Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Blacksburg cross country star opts for Georgetown
The Bruins' Joanna Stevens, who finished second at state chooses the Hoyas over Virginia Tech and UVa.
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Joanna Stevens is taking her big engine to the Big East.
The Blacksburg High School running star said she has verbally committed to run at Georgetown next year.
"Washington, D.C. is awesome and the track team is amazing," said Stevens, who along with twin sister Kathleen has dominated on the track and in cross country for the past year.
Kathleen Stevens, who edged her sister for the Group AA cross country championship last month, has not yet decided where she will run next year.
Earlier this fall Joanna Stevens said she had narrowed her choices down to Georgetown and Virginia.
Late in the process she decided to take an official visit to Virginia Tech, which, like Georgetown, also was offering a full scholarship.
"I went and I really, really loved it," she said of Tech, which already has a commitment from another Timesland distance star, Glenvar senior Megan Marsico.
Stevens, who recently finished ninth in the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals race in Portland, Ore., said she eliminated UVa from the equation and then anguished over her decision between the Hoyas and the Hokies.
"I was freaking out for a while," admitted Stevens, the Group AA champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 last spring. "I was talking to anyone who would listen.
"It was killing me for a couple of weeks."
Stevens said Georgetown's running program's reputation was appealing, as was the promise of competing with traditional running powers in the Big East, including Villanova.
She said she also felt the pull of the city, and that ultimately was a powerful draw.
"I've never lived in a city anywhere close to as big as D.C.," said Stevens, whose family moved to Blacksburg from Covington when she was in middle school.
Blacksburg coach James DeMarco said he believes Stevens can immediately make an impact for the Hoyas. He said he believes her best events could be longer track races.
"She won't want to hear me say this but I think the longer the race is the better she'll be," DeMarco said. "She'll be a good miler, but I think she can be a great 5,000-meter runner."
Now it remains to be seen if the twins will remain teammates.
Kathleen Stevens, who was the runner-up at the Nike Cross Nationals, also has been recruited by Georgetown, but she is also considering UVa.
6 Raiders first-team all-state
Six North Cross players have been named to the first team on the Virginia Independent Schools All-Division III football team.
Running back Tyler Caveness, offensive lineman Daniel Frederick, defensive lineman Jamual Allen, linebacker Devin Cain, defensive back Brandon Trent and kick returner Bryan Miller were the selections for North Cross, which lost in the Division III semifinals.
Second-team picks were offensive lineman Chris Moore, running back Antoine Martin and defensive lineman Dillon Meacham -- all of North Cross -- along with Roanoke Catholic's trio of offensive lineman Paul Blanton, running back Nick Ollie and defensive back Christian Akers.
Mike Henderson of Division III champion Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot was selected coach the of the year. The VIS does not select a player of the year.
-- Robert Anderson
