The Goochland Gazette – 11/19/2020 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Animal Shelter Update: Sweet pup still seeking loving retirement home > page 2

Volume 65, Number 47 • November 19, 2020

A little bit of everything For over seven decades, A.G. Smith Jr. and Company was a Goochland mainstay By Roslyn Ryan Editor

GoochlandCares receives $100K contribution from local auto group Contributed report

Courtesy photo

GoochlandCares has received a charitable contribution of $100,000 from Larry Page, Tanner Hulette, and The Page Auto Group. The gift will fund critical services including food, medical care, emergency housing, and domestic violence support for the most vulnerable individuals and families in the Goochland community. The donation comes during the organization’s annual Building Bridges of Hope fundraiser. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, GoochlandCares transitioned the popular community event to an online format. The continued support of long-time donors and community partners means more than ever this year, as GoochlandCares has seen an increase in demand for its services which provide a safety net for neighbors who may have lost their jobs or health care. Sally Graham, Executive Director of Goochland Cares, recently accepted

Winston Duke, left, and A.G. Smith Jr. are seen here at work at A.G. Smith Jr. and Company in Goochland in this undated family photo. Beginning in 1926, the general merchandise store offered customers everything from fresh produce to housewares.

see Donation > 2

ention to Goochland resident George Smith just how easy life has become for the modern consumer — how these days you can order up everything you need from your favorite megastore and have it all picked out and loaded into your car when you get there — and he’ll probably smile and say that it certainly has. But don’t be surprised if he also gently points out that none of SMITH this newfangled, onestop-shop convenience is particularly new. In fact, he might tell you with a glint in his eye, it’s at least a century old. see Store > page 3

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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The Goochland County Animal Shelter currently has this sweet old boy who is in need of a retirement home! He is about 10-12 years old and hopes you will consider making him a part of your family. The shelter is located at 1900 Hidden Rock Lane, in Goochland, and is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The facility has many lost dog and cat fliers posted. 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. You also can visit the shelter on Facebook at “Goochland County Animal Control.”

Collegiate tennis reflects on unbeaten season PAGE 9 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................13-14 Obituaries .............................. 4 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................8-9 TV Listings ......................10-12

Goochland CASA holding holiday poinsettia sale Contributed report

Elrod & Dunham Dentistry wants to say THANK YOU for your continued support and confidence in us as your dental healthcare provider during the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic. As always, the safety of our staff and patients is our top priority. Several measures have been put in place to ensure a safe and healthy office environment. We cannot express how elated we are to see all of your smiles again! Oral health is an essential factor to your overall health. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your appointment, please do not hesitate to call us.

We are ALWAYS here for you!! We look forward to meeting your dental health needs. 7516 Right Flank Rd., 2979 River Road W. Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Goochland, VA 23063 (804)-746-1300 (804) 556-2530 elroddunhamdentistry.net

Also known as the Christmas Star and Christmas Flower, it is said that the Poinsettia’s association with Christmas comes from a Mexican legend. The story goes that a child, with no means for a grander gift, gathered humble weeds from the side of the road to place at the church alter on Christmas Eve. As the Christmas Eve church service

Donation continued from >1 the check at The Page Auto Group’s flagship dealership — Audi of Richmond — “I am inspired by the support of everyone at The Page Auto Group. Their devotion to our community is part of what

went along, the congregation witnessed a Christmas miracle: the weeds turned into brilliant red and green flowers that we know today as Poinsettias. Today, Goochland CASA continues to create miracles and hope for children out of situations that can seem so desolate. Brighten yours or someone else’s holiday season with a vibrant Poinsettia! Plants are $15, with four plant colors and

delivery within the County available. Goochland CASA is partnering with Strange’s Florist to bring good cheer and natural beauty to the holiday season. Orders are being taken through Nov. 19. For more information or to place an order, contact any CASA Board Member or Executive Director Malinda Tiffany at (804) 556-5876 or mtiffany@ goochlandva.us.

makes GoochlandCares a success,” Graham said. “Their generosity is inspiring and especially meaningful at this critical time.” GoochlandCares is a private, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization that provides basic human services and health care to our Goochland

neighbors in need. For more information on GoochlandCares’ mission, visit www.GoochlandCares. org or contact Adair Roper, aroper@GoochlandCares.org or (804) 556-6260. The group can also be found on Facebook at facebook.com/goochlandcares.

CONTACT US Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 775-4010 Melody Kinser Managing Editor (804) 775-4622 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Roslyn Ryan Editor (804) 339-7956 Cindy Adams Classifieds (804) 775-4616 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor (540) 728-0549

Thursday

November 19, 2020

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

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Community Briefs Local author to hold book signing Friday at Deep Run

County group still seeking input for housing survey

Goochland author Robin Traywick Williams will be signing copies of her book, “The Last Romantic War,” at the Deep Run Hunt Club on Friday evening, Nov. 20, during the Foxy Friday Happy Hour, from 6 to 8 p.m. Space is limited due to Covid-19 restrictions. Those wishing to attend are asked to email robinwilliamsbooks@gmail. com.

How does Goochland measure up when it comes to housing? That is what a group called HousingGVA has been meeting about for the last year. This group has set out to understand the full scope of housing in Goochland. With a grant from Virginia Housing Development Association, the committee hired housing experts, hdAdvisors, to assess our housing situation. The assessment is slated for completion in Spring 2021 and will include existing data as well as responses from a communitywide survey. In this survey, the organization wants to hear about your dreams, needs, concerns, and hopes for housing in Goochland. Please go to http://gvahousingneeds.questionpro.com to have your opinions count! If you do not have internet access, please call Carol Dunlap at (804) 556-0400 and we will mail you a paper copy. Your voice and all voices are important!

Cat rescue offering chance to win new gaming console Courtesy photo

The original A.G. Smith Jr. and Company building, seen here in 1948, was just 2,100 square feet. The move to a new building just a few yards away would add an additional 1,900 square feet.

Store continued from >1 Smith can say this with certainty because for over six decades he and his family owned A.G. Smith and Company, a popular and wellstocked general merchandise store located by the river on Route 522. Beginning in 1926 when George’s father, A.G. Smith Jr. and his business partner opened the business, area residents were able to purchase just about everything they needed under one roof. That included items ranging from fresh produce to meat to small household appliances. There was fabric, cow feed and just about any kind of hardware item a person would need to repair any kind of thing, plus penny candy for the children and a better-than-average selection of men’s shoes. To be clear, the customer experience in the earlier days of the store would likely be unrecognizable to younger shoppers today. Back then most of the items a person needed would have to be requested from a clerk, who would cheerfully and efficiently gather up breakfast cereal, bulk beans, bananas or what-

ever else was on the customer’s list and package it all up. Many customers would request that their purchases be put on their account and would come in once a month and pay their bill in full, Smith remembers, another thing that simply isn’t done anymore (so diligent were customers about paying their bills, he says, that when the store finally closed its doors in the late 1990s Smith had to write off less than $500). Delivery was available, and lest anyone think that curbside pick-up in a new invention, the proprietors of A.G. Smith — which also eventually included Smith’s brother Mason — would politely beg to differ. To Smith’s niece, Donna Dalla Villa, the store offered the family more than just a way to make a living. “I didn’t realize it then,” she said, “but it taught me and my sisters so many lessons about why it is good when people are in a community together — rich or poor, black or white — people helping people. I saw these lessons carried out by my dad Mason, grandfather A.G. uncle George, Charles Binford and store employees, who were like family. What an education it was and such a huge blessing

as well.” George Smith will be the first to tell you that he is proud of the business his family built, and the service they were able to offer the community. But one thing you won’t hear him say is that he spends much time longing for the days when general stores like his were still commonplace, or that he wishes someone would start one up again. “It’s just something that outlived its time,” he says, and probably wouldn’t work today. Not only were stores like A.G. Smith unable to offer the mindboggling selection and eye-catching sales displays that today’s consumers have grown accustomed to, Smith says, but there is also the pace of modern life to consider. Everyone is in such a hurry these days, he points out, that the idea of a place where you can grab your items and even ring yourself up has an obvious appeal. Still, he will be the first one to say that he will always cherish the relationship he had with his customers, plenty of whom he still calls friends today. “Do I miss the store? No,” he says with a chuckle. “But I really do miss seeing the people.”

Do your kids have X-box Series X on Santa’s Wish List? Goochland Community Cats has one! The organization will be raffling off this much sought after game system to help homeless community cats. Go to www.goochlandcommunitycats.org to learn more and to get your chances.

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November 19, 2020

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Obituary WILLIAM H. HUTCHINS William Henry “Bill“ Hutchins, 69, of Goochland, son of the late W.H. “Pete” Hutchins Sr. (Pat) and Norma Tibbs Blue (Ivy); his brother, Mark Lloyd Hutchins; and his loving nephew, Drew deRosa, passed peacefully November 11, 2020, at his home with his family by his side. He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Penny; HUTCHINS his loving children, Bradley Hutchins, Lucas Hutchins and fiance, Sharon Blount; his daughter, Ashley Suzzanne Collings and a devoted son-in-law, Dean Collings; his brother, Wilber “Sonny” H. Hutcins and Debi; his sisters, Debra Hutchins Holt and Thornton, Robyn Hutchins Murphy and Chuck; and all of his nieces, nephews and cousins he loved so; his uncle, Hank Tibbs and Sylvia; his aunt, Helen Nuckols and Mason. After his life in the Navy, serving on the USS King and USS Barney during the Vietnam War as a Boiler Operator, Bill

met the love of his life, Penny Lynn Good from West Virginia and spent the next 43 wonderful years together with their children. They settled in Goochland, Virginia, where he made his forever memories. Bill spent many years as a restaurateur; he spent many years at the Goochland Restaurant and the Country Gentleman Store. When Bill met the late Dr. Donald Becker, they formed a very special friendship and for the next 20 years Bill loved his life with his family on Mt. Bernard Farm. Bill had so many nicknames but the one most used was “Sweet William” and one of his favorite sayings was “Have I told you how much I love you today?” We want to thank our family and friends for bringing the delcious food; he enjoyed it so much; the Parkinsons Center Staff at the Hunter Homes McGuire VA Hospital; the Home Based Care Program Richmond-VAMC; and Hospice Community Care. There will be a Celebration of Bill’s life at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 666758516 or www.woundedwarriorproject. org.

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Community Calendar son, or by ZOOM. Please e-mail is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7212275. Are you a teen writer partici- jcshively@comcast.net. This virtual program, which takes pating in National Novel Writing place from 10:30 – 11:30 p.m., will Do you love LEGOS? The Kids’ Month? Join an upcoming be hosted through Zoom and the LEGO Club allows kids in grades NaNoWriMo Teen Chat to talk meeting link will be sent to the K-5 to meet and talk with other about your novel and share writemail registered one day before the LEGO fans about their current creing tips with other teen writers. event occurs. ations, ask questions, and show off Those age 12 and up may go to https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. their amazing builds! Registration The following library programs com/event/7200628 to register. required at https://pamunkeyliwill be available on demand through This virtual program, which will brary.libcal.com/event/7200626. YouTube beginning on the date spectake place from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., This program is hosted virtually ified in the listing is hosted through Zoom and the through Zoom from 3:30 to 4:30 meeting link will be sent to the p.m., and the meeting link will be Kitchen Close-ups: Pizza email registered one day before sent to the email registered one Roll-ups Premieres Tuesday, Nov. 3 the event occurs. For more infor- day before the event occurs.For Children age 5 and above (with mation, contact ask@pamunkey- more information or if you have a special physical or communication an adult) can learn to make delilibrary.org. need, please contact ask@pamun- cious pizza roll-ups and enjoy a read aloud telling of “The Princess keylibrary.org. Friday, Nov. 20 and the Pizza” by Mary Jane Join the Rotary Club of and Herm Auch. Go to https:// Monday, Nov. 23 Goochland as the group welcomes pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ Join us as Martin Bailey, AARP event/7200825 for the ingredient guest speaker Bonnie Field, Rotary Club of Goochland Foundation Community Ambassador, as he dis- list. Starting Nov. 3, go to https:// Chair. The meeting starts at 7:30 cusses how to seniors can stay safe www.youtube.com/user/pamuna.m. at the Richmond Country while shopping and visiting online see Calendar > 12 Club. Guests may intend in per- this holiday season. Registration Thursday, Nov. 19

Thursday

November 19, 2020

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

The feel good holiday treat rooted in America’s past: Pickled Watermelon Rind By Virginia McCown Contributing Writer

“Almanzo ate the sweet, mellow baked beans. He ate the bit of salt pork that melted like cream in his mouth. He ate mealy boiled potatoes, with brown ham-gravy. He ate the ham. He bit deep into velvety bread spread with sleek butter, and he ate the crisp golden crust. He demolished a tall heap of pale mashed turnips, and a hill of stewed yellow pumpkin. Then he sighed, and tucked his napkin deeper into the neckband of his red waist. And he ate plum preserves and strawberry jam, and grape jelly, and spiced watermelon-rind pickles. He felt very comfortable inside. Slowly he ate a large piece of pumpkin pie.” — From Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This celebratory meal in 1860s upstate New York may not have been a Thanksgiving feast, but it brings back everything innocent and right in the world — even though everything in our young nation clearly wasn’t. In the 1860s, we were a divided nation entrenched in the bloodiest battle in our collective American history. Slavery, reconstruction, numerous recessions, scandals and division surrounded us. Still, when I read the Little House books, I’m reminded of what I grew up believing America could be, what we thought it should be, and what we still hope it will be. Share this recipe with someone. Yes, it’s a bit complicated, but clearly so were the times of Almanzo Wilder and Laura Ingalls.

The Watermelon What type of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) was first used in preparing pickled rind? I have no idea. Years ago, I came across the heirloom variety, “Moon and Stars.” Just for fun, I decided to grow it. “Moon and Stars” doesn’t look like anything you’ll find in the produce section of grocery stores. It’s a dark green melon with yellow splotches, some large (the moon) and many small (the stars). Even the plant’s leaves are mottled. The strange appearance of “Moon and Stars” confounds deer. In my garden, they don’t seem to know what it is. Quite by accident, I learned the cultivar is hardy and disease resistant. The fruit is very sweet, and its rinds are fleshy and thick. It’s not necessary to use this variety — it’s

just the one I chose to grow. However, its thick green, fleshy rinds are a good for using in this recipe.

Recipe 1 seven pound watermelon ½ cup pickling lime 4 cups white distilled vinegar 1 cup water 5 cups sugar 1 tablespoon whole cloves 1 whole cinnamon stick 2 quarter-size slices fresh ginger root Directions Day One: Cut the watermelon in half and scoop out the red fruit and seeds. Allow a thin layer of red to remain. By doing this it reminds everyone this is a watermelon, not a cucumber. Cut each half into three or four manageable pieces. Place these pieces into boiling water for five minutes. Remove the pieces with tongs and allow them to cool. By boiling the watermelon pieces, it’s easier to separate the rind from the tough, dark green outer skin. Take care to remove ALL the hard outer shell of the watermelon. Cut the pieces into small 1 inch or 1 ½ inch squares. OR use a miniature cookie cutter to form the rind into shapes. I cut my rind pieces in tiny pumpkins, acorns, Christmas trees, and holly leaves. The simpler the shape, the better. Candy canes tend to break apart, and gingerbread men often lose their heads during the cooking process. Dissolve ½ cup pickling lime in two quarts of water. Soak the pieces for a minimum of eight hours of overnight. I suggest soaking the pieces overnight. Day Two: Rinse the pieces in water until the water is free of all lime residue. Gently cook the pieces in fresh water until translucent. Drain well. Prepare a syrup of 4 cups vinegar, one cup water and five cups sugar. Secure the cloves, gingerroot and cinnamon stick within a cheesesee Watermelon rind > 12

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November 19, 2020

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

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Dad recalls GHS players’ compassion By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

Rising river swallows park Goochland’s Tucker Park remained largely unrecognizable last Friday after the James River rose high enough to leave much of the popular local recreational area underwater. Nearby businesses were spared from damage, but county schools were closed Friday due to unsafe road conditions. Photo by Roslyn Ryan

Deputies ditching razors to help save lives By Roslyn Ryan Editor

With more people working from home these days, it isn’t exactly unusual to run into someone who has let his or her grooming habits slip just a bit. But if you happen to run into a Goochland County deputy who looks a bit scruffy in the coming weeks, please be aware that it’s not

due to a lack of care. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. This month, Goochland County deputies are participating in the No Shave November initiative, an effort aimed at raising awareness of — and starting conversations about — men’s health issues, specifically cancer. First started by the family of Matthew Hill, a young husband and father who died from colon cancer in

Editorial & Business Office and Mailing Address: 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Phone – (804) 746-1235 Toll free – (877) 888-0449 Fax – (804) 344-8746 Online: www.goochlandgazette.com

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Joy Monopoli

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2007, the No Shave November effort has raised more than $10 million since 2009 and seen it’s simple yet captivating mission: “Grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free” — taken up by organizations around the world. Members of the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office are participating in the effort this year in honor of Deputy John Casey, a member of

the GCSO family who lost his battle with cancer in 2019, and all participating deputies will make a donation to the American Cancer Society. Cancer eventually touches all of us in one way or another, whether through a friend or family member’s diagnosis or our own. Some, by the grace of God, will win the battle while others leave behind loved ones to see No Shave November > 7

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Gazette 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. Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: (804) 344-8746 E-mail: rryan@goochlandgazette.com © 2020 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.

While watching college football this weekend, I immediately noticed the patch on the arm of most coaches on the sideline, and realized it was Coach to Cure weekend. For more than a decade, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has participated in an annual event that raises awareness and money for research for people who suffer from Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy. Fans who attend the game are asked to contribute to the effort organized by Parents Project for Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), and volunteers across the nation organize special events in the week leading up to the game. Nationally, the program raises millions of dollars annually for research as health care professionals across the globe search for a cure for a disease that shows no compassion or mercy for the people it affects. For the past 10 years or so, we’ve spent this fall weekend celebrating with Goochland’s varsity football team on Coach to Cure weekend. The cold, sometimes rainy nights at the stadium are memories no one in my family will forget, especially my son Jack who suffers from Duchenne. As I reflected on the many years of great memories associated with Coach to Cure and the Goochland Bulldogs, I thought back to those first events organized shortly after Jack’s diagnosis. Things were different in those days. I recall a small boy who at first was intimidated by a bunch of giant athletes who liked to whoop it up. I remember the first time he let go of my hand to accompany his teammates to midfield for the toss. see Ridolphi > page 7

Thursday

No Shave November continued from >6 mourn their loss and continue the fight in their memory. As a cancer survivor, and someone who has lost many relatives and friends to this devastating disease, the race to find a cure for cancer — and the effort to spread the gospel of early detection remain close to my heart. And since so much about cancer is ugly, brutal and pain-

fully unfunny, I can’t help but love the idea of injecting a little levity into the message. To the Goochland County Sherriff’s Office, thank you for helping to spread the word about this very important issue and finding yet another way to impact the community in a positive way. Come December the scruff may be gone, but the message you’ve helped share will likely be helping save lives for years to come.

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November 19, 2020

Coach to Cure continued from >6 He stubbornly clung to my hand as the players extended theirs for the short walk. Jack didn’t want to let go. The players noticed Jack’s hesitancy and the look of dismay on my face as the officials waited patiently. As one of the players knelt beside Jack and spoke with him, another looked at me and said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Ridolphi, we’ll take

care of him.” I let go and stood on the sideline as the group walked away — four giant football players with one tiny boy with the number one on the back of his jersey extending well past his knees. I never worried again in the many years that followed, and, in fact, the Goochland players have always taken care of Jack, handling him with care as his condition worsened over the years.

www.goochlandgazette.com And when he could no longer walk with his teammates, they grabbed his wheelchair and rolled with him to begin the game. It’s the kind of display that brings tears to a parent’s eye, watching a team of good kids and great athletes reaching out to help a child that will never carry the ball or score a touchdown. On this Coach to Cure weekend when the field at Goochland is dark, it’s important to recognize the special

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people who make this event special for many reasons. They are my heroes. Hopefully, they’ll be back on the field soon accompanied by a kid in a wheelchair with a #1 on the back of a jersey that is still too big. It’s what I call a winning combination. Again, my thanks to all who make this event possible in Goochland and the many friends and supporters who make it a great event for Jack and his family..

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Thursday

November 19, 2020

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

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Contributed photo

Goochland United Soccer Association saw its first 14u team in a few years compete in this 2020 fall season, and the young team excelled, earning six wins against three losses.

The high points of GUSA’s 2020 fall seasons Staff Reports

The Goochland United Soccer Association enjoyed a tremendous showing in the Richmond Strikers Capital Fall Classic Tournament, held Nov. 7-8, as the U10 coed soccer team and the U12 Dynamite, coached by Jason Funkhouser and Michael Wallmeyer, brought home the championship trophies in their respective tournament brackets. The GUSA Dynamite won all four of its tournament games, bouncing back from a tied score at halftime in the final to secure their position as tournament champions. The championship capped an undefeated fall season for the Dynamite ahead of this coming weekend’s tournament. According to the coaches, most of the Dynamite’s team has played together for many consecutive seasons and years, and their camaraderie is strong both on and off the field as they’ve become teammates and friends. For the coaches, a highlight from this season was seeing the growth in the ways that the team communicates with each other during a game. They noted that, when the parents on

Contributed photo

Goochland United Soccer Association’s U12 Dynamite team is coached by Jason Funkhouser and Michael Wallmeyer.

the sidelines are taking a break from cheering the team on, you can hear the boys talk with each other on where to pass the ball and how to back up their teammates. This team, the coaches said, has formed a strategy and works hard to put it into play. The U10 team, playing two games on Saturday and two on Sunday, won its first three

games (5-0 against the StrikersChesterfield, 5-1 against FC Richmond and 7-0 against another Strikers team) and tied the last game 2-2 against the Strikers Cowboys. The players on the team were Copeland Carter, Lucas Chewning, Brayden Ford, Tyler Funkhouser, Warner McClure, Gavin Ross, Lincoln Seredni,

Aliyah Sikes, Ryder Sims, do just that in a season that was Charles Wallmeyer and Lawson able to take place this fall after Winter. the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic knocked out Virginia sports in the spring, and the U14 team returns U14 coed team excelled. It’s been quite a few years The unit features a mix since GUSA last fielded a team of fifth, sixth, seventh and a in an age division higher than few eighth graders who ranged U12. from 10 to 13 years old, makBut the program was able to ing it the youngest team in the

league. That didn’t stop the group from pulling off a winning season of 6 wins and 3 losses, with one of those losses coming to a U15 team. “I’ve been very proud of how the team has come together,” said GUSA coach Brian Boyle, who added that over half of the players have not played together previously. “I’m not sure if it was their Goochland pride or their desire for some normalcy in this pandemic,” Boyle said, “but I haven’t been able to satisfy the team’s drive to compete. If it was up to them, every week would be a doubleheader.” One memorable moment for Boyle and the team was when one of their opponents gathered select “Elite” players from other teams to give them a more competitive edge against Goochland. “When our players recognized the ‘Elite’ players from other teams they previously played, it ignited a fire within the team,” Boyle said. “Nothing was going to distract them from victory.” Another moment that made

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Reflecting on Collegiate tennis’ unbeaten season By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

GOOCHLAND – At the beginning of October, Collegiate girls tennis coach Allyson Brand said this season would be a successful one if everyone were to stay safe and healthy, improve in something and continue to come out and play tennis throughout the whole stretch. The program more than accomplished its mission. It completed every team match slated for this 10 -match fall season, which was shorter than normal and featured conference-only contests because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “I think it was great for the girls – I think they enjoyed the team part of it, the camaraderie, supporting each other,” Brand said. The team stayed healthy and injury-free, save for one small injury for a few days at the end. All 14 of the girls got to play this year. Everyone, from the seniors to the younger players, improved on something. Just to have a season – which can no longer be seen as a guarantee because of COVID – is a success in its own right. But the Cougars made this year even more special. They went undefeated (100) as a team, accomplishing one of the goals that the girls had set for themselves. “One of the things we always try to get the girls to

GUSA continued from >8 Boyle very proud was when they played a team that he said was far outmatched, and in the second half of that game, five of Goochland’s players “displayed

do is – we always tell them ... nothing’s going to be given to us; we’ve got to go out there and play and earn and show them how we can play,” Brand said. “I do think the girls definitely did that this year.” The Cougars won 94% of their sanctioned individual matches (66-4) and close to 91% of their matches overall (90-9) including exhibition matches. Their team wins included a sweep of League of Independent Schools rival St. Catherine’s, who last year beat them for the LIS championship and finished one round ahead of Collegiate in the state finals as runners-up (the Cougars reached the semifinals). The Saints, however, were Collegiate’s toughest team by the numbers this year. They were the only team to prevent the Cougars from recording a single 10-0 bagel set against them this season. “They’re always tough – they’re always great girls, great coaches,” Brand said of St. Catherine’s, adding: “It’s always fun to have some great competition where everybody brings out the best.” Brand expected to have a strong team with a lot of depth going in, but even so, her players this season “definitely exceeded” expectations. “With so much going on and uncertainty out there with the pandemic . . . just seeing their smile on their face, seeing them having fun, improving, wanting to be out there playing tennis and being with each great sportsmanship” and joined their opponent’s team so that they could level out the teams. “Even though it stung a bit to score goals on their own team, it was a much better experience,” Boyle said, “and it made for a great day for all involved.”

other, that’s great,” Brand said. They were also able to have their Senior Day – a universal high school sports tradition that appeared immovable until the pandemic hit – and celebrate the contributions of their six seniors: captain Nora Willett, returning No. 1 Helena Huff, Powhatan County’s Kayli Shenk, Kylee Sanderson, Sarina DePalma and manager Rebekah Wright. For Brand, that was a favorite moment. “That is huge to be able to have that, knowing how, for seniors, just having a sense of closure and . . . to leave the season on a positive is great,” Brand said. Seniors Willett, Huff and Shenk never missed a sanctioned match this season. All three went undefeated. Willett’s teammates and

coach pointed to her outstanding leadership on and off the court, with her peers also praising Willett for keeping the team safe and accountable, building up her teammates, making sure they’re following the rules, staying positive, encouraging them to put in 100% during practices and games and being a great role model. “She’s a great leader,” Brand said of Willett. “She led ... not by just saying, but she led by doing.” Huff ’s drive, focus and love for the game showed every day she was out there, her coach added. “She loves being around the team,” Brand said. “As soon as she finishes her match, she wants to go cheer on her teammates, and I think her drive out there on the court every

day, even at practice, was great. In that sense of it, she’s a great role model for the whole team.” Shenk was known for always smiling and laughing on the court – her teammates said her energy bounces off and brightens everyone else’s day – and also for her strong commitment to the sport and her good sportsmanship. “Kayli’s awesome – her spirit, fun-loving, just out there wanting everybody to have fun and still competing,” her coach said. Sanderson started attending Collegiate as a freshman, playing two years of JV and two years of varsity. According to her team, Sanderson always had a smile on her face, whether they were doing fitness or tennis drills, and was a great team member, always engaging with her team and enjoying the team experience. She finished her senior season with a 5-1 record, with three of her wins coming in top-seven matches. Brand said her ground strokes were “super consistent.” DePalma, a member of Collegiate tennis for six years with four years on JV and two years on varsity, ended up going 3-2 in 2020, with one win in top-seven play. She ended her Collegiate tennis career by winning her last three matches. She made her Senior Day all the more memorable by edging past St. Anne’s-Belfield’s Lily Wiley 9-7 in a competitive matchup. The match gave her confidence that helped her close out the year in strong

Upcoming tourney

Richmond Kickers Warriors at 11:30 a.m. and the Kickers Thunder at 5:20 p.m. Dynamite will also play Colonial Heights CHSA Thunder on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. In the U12 Fire bracket, the GUSA Falcons play PWSI Courage (9:20 a.m.) and

Kernersville KSA (2:40 p.m.) on Saturday, as well as the Richmond Strikers Cavaliers (8:30 a.m.) and the Richmond Kickers RK Rec Bryan Park U12 team (11:10 a.m.) on Sunday. All U12 games are at Ukrop Park.

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Helena Huff, 2019’s All-Metro Player of the Year, signs to play at the College of Charleston. Huff, a seznior, contributed to Collegiate girls tennis going unbeaten (10-0) in 2020.

Several of GUSA’s teams will compete in this weekend’s Richmond Kickers Mega Blast Recreational Tournament. On Saturday in the Coed U12 Revolution bracket, GUSA Dynamite will play the

fashion, noted Brand, who also complimented DePalma’s strong serve and ground stroke. DePalma’s team described her as a great team player, adding that her positive attitude and work ethic helped her to motivate and encourage her teammates during games. Wright came to Collegiate in 10th grade and was a program manager all three years at the varsity level. Wright’s team said that she’s always positive, and that her outgoing personality is contagious. Brand praised her as “super-helpful, proactive” and “very encouraging to everyone around her.” Every one of the 14 girls got to play a top-seven match, meaning they had the opportunity to earn a point for their team. “It makes them feel, I personally think, more part of the team,” Brand said, “because when you play a match like that, especially for those who don’t get the opportunity to do it all the time, it adds a little bit more of the emotional side to it.” Just getting to have this season, Brand said, was incredible. “For the girls and the coaches to be able to go through the whole season, it’s been a little glimpse of normalcy when they’re out there,” she said, “and it’s almost been their ... little getaway to get away from everything, and hopefully a stress relief, to see them all smile and have a moment to get away from the pandemic that’s going on.” In the U14 bracket, GUSA Pride will play two different Lake Gaston Soccer Lakehawks teams on Saturday (10 a.m.) at Hensley Park and Sunday (1 p.m.) at Ukrop Park. The Pride will also play an FC Richmond team on Saturday (1 p.m.) at Hensley Park.

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