Voice of the PatriotsInteractive

 

Table of  Contents

1998/99

by Beau Cribbs

 One of the perks of being the editor of the sports department is to get the articles that you want to do. By being the editor, I can have my first choice of articles as well as choosing who does what on the sports pages of this very newspaper. Needless to say, the sports article that is somewhat of a wrap-up of all of the fall and winter sports wasn’t the at the top of most people’s lists (including myself). But guess who Mr. Astrove chose to do the longest article in the sports page his year....  That’s right! The editor of the sports department! So enjoy the spicy zest of the Tuckahoe Sports Burrito, if you will.
  This past school year, Tuckahoe sports, according to both coaches and players, have been both successful and fun. Perhaps the most successful school team was the almost perfect Boys’ Soccer team. Once the dust settled, captains Webster Baldwin and Hank Miller led a team that ended up with  a record of 10 wins and no losses. The only flaw in a nearly flawless season was the only goal scored on the Patriots in a 1-1 tie to arch rival Short Pump. After a 1 win, 3 loss opening, the Wrestling team stepped up their level of intensity in the second half of the season to go 3 and 1 and finish with a respectable record of 4 wins and 4 losses. This was due in part to the leadership of the eighth grade leadership, which will surely be missed for the millennium season. Football enjoyed one of the most successful season in its existence this past year. With wins over Brookland, our first in 17 years, and our first win over Fairfield in history, the 1999 TMS Football squad put a 5 and 2 
record in the books. On the flip side, Gymnastics, led by a promising batch of 7th graders, had a losing season with 3 wins and 6 losses. Led by 8th grade captains Caroline Cook and Sara Giegerich, the Girls’ Tennis Team, battling through losses to Byrd, Short Pump, and Chickahominy went 7 and 3 to close out the year. The Boy’s Basketball team, led by a fine group of 8th graders, piled 5 wins and a somewhat disappointing 4 losses.  “We kind of expected more than 5 wins this year,” said point guard Will Cottrell, “but we were happy with a winning season, nonetheless.” Girls’ Basketball’s confidence was boosted with big wins against Byrd and Short Pump. They ended the year with a 7 and 2 record.
 Tuckahoe’s Fall and Winter sports ended the school year with a combined record of 39 wins and 16 losses, or a winning percentage of .661 (66%). So with that, I bid you farewell. The confines of Freeman await. But never fear, because in 3 months, the doors at high school will open; and as one book of memories comes to a somewhat somber end, another will just be opening.  
 

New Cheerleaders

by Dave I.
 
 “I’m looking forward to working with another group of twenty exciting girls,” said Mrs. Girvin when asked about the new cheerleaders.  The three rising sixth graders on the squad are Michelle E., Amber H., and Katherine W.  The six rising seventh graders on the squad include Ashley B., Selden C., Meghan K., Corrie L., Cate P., and Laura V.  These rising eighth graders will be on the team: Ashley B., Lindsay H., Christina K., Allison K., April L., Vicky M., Meriwether M., Kaki P., Erin S., Blair T., and Catherine T.

 
 
 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, But Is That Always the Case?

by Beau C. and Dave I.

 According to first year girls’ soccer coach Mr. Pearson, that is not  the case.  “I’m really very impressed with their aggressive play.”  There is some great new talent from the sixth graders as well as some fine players returning from last year.”  
 “We’re counting on a fun, winning season,” remarked Mrs. Cole when asked what she’s expecting this season.  With a squad of 24 players, six are sixth graders (how fitting), ten are seventh graders, and (another fitting one) eight are eighth graders.  Coaches Cole and Pearson said that they’ll probably play a 4-4-2 formation, depending on the strength of their defense.  If the defense is strong enough, they may play a 3-4-3.  Team captains are Andrea Sledd and Crystal Wheeler.  
 Sixth graders on the team include Seldon Cottrell, Lindsey England, Corey Prior, Emily Reutinger, Erika Schwartz, and Lillian Scott.  Seventh graders on the team are as follows: Bailey Culp, Megan Donohue, Abbey Gettler, Lauren Gillespie, Caitlyn Hawthorne, Catherine Lingerfelt, Lindsey Mier, Katie Strickler, Claire Wall, and Tyler Wallace.  The squad’s eighth graders this year are Sara Giegerich, Ashley Peele, Meg Ruehling, Andrea Sledd, Crystal Wheeler, Amanda Weiner, Ashley Wilson, and Casey Wright.  The team is greatly aided by its two managers Hank Miller and Phil Foy.  The outstanding coaching staff consists of the seasoned veteran Mrs. Cole and rookie girls’ coach Mr. Pearson.
 Major rivalries will be an intricate part of the team’s success.  Both games against Byrd and Short Pump are to be played on home turf.  Promising outcomes in these games are expected.  As always, the VP staff wishes the squad good luck on the pitch.

Boys’ and Girls’ Track

by Jarrod F.

 This year the girls’ and boys’ track teams are hoping for the best. The teams’ rivals are Byrd, Brookland, and Stonewall. The Byrd meet is away this year, but  the Brookland and Stonewall meets are both at home.
 The captains of the girls’ team are Crystal D., Ashely H., Declan G., Melanie K., Morgan K., Collins LeC., Kelly L., Catherine M., Emily T., and Jessica T. The captains on the boys’ team are Vann O., Joe M., Beau C., and Matt A. The coaches want all their runners to try their best and work hard at every practice and meet. This year is considered a rebuilding year for the boys’ track team. The coaches hope that track is a good experience for the team members and that they have a lot of fun participating in it. Even though they want the sport to do well, however they think academics should come first.
 Mr. Scott said that Mr. Cansino, his assistant, is great and that he relates well with the kids because he taught at a Henrico County School. Mr. Scott expects a .500 season from his team and hopes that they all learn good sportsmanship while having fun.

Boys’ Tennis

by Michael E.
 
 This year the tennis team consists of Russ B., Jordan L., Steven, Eric F., Paul G., Chris K., Tim L., Jerry, Sam, Greg, Scott, Andrew, Matthew, Hunter, Geoff, Teddy, Jay, Michael, and Jarrod.  The elected captains are Jay and Michael 
 The team’s rivals are Byrd, Short Pump, and Chickahominy.  Both the Byrd and Short Pump matches will be played away.  This is a disadvantage; but the coach, Ms.Hodges, says she can count on the team to practice on hard courts before the match.  
 The tennis courts, which are a bizarre duo of sand and Astroturf, are not liked by the coach or the team.  Ms.Hodges has been trying to have them replaced, and she has been in direct contact with Dr. Edwards.  
 According to Ms.Hodges, the team is very talented.  They are able to work together well and usually cooperate.  “I’m hoping we can be undefeated for the second straight year.  This has never happened since I’ve been coaching the boys.  It has been alternating between Tuckahoe and Byrd.”   Hopefully, Ms.Hodges will get her wish this season.   
 

Major League Baseball

by Will C.
 
 After possibly the best Major League Baseball season ever, the 1999 campaign has started off strong.  Many players have changed uniforms during the off-season which has made the league well balanced.  Teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies and the Oakland Athletics have started off around .500 after dismal ‘98 seasons.  These teams probably do not have a very good shot at making the playoffs, but look for them to create some havoc in the upcoming months.  There also have been a few disappointments in the beginning of the season.  The Baltimore Orioles were predicted by many to contest the Yankees in the American League East, but they have gotten off to a slow start and have some ground to make up in their division.  
 The New York Yankees have gotten off to an average start but they will be in the playoffs unless something drastic occurs.  The Bronx Bombers are led by Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter.  They also should get a huge boost from their recently acquired flame thrower, Roger Clemens.  The Toronto Blue Jays look to be the largest speed bump in the way of the train named the Yankees.  The Blue Jays will contend because of players like  Jose Cruz Jr. and David Wells.  The Cleveland Indians also have a strong team with the best double play combination in the history of baseball with Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel.  In the American League West the Anaheim Angels look to forget about their inability to get to the playoffs in recent years by getting there this season.  Once Mo Vaughn and Jim Edmunds get off of the disabled list, the Angels will be almost untouchable.  
 It looks as if the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets will run away with the National League East.  Both teams have acquired impact players in the off-season.  The Braves have acquired former University of Richmond standout, Brian Jordan.  The Mets have new faces such as Rickey Henderson and Robin Ventura to enhance their already stellar ball club.  Raul Mondesi and the Los Angeles Dodgers hope to have a playoff-bound team.  Mondesi will be helped out by hurler Kevin Brown.  The National League is up for grabs and almost every team has a shot at the playoffs.     
 Mark McGuire has followed up his majestic performance last year with a steady start to the ‘99 season.  He is definitely in the chase for the Major League home run crown.  No one will contest Mark McGuire’s record 70 home runs during this season and the record will probably not be contested for a long time.  I don’t think McGuire himself has any kind of a chance.  Another record that is unlikely to be contested is the Yankees 114 wins in a 162 game season.  These two records are only part of the reason why last years baseball season was the best ever.   
 Major League Baseball has expanded internationally during this season as well as in the pre-season.  In the pre-season, the Baltimore Orioles traveled down to Havana, Cuba to play an exhibition game with the Cuban National Team.  The Orioles ended up winning 3-2 in extra innings.  On opening day this year, there was a game played in Monterrey, Mexico.  This game was the official start to the ‘99 season featuring the National League Champion San Diego Padres playing the Colorado Rockies.  It was played in front of a live ESPN audience and a sold out stadium.  Baseball is definitely becoming an international sport beyond Canada and the United States. 

NBA ‘99

by Worth B. and Will C.
 
 This NBA season has been one to remember mainly because of the first NBA lockout ever.  The league this year has been one of an confusing turn out.  Last year the Bulls were 66-16, while this year they have won about 15 games out of 50.  The Utah Jazz and the Portland Trail Blazers have been the leaders in the NBA for the most part of the season and have been battling back and forth to be named the best NBA team of 1999.  Unfourtanelty at the end the San Antonio Spurs stole the show and were named the best team in the NBA.  The Playoff leaders this year are Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference and the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference.  The Los Angeles Clippers have turned out to be the worst team this year.  They started the season 0-17, tying the record for the worst start in a NBA season.
Turnout Team of the Year:  The Portland Trail Blazers would be my pick.  They have gone from being a team that stays at .500 the whole season to being one of the best teams this year they are led by Damon Stoudamire, who is a former Arizona Wildcat. 
All-Star Team:  Due to the shortened NBA season there wasn’t an NBA All-Star game, much to the dismay of many NBA fans who look forward to the entire All-Star weekend.  The All-Star team for the Eastern Conference would probably include Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat at center, Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers at point guard, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway of the Orlando Magic at guard, Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers at guard, and Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons at forward.  The Western Conference All-Stars would be led by Shaquille O’Neal of the L.A. Lakers at center, Gary Payton of the Seattle Supersonics at guard, Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz at forward, Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs at forward, and Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timeberwolves at forward.  This game would be another of the high scoring, high flying, meaningless NBA All-Star games.