Nyholm Tapped For Va. Tobacco Commission

Wayne Conner Appointed To Board Of Trustees Of Southern Virginia Higher Education Center

Connie Lee Greene Nyholm of Alton, co-owner and managing partner of Virginia International Raceway, has been appointed to serve on the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, Governor Mark Warner announced Friday.
Supervisor Wayne Conner, also of Alton, was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center during the Friday announcement.
Martinsville-born Nyholm opened the 1,200-acre Virginia International Raceway in March of 2000 with co-owner Harvey Siegle.
She graduated in 1981 from William and Mary, where she received a B.A. in economics.
Prior to opening VIR, she worked as a real estate developer in New York.
Contacted yesterday, Nyholm said she hopes to use her interest and experience in economic development to move the region forward.
“I look at economic development as a regional issue,” she said. “And Southside and Southwest Virginia are regions that are near and dear to my heart. There’s no better place on Earth.
“I’m absolutely humbled and honored to have been appointed to serve on the Tobacco Commission,” Nyholm added.
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission is a 31-member body created in 1999 by the General Assembly. Its purpose is to promote economic growth and development in tobacco dependent communities throughout Southwest and Southside Virginia and to provide payments to Virginia tobacco growers and quota holders as compensation for economic losses resulting from the decline in the demand for tobacco.
Conner was elected to the Board of Supervisors during the November elections, and has served on the Halifax Educational Foundation for five years. He presently serves as the chairman of the Foundation.
During last year’s session, the General Assembly voted on a budget compromise that provides a total of $1.6 million in funding for the center and created the 15-member Board of Trustees.
The building, currently owned by the HEF, is leased to a 15-member Board of Trustees appointed by the legislature and governor.
The SVHEC now operates as a state-designated, independent higher education center.
The funds will come from an annual General Fund allocation at $1.2 million, with the remainder from lease arrangements at the SVHEC. The general fund allocation will come annually.
Shortly after the funding was announced, Executive Director W.W. “Ted” Bennett said the $1.2 million in state funds is more than double the $475,000 annual budget the center used to operate prior to the designation.
Bennett said yesterday that Conner will make a welcome addition to the Board.
“Wayne is a very thorough man who knows a whole lot of the history of the creation of the Center,” he said. “He served as vice-chair under me and is very passionate about what we’re trying to do. He will make an excellent trustee for the Center.”

 

Clarksville Goes International

CLARKSVILLE - Hydroplane racers from as far as Australia are expected to descend upon Clarksville October 7 - 8 as the 2006 Clarksville Hydroplane Challenge (CHC) hosts the World Inboard Championships.
“This will definitely make it a much larger event,” said CHC Pit Manager Terry Browning. “It will bring national recognition to the Clarksville Hydroplane Challenge.”
CHC chairman Carol Brown reiterated Browning’s sentiments.
“Being awarded the World Inboard Championship race is a huge step in making the Clarksville Hydroplane Challenge a major event in the power boat racing circuit,” she said.
Brown said that hosting the World Championship may bring sponsorship and grant opportunities that they were unable to obtain in the past.
“We hope that hosting the World Inboard Championship will open the doors to increased sponsorship and grant opportuni­ties that will help us grow this race into a world class event that will draw thousands of specta­tors,” she said.
“The Clarksville Hydroplane Challenge - World Inboard Championship should bring more than 100 race boats with their crews and families into the area for the entire weekend,” said Brown.
She added that Clarksville’s Economic Development Association (CEDA) is sponsor­ing the event in the hopes to ex­pand tourism to the Clarksville area.
“CEDA’s mission in sponsor­ing events such as this is to en­courage and promote economic development in and around Clarksville by developing and supporting tourism related events that will draw people to the area.” said Brown.
According to Browning, the World Inboard Championship will draw racers from all over the country and beyond because of its title status.
He explained that hydroplane racers receive points for certain races and that title races, such as the World Inboard Championship, award double points so many drivers will travel a long distance to participate.
He also said that an event such as this one provides racers with the opportunity to compete against drivers they normally wouldn’t race with, so they will turn out to test their skill against a new set of competitors.
“All classes of Inboards are in­vited to participate in the event with the addition of a couple more classes,” he said. “Title races give regional racers the op­portunity to race against drivers from all over the country and the world.”
Browning said that Clarksville was able to obtain hosting re­sponsibilities for the World Inboard Championship because the original location, Morgan City, LA, had to back out due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Once the opportunity to bid on the Worlds came available there was a bid from Clarksville and Seattle, Wash. Clarksville won the bid because they were willing to run classes that Seattle wouldn’t, said Browning.
Browning went onto explain that in order to host a title event venues usually have to bid on it a year in advance, however the special situation allowed Clarksville to obtain the event.
“The Inboard Division chose Clarksville because we were will­ing to run all the classes,” he said. “It was a unanimous deci­sion.”
“We are very excited about this great opportunity and our race committee is working hard to make Oct. 7 and 8, 2006 a spec­tacular weekend,” said Brown.
The Hydroplane Challenge Committee will hold it’s first meeting of 2006 toward the end of January. For more information on the Hydroplane Challenge or to become a committee member contact Carol Brown at 434 374-4558.

 

Halifax Opts For Four-Year PC Term For Moore

Halifax Town Council decided against acting on a recommendation from the town’s Planning Commission to extend Chairman Dick Moore’s term by one year, instead opting to appoint Moore to another four-year term.
Council is expected to appoint Moore to another four-year term at its monthly meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Halifax Town Hall.
Several councilmen and Mayor Leon Plaster expressed misgivings about extending Moore’s term by one year and throwing off the proper rotation of commissioners’ terms.
The planning commission requested that Moore be kept on after his term expired this month because the commission is in the process of drafting a new comprehensive plan for the town.
Council agreed that appointing Moore to another full term was the appropriate action, noting that Moore can resign from the commission at any time and a new member can be appointed to the commission to fulfill the remainder of Moore’s term.
Also, Town Manager Carl Espy informed Council that preliminary drafts of the town’s revised personnel policy manual will be distributed in coming days for their review so proposed changes can be addressed at Council’s February work session.
Halifax Chief of Police Devin Snead told Council that Halifax Police Officer Aaron Britton has tendered his resignation from the department to accept a position with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
Snead then introduced new full-time officer David Martin to Council. Martin had been working for the department as a part-time officer before accepting the full-time position, Snead said.
Also, Snead informed Council that Halifax Police Officer S.M. Comer had taken Motor Carrier training that certified him to charge tractor-trailers with federal infractions and weigh trucks.
Lastly, Snead told Council that the department’s first ‘Shop With A Cop’ was successful, getting strong support from town businesses that allowed the department to shop for six children.
On the Finance Committee’s agenda, Chairman Jack Dunavant told Council that at their Wednesday meeting committee members met with Burnett and Sneed accountant Larry Sneed and addressed several issues facing the town.
Issues addressed included general accounting formats, bookkeeping, the fiscal year 2004-05 budget, status of real estate and personnel property taxes, business licenses, random audits and the police department.
Sneed is scheduled to address Council at its February work session and discuss options for the town.
Also, Council decided to address any changes to Halifax’s insurance benefits for employees in February when new premium rates for the insurance plans are expected to be available February 1.

 

Oneita Ilene Johnson Ondich

Funeral services for Mrs. Oneita (Polly) Ilene Johnson Ondich of White Oak Drive, South Boston, will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Andrew Bawtree conducting the service. Burial will follow at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Ondich, 75, died Sunday, January 8, at her home.
She was born July 25, 1930, in Modasto, California, a daughter of Walter Cluster Johnson Sr. and Lula Belle Johnson, and was married to John (Jake) Ondich.
Mrs. Ondich graduated from Mark Keppel High School in Alhambram, California, and worked with Bell Telephone for 16 years. She worked at several retail stores, including Allen’s Drug Store and Wal-Mart Garden Center in South Boston, prior to her retirement in 2005.
She is survived by two daughters: Sandie Ondich Wilkerson and fiancé Donald Raynor of Vernon Hill and Evelyn S. Ondich (formerly Jones) of South Boston; four grandchildren, Brian Lee Rogers of Boone, N.C., Sabrina Kaye Rogers of South Boston, Melissa A. Reamey of Pittsboro, and Melinda R. Reamey of White Park, Minnesota; one sister, Odessa Irene Johnson Hicks of Mohave Valley, Arizona; one brother, Carter Johnson and wife Nora Lee of La Puente, California; one brother-in-law, George Ondich and wife Eleanor of Farrell, Pennsylvania; two sisters-in-law, Dolly Ondich Lucas and Evelyn Elise Ondich of Farrell, Pennsylvania; one aunt and a number of nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Ondich was preceded in death by her husband, Jake, her son Jim, and her parents, Walter and Lula Belle, her brother Walt and her son-in-law, Peanut Wilkerson.
The family will receive friend Tuesday, January 10, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home, 129 White Oak Dr., South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Trinity Episcopal Church, the American Diabetes Association or the Halifax Regional Hospice.

Annie Mae Buckner Williamson

Funeral services for Annie Mae Buckner Williamson will be held tomorrow at Calvary United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. wit h the Rev. David LeFon officiating.
Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held tonight from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home and other times at the home, 1030 Samuel Road, Alton.
Mrs. Williamson, 83, of Samuel Road in Alton, died Sunday, January 8, at Danville Regional Medical Center.
She was born September 14,1922, the daughter of the late Alfred F Buckner and Mildred Long Buckner and was married the late W. Frank Williamson.
Mrs. Williamson was a retired textile worker from Tultex and farmer.
She was also a member of Calvary United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Williamson is survived by a son, Glenn Williamson of Danville; two brothers, Julian Buckner and Garland “Buck” Buckner, both of Danville; a brother-in-law, Eugene Harbour of Alton; two sisters-in-law, Gray Williamson and Katherine Buckner, both of Alton and several nieces, great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Buckner.
Those wishing to give memorials may consider the American Lung Association, 6318 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Va. 24019.

Elizabeth Rice Boyd

Funeral services for Elizabeth Rice Boyd of Turbeville Road, Alton, will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel with burial following at the Oak Ridge Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Russell Lee will conduct the service.
Mrs. Boyd, 85, died Friday, January 6, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born December 31, 1920, in Halifax County, a daughter of James Arthur Rice and Lila Wooding Rice, and was married to John W. Boyd Jr.
Mrs. Boyd was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of South Boston, Berryman Green Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was also a member of the Halifax Womens Club and the South Boston Garden Club.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, John W. Boyd III and wife Leigh of Roanoke, and James R. Boyd and wife Angela of Charlottesville; one daughter, Sally B. Slaff of South Boston; six grandchildren, Sarah Boyd of Roanoke, Colin Boyd of Zuni, Andrew Boyd, John Pifer and Elizabeth Boyd, all of Charlottesville, and Ashley Slaff of South Boston; one sister, Mary Ann Jones of Clarksville; former son-in-law Dr. James Slaff of Gainesville, Florida.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Turbeville Volunteer Fire Department.

Madoline Trowbridge Oliver

Madoline Trowbridge Oliver, 75, died January 3, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Oliver was a native of Buncombe County, N.C., the daughter of the late Robert William and Madoline Cathey Trowbridge, and was first married to the late Lennie Sanford and then to James Oliver. She was a member of Long Memorial United Methodist Church and was a retired intensive care nurse from Person Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were held January 5, at 2 p.m. at Brooks & White Funeral Home Chapel in Roxboro, N.C. by the Revs. Phil Showers and Ron Pruitt. Burial followed in Person Memorial Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Oliver include her husband; three sons, Lennie Dodson Sanford Jr. of Cross, S.C., William Sanford and wife, Tammy, and Mark T. Sanford and wife, Kelly, all of Roxboro; one daughter, Jane C. Sprinkle and husband, Jimmy, of Roxboro; a sister, Gladys T. Pulliam of Roxboro; eight grandchildren, Jay Collie, Kim Parker, Cameron Collie, Matthew Sanford, Krista Sanford, Chance Sanford, Corey Sanford and Chad Sanford; four step-grandchildren, Kevin Bennett, Paige Sprinkle, Camela Sprinkle and Brittany Sprinkle; and nine great-grandchildren.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Oberlin Road, Suite 208, Raleigh, N.C. 27605, or a charity of choice.

James Stover Long

Mr. James Stover Long of Virgilina died Saturday, January 7, at the Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on October 3, 1925 and was 80 years old.
Mr. Long was the son of William Green Long and Nannie Wilkins Long and was married to the late Sue Norwood Long.
He attended the Amis Chapel Baptist Church and served as mayor of Virgilina from 1986 until 2000. Mr. Long also served on the Virgilina Town Council for a number of years. He retired from Collins and Aikman in Roxboro after 47 years of employment.
Mr. Long is survived by one son, James Stover Long Jr., of Virgilina; three sisters, Alvis L. Stone of Suffolk, Alice L. Johnson of Baltimore and Elsie L. Vaughan of Halifax.
Three brothers, Melvin, Jack and Munford Long, and three sisters, Alma Moorefield, Lucy Simmons and Travis Long, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, January 9, with services at the Amis Chapel Baptist Church. The Rev. Bobby Whitfield will officiate. Burial will follow at the Virgilina Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service and other times at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Neal, 1544 Oak Hill Road, Oxford, N.C.
Flowers will be accepted or those wishing to give memorials please consider the Amis Chapel Baptist Church Building Fund, 9189 Amis Chapel Road, Oxford, N.C., 27565.

Rita Elizabeth Bradshaw Edmonds

Funeral services for Mrs. Rita Elizabeth Bradshaw Edmonds of Vernon Hill will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church in Meadville, with burial following in the church cemetery. The Rev. Willie N. Yancey will officiate.
Mrs. Edmonds, 71, died Thursday, January 5, at her residence.
She was born July 9, 1934 in Philadelphia, a daughter of the late Gladys Fitz Bradshaw, and was married to the late Sammie Edmonds.
She was a member of New Zion Baptist Church.
Mrs. Edmonds is survived by three daughters, Sophronia H. Edmonds of Vernon Hill, Ester R. Edmonds Greenleaf of Lanham, Maryland, and Sophie Z. Song of South Boston; three sons, Samuel Edmonds Jr. of Gainesville, Virginia, Gary Andrew Edmonds of Greenbelt, Maryland, and Larry E. Edmonds of Burtonsville, Maryland; two sisters, Vivian Taylor and Mary McNeil, both of Richmond; nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law; one step-daughter, Brenda Medley and family and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, January, 9, from 7-8 p.m.

 

Franklin Co. Rolls Over Comets

The HCHS Varsity Boys Cagers Fell To Franklin County 80-47 Friday Night In Their Western Valley District Opener

The Halifax County High School varsity boys cagers played some of their best basketball of the season in the first 16 minutes of Friday night’s Western Valley District opener against Franklin County.
That changed in the second half.
Problems the Comets have battled all season, players taking quick, ill-advised shots and committing turnovers that result in easy points for the opponent, reared their ugly head and Franklin County rolled to an easy 80-47 win.
“We played much better than we played Tuesday,” noted Comets head coach Ron Parson after the loss that dropped the Comets to 3-8 overall and 0-1 in Western Valley District play heading into Tuesday night’s district game against E.C. Glass in Lynchburg.
However, he noted that what happened in this game was a direct result of the team not making the strides it should have been making.
“It comes from the other 10 ballgames of us not working and improving like we should have,” he said.
“ If we had been improving all year like we should have, instead of playing (well) for a half, you at least would play (well) three and a half quarters. If you play (well) three and half quarters, it’s anybody’s ballgame.
“If we had been playing ball like that (the way the Comets played in the first half) all year we could play with anybody,” added Parson.
“ You can’t play 10 games doing nothing and then expect to come out in the eleventh game and play one of the better teams in Virginia and beat them. You’ve got to play hard all of the time and we haven’t been doing that.”
The Comets played good basketball in the first half despite the fact that they never led.
Halifax deadlocked the score twice in the first quarter and got two baskets, one from Mark Ferrell and one from Pierre Edmonds, in the final 14 seconds of the quarter to trim a five-point deficit and make it a 1413 score at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Comets trailed by as many as seven points early on but never let Franklin County break the game open. The Comets trailed by six points with just a minute and a half left in the first half but scored four points in the final 58 seconds to cut a six-point deficit to a two-point deficit at 28-26 at halftime.
Along the way, the Comets had managed to hold Franklin County’s 6-8 senior center Lewis Witcher to 10 points and had prevented Witcher from dominating the action.
“We played an excellent first half,” pointed out Comets head coach Ron Parson.
“I felt we had a legitimate shot to win the ballgame. We did everything we wanted to do.”
The second half, however, was as different as night and day.
Franklin County got off to a good start in the second half with a pair of treys from Brock Mattox to go up 34-26 with 6:04 left in the third quarter. A Comets turnover followed by another bucket by Mattox, that one on an offensive rebound, put Franklin County up 36-26.
From that point on, it was a big downhill slide for the Comets.
Multiple turnovers and a lengthy spate of ill-advised shots by the Comets, coupled with the Eagles’ hot shooting hand, took the Comets out of contention quickly.
Halifax County scored only four points in the first five minutes of the third quarter but trailed by only 11 points at 46-35 at the end of the third quarter.
The Comets cut their deficit to nine points early in the fourth quarter. However, an easy basket for the Eagles off of a Comets turnover and an intentional foul called on the Comets’ Morgan Brown that resulted in four points, put Franklin County up 52-37. A trey from the Eagles’ Riley Brubaker after another Comets turnover put Franklin County up 55-37 with six minutes left in the game.
The game was all but over at that point.
“We just totally lost focus again,” Parson explained.
“ We took several bad, quick shots. In the first half, we were running the offense and doing everything we were supposed to do. In the second half, we started the quick shooting and we started getting in trouble. We don’t even throw the ball in-bounds three or four times and they get the ball and score. That’s like bonuses.
“We went back to our old ways, bad shots, turning the ball over on in-bounds passes, little things that you cannot do against a good team,” he added.
The Eagles (11-1 overall, 1-0 district) had a big fourth quarter in shooting a perfect 11-11 from the floor and finished the game with a 30-54 effort (55.5 percent) from the floor.
Halifax County, by contrast was 17-50 from the floor for a 34 percent mark.
The Comets will go back on the road Tuesday to face E.C. Glass in another Western Valley District clash, a clash that Parson says will be another one tough one for his team.
“We’re going to have to regroup right quick and try to get ourselves back on track and try to do a little better,” he said.
Tipoff time at E.C. Glass High School is 7:30 p.m.

HALIFAX COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Terry 1 0-0 0 2
Burrell 0 0-0 0 0
Leigh 0 0-0 1 0
Jeffress 3 4-4 0 12
Brown 1 4-4 2 6
Key 4 0-0 3 8
Brooks 3 0-0 4 7
Edmonds 1 0-0 1 2
Pippen 0 0-0 0 0
Sibley 0 0-0 0 0
Ferrell 4 2-2 2 10
Totals 17 10-10 13 47
FRANKLIN COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Journiette 0 0-0 0 0
Brubaker 5 0-0 0 14
Edwards, J.T. 1 0-0 0 2
Edwards, A. 0 0-2 0 0
Keys 1 0-0 0 2
Mattox 4 0-0 1 10
Kent 6 2-5 4 14
Willis 4 0-0 0 10
Craig 1 0-0 1 2
Cook 0 0-0 0 0
Sigmon 1 0-0 1 2
Witcher 7 9-9 2 23
Shively 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 30 11-16 9 80
Three Point Field Goals: Jeffress (HC) 2, Brooks (HC) 1, Brubaker (FC) 4, Mattox (FC) 2, Willis (FC) 2

Halifax County 13 13 9 12-47
Franklin County 14 14 18 34-80

 

Comets Varsity Girls Cagers Routed Here By Franklin Co.

Eagles Surge To Take 70-24 Win In WVD Opener

A deep, experienced and fundamentally sound Franklin County team proved way too much for the Comets varsity girls basketball team to handle here Friday, the Eagles outscoring Halifax 34-4 in the middle two quarters on the way to a 70-24 win.
The loss left the Comets with a 0-1 record in the Western Valley District and a 2-7 record overall.
Halifax was as close as 12-8 early in the game, before a 48-7 run in the second and third quarters gave the Eagles an insurmountable 60-15 advantage with a quarter remaining.
Kemper Russell led the Comets with six points, while Brittany Gayles and Ashley Coleman added four points apiece. Key Ferrell and Shauna Harris both hit treys for three points apiece, while Lashunda Davis and Deelynn Leigh each added a field goal.
P.J. Wade and Amber Potter finished with 16 and 11 points, respectively for Franklin County, which got scoring throughout its entire lineup, Amy Betterton adding eight points, and three other players six points each.
Franklin County, which returned virtually its entire lineup from a Northwest Regional participant last season, was as good as advertised, according to Comets coach Ray Reaves.
“Franklin County is very talented and well-coached,” began Reaves. “I enjoy watching them play as a unit on the floor, because they do so much so well.
“Every aspect of the game is played at a high level and they are fundamentally sound in all areas of the game, from offense to defense, from footwork to ball handling.”
Halifax tried to make a game of it early on, Coleman scoring on a drive for a 2-2 tie, and Davis scored again later to make it 5-4.
Coleman added two foul shots, Russell a basket and Ferrell a trey to make it 17-11, but a 9-0 Eagles run gave them a 15-point lead going into the second quarter, with a half-court trap and pressure defense taking its toll on Comets ball handlers.
The Eagles, taking advantage of numerous turnovers, led 44-13 in the second quarter before Gayles scored inside for the Comets with a minute remaining, and Leigh scored the only two points for Halifax in the third period, which ended with the Eagles holding the 60-15 advantage.
Halifax added nine fourth quarter points, while the Eagles scored 10 points, all coming from its reserves, who played a majority of the second half.
Reaves said the best team won, but had words of praise for the Comets’ effort the entire game, despite the deficit.
“We just could not keep up with them and were beat by a far superior team,” noted Reaves.
“Their coaching staff had them ready and did a much better job than we did. Their players were extremely focused and knew what they had to do in order to win.
“I was very impressed with their patience on offense and their intensity on defense, and they are fundamentally strong in the way they passed, handled the ball, played defense and shot the ball.”
Reaves added his team will use the game as a learning experience, as the Comets prepare for their second district game here tomorrow against E.C. Glass.
“We must continue to concentrate on the fundamentals if we want to compete in this district,” noted Reaves. “The effort is there and my girls never backed down and never quit on me.
“They played hard from start to finish, and I commend them for that, because so many times tonight they could just as easily folded, because it got that bad at times tonight.” “They have a lot of heart and give me everything they have in practice and during games, and will continue to improve,” added Reaves.
“They just need to become more fundamentally sound, which means I have to go and do my homework.
“I hope we can give our fans and our school a better showing in the future, but that is going to be based on how well I can equip these girls with the right tools in order to compete.”
The varsity girls basketball team takes the floor against E.C. Glass tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

 

Smith Medals For Comets Grapplers

Cavanaugh Smith Won Second Place In Saturday’s Rocket Invitational Tournament At PHS; Comets Host Tunstall Tonight

Halifax County High School’s heavyweight grappler, Cavanaugh Smith, finished second in his weight class and emerged as the lone medal winner for the Comets in Saturday’s Rocket Invitational Wrestling Tournament at Person High School.
Smith, competing in the 275-pound weight class, advanced to the championship finals by pinning Northern Vance High School’s Dustin Aleshire in the first round and pinning Green Hope High School wrestler Navid Sharifian in the semifinal round.
In the championship match, Smith was pinned in the first period by Charles Estep of Oxford, N.C.’s J.F. Webb High School.
Smith’s big day in the Rocket Invitational put him at 8-2 on the season.
“I was glad to see Cavanaugh get to the finals for the second straight year,” said Comets wrestling coach Brady Taylor.
“He is having a great season so far and we expect him to only get better. I think if he keeps working hard, Cavanaugh may enjoy a lot of success this year.”
The medal win by Smith was the sole bright spot for the day for the Halifax County High School grapplers who finished tenth in the 11-team event.
Host Person High School won the event with 208 points. Halifax County tallied 27 points in its tenth-place finish.
“Needless to say, we were not satisfied with the outcome of today’s tournament,” Taylor said.
“We are a better team than the way we wrestled and I felt like we could have competed better. Last year we finished fifth out of 12 teams so this is kind of a step backwards.”
The Comets coach said his wrestlers had opportunities but failed to take advantage of them.
“There were some good wrestlers there, but we had chances to win some matches that we let slip away,” Taylor pointed out.
“We wrestled poorly in the opening round, but came back and wrestled a lot better in the first round of consolations. Some of the new guys just need to get more experience and they will be okay. I don’t know if it was rust since we haven’t wrestled in a month or what it was.”
The Comets had three wrestlers in addition to Smith to post wins in Saturday’s tournament. That trio included Brent Messick (112), Ray Albert (160), and Damon Chambers (189).
Messick lost his opening-round match, won his first match in the consolation bracket and lost again in the semifinals of the consolation bracket.
Albert lost his first contest, won his quarterfinal match in the consolation bracket and lost in the finals of the consolation round.
Chambers lost his first match of the tournament, defeated Nick Hazelwood of Bartlett-Yancey High School in a consolation bracket quarterfinal match and lost in a consolation semifinal round contest.
Halifax County High School’s wrestlers will be back in action tonight when they host Tunstall High School at 7 p.m. here at Halifax County High School.
“Hopefully we can turn things around Monday night against Tunstall,” Taylor said.
“The good thing is that the team realizes that we can do better and they are starting to understand when they are making mistakes. I feel like they will wrestle a lot harder this week.”
Taylor said he feels being able to compete at home will help his team.
“The last time we were in front of a home crowd, we wrestled pretty well, so hopefully we will get a good-sized crowd and start to turn things around,” Taylor concluded.
    Rocket Invitational Tournament Results
112 - Brent Messick 1-2
119 - Jordan Litchfield 0-2
125 - Devin Griles 0-2
130 - Heather Oakes 0-2
135 - Shayna Oakes 0-2
140 - Jonathan Chappell 0-1
145 - Tyler Bamberg 0-2
152 - Josh Brooks 0-2
160 - Ray Albert 1-2
171 - Charles Crawley 0-1
189 - Damon Chambers 1-2
215 - Robert Stanfield 0-2
275 - Cavanaugh Smith 2-1 (Second Place)