Track Shorts - Volume II - G. Holloway Dominates Again; Eagles on the Track; Poquoson 4x100 Sets School Record

As the high school track season entered its regional stage last weekend, a number of football players from all over the state came up with big performances on the track or field to earn all-Region honors, and in some cases, help their teams win a championship. Here are a few noteworthy stories from various regional meets over the past couple of weeks.

Holloway Leads Grassfield to 6A South Runner-up; Teammate Harrell Dominates Shotput

Grassfield’s Seth Harrell (Photo: Andy Hilton/recruit757)

As expected, the most dominant performer of the weekend was Grassfield’s Grant Holloway. Holloway, putting the finishing touches on a monumental senior season, before heading to Gainesville and the University of Florida in the fall, won the long jump (25-5.5), high jump (6-8) and 300 hurdles (37.60), while anchoring the Grizzlies winning 4×400 meter relay (3:21.21).

Teammate Seth Harrell, a 6’3”, 320-pound junior guard on the Grassfield football squad, has been drawing looks from a number of colleges, including U. VA, which recently offered him a scholarship. However, on Friday, Harrell dominated a field of 24 shot-putters to win the event in 60-8.5, over six feet ahead of the runner-up, Mickey Anderson, also a Grizzly.

Western Branch won the boys 6A title, and had some help from its gridiron standouts. Tight end Maurice Davis won the discus (147-10), while offensive guard Donald Lanier placed fourth in the shot-put (49-2.25).

Among Northern Virginia athletes, Gar-Field’s Christopher Frederick, a 5’11”, 171 lb. junior receiver and cornerback won the 100 meters in 10.94. Frederick also posted a 10.83 in the preliminaries, and anchored the Indians’ winning 4×100 relay, which included James Currie, Keith Barbour and Theo Smith. Their time of 42.30 edged Stafford’s Colonial Forge by .12 seconds.

Norris, Hagins Propel Bethel to 5A South Region Title; NR’s Waller Wins 100

A pair of Bethel football stars, who hurdle with Coach Eddie Williams’ track team during the winter and spring, served as key components in the Bruins 5A South title performance last weekend.

Isaiah Norris won both the 110-meter (14.31) and 300-meter (39.31) hurdles, propelling Bethel toward its winning tally of 85 points, 14 ahead of runner-up Prince George. Josh Hagins placed second (22.03) in the 200, and fifth (11.01) in the 100.

Both Norris and Hagins were Honorable Mention players in Conference 10 last fall – Norris as a running back and Hagins as a 195-lb. outside linebacker for Coach William Beverley’s 6-5 Bruins, which made the 5A South playoffs, but lost in the first round to Indian River.

Warwick’s Travis Williams placed third in the 300-meter hurdles (40.29), almost a second behind Norris.

Nansemond River’s sophomore running back Jevon Waller earned a gold medal at the 5A South meet, capturing the 100-meter title in 10.79, a .22 second improvement over his seed time.

And Henrico’s tall and lanky cornerback, Craig McElroy enjoyed a stellar day at the Gloucester High track. McElroy won the high jump (6-4) and placed second in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.55).

Edison Ballers Kamara and Lucas-Roscoe Score for Eagle Tracksters

Longtime Eagle coach Ivan Chirinos has been fortunate with the array of football players who have come out to star for his Edison (Alexandria) team. This year, both Moses Kamara and Gregory Lucas-Roscoe contributed heavily to Edison’s success, both on the gridiron and track.

Kamara, a senior running back, was the workhorse of the Eagle offense, rushing for 973 yards and 11 touchdowns. On the oval, he is better known as a standout 400-meter runner, and one who recently placed second at the 5A North Regional with a time of 48.84.

“Moses does not look like the typical 400-meter runner because of his size (5’10” 183 lbs.), but here he is as one of the top 400 runners in Virginia 5A,” said Chirinos.

Lucas-Roscoe, who helped to back up Kamara in the backfield last fall, won both jumps with a 22-7.25 effort in the long jump and 46-8 in the triple.

“Greg has been involved in track since (he was) very young and as an athlete, he is able to do well in many other sports, football being one of them,” added Chirinos.

Poquoson’s 4 x 100 Sets School record at Conference 25 Meet; Nate Ward Excels in Track after Suffering Near-Fatal Football Injury

Nate Ward, Trevor Dunagan, Kenny Parks and Matt Blaser

The Poquoson foursome of Nate Ward, Trevor Dunagan, Kenny Parks and Matt Blaser broke the school’s 4×100 meter relay record at last week’s 3A Conference 25 meet in a time of 45.13.

For the day, Poquoson finished seventh among the 24 schools in the 3A East championships.

Blaser, a recruit757.com Honorable Mention at Wide Receiver, played in the annual Blue-Grey All-American Bowl last December, and will continue his playing career in the fall with VMI. Dunagan was a standout All-District safety with Poquoson and will attend Coastal Carolina in the fall.

However, Ward’s story is the most inspiring. After scoring a 14-yard touchdown against Jamestown early in the season, the running back collapsed on the sideline, the victim of a head trauma injury incurred during an earlier tackle. Eventually, Ward required three hours of surgery that evening to relieve the pressure on his brain, as the damage from the impact was thought to be potentially life threatening.

With his football career at an end, Ward transitioned to the track and became the Islanders fastest 100-meter runner this spring.

Courtland Linemen Dominate 4A East Throws

A pair of Courtland High throwers won both events at the 4A East championships.

Matt McDougal, a 6’2” 305 pound offensive tackle for J.D. Hall’s Cougars, won the gold medal for the discus with a toss of 147-8. Teammate Ben Beatty, a 6’3” 260 guard and defensive end, won the shot-put with a 59-3.75 throw to win by over eight feet. McDougall was second in the shot (51-1), while Beatty placed fourth (138-7) in the discus.

Track Shorts - Volume I - Grant Holloway and Bobby Price

As seen on Ultimate Recruit -- please give the site a look --

Here's the story link - http://www.ultimaterecruit.com/ultimate-recruit/track-shorts-volume-grant-holloway-bobby-price/

Grant Holloway set the American high school record
for the 55 and 60-meter hurdles during the indoor season.
He will be heading to the University of Florida in
the fall to run track and play football for the Gators.

It would be remiss to begin the “Track Shorts” feature on Ultimate Recruit without spotlighting the state’s current premier football and track athlete – Grassfield’s Grant Holloway.

In last week’s introduction, a brief highlight of Holloway’s track career was presented. Truly, as the winner of a record eight individual combined indoor and outdoor state track titles, Holloway is the prime example of an athlete who has used his abilities to run fast and jump high to bring him unparalleled success in two sports.

The talents have served him well. This coming fall, the Grizzlies’ star wide receiver will be competing in football and track at the University of Florida.

Yet, it is Holloway’s track talents that will keep him busy throughout the spring and summer. He finished the 2016 indoor season with two championships at the New Balance Nationals. First, his 4,230 points in the pentathlon was enough to win the five-event competition by a staggering 531 points, while setting a U.S. high school #3 all-time performance for the event. And that was only his second-best performance of the weekend, as Holloway also won the 60-meter hurdles in 7.78, setting a new national high school record in the 60 (and 55-meter) hurdles.

Added to this is a personal-best high jump of 7-foot-1, as well as long jump of 25-11.25, which was ranked #2 for high school indoors nationally. The 2016 Olympic Trials may be in Holloway’s immediate future.

But there are still a few more meets for Grassfield. This weekend, they will take part in the 6A South region meet, held at Todd Stadium in Newport News, this Friday and Saturday.

Holloway earned the day off last weekend, as the Grizzlies competed in the 6A Conference 2 meet. According to the soon-to-be Gator, his competition schedule is being handled with care.

“I’m just taking (the season) one day at a time,” said Holloway. “We have regionals, then state. But my main goal is making the Junior (National) team. Then I’ll worry about everything after.”

The 5A/6A state meet will be held the following weekend, also at Todd Stadium. It will possibly be the last time for Hampton Roads track (and football) fans to see Holloway compete for a while, as the Gators have no football games scheduled in Virginia for the foreseeable future, while the track teams did compete at one indoor meet (Virginia Tech Elite) last February, and an outdoor competition (Virginia Challenge) in late April.

Bishop Sullivan’s Price Earns Field Athlete of Meet at VISAA Boys Champs

Bishop Sullivan's Bobby Price long jumps at last  weekend's
VISAA track championships. Price won the long and high
 jumps, and was named the meet's outstanding
 field athlete. (Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)

In some statewide circles, Bishop Sullivan’s Bobby Price is considered as the “Grant Holloway” of the private schools. Price played quarterback, wide receiver and running back for the Crusaders – who passed for over 500 yards, while rushing for 460 yards and earning the Offensive Player of the Year award for Sullivan.

And like Holloway, Price has made his presence known on the track and field. In three successive meets, the senior left an indelible mark of the victory stand, earning a combined 11 gold medals in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS), Virginia State Catholic meet and Virginia Independent School championships (VISAA), held within an 11-day span.

Starting with the TCIS meet, Price scored four wins, in the 200 and all three jumps (high, long and triple), while finishing second in the 100, to Nansemond-Suffolk sprinter and running back Noah Giles. Price’s 48 individual points catapulted the Crusaders to a conference title as they upended local private school powerhouse Norfolk Academy while tallying 120 points.

At the State Catholic meet, Price truly found his stride, winning an unprecedented five events, with four personal bests. He dominated both sprints, capturing the 100 in 11.09 and 200 in a State Catholic record time of 22.16. Price also won all of three jumps with a 23-4.5 in the long jump, 46-3 in the triple jump and 6-2 to win the high jump. The first four performances were bests, as he had cleared 6-8 at the VISAA indoor championships. For his efforts, Price was named the male athlete of the meet.

Asked about the spark behind his record-setting performance, Price said, “I felt like I wanted to win the championship for our team and knew that I had to do my best.” Buoyed by Price’s 50 points, Sullivan captured the runner-up team trophy, just seven points (111-104) behind winner St. John Paul the Great of Dumfries.

“We almost got them,” added Price.

The senior, who has committed to play for Norfolk State football next year, also earned the Field Performer of the meet award at last Sunday’s VISAA meet. Competing in the Division I category against the stiffest prep competitors in Virginia, Price won the long jump (23-2) and high jump (6-2), while placing second in the triple jump.

Price has a bright future in store. While he has qualified for the New Balance High School Nationals in both the long and triple jumps, he is not committed to participating in the meet because “it is so close to graduation.” He did compete at Nationals during indoor season, placing seventh with a leap of 6-7.

Along with his engineering studies, he is looking forward to football season with the Spartans, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

“Right now, they have me listed as a safety, but they might try me out at wide receiver,” said Price, who is listed at 6’3” and 180 pounds. Price is expecting to focus on the long, triple and high jump with the track team, led by long time NSU coach Kenneth Giles.

NSA’s Giles Wins VISAA Div. II 100 Meters

At the same VISAA meet, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s Noah Giles, mentioned earlier as the TCIS boys’ 100-meter winner, won the Division II 100-meter dash with a time of 11.15. Giles also placed second in the long jump (20-3) and triple jump (40-0).

Track Shorts is looking for football/track athletes to highlight in the Tidewater, Richmond and Northern Virginia regions. Please send information for “Track Shorts” to jfmcgrath65@gmail.com or @jfmcgrath on Twitter.

"Track Shorts" Coming to Ultimate Recruit Football Sites (757, 804 and NOVA)

For years, there has been an innate connection between football and track. Track, it is said, provides the opportunity for young football players to improve their running form, build short “burst” speed, and stay active while working out in the off season. The thought of keeping one’s players “in uniform” has been appealing to some football coaches. Admittedly, others would rather have their players on a football-oriented workout system with the weight room at the center of activity.

Regardless of whether football coaches are proponents or opponents of having their players lace up the spikes to run, jump or throw, there is no doubt of the impact that football players, turned track athletes, have had in Virginia. Before starring for UVA and the NFL, both Ronde and Tiki Barber were standout sprinters, hurdlers and long jumpers at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke. Before making his name with the Florida Gators and NFL, Landstown’s Percy Harvin helped his team win a 2005 AAA outdoor state title, winning five events on his own. The list of names goes on and on, from Menchville’s Al Toon (New York Jets), to George Washington – Danville’s David Wilson (New York Giants); O’Connell’s Eric Metcalf (Falcons) to Ocean Lakes’ Justin Hunter (Tennessee Titans); in fact, dozens of Virginia high school footballers have made the segue from the gridiron to the oval and found success with both.

More recently, Grassfield’s Grant Holloway has emerged as the premier football and track athlete in Virginia. Holloway has already signed with the University of Florida as a track athlete, and he holds nine state track titles and has won a national title in the indoor 55-meter hurdles as well as set a high school American record in the five-event pentathlon. Yet, the 6’3” Holloway is also a talented wide receiver and defensive back who is prepped to join the Gators football team as a “preferred walk-on.”

Realizing the impact of football players in athletics, Ultimate Recruit.com, which consists of recruit757, recruit804 and recruitNoVA, will be introducing a feature on Virginia high school football players and their accomplishments on the track (and field!). The first article will post early next week as many high school teams take part in their conference meets. We will post every week throughout the championship season, ending in late June. This trial run should give us a chance to gauge the support of this feature from the football and track communities, and also to test the viability of taking on such a large endeavor. The old “I can only be in one place at a time” adage bodes well for this feature. Even MileStat.com, with Nolan Jez at the helm, has several correspondents and photographers, and can place people at a few meets every weekend. They have even kicked me into play for the past three indoor/outdoor 5A/6A meets. Their help will be invaluable.

There should be several key benefits to creating such a feature. First, it gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to showcase their athletic exploits, in a game/meet situation, after the football season. The advantage here comes from athletes having new “highlights” and statistics to post for a large forum. For example, if a college wide receiver hopeful is running a 4.9 in the 40 in the fall, but can show that his 100-meter time has dropped from 12.0 to 11.3 over the course of outdoor track season, there is visual evidence that the young man has gotten faster, and more likely to justify the 4.69 run at a combine.

Second, it will give us at recruit757/804/NoVA another forum to flex our own considerable resources. One of our photographers, MaryAnn Magnant, is a key photographer with MileStat.com, and has thousands of track pictures at her disposal after any weekend of meets in the winter and spring. She also works here at Ultimate Recruit and now has a chance to showcase more of her non-football work. To a lesser degree, this feature will give me more time to spend at track meets. After 10 years of competition as a track athlete, 17 more of coaching (in Northern and Southeast Virginia) and another eight as a sports correspondent, I’m looking forward to seeing more meets, and getting back in the thick of the action. My next meet will be the 5A/6A state meet at Todd Stadium in Newport News on June 3-4. I’ll be working this meet for MileStat.com, as I have the past three state meets.

But while I’m covering the 5A/6A meet, I’ll be missing the 3A/4A and 1A/2A competitions, and here is where I need help. This feature is not just for the 757, or the 804, or Northern Virginia. It’s for everybody. With this in mind, I am asking for help. Football coaches – here’s your chance to build up a few emerging star players, and keep them visible to college coaches. And the opposite is also true. College coaches can now keep an eye on potential recruits and follow their athletic progress as it looks at the moment. This could be a symbiotic relationship for all involved.

Players and coaches (football and track) – please feel free to send me your results from each week’s meet. I’ll look to add a spotlight section for individual article entries on athletes each week as a way of showcasing a feature performance. This is currently a work in progress, but after a four or five week tryout to finish this school year, we should be able to reload and retool with the intention of becoming a weekly feature every year between December and June.

Poquoson's Jim Burden Continues His Over-60 National Diving Run

Jim Burden with coach Danita Fox at
Midtown Center, Newport News, VA

In late 2013, I became acquainted with Jim Burden, a 60-year old gentleman, who had started his competitive diving career again after a 38-year absence. To his, and everyone's surprise, Burden quickly worked his way into becoming a medal winner at the Master's level.

Two years later, Jim is still diving, and still making his mark, so to speak. Here's an update from Burden that I received last week.

"You asked me to keep you updated from time to time about my Masters Springboard diving.  I just got back from the Spring National Championships in Orlando Florida.

(2) Gold Medals. (1 meter and 3 Meter)

That qualified me for 2016 All American Status.

(1) 2^nd Place in Men's Syncro

(1) 5^th Place in Men's Grand Masters (Anyone who has won 1 World Championship or 2 National Championships)

(1) 6^th Place in Mixed Syncro

All in all, a good weekend.  Summer Nationals are in Greensboro in July."

I'll be looking to keep track of how the National meet goes in July. Great job Jim!!

Denbigh Football Coach Marcellus Harris III Running For Newport News City Council - Election Is Next Tuesday - May 3rd

For Denbigh football coach Marcellus Harris III, the decision to run for the Newport News city council was an easy one to make.

“I have always been passionate about helping and serving others,” said Harris, who recently completed his eighth season as the Patriots’ football coach. “That is why I chose the professions that I currently have.” Along with his gridiron duties, Harris also serves Denbigh High as an academic counselor, and works as the youth minister at his church.

Football, family and public service run directly through the coach’s life, as well as his five siblings. Harris’ father, Rev. Dr. Marcellus Harris Jr., is the pastor of First Baptist Church Morrison in Newport News, and is himself a pillar of the Denbigh community – one that led his son to devote his life to a greater cause.

“My father, who is also my role model, has been my biggest inspiration,” added Harris, who will be running for the North District seat currently occupied by Rob Coleman. “He has pastored for 45 years, and also ran for office many years ago.”

Watching his father in action had a direct impact on the younger Harris.

“I witnessed how he cared for people and served as a voice for social injustices,” recalled Harris. “Working with families in my district and coaching young men has given me the opportunity to hear their concerns about the state of our community.”

The voices of the community are echoed in his platform, which is located on his campaign website atwww.marcellusb2harris.com. The seven initiatives, which focus on growth and mentoring include:

• Youth Development and Empowerment
• Youth Violence Initiatives
• Increase Parks and Recreational Participation
• Character Development through Mentorship Programs
• Jobs (Career Exploration and Employability Skills)
• Strengthening Family Dynamics and relations
• Positive Male Development and Empowerment

“I love Newport News and want to do all I can to help our citizens be heard and represent them.”

Harris has made a name for himself, outside of being the pastor’s son. Aside from his current work in secondary education and his church, he was a standout wide receiver at East Carolina, catching 95 passes for over 1,350 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Pirates from 1997-2000. Prior to his collegiate career, he was the primary passing target of a young quarterback named Michael Vick at Ferguson High.

Harris is also not a stranger to the campaign trail. Two years ago, he ran for a council seat, but was narrowly defeated by current Councilwoman Sharon Scott. His current opponent, the incumbent Coleman, has served on the council for four years, and is currently the vice-mayor of Newport News. Yet, the problems that cripple Newport News, including a murder rate that recently had the city ranked #25 among the top 30 murder capitals in the U.S., have led to a ground swelling of city residents, particularly in the North and East End sectors, calling for a change in the city’s leadership.

Whether the change will occur or not depends on Tuesday’s election results. The polls will be open from 6 AM to 7 PM in Newport News.

ODU's Blue Team Wins Spring Game 21-20

Blake Larussa throws a pass for the White team. Larussa
got chased around all afternoon and finished the day
completing 13 of 23 passes for 85 yards and a TD
(photo by Joe Barnes/Recruit757)

http://www.recruit757.com/old-dominion-bluewhite-game-finishes-21-20-thriller/

Under a flawless blue sky, the Blue and White teams of Old Dominion battled in their annual Spring Game, with the Blue team squeezing out a 21-20 victory at S.B. Ballard Stadium at Foreman Field.

Earlier in the week, the 12 members of the Monarchs’ Unity Council engaged in what Coach Wilder called a “spirited draft” to break their 86-man spring roster into two equal teams of 43.

Before the game, Wilder said that it was the first time in the team’s nine-year history that they were able to field two full teams.

“We’re happy to not have to use some players on both sides,” added a somewhat relieved Wilder.

The game format was designed somewhat differently. The teams were scheduled to play four, eight-minute quarters with a running clock except for the final two minutes of each quarter. After each touchdown, Coach Wilder reserved the right to move the ball anywhere he wanted for the next possession. With the running clock, the movement was quick, and it only took 28 minutes to reach halftime.

The Blue team took the ball first from the 30-yard line. On the game’s second play, sophomore defensive end Oshane Ximines dropped quarterback Shuler Bentley for a seven-yard loss.

Blake Larussa, a redshirt freshman from Bishop Sullivan drew the start for the White team and started his first drive from the 19 after the Blue Team’s drive stalled. Their first drive only lasted three plays, and the Blue took over from their 45. The first quarter was scoreless.

Working from the white 38, Bentley found Travis Fulgham with a short pass, and the sophomore receiver pulled a fake move and turned a four-yard gain into 25, putting the ball at the 13. After an eight-yard run and no gainer, Ray Lawry, last year’s leading Conference USA rusher, bulled up the middle for a five-yard touchdown. Chris Kirtley’s uncontested extra point was good, giving the Blue squad an early 7-0 lead.

But the White team rushed back, and Jeremy Cox busted through a seam on the left side, escaping at least six defenders for a 24-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left in the half. Brad Davis’ extra point evened the score at seven.

The Blue team struck back quickly, with freshman quarterback Drayton Arnold finding Jonathan Duhart on a post pattern route, and the junior from Manchester High ran untouched for a 40-yard score, putting the Blue team up 14-7 entering halftime.

Wilder changed the script for the second half, turning off the running clock.

A sack of Blue’s Drayton Arnold by linebacker Shadow Williams on fourth down gave the White team excellent field position, at the Blue 39. Malik Fuller gained 11 yards on the first play with a run up the middle. Larussa found tight end Melvin Vaughan for five more yards. Two plays later, Larussa found Vaughn again, and the 253-pounder from Oscar Smith walked a tightrope down the left sideline for 13 more. From there, receiver Kesean Strong took care of business, grabbing Larussa’s pass and diving into the end zone, knotting the game once again, this time at 14.

A sack of Arnold by the White’s Ryan Londree backed the Blue team all the way to their 2, and they were forced to punt, once again giving the White contingent strong field position at the Blue 40. However, the Blue defense held up well, and the White offense could only get as far as the 7, where they failed to convert on fourth down.

Soon after came the play of the game. Dropping back into his end zone to pass, Arnold heaved a pass, which Isaiah Harper hauled in at midfield. With a step on his defender, the sophomore redshirt from Grassfield High sprinted the rest of the way to the end zone, for a 94-yard touchdown, by far the longest play of the game. The touchdown and extra point also put the blue team back on top 21-14 with 3:32 remaining in the game.

The White were forced into a fourth-and-11 situation and Larussa was called for intentional grounding as he avoided a charging Blue defense, effectively giving the ball back to the Blue at their 41 with 1:48 to go. But the White used their timeouts well, and the Blue failed to convert a first down, giving the ball right back to the White team with only 21 seconds elapsed.

From the Blue 36 with 1:27 remaining, Larussa went to work, finding Strong up the right sideline for 11 yards and a first down. A crucial holding call cost the offense ten yards, but Malik Fuller was able to grind the first down, with a one-yard gain on third-and-one at the 23.

Down to the last minute, Larussa scrambled for a four-yard gain, putting the ball at the 19 with 42 ticks left on the clock. His floater to Vaughn down the right sideline found one of the receiver’s hands but fell incomplete. Facing fourth-and-six, a run by Brandon Simmons fell short, as did the final rally.

Or did it? The White “managed” to get the ball again at the Blue 20 with 10 seconds left. Given new life, Larussa found Vaughn for 16 yards down the sideline. On the game’s final play, from the 4, Larussa threw a dart into the end zone, which Vaughn leapt and caught for a touchdown.

Down 21-20, the White team elected to go for two points. With the added penalty for roughing the passer on the previous play, the ball was placed just inside the three. But Larussa was chased backwards and his floater toward the end zone fell two yards short of its target, giving Blue the win.

“We put our defense in difficult spots on purpose,” said Wilder after the game, s speaking about the ball placement during the game, “Last year, we were 5-1 in games that were decided in the last five minutes.”

Overall, Wilder was pleased with the defense, especially the defensive line and linebackers. He was also pleased with the progress of his young quarterback Larussa.

“”Blake did a good job under pressure,” said Wilder. “The defense chased him around a lot, but he made good decisions especially with throwing the ball out of bounds when he had to. You like to see your young quarterbacks develop and make progress.”

The Monarchs will conclude their spring practices with three sessions next week.

Old Dominion to Host Spring Football Game on Saturday

As shown on Recruit757.com. Here's the link:

http://www.recruit757.com/saturdays-spring-game-big-odu-football/

ODU Head Coach Bobby Wilder (File Photo: Andy Hilton/recruit757)

The ODU football team will host its annual Spring Game this Saturday at 3 PM, as part of an array of events to take place on the Norfolk campus.

The Monarchs will take the field at Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium following the 48th annual Priority Toyota Charity Bowl game, which will begin at 1.

For this year’s game, Monarch coach Bobby Wilder decided to take a different approach.

We decided to let the players pick the teams,” said Wilder, now entering his eighth season as Old Dominion’s only chief whistle since the program was reborn in 2009. “We drafted our teams. We have a Unity Council, which consists of 12 members who are voted in by the players. The Council met and held a draft. That’s how we got our 86 players, which is our roster for spring practice, into two teams of 43.

The scrimmage will serve as the Monarchs 12th practice of the spring. The game itself will consist of four eight-minute quarters and will be followed by an autograph session on the field, where fans can meet both the ODU coaches and players.

After 11 days of practice, Wilder likes what he has seen so far.

Speaking of Wednesday’s session, he noted, “I was most surprised by how physical the practice was. It happens across the country as guys are getting tired of going against the same person every day.”

But he likes the way the “draft” went for matchups. “I’m looking forward to a hard fought, spirited game on Saturday,” said Wilder, who has a career record of 57-27 with ODU.

There are other reasons for Wilder to be happy as the team prepares for its 2016 campaign. Returning to the fold are quarterbacks Shuler Bentley and David Washington, who combined for almost 2,600 yards passing and 20 TD’s last year. Ray Lawry (1,136 rushing yards as a sophomore) will be back, as well as leading receiver Zach Pascal (68 catches, 970 yards and 8 TD’s). In all, most of Wilder’s team will be returning.

“We should be really competitive from last year,” said Wilder, whose team has gone 11-13 since beginning BCS play in two years with Conference USA. “We were the youngest team in the conference last year, and the fourth youngest of 128 Division I (BCS) teams. But we’re returning 44 of our 50 position players – that is, the top two on the depth chart for offense, defense, punter, kicker and returner.”

The Monarchs will complete their spring practices with three sessions next week, keeping them aligned with the NCAA limit of 15.

Ninth Degree Black Belts?? -- Meet Barfield and Dennis

Kyoshi Montez Dennis

Kyoshi Rudolph Barfield

To my surprise, I caught a bit of flack over this article, in the form of a gentleman who told me that the "real" ninth-degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu is a gentleman named Kyoshi Frank Hargrove, who operates a dojo very close by our neighborhood in the north end of Newport News. If the assignment comes in, I will certainly be happy to interview Kyoshi Hargrove. Regardless of who is where, the story of all these gentleman reaching such a high rank is amazing to me.

Nine years ago, both Rudolph Barfield and Montez Dennis, co-owners of the Golden Sun Dojo in Hampton, made karate history, becoming the first African-Americans to earn their eighth ‘dan,” or degree, black belt in Shorin-Ryu, their Okinawan-based discipline of karate. In fact, the two, who earned “Kyoshi” or master status with the promotion, became part of a select group. Very few martial artists ever attain the rank of eighth degree, and it is even rarer considering that Shorin-Ryu is best known on Okinawa, its home base, south of mainland Japan in the Ryukyu Islands, as well as on the West Coast.

For both Barfield and Dennis, earning their eighth degree was the culmination of decades worth of practicing and teaching in the martial arts. At the time, Dennis, who started as Barfield’s student, was in his mid-50’s, while Barfield was approaching the standard retirement age (65). It would have been easy to rest on their laurels and continue operating their successful school, which has been at the same location on Big Bethel Road since opening in 1994.

Yet, the men had more to prove. And on May 1^st, 2015, Barfield and Dennis accomplished a feat that is almost unthinkable, the earning of their ninth degree level of mastery within the Tadashi Yamashita International Association.

To gain a rudimentary understanding of the significance of this accomplishment, one only needs to look at the certificates that were awarded to both men. As Barfield talked about the process of earning this degree, he slid out a piece of 11-by-17 parchment from under the mat on his desk. Underneath the inscription noting the granting of the rank in recognition for “your constant devotion to karate do,” was a blank line filled in with black ink – “Barfield #5.”

“Dennis is number #6,” said Barfield. “We are the only ones on the East Coast who have reached this rank.”

And since Kyoshi Yamashita is the only 10^th degree practitioner, he had to personally make the trip from California to conduct the test, which is less involved with the physical aspects of the sport than expected.

“It takes years of techniques and training that you have to remember,” said Dennis, now 61. “But it depends more on how you teach it to others.”

In fact, while earning lower degrees requires a strenuous weekend of physical karate activity, the ninth degree test only lasts one day.

“He (Yamashita) watches you teach and give a seminar,” said Dennis. “The test is shorter, but the knowledge is longer.”

Dennis added that in the higher degrees, the focus switches over to how much knowledge a student has passed on to others.

And when does the student feel confident enough to call the Grand Master to be tested?

Adds Dennis, “The instructor tells you when you are ready. We don’t tell the instructor! If you ask, you’re not ready.”

Would it be possible for Barfield and Dennis to attain their 10^th degree, seeing that only one man, Yamashita, holds the rank?

“To get promoted again, someone will have to die,” said Barfield, 73. “Or retire,” adds Dennis. Asked about the possibility of the 76-year-old Yamashita stepping aside, Dennis smiles and says, “No time soon.”

There is plenty to keep Barfield and Dennis busy. They have been busy taking their message of personal accountability and discipline through martial arts to the street, working with local leaders to form a community-based network. Two events have been held, and the first was at Heritage High School.

“We had the kids on one side, and the adults on the other,” said Dennis, adding that police officers, counselors, city council members, and even Rev. Anthony Cooper, his senior pastor from the Miracle Temple Baptist Church, are involved with the movement. “We’re aiming to get kids off the street,” he adds. Dennis was surprised to learn that both adults and children shared some of the same concerns and impressed with their level of questions for the community leaders.

To add another incentive for visiting Golden Sun, boxing classes have started at the dojo on Monday and Wednesday nights as well as Saturdays.

If the classes fail to get one’s attention, perhaps a demonstration of the Masters’ skills will. Barfield reflected on one type of skeptical spectator watching him perform.

“I have a demonstration where I cut a cucumber off of someone’s head. And it seems like there is always someone there who is just talk, talk, and talk. So, I’ll invite the person up to assist and ask him to get on his hands and knees. Once he sees the blade on the knife, his eyes start to roll around in his head!”

Karate remains a family affair for Golden Sun. Dennis’ wife of 31 years, Natalie, is a sixth degree black belt and instructor, while sons Carlos and Nikko have been students, and instructors, at the dojo. However, the lineage of the students training at Golden Sun is just as important.

“We have students who go on to attend Harvard and other Ivy League schools,” said Dennis. “But they start out as kids, and end up bringing their kids to the dojo. We have third and fourth generation students here. Hopefully, we’re doing something right.”

On April 3, Golden Sun Dojo will co-sponsor the East Coast Martial Arts Tidewater Challenge at Bethel High School. Now in its 28^th year, the tournament has something for everybody, with over 300 participants from 110 divisions engaging in many different styles of karate, including Kendo, Tae Kwon Do, and Shorin-Yu. The event is open to all styles and associations, and there will be a cash prize for black belt grand champions. 

For more information, visit www.goldensundojo.com, or call (757) 722-5702 or (757) 531-5493.