The last time that a community story impressed me to the point that I felt it should be captured in a Book was the Strasburg High School Volleyball 🏐 team. The Rams 🐏 had a Senior Class of seven that amazingly started out in Kindergarten together and built a bond through Volleyball. Their Senior season the team posted a perfect year that was capped off by a Celebration in the VCU Siegal Center.
Everyone in the town basked in the glory of the moment and what it meant but very few gave much thought to the following season. How hard would the team fall once the Class of Seven had went off to College ?
Strasburg had one player in the Junior class that was an exceptional player and person. Jenna Smoot played at a very high level but certainly she couldn’t carry a team back to the Promise Land by herself.
Here is a story within the story for anyone that wants to see just what Jenna accomplished after her days wearing Purple.
Her Senior season ended the exact same place where her Junior season did, at Virginia Commonwealth University. This time the Rams dropped the Championship match and finished State Runner-Up. Volleyball, like Basketball is a team sport with the six players versus five players being the biggest difference.
The group of young Ladies that graduated 🎓 from CCHS last season was an impressive, impressive group. Their story was historical enough that we documented it in a Book.
But I’m not one of the folks here in the County that thinks the Sky is falling on the Girls Basketball program. Just like Jenna Smoot before, Alyssa Ervin is a generational talent. Ervin has an understanding of the game that is unmeasurable and her drive matches said talent.
Long-time Head Coach Marc Motley has already collected 400+ victories on the Hill so there is no doubt about his skill set. His lead Assistant Coach is Brandi Cochran – Mitchell who makes any list of the top players to wear the School colors at Carroll County.
Again, like Smoot before her, Ervin has fellow Cavaliers who have experienced the Top of the Mountain ⛰. Madison Lyons, Sarah Alderman and Katie Lam are all back. They are big parts of the equation and already know how to share the Basketball court with Ervin.
The coaching staff is Top Shelf, the Fan Base is energized and four big parts of the puzzle are back and ready to go.
Corrie Delp is another athlete that by the time she graduates from CCHS will take her place amongst the greatest to play sports on the Hill.
Laiken Burnett is wise beyond her years and will be able to make the adjustment to the Show.
Callie Harris has a point guard mentality and understands the game.
Casey Young will be a key 🔑, especially when Lyons isn’t on the floor. Keeping the opponents post players occupied will free up Ervin to work the floor.
Bailey Allen, Savannah Swecker and Amie Delp will look to gain confidence everytime they take the Court.
Having spent the Volleyball season tracking Glenvar trying hard to make it three straight and Auburn’s drive for five there are a couple of things we should expect. This team will lose games while learning how to play as a team and opposing teams will celebrate any victory of the Two Time defending State Champs 🏆. One can flash back to the joy we displayed when we knocked off the Highlanders in their gym. By the end of the season Glenvar had learned to play as a team with a new cast of players and eventually fell in the match that would have sent them back to the State Tournament.
The Auburn story is off the charts now that they have strung together five straight State Championships and if I lived in Riner instead of Laurel Fork there would be a book that described it. But those Girls knew they would get everyones best every time out.
To bring the story / preview full circle 🔵 I’m not suggesting that anyone books Hotel rooms for Richmond just yet but I would keep the dates open on your calendar.
The Lady 👩 Cavaliers take the floor tonight when they host Pulaski County. The Cougars are now in Class 3 after a long run as a Class 4 power so it should be a great test for the reloaded, not rebuilding Lady Cavaliers.
Apologies for exceding my normal two minutes read but it is a passionate topic.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 