With the end of the first quarter, the fall sports teams (Cross Country, Varsity Field Hockey, Junior Varsity Football, Varsity Football, Varsity Golf, Varsity Girls Volleyball, Varsity Boys Volleyball, and Competition Cheer) have brought their seasons to a close, while Sideline Junior Varsity Cheer and Sideline Varsity Cheer have started to gear up for their year.
Cross Country
Cross Country had an exceptional season with many newcomers, as well as returners, making their mark on the team. Juniors Adyson Jordan and Aiden Thurman led the team at the Southeastern District Cross Country Invitational, as Jordan placed sixth in the Girls 5000 Meter Run and Thurman placed second in the Boys 5000 Meter Run. In the Girl’s 5000 Meter Run, senior Megan Bishop also placed ninth. In the Boys 5000 Meter Run, sophomore Gabriel Lugo placed sixth, and senior Gary Sapinoso placed seventh as well.
“My favorite part about being on the team was just the time I spent with amazing people,” said junior Megan Hayes. “The team has improved overall in many ways, but I have noticed everybody becoming more confident in their running abilities as the season went on. The friendships that we made got stronger every practice.”
Cross Country ended their season at the VHSL Class 5A Regional Cross Country Championship on Saturday, November 2nd. Be on the lookout for many cross country team members on the track in the winter and spring, as the indoor track and outdoor track seasons are just around the corner.
Varsity Field Hockey
Physical education teacher Jordan Barbee assumed the position of head coach this season due to the departure of previous head coach Kristyna Lange. The team started off strong with a three-game win streak against Oscar Smith, Kempsville, and Landstown. The girls also won on senior night against Green Run, where they celebrated seniors Brooklyn Hoffmann, Gabby Duesberry, Mariah Jones, Tamia Lawton, Sofi Bejarano, and Taylor Stephenson.
Next season, the team will turn to underclassmen to fill key positions, such as goalie and center midfielder, that were left empty by seniors. Keep a close eye next fall, as Barbee has six open roster spots to fill.
Junior Varsity Football
Junior Varsity Football ended the season with a record of 4-2, beating Kellam, Ocean Lakes, Cox, and Kempsville. Led by freshman quarterback Josiah Razeeq and sophomore Reginald Wilson, the boys fought hard against Tallwood and Landstown, but ultimately fell short. Congratulations to Junior Varsity Football on a great season.
Varsity Football
Varsity Football saw the accomplishments of many players on and off the field this season. Senior quarterback Jason Williams committed to play at the Naval Academy, senior OL Jaylen Gilchrist committed to play at Maryland, and senior DB Fabian Wells committed to play at Howard. The team started off strong with a nail-biting victory against Kempsville and blew out First Colonial 62-7.
The team beat Princess Anne on Friday, November 8th to finish out their regular season. They beat Bayside in the first round of playoffs and will take on Deep Creek with the chance to advance to the 5A champsionship. Their season is far from over; good luck to our Varsity Football players.
Varsity Golf
Varsity Golf had an amazing season with senior Cole Cooper qualifying for states, where he placed in the top 35. Ending their season on September 26th with a loss to Kempsville and Cox, they beat Ocean Lakes and Bayside earlier in the season. Senior Declan Smallwood also qualified for the regional tournament that took place on October 7th. Congratulations to head coach Richard Hudak and his two seniors on an impressive season.
Varsity Girls Volleyball
Varsity Girls Volleyball finished their regular season with a decent record of 10-11. They rallied against Granby, Peninsula Catholic, NAFAAT, and West Point to win silver in the D2 division of the Endless Summer High School Tournament. The girls fought hard against Landstown early in the season but ultimately fell short.
“Our team has improved by being more open with each other,” said junior Margaret Adolphe. “In the beginning of the season, there was no communication on or off the court, and by the end, we were the exact opposite of that. My favorite part about being on the team is that when we play, there is such a good feeling on the court. When we score a point, we are all super hyped about it.”
Led by seniors Mackenzie Estrada, Malia Palomino, and Natalie Canete, the girls welcomed two new coaches this season: head coach Christopher Milonas and assistant coach Carl Alberico. Congratulations to our volleyball players on a season characterized by determination and passion.
Varsity Boys Volleyball
Led by seniors Gavin Wehr, Will Hayes, Dale Ancheta, Kameron Matthews, Lamonzo Smalls Jr., and Luther Nagal, Varsity Boys Volleyball totaled up four wins on the season. The boys competed in tough matchups at the Endless Summer High School Tournament and kept their determination in tough sets, ultimately capturing the ‘W’ against King’s Fork.
“Everyone is so welcoming, and we are like a big, dysfunctional family,” said sophomore John Diwa. “Our main problem at the beginning of the season was our team dynamic and trust. As time went on, we grew at an exponential rate and started winning some matches. We put on solid games for the crowd to watch and that is what I’m proud of.”
The conclusion of their season came with a regular season loss to Kellam on Wednesday, October 30th. The team will turn to younger talents next season as the departure of six seniors leaves gaps in their roster. Congratulations to our volleyball players on a great season.
Competition Cheer
Returning senior Victoria Alexander, returning senior Aubrey Manley, and returning senior Nayla Hill led and motivated the team through a long season, as conditioning started in early July. They competed at the Region 5A Cheer Competition on Saturday, October 26th. Nice job this season, ladies.
Sideline Junior Varsity Cheer
Captain Tionna Geiger, co-captain Khaiya Hairston, and co-captain Reese Mina guided the junior varsity cheerleaders through an exciting fall sports season, where they cheered for Junior Varsity Football. They will cheer for Junior Varsity Basketball this coming winter.
“I’m excited to keep building strong bonds with my teammates and prepare for next year,” said sophomore Alannah Smith. “My favorite part of being on the team is being exposed to lots of new people, getting out of my comfort zone, and being actively involved in many school activities and events.”
The ladies continue to prepare for their winter sports season, so be sure to cheer them at Junior Varsity Basketball games and at the winter pep rally. Good luck this coming quarter, ladies.
Sideline Varsity Cheer
Led by captain Mariyah Clark, co-captain and band dance leader Aubrey Manley, and co-captain Quiazia Rhoades, the varsity cheerleaders had an amazing fall sports season, where they cheered for Varsity Football. They will cheer for Varsity Basketball this winter.
“The friendships you create with cheer are always so special,” said sophomore Kylie Cohoon, who cheered for varsity this year and junior varsity last year. “Cheering on the varsity level is different than the junior varsity level because we do more things like cheer battles and band dance, and cheers get more intricate. It is so much fun getting to challenge myself more.”
The ladies continue to prepare for their winter sports season, so be sure to cheer them on in the stands if you happen to venture out to a Varsity Basketball game this winter. Good luck this coming quarter, ladies.
