Monday, January 29, 2007

Scottsburg Man Killed In Crash

A 44-year-old Scottsburg man died in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. 360 Saturday morning, according to Virginia State Police Information Officer Sergeant David Cooper.
Anthony David Franklin, of Clays Mill Road, died at the scene, moments after his 2000 Ford Explorer ran off the side of the road and struck a tree, Cooper said.
Franklin was not wearing a seat belt, according to Cooper.
The accident occurred at approximately 1:04 a.m., two-tenths of mile from Route 729, when the Explorer ran off the right side of the road, police said.
Franklin was pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m., Cooper added.
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined and is still under investigation, Cooper said.
Virginia State Trooper D.D. Johnson is the investigating officer.
Funeral services for Mr. Franklin are scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at McCanless Memorial United Methodist Church.

Money, Zoning Issues To Dominate Session

A personnel classification and compensation study for town employees by John Anzivino of Springsted consultants, and a proposal clarifying that a portion of the June $5,105,000 public improvement bond issue will be used to finance landfill closure costs will lead Council’s work session agenda tonight.
The meeting will get under way at 5:45 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.
Anzivino, who recently conducted a similar study for Halifax County, will present the personnel classification and compensation study.
Council will also clarify the expenditure of funds from the June 2006 public improvement bond issue for closure of its landfill, set for Dec. 31. The issue will be addressed at public hearing Feb. 12 in Council Chambers.
In other business tonight, South Boston Council will review rezoning recommendations from its Planning Commission on Founders College Development’s request to rezone 223 acres from Residential-1 to Planed Development-Residential. Planners recommended the rezoning request following public hearing at their last session. Council will hold a public hearing on the request at its February 12 meeting.
Also on the agenda, the Planning Commission’s recommendations on amendments to the town’s zoining ordinance regulating electric fences in residential zones and requiring survey plats for new construction for single family dwellings.
Council’s Current Issue Committee will also address the Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Riverdale Food Control Study tonight.
Businessman Gene Haugh, of Destination Downtown South Boston, is expected to propose placement of several art sculptures in downtown as part of DDSB’s beautification plan.
Council is expected to go into regular session Monday night to address two issues: to authorize a Tobacco Commission Grant application in support of the Halifax County Service Authority for start-up funding; and a resolution of support for a Tobacco Commission Grant application by the Halifax County Historical Society for the Crossing of the Dan Project..
Council’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 in Council Chambers.

Semi-Annual Tax Billing, Old Jail Demolition Under Consideration

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors set switching to semi-annual billing for property taxes and fully implementing a new automated accounting system as their top objectives for 2007.
The new accounting system, known as the Munis System, will put all the county’s billing and accounts payable operations on one, integrated system.
Switching to semi-annual billing for county taxes will benefit the county from a revenue standpoint in 2008, according to Board Finance Chairman Doug Bowman.
Also, it will ease the burden on taxpayers who have had to pay their entire tax bill in December during the holiday season, supervisors said.
Under the new billing schedule, half of year’s taxes will be due on June 5 and the other half would still be due on Dec. 5, Bowman said.
Also during their two-day retreat last week, the Board agreed to ask department heads to hold operating costs level and submit budgets at the same level as 2006.
Exceptions to the budget freeze will be considered on a case-by-case basis, supervisors agreed.
Rounding out the Board’s “to do” list are demolishing the old jail connected to the Halifax County Courthouse, working towards doing away with vehicle decals and opening at least four new convenience centers for residents to dispose of solid waste.
Supervisors are focusing on the demolition of the old jail this year so the debris can be disposed of in the South Boston Landfill before it closes at the end of the year and not have to be transported to Mecklenburg to the new regional landfill, County Administrator Bryan Foster said.
With the closure of the landfill coming in 11 months, the Board agreed to open at least four new convenience centers in strategic locations throughout the county.
Staffing the convenience centers full-time will also be addressed by the Board after the Board was informed by staff that the centers are being used by out-of-state residents and small businesses owners, who are dumping waste in the convenience centers to avoid paying the landfill’s disposal fees.
Working with the towns of Halifax and South Boston to do away with vehicle decals will stay on the agenda for 2007, with the plan being to put the decal fee on residents’ property tax bill.

Obituaries

Calvin Leonard Kelly

Calvin Leonard Kelly, 74, of 205 Merritt Street, South Boston died January 29, 2007, at Virginia Baptist Hospital. He was born in Lynchburg October 29, 1932, the son of the late Melvin C. Kelly and Sara Elizabeth Arthur Kelly and was married to Gloria Cunningham Kelly.
Mr. Kelly was a member of Fairview Christian Church in Lynchburg. He was a former Commander of American Legion Post 8 and a Navy Veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was former co-owner of Kelly-Wheeler Chrysler-Plymouth in South Boston and was previously an accountant with Brockman Chevrolet in Amherst.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sisters, Nancy Falwell and husband, Ariel, of Lynchburg and Jewell Hicks and husband, Wes, of Richmond; one brother, Melvin C. Kelly Jr. and wife, Viola, of Kingsland, Ga.
One son, Thomas Gregory ‘Greg’ Kelly; two sisters, Hazel Hamilton and Rebecca Kelly; and two brothers, Ronald Kelly and Floyd Bennett Kelly, preceded Mr. Kelly in death.
A Mausoleum graveside service with Military Rites will be held tomorrow, February 1, at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Hill Memorial Park in Lynchburg. The Rev. Jack Hamilton will officiate.
The family will receive friends this evening, January 31, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592.

Rev. Hugh B. Carter Jr.

Rev. Hugh B. Carter Jr., 87, of Florida, died at his home January 17, 2007.
Rev. Carter was born in Atlanta, Ga. April 18, 1919, the son of the late Hugh B. Carter Sr. and Earlyne Prichard Carter, and was married to the late Myra Greenawalt Carter.
Survivors include a son, Hugh Timothy Carter of Manassas; his grandchildren, Lindsay, Stacy and Travis; his daughter, Myra Carter Therrien and husband, Bruce, of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; and Vicky Carter.
A memorial mass for Rev. Carter was held at St. Ann Church, Gulf Breeze, Fla. at 10 a.m. on January 19 by Pastor Luke Hunt.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Hospice of Emerald Coast, 5401 Corporate Woods Drive, Pensacola, Fla. 32504.

Kevin Gaylord Parton

Kevin Gaylord Parton, 49, of 1121 Newton Farm Road, South Boston died January 27, 2007, at MCV, Richmond. He was born January 6, 1958, in Halifax County the son of Janis Martin Whitt and Thomas Cundiff, and was married to Debby Hazelwood Parton.
Mr. Parton was a former member of the Halifax County Rescue, South Boston Volunteer Fire Company, and Cluster Springs Ruritan Club.
Survivors include his wife of the home; mother of Danville; father of Charleston, S.C.; his daughter, Lindsey Parton Fisher of South Boston; one granddaughter, Kaylee Jewel Fisher of South Boston; his grandmother, Jewel Martin, of South Boston. His stepfather, Ken Parton; and grandfather, Lucas ‘Dutch’ Martin, preceded Mr. Parton in death.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, January 31, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Vance Midgett officiating. Burial will follow at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net

Keister Bailey Cole

Keister Bailey Cole, 79, of 2248 East Hyco Road, South Boston died January 28, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was born in Halifax County on October 17, 1927, the son of the late Matilda Elliott, and was married to Elyle Cole. He was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church, and of Hyco Ruritan Club.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Steve Cole and wife, Jennifer, of Cary, N.C. and Mike Cole and wife, Barbara, of Halifax; one daughter, Anne Cole of Raleigh, N.C.; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Cole will be held today, January 31, at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Phil Showers and Raymond McGarr officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be made to powell@gcronline.com

Candice Leigh Blane

Candice Leigh Blane, 52, of South Boston died January 29, 2007. She was born in Halifax County May 18, 1954, the daughter of Charles A. Blane and Nancy McDowell Blane. She was a member of Alton Baptist Church.
Survivors of Miss Blane include her mother, of South Boston; two sisters, Carolyn B. Elliott andhusband, Jack, of Lynchburg and Charlene B. Samford and husband, Wayne, of Richmond; two nephews, Matthew Elliott and wife, Sally, and Jason Sheriff and wife, Meghan; two nieces, Anne Blane Elliott Wootten and husband, Bradley, and Kelda Sheriff; one great-nephew, Charles Blane Sheriff; and one great-niece, Caroline Leigh Wootten.
Funeral services will be held today, January 31, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dennis Ball officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service.
Burial will follow in Alton Baptist Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 3959 Electric Road, Suite 222, Roanoke, 24018, or Alton Baptist Church, 1054 Alton Post Office Road, Alton, 24520-3595.

Brenda Barber Seamans

Brenda Barber Seamans, 55, of Chase City died January 24, 2007.
Mrs. Seamans was a retired Nutrition Technician with Virginia Extension Service and currently served as a Supporter for her husband under the Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers. She graduated from Southside Virginia Community College, was an artist and a member of Concord Baptist Church.
Survivors of Mrs. Seamans include her husband, Larry E. Seamans; her father, Floyd Barber of Victoria; one daughter, Christina Seamans Duke and husband, Matthew, of Oxford, N .C.; one son, Eugene Seamans and girl friend, Brandie Frey, of Chase City; two sisters, Bonnie Scott of Victoria and Shelby Mann of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; two brothers, Johnny Barber and Jerry Barber, both of Victoria; two grandchildren, Elizabeth Lane Duke and Dylon Jay Seamans. She was preceded in death by her mother, Inez J. Barber; and a brother, Kenneth Barber.
Funeral services for Mrs. Seamans were held January 27, at Concord Baptist Church with the Rev. David Blakely officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Concord Baptist Church Nursery Fund, c/o Phyllis and Bill Williams, Treasurers, 26330 Hwy. 49, Chase City, 23924.

Sally Laverne Russell Holloman

Sally Laverne Russell Holloman, 73, of South Boston died January 27, 2007, at The Woodview. She was the widow of William E. Holloman.
A native of Wilmington, N.C., Mrs. Holloman graduated from UNC at Wilmington with a BS in Psychology.
Survivors include her daughters, Linda H. Boucher and Rebecca H. Moyer; a son, William E. Holloman Jr.; brothers, John, Ronald, and Patrick Russell; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A private family service will be held in Wilmington.
Memorials may be made to Pug Rescue of North Carolina, c/o P.O. Box 94, Summerfield, N.C. 27358 and online condolences may be made at www.cremationofvirginia.com.

Glennie Gloria Lacy Clark

Glennie Gloria Lacy Clark, 89, of New York died January 25, 2007, at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City.
Ms. Clark was born in Halifax County September 15, 1917, the daughter of Allen and Susan Lacy and was married to the late Dan Clark. She was a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church in Bronx, N.Y. and Millstone Baptist Church, Nathalie.
Survivors include an adopted daughter, Antonia Williams of Chester, Pa.; her loyal cousin, Grace Wilson of New York City; and a surrogate brother, Dan Bromell of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Funeral services for Ms. Clark will be held tomorrow, February 1, at 1:30 p.m. at Millstone Baptist Church with Pastor Chester R. Spruill officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The remains will lie in state one hour prior to the service.

Mary Clifton Tucker Tuck

Mary Clifton Tucker Tuck, 70, of Hyattsville, Md., formerly of South Boston, died January 28, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Tuck was born in Halifax County on August 27, 1936, the daughter of the late Alex Tucker and Mary Carrington Tucker Buster, and was married to the late Clyde Louis Tuck. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was employed by Prince George County Public Schools in Md.
Survivors include three daughters, Vivian T. Betts, Sylvia T. Birch and Darlena H. Chappell, all of South Boston; one son, Jesse James Tucker of Rocky Mount, N.C.; four sisters, Christine Claiborne of Queens, N.Y., Nancy Walker of Brooklyn, N.Y., Frances T. Vass of South Boston and Lucille B. Tuck of Virgilina; two brothers, Alex Tucker and Samuel Tucker, both of South Boston; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Melissa Tucker; two sons-in-law, Kevin Chappell and Roger Birch. Mrs. Tuck was preceded in death by one daughter, Clarissa Tucker.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 1, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Ferry Street with the Rev. Kelvin Chandler officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home this evening, January 31, from 7 until 8, and other times at the home of Kevin and Darlena Chappell, 2169 East Hyco Road, South Boston.

Joseph Frederick Lightcap

Joseph Frederick Lightcap of Nathalie died December 17, 2006.
A memorial service for Mr. Lightcap will be held February 2, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Father Steven Andes officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider an animal charity of your choice.

Comets’ Skid Continues

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
It was pretty much the same story – just a different verse when Halifax County High School kicked off the second half of its Western Valley District schedule Friday night against Franklin County in Rocky Mount.
Franklin County broke open a close game midway through the second quarter and ran away to an easy 68-41 win.
Friday night’s loss was the sixth loss in a row for the Comets who have now dropped to 6-11 overall and 0-5 in Western Valley District play.
The different verse to the story was that the Comets’ two best offensive floor generals and defensive players, Morgan Brown and Durrell Chandler, both nauseated and fighting a stomach ailment, became ill and left the game in the first quarter.
Without Brown and Chandler on the floor, the Comets, who had led the first five minutes of the game and trailed by only two points at 20-18 at the end of the first quarter, managed to hold their own for only three more minutes before the game started slipping away.
The Comets trailed by five points but Allen Stephens hit a short eight-foot shot with 4:50 left in the first half to make it a three-point game at 27-24. Halifax County failed to score again the rest of the first half, opening the door for Franklin County to forge an 11-point 35-24 lead at halftime.
Halifax County scored only six points in the second quarter with Stephens, Leon Glenn and Michael Ferrell each hitting one basket.
The Comets cut the Franklin County lead to nine points at the start of the third quarter when Ferrell made two free throws, but Franklin County (14-4 overall, 4-0 district) quickly began pulling away, taking a 42-27 lead at the end of the first three minutes of the third quarter.
With Halifax County showing virtually no offensive firepower, Franklin County pulled away to a 52-34 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Eagles upped their lead to a high of 28 points in the fourth quarter before pulling back on the reigns in the final three and a half minutes of the game and winning by 27 points at 68-41.
Comets coach Ron Parson said the loss of Brown and Chandler pretty much killed the team’s chances.
The Comets scored less than 10 points in both the second and fourth quarters, scoring only six and seven points respectively.
“There goes our offense, what little bit we’ve got, with our floor leaders gone,” Parson said.
“I felt overall the guys gave a good effort.”
Franklin County’s J.T. Edwards torched the Comets for 30 points, 19 of which came in the first half. Parson said that having either Brown or Chandler on Edwards could have possibly made some difference in Edwards’ dominance.
“Morgan’s our best defender,” Parson noted.
“Durrell is the next best defender. They’re the two best defenders we’ve got. There again, he (Edwards) made the shots. You’ve got to give him credit.”
The Eagles also dominated the boards on both ends of the floor. Franklin County had 17 offensive rebounds and a total of 17 team assists.
“We got beat on the boards,” Parson acknowledged.
“ We’re so small, that’s going to happen.”
Ferrell was the only Comets player to reach double figures with his team-high 15 points. Pierre Brandon was next in line in the scoring column with six points.
The Comets will be in action twice this week, hosting neighboring border rival Person High School on Wednesday and playing their final home game of the season here Friday night against Western Valley District opponent Patrick Henry.

HALIFAX COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Glenn 2 0-2 1 4
Ferrell 5 3-5 2 15
Pippen 0 0-0 0 0
Chandler 0 0-0 0 0
Smalls 1 1-2 0 3
Brown 1 0-0 1 3
Brandon 3 0-0 0 6
Ager 0 1-2 1 1
Bumpass 1 0-0 1 3
Waltman 0 0-0 2 0
Ford 0 2-2 1 2
Stephens 1 0-0 4 2
Stovall 0 0-0 0 0
White 1 0-0 2 2
Totals 15 7-13 15 41
FRANKLIN CO.
NAME FG FT F TP
Journiette 1 0-0 0 3
Keys 2 1-2 2 6
Belcher 1 0-0 0 2
Corn 0 0-0 0 0
Tyree 2 0-3 0 4
Ross, J. 1 1-2 2 3
Willis 0 1-1 0 1
Edwards 9 6-8 2 30
Craig 4 2-3 1 10
Muse 0 2-2 0 2
Ross, M. 3 1-2 2 7
Holland 0 0-2 2 0
Totals 23 14-25 11 68
Three Point Field Goals: Ferrell (HC) 2, Brown (HC) 1, Bumpass (HC) 1, Edwards (FC) 6, Journiette (FC) 1, Keys (FC) 1.
Halifax Co. 18 6 10 7-41
Franklin Co. 20 15 17 16-68

Lady Comets Rally For Win

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Comets varsity girls basketball team, with four players in foul trouble and behind by 14 points to visiting Franklin County in the third quarter, appeared headed toward a disappointing Western Valley District loss.
Appearances can be deceiving, however, as the Comets outscored the Eagles 33-11 the rest of the way for a 72-64 win that gave them a 3-2 record in the district.
Shauna Harris (three treys) led the Comets with 22 points, while Talesha Medley and Key Ferrell added 11 points apiece, seven for Ferrell in the first quarter and seven for Medley in the fourth.
Kemper Russell scored 10, Taniqua Younger and Ashley Coleman eight, and Lashunda Davis two points for Halifax, which improved to 9-9 overall.
Shea Smith led Franklin County with 15 points, while A. Umberger finished with 12, all on three-pointers.
Bethann Heatwole was the third Eagle in double figures with 10 points.
Comets coach Ray Reaves said the win was a total team effort, and that’s what he likes to see as a coach.
“I’m not a coach who likes to see only a couple of big scorers. I like a team where more than one player can step up if another is in foul trouble or having a rough night,” he explained.
“We have seven or eight girls who can pick each other up on a given night, and that’s what happened. Ashley Coleman stepped up tonight and did an amazing job, while Shauna Harris hit big shots for us all night.
“And, Talesha Medley had a big-time fourth quarter.”
Harris scored 11 first-quarter points and Ferrell seven to stake the Comets to a 21-15 lead after one period.
Younger scored six points in the second quarter and Halifax led by as many as nine points twice, but the Eagles went on a 12-2 run to lead 36-35 at halftime.
The Eagles hit three treys in the third quarter and led by as many as 14 points at 53-39 on an Umberger three-pointer.
Four Comets, Davis, Younger, Harris and Ferrell were saddled with foul trouble by that point, but a change in defensive strategy helped turn the game around in the Comets’ favor.
“The key was defensive pressure, putting pressure on the ball. We saw from the first game that they had a harder time scoring if we got them working faster than they wanted to,” said Reaves.
“When we played zone and didn’t pressure them, they got some confidence. They’re a young team and they got more and more momentum as they knocked down some shots.”
Despite mounting foul trouble, the switch to the pressure defense paid dividends, the Comets going on a 7-2 run to end the quarter, Harris hitting a three-pointer to start the surge and Coleman a basket at the buzzer.
That made it 55-46, and a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter gave the Comets their first lead of the half.
Russell had four points and Coleman, Medley and Ferrell a basket each in the surge that made it 56-55 with 4:20 remaining.
Two Brittany Nelms foul shots gave the Eagles their last lead, but Medley got a three-point play and Harris hit two baskets to make it 63-57.
Younger hit two foul shots and Davis and Russell one each, as Halifax held a 67-58 lead with under a minute remaining.
Two Harris foul shots and another by Davis proved enough to hold off the Eagles, who could get no closer than 69-63 with 22 seconds remaining.
A breakaway basket by Medley ended the game, giving the Comets a 2-1 mark in the final of a three-game district homestand.
“Our defensive pressure put us over the hump, it caused turnovers and got them rattled like we were earlier in the game,” said Reaves.
“If we have the number of turnovers we’ve been having we’ll struggle, but we turned the tide in the fourth quarter.
“We played so well in the fourth quarter, and I can’t explain the amount of emphasis the coaches placed on defense in practice this week.
“It paid off down the stretch tonight, and it’s the best effort I’ve seen all year.”
The Comets, now second in the Western Valley District standings, are in a good position for a second-place finish in the regular season if they continue to execute and stay focused, according to Reaves.
“The girls saw what happened when they put forth the effort they did tonight,” he added.
The Comets travel to Person High Wednesday for their last non-district game of the season, with game time at 7 p.m.

Swimmers Qualify 20 For Regionals

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Jarrett Pearce recorded a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and three Comets relay teams had second-place finishes in the Western Valley District Swim Meet held Friday at Hargrave.
E.C. Glass won both the boys and girls meets, its boys team recording 234 points. Patrick Henry was second with 75, and Franklin County third with 73, while Halifax County was fourth with 68 points. GW was fifth with 31 points in the boys meet.
E.C. Glass girls swimmers totaled 199 points to take the girls meet, followed by Patrick Henry with 152, Franklin County with 54, Halifax County with 43 and GW with 26 points, respectively.
Pearce had the highest individual finish of any Comets swimmer with his 1:09.94 time in the 100 breaststroke, while the boys 200 medley relay team - Bryan Slagle, Trevor Lucia, Jake Newcomb and Pearce - also finished second (1:59.94) after being seeded fourth coming into the event.
Both the boys (seeded third) and girls (seeded fourth) 200 freestyle relay teams finished second in the district meet, Newcomb, Slagle, Chris Rorrer and Pearce for the boys in 1:44.14 and Megan Rosche, Morgan Farley, Betty Rose and Sarah Rosche in 2:03.29 for the girls.
To qualify for the regionals, a swimmer must finish in the top eight in their individual event, and that combined with the three second-place finishes in the relays sends 20 Comets to regional competition, according to coach Spencer Ferguson.
“There is nothing more exciting in sports than pulling off the unexpected,” said Ferguson, noting the effort of the Comets swim team at the district meet.
Both the boys 200 medley and 200 free relay teams were perfect at the start, the turns and the finishes in their events, and the girls 200 free relay team was also consistent with their starts, turns and finishes, according to Ferguson.
The Comets coach said that Lucia (fly) was the key swimmer in the boys 200 medley relay, while the 200 free relay team benefited from the fast start of Newcomb, consistent speed from Slagle and Rorrer, and the speed and good reach of Pearce at the finish.
Ferguson said that the addition of Rose and Farley brought more speed to an already solid combination of Megan and Sarah Rosche in the girls 200 free relay.
“I think the addition of Rose and Farley is exactly what the Rosche twins needed to round out their relay team,” said Ferguson.
In addition to Pearce and the three relay teams, a number of Comets qualified for the regionals in other events, Pearce after a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle.
Slagle qualified in the 100 free and 100 backstroke, Newcomb in the 100 free, Lucia in the 100 fly, Macaulay Hammond in the 500 free, Andrew Wilkins in the 500 free and Rorrer in the 100 breaststroke.
Phillip Saunders qualified in the 500 free and 200 IM, and William McGhee in the 100 fly, while Cameron Starke, Antoine Weldon, Brooks Gentry and Wilkins qualified in the 400 free relay.
Emily Bowen qualified in the 100 backstroke and the 100 fly for the Comets, Courtney McDowell in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke and Sarah Rosche in the 50 free, while Megan Rosche, Sarah Rosche, Emily Rosche and Kelsey Campbell qualified in the 400 free relay.
“It was a great day and a fun day for this team,” said Ferguson, noting in particular the leadership and performance exhibited by seniors Slagle and Bowen.
“I’m very proud of all the swimmers, but I often asked [Slagle and Bowen] to do things that I know were hard to do but that is what leadership is all about.
“I can’t say enough about the improvement and effort of the entire team this season, and we’re all looking forward to the [Northwest] Regional meet.