6sports JV Briefs JV football team seeks first win
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Soccer team aims for winning record
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he junior varsity soccer team currently has a 8-7-3 overall record, 4-6-1 in conference. “We have had some tough losses, but some good wins,” sophomore Morgan Martin said. “The team effort for the season has been great. My favorite game was Tuscola because we won, 6-1. We definitely worked together and had some great goals. The defense controlled our side of the field.” The team’s next game is at East Henderson on Oct. 26.
JV volleyball team completes season
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he junior varsity women’s volleyball team recently completed the season with a 14-7 overall record, 12-5 in conference. “The best game of the season was the North Henderson game at home because they beat us pretty badly in a previous match,” sophomore Grace Levi said. “They came here, and we played our best to get the win. Towards the end of the season, we pulled together and ended the season victoriously.”
Next Up Football Oct. 28 Home against East
Cross Country Oct. 29 Regional Meet Nov. 5 State Meet
Soccer Oct. 26 At East
flying start
Rachel Kordonowy
Dustie Fender
Freshmen step up to become part of varsity teams
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AUSTIN DOWNING asst. web editor
ear of failure rushed into freshman Rachel Kordonowy’s head as she stepped onto the volleyball court in August. It was her first high school game, and she was afraid that she would not be able to step up her game to the varsity level. As the stark white ball flew within Kordonowy’s reach, she jumped to spike the ball over the net. “Once I started playing, I knew that I could handle being on varsity,” Kordonowy said. “My other teammates saw that I could take that step up.” Fellow freshman Dustie Fender has played on the varsity football team this fall, and he said he has enjoyed being a part of a team with advanced skills. “It gives me a great four-year experience and, hopefully, a scholarship by the end,” Fender said. To be on varsity, these freshmen had to demonstrate their talents and show that they had skills that the team needed. “To prepare for volleyball, I have thought about my past seasons and how I have grown.
Physically, however, I ran a lot over the summer, and I’ve done workouts. I’ve been working with a trainer at Xcel (Sportsplex). I feel that these things have improved my strength altogether,” Kordonowy said. “During tryouts I tried to stand out and push myself. I worked really hard to get where I am.” To prepare, Fender said he worked hard over the summer. This allowed him to give his best during tryouts and show the coaches his abilities on the field. “We did a lot of passing games, such as seven-on-seven, and we also lifted weights. Because of that, I was prepared to give the team what I had to offer this season,” Fender said. Fender and Kordonowy said that they feel they have developed a strong connection with the upperclassmen on their respective teams. Their teammates have pushed them to perform their best. Varsity Volleyball Coach Tiffany Lowrance said she noticed the upperclassmen helping Kordonowy during practices and games. “If I am having an off game, my teammates will tell me to step it up because they know I am capable of better. They push me, which I know helps my game,” Kordonowy said. When Fender moved up to the varsity level
Football team wins homecoming ZAC COLE asst. sports editor
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ith just a little more than a minute left in the homecoming game against Brevard on Oct. 7, the Falcons had the ball and a one-point lead. All the team needed was a final first down to be able to run out the clock and win the game. When the Falcons handed off the ball to senior running back Corey Fisher, he pounded up the middle of the field and got the first down. When the time expired, the Falcons had held on to win, 21-20. The game against Brevard was a back and forth battle. The Falcons took an early lead when quarterback Brandon Letchworth completed a pass to wide receiver Coleman Hensley, but Brevard was able to match each Falcon score. The Blue Devils had a chance to tie the game when they scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but then missed the extra point. For the remainder of the final period, West was able to hold on to the one point lead. “These guys, I’m proud of them,” said Head Coach Paul Whitaker. “They’ve fought all year long and never given up. When the chips were down, the offensive line did a great job.” Going into Friday night’s home conference game against East Henderson, the
Return Man
Senior Tyler Johnson dodges a defender against T.C. Roberson. The Falcons lost the game, 7-42.
Falcons are 2-7 overall, 1-4 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. “The main goal for us is to compete in every game,” Whitaker said. “Being consistent is the biggest struggle for the team, but every day in practice, we are trying to get better and better.”
Casa Torres
from middle school, he noticed a huge difference in the level of play. “It was a big transition from middle school to varsity; the game is a lot faster, the guys are a lot faster, so it is harder to hit the outside as much. I really have to work with what I have,” Fender said. Despite this, his teammates have helped him to play to the best of his ability. “Fender’s teammates are always helping him on things and explaining the routes to him. It’s a little more complicated than what he was used to at Rugby, but he is catching on fast, and he is doing a great job,” varsity football Coach Paul Whitaker, said. Kordonowy, on the other hand, said the biggest change from middle school to high school was playing with new teammates. “In middle school, I was playing with the same group of girls; now I am on a totally different team with new teammates. They are a lot better than I am, so they help me improve,” Kordonowy said. “I sometimes feel intimidated by the upperclassmen because of the pressure of messing up in front of them.” Fender also felt intimidated, but once he got to know his teammates, he began to make friends. “Sometimes I even get called ‘Prodigy’,” Fender said.
Young volleyball team in second round of playoffs
A photo by Heidi Brickhouse
he junior varsity football team will take on East Henderson away Thursday night. The team is currently 0-8 overall, 0-5 in conference. “Our defense has improved a lot, but our offense is still struggling,” sophomore Jonathon Perron said. “We have had several freshmen step up and contribute. (Freshman) William Crouch started the season as our back-up running back; now he is starting.”
wingspan • october 21,2011
AURY ST. GERMAIN asst. sports editor
s sophomore Kelly McNamara stepped on the Rosman volleyball court, she knew that the Lady Falcons had one goal — revenge. At the first home game for West, the team lost a hard fought battle. The Lady Falcons wanted to prove themselves and prove a point, and they did, winning 3-0. “Our motivation for beating Rosmon was the fact that they came to our court with big egos and beat us. We were so embarrassed that it was our first home game, so we knew we had to show up at Rosmon and play our best,” McNamara said. “We knew that it was going to be a tough match with crazy fans, and we just showed up and played our hearts out.” The Lady Falcons’ record stood at 22-5 (12-2 in conference play) as they headed into a second-round playoff game against Crest (15-8) on Tuesday night. Sophomore Rachel Hyatt said she was pleased with how the season had gone. “Our team has been about working together and getting better every day,” Hyatt said. “Each game brings our team together more, and we have really bonded over the season. There are a lot of people stepping up to be leaders on the team, and it is making us stronger.” Second year coach Tiffany Lowrance also said she is pleased with her team. “The highlight of our season so far is that everyone is working together as a team and every individual is contributing,” she said. “We have such a great group of girls and they are all performing very well. I enjoy every moment working with them.”
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