SW_VA_boy

“A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep.”
- Pete Seeger
 
For everything in life, there is a season, and that includes message boards devoted to high school sports in an oft-forgotten part of Virginia.  For the 19 or so years I was here, I’m deeply thankful.  I’ve seen the brightest and best in people I once questioned, and I’ve seen the darkest and nastiest in people I once considered allies.  I’ve seen cause for celebration, and I’ve seen reason for sadness.   I’ve celebrated new additions to families, and I’ve mourned members who left us far too soon.  The sun will continue to rise, but I’ll remember this site fondly, both good and bad.  
 
For every time I made a real-life friend through this website, and for every time someone attempts to sabotage my career and my family’s livelihood for taking a principled yet unpopular opinion.  For every underdog I cheered, for every cupcake schedule I questioned.  For every touchdown, basket, run, point, goal, ace, lap, and birdie over the past 20 years.  I bid adieu, SWVASports.  
 
 

Galax 13
PM 1

My brother and Puckett were pretty good friends. Played a LOT of games against each other over the years. High School and college. 

Heath Puckett and Joey Meadows.  Those guys came up from 3rd grade and up when Bland's little league played in Narrows' little league.  Always got along and had damn good games with that bunch from day 1 but you can bet come February of 1999, we'd seen enough of them 2, especially Puckett.  Multiple games a year 3rd thru 12th grade. 

GW just got f***** and I'd probably been ejected had I'd been in Horner's shoes.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sums up how I feel about Narrows from the 1960's onward.  Hell, had kids getting full rides to schools that are present day SEC schools back in the 30's.  Would be damn near impossible.

I remember my senior year of HS having Highland High having to play their first round Region C playoff game in baseball vs JSB in Bristol.  imagine being on one of the only playoff teams in any sport in your schools history just to have to travel 4 plus hours to face a future MLB pitcher on his diamond.  

James River was in the Pioneer and Lebanon in the Hogo.  JR still trying to get back into the Pioneer from what I've heard but can't get the votes to get back in.  

Narrows 28
 
GW 48
 
Final
 
Proud of the boys. They gave it hell all year including tonight. On to hoops.
 

Narrows 28
 
GW 48
 
Final
 
Proud of the boys. They gave it hell all year including tonight. On to hoops.
 

It was an interesting one to officiate too

1 - Galax
16 - Covington
8 - Rye Cove
9 - Holston
4 - Narrows
13 - JI Burton
5 - Twin Springs
12 - Hurley
3 - PH - Glade Spring
14 - Giles
6 - Grundy
11 - Lebanon
7 - Grayson Co.
10 - Honaker
2 - George Wythe
15 - Rural Retreat
Only tie in points was Narrows and Twin Springs. Narrows wins the tie breaker with better record vs the one common opponent
 
I liked this system and wouldn't mind seeing the VHSL go back to it.

Trips to Dan River and Appomattox in back to back weeks broke me from liking this system but great if you like to travel or don’t work 

1 - Galax
16 - Covington
8 - Rye Cove
9 - Holston
4 - Narrows
13 - JI Burton
5 - Twin Springs
12 - Hurley
3 - PH - Glade Spring
14 - Giles
6 - Grundy
11 - Lebanon
7 - Grayson Co.
10 - Honaker
2 - George Wythe
15 - Rural Retreat
Only tie in points was Narrows and Twin Springs. Narrows wins the tie breaker with better record vs the one common opponent
 
I liked this system and wouldn't mind seeing the VHSL go back to it.

1 - Galax
16 - Covington
8 - Rye Cove
9 - Holston
4 - Narrows
13 - JI Burton
5 - Twin Springs
12 - Hurley
3 - PH - Glade Spring
14 - Giles
6 - Grundy
11 - Lebanon
7 - Grayson Co.
10 - Honaker
2 - George Wythe
15 - Rural Retreat
Only tie in points was Narrows and Twin Springs. Narrows wins the tie breaker with better record vs the one common opponent
 
I liked this system and wouldn't mind seeing the VHSL go back to it.

I grew up around the old New River District (AA) and the Mountain Empire District (A). 
The NRD when I was a kid was...
Blacksburg
Carroll County
Christiansburg
Floyd County
Galax
George Wythe
Giles
Narrows
Radford
The MED when I was a kid was...
Auburn
Fries
Fort Chiswell
Independence
Shawsville
Bland, Rocky Gap and Mount Rogers played most sports other than football.
The old NRD was a gauntlet. Floyd left the NRD for the MED beginning with the 1980/1981 school year. Galax followed suit for the 1984/1985 school year. Narrows came to the MED in 1988/1989 school year. Which was the same year Independence, Fries and Mount Rogers consolidated into Grayson County.  
 

from past experience with Glenvar on a limited sample size, seems par for the  course sadly.

from past experience with Glenvar on a limited sample size, seems par for the  course sadly.

Laughing Virginia High'ingly...

Va. High 27, Marion 14 - Final

Laughing Virginia High'ingly...

Laughing Virginia High'ingly...

Spread was Graham -48.5

TD Cats! 7-0, :29 left in the half 

This is just more examples of the thought of 7 or 8 man football needing to become a thing.  And while I understand the point behind a 23 man cut off rule, there's still been schools that's played, and won, with under 20.  Narrows won the MED with 18 when Grayson was the largest A school in the state in the late 90s.  However, I'll secede the point, that is usually the exception to the rule.