The Goochland Gazette – 02/17/2022 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Goochland History: His descendants would help keep residents healthy > page 2

Volume 66 Number 7 • February 17, 2022

New Zealand man sentenced in case involving Goochland girl By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Despite testimony that outlined a traumatic childhood and years of abuse, as well as an official report describing him as a “model inmate and an example to his peers,” a New Zealand man has been sentenced to 252 months in prison for production of child pornography.

SKINNER

Troy George Skinner, who made international headlines when he traveled halfway around the world to meet a 14-year-old Goochland County girl with whom he had engaged in sexually explicit conduct online, was sentenced last Friday in federal court in Richmond to 21 years in prison for using the girl to create pornographic videos he surreptitiously recorded. When the girl eventually broke off contact, Skinner, 28, flew to the U.S. from Auckland, N.Z., and then traveled to the girl’s home, where he was shot by the girl’s mother on June 22, 2018, after throwing a paving stone through a

glass door window as he tried to get inside. In his backpack, police found pepper spray, a pocketknife and duct tape that he had purchased earlier that day at the Walmart Supercenter in western Henrico County. U.S. District Court Judge M. Hannah Lauck sentenced Skinner, who has a long history of psychiatric care in New Zealand that has included hospitalization, to 252 months in prison. The punishment is in the mid-range of federal sentencing guidelines calculated for Skinner, which called for a sentence of between 235 and 293 months of incarceration.

The mandatory minimum is 15 years. While acknowledging Skinner’s mental health problems and the trauma he suffered as a child, federal prosecutors said those issues fall short of negating the serious nature of his crimes, and they required a tough sentence. “To the government’s knowledge, this is the only case involving a defendant who flew halfway around the globe for the purpose of confronting a 14-year-old girl who broke off their online

see Skinner > page 3

Schools take first step on boundary line adjustment

Photo courtesy of Goochland County Fire-Rescue

Goochland crews working to fight rash of brush fires Goochland Fire-Rescue crews drafted water from a local pond as they worked to fight one of at least eight brush fires that broke out in Goochland last week. According to Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief Eddie Ferguson, ‘If the recent brush fire activity is a sign of what is yet to come for the spring, we may be in for a busy forest fire season.’

Contributed report Goochland County Public Schools (GCPS) has taken its first step toward developing new elementary attendance boundaries to alleviate overcrowding at the division’s elementary schools. A new, larger Goochland Elementary School is scheduled to open in fall 2024. Scott Leopold, executive director at Cooperative Strategies, shared during a school board meeting on Feb. 8 that a steering committee comprised of parents, staff and citizens will meet through April and will review data and maps to develop a boundary map that will then be submitted to Dr. Jeremy Raley, GCPS Division Superintendent. Raley will review the committee’s recommendation and make his recommendation to the school board, with

see Schools > page 4

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February 17, 2022

Kitchens/Baths Patios/Decks New Construction Doors/Windows Sidewalks/Pavers Remodels/Additions

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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Goochland History Revealed Lineman’s family would include two beloved local physicians

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William “Billy” Jackson was born in Goochland in 1862 to Charles Jackson and his wife Sarah. When he grew up, he found work as a lineman for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. In 1888, Jackson married Sallie Palmore of Powhatan and began a family that included a daughter named Bessie. Bessie Jackson, born in 1891, married Thomas H. Bowles in 1908. One of their children was James H. Bowles, who became one of Goochland’s most beloved physicians. His popular practice, located at Sandy Hook, continues under his son, Dr. James Bowles Jr. Dr. James H. Bowles Sr. died in 2019.

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Property Transfers 1.33 acres; 288 & Broad Street LLC to Asgard Broad Street Properties I LLC, $725,000. 1.5 acres; Jason S. Grubbs to Nicholas Woodson Ragland, $205,500. 1.78 acres; Goochland County Historical Society to Sherrie Marie Markow, $315,000. 10.05 acres; Benjamin Blankenstein to Jerald R. Hess, $350,000.

11 lots, Section 2A, Mosaic at West Creek; HHHunt Homes LC to Style Craft Homes Inc. of Virginia, $1,265,000. 2 parcels; Pamela Dunn Haislip to Lester Lloyd Bartell, $180,000. 2.479 acres; Gordon Brothers Construction LLC to John I. Levin, $318,325. 3 parcels; Broad Street Road LLC to Asgard Broad Street Properties I LLC, $3,000,000.

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Liptak’s heroics stun Lions in overtime PAGE 7 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................12-14 Obituaries .............................. 4 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................7-8 TV Listings ........................9-11

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 819-5529 Laura McFarland Managing Editor (804) 363-1577 Roslyn Ryan Editor (804) 339-7956 Robby Fletcher Sports Editor (804) 380-0497 Cindy Adams Classifieds (804) 775-4616 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Denine D’Angelo Production Manager (804) 775-4624

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February 17, 2022

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Since 1955

Elk Hill hires Goochland resident Hudgins to serve as chief human resources officer for multinational and multistate organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Randolph-Macon College and an MBA from South University. Additionally, she holds a Certified Professional designation by the Society of Human Resources Management and Human Capital Strategist certification from the Human Capital Institute. Hudgins is active in many volunteer organizations and serves on the board of directors for the Richmond Area Mothers of Multiples. She resides on a farm in Goochland County with her husband and twin boys.

Elk Hill, headquartered in Goochland, has been providing a continuum of mental health services to Virginia youth for over 50 years. Services include individual and group mental health therapies, specialized schools, therapeutic residential programs, prevention services, community outreach, and daily therapeutic treatments. Elk Hill served more than 900 children, ages birth through 18, last year and anticipates increasing need for youth mental and behavioral services in the coming months as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Visit ElkHill.org to learn more.

Woman’s Club scholarship honors Behrens Contributed report Applications are now being accepted for the Mabel L. Behrens Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any Goochland High School senior who plans to attend a four-year college or university and is

based on community involvement and service, academics and need. Applicants must complete the Mabel L. Behrens Scholarship application, available in the high school guidance office. Applications are

due by April 29, 2022. The Goochland Woman’s Club began awarding education scholarships to deserving Goochland High School students in 1979. Mrs. Mabel. L. Behrens, a founding member of

Goochland Woman’s Club, was passionate about learning, and encouraging others to continue their education. She believed that every child should have a good education. The GFWC Goochland Woman’s Club gives the scholarship in her memory.

Skinner

11-count federal indictment in 2019 charging him with nine counts of producing child pornography and one count of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping of a minor, and one count of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping of an adult. But under the terms of a plea agreement, prosecutors offered Skinner a chance to plead guilty to a single count of producing child pornography, and he did so in July. The remaining 10 counts were dismissed against him on Friday, in accordance with the agreement. Defense attorneys Robert Wagner and Laura Koenig said in a sentencing memorandum that Skinner had a “tortured and tragic childhood which resulted in serious mental health consequences” for him. He was physically and emo-

tionally abused until the age of 12 by a mentally-ill mother who suddenly disappeared and wasn’t heard from again. Skinner then moved in with his father, who was “emotionally absent” and inattentive as a parent and who failed to meet his son’s basic needs, according to court documents. His attorneys said he had no intent to exploit a child because he “reasonably believed” the Goochland girl was of the age of consent, which is 16 in New Zealand. They also noted that Skinner had no criminal history and was “not planning to hurt anyone but himself ” when he came to the U.S. “Mr. Skinner did not believe he was doing anything illegal,” they wrote. He was “devastated” when the girl broke off their online

relationship, the attorneys said, because “this was the end of Mr. Skinner’s only serious romantic relationship he had experienced.” During his three years in federal detention as his case played out in court, Skinner worked to improve himself and others, obtaining a GED with high scores, becoming a jail trustee and developing a workout program for himself and other inmates, his attorneys wrote. The superintendent of the Northern Neck Regional Jail, where Skinner was held, submitted a letter on his behalf, calling him a “model inmate and an example to his peers” who exhibited an “outstanding” attitude and demeanor. The Richmond TimesDispatch’s Mark Bowes contributed to this report.

continued from >1 relationship,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hood in a sentencing memorandum filed in U.S. District Court. From Jan. 11, 2018, through Feb. 9, 2018, Skinner created 49 videos that memorialized the victim’s sexual acts that Skinner induced her to perform online, according to evidence. Skinner first met the girl in an online game launcher called Steam, and they began chatting on Steam before transitioning to a different online platform called Discord, an application designed for the online gaming community that can be downloaded and accessed through both cellphones and desktop computers. Skinner’s actions led to an

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Obituaries DYLAN S. PHERSON Dylan Scott Pherson, 24, of Powhatan, unexpectedly left this earth February 4, 2022. He is survived by his beloved companion, Ziggy; mother, Lisa Estes Gits (Jacques); father, Scott Allen Pherson; siblings, Carly Rash Dolan (Stephen), Phillip Rash; maternal grandmother, Doris Estes; paternal grandmother, Diane Hooker; nieces, Adelynn Bowles, Collins Dolan; other mother, Kelly Fleshood and her children, Chance and Ella; and many other beloved PHERSON aunts, uncles and cousins. Dylan enjoyed many activities throughout his life, including ice hockey, snowboarding and traveling. Dylan especially loved his trips to the west coast, specifically Oregon. Dylan will be remembered for his love of animals, compassion for others and his free spirit. A memorial service was held on Saturday, Feb. 12, in the PCC Church, Powhatan location. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to Goochland-Powhatan Community Services. Online condolences can be made at bennettbardenfh.com. FRANCIS N. BAIN Dr. Francis “Frank” Nott Bain, 75, of Crozier, Va., passed away at his home January 25, 2022. He is survived by his three children, Mark (Mindy) Bain of Midlothian, Christopher Bain of Cabin John, Md. and Rebecca Bain of Richmond; and by his six grandchildren. He

is also survived by his brothers, Daniel Bain of Charlottesville, Edward Bain of Batesville and George (Nancy) Bain of Athens, Ohio; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Frank was born May 25, 1946 in Charlottesville, the tenth and youngest child of Edward H. and Katherine K. Bain. He graduated from Albemarle High School in 1964. He attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam as a 1st Lieutenant. He finished his undergraduate BAIN studies at the University of Virginia and earned an M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia in 1977. Frank entered private medical practice in Goochland, Va., in 1980, retiring in June 2021. For many of his patients, this building next to the Goochland Courthouse was the only doctor’s office they visited in their entire lives. Frank mirrored this commitment, as his medical practice was his life’s passion. Close behind medicine was his passion for the University of Virginia basketball and football teams. Aside from cheering for the Cavaliers, Frank spent much of his leisure time playing golf and race walking. A reception is planned for March 5, 2022, at Eccoti, 1940 Sandy Hook Rd., Ste. A, Goochland, Virginia 23063, from 12 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Richmond Chapter, 4600 Cox Road, Suite 130, Glen Allen, Va. 23060.

SURS museum hosting open house The Second Union Rosenwald School Museum Inc. extends a warm invitation to the general public to join them on Feb. 19 and 20, 2022, from noon to 2 p.m. in honoring the

sacrifices made in establishing the museum. The museum is located at 2843 Hadensville-Fife Road in Goochland. Former students and members will be there to assist and

answer questions relating to the artifacts in the museum and the history of Second Union Rosenwald School. CDC guidelines will be followed.

Schools

online location for stakeholders to review materials, maps, proposed adjustments and recommendations. This information can be accessed directly at https://coopstratprojects.com/ gcps/ or through the school division’s website at https:// goochlandschools.org. Click on the Boundary Adjustments but-

ton. Public meetings will take place in the coming months. In addition, to ensure the voices of all stakeholders are included, a survey will be released in March to provide the Goochland community with an opportunity to share their opinions about new attendance boundaries.

continued from >1 a final decision scheduled for June 2022. A dedicated project website has been developed that will be updated as new information is shared. Regular updates will be posted to the site to provide one

Thursday

February 17, 2022

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

We spend snow days a little differently. Thank you for your patience as we worked to restore power after Virginia’s recent winter storms. Whatever Mother Nature throws at us, our goal remains the same: provide reliable power to our customers day in and day out.The recent winter weather was no exception. Restoration planning began before the first snowflake, and thousands of Dominion Energy crews, support staff, and contractors worked 24/7 until power was restored to every single home and business we serve. As your energy provider, and as members of the community, we know you rely on us every day to deliver power safely and reliably. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, in the dead of winter, in the heat of summer, and every season in between.

Thursday

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

February 17, 2022

Mystery Dan: The blunder that never dies By Roslyn Ryan Editor

I went on vacation last week. Please don’t hate me. I promise I’ll spare you a report on the weather—which was decidedly nicer than here—and everything else grand about being lucky enough to slip away from the clutches of winter for a few days. There may have been a tropical drink or two involved as well, but I pledge not to divulge that either. Instead, what I’ll offer is a very

brief retelling of a story that came back to me shortly after arriving at my destination, which was the kind of place that tends to draw people from all parts of the country. And because it was that kind of place— the kind where a soccer mom from Savannah, Georgia might find herself seated at dinner near a retired heavy equipment salesman from Pewaukee, Wisconsin—the range of regional accents was truly all over the map. It was while pondering this audible array of accents that I remem-

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bered an article published years ago when I was working as an editor at another community newspaper much like the Gazette. It was written by a talented sports freelancer with an almost perfect track record in terms of his reporting, a man with a knack for capturing the details of whatever contest he happened to be observing and delivering beautifully reported, error-free copy on a weekly basis. One morning, however, I arrived at my desk to find an urgent message from a local mother who asked that I please call her back regarding a high school wrestling story the paper had just printed. Fearful that we had made some egregious error, I dialed her number. According to the woman, a story in the paper that week about her son’s recent victory—an upset that had been quite impressive—had erroneously given credit for that win to another competitor. Even worse, she said, the other young wrestler—an athlete named Daniel Good—did not even appear to be a member of her son’s team. Embarrassed and bewildered, I apologized profusely and promised to get to the bottom of the mystery. Unfortunately, a call to the writer yielded few clues. Right there in his notes, he said, was the name we had printed. He had gotten it directly from the team’s coach, he insisted, and could only speculate that perhaps the coach had suffered a momen-

tary bout of confusion. Completely flummoxed, I called the coach. I asked him about the young man in question and if perhaps this other wrestler, Daniel—who did not even appear to be on the roster—had been a late addition to the team. Was he a transfer student? A new recruit? The coach, an intense and serious man, was initially confused. He didn’t have a wrestler with that name, nor had he ever even heard it. It was then that there was a long pause—so long that I could hear the sound of his team warming up for practice in the background. The next sound I heard was a chuckle, which soon became a fullon roar. When he caught his breath, the coach—who had been raised in the deep south—explained that he had told our reporter—who grew up about 500 miles north—that the young man who had won the match had “done good.” And that was how Dan Good was born. With the mystery solved, I called the boy’s mother. She graciously accepted our apology and we ran a correction the following week. It was an embarrassing lesson, to be sure, but also a mistake we never made again to my knowledge. And to this day, whenever I think about the wonderful variety of accents we enjoy in our great country, I think of old Dan Good.

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Goochland residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Goochland Gazette.

Laura McFarland lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com Roslyn Ryan

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Tom Haynie

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Denine D’Angelo ddangelo@mechlocal.com

Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@goochlandgazette.com © 2022 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 8,014.

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Five decades ago, Jets’ win ‘guaranteed’ By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist I did not pick up an extra bag of Fritos when visiting my local grocery store last week. But, rest assured, they had enough of that variety of munchies to fill the most extravagant or demanding of tastes, all somehow associated with the big game that was held on Sunday. At the checkout line, the conversation was dominated by talk of the impending contest, much of the discussion moderated by those who I suspect have little interest in either the Bengals or the Rams, but that’s Ok. It seems everyone is a football fan this time of year. We just witnessed another Super Bowl Sunday, and leading up to it is always a hub of activity getting ready for football’s biggest day of the year as the excitement mounts surrounding a game that long ago became a national tradition. It’s been years since I felt that level of enthusiasm for the Super Bowl. Although I consider myself a lukewarm NFL fan, I rarely plan my day around the big event. Maybe, it’s the years of the prehyped anticipation of games that often did not live up to expectations. Or maybe it’s the monumental commercialism that surrounds the event that caused my appeal to wane. Don’t get me wrong. I almost always watch some portion of the game, and if it’s exciting, I’ll sit through the sometimes interesting and unique commercials until the verdict is rendered. It wasn’t always that way. Fifty-three years ago, Super Bowl Sunday was clear and sunny as I headed to band practice in a small basement on Colonial Avenue near the Byrd Theatre. I couldn’t and didn’t attempt to hide see Jets > page 11

Thursday

February 17, 2022

SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Liptak’s heroics stun Lions in overtime By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

It took two overtimes, multiple lead changes and the heroics of a senior guard, but the Goochland boys basketball team was able to pull out a thrilling 69-66 upset over district rival Louisa County. On Thursday, Feb. 10, the Bulldogs faced a Lions team that beat them by 22 on Jan. 14 and looked like a team that took that loss personally. Goochland’s focus on winning in the trenches played a major role in its victory, as the team focused on attacking the paint rather than finding open shooters on the perimeter, a style that the team focused on earlier in the season. Another priority entering the game, assistant coach Kenneth Johnson said, was for the players to focus on uplifting each other when things weren’t going their way. “Games like this, good things and bad things will happen so you’ve got to make sure you stay positive and keep each other up,” Johnson said. “It can go either way and that’s why I really stressed to these guys to make sure they help each other out and make sure they stay positive.” The Bulldogs had four scorers finish the game in double figures, with seniors Gabe Liptak and Jarvea Cox leading the way with 15 points each followed by a 12-point performance from center De’Andre Robinson. Junior guard Jamason Pryor also added 11 points, taking on a floor general role as the team’s primary facilitator at point guard. Robinson led the team in scoring early, adding 10 firsthalf points and showcasing his reliable mid-range jumper and

Photos by Robby Fletcher

Left, senior Gabe Liptak gets off a contested jumper in the first half of Goochland’s 69-66 win over Louisa County. Right, guard Jarvea Cox goes for a layup.

presence in the paint as a glasscrashing big man. At the half, Goochland led Louisa County 38-30. Seven second quarter points from Pryor also helped Goochland’s case. Pryor showed control at the point, while feeding off of Cox’ aggression to the rim as a slasher. At the start of the second half, the Bulldogs slowed down their rapid pace and drive-first style in favor of a more conservative approach, largely due to the Lions switching to a 2-3 zone in order to force the Bulldogs to beat them from the perimeter. It led to a low-scoring third quarter for both teams, though Louisa County was able to gain a little traction by winning the third to cut Goochland’s lead down to seven entering the fourth.

Junior Qwenton Spellman led the Lions in the third quarter, scoring eight of the team’s 12 points. Spellman proved to be a true challenge for Goochland’s interior defenders. With the size of a nose tackle and the light feet of a running back, Spellman made Robinson and Omarion Quarles fight for every rebound and work extremely hard in post-ups situations. While the talented junior proved troublesome, those two Bulldogs were up for the challenge. “They worked hard, they rebounded and they did all the little things,” Johnson said. In that fourth quarter, the Lions stormed back from what was once a double-digit deficit to eventually take the lead. Though the Lions outscored the Bulldogs 13-6, two massive buckets from Liptak kept the score even. The Bulldogs

had a chance to win with the final shot, but they came up empty-handed, leading to the team’s first overtime game this season. In the first overtime period, Goochland found some timely shooting touch from deep, as Liptak and Cox hit the team’s second and third 3-pointers of the night. That shooting opened up the paint once again, as the Lions were forced to respect the Bulldogs’ outside shooting. “We started attacking after our shots weren’t falling, and Gabe started knocking down shots, which allowed us to go to the paint,” Pryor said. A three from senior Evan Straley and four points from freshman David Robinson kept things even for the Lions though, and they managed to get the final shot to potentially win the game. Spellman

received a clean look in the paint as the Lions drove up the court with six seconds left, and his floater at the buzzer nearly rolled in, but luck was on the Bulldogs’ side. After both teams had a chance to win with final shots at the buzzer, the fans in attendance were rewarded with one more fourminute overtime period. Louisa County scored just one bucket in the second overtime, while Liptak made two plays down the stretch that ultimately decided the game. With 16 seconds left and a running clock winding down, Liptak received the ball on the left wing and, with total confidence in his shot, let the ball fly. The star senior buried the shot, putting the Bulldogs ahead by three with the Lions regrouping for one last attempt to send the game to a third

overtime. Liptak would not let that 3-point dagger go to waste, and the guard stepped up once again by getting a steal on Louisa County’s last-ditch possession to end the game and send the student section into a frenzy that made its way onto the court. “I just saw the ball in my peripherals and just put my hand out and got the steal,” Liptak said. “I didn’t hit too many shots in the first half, and I knew my team needed me to provide some sort of spark, so I just tried to lock in a zone.” With the win, the Bulldogs wrapped up the season with a 4-16 record. For Goochland’s six seniors, it was a win to remember as they leave the program with a double-overtime thriller that Bulldogs fans will be talking about for a very long time.

Thursday

February 17, 2022

SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Six wrestlers head to states after regional finishes By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Competing at the Region 3B Wrestling Tournament, Goochland wrestling’s breakout season continued with a fourth place finish and six wrestlers finishing within the top-4 to qualify for states. Goochland’s 132 team points put the team ahead of William Monroe by 24 points, but they were 53 points behind Brentsville District in third place. Skyline, the hosting school, won the tournament with 270 points, followed by Warren County with 232.5 points. Though the Bulldogs didn’t have anyone win their respective weight classes, senior Grant Heidel and junior Reese Vincent made it all the way to their respective finals before losing to the eventual champions. The 145-pound Heidel,

boasting a 12-3 record, won the semifinal over Skyline’s Wyatt Bosley before facing Warren County wrestler Elijah Frame. Frame won the title with a 19-3 technical fall. Vincent won two matches in the 160-pound bracket, the first being a pin in 2:53 over Warren County’s James Riggs in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Vincent won by an injury default halfway through the second period. He ended up losing the final in a tight 5-0 decision against Brentsville wrestler Will Johnson. Still, Vincent already earned a trip to states with his win in the semifinals and enters the next round of postseason play with a 20-3 record. Senior Alexander Rosenbaum entered the postseason with an undefeated record and hopes of continuing his white hot winning streak, but Tyler Nix of Brentsville managed to win with a 54-sec-

ond pin in the 285-pound semifinals. Though it was a tough loss for the Bulldogs star, he responded with a dominant finish in the third place game, winning with his second pin of the competition against Warren County senior Matthew Bourgoin in 4:42. Rosenbaum was one of four Bulldogs to finish in third place. In the 138-pound tournament, junior John Summitt got pinned in the first period of the semifinals, but won his last two matches of the afternoon. In the consolation semifinals, he pinned Meridian senior Jason McInerney in 4:55, then followed that up with a hardfought 4-2 decision victory in the third place game. Summitt enters states with a 20-4 record. Sophomore Dawson Lewis in the 152-pound bracket and freshman Patrick Harlow in the 170-pound event rounded out the third place finishers for

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Senior Reese Vincent tries to secure a takedown against Courtland senior Taysean Young on Jan. 27. Vincent finished as the regional runner up in the 3B Regional Tournament on Feb. 12.

Goochland. All three of Lewis’ wins were finished within the first period, as the sophomore standout pinned all three opponents. Harlow won his quarter-

finals matchup with a 12-8 decision, then pinned Meridian’s Jack Freas and Brentsville’s James Vaughn in the consolation bracket to take third place.

Goochland’s six wrestlers heading to states will have plenty of time to regroup, as they hope to finish the season out strong on Feb. 18 and 19.

Belcher, Horst lead the way in 3B Regional meet By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Sophomore Leyton Sutherland competes in a meet on Jan. 31. Sutherland helped the 200-yard relay team finish fifth at the Region 3B Swim and Dive Championships.

At the Region 3B Swim and Dive Championships on Feb. 11, Goochland left the postseason competition with multiple Bulldogs securing their spot in states and one winning outright, as Harry Belcher left the competition as the 200-yard freestyle champion. In his dramatic title-winning race, Belcher beat his seed time of 1 minute, 49.48 seconds with a terrific 1:45.98 finish that outpaced the second place finisher by over five seconds. Belcher came out on top among 16 other competitors in the event, and booked a

trip to states in the process. He later finished fourth in the 100-yard butterfly with a 55.16-second result. William Belcher later had a third place finish in the 500 free with a time of 5 minutes, 13.37 seconds. His first lap was his best, swimming that portion of the contest in 27.49 seconds. Belcher also swam in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing sixth with a 59.92-second result. Right after Belcher’s victory, freshman Callie Horst also found herself states-bound with a third place finish in the girls 200 free, recording a 2:00.86 time that beat her seed time by nearly seven seconds. She was less than a second

off from the second place finisher, Brentsville junior Ale Lambropoulous. She wasn’t done just yet though, as the freshman sensation also finished in fourth in the 100 back by finishing up at 59.89 seconds as well as helping the 200 free relay team consisting of Annika and Anneliese Rogerson and Bayleigh Allen finish fourth with a final result of 1:47.15. Another solid finish came from senior Joe Hardman in the 200 individual medley. Hardman came in fifth place in the event with a 2:21.89 time. While he didn’t make states in the individual competition, he did contribute in the 200 medley relay team

qualifying for states, as he swam with both Belchers and sophomore Leyton Sutherland to finish fifth in the event with a final time of 1:46.36. They beat their seed time of 1:49.15 to accomplish that fifth place finish. In the girls 200 individual medley, Goochland got another fifth place finish from senior Annelies Rogerson, whose 2:24.48 time capped off her final regional meet as well. The swimmers that reached the Class 3 State Championships will be back in the pool again on Feb. 19 at SwimRVA. Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

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February 17, 2022

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