THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 31, 1995 TAG: 9512290294
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: 1995: YEAR IN REVIEW
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
IN 1995, BEACH District athletic programs proved once again to be some of the best in the state.
Yes, it was another banner year for Virginia Beach in terms of team success. And as for the quality of coaches, players and fans, well . . .they are all about as good as it gets.
Several state championships were captured, by teams and individuals and when titles were not won, Beach teams had, at the least, made it to the tournaments to give themselves a chance.
Most notable of all Beach accomplishments is the record-setting success of the Cox field hockey team - which last fall captured a national record seventh-straight Group AAA state championship.
Cox broke its own record of six titles and in doing so a tied for first nationally with 10 overall. Seniors Kim Miller, Catherine McCallum and Kim Iman wound up setting state records in scoring, assists and goal keeping, respectively, and placed their names high in the national record book.
Cox High also got a state runner-up trophy in team golf this fall and produced a second-straight individual titleist in Troy Cummings.
First Colonial's Mily Kannarkat just missed repeating as state tennis champion, losing in the semifinals. But the sophomore gets two more chances to reclaim her crown.
Green Run went 10-0 in football and made it to the Division 6 Eastern Region finals before losing to eventual state champion Indian River.
Bayside girls captured the region cross country title, while Tallwood's Pam Edwards was the individual champ.
Kempsville's Adrienne Parker was sixth at the state meet and became only the second local girl to ever compete at the Foot Locker national championships in San Diego, where she finished 28th.
Tallwood won the first Eastern Region boys volleyball championship, while Salem took the girls title away for the first time from the Southeastern District.
Shoot back to late last spring and Green Run's state championship in baseball. The Stallions did one of the hardest things to do in athletics, win a state title when you're ``supposed'' to.
Green Run's baseball win came on the heels of the Bayside girls track and field team's state championship a week earlier. The Marlins won despite Salem winning a sixth-straight district girls title. Green Run took the boys district title.
In boys soccer, First Colonial won the district title, only to watch as perennial power Cox advanced to the state quarterfinals. The Cox girls team won district and region titles before losing in the state semifinals.
After finishing second to Princess Anne in the district softball race, Salem went on to take second in the region before losing in the first round of the state tournament.
Look back almost a year to the end of the winter sports season and you will find similar successes.
The Kempsville girls basketball team went 28-0 in capturing the Eastern Region title - adding on another victory in the state quarterfinals before losing to James Robinson in the semis.
Bayside won the boys district crown, but failed to advance past the region level.
Tallwood produced a pair of state wrestling champions in Mike Mercado at 112 and Jonathan Vann at 189. Brian Wilson of Cox became the first heavyweight to successfully defend a state title in as long as anybody could remember.
In gymnastics, Cox finished second for the fifth time after capturing the district and region titles. Kellam's Michelle Alexander finished second in the individual all-around competition.
The Bayside girls indoor track team set the foundation for its spring state win with the district title. Kellam took the boys crown.
Invariably, some accomplishments have probably not been listed. But that in itself is a backwards tribute to the programs because the more achievements there are, the harder it is to remember them all.
The successful reputation of Virginia Beach sports isn't just about high school competition. No, it extends well beyond the varsity prep scene.
Catholic, Cape Henry and Norfolk Academy were state powerhouses in lots of private school athletics.
And area youth and adult teams and individuals enjoyed so many successes that space prohibits mentioning them all.
But the point is crystal clear - Virginia Beach is one of the best places in the country for people who play sports. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by VICTAH
ABOVE: Kempsville's Adrienne Parker was sixth at the state meet and
became only the second local girl to ever compete at the Foot Locker
national championships in San Diego, where she finished 28th.
Staff file photo by R.L. DUNSTON
BELOW LEFT: Late last spring Green Run's baseball team did one of
the hardest things to do in athletics, win a state title when you're
``supposed'' to.
Staff file photo
by LAWRENCE JACKSON
BELOW RIGHT: Behind record-setting seniors Kim Miller, Catherien
McCallum and goal keeper Kim Iman, Cox broke its own record of six
state titles and tied for first nationally with its 10th overall.
by CNB