Head Coach Anthony Barnes referred to his State Qualifying 2024 – 2025 Basketball season as ” The Last Dance 💃”, in part to pay homage to the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls.

This year, for Barnes and rising star Isaiah Easter the season will be about ” Unfinished Business “. The group of Student Athletes that led the charge to the State Quarter finals had been playing together forever and a day.

Bryce and Brayden Smoot are starting college at Southwest Virginia Community College, Cody Reece and his baseball ⚾️ skills are on their way to New River Community College, Landon Puckett is set to play Soccer ⚽️ at Bluefield and multi talented Ethan Richardson is headed across the West Virginia border as well

Another challenge for Barnes is to move forward without longtime friend and Co-Pilot, Kris Richardson. Richardson has switched back to coaching Girls Basketball 🏀, ahead of his youngest daughter, Gracie growing in the game that is a Family 👪 tradition.

I try to avoid comparing Student Athletes to others but this one feels a bit like when Alyssa Ervin returned for her Senior season after her teammates graduated 🎓 with their 2 State Championship rings 💍. It was fun for me to write ✍ about the upcoming Senior season and predicting that Marc Motley and Alyssa would make it back to the State Tournament once again.

In life, people talk about the ” It ” factor and Ervin possesses it, in Spades ♠️. I have been along for the ride with Easter since the undersized Freshman climbed into our Cav Man costume at Cavalier Park.

Now, its not like Barnes will have Easter playing one on five this winter. Jason Stockner, a local legend himself in regards to his Hoops playing days, led an impressive group of Junior Varsity players last season. At times, it appeared that Stockner had nine or ten interchangeable players so the competition for a Varsity roster spot will be a true battle.

Barnes is of the same mindset that West Virginia Tech University Baseball ⚾️ Coach Lawrence Nesselrodt and I share, which is ” Leave it Better than you found it”.

If Barnes felt his tank was empty, last year would have been a perfect time to ride off into the Sunset 🌇, with Richardson and his six Seniors.

Barnes is the ultimate Motovational coach and IF Easter can be the floor leader he needs to be…….

Cavalier Basketball 🏀 is coming to a Gym near you !

Cross Country Coach Shawn Montgomery is set to lead our Cavaliers Boys and Girls runners 🏃‍♂️ once again this fall !

We are big fans of Coach Montgomery because he sends in 100% of his results from every meet. The focus here is on everyone is equal so we love the fact that we can show support for every Student Athlete that wear the Cross Country colors.

Just 10 more Days !

Cindy Edwards is set to begin her next chapter in her Hall of Fame coaching career tonight down at Abingdon High School 🏫. While its only a scrimmage on paper, its the first opportunity for her Lady 👩 Cavaliers to wear the uniform and represent the School.

Edwards has retooled her Coaching staff once again and has done so with some familiar names. Kayla Nester continues to spread her wings on The Hill as she has added Volleyball 🏐 and the position of Middle School Athletic Director to her plate 🍽.

Shelia Harris has found the time to dust off her coaches whistle and will be helping out with the Junior Varsity team while enjoying another year of watching 👀 the youngest Harris daughter, Callie, play Varsity.

Jason Petty retired from his spot as Junior Varsity coach after a decade long run 🏃‍♂️, which will create a bigger role for Nikki Heflin. Also gone is long time cornerstone, Maleah Neely as the hard working former Lady Cavalier steps away from the game she loves 💘.

Trenton Miller is another name that was connected to the program last season in a Volunteer role but will return to the stands for 2025-2026.

Another person who is a HUGE part of the program is Marion Harris and we will add a title to his efforts this season !

Team Media Liaison – Marion Harris !

  The common thread between Coach Edwards and myself is an uncanny level of passion for what we are trying hard to accomplish in life. Here’s to a great trip down to Abingdon tonight !

https://blog.hoosbrew.com/p/hoos-brew-8-12-added-inspiration?_bhlid=96a554e9cf17f99fcbdd41ed7c344a27b00b3c15&utm_campaign=hoos-brew-8-12-added-inspiration&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=HoosBrew

While I have been writing ✍ on our sites for the better part of two decades now, it was August 12,2023 that I challenged myself to see if I could create a minimum of 1 feel good story everyday for one month.

The next stop ✋ goal was 6 months and then I celebrated at the 1 year mark. Today makes it two years straight and I am proud of the fact that I never just mailed one in. There was never a day that I created a post 📫 just to keep the Streak alive!

Even when things don’t work out the way you want them to, you still shake, shake, shake it off ( Thanks, Taylor) in hopes of making someone else smile.

  I will circle 🔵 back and attach the Streak Award to the story after its published and then find the next challenge because life is more fun when there is a carrot 🥕 on the end of Life’s Big Stick !

The next story after this one will come later today when I create a Nugget for the next Book 📖, Diamonds 💎 are a Girls Best Friend : Alvin Davidson.

I will wrap this one up by once again saying a Special Thank You 🙏 to the brave souls that are email 📧 subscribers to the site. It’s a great help to have a built-in base of folks that enjoy reading 📚 a collection of feel good stories.

Have yourself a Blessed Tuesday 🙌