This season, the team introduced a new coach, Dean Hall. The bar was set high at the very first meeting as the words “district championship” echoed in the athletes’ heads. “Coach Hall is definitely able to elevate the program,” said senior Jed Harris. “He’s bringing new techniques and strategies to the sport that we didn’t think of before.”
“The workouts are extremely tough,” said senior Kyle Swanson. “Cardio is our main focus. We’ve been doing a lot of interval running and stairs,” he said, “So it is looking to be a promising season for the whole squad.”
The team’s elevated fitness level was clearly the deciding factor as they overpowered the competition at Massanutten Military Academy on Dec. 8. The team won the tournament and had eight wrestlers medal, including four first place finishes and the tournament’s MVP, Justin Zimmerman.
“If we keep wrestling like this there is not much that could stop us,” said senior Jovan Burton. “I was really impressed with how we did overall,” he added.
The team is looking to keep up the pace as they hit the mats again on Dec. 14.
ACE team
“What y-shaped structure in the body attacks antigens?” Answer: “Antibodies.” If this type of question makes your heart flutter, you’d be someone who would enjoy the ACE team. This knowledge- based, Jeopardy-style academic sport has been making waves in Fluvanna for almost two decades.
Questions like the one above are the type of questions members of the team were asked as they traveled to Western Albemarle on Dec. 5 to face Western, Louisa and Charlottesville. For their third match of the season the team fought its hardest, but failed to come away with a victory against the competition.
Despite the disappointment, team members were set on improving for their meet on Dec. 12. Team members spend every Monday afternoon together looking up facts and increasing their already immense knowledge base. “We’ve been studying hard at practice, and if we keep it up I’m sure we can make a run and beat some teams in the district,” said senior Colleen Burke.
“There’s no doubt in my mind we can improve. We just need to keep our heads up. There is no one who is for-sure smarter than us,” said senior Cassie Woods. The team will resume their season on Jan. 10 when they face Monticello.
Varsity boys’ basketball
With last year’s banner year for the varsity boys’ basketball team, the question is this: Can this year’s team continue the Fluvanna legacy? “A lot of the players contribute to help us win this season. [This year] we have a wider variety of talented players,” said sophomore Jalen Harrison.
Three games into the season, the boys are still undefeated. The Fluvanna boys looked incredible in their first game on Nov. 27 against Spotsylvania, winning 73-56. “Spotsylvania was our toughest game of the season. They played pretty dirty, using foul language on the court. Our team did a great job of ignoring their comments and continued to play hard,” said Harrison. Fired up from their win over Spotsy, they then took on Liberty High School and continued their winning ways with an impressive 67-51 victory.
In the third game of the season, the Flucos hosted Cumberland for the first time in the new high school on Dec. 5. The Flucos were determined to be victorious for their fans, so losing, in their own house was not an option. “I love being able to look into the stands and see my Fluco classmates. It really gets me pumped to win,” said senior Dashon Tibbs. The Flucos played like a well-oiled machine against Cumberland, executing plays like an NBA team. Their 65-52 win kept their successful season alive
JV boys’ basketball
The junior varsity basketball team is matching the varsity success win for win, maintaining their own undefeated season. Their first win of the season was a dominating performance as they destroyed Spotsylvania 55-20. The team was firing on all cylinders as they ran away with the game. The question was, could they maintain this success?
They answered that question in their landslide victory against Liberty, smashing Liberty’s junior varsity team 55-31. Then came their first real challenge: taking on Cumberland High. Both teams exchanged blows like two heavyweight boxers. When the dust settled and the final bell sounded, Fluvanna stood standing with a narrow four-point victory, winning 47-43. Sophomore junior varsity Captain Hunter Deforge led the team by scoring 16 points.
According to Coach Heath Bralley, the game against Cumberland should not have been as close as one might think. “Hunter is our floor general. Like a car, Hunter is the keys to get us started. Every member of this team can contribute greatly. We started [the game against Cumberland] very strong in the first and second quarter, but once we got up, the team relaxed in the third quarter,” said Bralley. A little encouragement from the Fluco cheer section got them back in gear. Many on the team consider the fans “the true sixth man” and a vital part of their success. “The louder the gym gets the more hyped I get,” said sophomore Craig Cook.
“We have started the season great, [and] all of us are playing as one. I hope we can stay united as a team and continue this great season,” said Deforge.
Varsity girls’ basketball.
Fluvanna pride doesn’t end with the boys’ program; the girls’ teams are attempting to make a name for themselves on the court too. The varsity girls started their season off with a tough defeat at the hands of Spotsylvania. The girls played their hearts out, but lost by just ten points. The Lady Flucos bounced back in typical Fluco fashion, totally controlling the court against Goochland and knotting up their record at 1-1 with a 46-22 win.
In the third game of the season, the Lady Flucos dropped another tight game against Liberty, which edged out the Flucos 32-26. Determined to return to a .500 winning percentage, the Lady Flucos unleashed their fury on a Goochland team for the second time. In dominating fashion, they downed the Bull Dogs 48-28. “The refs always ask me at every game, ‘What is a Fluco?’ and every time I reply, ‘Us! We are Flucos,’” said varsity Captain Ashleigh Harris.
With a desire to prove that the Lady Flucos must be respected, the girls were determined to win their fifth game of the season against a tough Cumberland team on Dec. 5. “We had a rough start and the whole first half was a battle. During the third quarter Cumberland became tired and with the help of the fans and the bench players, we were able to push through the third and fourth quarter, winning 42-25,” said varsity sophomore Captain JP Elliott. Elliott led the charge, scoring 11 points. Sophomore Kianna Childress added 10 points to the mix and senior Ashleigh Harris got in the fun, scoring 9 points. The Flucos are now 3-2 and looking to build on their success.
JV girls’ basketball
The girls’ junior varsity team is showing they too have what it takes to win. They have started the season 4-1 and are looking really strong. With wins over Spotsylvania, Cumberland and two against Goochland, the girls are confident in their ability to be successful this year. Their only loss came in a nail-biter against Liberty. The Liberty/Fluvanna game was an instant classic, with Liberty edging out Fluvanna by a mere three points.
“We have to make this happen now. We are focused on the here and now, working hard and we will be successful,” said freshman Brooklyn Duenas.
Indoor track
In their first meet of the season, the team on Dec. 7, the team traveled to Woodbury Forest. Senior Chris Markham finished in first place in the 3200 meter, junior Hannah Meader finished first place in pole vault, and the girls’ team finished first in the 4×800.
“I think we have great potential to win this year. With hard work, anything is possible,” said pole vaulter Hannah Meador. Next, the team will travel to FUMA for two more meets. “The practices have been cold and hard and we have few athletes to work with, but we are definitely showing progress,” said senior runner Chris Markham. After losing many seniors last year the young team must work hard to continue the winning tradition.
“We have six practices a week. We are at school for twelve hours, two days a week and we work hard. I feel we have the potential to have a great season, just like we did last year, if we put our minds to it and push as hard as we can,” said freshman runner Bridget Bossong.
