Sports

The press is on at Carver Academy

By Caleb M Soptelean on February 5, 2019 Basketball, Sports

Earl Hill, Wes Powell, Ryan Johnson and Mikael Jaaber practice Feb. 1. It took a while, but Carver College and Career Academy’s boys basketball team has risen near the top. Head coach William “Reggie” Simon Jr. took over at the Chester-based high school four years ago. His first team won five games and lost 12. His teams went 10-12 and 12-9 over the next two years. This year’s edition had a 15-5 record heading into Tuesday’s game with King William. A win in that contest would result in Carver having the top seed in the nine-team 1B Region, Simon said.…

TDHS grad nets success: Blankenbecler makes name for himself at another Chesterfield school

By Amanda Creasey on February 5, 2019 People, Sports, Volleyball

Blankenbecler hoists a state championship trophy. Michael Blankenbecler, James River High School’s boys volleyball coach, never expected to become a coach, much less have three state championships tucked comfortably under his belt within the first five seasons of his career. In fact, Blankenbecler’s earliest athletic endeavors didn’t involve volleyball at all, but baseball and basketball, sports he began playing when he was about 9. “There aren’t many opportunities to play volleyball that young,” Blankenbecler explained. His first introduction to volleyball came through his parents and aunt, who played on a co-ed team their church formed. He recalls playing games with…

Senior softball league signups

By Press release on January 29, 2019 Softball, Sports

The Chesterfield Senior Softball Association is accepting registrations. The registration deadline is March 1. Fees are $50 for country residents and $65 for non-county residents. Late registration is an extra $10. The CSSA is a slow-pitch softball league open to men 50-plus and women 40-plus. All doubleheader games and practices are played at Harry G. Daniel Park at Iron Bridge. Each season generally runs from April until the first week of October. The men’s league is played on Thursdays, and a co-ed league has games on Mondays. This year there will be recreational and competitive divisions for each league. For…

More offers roll in for Matoaca athletes

By Josh Mathews on January 29, 2019 Football, Sports

Matoaca High School has had some exciting recruiting news over the past couple of weeks. Division I-level recruit Immanuel “Manny” Hickman, who had previously committed to Cincinnati, de-committed and now has offers from East Carolina, Tulane, James Madison and other schools. Justin Providence, a tight end/long snapper, picked up his fourth offer from UVA-Wise. Virginia State and Alderson-Broaddus also came calling. Elijah Thomas, a defensive lineman who tallied 30 tackles, six for a loss, and recovered two fumbles last season, picked up his first two offers: St. Andrews University of Laurinburg, N.C., and Virginia State. Running back Jonathan Coleman also…

Anderson and Dancey commit, Virginia Tech makes offer to Brown

By Josh Mathews on January 29, 2019 Football, Sports

Ramon Brown in action last year. L.C. Bird High gridiron stars may not have reeled in an Alabama offer, but it was most certainly a productive week for four Skyhawks standouts. Two athletes committed to colleges last week: Mykey Anderson and DeMarkus Dancy. They’ll continue their academic and football careers at UVA-Wise. “Mykey was a shutdown corner for us and a dynamic player on offense,” L.C. Bird head coach Troy Taylor said. “DeMarkus played both ways for us,” Taylor said. “He is a tough kid [who] works hard, and he will get after it on the field.” Freshman running back…

Thomas Dale’s Tyree adds Alabama to list; Carter and Sterling get attention too

By Josh Mathews on January 29, 2019 Football, Sports

Chris Tyree carries the pigskin in football action last year. It has been an epic climb from Thomas Dale High running back/defensive back, but Chris Tyree has seemingly reached the pinnacle. This past week, Alabama extended an offer to the junior. “Extremely blessed to receive an offer from the University of Alabama,” Tyree said on his Twitter account, @chris_tyree4. With world-class speed, high academics and a positive attitude, the student-athlete checks the boxes every major college coach looks for. It’s no surprise that he’s racked well over 30 offers and could essentially play for which college he chooses. His speed…

The next level: Baum, Henry Wiley playing collegiate ball

By Josh Mathews on January 24, 2019 Sports

Johquin ‘Pinky’ Wiley Cam Henry Madison Baum The Village News periodically provides updates on area high school graduates’ athletic progress. Following is a report on Madison Baum, Cam Henry and Pinky Wiley. After redshirting his first year as a Railsplitter, Henry has put in the necessary work to earn a starting role. Through his team’s first 16 games, he’s started 13, averaged 9.3 points and six rebounds per game. Efficiency was something that every Troy Manns team has had at L.C. Bird, and Henry has played a very efficient game. He’s shot 43.4 percent from the floor, 40 percent from…

Knights sign letters of intent

By Josh Mathews on January 24, 2019 Sports

From left: Karson Jennings, Leigha Hill, and William Kimenhour sign their letters of intent. Last month, three Thomas Dale High School athletes put pen to paper on national letters of intent to play their respective college sports. William Kimenhour was one of the most highly recruited volleyball players in Thomas Dale history. He will play at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. Leigha Hill, a talented softball pitcher, will play at Longwood University. Karson Jennings will play baseball at Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Kimenhour and the Knights came up one victory short of a state championship in…

‘Jumpin’ Johnny’ Wilson dead at 91

By VN Staff on January 22, 2019 Community, Obituaries, Sports

CHESTER – A famed former Harlem Globetrotter, “Jumpin’ Johnny” Wilson died Jan. 11. He was 91. Wilson moved to Chester about two years ago to live with his son, John Wilson Jr., an assistant athletic director at Virginia State University. A native of Anderson, Ind., John E. Wilson was the fourth of six children of Randolph “Ran” and Hazel Wilson. Wilson played professional baseball – his first love – for one year for the Chicago American Giants, a Negro League team. He then played for the Globetrotters from 1949-54. With the Globetrotters, he played alongside such legends as Goose Tatum,…

The next level: Caraballo, Cole and Webb playing collegiate ball

By Josh Mathews on January 15, 2019 Basketball, Sports

Kylah Webb Taja Cole Angela Caraballo Angela Caraballo L.C. Bird High Shooting guard Junior at St. Augustine’s Caraballo originally committed to Division II Barton College in North Carolina, but decided to transfer to St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, N.C., where she was reunited with high school teammate KeKe Williams. This year, Caraballo has stepped her game up and is the school’s top scoring option in a starting lineup that shows offensive balance. Averaging 10.2 points per game, Caraballo is shooting 31.4 percent from three-point land. Defensively speaking, she is second on the team with 22 steals through 14 games, providing…

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