Special Thank You to Darrin Mathews for allowing us access to the Gymnasium.
The Fab Four as I dubbed them, from left to right, Emma Leath and Family, Alyssa Ervin and Family, Ashlyn Newman and Family and Greg Talley & Family…
This collective group each gave four years to our School and wore the colors with a great deal of pride. Each one is leaving The Hill owning the career marks in their sport and along the way brought joy to so many in our Community.
Having a student athlete break a school 🏫 record is a rare thing on its own, let alone having five records fall in the same Class. The Class of 2024 leave here as the leading point scorer in Basketball 🏀, the leading goal scorer in Soccer ⚽️, the leader in wins by a Tennis 🎾 player and the leader in both pitching victories and Strikeouts in Softball.
The photo 📷 above is one taken on my phone during the shoot. It’s a tease to the rest of the work done by Velvet Creed Leonard until we can get all of it out there.
Congratulations 👏👏👏👏 to each of these four Amazing Cavaliers and their Families !
Lynchburg – There are efforts in recent history that people are willing to write off as an overnight success. The story of Carroll County sophomore Corrie Delp is anything but that as we are in year five of her track career in the CCHS system despite the fact Delp is only in the 10th grade.
The constants in her efforts are Head Coach Shawn Montgomery and the Assistant Coach that has a duel role as Jon Delp is both her mentor and her father. The trio were center stage at Liberty University on Saturday as Delp competed in her signature event, the Long Jump for the second straight season.
Delp was one of 41 entries in the Class 3 field, each with the hopes of earning a spot in the Finals. A scratch in her attempt left her with two more jumps and battling nagging injuries , Delp failed to earn a spot in the finals.
The final effort of the season coming up short had minimal impact on the disposition of Delp.
” Today was exciting and I was happy to be there at the highest level in the State,” Delp said. ” I love competing in Track and Field and I would be lost without my Dad by my side.”
Part of the difference between her Freshman season and her Sophomore year is that Delp competed at the Varsity level for both Cindy Edwards in Volleyball and Marc Motley in Basketball prior to heading outdoors in the Spring.
Everyone that makes the jump from Junior Varsity to Varsity will admit to the difference in how fast everything moves and the raised expectations of the coaches they play for.
Edwards takes the time to notice the off the court side of Delp in addition to her athletic ability.
” Corrie Delp is another 3 sport athlete, who is very athletic, so gifted she is quick and is blessed with a great determination to get better, ” said Edwards. ” I’m most impressed when I watch her with her little sister who has needs and you can truly see the love she has for her, she is patient, kind and loving with her.”
Delp is now halfway to every Track athlete in the Commonwealth goal of competing well enough to make it to State every time possible.
Head Coach Montgomery shared his thoughts on the efforts he receives every day from his long time team member.
” Corrie is a natural talent that is always looking to improve”, said Montgomery. ” She excels at anything she attempts to do once we get outside and start competing.”
The number five pops up all over the place in the Montgomery and Delp connection. The trio are all in their fifth season together and Corrie is the middle of the five Delp daughters.
Also trackside but on the outside of the ropes is the other proud parent, Vanetta Delp.
” I am so proud of Corrie’s attitude after she qualified for State once again, even though she knew some of the girls would probably out jump her,” Vanetta Delp said. ” She just considered it an honor to get to compete at the highest level.”
Many Carroll County High School athletes compete for their parents, including Montgomery and his daughter, Delp and his daughter, Greg Talley and his Son, Kris Richardson and his son are a few of the examples and Delp wouldn’t have her experience to be any other way. Being split between Father and Coach seems to fit Jon Delp as well as Corrie.
” Corrie did not have the day that we would have hoped,” Jon Delp said. ” The thing is Corrie and I, as her father and her coach, learn from each contest. We takes notes, we evaluate and try to get better each meet. She will be back next year with a fresh perspective and that desire to improve upon this season, just as she did this year from last. Corrie improved on her personal best (PB) from last year and I know that she will give it her best the next two years.”
Hollins – Carroll County High School and Hollins University alum Brandi Cochran – Mitchell received the ultimate honor Saturday afternoon when HU inducted her into their Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon.
Cochran – Mitchell graduated from Hollins back in 2005, playing basketball all four seasons at the University located in the outskirts of Roanoke. During her playing days she was known for giving her team whatever it needed as well as from any of the five spots on the floor.
During her playing days she was still Brandi Cochran, fresh out of Carroll County High School, where she also played four seasons ( 3 Varsity, 1 JV) of basketball. CCHS bookended her time at Hollins as the moment she graduated from College she headed back to her hometown of Hillsville to begin her career as a teacher.
Shortly after beginning her teaching career she married (2007) and Mitchell became the hyfened name. Staying busy in a manner that few could match, BC-M found the time to further her education, start a family and step into her Father’s footsteps as one of the Gate Keepers to the Carroll County AAU basketball program.
Up until the just concluded season one of the many, many hats worn was the Assistant Coach for the Lady Cavalier basketball team. During that run the team claimed just the second and third State titles in the history of the High School.
Full speed ahead has been the gear that Cochran – Mitchell has been operating in for the entirety of her adult life. Getting her to slow down long enough to accept the Award might have been a challenge in itself.
When asked to reflect on what accepting the honor meant to her Cochran – Mitchell was as elegant in her response as she was determined on the basketball court.
” I’m so incredibly lucky to have the support system of my former coaches, parents, brothers and husband. I couldn’t do this without them”, said Cochran – Mitchell.
” I became the person I am today because of the education I received at Hollins and basketball was what got me there. I found my voice and the confidence to speak up when I feel like I need to and I will always do that especially if it means I’m standing up for kids.”
The list of accomplishments here go well beyond anything done on the gym floor
” I love basketball and I love Hollins and I’m so thankful for the doors basketball has opened up for me,” added Cochran – Mitchell.
