Thursday, September 25, 2008
Norbo commits to UVa
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If there was a question about which sport Kate Norbo would play in college, it has been answered.
Norbo, who stars in soccer, cross country and track and field at Patrick Henry, has made an oral commitment to play soccer at Virginia.
Norbo is a two-time Western Valley District player of the year who scored 30 goals and added 15 assists as a junior last spring for PH. She also is a two-time WVD champion and three-time Group AAA qualifier in cross country.
Norbo said she picked UVa -- which is ranked No. 13 in the latest national coaches poll -- over a similar offer from Virginia Tech. The PH forward said UVa coach Steve Swanson made the offer during her official visit to Charlottesville in July.
Swanson's UVa teams have played in eight consecutive NCAA tournaments.
Norbo said Swanson saw her play in an Olympic Development Program tournament in June in Delaware, where she scored a first-half goal against a team from Pennsylvania.
"Right before the game I saw him sitting on the sidelines, so I told myself I was going to make sure I did my absolute best," Norbo said.
Shortly thereafter, Swanson met with Norbo at a camp at UVa.
"He said he thought I would be a good fit for the program and that I should take that as a compliment," Norbo said.
Norbo said she stopped playing ODP soccer two years ago with intentions of perhaps pursuing a collegiate running career, but she eventually scrapped those plans.
"I played high school soccer, but I kind of got away from travel soccer for a year," Norbo said. "I guess I was a little burned out. I think it was one of the best decisions I could have made. It got me back in the mood for soccer."
Norbo, who sports a 4.4 GPA, said she attended UVa's Aug. 29 home game against Liberty -- a 5-0 win by the Cavaliers -- and envisioned herself as a future Virginia player.
"It was exciting to think that one day it would be me in those shoes," she said.
Botetourt to induct four Hall members
Lord Botetourt will induct four new members to its Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, including Purple Heart recipient Will Wyche.
A 1998 Botetourt graduate, Wyche won the Group AA outdoor track and field championship in the 3,200 meters in 1997. He earned 11 varsity letters in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track at Army and won two Patriot League individual titles while at West Point.
Wyche was stationed in Germany and Iraq. While in Iraq, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for "acts of bravery and heroism."
Wyche is working for the U.S. State Department and is pursuing a master's degree in U.S. national security from Georgetown University.
Also inducted will be:
David Bousman, a Northside graduate who worked for many years alongside his wife, Chippy, as a Botetourt athletic booster. Bousman was instrumental in improving the school's athletic facilities and setting up middle school programs.
Jim Walker, a longtime bus driver in Botetourt County and a self-employed stone mason. Walker built the lighted sign in front of the high school. He also constructed the memorial patio on the school's campus as well as a monument at the top of the football stadium's steps.
Dennis Wiley, a 1964 Botetourt graduate and three-sport star who helped Cavalier football teams to a 23-game winning streak. Wiley also led Botetourt to a state track and field championship in 1961 and set a single-game school scoring record in basketball with 37 points.
Wiley was a member of Ferrum's NJCAA national football team in 1965 and became a second-team All-Southern Conference receiver at Richmond.
Oak Hill, Hargrave to play at Pulaski County
Two teams annually loaded with Division I basketball recruits -- Oak Hill Academy and the Hargrave Military postgraduate squad -- will participate in a scrimmage 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 at Pulaski County High School.
Oak Hill features three highly recruited seniors, led by 6-foot-9, 320-pound center Keith "Tiny" Gallon, who is rated the No. 21 prospect in the nation by espn.com.
Gallon is joined by two major returnees -- 6-2 guard Pe'Shon Howard and 6-7 forward Glenn Bryant.
The Warriors' top newcomers are two guards from New York -- 6-foot senior MoMo Jones and 6-4 junior Doron Lamb, whom espn.com rates as the nation's No. 12 prospect in the 2010 class.
Oak Hill will also feature 6-10 senior Chris Brown and 6-11 junior Baye Moussa Keita, a native of Senegal.
Hargrave is led by 6-9 forward DeShawn Painter, who has committed to Florida.
