Osbourn Park High School | Archive | December, 2008

By Paul Frommelt

pfrommelt@digitalsports.com

Click the
“Photos” and “Videos” links above to view pictures and highlights from
a preseason practice of the Stonewall Jackson gymnastics team team.

Q&A With Stonewall Jackson Head Coach Amy Romberger

How have practices been going? What stage are you guys in right now?
We are trying to get ready for the meet on Wednesday [Dec. 3]. We are practicing a lot of routines. A lot of the girls that are new are still getting routines or putting on the finishing touches. It is difficult at times. I look to the older girls to help me out.

The older girls [Hammel and Ramseyer] look like secondary coaches out there. How beneficial has that been to have two senior leaders on the team?
It’s been great. I couldn’t of asked for two better girls to help me out.

With two girls returning — how big was the team last year?
We had five last year. I also coach cheerleading so I recruit a lot of my cheerleaders to come and give it a try. If they don’t like it, no hurt feelings. Last year, I had four other cheerleaders that were on the team. They just decided to not return.

A nice group of freshmen though.
I think that Megan Poole will do really well. She is a former club gymnast. She is very determined. Leigh did a little bit of club gymnastics, so she is still kinda working back into the swing of things. All three freshmen have previous experience.

Talk a little about Meghan and what she brings to the team.
Meghan has incredible talent. She is a leader of the team. Her goal is going to Nationals this year, so she is trying a lot of new skills. You probably won’t see those until later on in the season. She doesn’t like to pull her tricks out too early. I think that she will do very well. She has a shot of going back to states. I think that she will do very well.

What the goal this year — a reasonable goal. Are there goals?
We have talked about trying to advance to regionals. The girls know that the other schools have more depth in their teams. That is a goal for us. Each meet, we are going to set our standard at this meet, maybe score above 100 points. Each meet, we’ll increase our number. That is our outlook.

Any other thoughts.
I have a great group of girls. It’s a young team that hopefully will develop in time. We’ll see how it goes.

News and Notes Around Prince William
To find the top team in the state for the last two years, Cedar Run District gymnastics teams have to look no further than district rival Osbourn Park. The Yellow Jackets have won the last two Virginia AAA titles, including their close 150.70 to 149.75 edging of Kellam in February. What made the Yellow Jackets’ win that much more impressive is the fact that OP brought only six girls to the state meet, compared to as many as 18 for other squads. Even more impressive was the fact that there was only one senior on that team last year — Kayla Deitz.

This year, with the bulk of their squad returning, the Yellow Jackets look to again challenge for the top spot in the state. Junior Megan McDonald — 5th in all-around at the state meet last year and the Cedar Run and Northwest champ — returns. McDonald, Teets and Deitz swept the top three spots in the Cedar Run meet last season. Also returning in for the Yellow Jackets are Sara Mogavero (Soph.), Sam Garzione (Sr.) and Briana Knox (Jr.).

2007-2008 Prince William Key Losses:
Kayla Deitz, Osbourn Park

2008-2009 Prince William Key Returners:
Mandy Brown, Jr., Battlefield; Katie Surface, Jr. Battlefield; Jasmine Zellars, Soph., Battlefield; Tori Zumbrum, Sr., Battlefield; Meghan Hammel, Sr., Stonewall Jackson; Tanya Ramseyer, Sr., Stonewall Jackson; Megan McDonald, Jr., Osbourn Park; Jacquie Teets, Sr., Osbourn Park; Sara Mogavero, Soph., Osbourn Park; Briana Knox, Jr., Osbourn Park.

2007-2008 Cedar Run District Gymnastics Results

Team — 1. Osbourn Park, 148.975; 2. Loudoun Valley, 138.325; 3. Battlefield, 135.475; 4. Stonewall Jackson, 121.075. Overall — 1. Megan McDonald, Osbourn Park, 37.750; 2. Jacquie Teets, Osbourn Park, 37.025; 3. Kayla Deitz, Osbourn Park, 36.700; 4. Meghan Hammell, Stonewall Jackson, 36.550; 5. Sara Mogavero, Osbourn Park, 36.400; 6. Briana Knox, Osbourn Park, 36.125; 7. Mandy Brown, Battlefield, 35.925; 8. Maura Cotter, Loudoun Valley, 35.650; 9. Samantha Garzione, Osbourn Park, 33.775; 10. Becca Walls, Battlefield, 33.525. Top 3 Uneven Bars — 1. Megan McDonald, Osbourn Park, 9.675; 2. Kayla Deitz, Osbourn Park, 9.250; 3. Jacquie Teets, Osbourn Park, 9.175. Top 3 Balance Beam — 1. Jacquie Teets, Osbourn Park, 9.525; 2. Shae Spotts, Loudoun Valley, 9.450; 3. Megan McDonald, Osbourn Park, 9.375. Top 3 Floor Exercise — 1. Maura Cotter, Loudoun Valley, 9.550; 2. Kayla Dietz, Osbourn Park, 9.550; 3. Megan Hammel, Stonewall Jackson, 9.525. Top 3 Vault — 1. Sara Mogavero, Osbourn Park, 9.5; 2. Megan McDonald, Osbourn Park, 9.45. 3. Briana Knox, Osbourn Park, 9.45.

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Northwest All-Region Football Team

First Team Defense

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By Paul Frommelt

pfrommelt@digitalsports.com

Click the
“Photos” and “Videos” links above to view pictures and highlights from
a preseason practice of the Battlefield wrestling team.

Osbourn Park Girls Look to Continue Winning Tradition

It’s always hard to duplicate a successful season. Last year, the Osbourn Park girls indoor track team certainly had a successful season. Led by senior sprinters Bethany and Brittany Hyter, the Yellow Jackets won Cedar Run District and Northwest Region titles and finished fifth at the AAA state meet.

“We had a good year. We thought that we could compete at the highest levels,” said Osbourn Park head coach Mike D. Feldman. “We did about as well as we could do.”

That doesn’t mean that the Yellow Jackets were satisfied. This year, Osbourn Park’s girls team isn’t looking to duplicate their success from a year ago — they’re looking to surpass it.

“Was it disappointing? Yeah, but it wasn’t the end of the world,” said Feldman of the Yellow Jackets’ fifth-place finish at the state meet. The difference between third-place Westfield and the fifth-place Yellow Jackets was just five points — the difference between a first-place finish and a fourth place finish in one event. Less than .12 seconds in a 55-meter dash, or three seconds in a two-mile run. “We just didn’t have enough to catch them.”

This year’s young Yellow Jacket squad has an uphill battle ahead of them. Losing the Hyter sisters to graduation, as well as all-state hurdler Michelle Ferguson, all-region jumper Peyton Alston and all-region hurdler Danni McKensie hurts the Yellow Jackets — and makes them a much younger squad.

“We aren’t going to sneak up on anybody because we don’t sneak up anymore, but our young kids have an opportunity to step up and do some things,” said Feldman. “We developed some athletes. We’re very young, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be good.”

Coming off of a cross country Northwest Region title in the fall, the Yellow Jackets’ distance runners, led by junior Ariel Karabinus and sophomore Kayla Tyrell, look to be the strength of the team this year.

“Right now, on paper, it looks like Kayla and Ariel are going to be a pretty competitive one-two punch,” said Feldman.

The Yellow Jackets also return senior sprinter Tialei Waikiki, junior sprinter Amanda Nocera, sophomore distance runner Natale Gelata and junior middle distance runner Ashley Wybersky.

“Our kids are going to be competitive. But to win the district, win the region and be a top five team in the state? Man, that’s anybody’s guess,” said Feldman.

On the boys side, the Yellow Jackets have been hit with a tough injury right off the bat. All-state hurdler Paul DeVito has been sidelined since July with a deep ankle bruise. Feldman is unsure whether DeVito will be able to compete at all during the indoor season.

As with the girls side, Feldman will be relying on his younger athletes to carry the torch for the boys.

“We have some young sprint kids that nobody is really thinking about,” he said. “We’ll just have to wait and see. We are young and not battle tested. They haven’t been to the rodeo yet.”

News and Notes Around Prince William

Potomac head coach Steve Petrosky enters his seventh year with the Panthers after a successful 2007-2008 indoor campaign that saw the Panther boys win the Northwest Region championship and finish fourth at the AAA meet. Petrosky, however, only returns four boys from last year’s squad. Brice Mathews (300 and 500 district champ; 300 region champ), Wesley Jones (long jump and triple jump district champ), Eric Gyamfi (regional record-holder in 500) and Joshuah Turner (55 district champ) all graduated from last year’s squad. Mathews, Jones, Gyamfi and Turner were also the members of Potomac’s 4×400 team that took first at the state meet. Petrosky as loses all-district and all-region distance runner Jeff Poindexter, but returns his younger brother, Andre, who took the Cardinal District cross country championship in the fall. Petrosky’s girls side, however, brings back a wealth of talent, including runners Yvonne Amegashie and Debra Baner, as well as jumpers Lauren Coleman, Pearl Bickersteth and Brittany Johnson. Last year, the Potomac girls were runners-up in the Cardinal District and the Northwest Region.

Woodbridge head coach Andrew McCarthy returns 20 athletes to his Vikings squad that finished top-five in the region on both the boys and girls sides last season. While the boys side lost distance runners Andrew McGreal and Scott Teribury from last year’s squad, they return Andre Washington (300, 500, 55 hurdles) Goose Osorio (300, 500, 55 hurdles), Isaiah Simmons (shot), John Wolf (55 hurdles, 300, 500) and RaMon Mathis (300). The girls side returns one of the best distance runners in the county in Michelle Britto, as well as Erin Rolaf (3,200 and 1,600), Tiffany Jones (55 hurdles) and J’Quiana McGhee (55).

2007-2008 Prince William Key Losses:
Boys — Joshuah Turner, Potomac; Brice Mathews, Potomac; Wesley Jones, Potomac; Eric Gyamfi, Potomac; Eric Hoepker, Battlefield; Philip Lecky, Gar-Field; Tyler Simmons, Osbourn Park; Zack Williams, Forest Park; Risti Hagos, C.D. Hylton; Michell Clark, Gar-Field; Jeffery Poindexter, Potomac; Keith Link, Woodbridge; Cameron Shaver, Forest Park; John Thomas, Potomac; Melvin Villalta, Osbourn; Austin Soderquist, Freedom; Aryan Mazloum, Battlefield; Rex Parker, Battlefield. Girls — Kim Blaylock, Battlefield; Bethany Hyter, Osbourn Park; Brittany Hyter, Osbourn Park; Aubree Washington, Gar-Field; Elizabeth Walls, Battlefield; Michelle Ferguson, Osbourn Park; Peyton Alson, Osbourn Park; Erin Jones, C.D. Hylton; Janae Williams, Freedom;

2008-2009 Prince William Key Returning Athletes:
Boys — Damien Thigpen, Sr., Stonewall Jackson; Dayne Mullins, Sr., C.D. Hylton; Kelvin Lewis, Woodbridge; RaMon Mathis, Jr., Woodbridge; Sebastian Panaigua, Jr., Battlefield; Paul DeVito, Sr., Osbourn Park; Josh Chirstovich, Sr., Woodbridge; Stuart Shotwell, Sr., Forest Park; Isaiah Simmons, Soph., Woodbridge; Derrick Knight, Sr., Gar-Field; Clinton Burrell, Sr., Gar-Field; Andre Washington, Sr., Woodbridge; John Wolf, Soph. Woodbridge; Andre Poindexter, Potomac.  Girls — Yvonne Amegashie, Sr., Potomac; Genevieve Johnson, Jr., Battlefield; Jasmin Peterson Hassan, Sr., Osbourn Park; Shondel Archer, Sr., Woodbridge; Cristin Gonzales, Sr., Osbourn Park; Breiana White, Sr., C.D. Hylton; Courtney Clay, Sr., Osbourn Park; Kayla Tyrrell, Soph., Osbourn Park; Ariel Karabinus, Jr., Osbourn Park; Lindsi Arrington, Jr., Gar-Field; Debra Baner, Soph., Potomac; Michelle Britto, Sr., Woodbridge; Pearl Bickersteth, Sr., Potomac; Erin Porter, Soph., Potomac; Drema Khraibani, Freedom; Tialei Waikiki, Sr., Osbourn Park; Amanda Nocera, Jr., Osobourn Park; Hope Flomo, Soph., Stonewall Jackson; Priscilla Asare, Jr., Potomac; Celina Vanegas-Morataya, Sr., Gar-Field; Francesca McClaude, Sr., Gar-Field; Erin Rolaf, Jr., Woodbridge; Tiffany Jones, Jr., Woodbridge; Ashely Gailliard, Sr., Woodbridge.

2007-2008 Cedar Run District Indoor Track — Girls Team Top Ten
1. Osbourn Park, 172
2. Battlefield, 114
3. Fauquier, 59
4. Liberty, 46
5. Culpeper County, 34
6. Stonewall Jackson, 13
7. Osbourn, 10

2007-2008 Cedar Run District Indoor Track — Boys Team Top Ten
1. Battlefield, 181.50
2. Fauquier, 81
3. Liberty, 52.50
4. Osbourn Park, 48
5. Stonewall Jackson, 40
6. Osbourn, 27
7. Culpeper County, 11

2007-2008 Cardinal District Indoor Track — Girls Team Top Ten
1. Gar-Field, 116
2. Potomac, 107
3. Woodbridge, 105
4. C.D. Hylton, 63.50
5. Forest Park, 39.50
6. Freedom, 30

2007-2008 Cardinal District Indoor Track — Boys Team Top Ten
1. Woodbridge, 131
2. Potomac, 123
3. Gar-Field, 97
4. Forest Park, 61
5. Freedom, 25
6. C.D. Hylton, 24

2007-2008 Northwest Region Indoor Track — Girls Team Top Ten
1. Osbourn Park, 123
2. Potomac, 51.50
3. Battlefield, 43
4. Woodbridge, 37
5. Franklin County, 35.50
6. Gar-Field, 30
7. E.C. Glass, 29
7. Brooke Point, 29
9. Fauquier, 26
10. Colonial Forge, 25

2007-2008 Northwest Region Indoor Track — Boys Team Top Ten
1. Potomac, 82
2. Mountain View, 74
3. G.W.-Danville, 46
4. Albemarle, 44
5. Battlefield, 35
5. Woodbridge, 35
7. E.C. Glass, 32.50
8. North Stafford, 29
9. Gar-Field, 24
9. Riverbend, 24

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By Paul Frommelt

pfrommelt@digitalsports.com

Click the
“Photos” and “Videos” links above to view pictures and highlights from
a preseason practice of the Battlefield wrestling team.

Martino Leads Young Battlefield Squad

Saying that the Bobcats are young this season would be a massive understatement.

The Battlefield wrestling team will start eight freshmen at the varsity level this year with only two seniors. Luckily for head coach Tommy O’Neill, the two seniors that the he brings back this year are two of the state’s best. Case in point — senior 112-pounder Beau Martino. Martino, wrestling at 103 last year, brought home Prince William County’s first AAA state championship since 2004.

“He’s got a real knowledge for the sport,” said O’Neill of Martino. “He wrestles all the time. He really studies what’s going on.”

After his 2-1 win over Fauquier’s Ryan Hunsberger in the AAA finals, Martino decided to start wrestling year-round — and hasn’t really stopped since. O’Neill has done his best to throw something at Martino that the senior hasn’t seen during preseason practice this year.

“We throw a lot of different looks at him. I have a freshman right now that’s amazingly fast. I throw him out there against him. I throw big kids against him,” he said. “You try and throw different looks at him and he just takes them all on. He really forces people into wrestling his match.”

O’Neill points to Martino’s three matches against an active and aggressive Hunsberger in the Cedar Run, Northwest Region and AAA state finals — “Beau completely took him out of his match.”

The Bobcats’ are also looking for a big year from senior 215-pounder Peter Psihas — who is currently ranked 2nd in the state at 215 by VirginiaWrestling.com.

“Peter has a good shot and his mind is right this year. He is just busting his ****,” said O’Neill. “He keeps telling me, ‘Coach, I’m placing’ and I tell him to not settle for placing.”

Just because the Bobcats are young, that doesn’t mean that O’Neill has set his goals low this year. He’s not pulling out the dreaded “rebuilding year” label.

“I don’t set my goals any less than the kids qualifying for the state tournament,” said O’Neill, whose team finished a program-best fifth at the Northwest Region tournament last year. “We’re young, but I think that we can compete. They don’t have a choice but to get better. I don’t care if you are a freshmen, sophomore, junior or senior. It doesn’t matter. When you step on the mat, you’re coming out and making a commitment to a team and you need to live up to those expectations. With Beau out there, there’s some big expectations.”

News and Notes Around Prince William
Call it a case of bad luck. Battlefield, Osbourn, Osbourn Park and Stonewall Jackson have the unfortunate distinction of wrestling in the same district as state powerhouse Fauquier. The Falcons placed nine wrestlers at last February’s AAA state tournament. Five of those wrestlers return this year.

“The team to beat in the district, region and the state is just miles southwest of Prince William County,” said Osbourn head coach Tim Weaver in an email. “Fauquier High School will represent Northern Virginia well.”

Weaver’s Eagles placed second behind the Falcons in the district tournament last year, but lost Mark Vetal (129 career wins) and Bobby Gray (137 career wins, 6th place in state tournament). The Eagles do return, however, 135-pounder Corey Sellner (two-time state qualifier), as well as Dominique Uang (103), Mason Smith (152), John Davis (140), C.J. Huguley (130), Matt Karhoff (112) and Chris Borrelli (145).

The Woodbridge Vikings had an impressive ninth-place finish at the Region tournament last year and 2008 looks to be even better, as the Vikes return seven wrestlers. Greg Nelson (119), Tyler Farr (125), Nolan King (145), Matt Smith (152) and Anthony Blocker (171) all wrested in the Cardinal District finals last year.

2007-2008 Prince William Key Losses:
Silvio Ramirez, Forest Park; Anthony Cantello, Osbourn Park; Mark Vetal, Osbourn; Steven Young, Gar-Field; Stephen Hinton, Forest Park; Allen Fary, Battlefield; Porker Bowers, Gar-Field; Bobby Gray, Osbourn; Matt Bowman, Battlefield; Eric Lawrence, C.D. Hylton; Eric Lawrence, C.D. Hylton; Adam Lauer, Gar-Field; Ray Dickerson, Gar-Field; John Cawthron, Osbourn Park; Scott Bullock, Woodbridge; Trevor Blose, Osbourn; John Cawthron, Osbourn Park; Jesus Legares, Woodbridge; Luis Pola, Woodbridge; Jason Mazariegos, Woodbridge.

2008-2009 Prince William Key Wrestlers:
Beau Martino, 112, Sr., Battlefield; Peter Psihas, 215, Sr., Battlefield; Cameron Boyd, 140, Soph., Forest Park; Issac Riddell, Forest Park, 112; Eric Dramazos, Osbourn Park, 112; Corey Sellner, Osbourn, 125; Corey Draine, 189, C.D. Hylton; Luke Olsen, 140, Stonewall Jackson; Matt Smith, 152, Woodbridge; Brooks Martino, 103, Battlefield; A.J. Baggott, 152, Gar-Field; Greg Nelson, 119, Woodbridge; Tyler Farr, 125, Woodbridge; Nolan King; 145, Woodbridge; Anthony Blocker, 171, Woodbridge.

2008 Northwest Region Tournament — Team Scores:
1. Colonial Forge (228); 2. Fauquier (187); 3, Franklin County (133); 4. Mountain View (100); 5. Gar-Field (70); 5. Battlefield (70); 7. North Stafford (68); 7. Forest Park (68); 9. Osbourn (67); 9. Woodbridge (67); 11. Massaponax (64); 12. Riverbend (57); 13. Brook Pointe (53); 14. Osbourn Park (51); 15. C.D. Hylton (48); 16. Loudoun Valley (46); 17. Culpeper (39); 18. Liberty (38); 19. William Fleming (36); 20. George Washington (33); 21. Albemarle (20); 22. Stafford (15); 23. Stonewall Jackson (13); 24. E.C. Glass (9); 25. Halifax County (7); 26. Potomac (6); 27. Freedom (5); 28. Patrick Henry (3).

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By Paul Frommelt

pfrommelt@digitalsports.com

Click the “Photos” and “Videos” links above to view pictures and highlights from a preseason practice of the Freedom boys basketball team.

West Bringing Something New at Freedom

After two consecutive Cardinal District titles, it would be safe to assume that first year Eagles head coach James West will stick to the same formula that brought the Freedom boys basketball team success in the past.

That assumption would be wrong.

“Everything’s new,” said West, who took over the team in July when former head coach Ahmad Dorsett abruptly stepped down. West, who coached at Freedom for three years under the 2007 Cardinal District coach of the year after stints at Woodbridge High School and Bishop Ireton in Alexandria. “I’ve been preaching to the kids about my vision — bringing something new to Prince William County.”

West’s vision isn’t the only thing new for the Eagles this year. With the graduation of all five starters from last year’s squad, including first-team all-district players Sadonas Davis and Joseph Velez, Freedom’s team on the court will be radically different.

“We don’t have any returning starters,” said West. “At the same time, I get everyone back next year. We are very junior oriented. It is a great thing. I get to teach them what I want this year and then I get them back and they all know it.”

That doesn’t mean that West isn’t thinking in the here and now. Led by juniors Joseph Fears and Steven Wing, West’s squad isn’t ready to give up the district crown, even in a district that has teams loaded with returning talent.

“I hope they are,” said West when asked if teams will be looking past the Eagles this year. “That’s what makes the story much sweeter at the end. They can sleep all they want, but I’m bringing something new to the table.”

First and foremost, West as implemented an aggressive defensive scheme with multiple looks that he believes will knock opponents out of their comfort zones.

“We are going to be an in-your-face defensive team,” said West. “We aren’t even allowing a first pass.”

As for the offense, West has gone to great lengths to preach patience and fundamentals.

“I want our kids to not be the typical Freedom team — just ripping and running the floor — to me, the wasn’t 100% basketball. That was winning on our talent alone,” he said. “I want people to fear our talent and our X’s and O’s. That’s what I’m trying to preach.”

Talent has been something the Eagles certainly haven’t lacked during the past four seasons. Dorsett guided his squads to a combined 54-48 record and advanced to the state semifinals during the 2006-2007 season. Players such as Cameron Long (George Mason), Valez (Barton) and Davis (Augusta State) are three of seven players went on to play college ball after graduating from Freedom during the past two years.

West believes that his squad this year has what it takes to continue that success.

“I don’t want to sound cocky or arrogant, but I have been doing this for ten years,” he said.

Not cocky or arrogant, but surely confident.

“Confidence is everything. Don’t be arrogant, but why are we out here if we don’t have confidence in our ability?”

News and Notes Around Prince William

First-year Forest Park head coach Mark Mallisham beat his old team, Heritage, 55-44, in the Bruins’ first game of the year. Under Mallisham, the Pride won three consecutive Dulles District titles. Mallisham called it a “bittersweet victory” as his team outscored the Pride 35-15 in the second half to earn the win.

C.D. Hylton returns three starters from last year, including senior forward Keith Mitchell and shooting guard Darrell Patterson. Both were first-team all-Cardinal District last year. Each averaged over 17 points per game. The Bulldogs went 15-8 last year.

Osbourn Park won the Cedar Run District title last year, but the Yellow Jackets graduated co-district player of the year Calvin Croskey, as well as all-district selections and Jonathan Lake. Seniors Andrew Brookins and Wynton Ola’Dehinbo will look to carry the load for the Yellow Jackets.

The Potomac Panthers will look to regroup after losing Cardinal District player of the year Bobby Mott and all-district selections Donald Vaughn, Devonne Blackshear and Roger Lassiter with transfers Charles Shedrick and Kareem Allintah. Both come to Prince William from Georgia. New starters Stephan Pringle and Charles Reed will look to make a difference for the Panthers as well.

2007-2008 Prince William Key Losses:

Bobby Mott, Potomac; Joseph Velez, Freedom; Sadonas Davis, Freedom; Brandon McLilly, Freedom; Aaron Jones, Woodbridge; Donald Vaughn, Potomac; Andrew Butler, Forest Park; Anthony Edwards, Gar-Field; Joe Young, Freedom; Devonne Blackshear, Potomac; Roger Lassiter, Potomac; Derek Braxton, C.D. Hylton; Calvin Croskey, Osbourn Park; Curtis Bedford, Osbourn; Marcus Brooks, Osbourn Park; Shunn Simkins, Battlefield; Travis Lehman, Osbourn; Tyler Bent, Battlefield; Martin Reyes, Stonewall Jackson; Jonathan Lake, Osbourn Park; Dominic Chappell, Stonewall Jackson

2008-2009 Prince William Top Returners:
David Thomas, Woodbridge; Jeremiah Johnson, Gar-Field; Cory Turner, Osbourn; Darrell Patterson, C.D. Hylton; Keith Mitchell, C.D. Hylton; Kwasi Amponsah, Gar-Field; Ta’Von Brown, Forest Park; Justin Burrell, Potomac; Joseph Fears, Freedom; Dominique Major, C.D. Hylton; Darius Smith, Woodbridge; James Robinson, Battlefield; Stephen Wing, Freedom; Adam Smith-Butts, Forest Park; Stephan Pringle, Potomac; Charles Reed, Potomac; Raphiael Putney, Woodbridge

2007-2008 Cardinal District Standings:

1. Potomac (7-3, 14-8); 2. Gar-Field (7-3, 17-7); 3. Freedom (6-4, 14-11); 4. C.D. Hylton (5-5, 15-8); 5. Woodbridge (4-6, 10-13); 6. Forest Park (1-9, 6-17)

2007-2008 Cedar Run District Standings:

1. Osbourn Park (10-4, 18-9); 2. Liberty (10-4, 17-7); 3. Culpeper (10-4, 17-8); 4. Loudoun Valley (8-6, 15-9); 5. Fauquier (6-8, 7-15); 6. Battlefield (5-9, 10-16); 7. Osbourn (4-10, 5-18); 8. Stonewall Jackson (3-11, 4-19)

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By Paul Frommelt

pfrommelt@digitalsports.com

Click the
“Photos” and “Videos” links above to view pictures and highlights from
a preseason practice of the Forest Park girls basketball team.

Bruins Hungry For Another Successful Season

Forest Park seniors Danni Jackson, Briana Scott and Gerda Gatling have already had high school basketball careers that most players would dream about. They’ve won three Cardinal District and Northwest Region titles. They’ve been to two AAA VHSL title games and brought home a state title in 2006.

“The wealth of experience that this senior class has already had,” said second-year Bruins head coach Rebecca Tillett. “Some kids are lucky to have any one of those things occur in a year.”

That doesn’t mean that the trio of Bruins — who are all signed to play college ball next year — are content with their memories of the past three years. They have a full season to make new ones.

“They want to be a senior class that is remembered,” said Tillett. “For them, the pressure is not about what other people say that we are going to do, but that they want to leave their mark. Can this senior class leave a legacy like Monika Wright and Ashleigh Braxton did?”

Tillett is looking to follow up on last year’s success as well. After a career record of 44-33 at Osbourn Park, Tillett took over the Bruins last season and led them to a 25-5 record and a trip to the state finals. Taking over for former head coach Chrissy Kelly was no easy task. Kelly — the program’s first and only coach before Tillett — led Forest Park to five consecutive state tournament berths and two state titles. Under Tillett, the Bruins didn’t miss a beat, but that doesn’t mean the pressure goes away — even if Tillett ignores it.

“I don’t feel the pressure,” she said. “To come in and win a district championship and a region championship and be a state runner up, it just makes you really hungry.”

News and Notes Around Prince William:

Stonewall Jackson head coach Nsonji White graduated Cedar Run District player of the year Gwen Washington from a team that won three consecutive Cedar Run championships, but the Raiders return D-I recruits Kyani White and Samantha Jordan. White and Jordan shared defensive player of the year honors for the Raiders last year and were both all-district selections for the Cedar Run. Freshmen Ryan Jordan and Ashley Parks should make an impact for the Raiders this year as well, along with senior all-district honorable mention Tiffanie Couts.

The Battlefield Bobcats may have finished one game under .500 in the Cedar Run last season, but 5th year head coach Eric McCaslin returns eight players from last year’s squad, including first-team all-district point guard and Mount St. Mary’s commit Selina Mann — who averaged 17.2 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Joining Mann are junior guard Taylor Cordle (9.3 ppg in three games), junior forward Annie Jones (6.8 rpg) and senior center Caitlyn Richbourg (5.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg).

Even though Osbourn head coach Emily Kellogg is in her first year leading the Eagles, she isn’t new to Prince William County. Kellogg coached Group A Manassas Park for one year before coming to Osbourn to fill the void left by former Cedar Run coach of the year Lauren Milburn, who left for Liberty High School. Kellogg takes over for a team that went 2-19 last season, but returns six players, including all-district selections Daneka Williams (Sr., guard/forward) and Erika Scott (Jr., forward/guard). As for Milburn, her Liberty Eagles will face Osbourn on Dec. 12.

2007-2008 Prince William Key Losses:

Lynetta Kizer, Potomac; Ariana Moorer, C.D. Hylton; Deirdre Richardson, Forest Park; Kiara Johnson, C.D. Hylton; Amber Epps, Forest Park; Alysa Kerr, Freedom; Kandace Valentine, Forest Park; Kerry Taylor, Woodbridge; Larissa Porter, C.D. Hylton; Paris Cantrell, Freedom; Alison Firich, Gar-Field; Gwen Washington, Stonewall Jackson; Melissa Collier, Osbourn Park; Maryellen Derenda, Osbourn Park

2008-2009 Prince William Key Returners:

Selina Mann, Sr., Battlefield; Kyani White, Jr., Stonewall Jackson; Deneka Williams, Sr., Osbourn; Samantha Jordan, Sr., Stonewall Jackson; Danni Jackson, Sr., Forest Park; Kyana Jacobs, Jr., Potomac; Kelly Hartwell, Jr., Gar-Field; Marian Brooks, Sr., Woodbridge; Gerda Gatling, Sr., Forest Park; Briana Scott, Sr., Forest Park; Shayla Drakeford, Sr., Forest Park; Dominique Whidbee, Sr., Potomac; Quiana Kizer, Sr., Potomac; Teja Johnson, Sr., Potomac; Katie Maksanty, Jr., Woodbridge; Ariel McKinney, Sr., Woodbridge; Kasee Hilliard, Sr., Gar-Field; Tiffanie Couts, Sr., Stonewall Jackson

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