A quick glance at last year’s Western Albemarle varsity football roster and one thing stands out — a lone freshman amidst a sea of juniors and seniors.

For four years, Jeremy Sweet was the heart and soul of Waynesboro’s offensive and defensive lines.

Odds are good that the battle for Jefferson District supremacy this season will come down to Monticello and Orange County. 

Rarely do three such signal-callers come through school at the exact same time, but this year, fans across the Jefferson District will be treated to a trio of quarterbacks who have the potential to play at the next level. Monticello’s Michael Graham, Orange’s Quintin Hunter and Charlottesville’s Kevin Leatherwood will give defensive coordinators headaches all season.

Unfortunately for Nelson County, it’s becoming more obvious that the path to a Group A state title runs right through the Governors’ Dogwood District.

Albemarle is loaded with great team speed this season, from the skill positions down to some quick linemen who will rely on being technicians in the trenches. The Patriots are fast just about everywhere, and you can guarantee coach Rick Vrhovac is going to find a way to use that quickness.

The Patriots struggled with mental mistakes early, but the presence of Kara Elder and Laura Gomez ultimately overwhelmed the Warriors, giving Albemarle the 3-1 victory.

The volleyball season moves into full swing today as two of last year’s top teams lock heads when Western Albemarle visits Albemarle.

Luke Heinsohn is looking to lead the Eagles to some team success to cap what is quickly becoming a storied high school career.

St. Anne’s-Belfield is reloading for another state title run, but that comes as little surprise. State titles have become all but the norm for the Saints.

Western ended a long trek to Liberty High in Bedford with a 33-0 loss. The Minutemen leapt out to an early lead and then took control with three monster plays in the second quarter — a 68-yard punt return for a score, a 39-yard touchdown pass and a 70-yard touchdown run.

Ben Freeman is the consummate team player. So when his high school coach, Dwane Pugh, approached him about switching positions his senior year from striker to sweeper, he agreed.

In doing so, Fluvanna coach Patrick Dieter piloted his team to a 14-4 overall record and a second-place finish in regular-season district play, and is The Daily Progress’ choice for the All-Central Virginia boys soccer coach of the year.

10 high school athletes who are set to rule the gyms, trails and fields this fall. 

Wondering which players are set to rule the gyms, courses, and fields this fall?

Look up just about any state record by a VHSL girls soccer player and most likely that mark will be owned by the same person: Emily Perrin.

With Campbell taking the reins as a first-year coach, taking over a team that had just one senior, it’s safe to say that not many expected Covenant to make it back to the semifinals — much less win the tournament outright.

The longtime youth wrestling coach and current Vice President of Sports Operations for the Orange County Boosters Club wants wrestling in Orange to regain what he believes is a lost tradition. With this in mind, he coordinated last week’s technique camp at Orange County High.

The Richmond squad made the most of four Orange errors, six walks, and three hit batsmen by scoring 13 runs in a three-inning stretch and winning by the slaughter rule, 15-3.

Instead, Brown delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the ninth when he hit a home run to left field that barely sailed over the fence, as Orange managed to slip past Annandale 13-12. The win put Post 156 into the winner’s bracket of the state tournament.

In Gordonsville, Western Albemarle used a balanced effort to hold off Mikey Moyers and William Monroe in the Jefferson District Golf mini-match at Spring Creek Golf Club.

High school football practices got underway this week and area coaches are excited about the season’s prospects. Among them is first-year Charlottesville High coach Chris Fraser, who took over the program from longtime coach Garwin DeBerry.

McGrane, now the newly-appointed baseball coach at St. Anne’s-Belfield, will never forget how life’s doors were opened for him. During his tenure at STAB as an assistant coach under longtime coach Alan Swanson, it became imperative that the coaches reached out to programs nationwide.

In her last at-bat as a member of the Fluvanna County softball team, Danielle Dike demonstrated what being a team player is all about. Trailing eventual Group AA champion Broad Run by seven runs, Flying Flucos coach Nick Ward gave Dike instructions about what to do if she saw a pitch inside.

The Hornets finished 19-5, falling to Loudoun County in the region quarterfinals, but the team made an impression on Ryder, the 2008 All-Central Virginia softball coach of the year.

Life as a teenager is probably hard enough without having to worry about your blood sugar levels. But Albemarle goalkeeper Gus Cramer and Western Albemarle pole vaulter Tyler Lewandowski aren’t that lucky.

Despite working as a principal in North Carolina for the past two years, Lee Downey was never out of touch with Louisa County, especially when it came to sports.

Albemarle and King George play tonight at Albemarle High for first place in District 12.

This year Haws led a group of talented young players to a 15-3 record. In doing so, Western won both the Region II and Jefferson District Championships before falling in a 10-9 overtime loss to Loudon Valley in the quarterfinals of the VHSL state tournament.

In her senior year at Albemarle, Moss scored 76 goals, assisted on 38 others and led her team to the semifinals of the VHSL State Tournament.