Cox, Great Bridge, Tabb aim to add to state title haul – Daily Press

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We are the champions, my friends

Cox last season won its fifth straight Virginia High School League Class 5 state championship and 24th title overall — a VHSL record. Great Bridge captured its third consecutive crown and, in the immediacy, are Class 4 juggernauts with five titles over the past eight years. Tabb has claimed the last two Class 3 titles, increasing the Tigers’ trophy haul 10.

Composite sharpens composite

The Southside and Peninsula schools had a strong showing at the 2022 VHSL state tournament. In addition to the aforementioned winners, Nansemond River and Poquoson both made their respective class finals, while Western Branch and York advanced to the semifinals. A total of 12 teams from the 757 appeared in the tournament.

A private (school) affair

Cape Henry Collegiate lifted its eighth Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state title last fall. Norfolk Academy lost in the Division I final. Both teams look ready to make another postseason run.

Who says you can’t go home (or relatively close)

Kelsey Scherrer Jewett takes over the reins for the reigning VISAA champion Cape Henry. Scherrer Jewett, a former Cape Henry standout, will be joined on the sidelines by fellow alums Ashmore Standing and Virginia Apperson. Other first-year coaches heading up where they used to lace up are Maury’s Grace Chavez and Oscar Smith’s Catalina Jones. First-year Kecoughtan coach Jillian Burns played less than 30 minutes away at rival Woodside, while Meghan Cordner debuts on the Granby sidelines after playing at Bruton in Williamsburg.

Pass on grass

The gameplay on artificial turf is smoother, faster and more technical since players don’t have to adjust for the random bounces that can occur on natural grass fields. Norfolk Academy and Cape Henry have paved the way with the fake stuff on their home turf, and schools such as First Colonial, Kellam, Lakeland and Nansemond River have followed suit. Maury and Granby both share the turf at  Norfolk’s Powhatan Field. Scheduling practices — and possibly games — at Virginia Beach’s Regional Training Center have been key for the teams that don’t have turf but it comes at a price.

5 players under the radar

Malena Magnano, Kellam senior forward

Magnano, who moved to Virginia Beach from Argentina in 2021, was selected for the United States U18 training camp as a junior last year, but injured her knee and missed the entire season. As a sophomore, she tallied 20 goals and seven assists.

Reese Miller, Gloucester, junior forward

Miller notched 37 goals last season, totaling 54 for her career. Dukes coach Joe Dougherty said the school’s single-season and career goals records are in jeopardy of having a new owner.

Joji Purdy, Norfolk Academy, junior forward

On a team full of senior leaders, Purdy is quickly making a name for herself. Coach Mary Werkheiser said Purdy has a national team tryout invitation in December and is being scouted by a number of colleges.

Sydney Raguini, Princess Anne, junior midfielder

Raguini produced 19 goals and three assists and will be leaned on heavily by the Cavaliers.

Lily Johnson, Great Bridge junior forward

Johnson, a 2022 Class 4 first-team, all-state selection, registered 25 goals and five assists for the Class 4 defending champion Wildcats.

757Teamz Top 15

1. Norfolk Academy

The Bulldogs return a wealth of talent as coach Mary Werkheiser patrols the sidelines for her 34th season in charge. Leading the way is senior captain Brooke Bettencourt. The Wake Forest signee finished last season with 37 goals and 22 assists, en route to being named the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Player of the Year and appearing on the All-VISAA first team. She will be joined by fellow Division I prospects Lizzie Adams (Columbia), a forward who chipped in with 27 goals and keeper Mack Panko (Iowa). Senior defenders Lily Stockwell and Gretchen Scott will be called on to provide experience at the back.

2. Cox

Senior defender Megan Spear is just one of a number of stalwarts returning to anchor the five-time defending Class 5 state champion Falcons. The Dartmouth-bound Spear registered 24 goals, 23 assists and three goal-line saves last season. She will be joined by skillful veterans Sophia Burch, a senior midfielder who finished with 15 goals and 11 assists, and Isabel Pardo, a junior keeper who allowed just seven goals and recorded 13 shutouts.

3. Great Bridge

Lilly Johnson returns alongside MacKenzie Cummins, who was also a first-team, all-state honoree, to lead the three-time defending Class 4 state champion Wildcats. Cummins chipped in with four goals and six assists last season. Standout freshman Bella Steckline will also be called upon to help out defensively.

4. Nansemond River

The 2022 Class 5 state runner-up Warriors return nine of 11 starters and are looking to finish this season with that all important final win. They are bolstered by a talented trio of juniors — Jordan White, Brylee Johnston and Anyia Woods — in the midfield in front of senior keeper Kirsten Carroll.

5. Cape Henry

Senior Dani Volpe will split time between attack and midfield this season. New coach Kelsey Scherrer Jewett highlighted Volpe’s speed and explosiveness as attributes to create scoring opportunities for the Dolphins.

6. Western Branch

The Bruins, who advanced to the Class 6 state semifinals, are the defending Region A champions and still a threat according to a number of rival coaches.

7. First Colonial

The Patriots return a number of upperclassmen from a team that reached the Class 5 state quarterfinals last season.

8. Tabb

According to coach Wendy Williams, the two-time defending Class 3 state champions — 46-0 over the last two seasons — have a little bit of rebuilding/reloading to do after losing 14 players. Mika Hilburger, the Tigers’ second leading scorer last season, returns in a leadership role, as does defender Corinne Lombardo, the lone senior returning starter.

9. Poquoson

The Islanders are perennial contenders and should expect another deep run in the Class 3 state tournament.

10. Kellam

Lilly Turner, Ellis Cannon and Carleigh Porter anchor a Knights squad that was the Class 6 Region A runner-up last season. Turner, a senior and Porter, a sophomore, also earned all-state honors.

11. Gloucester

Coach Joe Dougherty has a balanced squad returning that can make some noise as they move to Class 4. Seniors Avery Watkins, Kamryn McDonough and Kiley Parker will be the core of the team, patrolling the middle in front of goal.

12. Menchville

The Monarchs return a group of upperclassmen, including seniors Ela Elliott, Makenzin Tutone and Kinsey Knapp, determined to progress further than their Class 5 Region B semifinal appearance last season.

13. Princess Anne

Coach Don Warner expects the return of as many as eight second-year players, including Sydney  Raguini and Sarah Ellis, a rising senior who contributed 12 goals and two assists last season.

14. York

The Falcons are a traditional Bay Rivers District power and were Class 3 state semifinalists in 2022.

15. Grafton

The Clippers are also looking to contend amongst a crowded Bay Rivers District and look to improve from last season, which ended in the Class 4 state quarterfinals.

Darrell Cuenca, [email protected]