T C Williams High School | Archive | August, 2008

By Jimmy Thomas
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com

With players like Megan Shifflett and Lisa Scott of Langley, Kelly Brugger of Centreville and Vicki Chung of Chantilly graduated, the door is open for some fresh faces to appear this season in the chase for the Northern Region volleyball crown.

Stuart Coach Sharon Ponton, for example, graduated only two players and is looking to put the Raiders on the map for the first time in school history.

“Six years ago when [Stuart] started its volleyball program the current seniors were in seventh grade,” Ponton said. “In six short years all of these girls have worked hard to put together one of the most competitive programs in the district and maybe even the region.”

Another team looking to build off some late-season heroics a year ago — and make a run at this year’s Concorde District championship — is Fairfax.

“We really push for a high level of competitiveness, skill and conditioning,” said Rebels’ Coach Christine Zanellato, whose team upset three-time Concorde District champion Centreville to spoil its Senior Night celebration last season. “These girls have really stepped up their practice level. They play very hard and have an uncanny ability to focus. We are not a big team so we stress, its not how big you are its how big you play on the court.”

Fairfax, which is fresh off a 4-0 performance in their first-ever Richmond Showcase tournament, is led by senior outside hitter Theresa Harvey, a two-sport star who will be swimming and playing volleyball for Iona College next fall. Harvey was named to the showcase’s all-tournament team.

“She is an unbelievable athlete,” Zanellato said. “And she brings a level of intensity and unmatched competitiveness.”

With Centreville, Chantilly and Westfield already established contenders, the race for this year’s Concorde District championship should be interesting to say the least.

“As long as we play hard and play at the level they are capable of I am happy,” Zanellato said. “I think we can play with anyone.”

Key Losses
Megan Shifflett (LG) — 1st team all-met, 2-time Northern Region Player of the Year; Lisa Scott (LG) — 2nd team all-met; Kelly Brugger (CV) — honorable mention all-met; Kelsey Maloney (WF) — honorable mention all-met; Vicki Chung (CH) — honorable mention all-met.

Players to Watch
Logan Sebastian (LG) — honorable mention all-met, committed to University of Delaware; Lily Vera (SB) — honorable mention all-met; Sammy Spees (WF) — honorable mention all-met; Elyse Bush (YK); Elysse Richardson (LG); Sarah Norton (SB); Leigh Blair (WP); Jessie Kolden (HF); Lauren Sipple (WS); Corey Haynes (ST); Ariell Thompson (ED); Theresa Harvey (FX); Susie Murach (RB).

Teams to Watch
Concorde: Chantilly — 2007 Northern Region runner-up and Concorde District tournament champion; Centreville — Three-time Concorde District regular-season champion and region semifinalist;  Fairfax.

Liberty: Stone Bridge — Returns most of its starters, including standout setter Lily Vera; Langley — Defending Northern Region champion and Virginia AAA state runner-up; Madison.

National: Yorktown — Returns most of its starters ,including Elyse Bush; Stuart — Coming off its first regional berth in school history; Edison — Defending National District champion.

Patriot: West Springfield, South County, Hayfield.

Games to Watch
Madison @ Chantilly, Sept. 3; West Springfield @ Yorktown, Sept. 4; Centreville @ Stone Bridge, Sept. 9; Westfield @  Langley, Sept. 22; Stuart @ Yorktown, Sept. 22; South County @ West Springfield, Oct. 13; Chantilly @ Fairfax, Oct. 14; Westfield @ Chantilly, Oct. 16; Stone Bridge @ Langley, Oct. 23.

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By Andy States
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com

His team may have squandered an early lead and watched as T.C. Williams came roaring back to force overtime, but Mount Vernon senior Kyle Ricks just knew the Majors were going to come out on top — especially after holding the Titans to a field goal on the first overtime possession.

“We had to get it done,” he said. “At first we were tired, but we had to work through it. When we stopped them and they got the three points we knew we could score.”

And score the Majors did, as senior quarterback Brian Green rushed into the end zone from 10 yards out on Mount Vernon’s first overtiime play to lift the visitors to a 23-20 win in the season-opener for both team on Friday night. Green and Ricks combined to grind out close to 170 yards and three touchdowns to spoil the opening of T.C. Williams’ new stadium.

“We told the offensive line, ‘If you give us a push we’re going to score,’ ” said Ricks, who rushed for 94 yards and a score. “They got us a push.”

Mount Vernon (1-0) led 10-0 at the half, but also fumbled away a couple of golden scoring opportunities in the red zone. The first fumble ended an 18-play, 71-yard drive to open the game. The Majors gave the ball up again on their next drive after driving to the Titans’ 10-yard line.

“That was real frustrating,” said Green, who made up for the turnovers with a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner. “We actually had a miscommunication on the first fumble. Everybody was funning one play and I was running another. It as actually my fault. I wanted to make it up to the team.”

After hanging close in the first half, T.C. Williams took advantage of some prime field position midway through the third quarter to punch it in on Abu Karmara’s eight-yard touchdown run. Early in the fourth Karmara again found the end zone on a nine-yard scamper to cap a 54-yard drive and give the Titans their first lead, 14-10.

Mount Vernon quickly answered with a 71-yard drive capped by Green’s seven-yard touchdown run to surge back in front 17-14. But a 27-yard Bryan Franks field goal knotted the score and ensured that T.C. Williams, which itself lost a couple of potential second-half touchdowns on dropped passes, would play on into overtime. But after the Titans were held to a field goal in the extra session, Green’s touchdown cemented a Majors’ win before darkness set over the field.

“[T.C. Williams] played a great game,” Mount Vernon Coach Tom Glynn said. “They hung in there. I thought we had them stopped and beaten and they hung in there and kept playing. Give them a lot of credit, to fight back and tie it up and force overtime. They did an outstanding job.”

Friday’s game marked the first time most of the Titans had ever played a home game as the team had not played at home in four years, according to Coach Dennis Randolph, who stated that three members of the team did actually play at the school on the freshman team as eighth graders. 

“It would have been better if we would have started next week after the kids got here. Attendance was OK,” said Randolph, who is in his second year coaching the team. “We have to win to get people excited, but it’s great playing here. I don’t really know this as much as the kids that have been here because they’ve never played a game on a field at T.C. Williams.

“It’s huge to be home. We just have to get used to it.”

The Titans will get that opportunity next Saturday afternoon, when they play host to Centreville.

While playing at home was a new thing for T.C. Williams, opening with a win was a new thing for the Majors, who play at West Potomac next Friday night.

“That was key,” Glynn said. “We kept talking about it. We have to get going right away. We can’t wait until the fourth week of the season, the fifth week of the season to get going.”

“This is a good start for us,” Ricks said. “We always start off 0-1 or 0-2. Now we’re starting 1-0, so it’s a good start for us.”

Email: astates@digitalsports.com

Mount Vernon   0  10  0    7  6 — 23
T.C. Williams       0   0   7  10  3 — 20

Second quarter
MV – Ricks 3 run (Amereau kick), 9:24
MV – FG Amereau 23, 5:02
Third quarter
TC – Karmara 8 run (Franks kick), 6:01
Fourth quarter
TC – Karmara 9 run (Franks kick), 10:17
MV – Green 7 run (Amereau kick), 6:03
TC – FG Franks 27, 3:27
Overtime
TC – FG Franks 19
MV – Green 10 run

Top Individual Performers
Rushing — MV: Ricks 19 carries, 94 yards; Green 19 carries, 74 yards; TC: Karmara 13 carries, 57 yards.
Passing — MV: Green 2-of-7 passing, 39 yards; TC: Goehler 10-of-21 passing, 100 yards.
Receiving — MV: O’Clisham 2 receptions, 39 yards; TC: Via 3 receptions, 45 yards;, Taylor 3 receptions, 17 yards; Grosser 1 reception, 26 yards.

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By Jimmy Thomas
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com

Beach Bums … But Not Quite

In 1992m eight players approached Lake Braddock field hockey Coach Diane Miller about doing something a little different for the preseason. After the required approval, the team and some parents packed up and headed to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

“I thought this would be a one year thing,” said Miller. “But here we are 16 years later and still doing it every summer.”

Much to Miller’s surprise, the upcoming senior parents were already volunteering for next year. Their first few years there were a combination of a few fathers and mothers attending, but over the past nine years it has turned into “senior moms only” going to supervise. 

Although the trip is meant to be a bonding experience for the players, the training regimen is quite extraordinary. At 8 a.m. the team meets in front of the house in which everyone on the trip stays. After a some warm-ups and stretching, the team heads out on a morning run that can last anywhere from three to seven miles. A team mom will follow the group to ensure everyone’s safety. 

Returning around 9 a.m., most of the girls hit the beach for a few hours before the afternoon practice. At 2:45 p.m., the girls meet in front the house again before heading out on their second run of the day to their designated practice field, which is just under a mile and a half away. After a two-hour practice the team makes the run back to the house for a dinner prepared by the parents.

Last years Bruins ran a total of 38 miles in six days. 

The evening is used to relax and enjoy activities that have been planned months in advance. This years theme  was “Olympic like”
activities. Video and pictures are taken throughout the week and are usually a big hit among the players when a CD is made at years’ end.

“The training is an integral part of the trip, but there is also the team bonding aspect,” Miller said. “It has been good for the girls to get to know each other and learn to play more as a team.

“All in all, the trips have been a great source of fun and have led to relatively successful seasons for Lake Braddock. As the coach I am incredibly lucky to be associated, year-after-year, with great kids and parents.”

Note: Lake
Braddock senior and All-Patriot District selection Sarah Morehouse tore
her ACL during the summer and will not be able to play this season.
Sarah will have reconstructive surgery on Aug. 26 but will no doubt
continue to be a leader from the sidelines.

Key Losses
Lyndsey Butler (WT) — 1st team all-Met; Faith Adams (LG) — 1st team all-Met; Ashley Kimener (OK) – 2nd team all-Met; Meg Thaxton (WT) — 2nd team all-Met; Katie Knapp (LG) – honorable mention all-Met.

Players to Watch
Amanda Crider (MR) — 1st team all-Met; Katie Klatt (LB) — 2nd team all-Met; Megan Rea (SC) — honorable mention all-Met; Lisa Charney (FX) — honorable mention all-Met; Danielle Filipponi (OK); Pilar Lopez-Gomez (OK); Shelby Storosh (FX); Annie Stephens (LB); Ann Marie Gambescia (LB); Linzi Burnstein (TC); Noel Van Aartrijk (LE); Autumn Rodgers (LE); Mary Beth Barham (WT); Shelly Montgomery (WT).

Teams to Watch
Lake Braddock — The Bruins went undefeated in the regular-seaon last year and return 12 seniors; Oakton — Last season’s Northern Region runner-up returns 13 varsity players, including four starters; Woodson — The defending Northern Region champions; Westfield, South County, Langley and Edison.

Games to Watch
Oakton at Lake Braddock, Aug. 25; Oakton at W.T. Woodson, Sept. 2; Langley at Oakton, Sept. 12; W.T. Woodson at Lake Braddock, Sept. 15; Edison at Westfield, Sept. 15; Langley at W.T. Woodson, Sept. 25.

Email: jthomas@digitalsports.com

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Team Links:
Click here for T.C. Williams’ Homepage on DigitalSports
Click here for T.C. Williams’ 2008 Football Schedule
Click here for the Northern Region (VA) Football Central

T.C. Williams High School Titans– Northern Region, Division 6, Class AAA Patriot District

Head Coach: Dennis Randolph, second year.
Career Record: 4-6  2007 Record: 4-6 overall, 3-4 district.
Returning Starters: 5 offense/5 defense.
Key Losses: OL Carlos Canales; QB/RB Jamal Ford; DB Earl Via; LB Carlton Watson.
Top Returners: TE/DE Brandon Burke, Sr., 6-5, 250; WR James Collier, Sr., 6-3, 175; RB/DB Dominique Copeland; Sr.; QB/P Zach Goehler, Sr., 6-5, 185; WR/DB Tony Richardson, Sr.; WR Marcus Via, Sr., 6-3, 175; OT/DE Jay Whitmire, Soph., 6-6, 290.
Fresh Faces: OL Eric Burber, Soph.; QB Joe Hargrave, Jr.; RB Abu Kamara, Sr.; TE Robert Mannel, Jr.; C Robert Sanders, Soph.
Game to Watch: Week 5, Sept. 26 at Lake Braddock
This Week 5 Patriot District match-up is the Titans first road game — they open with their first four games at their new home field. The Bruins and Titans have alternated wins each of the last seven years, with the away team winning all seven contests. Over those seven seasons, the total point differential is only seven points, in favor of Lake Braddock.
Stadium: T.C. Williams Stadium (Capacity 4,500).

A Call For Change
By Angela Watts
Managing Content Editor, DigitalSports.com

Fourteenth in a series.

Second-year Coach Dennis Randolph decided after last season to make the switch from the multiple-set offense that he brought with him to the program a year ago — one that ran most often out of a split-back or I-formation — to a new, spread formation.

“Last year I came in new and brought an offense that I’d used for a long time,” Randolph said. “And I really liked the offense, but we didn’t execute it well. And I realized that every time one of our coaches had a question they had to come to me because they weren’t familiar with it.

The offense is the design
of Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, and will be run this
season not only by Auburn and Troy State on the collegiate level, but also locally by T.C. Williams,
West Potomac and Bishop Ireton of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

“We lost six games last year and with the exception of West Springfield,
which blew us out, the other fives games were lost by less than a
touchdown. We were in every one of those game with an opportunity to
win and we didn’t do it. So we had to look in the off-season at what we
were the things we needed to do to get us over that hump … to finish.
That’s been a theme: To finish strong. And hopefully this new offense will help us do that.”

A Genuine Homecoming
The Titans have waited five long years to be able to dress in their own locker room, walk out their own school’s doors and find their family, friends and fans waiting in the home stands to cheer them on.

The new turf field is in place, and the final touches are being
put on the track surrounding the playing surface.

Renovations to the
bleachers and press box will be done after the football season. A
parking garage located close to the stadium is also under construction
and is set to open sometime in October.

“We’re excited,” Randolph said. “We’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting. These kids have been traveling; they’ve been nomads for five years.

Quotable
“I’m not the new coach anymore, so the guys know me now. They know that every coach has a point where you can’t push it anymore — and they know where that point is now. You’ll hear them say to each other, ‘Don’t do that or you’d better do this.’ So from that standpoint, we’re much further along. The tempo has picked up in practice, and things are running much more efficiently. Overall, we’re a lot further along than we were at this time last year.”
    — T.C. Williams Coach Dennis Randolph

**
Note: The first 20 Northern Region teams to be previewed were selected
at random. Only the Top 10 teams have been ranked and will be unveiled
in order in the coming days.

Email: awatts@digitalsports.com

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By Phil Murphy
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com

** Check out the video player below the Northern Region round-up to see highlights and between-hole interviews with Oakton junior Amanda Steinhagen from a practice round at the International Country Club in Fairfax on Aug. 7.

The high school golfer with the sweetest swing in state of Virginia likely drives the sweetest car, too.

And she’s only had the keys for a month.

“I have a 2007 Mustang Shelby GT,” said Oakton junior Amanda Steinhagen, defending VHSL AAA State golf champion. “It’s white with silver stripes and has a charcoal interior. But I’m not like a ********, over-the-speed-limit driver. My parents will take it away with the first ticket I get.”

Although she can’t go full throttle on the road – parentally prohibited from utilizing the Shelby’s 319 horsepower and power to go 0-60 miles per hour in 5.2 seconds – at 16, Steinhagen has already experienced a lap of luxury on the links that most golfers will never encounter.

This summer she traveled to South Carolina for the United States Golf Association (USGA) sectional qualifier at Spring Valley Country Club on June 23. Steinhagen shot a 73 to finished tied for fourth and earn a berth in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in West Hartford, Conn. on July 22.

“Going down [to South Carolina] I didn’t think I’d actually qualify,” said Steinhagen, who made the cut for the Girls’ Junior Nationals by a single stroke. “I was a little bit close to the cut line, but happy to go. Then, I went to the USGA, which is a huge deal.

“Going in there, I was a little nervous because it’s all the top girls in the country.”

If she had nerves, she didn’t show them.

Steinhagen shot 77-73 for a two-day total of 150 in stroke play, earning a spot in the 64-player, match-play field. Although she fell in the first round, 1-up, to No. 4-ranked Pearl Jin, Steinhagen recognizes what an accomplish it was to make the cut in Hartford.

“You know, I lost, but you can’t win everything,” said Steinhagen, who captured the 2007 Virginia girls’ golf title by four strokes over teammate Lauren Greenlief. “The girl who beat me will be No. 1 in the country by the time she’s my age.

“I played really well. I’m not displeased. It was a huge honor to play there, and especially play that well and make the top 64. I’m really excited and proud that I made the cut, because not many girls get to do that.”

Her maturity and focus are not lost on Oakton coach Jack Masich.

“She’s a very disciplined golfer,” Masich said. “When she gets into trouble, she doesn’t make more trouble. That comes from a lot of tournament experience.”

With the respect of her coach and all-male corps of Cougar teammates, Steinhagen balances her determination and Tiger-like competitive edge with a sweet, genuine demeanor. Her bag features several personal mementos, including a furry, dog club head cover.

“That’s Freddy, he’s my miniature schnauzer,” she said. “I missed him when I was out of town for the tournaments for three weeks.”

In the brutally tough Concorde District, which features state team runner-up champion Chantilly and third-place Westfield, Oakton will need her leadership and experience to contend. 

A little confidence from the star junior couldn’t hurt either.

“There are some girls down in southern Virginia that are really good competition and they play really well,” said Steinhagen, who alongside seniors Scott Miller and Matt Ellis and junior Graham Lawyer will keep the Cougars in the hunt for the Concorde  District title.  “But I definitely consider myself at least top four – maybe top three – in the entire state.

“Hopefully, states this year for girls will be pretty good to me and varsity states will be good to us, too.”

What to Watch Around the Rest of the Northern Region

Concorde District

Arguably home the top four teams in the Northern Region. Oakton had the state boys’ and girls’ individual champions last year (Danny Kim and Amanda Steinhagen) – Steinhagen won by four strokes over teammate Lauren Greenlief. … Chantilly is among top teams in the state with junior Victor Monte and sophomore Ji Soo Park, who one area coached called, “A star in the making.” Park won Bobby Bowers Tournament this summer to qualify for USGA Junior Nationals in River Bend, Ohio. But the Chargers will need some younger golfers to step up to counter Westfield’s depth. … Last season Chantilly finished second in state (599) and Westfield took third (600). … Westfield is extremely deep, with one coach calling top six, “Solid and virtually interchangeable.” Westfield sophomore Sabril Brewer finished fifth in girls’ state last year as a freshman.

Liberty District

Langley senior Brigitte Baker finished fourth in girls’ state last year and won the Liberty District title. … Stone Bridge senior Russell Moore finished second in Liberty District tournament, three strokes behind Baker. … Madison senior Sophia Montenegro finished tied for ninth at states in 2007 while Langley senior Sindy Lee placed 14th. … Langley finished third in the Northern Region (the highest non-Concorde District team) and is the defending Liberty District champion. … Madison, which finished eight strokes behind Langley in the league championships, placed  fourth in last year’s Northern Region tournament.

National District

Edison returns all of their top six golfers, including senior team captain Shay Nimjareansuk. … Edison sophomore April Nimjareansuk finished 25th in state a year ago, the only National District girl to compete in both rounds of the state tournament.

Patriot District

Lake Braddock is the defending district champion and nearly all of last year’s contributing golfers return. … South County and West Potomac finished tied for second. … South County senior Steve Slocum won the individual Patriot District title. He is one of six returning players and for a team that also has a large freshman class. … West Potomac, last year’s dark horse, will be led by senior Forrest Wilson, who played US Junior Amateur in Shoal Creek, Ala. The Wolverines also expect contributions from seniors Arthur Genuario and Danny Peterson. West Potomac lost two of its top six to graduation and one more to a transfer. … Lake Braddock sophomore Kenny Towns took 61st in state as a freshman. … Hayfield may surprise with a cast of young, experienced golfers.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com

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Again this fall DigitalSports.com will be your source for all Northern Region
high school sports coverage. We’ll start with our team-by-team preseason football
previews, which will debut on Saturday, August 9.

The
first 20 football teams will be previewed at random — one to two teams per
day — and then beginning August 19 we’ll be unveiling DigitalSports’
Northern Region Preseason Football Top 10. Our preseason coverage will
conclude on August 28 with the preview of our No. 1 team … just hours before the high school football season kicks off!

Previews will also run for the other five fall sports as follows:
   
    * Co-Ed Varsity Golf on Aug. 11
    * Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey on Aug. 20
    * Girls’ Varsity Volleyball on Aug. 26
    * Co-Ed Varsity Cheerleading on Sept. 1
    * Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Cross County on Sept. 3

Stay with DigitalSports.com … and get inside the game!

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