For A Raider, By A Raider - Klusner Wins 5A State Shotput for JEB Stuart

From MileStat.com (Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)

Through the tears in his eyes, J.E.B. Stuart senior Michael Klusner tried to explain the significance of his win in the 5A Boys shot put on Friday morning.

“I did it for Jeremy,” said the senior, who was seated in a chair just beyond the far bleachers at the Boo Williams Sportsplex.

Jeremy Munga was a football teammate of Klusner’s at the Falls Church school. He was slated to be a slot back and safety for the Raider team. The two were preparing for the upcoming season last July when Munga went on a boating trip from which he never returned.

“He should be here,” said Klusner, sporting a red wristband with “R.I.P. Jeremy” highlighted in white letters. “He was on the boat and did a backflip into the water.” Holding back more tears, Klusner finished his thought. “He never came up.”

Still, Jeremy was with him on Friday morning. He used to text me all the time (saying) “you better win state next year.” I went back through his texts again (before today).

During the same week of Munga’s passing, Klusner, and the Stuart community were struck with tragedy again when Austin Fitzpatrick, another football teammate of Klusner, committed suicide.

“He was supposed to be the star of the team. He could jump, run, he could do anything,” said Klusner of Fitzpatrick. “He was working out with us that day (of his death).

The pressure began building up on the Raider thrower at Munga’s funeral. “People were coming up to me at the service saying, “go and win states for Jeremy.” I could have cared less about winning states – this (effort) was for him.”

And what an effort it was. The 5A shot-put was supposed to be a Battle of Richmond, with Xavier Ivey of Hermitage and Connor Scott of Lee-Davis both sharing the top seed with a throw of 55-10.5. Klusner’s own best throw of 53-5 had him firmly entrenched in third, almost two-and-a-half feet behind the leaders, and nearly four feet ahead of the fourth seed.

But there was a secret, unknown to his opponents. “I knew I had a chance,” said Klusner. “I was throwing 55 feet in practice, but they didn’t know that yet. I knew I could catch them by surprise.”

On his third throw, Klusner glided, turned and threw the 12-lb. ball 54 feet and six inches, enough to nudge into the lead over Ivey and Scott.

Klusner’s lead held firm through the final rounds, and won Klusner and Stuart their first state track title of this millennium.

It was not a moment lost of the Stuart coaches. Leonard Reynolds, who has coached with the Raiders for the better part of 20 years, could only shake his head when reminded of the fact. Distance coach Peter Guevara, a newer member of the coaching staff, and 2012 Stuart graduate, was able to find words.

“(In Klusner) we have a guy working hard with a purpose and determination. Hopefully, that will inspire our other athletes.”

There was help from another source. Reynolds was quick to point a reporter back toward the infield where Washington-Lee throwing coach Josh Patulski was preparing his 6A state title favorite, and future Auburn thrower, Benedict Draghi.

“Coach (Patulski) had a lot to do with this,” said Reynolds. “We were basically here to talk with (Michael).

Patulski joined forces with Klusner last year. “We started out in the summer. I was a glider myself, so I like to be able to help a guy out.” Although the two represent different schools, both Stuart and W-L are members of the former National District.

Klusner will continue his education, and throwing career, next year at Tiffin University in northeast Ohio.

Heritage Defeats Jamestown 58-33 In Ironclad (Conf. 18) Semis

From Daily Press - Thursday, February 16, 2017

NEWPORT NEWS – The Lady Hurricanes of Heritage used a swarming defense against Jamestown to break a close game open in the second quarter and defeat the Eagles 58-33 on Wednesday night.

With the win, Heritage earned a berth in the Ironclad Conference final where they will face top-seeded Grafton. The Clippers survived a scare from sixth-seeded Lafayette before regaining the lead in the final minute to win 57-54, and they will host Heritage on Thursday night at 7 PM.

Heritage (14-8) also clinched a berth in the 4A East regionals, which will begin next week.

The Hurricanes started out slow, and didn’t score until the game’s fourth minute.

“The kids understood the significance of this game,” said Coach Lanica Tallon. “They knew a win would solidify regionals, and they had to work the nervousness out.”

After a sluggish first quarter, which had Heritage holding on to a skittish 9-6 lead, the Lady Canes took control in the second quarter. A short jumper by Rheality Webb was followed on the next possession by another eight-footer from Special Bridges to extend Heritage’s lead to 20-10 midway through the period.

On the defensive end, Heritage was successful in containing Jamestown’s leading scorer Corynthian Williams. Williams, who averages 18 points per game, was held to a pair of free throws in the first half.

“We did some things to speed up our game, and it affected how Jamestown played,” said Tallon. “Our aggressiveness led to some good things.”

A put back basket by Jamestown’s Anaya Simmons made the score 21-12. But, on the next possession, the Canes’ Trinity Carter buried a three-pointer from the right wing. Just before halftime, it was Carter again who grabbed a defensive rebound from inside the paint, dribbled the length of the floor and scored on an underhanded flip that swished through the net. Heritage led 28-12 at the intermission.

Jamestown (14-10) found its firepower in the third quarter. Williams finally erupted and scored the Eagles first 11 points as the visitors attempted to climb back into contention. Annette O’Leary added five points for Jamestown in the final two minutes and the Eagles narrowed the lead to 11 at 42-31 after the third period.

However, Heritage started the final quarter with a 13-0 run to effectively put the game away. Webb led the Hurricanes with 15 points, while Bridges scored nine of her 13 in the fourth quarter. Williams topped all Jamestown scorers with 15 points.

Asked about the prospect of facing Grafton, a long-time Bay Rivers powerhouse, Tallon turned the focus to her team.

“We saw them at a Christmas tournament because we were in the same bracket. But we need to focus on us. We’re going to treat the game like any other. If we can take care of the little things, then I’ll live with the results.”

Jamestown   6,  6, 19, 2   -- 33

Heritage       9, 19, 14, 16 -- 58

JAMESTOWN (14-10): Knotts 2, C. Williams 15, O’Leary 10, Simmons 6. Totals 12 8-11 33.

HERITAGE (14-8):  Carter 8, Deloatch 4, Webb 15, Martinez 6, Bridges 13, Goodman 6, Newell 6. Totals 23 8-17 58.

3-point goals: Jamestown 1 (C. Williams), Heritage 4 (Carter 2, Martinez 2).

Westfield K Delaney Makes Parade All-American Football Team

As seen on UltimateRecruit.com

UVA bound Brian Delaney managed to be the lone Virginian on the Parade All-American teams

by Jim McGrath, recruitNoVA

Brian Delaney, Westfield’s first team 6A All-State kicker has earned another distinguished honor – one that truly separates him from every other high school football player in the Old Dominion.

The University of Virginia signee was recently selected as a Parade magazine 2016 All-American, making him the only player from the state to earn a spot (first team or honorable mention) on the squad. The All-American team was displayed in the Parade magazine that was included in many newspapers nationwide last Sunday.

Delaney was instrumental in the Bulldogs’ successful 2016 season, which ended with a 13-2 record and a second consecutive 6A state title. The 5’11” senior, who also doubled as the Bulldog punter, scored 96 points, while converting 12 field goals and 60 extra points, helping Coach Kyle Simmons’ team overcome a rocky 4-2 start to reel off nine straight wins and defend their 2015 championship. Westfield finished the season with an exciting 34-28 double overtime win over Oscar Smith in the 6A final at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton.

Coach Simmons spoke of Delaney’s talent as the key member on kickoffs and punts.

“We rarely had to cover a kickoff during his tenure,” said Simmons. “It is a huge advantage in high school when you know the opposing team will be starting at their own 20 (yard line).” In fact, about 75 percent of Delaney’s kickoffs (59 of 81 in 2015 alone) sailed into the end zone, setting up a touchback situation.

Brian Delaney’s ability to hold punts in the air was another advantage, according to Simmons.

“Brian regularly flips the ball with his punts. He routinely punted the ball above the lights at high school stadiums, and his hang time rarely gave opponents the opportunity to return punts.”

The third advantage of his kicker’s leg strength came from giving the coach more options on offense.

“He allows you the shot at long field goals. (Delaney) hit a 42-yard field goal as time expired against Robinson,” said Simmons, recalling his kicker’s game winner which gave the Bulldogs a narrow 29-28 victory over the Rams in mid-October, as Westfield was struggling to find its bearings as a team.

As a junior, Delaney made 11 field goals and averaged 45 yards per punt, and won first team 6A All-State honors as a kicker and punter. He is a first-team MaxPreps All-American as a punter, an Under Armour All-American, and Delaney played in the 2017 Under Armour All-America game at Camping World Stadium. He is rated a five-star kicker and a five-star punter by Kohl’s Kicking, as well as the No. 1 punter in the country by Kohl’s Kicking. The three-year starter is also rated as a three-star recruit, and the No. 2 kicker by ESPN.com, and No. 5 high school kicker in America by 247Sports.com.

Perhaps no one was more surprised by the Parade selection than Delaney himself.

“I didn’t have any warning,” said Delaney. “My Mom was the first to see it on Sunday when she picked up the newspaper and told me. It was a pretty cool surprise.”

Delaney is excited about both his pending academic and athletic career at U. VA.

Asked about a potential senior slump in his final semester of high school, Delaney was quick to tell a reporter that he has been studying hard and his upcoming grades should remain in the 3.6 GPA range. “Things are going well (academically).”

“I’m fired up and can’t wait to go and help the Cavaliers, It’s a dream come true and I’m looking forward to going,” said Delaney. He had no answer to the question of possibly redshirting with the Wahoos, but his goal is to become both the kicker and punter with Virginia. Asked if he expected to play both positions from Day 1, he echoed one of Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s favorite lines, explaining that every position with the Cavs is “earned, not given.”

Yet, with an All-American honor in his back pocket, and four years of hard work ahead of him, Delaney’s future in Charlottesville could end up becoming very memorable. After a 2-10 season in 2016, it is safe to say that the University of Virginia truly upgraded at one, and possibly two positions heading into 2017.

Stick Power Brings Indoor Field Hockey to the Virginia Peninsula

From the Daily Press, Jan. 15, 2017 and Virginia Peninsula Sports (updated version), Jan. 23, 2017

One of the fastest growing outdoor sports on the Peninsula, field hockey has moved indoors for the winter, and hundreds of young women and men are busy showing off their skills as a new season broke ground earlier this month.

Properly named, the StickPower field hockey operation, headed by owner Carrie Moura, has been in existence for several years, but looks to make a breakthrough in the public eye with this season’s slate of activities. The six-game winter league season, which commenced on January 21, was pushed back for logistical reasons, but remains complimented by two editions of the Christopher Newport Indoor Tournament, which held its first event on December 17 at the Freeman Center. The second tourney took place on January 14, and was won by the Hawks Premier club.

The proceeds from both events will be used to finance the CNU field hockey team’s annual international trip.

Allie Hackbarth-Kerr is a 2015 alumnus of Christopher Newport and the Lady Captains field hockey team, and currently serves as the Director of Operations for StickPower. She is assisted by a coaching staff that includes four current CNU players, one Old Dominion player, and a Warwick High player, Sam Brady, who has competed at the National indoor tournament with a boys’ team. As Kerr reminds a reporter, “outside of the U.S., field hockey is a men’s sport, so we would love more boys to play the game.”

“I’m part coordinator and part recruiter and promoter,” says Kerr to a prospective parent while selling tourney t-shirts at the first event. “(Young ladies) will express interest in the program, and I’ll tell them about CNU – how there are 164 teams in Division III and CNU is consistently in the top 20 or 25. So, you want to come to CNU?”

However, StickPower is much more than a recruiting arm of the Captains program, easily evidenced by its drawing power. The program draws as many as 500 young women each year who are interested in “extra competition and extra training,” according to Kerr.

Although goals are not tallied for the regular season games, the players are encouraged to “up their game,” said Kerr. She added, “Not keeping score is not meant to give off an “everyone wins” vibe. We are here to educate and teach these athletes the intricacies and strategies of the game. Not only will their skill increase, but their mental understanding of the game should increase as well, which will aid them when we get back to outdoor (season).”

Yet, there is more to StickPower than simply playing field hockey.

“It’s about becoming a responsible adult,” says Kerr, who, as a newlywed at 23, has just made the transition herself. “I was in the best shape of my life when I played, but the program is also about developing a grownup mindset.  You are not the person who tells her boss that you can’t come to work today.”

A steady dose of playing time is part of the StickPower success equation. There are 20 teams in the league, but only eight or nine members on each team, of which six needs to be competing at any given time.

“We don’t have too many subs,” says Kerr.

Caroline Moniz and Lydia Ward are two long-time members of StickPower, which plays its games at “The Grove” inside of the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church facility in Yorktown.

Moniz is a member of the U-19 (age) team, and a junior who plays on the Jamestown High varsity squad. “I got started with StickPower after my freshman season ended, and I was looking for a way to play field hockey and improve my skills. What I like best about StickPower is the coaching staff. (They) work with us continually to improve our skills, but we also have a lot of fun.”

“Carrie (Moura) brought me in with my younger sister Chloe and made us feel welcome from the minute I met her,” says Ward, a member of the varsity team at Warwick. “The CNU players treat you like little sisters and really help you with the skills to play the game.”

Indoor field hockey is different from the traditional outdoor model. Aside from the smaller “field” dimensions, each team features five players and a goalie, while the sticks are shorter and thinner than the regulation outdoor models. At the CNU tournaments, three games take place simultaneously on adjacent courts with a single clock counting off the 25-minute game time. Twenty teams took part in the first tourney with the Menchville “Monarchs” (U-19) and “Panthers” from Richmond (U-16) winning the team age-group titles.

More information about the program, which includes year-round camps, clinics, and a summer league session, is located online at www.stickpowerfieldhockey.com.

“We are always accepting applications,” says Kerr.