The Goochland Gazette – 04/19/2023

INSIDE: Sweet Bella seeking a forever

home. PAGE 3

Volume 67, No. 16 • Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Goochland

County Sheri 's O

ce honors newest group of D.A.R.E program grads. See Page 6

Armstrong will serve as interim school superintendent

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

The Goochland County School Board has named assistant superintendent of administration Andrew Armstrong as the division’s interim superintendent.

Superintendent Jeremy Raley resigned last month to accept the position of Chief of Sta to the State Superintendent at the Virginia Department of Education.

Armstrong has served as an assistant superintendent in GCPS since 2016. In his role, Armstrong leads operations for GCPS, including human resources, public relations, division and school safety, maintenance, transportation, food service, and operational technology.

Before joining the division, Armstrong was principal at Hermitage High School and John Rolfe Middle School in Henrico County. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Policy Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public

HONORING THE ONES WHO GET STUDENTS TO SCHOOL SAFELY

The Goochland County Public Schools transportation team was recently honored as the Team of the Year by the county school division, an award earned as part of the division’s annual e ort to recognize excellence among its employees. For more GCPS winners, see page 5.

GoochlandCares celebrates organization's many volunteers

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and GoochlandCares is celebrating and thanking the 883 individual volunteers who support the mission to provide access to health care and basic human services for Goochland residents in need.

GoochlandCares relies on volunteers to support the nonprofit’s 12 critical programs. Last year volunteers gave over 18,897 hours to GoochlandCares valued at $651,702.

“Our volunteers are the heart of our organization;” said Sally Graham, executive director of

GoochlandCares. “We value those who dedicate themselves to taking action, making a di erence, and helping others in our community. Our incredible volunteer support allowed us to provide food for 2,538 Goochland residents, 3,358 medical, dental, and mental health care visits and provide

critical home repairs last year.”

In a recent survey of GoochlandCares volunteers, all believe that what they do to help at GoochlandCares is very meaningful and impacts the community positively. One volunteer shared,

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Armstrong

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TRANQUILITY ON A GOLDEN POND

This charming image features Carrie layne sitting by her pond filled with goldfish and surrounded by her favorite flowers she had created an oasis of beauty next to the cornfields in the background The pond was beside her house and still stands in Crozier next to the north pole, where her son Harvie layne served Carrie’s famous pies and barbecue� This photo was shared by Carrie’s granddaughters, Judy Gathright Wilson and Gloria Gathright�

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

11 3 acres; Tracy T Thatcher to david C raymond, $177,800

2 lots, Mosaic at West Creek; HHHunt Mosaic llC to schell Brothers richmond llC, $277,858

3 lots, addison Creek; Joy-scott llC to Blue ridge Custom Homes llC, $315,000

7 lots, section 1, Tuckahoe Bridge; Windswept development llC to WV McClure inc , $1,396,790

6040 Broad street road, Kents store; austin Williamson to Michael T Mcdonnell, $649,500

812 dover Bluff place, Goochland; Jack lowdon to donald Joseph

Gilbert, $1,350,000

172 Grayash, richmond; George a� smigelski to raymond r� Gutierrez, $880,000

886 Kempston lane, Manakin sabot; Kent H albright to William Mark smith, $860,000 lot 24, Block C, section 2, Breeze Hill; Mary archer p� lewis to stephen T anderson, $1,011,000

5255 loving springs lane, Goochland; new Ventures real estate llC to John Garnett Frantz, $393,450

15648 Mosaic Creek Blvd , richmond; st yle Craft Homes inc of Virginia to e ugene n� r ansom,

$501,379

3014 preston park Terrace, sandy Hook; emerald Custom Homes llC to Thomas l� Facinoli, $499,950

2655 shirleys Cove, Goochland; Cheryl lynn e slinger to d evon Mackey, $350,000

12012 Talavera Terrace, richmond; HHHunt Homes lC to nicholson K Broughton, $536,720

1242 The Forest, Crozier; Charles s� young to Garry Channel-Ferree, $679,950

1586 Whippoorwill road, Goochland; William Janulis to rheena Mae Bartolome, $412,499

Kids taking control of local theater company

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Goochland Community Theatre (GCT) will hold auditions for its next production, “Goochland Kidmutiny Theater,” at 6 p.m. on April 25.

The children who performed in previous chil-

dren’s shows at GCT have decided that they can’t wait any longer for the next one, so they have taken control of the season and have written their own show, which they will also be directing.

Auditions will take place

at Central High Cultural and Educational Complex, 2748 Dogtown Road in Goochland.

Rehearsals will be held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and show dates will be June 23-25.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, JUDY GATHRIGHT WILSON AND GLORIA GATHRIGHT

We would like to introduce to you Belle Star who is practically the definition of a perfect family dog. Great with cats, great with other dogs, and great with kids. Belle is sure to bring endless joy and laughter to her new family’s home with her goofy and loveable personality. Her favorite activity is to go for nice long walks and to use her nose to search for squirrels. She loves all people but especially the tiny ones, those are her favorite. If you decide to take her home, be prepared to be greeted with kisses and

Volunteers

From 1

“I am a Goochland resident with two young children and want to set an example for them about the importance of volunteerism and giving.”

Groups from universities, schools, churches, organizations, and corporations volunteer their time and resources. Churches provide dinners for staff at the Tuesday Evening Clinic, which is open until 7 p.m.

Performance Food Group donates turkeys and hams for Thanksgiving and sends volunteers to help distribute. CarMax teams have helped in

Armstrong

From 1

Affairs, his master’s degree from VCU, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond.

“Our entire team – in our schools, on our buses, and in our offices – works tirelessly to provide the outstanding educational experience for all students that has been recognized in our region and the Commonwealth,” Armstrong said. “I am excited to support their efforts in the months ahead as we finish

a happy hound smile. Belle Star is a red and white ticked Coonhound. Belle is 3 years old, spayed, and up to date on all vetting.

The Goochland Animal Shelter is located at

the Food Pantry and Clothes Closet. Genworth, Old Dominion, HH Hunt and Capital One are just a few of the corporations who send volunteer teams throughout the year.

Visit GoochlandCares Monday through Saturday, and there are volunteers donating their time and talents. They are stocking shelves in the Food Pantry, sorting donations at the Clothes Closet, taking blood pressure at the Free Clinic, and providing administrative support. The organization couldn’t keep the programs running without volunteers.

The organization always has openings for volunteers

another great year in GCPS.”

Also, at their April 11 regular meeting, the school board kicked off the search for a new superintendent by securing the services of BWP & Associates. Kevin Castner and E. Wayne Harris will lead the search for BWP.

BWP’s four-step search process includes engaging with employees, the community, and students to gather input, identifying experiences, qualities, and skills that the next superintendent must possess, creating a leadership profile, and recruiting and interviewing potential

1900 Hidden Rock Lane in Goochland. For more information on the many pets still in need of homes, call (804) 556-5302. You also can visit the shelter on Facebook at “Goochland County Animal Control.” 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. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation to the shelter is asked to make donations payable to Goochland Pet Lovers.

in a variety of positions. Those interested in volunteering can go to GoochlandCares.org or call Dominic Alexander at (804) 556-0400 to get involved. A few of the opportunities available:

„ The Clothes Closet has openings for volunteers to help sort, hang, and price donations.

„ The Food Pantry has volunteer openings throughout the week to help pick up food from local grocery stores, stock shelves, and distribute food.

„ Dentists and Dental Hygienists are needed in the Dental Clinic.

„ There are support roles to do administrative projects.

candidates. Engagement strategies include interviewing school board members, meeting with representatives of groups within the community, keeping an open dialogue with employees, and administering an online survey.

The school board approved a search timeline with the candidate application window open until mid-May. BWP and the school board will conduct interviews in May and June, with a new superintendent projected to be in place by August of this year.

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Gay Nell Lee

LEE, Gay Nell, 91, of Henrico, Va., passed away peacefully at home on Monday, april 3, 2023. she was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, William david lee; and her parents, Burwell and Bernice proctor. she is survived by two daughters, patricia larch (Terry, sr.) and robin Hillman (Tom); five grandchildren, Terry larch Jr. (elena), lori larch-Ostler (Brett), John larch, and philip Hillman (sana) and Kaitlyn Hillman (Behrad); and one greatgrandson, Zayn Hillman. she retired in 1991 as the deputy Clerk of the richmond General district Court, Traffic division. she was a member of the american legion auxiliary #215, the Centerville Homemakers Club and the st. Matthews United Methodist Church young at Hearts. special thanks to the third-floor staff at Vitality living and affinity Care. The family received friends at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 West Broad st., Glen allen, Va 23060, on Wednesday, april 12, 2023, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services were held at st. Matthews United Methodist Church, 1706 st. Matthews lane, richmond, Va 23233 on Thursday, april 13, 2023, at 2 p.m. Burial followed in the church cemetery. in lieu of flowers, you may contribute in her memory to st. Matthews United Methodist Church or Goochland County Fire-rescue association.

Lt. Col. Stanley Martin

WILLIAMS, Lt. Col. Stanley Martin, born July 18, 1932, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, stan Williams was the second child and only son of the late Harry and Blossom (politz) Williams. On Monday, March 27, 2023, stan died at age 90 of natural causes, at his home in Manakin, Virginia. stan graduated from Temple University, completed UsMC Officer Candidates school and enrolled in naval aviation schools Command pensacola, earning his wings as a Marine Corps pilot. af ter being introduced at a party hosted by his uncle in Washington, d C., stan married elizabeth ann Bragassa of lynchburg, Virginia, on august 4, 1962 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, lynchburg. Throughout his military career, stan was stationed at locations around the world, including da nang, Vietnam; Okinawa, Japan; Cherry point, north Carolina; and Verona, italy, before retiring with his family to richmond, Virginia. stan is survived by his wife, Betty; his children, david Williams (laura) of Maplewood, new Jersey; Martin Williams (nancy) of davis, West Virginia; sarah Wicker (Jeff); and grandchildren, Jackson, Henry, and addy Wicker, of richmond, Virginia; his sister, Helen ann drutt english of philadelphia, pennsylvania; niece, ilene Weiss of Weehawken, new Jersey; nephew, Matthew drutt of new york, new york; niece, Martha lipman of new york, new york; and niece, Jennifer lipman of philadelphia, pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara lipman of philadelphia, pennsylvania. stan loved his wife, his family, the Marine Corps, golf, Boston Terriers and sour cream, in that order. a Celebration of life will be held at Bliley’s — Central 3801 augusta avenue, richmond, Virginia 23230 on saturday, april 29 at 10:30 a.m., with a reception to follow. an interment will be held in arlington national Cemetery at a later date. in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choosing.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

Goochland Baptist Church will be hosting a Community Table Mixer night, offering a chance for attendees to learn something new about their neighbors. dinner will be held at 6 p.m., with activities starting at 6:30 p.m. Goochland Baptist Church is located at 2454 Manakin rd. in Manakin-sabot. For more information, call (804) 749-3522.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Join the rotary Club of Goochland in welcoming the Goochland sheriff’s department’s investigation team. The meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. and will be held at The residence inn short pump at the notch, 1800 Wilkes ridge Circle.

Come visit the beautiful countryside of eastern Goochland for an outdoor spring tent revival at Hebron presbyterian Church, Manakin sabot, from 5 to 8 p.m. This event will offer a wonderful opportunity to hear inspiring speakers and uplifting music, and to renew your spirit as the church celebrates our risen lord. invite your friends and neighbors! More information can be found at www.hebronpresbyterian.com. a food truck will be on site, and this event will be held rain or shine.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Goochland’s river road Cottage and the american legion auxiliary of post 215 will be hosting the 2023 spring Bazaar from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the american legion Hall, located at 3386 river rd W. in Goochland. This is a free indoor event and attendees do not need to be a member of the american legion to attend. For more information, visit https://www. goochlandala.org/event-details/ spring-bazaar-2023.

MONDAY, APRIL 24

strength Training-Monday aM will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. for ages 12 and up. Come work on building your strength! This class is for anyone looking for a way to get into, or returning to, the world of fitness. This program ends on Monday, June 12, and the fee for the class is $25. For more information, contact parks and recreation at (804) 556-5854.

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

Forever young spring Brunch will be held from 10 a.m. to noon for those ages 50 and up. a delicious brunch will be provided as

well as music entertainment. The fee for the class is $15. For more information, contact parks and recreation at (804) 556-5854.

strength Training will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. for those ages 12 and up. This class is for anyone looking for a way to get into, or returning to, the world of fitness. The program ends on Thursday, June 15 and the fee for the class is $50. For more information, contact parks and recreation at (804) 556-5854.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

Goochland Baptist Church will be hosting a Community Table Game night, featuring a fun night of friendly competition. dinner will be held at 6 p.m., with activities starting at 6:30 p.m. Goochland Baptist Church is located at 2454 Manakin road in Manakin-sabot. For more information, call (804) 749-3522.

The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints will be hosting a Gospel discussion group at the Goochland library from 7 to 8 p.m. all are welcome.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

Quilter’s night Out will be held 5 to 10 p.m. for those 18 and up. Join Michele Holt from My Quilting Beehive for Quilter’s night Out! Bring whatever project you would like to work on and enjoy pizza and salad for dinner while sewing and socializing. The room will be set up with an ironing station and cutting station. each month there will be a demonstration of a quilt block, ruler or technique. and there will be door prizes! if you are having trouble with a project, Michele is an experienced quilter and quilt teacher who can help you with your quilt questions. Cost of $20 includes dinner (pizza, salad, drinks) What to bring: sewing machine, project of your choice to work on and all the supplies for it. Basic quilting supplies: scissors, thread, seam ripper, rotary cutter, rulers and power strip. The fee for the class is $20. For more information, contact parks and recreation at (804) 556-5854.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

a Community picnic will be held at

dover Baptist Church from 11 a.m. — 4 p.m., featuring free food, games, children’s activities, and exhibits. everyone is welcome to this celebration of the church’s 250th year. dover Baptist Church is located at 635 Manakin road in Manakin-sabot. Visit doverbc.org to learn more.

The Goochland – powhatan Master Gardeners association will hold its 17th annual spring Garden Festival on 2022 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at reynolds Community College, 1851 dickinson road in Goochland. This annual outdoor event hosted by the Goochland-powhatan Master Gardener association (GpMGa) in cooperation with reynolds Community College and the Virginia Cooperative extension is a free, family-friendly celebration of all things related to gardening, and will feature the always popular GpMGa plant sale. Online registration for these educational opportunities is available at http://www.gpmga.org or contact the Goochland Cooperative extension office at 804-556-5841.

SATURDAY, MAY 6

Manakin r oad w as adopted through the Virginia department of Highways’ adopt-a-Highway program in 2007 and named “Friends of Manakin road.” Twice a year (spring and fall) a group of neighbors get together to pick up the litter that accumulates along this three-mile stretch from Broad street road to the Hanover line. The next pick up is scheduled for saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. The volunteers will meet at Goochland Baptist Church, 2454 Manakin road, Manakin sabot to divide up into teams. Fluorescent orange safety vests, orange bags for the litter, and pickers will be provided. please wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and bright clothes, and bring a pair of gloves. Children above the age of 10 are welcome. For more information, text or call (804) 839-2878.

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Company 5 will be hosting the Hometown Hero 5K at Tucker park starting at 8:30 a.m. This event will serve as a fundraiser for the Company 5 station renovation. registration is $15 for children under 12; $20 for adults; and $35 the day of the race. Those wishing to run or walk can register online at www. courthouse5firerescue.org up until May 7, or visit the website for more information. The entry fee includes admission, course hydration station, post-race refreshments and a medal.

County schools honor employees for excellence

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Each school year, staff members from Goochland County Public Schools nominate employees and one team to be honored for their excellence. From these nominees, a Team of the Year, Employee of the Year, and Rookies of the Year are named. This year’s honorees are:

Team of the Year: GCPS

Transportation

Nominators stated that each member of the transportation department goes above and beyond to transport students safely every day. GCPS drivers are the first people who greet students at the start of the school day and strive to build relationships with children and families. Additionally, the transportation department has adopted technology to improve efficiency, and GPS-enabled buses improve routes and enhance communication.

Employee of the Year: Diane Rigsby

Diane Rigsby is all things

Goochland Elementary. She greets every visitor with a warm smile and builds relationships with families and students. As one nominator stated, “Diane

goes way beyond her duties in the front office! She is an all-star coordinator of daily logistics, a calming presence, a rational voice, our staff’s number one cheerleader, and the ultimate motivator of challenging students!”

Rookies of the Year

Jane Coles, Byrd Elementary : Special education teacher Jane Coles is “amazing to work with, and the main thing I treasure about her is that she treats me and the other instructional as sistants in the classroom as an equal. She works just as hard and respects everyone.”

Bailey Nixon, Goochland Elementary : First grade teacher Bailey Nixon is “a ray of sunshine who genuinely cares about each and every one of her students,” a nominator stated. “She creates a safe space to learn and collaborates with her team to provide differentiated lessons.”

Trey Lawson, Goochland High : History teacher Trey Lawson has made quite an impact at his new school.

“He has come in and been a superstar. Aside from his

‘day job’ as a history teacher, Trey coaches two sports and has stepped up as an administrative intern. Even though he has only been here a year, I find it hard to imagine our school without the selflessness, hard work, and dedication of Mr. Lawson,” a nominator stated. “Students respond extremely well to him because of his ‘I care’ attitude and his ability to relate while teaching and engaging students in his curriculum,” another nominator stated.

Caroline Powell, Goochland Middle: School counselor Caroline Powell has made a great impression in her first year as a counselor.

“I can’t even begin to say all the things that she has done to make GMS a better place. Students love her and even request their one wish to eat lunch with her. She is a great counselor,” a nominator stated.

Katelin Nolan, Randolph Elementary: Fourth grade teacher Kaitlyn Nolan has been a pleasure to get to know as a colleague, a nominator said. “It’s been a joy to see what an amazing job she’s done in a new grade level at a new school in a new county. She creates a fun, positive, and productive learning environment and regularly gives timely and meaningful feedback related to challenging material.”

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Rigsby

Coles

Nixon

Lawson

OPINION

GCSO HONORS MOST RECENT CLASS OF D.A.R.E. GRADUATES

On april 12, the Goochland County sheriff’s Office celebrated the graduation of 72 d.a.r.e. students at Goochland elementary school.

The 5th grade students completed their 10-week d.a.r.e. curriculum with their instructor, deputy leabough. Here, sheriff steven Creasey congratulates the students on their completion of the class.

A note about litter...

(editor’s note: The following message was submitted to the Gazette by a randolph elementary 5th grader) in Goochland County there’s something called litter. But litter is not just in Goochland, it’s in more places than just here, it’s everywhere. My family lives just off of Fairgrounds and you wouldn’t believe how much trash is at our neighborhood entrance. Where do you think all that trash comes from? i think all of the trash comes from people not securing their loads in their vehicles. different people secure their loads differently. you can put your

trash in a trash can then put it in your vehicle, use a tarp to cover your load then secure it, you can use bags to carry the trash in your vehicles or use cargo nets. Goochland Convenience Centers are giving away free cargo nets on april 22. you can pick up the cargo nets from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. while the supply lasts. in honor of earth day, please secure your load to reduce the amount of litter on our earth, in Goochland County and the entrance to our neighborhoods. Together, by securing our loads of trash, we can make Goochland a little bit cleaner.

College or not? As with so many things, it depends

ROSLYN RYAN Editor

Aquick note to students about to graduate from high school…

When I was growing up, despite the mountains of advice, aphorisms, tips, tricks, instructions and allegories cheerfully dispensed by so many of the older and wiser people in my life, nobody ever bothered to mention one small but undeniably critical fact: By the time a person reaches the age and station in life where they feel qualified to offer advice to the next generation, a sizable chunk of what they’ve spent decades learning is already in danger of becoming obsolete.

Take going to college, for ex-

ample. When I was in high school (no, I’m not telling you when but let’s just assume it was long ago), the prevailing wisdom was that earning a college degree was almost always a valuable investment in a young person’s future. The idea was to go to the best school you could, work hard, impress the right people, and graduate into to a world waiting to offer you a good job and the keys to stable, happy life. Did I mention this was a while ago?

In fact, by the time I graduated from college in 2001, the landscape had already shifted significantly. It seemed by then, if you listened to those who claimed to know about such things, those of

us who hadn’t majored in business or accounting or some other practical field were now doomed to failure, having just wasted wheelbarrow-loads of money on degrees that would look very nice on the wall but never be of any practical use.

Cut to two decades later, and the message is even more stark. Now, it isn’t hard to find those who claim that going to college at all is a waste of time, money and talent. Look at Steve Jobs, they say. Look at Mark Zuckerberg. Look at all the uber-successful people (including the co-founder of Uber, by the way) who never graduated from college.

And perhaps they have a point: A college degree by itself is not

the answer anymore. If you want to find incredible success in any field, you are going to have to work very, very hard. You are going to have to get a couple of lucky breaks. You are going to have to learn to accept failure. You are going to have to become an obsessive learner, a task that is made exponentially easier when you find something you are passionate about.

Can you do all of these things without a college degree? Sure. Plenty of people have.

So should you skip the degree altogether? Well…it’s complicated.

Today’s young people have access to information and resources on a scale that many of us could

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never have fathomed several decades ago, and the path to a career in so many fields is no longer a straight line. The most critical thing—and I think Steve Jobs, Mark Cuban and pretty much any wildly successful person would agree with this—is to find your passion and pursue it relentlessly, even if it means going against the grain or taking a non-traditional path. I would never advise a young person to forgo college, but would advise them to understand that it isn’t a guaranteed path—or the only path—to success.

Also, just in case you’re wondering, I have never regretted getting a college degree a single day in my life (even if my bank balance at present has a few less zeros than Zuckerberg’s). My time spent in college introduced me to the people who would change my life, and who would ignite in me a passion for learning that has proven even more valuable than the degree itself.

Would I do it all over again? Yes. Should you take advice from me, or anyone else who hasn’t walked in your shoes? Well kid, like everything else from this point on, that is totally up to you.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOOCHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Bulldogs down Black Knights to snap losing streak

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Sporting special black and pink jerseys and locked in for battle with the traveling Charlottesville Black Knights, the Bulldogs walked on the field with more on their minds than just the game of baseball.

Hosting the matchup as the “Strike Out Cancer Game,” the idea to use their athletic platform to stand against the impact of cancer and support those who have suffered from it came from senior A.J. Condrey.

Condrey says he was inspired to put together the event for his senior project at the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School, which allowed him to intern with the University of Virginia’s sports marketing department.

“We haven’t done this event in a couple years and it’s something that really benefits the community,” Condrey said.

Condrey designed the jerseys and the t-shirts worn by fans in attendance, set up a donation source for people to contribute that would go to the Massey Cancer Center at VCU and managed social media content to advertise the game. On top of all that, he made his impact felt as a player on the field, going the distance as the team’s starting pitcher and earning the 10-4 win for the Bulldogs. The game snapped a six-game losing skid for the Bulldogs.

“It’s definitely the best whole game we’ve played all year,” Condrey said. “We have stretches where we’ve played very good and then an inning or two where we just fall apart, but tonight was definitely the best whole game by everyone.”

Condrey and the defense did give up three runs in the first two innings, the first of which was the result of an error, but they settled down and held the Black Knights to just one run in the next five innings. In seven innings, Condrey allowed just five hits while striking out five batters and giving up a single walk.

“A.J. had good command tonight,” head coach Wes Farkas said. “The sun got in our eyes a couple times, but we’ve had games where we haven’t had the run production to support him, so tonight we were able to get that and he was able to pitch the lead. It was a good outing for him for sure.”

While the defense took some time to settle in and control the game, the offense was consistently finding players on base from the very beginning. After a leadoff single from senior Mason Gregory,

the Bulldogs quickly earned two runs on a two-run RBI double from sophomore D.J. Jones that gave the team early momentum.

A four-run third inning propelled the Bulldogs to a 6-3 lead, with the runs coming on an error from a fly ball from senior Graham-Michael Fletcher-Mintz, Jones on a wild pitch and a two-run RBI single from Chase Breedlove.

Another RBI from Jones and an RBI single from freshman Jackson Bell in the bottom of the fourth made it 8-3, and errors from the

desperate Black Knights contributed to the next two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to give the Bulldogs a comfortable lead they’d never relinquish.

Finishing the game with seven hits from five different players was a welcoming sign for Farkas, who says the team looked good hitting the ball and converting on the chances the Black Knights were giving them from their errors in the outfield.

“We’ve been leaving a lot of guys on base and tonight we were

able to get those guys across which is big momentum for us,” Farkas said. “I was telling our guys that we need to keep our energy up and try to push guys across when we get our chances to.”

Two days later, the Bulldogs were again in the win column, scoring a season-high 11 runs to beat the Monticello Mustangs 11-7 to move their record to 3-7 on the season. Goochland’s next game will be on the road against the Orange County Hornets on Thursday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m.

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER Goochland’s Will Johns rounds third base and heads for home in the team’s victory over Charlottesville on april 11.

Foldes, Arbogast among six Cadets to earn All-Metro honors

ROBBY FLETCHER

Sports Editor

Though the season ended in February, the Richmond TimesDispatch has released its annual All-Metro wrestling teams that serve to recognize the top athletes in the sport from this past season.

After featuring four first-team wrestlers and two honorable mentions last year, including senior Zane Cox being named the athlete of the year, the 2023 list features six Cadets.

Junior Brycen Arbogast and sophomore Ronin Foldes were at the top of the list, both earning first team All-Metro honors, while their teammates Sam Parsons, Lane Foard, Brady Bollander and Christian Ferrell were featured as honorable mentions.

Arbogast was a first team honoree last season as well after ending his sophomore campaign as a VISAA state champion and the best 120-pound wrestler in the state. In his junior year, he didn’t disappoint, living up to his own lofty expectations with yet another state title in the 132-pound class while finishing with a 30-8 record and a sixth place finish in the national prep tournament.

His 5-2 decision win over Peninsula Catholic’s Luke Murray in the state finals was one of the most exciting wrestling displays of the season, with Arbogast claiming yet another state title against a formidable opponent. What the three-year All-American does as a senior will be one of the biggest storylines of the 202324 season for the Cadets wrestling program.

This was Foldes’ first appearance on the All-Metro list, with the sophomore breaking out with a huge season that saw him finishing with a 30-13 record in the 157-pound weight class. Foldes ended the season as a state runner-up and helped the Cadets place third in states behind St. Christopher’s and Paul VI.

Parsons and Bollander were both honorable mention members on last year’s team as well,

with Parsons earning the spot after his season with Midlothian.

With the Cadets, Parsons moved up from 106 to the 113-pound weight class, and proved to be one of the team’s top wrestlers this season, placing second at states and finishing the year with a 27-10 record.

Bollander also finished his season in exciting fashion, earn-

ing state runner-up honors after winning two state tournament matches by major decision and the semifinals by an 8-1 decision. He finished the year with a 32-11 record.

The 138-pound Foard was also one of the four Cadets to place as a state runner-up. He finished the season with a dominant 31-5 record. In 2022, he was a state

champion in the 113-pound class.

Ferrell finished his season in the 150-pound class with a 3016 record, claiming fifth place at states after winning the fifth place match by fall over Norfolk Academy’s Sam Tignor in 4:17.

The Cadets finishing within the top-3 overall for the second consecutive season is a testament to the program’s consistency in

developing its wrestlers to be at the top of their game. Seeing six members of the team mentioned as among the top wrestlers in the area two years in a row is further proof that the program is still a powerhouse in the state of Virginia.

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

FILE PHOTO

Benedictine’s ronin Foldes, seen competing in the 2022 Visaa state Tournament, was named a first team all-Metro wrestler after finishing his sophomore season as a state runner-up.

PUBLICHEARINGNOTICE

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Tu esday, May2,2 023, 6: 00 PM Gooc hland County Ad minist ration Building 18 00 Sandy Hook Rd., P. O. Box10, Gooc hland, VA 23 06 3 Board Meeting Room Su ite2 50 View county meeting: ht tps: //www.gooc hland va .u s/1154/Count y- Meetings

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ARIES • Mar 21/Apr 20

You don’t want to have mundane tasks hanging over your head, Aries. Try to check as many of them off your to-do list this week as you can. This will free up a lot of free time.

TAURUS • Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, you may be planning a much-needed vacation at the present time. Figure out a place you’ve never been and then fill your itinerary with plenty of fun things.

GEMINI • May 22/Jun 21

You likely will have to devote a lot of attention to practical matters in the days to come, Gemini. This includes taking a hard look at your spending and making cuts.

CANCER • Jun 22/Jul 22

Cancer, the coming week will be a busy time for social opportunities. Other people will want to be around you as you can be the life of the party when you come out of your shell.

LEO • Jul 23/Aug 23

Don’t be surprised if your energy level is high this week, Leo. This leads to you feeling restless at home and even at work. This could be a fine time to take up a hobby.

VIRGO • Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, you may be looking forward to an evening out with a romantic partner or close friends. Try to narrow down a day this week or next. Have a few restaurants at the ready.

LIBRA • Sept 23/Oct 23

Take advantage of some free time to get things done around the house, Libra. Cleaning or other home improvements should be a priority.

SCORPIO • Oct 24/Nov 22

There’s a lot of activity expected close to home, Scorpio. A new business may open or there could be a movie star who is spotted in town. Maybe you’ll get new neighbors.

SAGITTARIUS • Nov 23/Dec 21

The thought of financial prosperity has you scouring the recruitment sites this week, Sagittarius. Speak to others about the pros and cons of leaving your current job.

CAPRICORN • Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, you are surrounded by positive energy and eager to be out and about with friends this week. Start exploring all of the possibilities around you.

AQUARIUS • Jan 21/Feb 18

This may be a good week to devote a large chunk of time to being alone Some time with just your thoughts and a little silence could be everything you need.

PISCES • Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, discussions at work could get a bit heated. It’s best to distance yourself from these situations as best as you can.