STAFF REPORTS
TALKWINCHESTER.COM
Josh Kirby of NEWS TALK 1400 recently sat down with Coach Amanda Butts of John Handley High School Softball to discuss the 2023 season.
2023 Sherando Softball Preview
March 20, 2023 By
STAFF REPORTS
TALKWINCHESTER.COM
Josh Kirby of NEWS TALK 1400 recently sat down with Sherando High School Head Softball Coach Mark Conner and Third Baseman for the Lady Warriors, Jaeda Long to discuss the upcoming softball season.
Sherando High School Head Softball Coach Mark Conner
Third Baseman for the Lady Warriors, Jaeda Long
Handley names Jake Smith as new Football Coach
February 14, 2023 By
JOSH KIRBY
JOSHKIRBY@TALKWINCHESTER.COM
WINCHESTER, VA – The John Handley Judges announced their new football coach, former Sherando Warriors head coach, Jake Smith. Smith was on staff with Sherando as the defensive coordinator as well as the head coach after longtime coach, Bill Hall stepped down, Smith has been with Sherando a total of six years and lead the Warriors to two region playoff bids.
Reed Prosser the Director of Student Activities at Handley said in a press release “We are pleased to name Jake Smith as Head Coach of the Handley Football Program. Coach Smith has proven to be a dynamic coach and is an outstanding leader of young men. His teams are always well prepared and organized and Coach Smith cares about his players. We are excited about the direction of our program and his leadership and technical knowledge will continue to allow our program to become elite. He will do an excellent job growing and developing students at Handley and beyond”
Smith has had previous coaching experience as the offensive coordinator at Brooke Point High School and he was an assistant at Redbank Valley and Derry area High Schools. This past season the Warriors went 7-5 and they fell to Loudoun County in the second round of the playoffs.
Sherando Coordinator of Student Activities, Jason Barbe said “Mr. Smith resigned to take the Handley football job. I’m greatly appreciative of his service to Sherando the last 6 years. We will be posting the job soon and are excited to get to work on finding the right person to lead our program and continue our winning tradition.”
Smith will be taking over for former head coach Dan Jones who recently resigned, Jones lead Handley to no losing seasons and four straight Region 4C playoff berths in his last four seasons.
Colonels keep Eagles nested Monday evening
December 19, 2022 By
Josh Kirby
JOSH@TALKWINCHESTER.COM
The James Wood Colonels defeated Liberty on Monday Night 51-45. Both Liberty and James Wood came out very physical.
Colonels Jared Neal had an explosive start to the first quarter as he nailed all three of his attempted three-point shots. Liberty kept up with the Colonels but they were not able to establish a lead over James Wood until the five-minute mark in the third quarter. The Eagles had a strong performance from Joe Minor who went 5 of 6 from inside the arc and had a total of 13 points as the lead scorer for Liberty. Tyreke Smith recorded 7 points and Jayden Curtis had 6 points.
The third quarter proved to be a strong quarter for Liberty as the Eagles were able to create pressure on The Colonels and force turnovers that converted into points as the Eagles were able to jump out to an eight point lead at the end of the third quarter, in the fourth quarter James Wood was able to bounce back with a few steals of their own to shift the momentum and eventually retake the lead with 37.4 left in the game and outscoring Liberty 21-7 to win the game.
For the Colonels, Jared Neal was the lead scorer with 17 points (FG: 4-9, 3PT: 3-5) Ashton Kees had 12 (FG: 4-14, FT: 4-6) Andrew Link had 10 points with a perfect 5-5 from field goal range, Chris Morrison had 6 (FG: 3-7) Ben Tollok had 4 (FT: 1-1 3PT: 1-1) The Colonels are now 4-1 with a 3-0 Northwestern District Record.
The Colonels shot 32.7% from inside three point range, 77.8% from the free throw line and 33.3% from three point range.
The Eagles shot 45.2% from inside three point range, 22.2% from the free throw line and 20% from three point range.
CORBIN, SPAID & KOELLER NAMED TO 2022 VHSL CLASS 4 FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM
December 6, 2022 By
2022 CLASS 4 GIRLS ALL-STATE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE
Player BRENNA CORBIN JAMES WOOD FR
Player KENNEDY SPAID JAMES WOOD FR
Player MADISON KOELLER MILLBROOK SR
Player ALEXIS KEETER, GRAFTON JR
Player BRIANA ELLIS KING GEORGE SR
Player ALONDRA MIRANDA-PAGAN GRAFTON SR
Player MORGAN CRAWFORD ATLEE SR
Player DEVAN FUNKE EC GLASS SR
Libero HALEY GILL DOMINION SR
Def. Specialist ALEXIS CURRY HANOVER JR
Player of the Year ALEXIS KEETER GRAFTON JR
Coach of the Year ADRIENNE PATRICK JAMES WOOD
SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE
Player SOFIA BEARD WESTERN ALBEMARLE SR
Player KENNEDY SEEKFORD DOMINION SR
Player KAITLYN DEMITZ DOMINION SO
Player MAYA VAN WYNGAARDT DOMINION SR
Player REBECCA HEIM KING GEORGE SR
Player NELLIE FITZGERALD EC GLASS SR
Player CAMPBELL WOODS HANOVER JR
Player NATALIE ROCCO WESTERN ALBEMARLE JR
Libero AMELIA TOMLINSON WESTERN ALBEMARLE JR
Def. Specialist MEREDITH PLUNKETT EC GLASS S
James Wood’s Adrienne Patrick named VHSL Class 4 Coach of the Year
December 6, 2022 By
VHSL Announces 2022 Class 4 Girls All-State Volleyball Team
Grafton’s Alexis Keeter named Class 4 Player of the Year; James Wood’s Adrienne Patrick named Class 4 Coach of the Year
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — The Virginia High School League announces the 2022 Class 4 All-State volleyball team. In addition, Grafton junior outside hitter Alexis Keeter is the Class 4 Player of the Year, and James Wood head coach Adrienne Patrick is the Class 4 Coach of the Year.
The 5’11” Keeter finished her junior season with 523 kills, .374 hitting %, 56 Aces, 36 Blocks, and 319 Digs leading Grafton to the Class 4 state championship. Committed to playing beach volleyball at Florida Gulf Coast University, she will enter her senior season with 1,049 kills, 106 blocks, 781 digs, and 151 aces. The Clippers have not lost a district or region game since joining the varsity.
Patrick guided James Wood to a 25-2 record and the Class 4 Region C title with a 3-2 (14-25, 25-18, 25-18, 17-25, 15-9) win over Dominion in the finals. She led the Colonels to their first state finals appearance since 2014. Patrick’s squad fell to Grafton 3-0 (19-25, 19-25, 16-25) in the championship game.
Eight players + a Libero, + a defensive specialist are selected as first-team all-state and second-team all-state. Only those players selected to the first-team all-region teams are eligible for selection to the all-state team.
Each All-State selection committee comprises eight coaches (2 from each region).
Second half push propels Pioneers to victory over Loudoun Valley
December 5, 2022 By
Josh Kirby
JOSH@TALKWINCHESTER.COM
WINCHESTER – The Millbrook Pioneers needed to make an adjustment as they were trailing the former state semifinalist Loudoun Valley Vikings. The Pioneers came out and did just that as they defeated the Vikings 69-67 off a Javell Holmes last second shot with just under three seconds left which was not enough time for Loudoun Valley to answer back.
“We kind of just drew up a play” Head Coach Steven Grubbs said “Sometimes things work out the way you draw it up and sometimes things work out in its own little way” in reference to the final play where Detric Brown was able to find Holmes in open space to drive to the basket and score. “Javell was just in a great spot and I just tossed it to him and he made a great play” Brown said.
The first half of play, The Vikings were able to capitalize on forced turnovers and were able to establish pressure. The Pioneers were able to make some key plays in the first half regardless as senior, Ryan Liero knocked down four three-pointers in a row in the first quarter.
“Ryan’s electric when he gets hot, he gets hot, he’s doing everything we ask of him” Grubbs said.
Javell Holmes was also able to breakaway for a slam dunk “He’s a heck of an athlete, he gets up and he gets up.” Grubbs said. “It felt really good I just knew that we were down and it was time for me to hype my team up and the crowd around us” Holmes added about his slam dunk.
The Vikings had the halftime lead 44-37. The Pioneers knew that they needed to make an adjustment and they did just that as the Pioneers defense came out even more physical and held the Vikings to 23 points.
“Playing a little bit quicker instead of thinking where you’re supposed to go and just reacting to it” Coach Grubbs attributed to the teams second half defensive performance.
The Pioneers had five players in double figures, their leading scorer was Ryan Liero with 20 points and shooting five for eight from three-point range. Detric Brown who also played Quarterback for Millbrook had 14 points and went six for seven from the free throw line. “He’s an under-rated post player and he’s a matchup nightmare”, Grubbs added about Brown’s performance in the paint. Tyler Seminaro had 12 points and both Holmes and Richard Pell had 10 points.
Loudoun Valley’s lead scorer was Landen Conrad with 22 points, Joseph Danielson and Nathan Boner both had 11 points and Brett Zimmet had 10.
The Pioneers shot 47.5% from the field, 81.3% from the free throw line and 54.5% from three point range. The Vikings shot 45.2% from the field, 53.3% from the free throw line and 46.7% from three point range.
The next matchup for the Pioneers will be at Spring Mills High School in West Virginia.
Lady Colonels win Season opener against Jefferson
December 2, 2022 By
BY: JOSH KIRBY
TALKWINCHESTER.COM
WINCHESTER – The James Wood Lady Colonels fought off a last chance effort by Jefferson to claim their first victory to open the season 55-37.
The Colonels started the game with a fast pace as senior guard, Brynna Nesselrodt made three out of five attempted field goal shots along with an additional two free throws on four tries as Jefferson committed six fouls in the first quarter. The Colonels had ten total points in the first quarter and they only held Jefferson to four after the Colonels went with a “trap” defense towards the end of the quarter.
“We are trying to be a little aggressive this year” Head Coach of The Lady Colonels, Sanford Silver said about the “trap” defense the Colonels ran because of the youth of the Lady Colonels “to try and force turnovers to give us transitional play offense” Silver added.
James Wood continued the trend moving into the second quarter as sophomore guard Jolie Jenkins made three of five from inside the arc and she also went two for two from the free throw line. Nesselrodt added to the scoring with a huge three point shot. “She is a tough cookie to crumble” Silver said when asked about Nesselrodt’s performance in this matchup.
“For a season opener I think we did really well” Nesselrodt said in the Colonels 55-37 victory “we’re just going to grow from here” she also mentioned.
Into the third and fourth quarter Jefferson implemented a press defense of their own and they established a level of pressure on James Wood and forced a few Colonels turnovers. “We just have remain calm” Silver said, “we just gotta get better, we gotta stay on the drawing board” as Jefferson came away with eight points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth quarter, James Wood had 10 fouls in the third quarter mainly because of Jeffersons tight press defense which allowed the Cougars to come away with few free throws.
“With the hard work and tenacity that they (The Lady Colonels) bring to the table we will get it right” coach Silver said.
The Lady Colonels lead scorer was Brynna Nesselrodt with 28 points, Jolie Jenkins also had double digit scoring with 16 points, collectively the Colonels shot 50% from the free throw line and 27.1% from field goal range. “We moved the ball really well” sophomore Jolie Jenkins said
“For being so young, as a whole we did really well because having such a young team can be more difficult but with strong leaders it helps” Nesselrodt said. Jenkins said when asked about Nesselrodt, “She is a great leader”.
The Cougars lead scorer was Mackenzie Brezovec with 15 points, Taliyah Lindsey and Ciara Holmes both had six points, Jazmyn Taylor and Olivia Hedrick both had five points.
The Lady Colonels next matchup will be next week hosting Central.
James Wood Volleyball wins first Class 4 State Title in Program History
November 24, 2022 By
James Wood team photo after defeating Grafton for the VHSL Class 4 girls volleyball state title
on November 19, 2022 at VCU Siegel Center.
BY: JOSH KIRBY
TALKWINCHESTER.COM
The James Wood Colonels Volleyball team defeated Grafton out of Yorktown, Virginia to capture the first title in program history this past Saturday at The Siegel Center in Richmond Virginia.
In doing so, they join the 1970 Colonels football team along with the 2002 boys cross country team as state title winners in James Wood High School history.
Grafton has appeared in the past five class four state title matches, all falling as the runner up.
When asked about the preparation going into this match, “We tried to keep as much of our normal routine the same” said Adrienne Patrick in her third season as head coach for the Colonels as they swept Grafton 25-19, 25-19, 25-16.
Freshman Kennedy Spaid had a game high 15 kills and Brenna Corbin had 12 kills for the Colonels, Spaid also contributed with three aces in a row for a game total of 11 and also led in digs for James Wood; “Their ability to play volleyball at a high level is tremendous” Patrick added about Spaid and Corbin.
Other key contributors for the Colonels included Ashlynn Spence with six kills in the middle and Ella Kelchner had four blocks, The Colonels play their best as a “full family unit, high energy” Patrick added when talking about Spence and her six kills in the match along with various points throughout the match.
The Colonels had a perfect regular season of 20 wins and no losses after last season finishing 17-7 and losing to Loudoun County a ten time state champion volleyball program won the past five state championship matches.
This season started with the Colonels hosting Loudoun County and beating them in three sets “it set the bar high for us” when coach Patrick was discussing the regular season for James Wood after the victory against Loudoun County, the Colonels also defeated Williamsport who was the Maryland state champion last season and North Hagerstown who claimed the Maryland state championship this season along with defeating crosstown rival Millbrook in the regular season “those big wins against really tough teams were able to prepare us for Saturday” Patrick said.
VHSL Class 4 Tournament Bracket.
Throughout the regular season, the team had a motto “Make History” a board was made with that phrase on it that the team took with them to every game, “the group of girls I was able to have on the team this year, they had what it took to make history, and they did” Patrick mentioned when asked about the team motto.
The Colonels Volleyball team had numerous All-District and All-Region awards, listed below:
Head Coach Adrienne Patrick was awarded both Northwestern District and Region 4C Coach of the Year.
The Northwestern All-District first team included: Carsyn Vincent, Kennedy Spaid, Brenna Corbin and Paige Ahakuelo
Northwestern All-District second team: Lexi Taylor and Hannah McCullough
All-Region 4C First Team: Brenna Corbin and Kennedy Spaid
All-Region 4C Second Team: Carsyn Vincent and Paige Ahakuelo.
The entire interview with James Wood Girls Volleyball Head Coach Adrienne Patrick and Josh Kirby of News Talk 1400 is available here:
Live. Love. Bloom. announced as theme for 96th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
November 10, 2022 By
STAFF REPORTS
TALKWINCHESTER.COM
Winchester, VA – The unveiling of the 96th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® annual theme and its unique artwork represents the official kickoff of the Festival every November. The theme announcement is the foundation for building momentum through the unveiling of newsworthy events and special guest announcements throughout the winter and early-spring months that lead up to the Festival which takes place next year on April 28 to May 7, 2023.
Sharen Gromling, Festival President states, “The theme’s inspirational message consists of three simple, short verbs that reflects the love our community has for this nearly 100-year tradition of celebrating the Bloom. It is an easy to remember, simplistic theme that is filled with energy and action – Live. Love. Bloom. In short, the theme inspires us to Live Fully, Love Deeply, and Bloom Forever.”
The 96th theme is once again designed by the Festival’s talented graphic designer, Erik Zimmerman, of White Spider, Inc. In describing the theme design and inspiration, Zimmerman states, “I wanted the artwork for the 96th theme to be as simple and as powerful as the title “Live. Love. Bloom”. A clean and bold design, incorporating traditional colors along with a splash of something different to provide complimentary impact and Festival energy. Typically, the logo is a simpler version of the program cover, however this year the logo came first, and they mimic each other almost identically with a strong design. The program cover only shows a slight modification to the logo art, along with a halftone blossoms background for a little depth and flare.”
Event ticket sales will be announced at a later date. Tickets can be purchased in person at Festival Headquarters located at 135 North Cameron Street, by phone at (540) 662-3863 or through our online ticketing system. Make plans now to join us for the 96th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® on April 28 through May 7, 2023.
