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Today's Sports

  • Call him "Yes"-akowski

     

    The team leader earned some individual glory.

    Jefferson Forest's Blake Nowakowski, who has been a driver for the Cavs during his four years of swimming, took top honors at last weekend's State swim meet.

    During an interview back in December, Nowakowski told us, "I'm really excited (about the season).  I hope to leave some lasting impression."  

    Did he ever.

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  • Sports commentary: Are...

     

    Bad laws rarely get repealed.

    Right now, we're living with the results of a law that many find confusing and counterproductive.

    Implemented with the most noble of intentions and after months and months of painstaking and dedicated work, the law is meeting resistance on many fronts.

    It has been widely bashed in the press for an awkward implementation and for providing unforeseen side effects.

    The law of which I write, of course, is the Virginia High School League's realignment.

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  • Like a school of sharks

     

    There's no "team" in "swim."

    Unless, of course, those swimmers don the red and black of Jefferson Forest.

    The floatin' Foresters were back in action this past weekend, kicking up a storm in the 4A-North Regional championships, at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

    And while only one Cav struck individual gold, the team rose up as one to push the team into high standing.

    How's this grab ya?  The Lady Cavs took second place, while the guys took third.

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  • Sports Commentary: We hardly...

     

    I never really got to know Bruce Cassels.  And now, he's gone.

    Cassels passed away last week.  I'm told he was felled by a heart attack.  A youngish 63, Cassels could outrun some of the kids he coached:  His physical condition was that good.

    Regrettably, he couldn't outrun the silent predator that overcame him with a too-soon death.

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  • Sports Commentary: Pisces...

     

    Twenty-eight days of nothing.

    The month of February used to be derided by sports pundits, using the above statement to point out:  a) it is the shortest month and b) it contained nothing of value sports-wise.

    As a guy who tries his best to be pundity about sports, that hurt, since I was born in February.

    Until recently, such disparagement was deserved.  After all, February had no baseball, no football, no college basketball tournaments and no NBA or NHL playoffs.

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  • Signed, sealed and delivered

     

    They've made their marks on Jefferson Forest soccer.

    Pretty soon, Cassidy Ratliff and Matt Crider will be doing so at the next level.

    The pair of Jefferson Forest standouts signed letters of intent last Wednesday to play college ball.  Ratliff will be heading to Radford, while Crider is going to the United States Naval Academy.

    Ratliff has been a prolific scorer whose toughness and aggressiveness have been matched only by her speed on the field.

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  • County matmen shine at...

     

    In case you wanted to question the strength that Bedford County schools are building in wrestling, consider last weekend's performances.

    Bedford may not yet be a hot spot, but it's sure warming up.

    While the Christiansburgs and Grundys of the grappling world shouldn't yet be concerned, Bedford wrestlers are certainly making their marks in the sport.

    The latest display of growth and improvement came over the past weekend, during conference wrestling tournaments.

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  • Sports commentary: The Lost...

     

    Why can't we point out the obvious?

    That was a bad Super Bowl.

    Unless you're a die-hard Seahawks fan, have a burning hatred of the Broncos or had a wad of cash riding on a Seattle win, there was little to like about Sunday's Super Bowl.

    It got so bad that the wife and I actually started switching between the game and a flick on Turner Classic Movies.

    The movie was "The Lost Weekend."  It's a beaut, starring Ray Miland as a drunk who is out on a life-altering toot.

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  • 'X-Men' show what they...

     

    The Jefferson Forest wrestling team's warm-up tee shirts feature a large X on them.

    The symbol is the Roman number which stands for "10."  There are 14 weight classes in high school wrestling.  Jefferson Forest has only been able to fill 10 of them.  The 106, 195, 220 and 285 pound slots have remained vacant for much of the year, and will do so for the post-season.

    That means that the Cavs go into meets short of a full complement by 28.5%.

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  • You-know-where freezes over

     

    There's a new king of the Seminole mats.  And he wears a black and red singlet.

    Jefferson Forest romped its way to its first Seminole District title in who knows how many years.  No one seems to know, because Brookville has owned the crown for the past 44 years.

    That all changed on Saturday.  In wrestling at Brookville's Hive, it was the Cavs who reigned supreme.

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