The Goochland Gazette – 06/23/2022 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Deep Run Horse Show wraps up this Sunday > page 12

Volume 66 Number 24 • June 23, 2022

James River Batteau Festival 2022

Batteau hull

SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A BATTEAU

Photo by Diane Nickerson

Several massive trees were uprooted in the front yard of this Courthouse area home by a confirmed EF1 tornado on the evening of June 16.

Recovery goes on in wake of tornado strike

One pro’s advice? You’re going to need some oak, and some time — and probably some friends

No injuries reported but homeowners county-wide continue to remove debris

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

hen it comes to building a batteau—those long, flat wooden boats that once routinely plied the James and are now often viewed as charming reminders of the region’s historic ties to the mighty river—Ralph Smith could certainly be considered a reliable resource.

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

see Batteau > page 5

Photos courtesy of Ralph Smith

Background: A drawing of a batteau recovered during the excavation of the future James Center site in Richmond. Inset photo, top: the ribs of Ralph Smith’s batteau, the Anthony Rucker, seen during the construction process. Inset photo, bottom, the hull being completed.

Hundreds of Goochland residents are continuing to repair homes and remove debris this week after a confirmed EF1 tornado ripped through the county on the evening of June 16. According to county emergency management officials there have been no reports of injuries from the storm, which left approximately 3,700 residents without power. Virginia Department of Transportation and Dominion Energy worked through the night to clear road debris and restore power. see Storm > page 2

Thursday

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

June 23, 2022

Reynolds Dunavant to Michael Edward Fiore Jr., $545,000. Lot 12, Block F, Section 2, West Oak; William Glenn Bishop to Harvey W. Neale, $740,000. 22 W Lower Tuckahoe Road, Goochland; Larry S. Eiben to Stanton J. McComb, $3,500,000. 4642 Old Fredericksburg Road, Mineral; Charles Alexander Riffee to Christopher Newberger, $535,000. 12381 S Readers Branch Circle, Manakin Sabot; Manakin Sabot to Deborah A. Paugh, $556,188. 878 Three Chopt Road, Manakin Sabot; Diana L. Jackson to Benjamin A. Salter, $400,000.

Since 1955

Goochland History Revealed

Property Transfers 2.67 acres; Trek Properties LLC to Blue Ridge Custom Homes LLC, $185,000. 5 acres; Connel L. Jackson to Owadasia Tomias, $195,000. 921 Barley Field Road, Manakin Sabot; W.Coleman Allen Jr. to Ian R. Conner, $280,000. 1531 Camberly Drive, Manakin Sabot; Susan C. Cedillo to George Ernest Mowbray, $582,000. 1763 Fairground Road, Maidens; Lawrence C. Guthrie to Jessica Wasko Gabriel, $400,000. 4315 Hadensville Farm Road, Mineral; Toddy Trafford Mason Hicks to Michael Stephen Brooks, $545,000. 1921 Hounslow Lane, Manakin Sabot; Leigh

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SPORTS

Photo courtesy of Nancy Gill

Beloved batteau was crafted in GHS shop Preceded by dugout canoes, the batteau were the primary mode of transport on the James River in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In 1985, the songs of the boatmen once again echoed along the James River with the initiation of the annual James River Batteau Festival. Every June as many as twenty batteau set out on the week-long trip from Lynchburg to Maidens. The 1992 all women’s boat, Lady Slipper, pictured above, was built in the Goochland High School shop. Holding her pole diagonally is Goochland’s Lynn Peple.

Storm continued from >1 According to a release issued by the county, much of the damage from the storm was concentrated near Rock Castle Rd., Old Stage Rd. and Dogtown Rd., as well is in the Courthouse area. Following the storm, initial damage assessments were conducted by Goochland County FireRescue and the county building inspections department on 38 properties, 16 of which in the Rock Castle Road area sustained notable damage. Welfare checks were conducted by county staff throughout the hardest hit areas. On Friday morning, Goochland County activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and hotline (804-556-5678). Citizens are encouraged to call the hotline to report storm damage or request storm related assistance.

A National Weather Service (NWS) Wakefield representative toured the county Friday morning to survey the damage, and the representative confirmed the EF1 tornado, which produced sustained winds of 90-95 mph. The weather service said the tornado likely occurred at about 7:47 p.m. and measured about 100 yards wide. Following the storm, the building inspections department, along with Fire-Rescue, established four damage assessment teams to perform additional assessments Friday afternoon. Two representatives from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) also joined the county in the Emergency Operations Center to help provide additional support. As a result of the storm, Goochland County will be waiving residents’ fees for brush disposal at the Central and Western Convenience Centers through Friday, July

15, to give residents time to clean up from the storm. This applies only to Goochland residents and does not apply to commercial entities and operations. Agricultural producers whose farming operations suffered damage during last week’s storm are asked to notify the Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Nicole Shuman of damages at their earliest convenience. Damage assessments help the Commonwealth of Virginia and other agencies determine whether relief funding needs to be made available. Producers should contact Nicole Shuman via email at nks49@vt.edu, by phone at (804) 556-5872, or by text message at (301) 633-0652. She will be available through Friday for site visits. Citizens are encouraged to stay tuned to www.goochlandva.us and the County’s social media channels for future updates.

Goochland basketball finishes summer camp PAGE 9 Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ......................13-14 Letters .................................... 6 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports .................................8-9 TV Listings ......................10-12

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

Thursday

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

June 23, 2022

A Sunshine Food Bus staff member hands a book out the bus window during a scheduled stop. The bus travels to three locations in Goochland during the summer, serving free meals to all children ages 18 and under. Photo courtesy of Goochland County Public Schools

Since 1955

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Sunshine Food Bus returns for summer children also receive a book with every meal, and daily drawings will be held at each location. Monday through Thursday, through July 28, the Sunshine Food Bus will stop at the following locations at the following times: St. Mark Baptist Church, 4596 Factory Mill Rd., Maidens, Va. 23102, from 11 – 11:25 a.m. Shady Grove Baptist

Church, 3384 Oakland Church, Gum Spring, Va. 23065, from 11:40 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 1630 Manakin Rd., ManakinSabot, Va. 23103, from 12:30 – 12:55 p.m. There will be no meal service July 4. Adult meals may be purchased at a discounted price. Breakfast and lunch will also be available at the Goochland

Secondary Complex Middle School Cafeteria June 21-24. All children 18 and under can eat free of charge, with breakfast at 8 a.m., and lunch at 10:30 a.m. and 11:35 a.m. To find the closest meal sites in each area, parents and caregivers can text “FOOD” (or “COMIDA”) to 304-304. Using this resource will provide options offered by GCPS and other organizations and agencies.

Pet of the week

Photo by Sidney Warren

Bonsai heard you have a job opening for a professional lap warmer. He has many skills perfect for that position with your company. Firstly, he loves laps. Secondly, he is a dependable go-getter. If there is a comfortable spot or a sunbeam available he’s going to go get it. Bonsai is also a team player who works collaboratively with other cats. He says his strengths are purring, being calm, and sleeping His weakness is he probably works too hard finding a comfortable spot to nap. So if you’re hiring a purrbox with a great attitude Bonsai can

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Families who rely on schools for healthy meals will continue to have food services this summer through the Goochland County Public Schools Sunshine Food Bus and at Goochland Middle School in June. The Sunshine Food Bus travels to three locations in Goochland County, serving free meals to all children ages 18 and under. Participating

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Thursday

June 23, 2022

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Vaccine clinic set for Thursday All residents wishing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to join the Chickahominy Health District on Thursday, June 23, at Reynolds’ Goochland College (1851 Dickinson Rd Goochland, VA 23063) from 4 p.m. -6 p.m. for free COVID-19 vaccinations. The health district will have all doses and boosters available. For more information or an appointment, call 804-365-3240. Walk-ins are welcome

Rec Center will host fireworks The Goochland Recreational Center’s annual 4th of July celebration will be held on Monday, July 4, from noon until 6 p.m. at 2415 Sandy Hook Road in Goochland. All are welcome to attend, and organizers say vendors and food trucks are still needed for the event. For more information, call (804) 784-4358.

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Community Calendar a Rain Garden workshop will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 10 - 11 a.m. for those ages 18 and up. This is a virtual program. Learn what a rain garden is, why they are important, and how to install, plant and maintain one. Presented by Linda Toler, Master Gardener, Goochland Powhatan Master Gardener Association. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/8903334. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom. The Zoom meeting link will be sent to the email registered before the event occurs. Please contact the Goochland Branch if you do not receive this email. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

preschool age must be accompanied by an adult. This event will be held on July 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and July 11-13 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Early registration is available at https://www.beulahchurchonline.org/.

Store Way, in Kents Store, Virginia for the church’s VBS Jerusalem Marketplace. Attendees will travel back into Bible times—without setting foot outside their own community. Adults may participate by attending with their children, or attending the church’s Adult VBS class, and Saturday, July 9 those in preschool through A Planning and Installing 6th grade are urged to register today. Children under

Wednesday, July 20 Action Figure Art Class will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for ages 12-18. Meet local artist Curtis Brown and learn techniques to draw your own superhero action figure. All supplies will be provided. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit the library at 3075 River Road West for more information.

Thursday, June 23 All residents wishing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to join the Chickahominy Health District on Thursday, June 23, at Goochland Reynolds College (1851 Dickinson Rd Goochland, VA 23063) from 4 to 6 p.m. for free COVID19 vaccinations. The health district will have all doses and boosters available. For more information or an appointment, call 804-365-3240. Walk-ins are welcome

Sunday, June 26 The annual Jerry A. Allen Memorial Education and Scholarship Recognition of Graduates & Awards Service and Luncheon Cookout will be held at 10 a.m. at Fauquier Baptist Church, located at 2455 Dogtown Rd. in Goochland.The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. LaVerne J. Briggs, associate minister of Riverview Baptist Church in Richmond. Come share in the service and bring your tents, lawn chairs, family and friends. The music ministry will be provided by Fauquier Baptist Church Gospel Chorus, with music ministry musician/director Elder Kenyatta Smither. All CDC guidelines will be observed.

Monday, July 4

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Goochland Recreational Center’s annual 4th of July celebration will be held on July 4 from noon until 6 p.m. at 2415 Sandy Hook Road Goochland. Vendors and food trucks are needed. For more information, call (804) 7844358.

Saturday, July 16

Thursday, July 21 Read to Rover will be held at the Cochrane Rockville Branch Library from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. for those in grades K-2. Read to Rover provides comfort and motivation for beginning readers as they read aloud to Colby or Pepper, the library’s therapy dogs. Space is limited. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary. libcal.com/. Call the Rockville Branch at (804) 749-3146 for more information to register for this rewarding program.

A DIY Fish Earrings workshop will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 1 to 2 p.m.for those ages 13 and up. Bring your teen for an afternoon craft session and leave with a pair of trendy fish earrings! Space is limited. Registration required Tuesday, July 26 at https://pamunkeylibrary. Goochland Library will libcal.com/event/8911804. host those ages 18 and up. Call (804) 556-4774 or visit Join the group to discuss the the library at 3075 River Road chosen mystery title for the West for more information. month. Call (804) 556-4774 or Outdoor Family Story visit the library at 3075 River The Cochrane Rockville Road West for more informaBranch Library will host Time will be held at the tion. a Pirate Day Party from 11 Cochrane Rockville Branch a.m. to 1 p.m. for those in Library from 11 – 11:30 a.m. The Goochland Library grades K-5. Ahoy! Get ye to Join the library for an all-age will host Gyotaku Fish storytime to sing songs, learn the Rockville Library and Printing from 3 to 4 p.m. celebrate the legacy of pirates rhymes, and listen to stories. for those ages 18 and up. through games and crafts Bring a blanket to enjoy some Practice the art of Gyotaku under the blazing sun! Call fun songs, rhymes and books! Fish Printing and explore the (804) 883-7116 or visit the Storytime is held weather per- underwater world of possilibrary at 17205 Sycamore mitting. Register at https:// bilities. Bring a prewashed Tavern Lane for more infor- pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ white t-shirt or pillowcase to be notified prior to the promation. gram if it is canceled due to to decorate and take home. weather. Call (804) 749-3146 The library will host Gyotaku Sunday, July 10 or visit the library at 16600 Fish Printing again from 4 Area families are encour- Pouncey Tract Road for more 5 p.m. for those ages 12-18. Call (804) 556-4774 or more aged to visit Beulah Baptist information. information. Church, located at 1633 Kents

Wednesday, Aug. 16 Action Figure Art Class will be held at the Goochland Branch Library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for ages 12-18. Meet local artist Curtis Brown and learn techniques to draw your own superhero action figure. All supplies will be provided. Call (804) 556-4774 for more information.

Thursday

June 23, 2022

Batteau continued from >1 Not only did Smith make his career as an Industrial Arts teacher in Amherst County, but he has also spent the past 34 years taking part in the annual James River Batteau Festival, a beloved event that draws hundreds of river-lovers, history buffs and craftsmen to try their hands at the 120-mile journey from Lynchburg to Richmond. In other words, Smith both knows how to build a batteau and understands why anyone would want to take on the challenge in the first place. It was Smith, after all, who contributed the how-to section on batteau construction to the James River Batteau Festival’s website (it can be found at (www.vacanals.org/batteau/batteau_construction), detailing everything from the best kind of wood to use (white oak is the gold standard, though pricey) to the likely outcome should a novice batteau-builder neglect to properly seal the gaps between boards (the boat sinks). Reached earlier this week by phone just as the festival was kicking off, Smith lamented the fact that work and general life circumstances had forced him off the river for the first time in 34 years. Still, he was happy to share his thoughts on the

boats once used to transport tobacco and other goods along the route from Lynchburg to Richmond. Smith first became interested in batteau construction in the mid-1980s, shortly after a number were unearthed during the costruction of Richmond’s James Center in 1983, and began wondering what it would be like to have some of his students build one. As it turned out, Smith said, the project was an unqualified success: even decades later, former students still tell him it was one of their fondest memories from high school. Make no mistake about it, building a batteau is not a weekend project, nor is it necessarily an undertaking for novice woodworkers. Smith’s online guide delves deep in places, discussing the finer points of rabbet joints and rib arms. Of course there are plenty of other considerations that are a bit easier to understand, including whether or not to include a canopy on your boat (do it if you’re concerned about sun and rain, but be warned they can act like a sail on windy days). And, of course, there is always the matter of authenticity. Smith notes that discussions on how important it is for a batteau to be constructed in accordance

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County with tradition can often run deep into the night—and occasionally get heated. A committee was once tasked with checking each boat in the festival for historical accuracy, but was eventually disbanded after festival organizers noted the practice had become “too divisive,” Smith said. Smith himself is not a stickler for making sure each and every detail is historically accurate, though he admits he wouldn’t want to see the kind of “everything that floats” ethos sometimes seen elsewhere . What he loves most about the annual event seems to have less to do with the placement of each and every nail and more to do with spending precious days on the water with his family and the many festival participants he has come to call friends. “It’s such a great mix of people,” Smith said. “You might only see them once a year, but if you’re in trouble they will stop and help you out, and if they’re in trouble you stop and help them out.” As he likes to point out, life on the river has a way of bringing people together and smudging the lines that might otherwise divide those with fancy, expensive boats and those traveling on more humble vessels. Perhaps it’s the fact

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Courtesy photo

Boat crews taking part in the annual James River Batteau Festival prepare to launch their batteax on the eight day journey from Lynchburg to Richmond.

that navigating the waters can sometimes be a rather humbling experience, bringing just about everyone who attempts it down to earth—sometimes literally. “Once you fall in the mud,” Smith laughed. “Everyone looks the same anyway.”

Batteaux come ashore Saturday Goochland residents will have the opportunity to see batteaux up close this Saturday as the annual James River Batteau Festival wraps up at Maidens Landing (on the Powhatan side of the river). The boats coming

in will have started the last leg of the 120-mile journey from Lynchburg to Richmond that morning, travelling 17 miles from Cartersville to Maidens. For more information on the festival, including updates and photos from past years, visit www.facebook.com/ Batteau/

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Thursday

June 23, 2022

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Since 1955

Why ‘Eddie would go’ is phrase to live by By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

Courtesy photo

Goochland’s Tucker Park offers a wonderful opportunity for nature lovers to take in views of the James River. Signs help visitors learn more about the history of the area and about local wildlife.

Feeling troubled? Take it to the river By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Several years ago, troubled by a constellation of non-life-threatening but nevertheless worrisome health issues that I couldn’t seem to shake, I found myself perched at the end of an exam room table in a cramped, stark

office, waiting for a doctor to come in and tell me exactly what was wrong with me. Finally, after what seemed like hours but was probably only 20 minutes, she came back. She shut the door gently behind her, sat down on a rolling stool, and delivered her diagnosis.

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Tom Haynie

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Denine D’Angelo ddangelo@mechlocal.com

“There is nothing wrong with you,” she said. “You’re fine.” Seeing the look on my face—a mix of confusion, relief and rising anxiety likely familiar to those who have utterly convinced themselves they are dying only to find out they are, in fact, not—she took a deep breath and started again.

“Look,” she said. “You don’t sleep enough. You don’t eat all that great, based on what you’ve told me, and you drink too much coffee. But the biggest thing is that you are not managing your stress.” She went on to say a few other things about lifestyle changes, all of

see River > page 7

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Goochland residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Goochland Gazette. Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@goochlandgazette.com © 2022 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 8,014.

When weather systems collide and the winds blow just right, the waves off the North Shore of Hawaii build up for days, crescendoing in a series of 40-foot giants that keep most surfers on the beach. Most of us mainlanders were introduced to the phenomenon as we watched Wide World of Sports and their annual trek to the island to cover the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational, a big wave competition that pits the best surfers against an unforgiving surf at Sunset Beach and later Waimea Bay. Beginning in the 1950s, mainlanders and some Australians discovered the magic of the North Shore and gained fame challenging the big surf, but few islanders dropped in on the huge waves…. until Eddie Aikau came along. A high school dropout, Eddie made his living working at the Dole Pineapple plant during the night and surfing big waves during the day. Legend has it Eddie captured the attention of everyone on the beach when he dropped in on a 40-footer in 1966. It wasn’t the fact that the monstrous wave quickly swallowed the nimble Hawaiian, but the fact that an islander was surfing big waves. Trouble brewed in the early 1960s among the native surfers and the implants from around the globe. The transplants claimed Waimea as almost their own, a practice that did not sit well with locals. Eddie is credited with negotiating a sort of peace treaty see Eddie > page 7

Thursday

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

June 23, 2022

River

Eddie continued from >6

continued from >6

which were, of course, totally valid, but even as she patiently explained to me what I needed to do I was still somehow waiting for her to tell me what she was going to prescribe. There had to be some miracle pill that could help me ease back on the highway to health, right? Strangely, however, the doctor didn’t reach for her prescription pad. Instead, she took another deep breath, looked me in the eyes, and told me to head for the river. The river? “Yes,” she said. “I would like for you to find a way to carve out a half hour of your day at least four to five times a week and go to the river. I want you to sit there and watch the water go by. I don’t want you to do anything else but sit there—no phone, no calendar, not even a book. Bring a chair, set a timer, and sit. I want you to do that for two weeks.” I should admit here, I suppose, that I did not exactly know how to take this. I was doubtful. What could 30 minutes next to the water possibly accomplish? By that point I was getting desperate, however, and she had at least one more medical degree than I did. Plus, I literally had to cross the river to get home each day. Fifteen minutes, I told myself—that’s it. Reader, I’m not going to say that the James River holds between its banks some mystical curative power, or that I instantly felt healed just by sitting alongside it. But the next day, shortly after dragging my folding chair out of the trunk out of my car and plunking it down in the least muddy spot I could find, I

between the two factions, opening up big waves for all who dared. The Australians and Americans still dominated but Hawaiian surfers were making a mark, most notably Eddie Aikau. So it was a big deal when Eddie won the Duke in 1976, the second Hawaiian to accomplish the feat only eclipsed by brother Clyde’s victory in 1973. Eddie became a national hero for his feats on and in the water. He was the first lifeguard hired at Waimea Bay and is credited with saving more than 500 lives during his career. More importantly, he embraced everything Hawaiian and instilled a sense of pride in native culture and tradition in the native population. A man, raised from the bowels of poverty, provided an example for all that chasing one’s dream in the face of adversity is noble,

see Water > page 12

but succeeding is spiritual. Eddie was the face of Hawaii, embraced by all factions of a complicated decoupage of cultures on the island. His love of tradition and history motivated him to seek a seat on an historical project tracing the ancestral roots of native Hawaiians. The group planned and built an authentic vessel of the type that possibly carried the first islanders on a journey across the sea to a new land. The Hokulai was a dual hulled sailing vessel, constructed of all natural materials manned with a mission to prove the viability of traditional beliefs regarding the origin of the first Hawaiians. Eddie was chosen as one of the crew members, and greeted his new assignment with the same enthusiasm that allowed him to paddle out on to challenge a towering wave off the North Shore. The boat launched with

much celebration in 1978, but sea conditions quickly deteriorated and the boat capsized 12 miles into the mission. Aikau and his crew mates spend a freezing night huddled together atop the overturned catamaran, and with no working radio, rescue seemed remote. The following day brought no relief, and after discussion among his crew mates, Eddie decided to unstrap his surfboard and head back to shore to summon help. After all, it was only 10 miles or so, and Eddie didn’t hesitate to embark on the mission. The crew was located by air search and rescued that evening, but Eddie was never seen again, somehow immersed in the ocean that shaped his life forever. Search teams combed the waters for days but no sign of Eddie was found. A nation mourned. Eventually, locals decided the most appropriate way to

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honor Eddie was with a big wave competition in his honor, and the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was born. The contest was unique in the fact it wasn’t held every year and occurred only when the surf was dangerously high, the sort of waves Eddie would embrace. Sometimes the conditions were just too dangerous to allow surfers to enter the water and the contest was canceled. On one such occasion, officials huddled on the beach and discussed the danger of the pounding surf, most of them leaning toward a cancellation. One of Eddie’s fellow surfers overheard the discussion, walked up and uttered three words that have come to define the life of the beloved surfer. “Eddie would go,” he told the officials; and the contest began. The words became an oath

of allegiance to Eddie’s memory, appearing on bumper stickers, T-shirts and billboards all over the island. Devoted fans knew those three words represented more than just the bravado required to paddle out to face 40-footers. It was Eddie’s message to us all that trial and tribulation are part of everyone’s life, and facing those challenges head on often results in positive outcomes. When all of us need that extra push to do something difficult that we know is right, remember Eddie’s tenacity and willingness to accept any and all challenges. So, the next time you have the choice to avoid or address a problem, or suffer that brief hint of indecision when facing a dilemma, allow your mind to climb one of those 40-foot blue mammoths and take off. Remember, Eddie would go.

Thursday

June 23, 2022

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

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Goochland basketball finishes summer camp By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

oochland boys basketball head coach Preston Gordon is always looking for ways to get Goochland kids into the gym for a game of basketball. Whether it be as a fan in the stands cheering on their hometown heroes on the high school team or stepping on the floor themselves to hopefully be on that team, Gordon has kept a focus on keeping the game of basketball alive and well even during the offseason and with his basketball summer camp taking place at both Goochland’s high school and middle school gyms from June 8-10, he’s once helping kids fall in love with the game. Gordon — who has been holding basketball games since 2011 — had 60 campers attend the three-day long camp that saw them learn from Gordon and his assistants B.J. Snead and Kenny Johnson as well as multiple current and former Goochland basketball players. “It’s essentially run by our returning high school players,” Gordon said. “Those guys are the ones that really make this a success, and their attitude, their joy, how they have fun with the campers and their encouragement is really fun. It’s really cool to see the younger guys respond.” The chance for current players to act as counselors to the younger campers is something Gordon feels creates a sense of leadership and responsibility within his Bulldog players, who get the chance to build relationships with kids that could become future Bulldogs themselves. “It’s just progressed and gotten better and better,”

Gordon said of his camps. With campers aging from rising second-graders all the way to incoming high school freshman, Gordon didn’t want his camp to just be a form of babysitting, but a chance to teach kids the game through drills that are used in all levels of basketball, such as the shell drill, which teaches defensive positioning concepts, as well as 3v3 scrimmages and pivoting drills that help teach onball creation as a driver and as a passer. For the incoming freshmen hoping to make the varsity or JV team, Gordon hopes the camp provides a sample of what to expect from their usual training sessions. The camp also featured multiple guest speakers, including 2018 Goochland graduate Dallas Holmes as well as 2020 grad Devin McCray. Gordon says that he looks for speakers who can be honest with the campers, and can openly discuss the good and the bad aspects of being college-level or professional athletes and what it takes to get to those levels of play. “I think it’s vital to have a guest speaker to talk to the players,” he said. “The youth are always excited to see some legends and heroes and athletes that these current campers as well as the high school players can look up to.” While Gordon and his staff have been able to run these camps like a well-oiled machine for years, he says he couldn’t do it without the help of the current and former Bulldogs who take the time to attend multiple days of camp to give insight and help to the campers in attendance. Gordon says 22 athletes came to the camp to help,

Contributed Photos

Above, the campers, counselors and coaches come together during the final day of a three-day summer camp hosted at Goochland’s high school and middle school gymnasiums on June 10. Bottom left, guest speaker and 2018 Goochland graduate Dallas Holmes speaks to campers on their final day of camp. Bottom right, campers compete in a scrimmage.

including: Darius Carroll, JJ Cox, Omarion Quarles, Nik Cotner, Wyatt Davis, Justin Morton, Jamason Pryor, Hayden Raley, Malachi

Tyler, Luke Manno, Kedrick Quarles, Darius Rivers, Lucas Weaver, Henry Vazales, Jake Tickle, Jackson Beam, Wyatt Dameron, Will Geyer, D.J.

Jones, Zach Summers, Owen Walton and Carson Murray. Coming off a 4-16 season and losing six valued senior contributors, the Bulldogs are

looking to come back strong within the Jefferson District both in the immediate future and beyond.

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Goochland baseball ready for 2023 By Robby Fletcher Sports Editor

nding the 2021-22 season with a 4-15 record in its first year in the Jefferson District, it was an unfamiliar feeling for the Goochland Bulldogs baseball team to enter the offseason with a losing record. Despite their share of highlight wins like their comeback victories over Charlottesville and Nottoway, Goochland head coach Wes Farkas enters the summer knowing full well that his team will need to take major leaps to rise above the advanced level of competition that was thrown their way in the Jefferson. “We’re used to being top dogs, so this was a wake up call for us,” Farkas said. After a short time away from the game, Farkas says he and his coaching staff have already looked ahead to next season with ideas on how to combat their new district opponents, improve on the mental aspects on their hitting and ultimately give the

Bulldogs yet another winning season in a program history that’s rife with them. “For us as a coaching staff, I kind of started to think about some ideas right away,” Farkas said. “I’ve already started some plans for different types of drills and different types of philosophies going into next season.” The Bulldogs will certainly have the benefit of tons of experience at their disposal entering next season. After losing two seniors in Aidan Allen and Eli Umberger, the Bulldogs are expected to bring back 12 returning contributors to the field as well as 10 rising seniors, making them one of the more veteran-heavy teams in the district. Farkas sees guys like Mason Gregory, Chase Breedlove, A.J. Condrey and Reese Vincent as the natural choices to step into leadership roles in their senior seasons next year. Gregory, noted as a quiet yet impactful on-field leader who is coming off an impressive season at-bat, is someone Farkas sees taking a large leap forward

in his final run as a Bulldog, while Breedlove’s season on the mound shows his progress as a pitcher is still very much trending upward. While the team won’t be back on the field in their Bulldogs uniforms until next spring, there’s a ton of baseball to be played in the meantime, with multiple players getting into summer ball action to prepare for the upcoming season. The team will also be once again performing in aJames River-led fall league that features teams out of Deep Run, James River and Benedictine that helps give players around the area some in-game scrimmages to condition and prepare for the upcoming season. The team is also planning another Hot Stove fundraiser to help raise money for the program, with this coming Hot Stove set for Nov. 19 on a day that’ll include guest speakers and raffle prize opportunities that’ll all go toward helping the team next season. Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

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