Category: Carroll County

Carroll County High School Cross Country wraps up season six under the guidance of Head Coach Shawn Montgomery

Amelia Forsyth and Head Coach Shawn Montgomery : Photo ASPN

AXTON – Bassett High School hosted the annual Class 3D Regional Cross Country meet on Thursday and three Cavaliers represented Carroll County High School.

The weather was picture perfect and that is a rarity for the event. Two years ago in Bristol it was in the 30’s and Coach Montgomery remembera a time a few years back when it was in the 90’s in Axton.

Amelia Forsyth was the lone representative for the Lady Cavaliers as she has been for the past two seasons. While Cross Country runners compete on their own during the race, they have the preparation time with five of their teammate.

Forsyth has been competing for the past three seasons is aware that she has been flying solo and has made the mental adjustment.

” It’s disheartening at times but not as bad as it could be,” noted the Junior Forsyth. ” It’s really fun to support the Middle School runners because there are so many of them competing.”

Forsyth placed inside the Top 50 and was happy to finish the race after struggling to do so her previous trip over.

Photo 📷 Credit : Kristy Jones

Senior Trenton Newman has been running track under the guidance of Montgomery in the past few Springs but the Senior is new to the sport of Cross Country. His Coach was highly impressed by how easily that Newman took to things, especially in regards to leadership.

” Trenton continued to improve his time from race to race, which is hard to do for an entire season,” said Montgomery. ” But where he really shined was the way he led the younger runners.”

Will Dalton is a Freshman and comes from a family with an aquatic family but his Mother, Shannon Dalton explains, he loves a new challenge.

” Will is always willing to try something new,” noted teacher and Mom, Shannon Dalton. ” If he sees an opportunity, he will pursue it with everything he has.”

Montgomery added that because of his busy schedule, Will has to practice on his own quite a bit.

” Will is doubling up with playing in the School band so he has to get his workout in around that,” added Montgomery. ” You have to have a great deal of discipline to self-practice.”

As the final page of the season is now in the books, Montgomery can focus on the future of the program. Forsyth will slide into the Senior leadership role and his Middle School teams have strength in numbers.

How about an Evening edition of the Morning 🌄 Brew ? Happy Birthday Kristy Jones, Howard Mayo – Allen Worrell and the World 🌎 of Vickey Ritchie never fails to Amaze me…..

Earlier today when we shared the Morning 🌄 Brew, it was missing the entry from Girls Basketball Coach Howard Mayo.

  Due to contract demands for the space we failed to sign on Allen Worrell to stand next to Coach Mayo. Worrell was asking for more money 💰 than we had left in our N.I.L fund and it appears that he will be transferring to Louisiana State University.

The old Photo 📷

  When the news broke that our Cross Country runners were being given the day off, the story had it being weather related. We found out later that it was so Trenton Newman could properly Celebrate his Mother’s Birthday 🎂…

Last night 🌙 I was along for the support as Special Olympics Basketball 🏀 Coach Vickey Ritchie was heading to Galax for another event that is near and dear to her heart ❤. My blind faith in “Little Ritchie ” is unconditional and to this point has never let me to a place where I don’t feel better for having been there.

The Classic, Little Feet, Boo Ridge, Hoops at VT and VMI are a few on the list and last night we added the 9th Edition of SuperFit at Power Up Oct.

First up, Stephanie Burnette was on hand with one of her Pups 🐶. Neat, Neat Lady that has a disposition about her that is impressive as the day is long. And that’s before the part where she is a fan of Duke University gets added in.

Next Lady is the owner of Power Up Oct, Josee Williams. Another partner in the process and her and Coach enjoyed telling the stories about how their friendship developed over the years.

Theresa Talley was there and naturally that led to having some fun with ” Money ” Talley which naturally included a poke or two and the expense of Mr.T.

I wasn’t sure what exactly my role in assisting Vickey but after setting up my speaker and listening to Kyla Ford, it became clear that my job was to soak in her energy. Kyla has an ability to make everyone else near her feel better.

Normally when I am helping Vickey, I shy away from pictures 📷 because of the depth of the stories and people involved is sometimes highly sensitive but know that these are all good to share.

Two of these three tidbits are very tongue and cheek and one is the real deal. If you’re not sure which is which then you probably stumbled into the wrong place 🤔…

It’s time for a Top Ten list and today its about why we Love 💘 Anthony Barnes and his Cavaliers!

One of my favorite things to use is a take on David Letterman and his Classic Top Ten List. Tomorrow afternoon I will cross paths with our Head Coach in between Cross Country and Middle School Girls Basketball. Coach is having an informal scrimmage with our neighbors from Fort Chiswell at 4pm. The visit will be short but a visit just the same.

Without further ado.. the Top Ten reasons I Love Anthony Barnes and his program…

#10 – Relationships are built from within and they have lasting impact. A great example to start with is Greg Talley while Jabin was playing and Doug Reitzel when Davis was playing. Getting Jabin back involved this season is pretty cool.

#9 – Everything that Coach does is tied directly to the roots of his program and its history. A great leader taps into the program he or she is responsible for.

#8 – Jason Stockner… Is it possible to find someone who is more Carroll County than Coach Stockner ? Personal note : Jason would appear higher on the list once he shares more stories…

#7 – Blue Collar – Barnes is Old School / Throwback and leads his team in the same manner. It’s relatable to everyone involved !

#6 – The upcoming season ! Nobody gets to decide the perfect place or time to exit but if Barnes wanted to he could have rode off into the Sunset 🌇 after making it to the State Tournament last year. No Six Seniors, No Kris Richardson – it would have been easy to check out.

Now the Top #5…

#5 – Coach Brown, Coach Phillips – From Day #1, Barnes was hyped about adding Darian Brown to his staff and young Mr Phillips comes from the Paul Nester Family 👪 🌳…

#4 –  Mama Smoot and her fellas! Russell, Brayden and Bryce….

#3 – Anthony Barnes and his Unfinished Business….

Before he was a Rock 🎸 Star 🌟 and Quarterback, little Isaiah Easter was just a little brother to Kaylee Easter.

#2 – Anthony Barnes and I share a common denominator. We both want his players to have the best opportunity to succeed well beyond their playing days on The Hill. Our work together the past few years has been priceless. Watching the growth of the players in his program and getting the opportunity to play a small part in it has been gratifying.

Drum Roll Please….

#1 – Kris Richardson – There’s simply nobody in Carroll County that I match up with in a better manner than my neighbor and friend, Kris Richardson. Separately Kris and I are enough to deal with but on the rare occasion when we are together it can be a bit much. Barnes and his level of tolerance for the two of us is the definition of putting the well being of the program ahead of his own ego…in a word…PRICELESS

  Ladies and Gentlemen, 10 reasons why we Love Anthony Barnes ❤. Coming soon to a Gym near you !!!

”

From : Coach Barnes

” Thanks Jerry ! I appreciate the story, at the end of the day I want my players, former players and Coaches too take away something that stays with them in their next phase of life .”

Breaking News from Cedar Bluff, Virginia and it felt like it was scripted in Hollywood !! Brayden Smoot is officially a member of the 2025-2026 Flying Eagles of Southwest Virginia Community College 💙

Brayden and Bryce Smoot – Photo 📷 Credit : Mama Smoot

Cedar Bluff, Virginia – Carroll County High School graduate 🎓 and All-Time Boys scoring leader, Bryce Smoot knew he was going to play College Basketball next week. The freshman guard learned this week that his twin brother, Brayden was going to be joining him on the active roster.

Brayden Smoot joined Bryce in heading to Southwest Virginia Community College but was listed as a red-shirt for the season. By comparison to College Football, where a player can be listed as a preferred walk-on, Brayden Smoot continued to practice in the only manner he knows how – warp speed.

Earlier this week, Head Coach Thad Lambert  called his team over after practice as he had some news to share.

Thatcher informed Brayden Smoot that he was no longer a red-shirt but a member of the team.

” After there practice today the coach called them all in a huddle! First game is next week! He huddled the team up and said he had something to tell them,” said Russell Smoot. “He went on to talk about how hard Brayden has worked from day one and how talented he is! He said that he is pulling his redshirt! He is no longer redshirted!! Officially on the team? The team went crazy for him!Whoppin and hollering. Cannot tell you the emotions! Brayden has always had to work so hard for everything! His brother becomes All Time, you can see it! This was all about him(finally) Just him! All the work he has put in! Nothing ever givin-all earned! We are so happy for him! He had absolutely no idea the coach was even considering this! There coach will never really know what he has done for Brayden! 12 years of always scrapping to be seen by someone! Not Bryce brother anymore! This was all him!!”

  Russell and Mama Smoot have always been proud of both their boys. The proud parents knew that Brayden would get there eventually but now they have two reasons to look forward to the teams season opener next week. But like all things Smoot, Bryce was just as excited about it as Brayden.

” Bryce is just as overwhelmed as Brayden (believe me), ” added Russell Smoot. ” It all starts next week.”

Gotta Love 💘 that the Spring Media Guide included another former Cavalier !