The Goochland Gazette – 11/10/2022

GCPS hosts engagement night for ESL students and their families

Contributed report

Goochand County Public Schools (GCPS) recently hosted the division’s third annual English Learner Family Engagement Night at Randolph Elementary School, an event aimed at ensuring students enrolled in the division’s English as a Second Language program and their families have full access to the tools needed to help them succeed.

Over the course of the evening, GCPS leaders and local partners provided over 50 family members and students with access to resources and services intended to improve family engagement and student health.

The event included a Virginia Family Dentistry dental clinic for children, technology help for parents and a sneak preview of the schools’ upcoming book fair.

With the support of the Goochland Family YMCA, attending families also learned how they could obtain YMCA memberships at a reduced cost. Additionally, division staff shared information on how families could sign up for the GCPS virtual family assistance center.

“Thanks to Virginia Family Dentistry and the YMCA, we were

BOS taps Vaughters to serve as interim supervisor for District 4

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Nearly six weeks after the death of supervisor Don Sharpe, residents of Goochland’s District 4 now know who will serve as their interim representative.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, Charlie Vaughters was appointed interim supervisor for District 4, filling the seat left vacant when Sharpe died

unexpectedly on Sept. 17.

The board was required by state law to appoint a qualified voter of District 4 by Nov. 1, 2022, to fill the vacancy until the next election on Nov. 7, 2023. After advertisement of the opportunity and what board members described as a very deliberative selection process, Vaughters got the nod.

“We are thankful for Mr. Vaughters’ willingness to step up

and serve,” said board of supervisors chairman Neil Spoonhower. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and community service to the role and will be a welcome addition to the board.”

Vaughters, a long-time resident of Goochland, is a graduate of Rice University and the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia,

Workshop will offer guidance for writers

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

An upcoming workshop will help would-be authors to turn their dreams of writing a book into reality. Organizer Ernest Porter, himself a published author, said Sunday that the goal of the Nov. 19 program, which will be held at the Goochland Cultural Arts Center, is to help those who have always wanted to write but aren’t sure how to navigate the often daunting challenges involved in creating a finished work and getting it in front of readers.

The workshop will feature a panel of published authors who will discuss such topics as formatting manuscripts and connecting with a publisher. The session will run from 3 to 6 p.m. and is expected to include a Q and A session. The Cultural Arts Center is located at 2748 Dogtown Road, in Goochland.

For Porter, part of the joy in organizing the program has been the idea that he can help local writers to avoid some of the pitfalls that he himself faced early on.

“Because of the things I endured, I think I can offer

Photo courtesy of Goochland County

Goochland Clerk of the Circuit Court Dale Agnew, left, swears in Charlie Vaughters as the interim supervisor for District 4 on Nov. 1. Vaughters’ term will run until Dec. 31, 2023.

Workshop

Know, and What You Don’t Know About the Streets.”

Goochland History Revealed

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beginning writers examples of what to do and what to avoid,” said Porter, whose book, “Reflections of a Soul,” is available on Amazon.

Among those set to attend the session are Terry Rufkin, author of “The definition of Street Ignorance: What You Know, What You Think You

Porter hopes all those who have considered putting their stories or ideas down on paper will attend the free seminar.

“Everybody has a story to tell,” said Porter, “and we want to help them tell it.”

For more information on the workshop, contact (804) 888-2073 or (804) 252-4233.

Vaughters

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where he earned a Master of Business Administration.

He has worked in various roles in investment banking, commercial banking, and independent consulting. Currently, he serves as managing director and head of commercial banking development for Primis Bank in Richmond. He also serves as a board member and vice chair of the Virginia Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin for a fouryear term ending in July 2026. In addition, he is active in the community serving as

a board member and chair of Jacob’s Ladder and as a board member of Union Presbyterian Seminary. Vaughters also teaches financial literacy to incarcerated individuals through Resilience Education.

“I am honored the board selected me to join them in service to our community,” said Vaughters. “It is a great privilege and responsibility to serve in this role, I look forward to working with everyone to continue Goochland’s success.”

Vaughters was officially sworn in on Nov. 1, during the Goochland County Board of Supervisors November meeting. His term will conclude on Dec. 31, 2023.

Pictured here, circa 1950, is Dayton Richmond taking a break with his jalopy. His yearbook write-up says he liked jalopies and this picture seems to be the proof. It also said he liked “Wash” days. He would go on to marry Lela Wash and live happily ever after. The title of this photograph comes from a popular Frankie Laine recording, “The Jalopy Song,” of the same period.

Fire officials warn residents of dangers posed by lawnmowers

Contributed report

Fall is here and leaves are falling from the trees. Many homeowners will use their lawn mower to cut up and chop up the leaves in the yard. When doing so, it is important to use caution and be on the watch for fire starting underneath the mower. Dry leaves can pile up under the mower and are easily ignited by the hot muffler and/or friction and sparks from belts and pullies, setting the mower on fire.

It’s a good idea to clean off dry grass and leaves from the mower deck prior to putting the mower away. Allow the mower time to cool off outside prior to storing inside the shed or garage.

Goochland County FireRescue has already responded to one lawn mower fire in recent days!

A few more tips: Know your mower, know how it works be familiar with the electrical system. Do your routine maintenance every year.

Know what type of battery you have and check it, with the increase in LithiumIon battery fires make sure you know how to care for your battery and what the manufacture recommendations are on maintenance and charging the battery.

After using your mower, allow it to sit outside and cool off before putting it in the garage.

When parking your mower in the garage, make sure the area around the mower is clear of stored items, any flammable liquids or combustible materials. A good practice is to make sure you have at least 3 feet of clearance around your mower.

Refuel and clean your mower after its has cooled down and do not refuel it in the garage.

Ensure that your home has a working smoke alarm. Smoke alarms are available at no cost, including free installation, by contacting your local fire-rescue station or by calling Goochland County Fire-Rescue Administration (804) 556-5304.

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Denine D’Angelo Production Manager (804) 775-4624

‘My old jalopy’s a Cadillac when you go riding with me’

Photograph courtesy of Goochland Historical Society

Contributed report

This Veterans Day, GoochlandCares is acknowledging and thanking United States Veterans who have served our country. The group also wishes to thank GoochlandCares volunteers who have served our country and continue to serve others, exemplifying the organization’s motto, Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Lt. Col. Vern Fleming, retired army officer, served from 1974-1994. During his

military career he was stationed in South Korea and in the United States. Fleming has served as a volunteer at GoochlandCares for over three years. He began by delivering firewood to clients and now volunteers in the food pantry. Fleming is also currently the vice president of the GoochlandCares board of directors and is the rising board president.

Fleming’s commitment to giving back “began when I was growing up,” he says. “I was

raised in a family that was devoted to a life of community service. As a father of five I have made it a priority to pass this tradition of community service on to my children.”

Fleming recently shared an experience he had while volunteering with GoochlandCares. He was delivering Meals on Wheels to an elderly couple, and the husband was disabled. Fleming was invited into their home and told that their refrigerator was not working. Fleming called

GoochlandCares and shared the clients’ need with the staff. GoochlandCares was able to secure a new refrigerator for the couple within a few days. The clients were very grateful.

Fleming said he feels that being a part of an organization such as GoochlandCares, which aids those in need, is imperative.

“I have seen firsthand, on many occasions, how much this organization does for the people who need assistance in Goochland,” Fleming said.

“I am proud and honored to volunteer for GoochlandCares where neighbors truly help neighbors.”

Cmrd. Donald Hanna, USN Ret., also known as Don, served our country from 1955-1979. He enlisted right after high school and continued to flight school. He became a production test pilot as well as serving as a fighter pilot.

Before COVID-19 hit in 2020, Hanna had been a

Goochland Cares volunteer for eight years. He first helped in the dental clinic doing data entry.

“I was very impressed with the GoochlandCares dental clinic,” Hanna said. “The services were extensive and aided many of our clients who could not afford good dental care.”

After five years in the dental clinic, Hanna started volunteering in the GoochlandCares

Editor’s note: The following contribution is part of the Gazette’s continuing series “Tell Me a Story,” in which we ask our readers to share tales from their own lives or the lives of family members.

By Mary Long Mobley Contributing Writer

My mother’s younger brother Clinton visited us often when we lived on the farm in Gibsonville, and that is why he claims more than a page in my scrapbook of childhood memories. Another reason is that sometimes before he left to go home, he gave me 50 cents.

A framed picture of him used to hang on our living room wall, right next to one of Jesus, and if that is not a place of honor, I don’t know what is. A friend of our family once stood gazing at Uncle Clinton’s 8x10 and said he looked like a movie star.

Through the years from near and far and even after the deaths of my parents, he stayed in touch with us. He was the kind of uncle you could call in the middle of the night, and we

almost did that on at least one occasion but thought better of it and waited until morning.

Eight of us (five adults, two toddlers and a baby) were on a family camping trip when frigid weather unexpectedly hit, and we were caught with barely a jacket among us and only sheets and thin blankets for cover. It just so happened we had set up our camp in the vicinity of Uncle Clinton’s house. So at daybreak, we packed our tents, fled our campsite and less than an hour later knocked on his door. We were affectionately welcomed and spent the next night sleeping in warm pallets on the floor of a modest rancher.

Uncle Clinton did much bigger things than give me 50 cents or rescue shivering campers. He was a corporal in General Patton’s Army during World War II and endured the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944.

I never heard Uncle Clinton reminisce about his military years, so I turned to our family historian, my oldest brother Charles, for more information. He told me that at a reunion one year, he broached the subject, but Uncle Clinton treaded cau-

tiously into that territory, sharing only a couple of bits and pieces about that time in his life. He recounted a harrowing experience while driving at night in a convoy. Head and taillights were turned off to avoid detection, and each driver could see only a small light on the rear

of the vehicle ahead of him.

Exactly how all of the events unfolded is unclear, but there was a raid, at which time the drivers slammed on the brakes and everyone bailed out and dove underneath their trucks. A

Pet of the week

Wednesday, Nov. 9

Community Calendar

noon for those ages 18 and up. Call (804) 5564774 for more information.

Action Figure Art Class at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 - 8 p.m. for those ages 12-18. Meet local artist Curtis Brown and learn techniques to draw your own superhero action figure. Registration is required at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/9333126.

Thursday, Nov. 10

Family Storytime will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 10 - 10:30 a.m. for ages 2-5 with caregiver. Enjoy a fun time with books, singing, rhymes, and much more! Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Family Storytime will be held from 10:30 -11 a.m. at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library. Participants will enjoy a fun time with books, singing, rhymes, and much more. Family Storytime is for children up to 5 and their caregivers. Call (804) 749-3146 or visit the library at 16600 Pouncey Tract Road for more information.

Saturday, Nov. 12

Looking for that BFF, soulmate, bosom buddy? Searching for a friend that you can tell your inner most thoughts to? Someone you can relate your deepest secrets to in complete confidence that they’ll never breathe a word. Look no further than our handsome boy Deebo. We can guarantee anything you tell him will go straight in the vault. Every day is judgement-free with this loyal companion. Deebo has many other fine qualities that make him a great companion. Take for instance that he’s house trained, and that he likes to snuggle up

to his favorite humans. He is also up to date on his vetting, neutered and good with other canines. You might think he is a little young, at about 5 years old, to be your trusted confidant, but in dog years that’s like 35!

The Goochland Animal Shelter, located at 1900 Hidden Rock Lane in Goochland, has many pets available to a good home. For more information on these pets, call (804) 556-5302. The shelter’s hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. -2 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 11

Toddler and Preschool Storytime will be held at the Goochland Branch Library for ages 2-5 with caregiver. Enjoy a fun time with books, singing, rhymes, and much more! Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Friday Book Group will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 11 a.m. –

Volunteers

The Goochland Rotary Club is having a Brunswick Stew sale, featuring renown local Stewmaster, Lloyd Minter. $10 per quart. The sale is by pre-order only, with pick up scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12, between noon and 2 p.m. at Goochland Fire Station Company 2, 1529 River Road West, Crozier.Orders must tbe placed by Wednesday, Nov. 9 at www. goochlandrotary.com or by calling Jan Kenney at (804) 839-1078.

The Goochland Library will host “The Garden of Eden,” a virtual Zoom program,

be an active volunteer and help others at the same time.”

from 10 - 11 a.m. for those ages 18 and up. Learn how Virginia horticulture influenced the world in the 18th century and discuss how you can grow historic plants in your own garden. This workshop will be presented by Cathy McCarthy, Master Gardener, Goochland Powhatan Master Gardener Association. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/event/9335265. The Zoom meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. Contact the Goochland Branch if you do not receive this email.Call (804) 556-4774 for more information.

Join Goochland County Parks and Rec from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a day of anime, comics, manga, cosplay, games, contests and more. This convention will be complete with both live and virtual panels, cosplay contests, raffles, tabletop gaming, a fully stocked vendor room, food trucks and an anime café to sit and enjoy your snacks, treats and meals! The cost is $15 and all ages are welcome. For more information, contact Goochland County Parks and Recreation at (804) 556-5854.

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Food Pantry stocking shelves. When asked what he would like to say about GoochlandCares, Hanna said he was “glad to contribute to the wide variety of services for the good of the community. It was enjoyable to

GCPS

Tom Karrasch, a United States Navy veteran, also serves as a volunteer at GoochlandCares. His story began when he responded to a GoochlandCares neighborhood “ask” fundraising event. Karrasch toured the GoochlandCares facility and

was pleased to see a well-managed local charity supporting neighbors in need.

“While there are many worthwhile charities that deserve support, GoochlandCares addresses the needs of Goochland families and individuals who are unable to afford basic needs such as food, clothing, medical

and dental care,” Karrasch said. “If you tour the facility, you will see the good your donations and support can do. You may even want to volunteer.”

Consider GoochlandCares in your year-end giving remembering that neighbors who help neighbors with time, talent and treasure will make a better life for all.

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able to collaborate and provide students and their families

Soldier

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bomb exploded so near to Uncle Clinton’s truck that it rocked on its tires, almost to the point of turning over. Amazingly, he avoided shrapnel and injuries altogether.

with a fun evening,” said GCPS superintendent Jeremy Raley. Jennifer Waggener, executive director of exceptional education, said she could not have been happier with the

Four of the infantrymen he trained were casualties of war. He discovered their bodies in a terrible scene. “That’s when it got to me,” he said to my brother, referring to the calamities of war. After disclosing those few episodes, Uncle Clinton became quiet and volunteered

turnout. “I would like to thank our community partners and the GCPS staff that made this evening a success,” Waggener said. “Our English as a Second Language teachers, instruc-

no more details about fighting battles of any kind. My brother, a veteran also, understood the reluctance to drift too far into his military past.

Later on my uncle became a policeman, which further illustrates his nature of looking out for others. He spent his

tional technology coaches, Spanish teachers from the high school and elementary school teachers worked to make this a valuable evening for students and families.”

life tending to his family, his community and his country. After living more than 80 years, he moved to his final resting place near a Methodist church in North Carolina, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the sound of the bugle still rings.

Photo by Sidney Warren

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Newly elected must now live up to their promises

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

A few weeks ago, after years of faithful service, our comfy old living room couch finally gave up the ghost.

We had seen the signs, of course: a dodgy spring on the left side, a tear that had been inexpertly repaired more than once on the other. From afar it probably still looked like a nice piece of furniture, but up close it was a sagging shell of its former self.

A few things about our family, just in case we sound like anyone you know: Our cars have almost always been second-hand and our dogs have always been free. We often

buy our clothes in the kinds of stores where they also sell groceries and vice versa. Everyone is welcome to eat at our table regardless of race, creed, religion or anything else, provided they don’t mind that the table has a chewed leg (thanks to one of those free dogs) and the chairs don’t exactly match.

When it comes to buying new big-ticket items like sofas, something one will be living with and looking at for years to come, the decision making process can be challenging. We have found, however, that it is best to take a tactical yet simple approach: figure out what you can afford, find a store that sells couches for that price, locate a comfortable couch in

a reasonable color in that store, pay and leave.

We have used this method several times over the years and it has always served us well. Recently, however, shortly after arriving at the furniture store, the process hit a snag. Maybe I’m just getting older, but for some reason I just couldn’t make up my mind.

There were plenty of choices. But I knew in my heart that the electric blue suede sectional was not right—too flashy—and the caramel leather couch with the bucket seats looked like something straight off the Star Ship Enterprise. One plaid sofa reminded me too much of my grandparents’ living room but the

sleek black number on the other side of the store was far too modern.

Try as I might, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a very important decision, one that could not be taken lightly. I knew I wanted a couch that was traditional but not stodgy. I wanted one that reflected my values, would allow me to be comfortable and wouldn’t let me down by falling apart in six months. I didn’t want to feel as though I’d been fleeced or had the wool pulled over my eyes.

And then it hit me: I wasn’t looking to buy a couch—I was looking to elect it. And I realized with dismay that I was probably thinking harder about this furniture choice than I

had about several recent elections.

In the end, after a bit more back and forth, we did find a perfectly good sofa to call our own. And I also promised myself that, come Election Day, I would give as much time, thought and careful attention to my choice at the ballot box as I did at the furniture store.

By the time you read this a new slate of public servants will have been elected and tasked with representing our best interests and using our hard-earned dollars wisely.

Here’s hoping they serve us well for years to come, and don’t, like a poorly-chosen couch, leave us in an uncomfortable spot with a lighter wallet.

Vote the sunshine in: Making the case for more daylight

By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

The human body has an amazing ability to adapt, and each year, it’s put to the test when a nation transitions from daylight saving time to standard time. As we evoke on this annual adjustment each November, an old argument re-emerges regarding the legitimacy of utilizing two systems, some claiming it disrupts a nation’s schedule twice a year.

For many households, the transition is a non-event that

only requires slight adjustments to your alarm clock; but for others, it’s an adjustment that causes disruption and anxiety as sleep patterns, attitude and outlook can be affected.

It’s not secret that many consider the shortened winter days and early sunsets a prime cause of depression in some Americans. Others consider the government control of our clock another unnecessary intrusion on our personal liberty and an additional form of government overreach.

In any case, this could be the

last time you’ll be forced to fall back as recent legislation passed by the U. S. Senate proposes a uniform year round standard daylight saving schedule. What many states have called for and passed legislation to support could become reality in 2023 though legislation called the Sunshine Protection Act.

So, how did we become a nation with two sets of time schedules and arrive at a point where a single system seems like the reasonable approach?

Daylight saving time was introduced in 1918 as a meth-

od to conserve fuel and was re-introduced during World War II. After the program was repealed following the war, some states opted to maintain daylight saving, and there was no uniform time system. Often, travelling a short distance represented a change in time, causing confusion for businesses, residents and tourists.

In an effort to alleviate these inconsistencies, the business community teamed with national airlines to force Congress to install a uniform schedule. Federal law now

requires daylight saving time to begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.

Only two states in the Union do not rely on the schedule set forward in the Uniform Time Act. Hawaii and Arizona do not switch their clocks.

But, that all could change with new legislation passed by the Senate that would, in essence, make daylight saving time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act still requires passage by the House of Representatives and the sig-

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS

nature of President Joe Biden, and it is unclear when and if that may happen.

Some legislators have argued in favor of the bill, stating that more light means less crime, and point to studies indicating there are less traffic accidents when daylight is lengthened.

Like-minded senators also pointed to an increase in productivity during daylight saving time, allowing some industries to find those elusive more hours in the day.

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Some scientists take a similar view, but for different reasons, pointing to the difficult adjustment the time changes present for many citizens. One termed the time period following the switch as “social jet lag.”

And recent surveys indicate the majority of Americans are in favor of scrapping standard time and making daylight saving permanent.

So, as we fall back for maybe the final time, enjoy that extra hour of sleep. It may be your last opportunity.

Cadets advance off PK madness

By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

Heading into a penalty shootout in the first round of the VISAA State Boys Soccer Tournament against Norfolk Academy (13-5-3), the Benedictine Cadets soccer team (11-3-3) was on the verge of a playoff win that would be the first for the program in well over a decade.

Cadets goalie Gardener Campbell, who was steady in denying every chance thrown his way in regulation, saw the Bulldogs go to the left side of the net multiple times in the previous four PK attempts that set his team up with a 4-3 lead and just a stop away from the win.

Playing the odds of a misdirect in a true guessing game, Campbell instead decided to go right on the shot that could decide the outcome. That decision proved correct, as he stopped a low shot into the right corner and was bombarded by his teammates and the students in the stands as the team survived a thrilling classic on its home field that advanced the Cadets to the state quarterfinals.

“They went left every time, so gotta go right on the last one,” Campbell said. “I’m just lucky I saved it.”

It’s well-known that the Cadets can seemingly pull the rabbit out of a hat when their backs are against the wall in crunch time, and Campbell believes it’s the team’s natural underdog mindset that’s played a role in their impressive ability to close out games that go all the way down to the wire.

“I think we just are natural underdogs,” Campbell said. “We like being down, we like

being behind, we like coming back and we like breaking their hearts at the end.”

Head coach Daniel Gill, who has been known to eat apples on the sideline to calm his nerves during games, perhaps could have used an entire orchard for this game, which saw plenty of scoring chances of both sides, loads of physical play and a whistle that every fan on both side of the field would undeniably refer to as frustrating.

While dealing with his own stress from the game on the sideline, Gill says he also saw his team step up and play a relaxed, confident brand of soccer that directly contributed

to their best moments during the game.

“I think the times we played really well was when we relaxed a little bit,” Gill said. “[Norfolk Academy] is a team that wants to play super fast and so the 40 minutes or so that we were able to play relaxed and calm was awesome.”

Still, even with their relaxed ways, goals seemed to elude both the Cadets and the Bulldogs, though not for lack of trying.

Some of Benedictine’s best chances to score came late in the second half, with one finding sophomore Joe Hopler with the ball at his feet in the box with space to fire, though

he slipped before his initial attempt and managed to get a shot into the low left corner that was ultimately saved.

Moments before that Hopler shot on goal was a linkup between seniors Ben Marks and Reed Miller with less than two minutes to play, as Marks fed in a run to Miller that resulted in a shot driven high over the net.

With the team scoring just a single goal in its last three games, Gill knows the team’s best playmakers and shot creators will need to be at their best the rest of the way in order to continue their season.

“We just have to find a way to put the ball in the goal,” Gill

said.

One way he’s hoping to get the team to do that is by getting the team to play “synchronized” on the field, something he hammered home from the bench during the matchup.

“I want them to not just play the ball and not think about it, I want them to always be thinking about a plan,” Gill said. “That’s pretty advanced soccer, but that’s what I’m trying to get them to do, and that’s when they play well is when they think that way.”

While the attacking players did what they could to generate chances against a sturdy Norfolk team, the defenders on Benedictine’s side played just

as well, clearing the majority of the chances, limiting corner kick opportunities and relying on the star quality skills of players like Jack Miller to keep the score locked into a tie heading into extra time and later the shootout.

During the shootout, the Cadets started off with Antonio Schoenborn’s shot that was stopped to give the Bulldogs an early advantage after Norfolk scored to make it 1-0.

Nathan Howerton got the Cadets back on the right track with a score on his attempt in front of the net, though another Bulldogs score made it 2-1.

Things ultimately became tied once Benedictine’s Anthony Gambardella snuck one in the left corner while a Norfolk shot went wide left.

Then, Marks got the Cadets ahead 3-2, followed by another Bulldogs score to tie it back up, 3-3.

After Jack Miller put one in the top corner of the net to put the Bulldogs on the ropes, Campbell’s game-sealing save was what punctuated the intense finale of the game, giving the Cadets a well-earned and historical victory.

Now in the quarterfinals, the Cadets will get a rematch with the top-seeded Collegiate Cougars (15-2), who dominated their previous meeting with a 5-0 win on Oct. 13.

After defeating Norfolk Academy, Campbell says the win hopefully gives him and his teammates the kind of momentum that serves as a jump start to another potential upset bid against a dynamic Cougars opponent.

“They’re a good opponent, but I think we’re ready for them,” Campbell said. “This game kind of brought our team together, and it’s going to be a good game.”

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Moments after goalie Gardener Campbell (0) stopped the deciding penalty shot against Norfolk Academy on Nov. 4, the Benedictine soccer team rushed the field to celebrate with their goalie.

Goochland ready for region final rematch

By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

For the Goochland Bulldogs volleyball team, which just won two regional tournament games to set up a matchup with Warren County for the Class 3, Region B crown, it’s hard not to get a sense of deja vu as the team looks ahead to its highly-anticipated championship bout.

After all, both Goochland and Warren County feature plenty of holdovers from last year’s rosters that remember all too well what each team is capable of and just how much of a fair matchup it is between the two squads.

Last season, facing off with a region title on the line, the Bulldogs surprised the Wildcats by railing off three straight set victories after going down in the first two sets to win in a thrilling finish capped off by a 15-10 tiebreaker set.

The year prior, the teams met in the regional semifi-

nals, which again went in Goochland’s favor, though that time it’d take just three sets to find a victor.

With returning members of that team like Nina Smith and Nicole Brown having played both of those matchups, and plenty others part of last year’s wild finish with the Wildcats, the game feels almost like a reunion of regional giants at this point, with both already cemented into a spot in the Class 4 state tournament that starts later this month.

“Almost all of our starters have played in these situations before. Nina and Nicole specifically have played in these games two times before in their careers, their freshman year is the year that we went to the state semi-finals,” Goochland head coach Rachel Jacobsen said.

Layla Ford, Laura Lee Baldwin, Ava Garrison, Jordan Ware and Davianna Baugh were all part of the team when they played at Warren last season as well.

Building up to that rematch with Warren County

was a first round slugfest that went down to five sets against Skyline on Nov. 1 and a quicker, more Bulldogs-dominant 3-0 win over James Monroe

in the semifinals later in the week on Nov. 3.

Jacobsen says the Bulldogs demonstrated great resilience in their ability to learn from

mistakes this season, and that they continue to uplift their teammates when things aren’t going their way.

“We’ve been working hard

on communication and moving on from errors,” Jacobsen said. “The girls have really

Goochland cross country closes out season in regionals

By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

On a beautiful fall day at Pole Green Park, the Goochland Bulldogs cross country team competed in the always highly-anticipated Region 3B cross country championships on Nov. 2.

The Bulldogs were among 10 schools from the region to compete at Pole Green’s hilly course, and after it was all said and done, the team’s 12 runners that participated gave it their all in the hopes

of possibly continuing their cross country season into the quickly approaching state championship.

While no one on the team was able to earn a states bid, there were plenty of strong results from Goochland, which saw its boys team finish with 189 team points to place seventh while the girls placed eighth with 214 points.

On the boys side, Maggie Walker won the region title with a score of 40, with William Monroe close behind at 60 points followed by

Meridian with 73 points in third place.

Meridian’s boys won their region title and a trip to states with a team score of 49 points, just barely finishing ahead of Maggie Walker, which placed second with 51 points. In third place was Warren County, which finished with 81 points.

The Bulldogs had five runners compete in the girls 5K race, led by junior Megan Reid, who improved over last year’s result that placed her in 28th place with a time of 22:23.40. This year, Reid beat

her previous regional result by nearly 16 seconds, crossing the finish line with a time of 22:07.60 that was good enough for 23rd place among 62 athletes.

Behind her was fellow junior student-athlete Anna Gagnon, who finished 30 seconds behind her Bulldogs teammate with a time of 22:37.90 that placed her in 40th. She was just a second ahead of junior Maggie Goodman, who came in with a time of 25:38.70.

On the boys side, Kadin

Nitsch, a junior, was the lone runner to clock in at under 19 minutes, finishing with a respectable result of 18:48.80 that put him in 26th place.

Senior Drew Meiller, last year’s best performer for the boys in the regional run, was second best this year behind Nitsch, concluding his run with a time of 19:21.20, which was good for 39th place. Last season, Meiller finished with a time of 19:07.30 at the Culpeper HS XC Course.

Seven seconds behind Meiller was senior David

Johnson in his final cross country run as a Bulldog, as he ran the course in 19:28.10 to earn 39th place among 71 runners.

While Goochland won’t be represented at this year’s state championships held at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia on Nov. 12, it was still another successful season that should see many of these athletes return quickly for the upcoming track season.

Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

Photo by Joel Brown

Goochland sophomore opposite hitter Avery Jastrzemski makes a play in the team’s game against Monticello on Oct. 18.

Goochland biking team has impressive NICA performance

By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

A blossoming competitive mountain biking club in Goochland is finishing off an impressive fall season that saw multiple local bikers earn a spot on the podium.

Founded in 2015 by Ethan Seltzer, the Goochland County Composite Mountain Biking Team has just 20 bikers on its roster that are made up of students ranging from elementary school to high school, regardless of school affiliation, and while many are relative newcomers to the world of competitive mountain biking, the team has already impressed against teams often triple in size.

That was displayed at the team’s main competition of the fall season: the four-race Virginia NICA race series that just ended with a race at Monticello High School on Nov. 5.

Among the highlights of the series was the Goochland middle school division bikers placing second overall in the series, as well as the high school division placing sixth. As far as individual highlights, the best biker in his respec-

tive standings was Eden Miles with a first place victory in the Middle School Boys A division. In the freshman boys division, Christopher Brewer also placed in third for Goochland. Miles started when he was 9 years old and is in his fifth year of biking with the team, and notes how encouraging the bikers and coaches are with newcomers learning the sport.

“We all work together to get faster and we all push each other,” Miles said.

Capping off his impressive series was a first round placement in the last race at Monticello, where Miles endured some muddy trails to win his race with a time of 32:00.53.

Also, sisters Andrea and Annika Rogerson both had strong finishes in the fall series, with Andrea finishing second in the Middle School A Girls division and Annika finishing in second place in the JV Girls division. Annika, who

has biked with the team for two years, said she saw a flier for the team and checked it out with her sister, saying the positive and fun environment immediately stood out to her.

“We went to one of the races and saw the environment, and it was a lot of fun,” Rogerson said. “Everyone was so nice, so we went to a practice and decided it was a fun thing to do.”

Matt Brewer, who coaches the team alongside Steven

Miles, says the key to training newer bikers is to focus on bike-handling principles and endurance, with intermediate riders working more on sustaining endurance during the course of a race. Advanced riders practice more on finetuning their skills on the bike.

“We do a good job taking a kid that obviously understands how to ride a bike, but we do good taking kids that may also be athletic in other ways and transforming that into com-

petitive cycling,” Brewer said.

With the fall season over, the spring allows elementary riders to start competing as well alongside them.

The hope, Brewer says, is to have at least a 30% increase in the team’s roster and at least one rider in each category of competition.

With the team they have now though, it’s clear that the budding club of bikers are growing with each series and having fun while doing it.

Volleyball

continued from >8

started to mesh here at the end of the season.”

That was evident in the win over Skyline (25-19, 23-25, 25-11, 18-25, 15-11), which saw Goochland trade sets back and forth up until the decisive fifth set, which it pulled off thanks to Smith’s strong 11-kill outing and Ford’s team-high 24 digs leading the way.

In the next game against James Monroe, who Goochland defeated on Aug. 30 in three sets for its third win of the season, the approach was less of focusing on how James Monroe might have adjusted from the earlier meeting, but on how Goochland could adjust from a near-upset in the opening round versus Skyline.

To Jacobsen and her team, the mentality was that James Monroe may as well have been a team they’d never met

before.

That game, which saw sets of 25-20, 25-22 and 25-13, featured timely contributions from Baldwin and Avery Jastrzemski as attackers over the net, with Baldwin adding seven kills and Jastrzemski adding six.

Brown’s playmaking was also in top form, as she added a team-leading 13 assists while also leading the team in digs with 12.

Now with Warren County on the mind and a chance

at yet another region title, Goochland’s focus is on setting the tone early and making sure its opponent plays to its pace.

“Our big focus right now is earning points and controlling our game,” Jacobsen said. “At this point in the season the focus should be honing skills, but more importantly on keeping calm in tough situations. Volleyball is mostly a mental game, so I feel keeping our heads is going to win us games more often than not.”

Photos by Robby Fletcher

Left, Emma Murphy competes in the sophomore girls event in the fourth race of the NICA Series held at Monticello High School on Nov. 5. Right, Macon Grier rides in the varsity boys race at Monticello.

Photo by Joel Brown

Goochland senior middle hitter Laura Lee Baldwin makes a hit on a ball in the team’s matchup versus Western Albemarle on Oct. 6.

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Aries. Avoid focusing on those things that have gone wrong. A new perspective is all you need.

This week you need to slow down and smell the proverbial roses, Taurus. You’ve likely been moving at breakneck speed and you can’t maintain this momentum. Take a break.

Gemini, when someone presents an idea to you, use your intuition to determine if you should get involved. You can trust your gut on this decision.

Cancer, even if you are in control of a situation, delegate some of your tasks to others and lighten your load. It’s good to build a team of people you can trust and rely upon.

Leo, if there is not much excitement happening around you right now, drum up some of your own. Try to schedule a social gathering before people get busy with the holidays.

Virgo, if you can’t change your current situation, learn to live with things until you can see new horizons. You may need to grin and bear it for a bit.

Libra, you’ve already taken an important step, now you just have to fine tune and finesse a situation. Figure out what works for you and then make your move.

It’s not time to throw in the towel just yet, Scorpio. Keep working every angle and exhaust all avenues. You may find a way to make things work to your advantage.

There’s a strong crowd of people rallying around you lately, Sagittarius. Harness their collective energy to pull yourself through a challenging situation.

You may need to take a few steps in one direction before you figure out that the other path is the way to go, Capricorn. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Aquarius, just when you’re ready to move out the door, someone is trying to pull you back inside. Be firm with your resolutions. If it’s time to move on, then do so.

Pisces, you won’t make any strides if you are not willing to take a few risks. Explore some new possibilities in the days to come.