Looking back at the year in sports

By JIM CUNNINGHAM/Staff

In some ways, 2008 was not the very best of years. In the world of sports, however, last year contained its fair share of accomplishments, honors and achievements by teams and individuals throughout Wythe County.
Here’s a brief glimpse back as some of the more memorable sporting moments from 2008.

January
Ashley Buckhannon of the George Wythe girls’ basketball team and Tennis Simon of the George Wythe boys’ basketball team were honored for scoring their 1,000th career points.

February
Larry McCoy, a senior at George Wythe High School, signed to receive a full scholarship to play football at Duquesne University.
The George Wythe boys’ basketball team won the Hogoheegee District regular season championship.
The Fort Chiswell girls’ basketball team qualified for regional competition by defeating Bland County in the semifinals of the Mountain Empire District tournament.
The GWHS boys’ basketball team won the Hogoheegee District tournament.
The FCHS girls’ basketball team won the MED district tournament championship with a double overtime victory over Grayson County.
The Rural Retreat wrestling team won the Hogoheegee District tournament.
The George Wythe boys’ basketball won the Region C, Division 2 championship.

March
The Rural Retreat wrestling team placed third in the Region C tournament.
The George Wythe boys’ basketball team continued to win the rest of its regional games to qualify for the state finals in Richmond. The Maroons then went on to win their first ever Group A state championship.

April
Tennis Simon of George Wythe was named the state Group A, Division 2, basketball Player of the Year. GW Coach Al Copenhaver was chosen as the Coach of the Year.
Ashley Buckhannon of George Wythe was named the Region C Player of the Year. This came after she was chosen as the district’s Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Buckhannon was later named to the state Group A second team.
Al Copenhaver announced his retirement as the George Wythe boys’ basketball coach.
Maurice Johnson of Wytheville and Johnny Dix of Rural Retreat were chosen to be inducted into the Wythe County Sports Hall of Fame.
Devin Smith struck out 21 batters to lead George Wythe over Patrick Henry 4-1 to allow the Maroons to take over first place in the Hogoheegee District. Smith allowed only two hits in the game.
After the season was completed, Smith signed to play baseball at Concord University. He joined his brother, Trey Smith, who joined the team and the college the year before.

May
George Wythe senior Thomas Craig signed a letter-of-intent to play football next year at Emory & Henry College.
The Fort Chiswell girls’ and boys’ track teams won their respective divisions in the Mountain Empire District track meet held at FCHS.
The Fort Chiswell baseball team defeated Galax 14-0 in the MED baseball tournament semifinals to qualify for the regionals.
George Wythe also qualified for regional baseball play by defeating Patrick Henry 4-2 in a Hogoheegee District tourney semifinal game.

June
Joey Russell was chosen as the new head basketball coach at George Wythe.
Ethan Coffey and Dena Spickard were the overall male and female winners of the Chautauqua 5K race held in Wytheville.

July
The annual Big Walker Century Ride was held July 5 and used various routes throughout Wythe and Bland counties. The race raised an estimated $5,000 for HOPE, Inc.
Football camps sprang up throughout the county in preparation for football season. Basketball camps were also held.

August
Wythe County high school varsity football teams began the ’08 season on Friday, Aug. 22 – the earliest start in years.
David Meyer and DeAnna Hedgepeth were the overall male and female winners at the inaugural Big Blaze 5K race held at the Wytheville Wellness Center.

September
The George Wythe golf team qualified for Region C competition by finishing second in the Hogoheegee District tournament.

October
George Wythe junior Chris Scott qualified for the Group A state golf meet by shooting a 77 in the Region C tournament.
Carla Suthers of George Wythe was honored after achieving her 1,000-career assist in volleyball.
GWHS Head Football Coach Donnie Pruitt was honored for setting a new record with the most football victories at George Wythe.
The Fort Chiswell volleyball won the Mountain Empire District regular season title and then went on to win the district tournament.
The George Wythe volleyball team won the Hogoheegee District regular season and tourney championships, as well.
The George Wythe football team closed out the month on Halloween Night by defeating previously undefeated Chilhowie 23-21 to win the Hogoheegee District championship and qualify for the regionals.
On the same night, Bland County defeated Fort Chiswell 26-6 to knock the Pioneers out of a first place tie with the Bears. The Bears went on to win the MED regular season title with a win the following week.
Jerry Orr and Hannah Hadaway were the overall male and female winners of the annual 5K Pepper Race held in Rural Retreat.

November
The Fort Chiswell football team defeated Narrows 20-7 to finish second in the MED and ended up with an overall record of 6-4, its best in several years.
George Wythe defeated Galax in the first round of regional volleyball.
Fort Chiswell lost in a first round region volleyball match to Northwood.
Brandi Blessing, a senior at GWHS, was named the Hogoheegee District’s Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year in volleyball. She had earlier been honored by achieving more than 1,000 kills over her varsity career.
Floyd County defeated George Wythe 15-14 in a first round Region C, Division 2 football game on a two-point conversions with only 48 seconds left. (Floyd County went on to finish as the state runner-up).

December
Kevin Angstadt of Cedar Springs returned home after competing in the world pistol championships in New Zealand. His U.S. team placed second and Angstadt placed seventh in his class.
Radford won the annual BB&T boys’ basketball Christmas Tournament held at Fort Chiswell High School.
Fort Chiswell senior Kendra Vaughan was honored for scoring her 1,000th career varsity point in basketball.