By Duncan Nixon, correspondent
Fluco boys track stars Colby Martin, Dante Eddings, Eli Hartzog, Eric White, Ledric Reid, Jared Newman and Aiden Girard. Photo by Duncan Nixon.
The annual spring sports banquet was held May 29 at Fluvanna County High School. The banquet was not as informative as it usually is because a number of All-Region honors had not yet been announced. Once those honors were announced the Flucos received their share of accolades.
The banquet was well attended, as usual. It is always a happy gathering of young, local athletes and their siblings and relatives. Athletic Director Scott Morris was the master of ceremonies.
The first coach to the microphone was Feda Morton, the girls’ tennis coach. She said that her team finished the season with a respectable 8-8 record and noted that senior Adora Gamage and junior Sara White led the way for the team that “reached a new level of play.” Boys’ tennis coach Jason Davis was next to the mic, saying that his young team both improved on last year’s record and also saw a lot of improvement on an individual level. Morton was awarded a rocking chair in light of her announcement that she is retiring from coaching the girls’ tennis team.
Boys’ lacrosse Coach Eric Allen noted that, although his team recorded only two wins, it was a young and improving team that recorded a significant reduction in overall goals-per-game deficit. He also said that one of his players, Kent Snoddy, will be playing at the college level in the coming year.
Baseball Coach Joel Gray reported that his squad had a record of 19-2. He commented that he has a great group of ball players who were looking to move forward in the play-offs. At the date of the banquet, the following honors were not yet known. In the Region 3C play-offs, which the Flucos won, senior catcher Jacob Critzer was named Region player of the year. First team All-Region was composed of Critzer, junior twin brothers Andrew and Kevin Ward, and senior third baseman Ryan Groome. Andrew Ward was first team as a pitcher, while Kevin Ward was selected as a first baseman. Kevin Ward was also second team All-Region as a pitcher. Junior shortstop Cameron Shields and sophomore outfielder Mason Gross earned All-Region honorable mentions. Additionally, Gray was named Region 3C coach of the year.
Gray reported the following statistics as of the end of regular season: Andrew Ward 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA as a pitcher; Kevin Ward 6-1 with a 0.29 ERA as a pitcher; Andrew Ward .327 batting average; Kevin Ward .438 batting average; Critzer .456 batting average with eight home runs; Groome .358 batting average; and Gross .339 batting average.
Softball Coach Tre Smith reported that his team had a good season, with a reasonable number of wins. Catera Marsh received All-Region honors.
The girls’ track team had a strong season with a third place finish in the District. Additionally, All-Region honors were won by the following: Amina Wilson, who was second in pole vault; Ashlee Pieno, who was fourth in the pole vault; Delaney Reed, who was second in the discus, Jules Shepherd, who was third in the long jump, Emily Beckman, who was fourth in the 1,600; Shea Hart, who was fifth in the 100 and 300 hurdles and two relay teams. The 4X800 relay team consisted of Maggie Sites, Skylar Solga, Summer Craig and Kieri Hart. The 4X400 relay team consisted of Solga, Sites, Hart and Hattie Lintecum. Going on to the State meet were: Wilson and Pieno in pole vault, Shepherd and Lintecum in long jump, Reed in discus, Beckman in the 1,600, and the 4X800 relay team.
Boys’ track Coach Steve Szarmach reported that his squad finished an excellent second in the District and second in the Region meet. All-Region honors were garnered by a host of Flucos. Eli Herzog was second in discus and third in shot put. Christina Holland was the Region champion in the triple jump and Ledric Reid in the 110 hurdles. Third place finishers were: Jared Newman in the 110 hurdles, Dante Eddings in the 100, and Jariq Henson in the pole vault. Also making All-Region were: Aiden Girard, fifth in the 400; Ethan Yancey, fourth in the pole vault; Alden Custer, fifth in discus; and Colby Martin, sixth in the triple jump. The 4X100 relay team was second. It consisted of Prophett Harris, Holland, Martin and Eddings. The 4X400 relay team was fourth. It consisted of Jared Newman, Eric White, Martin and Girard.
Boys’ soccer Coach Earl Gibson reported that All-Region honors went to Emory Davis, Kamden Shephard, Finn McGlothlin, Ethan Allbaugh and Bradley Holtz. Girls’ soccer Coach Kat Ditta reported that her team was 7-9-3 overall, with a roster that had only two seniors. Flucos who gained All-Region honors were Kelsea Herring, Christina Valladares, Allyssa Hanson and Runa Scales.
