Thursday, October 22, 2009
High school notebook: Fleming football aide now filling in as AD
The Roanoke Times
File 2008 William Byrd football coach and boys soccer coach Jeff Highfill has been presented with a regional award of merit by the VHSL.
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Serving as the athletic director at William Fleming High School apparently is a sprint, not a marathon.
For the third time in less than three years, Fleming's AD position has changed hands in the middle of the school year.
Roland Lovelace, who also serves as a Fleming assistant principal, left the athletic director's chair earlier this month and has been replaced on an interim basis by Zach Hayden, a Colonels assistant football coach.
Lovelace, a former boys and girls basketball coach at Fleming, took on the AD duties last winter in place of John Elliott, who had replaced Robert Wray halfway through the 2006-07 academic year.
Wray had replaced Fleming AD John Harris after the 2004-05 school year. Harris succeeded Sherley Stuart in the position in 1995.
Fleming's full-time AD job is being advertised on the Roanoke City Schools Web site.
Hayden, a former football player at Patrick Henry, is now in charge of a Group AAA athletic program that suits up 10 boys varsity teams and eight girls programs as well as numerous junior varsity teams.
Hayden said most of his work has involved scheduling buses for road trips.
"Mostly transportation issues to and from games, making sure our athletes are taken care of," he said. "I'm just helping the school out, trying to be a team player."
Hayden said Lovelace already had completed Fleming's winter and spring schedules for the remainder of the 2009-10 season.
The Colonels still have not secured a 10th varsity football opponent for the 2010 season. Fleming, which plays city rival Patrick Henry at PH on Saturday, only has nine football games this fall.
"We're working on that," Hayden said. "We're in the process right now of trying to find some people."
Narrows to induct four in inaugural Hall class
Narrows High School will honor four individuals Friday as the inaugural class inducted into its hall of fame.
The inductees are:
n The late Lucy Muncy Kirk, who won 52 games and two championships as the girls basketball coach from 1948-54. Kirk also was a teacher and guidance counselor at Narrows from 1948-74.
n Charles Allen McClaugerty, a former football player and assistant football coach who served as the school's principal from 1972-82 before retiring from the school system in 1984.
n Bill Patteson, who won 318 games and a district championship as Narrows' boys basketball coach from 1957-84. He also won 51 games and three district titles as the school's football coach from 1977-84. Patterson also served as Narrows' athletic director until his retirement in 1991.
n The late Harry Ragsdale, who won two state football championships and seven district titles and won 172 games during stints from 1931-41 and 1946-62. Ragsdale also won 166 boys basketball games and six district titles, and coached a state runner-up baseball team in 1932. Narrows' football stadium is named in Ragsdale's honor.
Narrows will honor the inductees and their families during a dinner at the school at 5:15 p.m. Friday. The inductees will be recognized at halftime of Narrows' football game against Fort Chiswell. Each inductee will receive a plaque and each will have his name placed on a large plaque inside the school.
Ex-Blacksburg star named All-American
Alistair Moore, who led Blacksburg to its 10th VHSL Group AA boys soccer championship in June, has been named a second-team All-American by ESPN Rise.
Moore, now a freshman on a partial soccer scholarship at Virginia Tech, was presented a plaque Friday during Blacksburg's home football game against Salem.
Moore was named the VHSCA Group AA player of the year and was a first-team All-Timesland choice as a senior.
Blue Demons' coach honored by Redskins
Christiansburg football coach Tim Cromer might soon have a collector's item, a framed certificate signed by Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn.
Cromer has been named a regional coach of the week by the Redskins, who recognize high school coaches for their record on the field, for developing student-athletes and for their work in the community.
Christiansburg's football program will receive a $1,000 donation from the NFL Youth Football Fund and a certificate signed by Zorn and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Byrd coach Highfill gets VHSL award
William Byrd football coach and boys soccer coach Jeff Highfill has been presented with a regional award of merit by the VHSL.
Former Hidden Valley athletic director Dennis Layman, ex-Carroll County baseball coach Bill Worrell and former Patrick Henry-Glade Spring track coach and cross country coach Becky Selfe also earned regional awards.
