decide what happens to the two schools.
``I don't know how our school system would react if the city has one Triple-A and one Double-A school,'' he said. ``They may want (Lakeland) to move up, too. That could be the third proposal on Aug. 22.''
Added Smither: ``I don't know what will happen. I've just got to wait and see.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ed Smither
Lakeland High athletic director
Jerry Varacallo
Nansemond River football coach
by CNB