Football: Former Green Run coach hired at P. Anne

Ray Gatlin will try his hand at resuscitating Princess Anne High School’s football program.

Gatlin, a former Green Run coach, was hired recently to replace Juan Jackson, who went 1-19 in two seasons at Princess Anne. Jackson left to take a position on Warwick High’s staff.

Gatlin coached Green Run for two seasons, going 2-18 and helping the program snap a 51-game losing streak in 2005. He has been a Princess Anne assistant coach for the past two seasons.

“I’m a graduate of Princess Anne High School so that’s one of the reasons why I took the job,” Gatlin said. “I’m just going to work hard with those kids. Make them believe that they can win and just change the mindset and re-establish some pride. My first coaching job was as an assistant at Princess Anne when Kai (Parham), C.J (Fayton) and Cedric (Humes) were there. So I know the upside of the program there. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m here for the long haul.”

Princess Anne finished 9-2 in 2000, but the Cavaliers have slipped steadily since then.

“The biggest problem at Princess Anne is we don’t have a lot of kids out there,” Gatlin said. “We had only 45 kids come out last year (varsity and junior varsity combined). You go to Ocean Lakes and they have like 70. So it’s hard to compete with those schools.”

HONORS

COX PICKS UP ANOTHER WACHOVIA CUP

Cox’s impressive spring propelled the Falcons to a fourth consecutive Wachovia Cup.

The honor, given annually to a school in each of the Virginia High School League’s classifications, rewards excellence in state-level competition in 27 sports.

Cox was the Group AAA winner – its 11 Cup since 1990 – with 360 points, followed by Deep Run (300) and James Robinson (297.5). Western Branch was fifth with 270 points.

Cox won state championships in field hockey and boys soccer and reached the state semifinals in boys volleyball, girls soccer, boys and girls tennis and baseball. The Falcons also picked up points in golf, girls volleyball and wrestling.

Blacksburg won the Wachovia Cup in Group AA, while George Mason was the Group A winner.

11 LOCAL SCHOOLS HONORED

Seventeen Virginia high schools, including 11 from South Hampton Roads, have been awarded the 2009 Claudia Dodson VHSL Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award: Booker T. Washington, Deep Creek, First Colonial, Grassfield, Great Bridge, Hickory, Kempsville, Landstown, Oscar Smith, Princess Anne, Tallwood and Western Branch.

This is the eighth time that Princess Anne and First Colonial have been recognized for the award. It’s the seventh time for Tallwood and Great Bridge and the sixth time for Oscar Smith. Grassfield, which opened last school year, was recognized for the second consecutive year.

“I consider this to be the Virginia High School League’s most prestigious award,” said VHSL Deputy Director Tom Zimorski. “It’s the only award that the entire school is graded on.”

Previously knows as the Wachovia Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award, the award was renamed to honor the memory of Claudia Dodson, a VHSL Assistant Director from 1971-2002, who died in 2007.

BASKETBALL

WERTZ PICKS UMBC

Recent King’s Fork grad Jamar Wertz has committed to play basketball at University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Wertz, a two-time All-Tidewater selection, helped lead the Bulldogs to the Group AAA state championship. He also finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,707 points.

“I chose them because I like their style of play,” said Wertz of UMBC’s run-and-gun offense. “The coaching staff was real cool and I like the way their coach was hands-on.

“I also wanted my family to see me play,” added Wertz, who also was being recruited by Rhode Island and Stephen F. Austin State in Texas. “If I went to those schools my family would not have been able to see me play.”

GIRLS LACROSSE

MURPHY, SHERRER ARE LAX ALL-AMERICANS

Bishop Sullivan’s Caitlin Murphy and Cape Henry’s Kelsey Sherrer, both recent graduates, were named to the U.S. Lacrosse All-American team.

In order for a player to be nominated, their coach has to be a member of U.S. Lacrosse. That player is then evaluated before being chosen to the team, said Elizabeth Piper, who is the women’s division associate for U.S. Lacrosse.

Murphy, who will play at William and Mary, helped lead the Dolphins to Tidewater Conference regular-season and tournament championships. The four-time All-TCIS player finished with 59 goals and 32 assists this season.

“Caitlin is a go-to player,” said Bishop Sullivan coach Patty Nelson. “Her statistics speak for themselves. She leads every positive statistical category on the team for the second straight year.”

Sherrer finished as the second-leading scorer in school history. A four-time All-Tidewater Conference selection, Sherrer also was all-state and honorable mention All-American last season. This past season she finished with 67 goals and 12 assists.

Sherrer also was second-team All-American this past fall in field hockey, making her Cape Henry's first athlete to be so honored in two sports. She will play field hockey in the fall at Virginia Commonwealth.

“She is a truly gifted athlete whose on-field ethic sets a phenomenal example for her teammates,” said Cape Henry coach Jen Baker. “She is irreplaceable.”

Six other athletes were named to the Academic All-American team: recent Bishop Sullivan grads Meighan Dober and Ashley Monger and junior Katelyn McKenna, and Norfolk Academy grads Katheryn McKee, Isabelle Marquart and Annesley Berndt.

BOYS LACROSSE

VIA, BEECROFT PICK UP HONORS

Norfolk Academy's Schuyler Beecroft, a recent graduate, was named an All-American by U.S. Lacrosse. Beecroft was one of six players from the Virginia-Piedmont area to earn All-American honors.

Beecroft's latest honor caps a decorated career with the Bulldogs. He was the Tidewater Conference Player of the Year and an All-Virginia Prep League and All-VISAA selection.

Norfolk Academy rising senior Andy Via was named to the Adidas High School All-American team.

Via, a midfielder, also has been selected to represent the East Regional in next month's Adidas National Lacrosse Classic in Maryland.

- Larry Rubama and Jami Frankenberry