Once the Lady Flucos stepped onto the court the jokes stopped, and the atmosphere became as serious as an Iowa caucus. This mostly young team brought its all in the opening set, snagging the first win. Sparking the flame of success, the girls’ game-play only headed uphill.
Securing the second set with grace and ease took the pressure off the team. Key sophomore player Leslie Walters had a spectacular game and deserved her playing time. “After working incredibly hard over summer to prepare for this season having such a great game gives me great pride in my performance,” said Walters.
Going into the third set, these athletes had big smiles on their faces. A quick win gave them the 3-0 win that they prepared so much for. On Sept. 25 the team traveled to Powhatan High School to try and continue its winning streak.
The junior varsity girls put in just as much effort as their role models at the varsity level by securing a 2-0 win against Louisa on Sept. 20. “I make sure to get a good night’s sleep, keep volleyball-oriented thoughts in my head, and stay pumped up all day,” said freshman Annaleise Kennedy. The girls work well together and are improving their skills every day.
After the Ladies take on Powhatan, they’ll face the Charlottesville Black Knights at home on Sept. 27 for what should be a big matchup in the Jefferson District.
Cross country
The Lady Flucos’ cross country team didn’t have any scheduled meets this week, but that will not stop these ferocious girls from staying focused and improving. With last week’s phenomenal performance at the Woodberry Forest Invitational they plan to channel their energy and excitement into an explosion of talent, skill, and determination to crush their next opponents.
“I think the week off will benefit our team by allowing us to practice more and work harder,” said sophomore Devon Burger. Practice makes perfect, and the Ladies don’t stop pushing themselves when the going gets tough. “No matter what the weather is like, we make sure to stay strong,” added Burger.
The Flucos’ next meet will be the Maymont Invitational on Sept. 29. “I plan on keeping a steady pace, but just fast enough to beat my old personal record,” said freshman Bridget Bossong. Their goal of surpassing old times and winning new awards is always on the team’s mind.
The boys’ team experienced a week off as well, after their well-executed race at Woodberry Forest. The athletes are on the younger side for the most part, but they still have a great role on the team. “I run my race, practice like everyone else, and always make sure to support the team,” said sophomore leader Travis Moe. “I plan on getting a new personal record in our upcoming meet as well,” Moe said.
Several members of the team said they felt that the two weeks off would benefit their chances at Maymont. “After all of the hard work I will have put in, I will be very confident that I will run well,” said sophomore Drew Walls.
The Flucos hope to stay a big competitor in the Jefferson District, no matter what the outcome of individual races.
Football
The junior varsity team walked into Phil Browning Stadium on Sept. 19 determined to improve on last year’s shut out by Kettle Run. They soon found that the win would not be theirs that night. Kettle Run scored 31 while Fluvanna scored 0.
“The players tried and tried,” said Avery Sebolt. “[But] we will win the next game,” he vowed. The Flucos’ next game will be Sept. 26 at Charlottesville, as they take on the Black Knights.
In contrast, the freshman football team had a much more positive experience on Sept. 20 at Fork Union Military Academy. The Flucos dominated the field, winning their game 33-22. With no games for a few weeks, the team will focus its energies on preparing for the Oct. 11 match against Heritage at home.
Meanwhile, Fluvanna’s varsity football team had its own chance to take on the much-larger-in-size Kettle Run team on Sept. 21 at home. Unfortunately, although energized by a home field advantage, their experience with Kettle Run ended up being even more painful than the junior varsity’s, losing 56-0.
Despite the loss, Coach Jason Barnett focused on the positive. “I think that their performance is improving each week. They are tackling better, and aren’t backing away from any challenges,” he said. Varsity’s next match is an away-game against Charlottesville on Friday (Sept. 28).
Golf
The Fluco golf team had its district match on Sept. 20 at Lake Monticello against Monticello, Western Albemarle and Louisa.
“The boys were really excited,” said Coach Steven Szarmach. “We play the best teams and we only take the top six. It’s really exciting to go up against the top six…,” he said.
Unfortunately, the players started off with a weak game, and never caught up, ultimately losing the match. “My play was horrible. I’m not particularly proud with how I played,” said Nick Yancey.
Overall, the team lost to its competitors with a total of 403 points. Louisa had 324 points, Monticello had 337, and Western Albemarle had 342. “I didn’t do as well as I could have, but I’m content with the score,” said player Christian Baber.
