HRA's Forbes Signs With Acro-Tumbling Team at Converse College

Alexis Forbes of Hampton Roads Academy signed a scholarship offer to compete for the fledgling Converse College acrobatics and tumbling team on April 15. Converse, an all-women’s school, is located in Spartanburg, SC, and is officially a member of the Division II Conference Carolinas. However, with barely a dozen schools nationwide sporting Acro/Tumbling teams, the Converse squad will be competing out-of-conference, and usually against larger schools, such as Baylor and Oregon.

For Forbes, her introduction to gymnastics started at a very young age, when the two-year old was enrolled for classes at World Class Gymnastics in Newport News. She started competing for World Class at the age of six, and then took a brief respite from the sport at 10. Several months later, she re-emerged with Gymnastics Inc. in Hampton, and finally collaborated with Coach Tony Hampton at Hurricane Gymnastics, where she has been for the past six years.

All along, she knew that the acrobatics and tumbling routines were her favorite parts of gymnastics. Upon learning of the new variation of the sport, she filled out various recruiting questionnaires to schools offering Acro/Tumbling as a sport and caught the eye of newly hired Valkyrie coach Keegan Johnson. In fact, said Forbes, her interest in Converse preceded any formal visit, because there was no coach to meet at the school.

“I had shown my interest and sent videos to Converse before they even hired Coach Johnson. I’m going to be a founding member of the team.”

Forbes will be one of 23 recruits to the first-year team. Yet, with so few squads competing, the tiny (820 undergraduate enrollees) school will be thrust into national competition from Day 1. That was one of the selling points for Johnson, an All-American gymnast at Baylor, as she built her first team.

“Coach Johnson told me, I’m going to have very high expectations for you. I’m going to work you guys hard. I want to win, and I mean it,” said Forbes.

Hard work and high achievement is nothing new for the Navigator senior. At HRA, Forbes has maintained a near straight “A” average throughout her middle and high school career. As she admits, “I did get a “B” in fifth grade English, but that was it.”

Her drive in the gym will have to sustain through the spring and summer months. Last October, Johnson hit her head on the balance beam and suffered a concussion, her third. However, this one kept her out of competition for the entire gymnastics season, and she is only now gathering her acrobatic bearings while competing in diving and track with the HRA teams. “The track is helping with my endurance, and when the season is over, I’ll be back in the gym.”

Forbes aims to major in either biology or pre-med at Converse, where the Acrobatics and Tumbling season will begin this November.

Shinskie Wins D-Line Award at Ultimate Recruit's "Clash of the Titans" Camp

As seen on Recruit NoVA.com

It’s good to have choices, especially when it comes to the decision of where to attend college. It’s even better when one has seven Ivy League schools and a military academy on the list of potential college choices. Perhaps it is best when the eight schools are equally interested in having you attend their institution of higher learning, AND play football.

Mitchell Shinskie, a defensive lineman and tight end for Colonial Forge, has these choices.

Shinskie, who won the outstanding defensive lineman award at last weekend’s “Clash of the Titans” camp, has been compiling a “Who’s Who” list of academic powerhouse list of schools who are interested in his gridiron abilities. At 6’4” and 245 pounds, the junior is already large enough to be a force at defensive tackle or tight end on the FCS or BCS levels. His abilities on the field can benefit almost any program.

His academic prowess is equally impressive.

In a twist of fate, however, it was his absence from football last year that helped make him a red-hot prospect among the academically elite schools.

To hear Mitchell Shinskie retell the story, one fails to detect a sense of anger or regret.

“After my sophomore season, I was heavily recruited by Virginia Tech, U. VA, and Purdue,” said the honors student, who has six Advanced Placement courses on his academic record. “Then, a broken wrist bone last summer put it all on ice – just like my wrist!”

Undaunted, Shinskie pushed through his recovery, but some damage had been done. The interest from the first three courting schools subsided. “(The wrist) is 100 percent healed now, but battling back up recruiting boards is tougher than I thought. Since I did not attend camps last summer, no one really knows me.”

The anonymity carried through the first half of the 2016 season. “My stats were off last season, as playing in a cast will do that. I didn’t get the (numbers) they wanted to see.”

In spite of his reduced productivity, on the field, Shinskie learned a valuable lesson while recuperating.

“Everything your parents tell you about grades and their importance seemed to sink in.”

Shinskie was already an honor student, but he put forth an extra effort toward the books. The results were astounding. At present, he sports a 4.03 unweighted GPA that includes credit in a half-dozen AP classes. He plans to take seven more next year.

His standardized test numbers are also approaching the academic stratosphere. Shinskie has scored 1380 on the SAT, and aims to earn a 31 on the upcoming ACT.

Schools started noticing Shinskie again as 2017 rolled around. Along with the seven Ivy schools on board (to note, Brown is the only one who hasn’t extended a letter of interest), he is expecting to also hear from William and Mary, as well as Georgetown by week’s end. As Shinskie is learning, recruiting is a fluid process.

“It’s grueling. Ups and downs pretty much every week.”

Taking advantage of the offseason, the junior has been active in camps such as “Clash of the Titans.” Shinskie enjoyed many aspects of this year’s inaugural camp, held at Highland Springs High, near Richmond.

“I thought the entire experience was fantastic. The instruction provided was absolutely phenomenal. They had us running shuttles and drills that we would see in combines and camps thereafter, so it was a great practice.”

Self-aware as he is, Shinskie also noted the benefit in “allowing me to get my name out a bit more.”

Colonial Forge, under Coach Bill Brown, should be a favorite to make another deep run into the 6A state playoffs in 2017. The Eagles finished 11-3 last season, easily defeating Hylton (23-0), Thomas Dale (42-21) and Manchester (27-19) in the playoffs before falling victim to the juggernaut known as Oscar Smith 27-20 in the state semifinals, as Virginia’s all-time passing yard leading quarterback Shon Mitchell tossed four touchdowns, including the game winner to Khalil Perry in overtime.

Eager to put the sting of last year’s loss behind him, Shinskie has maintained the valuable lessons learned while sitting on the sidelines. His preparation for the upcoming season is moving along well.

“I can honestly say that I have never been as focused, in the classroom and the weight room. I’m on a mission. The team lost a lot of great players and leadership in its senior class, but we have some talented kids working to fill the void.”

Mitchell Shinskie remains optimistic about next year, even though there will be some changes.

“We have a new offensive line coach who has played at the highest level of the game, and a few returning starters on varsity. All in all, we’ll be just as good, if not better than last year.”

The order to improve will be a tall one. Last year’s Forge offensive unit lit up the scoreboard while averaging a shade over 35 points per game. Defensively, with Shinskie anchoring the defensive end spot, the Eagles allowed 15.6 points, with the shutout of Hylton, and All-State running back Ricky Slade, among the highlights.

Given his current list of interested schools, it will be intriguing to see what other schools will join the hunt for Shinskie’s collegiate services after an injury-free senior year.

Newport News T&F Hall of Fame Inducts Five

One of the highlights of Conn-Madden Relays weekend is the induction of local athletes into the Newport News Track and Field Hall of Fame.

The Hall was founded in the early 1980’s and held up for about twenty years, before sliding away from activity for a decade. In 2011, the Hall was renewed with the induction of 17 new members, and it has remained steadfast since then.

This year’s class includes four athletes and a coach from two Newport News schools. Representing Woodside was Brandon Burton and Majique Key. From Heritage, Octavia James and Dontae Bugg were selected, as was Jacqueline Bateman, one of the Hurricane coaches since its opening in 1996.

Burton was a star middle distance runner for the Wolverines in the late 2000’s who clocked a 1:52.62 in the 800 at the CNU Captains Classic during his senior year. Burton continued his career as a 400-meter hurdler and quarter miler at the University of Virginia. While at U. VA, Burton was an ACC performer at the long hurdles, with a best of 52 seconds. He also won All-American honors as a member of the Cavaliers distance medley. Burton graduated from Charlottesville in 2014.

Key was the best short sprinter in Woodside history, with best times of 10.95 and 22.23 in the 100 and 200 meters during his senior season of 2011. He also won the AAA state title in the 55 meters during indoor season, with a time of 6.30. Key could not attend the event, as he is in Vermont trying out for the expansion Vermont Bucks team of the Arena Football League. However, in his message, presented by mother Alfreida Gordon, Key thanked Coaches Derrel Johnson and Jerome Rhodes “for always busting my butt… telling me never give up and saying - YOU BETTER RUN KEY!” Said Gordon, “he loved track, but now he’s following his NFL dreams.”

Dontae Bugg was the oldest athlete inducted this year, but Bugg is hardly a greybeard. After graduating from Heritage in 1998, Bugg went on to star at the University of Maryland where he broke the 60-meter indoor hurdle record (7.92) in 2000, and held on to it for seven years. Bugg, now an attorney in Fairfax, VA, had not returned to Todd Stadium in several years, but said that he misses the “competition and camaraderie the most,” adding “I have a ton of memories from here, and a lot of good friends.”

Octavia James has stayed closer to the track since winning a memorable state championship over future Olympian T’erea (then Tierra) Brown of Hampton High in the 300-meter hurdles during her 2005 senior year. She started college in Pennsylvania, but transferred to join the VCU track team. “Our lineup (at VCU) was different then,” said James, who now works as a behavioral counselor at the Behavioral Health Center in Norfolk. “We had a whole bunch of distance runners and a plethora of jumpers, but maybe two hurdlers.” James, who misses the “race day feeling” from track, went on to coach at Tabb High, and later CNU for two years, before settling into her new position. She is excited about the induction of sports as part of the therapeutic process at BHC. “We’re getting into basketball and dancing as part of what they’re doing in therapy.”

Jacqueline Bateman has been a high school track coach for 24 years, but happens to work with legendary Coach Ray Pollard, who has over 40 years of experience with a stopwatch and whistle. While she has maintained that she is happy to be in “class with the other coaches,” she was surprised to get the Hall nod. “I’m more of an undercover person, with the parents, in the classroom and school. This is a special, but surprising award.” During her time with the Hurricanes, Bateman has worked with a number of Heritage state champions, including James. She credits Pollard as a great coaching partner. “We complement each other. If one does this, then the other one does that. Coaching is much more than just giving somebody a workout.”

The Hall of Fame ceremony was held on Friday night, just after the conclusion of the first day of events at the Conn-Madden Relays.

Mach I Academy Holds VA Beach 7-on-7 Tournament

Dozens of the young players that will constitute the future of Virginia prep football had their talents on display last Saturday, as Mach I Academy held its “2 Up 2 Down” 7-on-7 showcase at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. The event is one of a handful that is constituted up and down the East Coast and includes tournaments in Raleigh and Pittsburgh.

The Mach I Academy, headed by Bishop Sullivan assistant football coach Stephen Evans, is centered on the process of success, and as stated in their mission statement, is focused on each participant being growth-conscious more than goal-conscious. Components of growth consciousness include the principles of faith, character and conditioning, which come together to honor the process of success.

Sullivan was well represented, with Crusader assistant coach Rashad Lilly taking the helm of two squads. Coach D.J. Palmer, a fellow assistant from Stafford, also brought a pair of “Beast Mode” teams to the affair.

In the end, it was one of Lilly’s teams that won the championship for the day, but there was something to be gained for both coaches and players, who braved a cold and windy day to play a little football.

Palmer, who brought a handful of Yellow Jacket players with him, is up to five teams, ranging from U-9 to U-15, with his program in Fredericksburg, and spoke highly of the opportunity to travel south.

“We are so grateful to the people of Virginia Beach. They do so many things for these kids,” said Palmer, who is in his fourth year with the travel team, but has been coaching youths and high school footballers for 16 years. “Without events such as this, we wouldn’t have anywhere to be.”

Palmer’s troops were loaded. His 14-and-under group featured players such as wide receiver Holt Egan of North Stafford and Massaponax tackle Brandon Howard, who was listed at 6’1 and 210 pounds last season, but looked much larger on the Sportsplex field. To his credit, Egan made several outstanding catches, including one leaping grab where he caught the ball behind his head.

“He’s big time,” quipped Palmer.

It was the 13-and-under group that created the most fireworks for Palmer on Saturday. With Todd Smith at quarterback, and receivers Jairen Plummer and Isaiah Daniels at the flanks, the seventh graders moved the ball with ease.

“This group has been together for a few years,” added the coach. “In fact, they made it to the AYF National Championships last year. These kids know each other,” said Palmer, who added that earlier in the morning the group had played a ninth grade team and held their own in a 12-6 loss.

Although his teams are successful, Palmer is just as proud of his system for gathering players.

“Unlike most of the other teams, we don’t do tryouts. We coach everybody. Usually what happens with us is that somebody plays on one of our teams, and then brings a friend to play. And those friends bring their friends.”

Of course, there is a limit. “We do have to stick to a limit of 16 with the travel teams, because obviously, only seven at a time can play. But the guys who aren’t on the travel team still come to practice and work out with us.”

Several of the players enjoyed the opportunity for extra exposure and a chance to play some tough offseason competition.

Quarterback Taylor Eggers played his sophomore year with Miles Godwin in Richmond, but suffered a concussion in the “fourth or fifth” game, leading to him splitting time behind center with another QB over the rest of the season. Looking to gain an advantage and a shot at more playing time, Eggers will be transferring to Trinity Episcopal next year.

It is Eggers’ first year in the 7-on-7 league, but he looks to enhance his college options with the move.

“I like the exposure (of playing in the league) and the chance to earn more college visits. Already, Eggers, who looks like a college-sized signal caller at 6’3” and 205 lbs. has taken two unofficial college visits, to Alabama and Auburn. Asked which of the schools he preferred, Eggers enthusiastically remarked, “I loved Auburn!” The University of Georgia is next on his visit list.

Meanwhile, young receiver and free safety Ze’marion Harrell waited for his next game. The Landstown Middle student and player will be enrolling at Bishop Sullivan next year, and aims to make an immediate impact for Coach Chris Scott.

Asked why he chose Sullivan, the quiet and reserved youngster said, “For the school, the academics, and the football.” Harrell is well familiar with the 7-on-7 league having played for several years. “I know all of the coaches, especially Coach Steve (Evans), added Harrell. He called the Mach I experience “wonderful,” and felt that his first three games had been “good.” He stands 5’9”, but already possesses the hands of a quality receiver as evidenced by the handshake grip he gave to a reporter.

Several more tournaments like this will take place later this spring, including Recruit757.com’s own Battle, which will pit 757 players against 804 and NoVA competitors.