02/20/2014 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Taking the plunge: Family takes icy swim to raise funds for Special Olympics. > page 2

Volume 60, Number 7 • February 20, 2014

NAACP leader: Schools are finally listening Shabaka says picture for black students still grim, but leaders have shown will to address issues By Roslyn Ryan Editor

To Goochland Branch NAACP president Sekou Shabaka, there is little doubt that black school children in Goochland County face numerous obstacles. Looking at data he has gathered, Shabaka points to several areas of discrepancy between the experiences of white and black students, from a gap in academic performance to the over-representation of black students among those receiving disciplinary action. In the 19 years that Goochland has been sending students to the highly selective Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Shabaka points out, only two black students have been selected. But while he said the picture remains Shabaka grim, Shabaka also said last week that there have been positive developments in recent years. Specifically, he said, the election of a new school board and the hiring of superintendent James Lane have offered renewed hope for progress. “Until Dr. Lane came in, and the new board, things were not see NAACP > 3

Contributed Photo

The Gardner family gathered in front of their very own igloo in the Maidens Forest subdivision. Shown are, from left, Dan, Luca, Nia, Caden and Shannon. Inset: Dan Gardner used an old recycling container to mold the blocks for his igloo.

Block Party With a little help, Goochland dad builds ultimate frozen fort

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

If you want to build an igloo in your backyard, as Goochland resident Daniel Gardner did last week, the most important thing is to have the right kind of snow. “The kids had wanted to build a fort when it snowed a few weeks ago, but the snow was too powdery,” Gardner, an associate principal in Henrico County, said. So when he and his family awoke

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February 20, 2014

NEWS: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Going on in Goochland County

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INSIDE

School Board member looks back on groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time in office so far. PAGE 6

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Envoy at the Meadows offers a highly trained

The Goochland Animal Shelter, located at 1900 Hidden Rock Lane in Goochland, has the following pets available to a good home: Female adult bulldog/boxer mix, very friendly; sweet adult female beagle; 5-year-old male hound â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he has been in the shelter since July. Those residents missing any hounds are asked to visit the animal shelter. For more information on these pets, as well as the many more still in need of homes at the Goochland Animal Shelter, call (804) 556-5302. The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. You also can visit the shelter on Facebook at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goochland County Animal Control.â&#x20AC;?

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Contributed Photo

When it comes to raising money for Special Olympics, Goochlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Laudato family braves the cold and goes for the gold â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even when that means plunging into the Atlantic Ocean on a frigid February morning. The Laudatos â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Alyssa, Vinny, Mario and Vincenzo â&#x20AC;&#x201D; otherwise known as The Goochlanders, took part in the 2014 Polar Plunge Winter Festival on Feb. 8 in Virginia Beach, helping to raise a total of $1.1 million. The Polar Plunge is the largest fundraiser for Special Olympics in Virginia. Along with another area team, Area 6 on Ice, The Goochlanders raised more than $6,700.

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February 20, 2014

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Tea Party meeting set for Feb. 25 Contributed Report

The Goochland Tea Party will be holding a General Meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 2955 River Road West. Speakers and topics will include: • Fred Gruber, candidate for Seventh District Republican Party chairman, who will present his platform and philosophy

Igloo continued from > 1 “It’s just being a dad — you kind of know how it works and then you figure the rest out,” said Gardner, who took pointers from an exhibit he and his family had seen at the Children’s Museum in Richmond, as well as the Curious George books

NAACP continued from > 1 good,” Shabaka said, describing a relationship with the school system in which he and those advocating for black students often felt dismissed. “Understand, we had been fighting this thing for 10 years” before the new board was elected in 2011, Shabaka said. “And this was the first time we saw a willingness to say ‘We hear you, and we are willing to work to find a solution.’” Finding solutions is something that Shabaka has been doing for most of his career. While he has never worked as a teacher specifically, “I do know process, and I do know problem-solving,” he said. Before retiring from the juvenile corrections field in 2007, Shebaka had served as the associate director of New York’s Berkshire Farm Center, a non-

• Ben Slone, chairman of the prior to the Republican Party Seventh District Convention on Goochland County Republican Party, will discuss the 2014 May 10. Mass Meetings scheduled for • Linwood Cobb, Republican Virginia, as well as other imporParty chairman for the Seventh tant future dates pertaining to District, who will present his the Virginia elections in 2014. platform and a description •Susan Lascolette, supervisor of the responsibilities of the Republican Party chairman. for District 1, will present an Cobb also is a candidate for update regarding the ongoing Seventh District Republican 2014 General Assembly session at the Virginia State Capitol. Party chairman.

he’d read to his kids. “But it also takes a great wife stepping in when the kids start ‘melting’ about halfway through the job.” To make the igloo, Gardner filled a square plastic recycling container with snow to form bricks, then stacked them while the kids filled in the gaps with snow. Two and a half hours later, the family had a photo-ready

fort they will remember for years to come (but did have to break the news to Luca, 5, that they couldn’t actually spend the night in it). While Gardner also was pleased with his handiwork, he was happy to share the credit with his helpers — and his high-quality building material. Said Gardner, “It was just the perfect snow.”

profit child welfare agency. He also has his own personal experience from which to draw. “I was born in 1939,” Shabaka said. “My whole upbringing was in a segregated world. And over the course of my life, I’ve really seen the worst of it. But I’ve also seen some transitions.” Shabaka said the first step toward solving the problems facing black students in Goochland County — which, he cautions, are certainly not specific to Goochland — is admitting that there is, in fact, a problem. “You have to acknowledge that there is a disproportionality,” he said. “Then you have to define it and look at the root cause.” To Goochland School superintendent James Lane, the relationship between Shabaka and the schools has been a fruitful one. “As a member of our Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee, he has

helped us to formulate plans to improve the learning potential of all students and for that we are grateful,” Lane said, noting that the two meet monthly to discuss how the schools can continue to improve. “His guidance and questions have been invaluable,” said Lane. Despite the positive developments, Shabaka insisted last week that there is still “a long way to go” when it comes to evening the playing field for black students. “We haven’t backed off,” he said. “While the atmosphere has improved tremendously, we’re not saying that there has been a victory here.” Asked how long he planned to continue his advocacy work, Shabaka chuckled. Though he turned 75 this month, he said he doesn’t feel the need to stop anytime soon. “As long as I can,” he said, “I will.”

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EDUCATION: School Board and Academic News

February 20, 2014

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Goochland High School senior Matt Austin recently attended his first meeting with the Goochland County School Board, after being appointed as the board’s new student member. Austin replaces Jasmine Coles, who had served as board’s first-ever student representative. Austin’s primary responsibility is to represent the student body to the board. Through his participation in discussions and development of Austin a first-hand awareness of the decisions and considerations of the board, he will be in a unique position to communicate with his colleagues and serve as a liaison between the students, administration and board members. Austin’s parents are career educators. His mother, Kim Austin, is a first grade teacher at Randolph Elementary School and his father, Stacey Austin, is a former Goochland County Public School principal, currently principal of Robious Elementary School in Chesterfield.

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The Shady Grove (Rosenwald) School Inc. is hosting a Black History Month Celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Shady Grove Baptist Church. Shady Grove School is a historic one-room Rosenwald school built between 1924 and 1925. As a result of Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute, encouraging former Sears & Roebuck presi-

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dent Julius Rosenwald to help remedy the poor condition of African-American education in the South, the Rosenwald Fund was established. The Rosenwald Foundation helped to fund the building of schools for black children throughout the South during segregation. Between 1917 and 1932, more than 5,000 Rosenwald schools were built in the South — 381 in Virginia alone — many of which do not exist today. Shady Grove School is one of the few historic treasures still standing. The current Shady Grove School structure began as a result of the resolve to secure a better school for the children in the community due to the inadequate log cabin school that existed. The Rosenwald Foundation required the community contribute matching grant funds in order to begin construction. The matching funds for Shady Grove School were contributed by the public and the majority of the remaining

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funds were supplied by the black community. When construction of the new school was complete in 1925, W.D. Gresham, state supervisor of Negro Education, wrote, “I do not hesitate to say that it is one of the best one-room schools in the state.” The Shady Grove Rosenwald School Inc. recently was formed to oversee and manage the restoration of the school. The immediate objective of the organization is to protect and restore the historic building, which is listed with the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register, so that it may be used as a facility to benefit the entire community. The public is invited to attend this celebration and fundraiser to benefit the restoration of Shady Grove School. Historic documents, artifacts and memorabilia will be on display. The church is located at 3384 Oakland Church Rd. in Gum Spring.

Goochland High School teacher earns Education First scholarship Goochland High School government teacher Erin Yearout-Patton has been selected by Education First to receive a professional development scholarship through the association of the Virginia SchoolUniversity Partnership and Education First. The award, which is offered to only 50 individuals across the nation, provides opportunities for travel so VSUP members can learn about education in other countries and partYearout-Patton ner with foreign schools. This summer, Yearout-Patton will join other teachers on an Education First Professional Development Tour to Peru. Traveling with fellow educators from all over the United States, she will have the opportunity to visit local schools while also seeing Peru’s major cultural and historical sites.

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CALENDAR: Community Events

February 20, 2014 Thursday, Feb. 20

Saturday, Feb. 22

Tuesday, Feb. 25

Preschool Storytime will begin at 10 a.m. for ages 3 to 5 years old at the Goochland Branch Library. For more information, call (804) 5564774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West.

The Goochland County Branch NAACP will sponsor a forum on Early Education Initiatives forAfrican-American children, ages 0-5. The forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at County Line Baptist Church at 4070 County Line Road (Route 669) in Kents Store. The morning speakers will be faculty members from Virginia universities and the University of North Carolina, as well as Goochland Public School staff. Afternoon sessions will consider viable operational models for early childhood education. All are welcome and a light lunch will be served. For more information or questions, contact president Sekou Shabaka at (804) 457-2374.

The Goochland Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Women in Business luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rumble Seat restaurant at 12912 Plaza Dr. in Manakin Sabot.

Mother Goose Storytime will begin at 10:45 a.m. for ages 6 to 24 months (with an adult) at the Goochland Branch Library. For more information, call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West. Friday, Feb. 21

Family Storytime will begin at 10:30 a.m. for all ages at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library. For more information, call (804) 749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract West End Church of the Road. Nazarene is having its annual Indoor Yard Sale from 7 a.m. Music, Movement & More to 2 p.m. at 591 Broad Street Storytime will begin at 11:15 Road in Manakin-Sabot (four a.m. for ages 3 to 5 years old at miles east of Oilville on Route the Cochrane Rockville Branch 250). For more information, Library. For more information, call (804) 784-4537. There is call (804) 749-3146 or visit the no early admittance and the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract snow date for this event is Road. March 1. A healing service will begin at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia. This will be a time to heal through prayers, meditation, hymns and laying on of hands. St. John’s is located north of the intersection of Washington Street and Route 6 in Columbia.

Saturday, March 1 Mount Gilead Baptist Church will be hosting an All-You-Can-Eat Lasagna Dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring games, prizes, fellowship and fun. Tickets for this event are $10 each or two for $15. Children under 8 will be admitted for $3 and child care will be provided. The church is located at 4768 Shannon Hill Road in Columbia. For more information, call the church at (804) 457-2938. Sunday, March 2

The annual Jerry A. Allen Memorial Education and Scholarship Day Service will be held at 11 a.m. at the Fauquier Baptist Church at 2455 Dogtown Rd. (Dogtown and Springfield Roads) in Goochland. Music will be provided by the FBC Youth Mass Choir, Sister Tina B. Cooley, Sunday, Feb. 23 directress, and Elder Kenyatta St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Smither. Holy Eucharist will begin at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s, located north of the intersection of Brown Motor Parts, Inc. Rt. 6 & 45 at George’s Tavern Washington Street and Route 5285 River Road West 6 in Columbia. A covered dish Goochland, VA 23063 luncheon will follow service at the Rectory.

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February 20, 2014

Board made right call in challenging proposal By Roslyn Ryan Editor

In a day and age where following seems to have become the fashion, the Goochland County School Board recently decided to take a different tack. Case in point: In reaction to recent testing results that showed U.S. students lagging behind their counterparts around the world (our kids ranked 36th out of 65 in mathematics, for example, just behind the Slovak Republic,) the Virginia Board of Education has asked the General Assembly to set aside $600,000 to help improve students’ performance on the test. In a recent group editorial printed in The Richmond Times-Dispatch, however, the Goochland School Board questioned whether more testing is really the answer to helping students excel academically. Rather than spend already scarce funds on adding more standardized tests, they asked, why not use that money to help measure not what a student knows, but rather how much that student has grown in a given period? Wouldn’t it be better, the

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school board asked, to have fewer tests but get better, more useful results? It remains to be seen what course legislators will take. But it’s heartening to see that our leaders are committed to finding the best solutions rather than simply accepting those that are easily accessible. As is becoming more and more apparent, the role of education in determining a child’s future success is critical. And until we have reason to believe that every Virginia student is reaching his or her fullest potential — a lofty goal, to be sure, but one worth striving for — we should welcome and embrace solutions that come from outside of the proverbial box. As a wise man once said, “even if we are on the right track, we will never get anywhere if we just sit there.” We here at The Goochland Gazette applaud the county school board for taking the time and making the effort to critically examine the issues surrounding student testing, and for having the fortitude to question the status quo. In time, county students — and our community as a whole — will surely be better for it.

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Letters to the Editor Goochland Delegate owes his constituents a response to questions Dear Editor, Goochland’s Del. Peter Farrell, RHenrico, sends out regular General Assembly updates to folks on his mailing list. His most recent update says: “Republican members have focused the majority of their legislative effort on kitchen-table issues that families across the Commonwealth care most about.” I am looking at the Richmond Times-Dispatch blog activity as I write this, and see more discussion and debate regarding the Federal Court ruling that struck down Virginia’s ban on equal marriage, than any topic I’ve seen in some time. Clearly social issues such as this are of interest around our kitchen tables, but Del. Farrell seems to be avoiding any mention of important social issues, and his position on them, in his GA updates. There is much debate over other social issues as well, such as pending legislation regarding the repeal of mandatory ultrasounds. Another topic generating a lot of interest involves legislation, HB207, that is before Del. Farrell now, regarding what may be

taught in our schools as ‘science’ theory. Del. Farrell sent out a survey earlier in the year, but it completely avoided mention of these popular social issues and I don’t recall his position on these issues being addressed in any of his GA updates. Each of his GA updates claims, “As always, it is my goal to be as responsive as possible.” This however is not my personal experience. He has not responded to more than one of my emails asking about his positions concerning various social issues, so all I have to go on is his record. Currently, Del. Farrell sits on a committee evaluating HB207, which cracks open the doors for our schools to start teaching Creationism as a “scientific theory” that challenges evolution. He cleared up some confusion I had about his votes to send the legislation to the Courts Committee to address any constitutional issues, but he did not (yet) respond to my question about whether he supported this legislation if it could be worded in such a way as to make it constitutional, and, unless I missed it, he has not mentioned this legislation, or his position on it, in his GA updates. As those of us who watched the recent debate streamed on the Internet between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Ken Ham of the Creation Museum

understand, this is an important issue that will help decide whether America remains at the forefront of scientific innovation and advanced learning, or steps back into a superstitious, ignorant past. How much longer before the sun starts orbiting the flat Earth again, as it used to before modern science? Even Pat Robertson, hardly a Christian progressive, pointed out that Ken Ham was way over the top with his promotion of the idea that the first books of Genesis were literal, and that our 14 billion year old universe and 4.5 billion year old Earth were created in six literal days some 6,000 years ago. Don’t we have the right to know in clear, unfettered terms, where our representative stands on these issues, since we aren’t being asked what we think in Del. Farrell’s carefully constructed mailed and online survey that conspicuously avoid these topics? If you want to keep the “S” in STEM, you might want to let your Delegate know that. If you want Del. Farrell to know that you don’t feel that women are chattel, and that you want the mandatory ultrasound law killed, now’s your chance. He will help decide these issues very soon. Sincerely, Patrick Gannon Maidens

Catching up: John Wright In honor of School Board Appreciation Month, The Goochland Gazette has been featuring interviews with each of the county’s five elected school board members throughout the month of February. This week we caught up with John Wright, who represents District 3. Wright, who is vice president at E. Douglas Wright, P.C., CPA, has lived in Goochland for 16 years.

Wright

On his goals heading into his first term: My goals were to help make the board’s actions more transparent, strengthen the budgetary process and to support the teachers and staff in a meaningful manner.

On the biggest challenge he has faced as a school board member:

Time management. As engaged as I was before being elected, I had no idea how many opportunities there were to serve, observe and enjoy the students, staff and I spent several years attending community through this position. school board meetings after becoming concerned about the effects of bud- On who inspires him: Every time I set foot in one of our schools, I draw getary decisions made that directly incredible inspiration from the students themselves. affected my children. During that span of time, it dawned on me that I should Anything is possible in the mind of a child, and their be willing to serve if I was so willing approach to each hurdle placed in their path is filled with creativity, thoughtfulness and diligence. to make suggestions.

On what inspired him to run for the school board:

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February 20, 2014

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

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Double overtime thriller in Farmville Goochland wins James River District title on last-second lay-up in double overtime By Mike Schoeffel Sports Writer

With less than 10 seconds remaining in the second overtime of the James River District championship game, Goochland High School’s Tierra Morris dashed toward an open basket with a chance to seal the victory. Her team trailed Amelia High School by a single point. They had already fallen at the hands of the Raiders twice during the regular season: the first time by 15, the second time by eight. In fact, the Bulldogs’ struggles against Amelia weren’t limited to this season. They also dropped their only two games against the Raiders last season. So, the Bulldogs obviously had a heavy itch for revenge. Moments prior to Morris’ dash, the ball had come free at Amelia’s end of the court. After a mad scramble for a rebound, Morris, a 5-foot-1 freshman, scooped it up and took off down court. Several Raiders players were so close on her trail that perhaps she felt their exhalations tickling her neck. If she did, she paid them no mind. With red uniform flapping in the air, she went airborne and flicked a two-

Photo by Mike Schoeffel

The Goochland High School girls basketball team cheerfully poses with the James River District championship trophy moments after taking down heavily-favored Amelia 65-64 in double overtime. “When the buzzer went off, it was pure joy,” head coach Bari Nixon said, “for the coaches as well as the players.”

handed lay-up that tickled the twine. When the buzzer sounded seven seconds later, she was celebrating the improbable victory with a round of hugs. The scoreboard glowed 65-64 in Goochland’s favor. Bulldogs’ head coach Bari Nixon was on the receiving end of one of the Morris’ embraces. “After we made the goahead basket, the girls were beyond excited,” she said. “It was difficult to focus on the fact that there was a little over eight seconds left. When the buzzer went off, it was pure joy, for the coaches as well as the players.” The victory would have been important no matter the Bulldogs opponent. But it carried an additional sense of significance since it came against an Amelia team that is, for all intents and purposes, the Goliath of the James River

District. “I know a little of the history of the district, and I know how dominating Amelia has been,” Nixon said. “When we played them at their place before winter break, I felt we were playing their name and their history and didn’t challenge them the way I would have liked. I had high hopes in the second game since it was at home, especially after a win against Bluestone the previous week. However, the inclement weather prevented us from practicing the week before. It is impossible to prepare for a team like Amelia during a shoot around before the game.” The win was threefold in its importance. First, it gave the Bulldogs a sense of vengeance against a team that has dominated them in recent years. Second, it adds a district tournament trophy to their

collection while simultaneously boosting morale. Third, and, perhaps most importantly, it bumped the Bulldogs up from a fourth or fifth seed to a second seed in the conference tournament. That seeding ascension promises Goochland a home game and helps them avoid a second round matchup against the venerable Brunswick Bulldogs. Nixon talked about how the victory helped boost team confidence. “Our team morale and confidence is quite high after this past week,” she said. “The girls are starting to believe they can win. Having that confidence will benefit us as we continue into the postseason.” Coming into the title game, Nixon said the Bulldogs’ main focus was to see Girls > 9

Photos by Mike Schoeffel

Top, Asia Keith eyes up a free throw late in the fourth quarter. Middle, Carolin Kretzer checks the floor for an open teammate. Bottom, Abbie Robinson throws up a three-pointer during the first overtime of the James River District championship against Amelia High School.

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Collegiate girls swim to win VISAA title Cadets nab title Contributed Report

The Collegiate girls won their third straight state meet, 353-346, over their main competition, Trinity Episcopal, to claim the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association title. Female divers totaled 36 points and shot the Cougars out of the blocks to a 19-point advantage over the Titans before swimming started when Ellie Angle, Caroline Hall and Leilani Porter placed 6th, 7th and 8th in the afternoon event. Mary Katherine Kish won the 500 free for the fourth straight year, joining Collegiate’s Rachel Naurath and Madeira’s Leslie Swinley as the only winners of the event in the last 12 years. Kish also won the 200 free in school record time (1:49.74), anchored the winning 200 medley relay (23.37) and the second place (and school record) 400 free relay

Girls continued from > 8

contain the Raiders’ talented guard Takia Williams. Failing that, the Bulldogs would have to resort to the “defense is the best offense” philosophy, which meant countering Williams’ baskets with baskets of their own. As it turned out, that’s exactly the style of game Nixon’s girls had to play. Williams was dominant, as usual, finishing with a game-high 35 points. She was named James River District Player of the Year immediately following the game. “I wouldn’t say we did a good job of containing her, but that may just be the coach in me,” she said. “Takia is a tremendous player. The first two games we played against her, she was able to score at

(50.81), also in school record came out firing and Kish won moved up to 15th (improvtime (3:32.74). The victories her 200 crown Trinity began ing 1.01) to score a valuable pushed the UCLA-bound outpointing the Cougars to two points. In the breaststroke, senior’s state championship give the Cougar faithful the ninth grader Jasmine Harper titles to 13 along with 18 All- feeling of an inexorable back- twice broke school records in State designations. ward crawl for the reigning the 100, the oldest on the books, Ashton Pollard, a commit to state champs. Through the 100 (Jocelyn Powelson in 2006) the Penn, closed out a scintillating free the Cougars had lost 16 second time placing seventh in four-year career with the sec- points to Trinity. And while the 1:08.89. She also swam breastond fastest lead-off leg on the Cougars had prepared well, the stroke for the second year on winning medley relay (27.51) opposition was strong and per- the medley relay to earn her for her seventh state title and forming better. After an early second All-State distinction. followed it up with a fourth in Collegiate lead, Trinity claimed In the same event, Caroline the 200 IM and seconds in the the middle of the meet with Henry (who had been DQ’ed 100 back and 400 free relay, giv- powerful results in the 100 fly, from 8th in prelims in the 200 IM because of a flinch on the ing her 10 All-State certificates 50 and 100 frees. in all. Sister Caroline swam fly The turning point came in blocks) roared to a redeeming on the winning medley relay the 500 free where Collegiate 11th place performance while (third straight year) and the had two swimmers in consols the Trinity swimmer dropped second leg on the 400 free and two in finals. Kish won the from 11th in consols to 13th, relay adding to her burgeoning 500, C. Pollard held 8th. Sydney giving the Cougars enough All-State totals. Eight grader Lenz was 10th in a lifetime best breathing space to allow for Caroline Baber finished 5th in 5:23.11 and Emily Erard surged safe starts and a school record the 50 free (24.84 in prelims) to 11th in the last 50, improv- second place finish in the final relay. Collegiate elation for parand 6th in the 100 (54.55) with ing by 8.17 from prelims. times that now place her fifth A. Pollard went from 6th in ents and relief for swimmers and seventh on Collegiate’s top prelims to second in the 100 and coaches reigned with pho10 list. back while Erard climbed from tos all around as the girls went claim theirRecreational, trophy. While the medleySPORTS: relay 8th toYouth, 6th and High Gillian School, Laming toCollege,

will. What we wanted to do this game was contest every shot she took and box out if she missed.” “We did a much better job of scoring when we needed it last night,” she said. The Bulldogs trailed by three with 37 seconds left when Goochland’s Jessica Liddle was fouled going up for a lay-up. She made the shot, but was unable to sink the free throw, leaving the score at 5453. When Liddle fouled out moments later, she put her hands on her knees and hung her head low. Defeat seemed imminent. Williams had a chance to extend the Raiders’ lead when she headed to the line with 22 seconds remaining. But the James River District Player of the Year missed both shots, leaving the door open

tunities at the end of regulation to put the game away. But free throws and a couple of ill-advised turnovers gave them the ball back to score.” Two of the Bulldogs’ top rebounders, Liddle and Keith, fouled out late in the contest. Their exits left Nixon anxious about her team’s ability to control the glass during the extra time. “I was nervous that they would easily out-rebound us,” she admitted. “However, we had players who are often overshadowed step up and grab important rebounds and make crucial shots.” The Bulldogs led by two for the majority of the first four-minute overtime, but Teja Booker hit a short jumper in the waning seconds of the period to send them into a second overtime.

In the second extra period, a mid-range jumper by Williams put the Raiders up 64-63 with 14 seconds remaining. She was set to be the hero, but Morris’ last-second dash to the hoop captured district title glory for the Bulldogs. “It was an exciting win for us,” Nixon said. “It’s been an amazing transformation this year. I’ve never coached a team that has made such progress in the little amount of time I’ve worked with them.” Leading the way for Goochland was Morris, Liddle and Keith. Morris had 15 points, Little had 12 and Keith finished with a teamhigh 17. While Nixon certainly took time to enjoy the win, she’s keeping an eye pointed to the future. “Today is a new day, and we have new goals.”

The Benedictine Cadets wrestling team captured the first Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association

Professional

Photo by Mike Schoeffel

Goochland head coach Bari Nixon gestures to one her players during the fourth quarter of the James River District championship game.

for a Goochland comeback. Moments later Asia Keith sank one of her two free throws, forcing overtime. Nixon reflected on her

title in program history on Saturday, Feb. 15. They beat out second place finisher St. Christopher by 17.5 points. The Cadets had two wrestlers capture individual state championships: freshman Josh Wyland (120) and senior Cabell Thoma (182). It’s Thomas’ second state title in as many seasons. He’s the first wrestler in Benedictine history to win multiple state titles. Coach Ryan Hall spoke highly of his two state champion wrestlers. “Wyland has tremendous work ethic and I’m proud of him for stepping up. His future is very bright and he’s a very special kid.” “Thoma is one of the best

wrestlers in the state, pound for pound,” Hall said. “He’s only lost a couple of matches all year. One was to a nationally-ranked wrestler. His sophomore year he got upset in a round prior to placing for States and since that day he’s been in absolute workhorse.” In addition to his wrestlers celebrating career-defining days on the mat, Hall was recognized for hard work that helped raise the Benedictine wrestling to state-wide prominence. He was named the VISAA Coach of the Year. “It makes me feel really good that my peers selected me for that award,” he said. “But I didn’t win that. My kids and coaching staff won that.” One of Hall’s assistants, John Wittenburgh, who recently beat cancer, was named Assistant Coach of the Year. “He’s the epitome of hard work,” Hall said. “Not only is he a great coach, he’s also my best friend.

By Mike Schoeffel Sports Writer

emotional state during the waning seconds of regulation. “I was exhausted and almost hoarse,” she said. “I thought we had a few oppor-

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