Other Fluvanna sports teams also transitioned to the new and very modern gym at the new high school. No more “Shoebox” for the Flying Flucos. While the indoor sports teams are now in new facilities, a tradition of excellence in boys’ basketball appears to be in little danger of faltering. Early in 2012, the Flucos under long time coach Munro Rateau won the Virginia Region II, Division AA, crown for the second year in a row, and they also played their way into the state semi-finals, for the second year in a row. While the Flucos lost again in the state semi-finals, they finished the year with a very impressive 24-4 record. Ya Ya Anderson lead the way for the Flucos in their run to the state semis, and he has gone on to play Division 1 basketball on scholarship, at Radford University. This fall the boys’ team under Coach Rateau has opened its season with a 13-2 record to date. Not bad at all for a team with only one starter returning. The future looks strong as well, since the team is led by sophomores, Vinnie Agee and Jalen Harrison.
Another indoor team that continued a winning tradition was the girls’ volleyball team under Coach Christi Harlowe. Senior Hannah Miller was the standout on this squad.
The Fluco soccer teams continued their traditional winning ways in 2012. The girls’ team under Coach Tara Garcia was 10-5-1, while the boy’s team under new Coach Earl Gibson posted a 14-5-1 record, and scored a win in the Region II tournament. The girl’s swim team has also been successful of late, it too had an athlete go on to Division 1 sports at Radford University, as Yvonne Smith signed a letter of intent to swim and/or dive for the Highlanders.
The Fluco baseball team has traditionally been strong, but it faltered slightly in 2012 to finish at 11-11. The softball team was slightly more successful with a 12-8 record. Track and Field and wrestling also were sports where the Flucos had standout performers. In track and field, Greer Brown, Hannah Meader, and Chance Parmly led the way. Wrestling standouts included Ben Lacey and Justin Zimmerman.
Another tradition of excellence that appears to be developing on the Fluco sports scene, involves the girls’ cross country team. Under the tutelage of Coach Rose Brogan the girl’s raced to their second consecutive Jefferson District crown in 2012. Junior Nicki Douma and sophomore Devon Burger led the way.
In the spring of 2012 another transition in the Fluco sports program was the introduction of a new sport, lacrosse. Many schools in the area have been playing lacrosse for a number of years, but the Flucos just introduced the sport in spring of 2012. The Fluco boys and girls teams did not have much on the field success in their initial season, but it will be interesting to see how the school’s teams develop in this very spectator friendly sport.
An important transition on the Fluvanna County sports scene occurred at the Lake Monticello golf course. After several down years in terms of course conditions, the Lake Monticello Owners Association decided to contract out golf course maintenance to the Billy Casper Group. Billy Casper brought in Jim Prucnal from Delaware to head up its effort to bring the Lake course back to its formerly high reputation. To date, this transition looks like it will be a highly successful one.
Several traditional events on the Fluvanna County sports scene continued uninterrupted in 2012. The University of Virginia women’s rowing team continued its long run of holding its big home meet of the season on Lake Monticello. This continues to be the only Division 1 sports event held in the county. The highly ranked rowing team has been hosting a rowing competition at Lake Monticello since 1996. Another Fluvanna County tradition that continued in 2012 is the Timo’s 5K race, which is now held on Father’s Day weekend every year. At Lake Monticello, the Gray Foxes senior men’s golf group played its 26th season.
