The display pictured above is in the main hallway at Cave Spring High and its one of a handful the Roanoke School has on display. Naturally this one makes me smile because its for JJ, who is still my favorite Blue Devil hoopster.
You see it all the time at the College level when a new football or basketball coach takes over. They talk about embracing the history of the program and again I will use a Duke University example. In his first season on the job as Football coach, Manny Diaz invited the three most significant retired Coaches from the program and honored them at a game.
.Then he invited the players who performed for said coaches as the goal is to make anyone who wants to be a part of what you are doing to feel welcome.
Last month Corrie Delp missed tying the school record in the Long Jump by a quarter of an inch on three different days. First at Districts, then at Regional and finally at the State Meet up in Lynchburg.
As I followed the story and willing to admit that I was openly pulling for the rising Senior to set a new mark, I failed to report on who held the current record.
While I try my best to stay away from ranking athletes in any manner, I would have to believe that Mrs Buchanan would be near or at the top of any list of All-Time greats to ever compete on The Hill. I am equally sure that her story has been told many a time over the years but here’s a crazy idea 💡, tell it again.
Carroll County High School competes in a highly competitive Regional tournament across the board and does so against Schools 🏫 that have considerably more resources. We don’t have the ability to go dollar for dollar with the likes if Abingdon, Christiansburg, Glenvar or Cave Spring. If you know that you can’t out spend them, the priority should be to out think them.
Last December, while out at a public High School in Washington state, a bit smaller than CCHS, there was a wall where every single Student Athlete that was currently competing at the collegiate level had an 8×10 color photo hanging with their name and College listed. Ask the families to produce the photo and then return it to them when their career ends. Minimal cost and it allows the current Student Athletes to walk past it everyday.
The reason why I spent so much time trying to track the progress of the College careers this past year was to show the younger players that if you work hard in the classroom and in your sport, then you too can play beyond High School.
Using Laiken Burnett and Holly Miller as examples of current Softball players who might want to play at the next level, its good to let them know that others have done it before them. The same can be said for players under Cindy Edwards as she has four former players currently competing in College. Three in Volleyball and one in LaCrosse.
We have made considerable upgrades at each spot outside over the past two years, once the High Jump area is completed. The bleachers at Tommy Thompson Field, Scoreboard and Stadium seats 💺 at Cavalier Park, seating at Bill Worrell Field and what is fun to call, The Castle 🏰 on The Hill. While a new Track has to wait for another day, the High Jump area answers a glaring need. The addition of the Auxiliary Gym and the Tennis 🎾 teams each held a heartfelt Senior Day ceremony for both teams.
We have new Coaches that have made significant impacts right out of the gate. Seth Greer operates at another level. Adrienne Harris hit the ground running and Casey Burcham might be doing the same job one day at the University of North Carolina. Adam Nester lost ONE game this season – ROOKIES…
Embrace the past, include it / them whenever possible. Burcham with his Alumni game and Anthony Barnes with everything he does with Boys Basketball.
Ashlyn Newman will be playing Soccer for Bluefield this coming season and Alyssa Ervin will be playing Hoops down at Furman. Two of the most successful Cavaliers of All-Time and we should care about how they do at their new Schools.
Crossover support is a conversation for another day. But its an important part of the process. Carroll County High School found a solid amount of success with Trace Reavis placing 10th in Golf ⛳ and Delp placing fourth at Track, Samuel Collins giving West Long his first State Wrestler and Swimming 🏊♂️ sent a bushel of Cavaliers to Richmond. Four young Ladies qualified in Girls Wrestling, football made the post season, Brenden Fariss went to State as did Boys Basketball and Baseball recorded the first 20 win season in school history.
On a personal note 📝, Bryce Smoot passed Tee Jackson on the Boys scoring list. Isaiah Easter made the Timesland First Team and Barnes was tabbed Coach of the Year on the same list.
Include everyone who wants to be part of the effort, highlight the Amazing folks that blazed the trails and focus on what happens to the Student Athletes who are fortunate enough to play at the next level. Just a few things that can be done inexpensively but can fuel the fires it takes to Defend The Hill !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 