Warhill football gaining momentum heading into the opener

Warhill High' football team showed progress in Wednesday's scrimmage with Kempsville.

By John Harvey

HarveySports757@yahoo.com

                       

JAMES CITY – Warhill High’s football team will open its season in two weeks against Class 4A foe Churchland at Sanford B. Wanner Stadium.

Coach Thad Wheeler and his team prepared for the Portsmouth School Thursday with their final scrimmage against the Kempsville Chiefs.

The Lions held their own against the Beach District school, showing strong play on both sides of the ball.

“We got better today and that’s all we look for each day is to get better,” Wheeler said. “Now we’ll come back tomorrow and try to get better. We’re still a work in progress.”

Elijah Onks had a 45-yard touchdown run or Warhill.

Elijah Onks, Collin Bright and Bryce Koob ran the ball effectively against the Chiefs. Onks provided the biggest play of the night, a 45-yard touchdowns run that featured him breaking three tackles before breaking free for the score.

Bright showed great vision in the whole and did a great job of reading his blocks. Koob only had a couple of carries, but he showed great power running the ball up the middle.

Up front, the Lions looked at home in the new Wing-T attack. Nathan Tirak, Kyle Barkles, Chris Lynch, Julian Williams, Karson Dellert and Clayton Osterloh did a nice job of opening up holes in the running game.

QB Bryson Dannewitz had two interceptions, but showed ability to throw and pass.

Defensively, Warhill looked much improved. They forced a fumble on the first possession and the first unit did not allow an offensive touchdown.

Osterloh, Bright and Koob were solid against the run and didn’t allow too many big gains. Defensive backs Desmond Cunningham and Keron Dedmon were solid in pass protection and against the run.

Kempsville scored two touchdowns on the night. The first-string defense stepped in front of a slip screen and returned the interception 15 yards for a score. Offensively, the Chiefs hit a 50-yards touchdown pass against Warhill’s second-string defense.

With a week before the season opener, Wheeler said the team has embraced his new philosophy. “We’re trying to build a team concept so that we’re all on the same page,” Wheeler said. “We’re all trying to work as one.”

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Photo gallery; Warhill football scrimmage with Kempsville

Warhill field hockey ready for postseason glory

By John Harvey

HarveySports757@yahoo.com

                       

JAMES CITY – 2013 was a record-setting season for Warhill High’s field hockey program. The Lions won nine games and advanced to the Colonial Rivers Conference 25 tournament semifinals for the first time.

With 16 players back from last year’s squad, coach Kristen Castano believes the Lions could raise the bar even higher this fall.

“I have very high hopes for our team this year,” Castano said. “We are coming off of one of our best seasons, so I expect the girls to carry that momentum into this season.”

Headlining the list of returner is a talented senior class led by first-team all-conference selection Casey Pongonis. The senior defender was a shut-down performer last season for the Lions and she will be asked to fill a similar role this season.

Pongonis should have plenty of help with the return of several key players. Erin Mullen, Amber Shea and Althea Allen anchor a strong backline for the Lions. They understand their individual assignments and play collectively as a unit very well.

In goal, Jessica Wiggins returns for another season. The senior netminder is agile and plays her angles well. She also is very calm between the pipes.

The Lions should also be formidable in the midfield, with a host of experienced options to choose from. Seniors Emma Johnson, Megan Henderson, Hayley Schulz, Taylor Humphries and Maddy White are expected to start for Warhill. Brea Talley and Cordy Branscome are talented players that can change a game Alex Johnson provides great depth.

Up front, twin sisters Jessica and Kayla Cooke and Haley Smith should spearhead a talented offense. Jessica and Kayla made a major impact in their first season at Warhill, earning honorable mention, all-conference honors. Smith is another feisty competitor that can convert in the circle.

“This year we have a very large senior class,” Castano said. “They have been playing together since they were in middle school, which will hopefully help with communication on and off the field. Many of them have been playing on the varsity level since they were freshman and sophomores, so I’m looking for them to have a great last season. We have five juniors returning and they are determined to score and play defense. They mix in well with the seniors, which makes for a great bond on the field.”

Castano has also been impressed with a strong group of newcomers to the varsity level. Juniors Julia Gravel, Hope Ginsberg and Erin Paul, as well as sophomore’s Kaitlyn Lassiter and Casey Broady have great skill and should compete for playing time.
 
“This group of girls has wasted no time mixing in with the returners to earn a spot on the field,” Castano said. “They each bring different assets to the team that will benefit on both offense and defense.

The Warhill coach said her team really dedicated themselves in the offseason. Many of the players joined club squads to play year round and the results are evident. “It’s showed in their stick wok, field awareness, mechanics and endurance,” Castano said. “The improved skills will be necessary to compete with some of the top teams in our conference.”

With all of the experience and talent on this year’s roster, Castano believes this Warhill team could be special. “The girls are excited about the season and have been working extremely hard,” she said. “We will celebrate small victories first to get towards the bigger ones. It will all depend on the attitude and dedication of the girls.”

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Jamestown field hockey team is growing up together

By John Harvey

HarveySports757@yahoo.com

                       

JAMES CITY – As a former all-conference defender at the College of William and Mary, Christine Watts understands the importance of protecting the final third of the field.

The second-year Jamestown High field hockey coach believes defense will be a key this fall as the Eagles look to return to the regional playoffs.

Seniors Kaylin Evans and Kayla Patterson will anchor the defensive corps for Jamestown this season. “They are extremely strong defenders, who worked well together last year,” Watts said.

Offensively, Maddie Kopfer and Anna Lamm return as the top scoring threats. Kopfer, a verbal commit to the University of Vermont, was an all-conference forward last season for the Eagles. Lamm is another weapon inside the circle.

“Maddie and Anna are both extremely experienced forward and midfield players,” Watts said. “They are going to push the offense to move the ball quick to score those quick goals.”

Watts said the team must find a way to replace the offensive production of Ally Johnson and Morgan Maharty, who graduated last spring. “We have a lot of sophomores and juniors that are returning this year, and that will bring a level of maturity to the field.”

With the majority of the team back from last year, Watts said the experience is evident. “They have looked confident this preseason,” she said. “Their ability to communicate on the field has been leaps and bounds ahead of where it was last year, because they are already comfortable playing with one another.”

The major point of emphasis this season has been finding players that can score on a consistent basis. “This year, we want to work on finishing the ball all the way to the cage,” she said. “I want to work on our attack, especially in the circle, to make sure we capitalize on all our opportunities.”

Watts believes the first step is fundamentals. “Ultimately, I’m most interested in developing each individual player on a personal level,” she said. “Teaching core values, such as discipline and a high work ethic, will allow them to get the most out of what a sport can offer to their high school experience. It also allows them to get out of the season, what they put in.”

For nearly a decade, Jamestown’s field hockey program was the premiere program in the Bay Rivers District. Watts remembers those teams and believes they can get back to those glory days soon.

“I have high expectations of each of them individually to grow as people and players,” she said. “This will feed into how they are able to capitalize on the season.”

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Bruton field hockey loaded with experience

Bruton's field hockey team reached the Class 4A regional semifinals last season under coach Joe Dougherty.

By John Harvey

HarveySports757@yahoo.com

                       

YORK – Bruton High’s field hockey team finished one win shy of last season’s ultimate goal, a berth in the Class 4A state tournament.

With seven key contributors returning from a team that lost to eventual champion Chancellor in the regional semifinals, coach Joe Dougherty expects this team to be back in the postseason mix again in 2014.

“All of these seniors have many years of playing within the system,” Dougherty said. “We will be competitive, but we lost four very important players and will have to work to fill the holes. Only time will tell.”

Kayla Copeman scored 19 goals for Bruton.

Forward Kayla Copeman and defender Taylor Everette, a pair of all-state performers a year ago, headline this year’s roster.

Copeman scored 19 goals and produced 32 assists last season to lead the Panthers. The senior has great speed and knows how to finish in the circle.

Everette was the centerpiece of a Bruton defense that was one of the best in the Bay Rivers District last season. The senior always draws the opposition’s top offensive threat and more often than not, keeps them off the scoreboard.

Offense should not be a problem, as the Panthers have three players capable of scoring 20 goals a season.

Summer Zacharias tallied 19 goals for the Panthers in 2013.

Summer Zacharias returns for her fourth season with the program and was an all-conference and all-region selection last year. The senior has soft hands around the net and especially affective in penalty corner situations.

Da’Sha Hill is another talented player with the ball on her stick. The senior has great speed and knows how to maneuver her way around defenders. She isn’t afraid to get in the dirty areas and chip home rebounds in front of the cage.

Shaylea Burket is another four-year varsity performer at Bruton. The senior scored eight goals and four assists and should be a factor in the midfield.

Kaela Frazier and Hannah Pauley return for their third season with the program. Frazier earned conference and regional honors last season and plays a solid, two-way game. Pauley scored five goals and seven assists last year and has the ability to reach double-digits in goals.

Dougherty has also been pleased with the progress of several of his younger players eager to make their mark on varsity.

Junior Tori McCurdy has looked sharp in the midfield and has fit in nicely alongside the experienced players. Brianna Smith, another junior, is a hard-nosed defender that understands her assignments. Maysen Elliott will assume the goaltending duties and has great instincts in the cage.

“We have a couple of players jumping into some key spots,” Dougherty said. “Their ability to grow quickly will be tested early in our season.”

Experience and talent are two things coaches can’t teach. Dougherty has both with this Bruton club, and if the younger players come along quickly, it could be a memorable year.

‘We have set high goals for ourselves,” he said. “We need to take it one practice at a time and transfer what we do correctly into game made. The leadership is high on this team. We need to be cohesive and execute our opportunities.”

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