Vrhovac heads to UVa, host of other locals sign

Albemarle High’s Zach Vrhovac has had a pretty good week.
Vrhovac and the rest of the Patriots’ 4x800 squad — Anthony Kostelac, Garrett Bradley and Luke Noble — went to Madison Square Garden last Friday and won the Millrose Games’ 4x800 relay title. Then Wednesday, Vrhovac signed his letter of intent to run track at Virginia.
That’s where Vrhovac, an 800-meter specialist, will try and take the next step in his career under a coach uniquely suited to grooming him, Virginia coach Jason Vigilante.
Vigilante is widely considered one of the sport’s rising stars, and he’s been particularly successful with 800-meter sprinters, helping to mold 2008 NCAA Champion Jacob Hernandez in that event at the University of Texas.
“I knew after what he accomplished at Texas that it was going to be a wonderful experience for me,” Vrhovac said. “He gave me the opportunity and I was not going to back down or let that go.”
“He just pulls [800-meter runners] out left and right and he just makes them so much better.”
Vrhovac, who was also a first-team All-Central Virginia wideout on the gridiron, chose Virginia over North Carolina, and there’s an added benefit that comes with going to school in his hometown that has little to do with track and field.
“I’ve got my church here in town and I can go home whenever I want and get my laundry done,” Vrhovac said.
A top-notch coach and laundry service? Now that’s the total package.
September joins teammate Stinnie at William & Mary
William & Mary seems to have firmly established a recruiting pipeline in Central Virginia, and it runs directly to St. Anne’s-Belfield.
In just two years, the Tribe has extended scholarship offers to girls basketball star Taysha Pye, current baseball pitcher Brett Goodloe and football standout Bryan Stinnie.
Now they’re getting two for the price of one, with 2008 Central Virginia Defensive Player of the Year Quincey September joining Stinnie on his journey to Williamsburg.
Stinnie and September both made things offical with the Tribe Wednesday, with Stinnie’s signing a formality after committing months ago and September’s the end of a whirlwind process after William & Mary made an offer just a few weeks ago.
It’s obvious Stinnie, who chose the Tribe over an offer from Duke, played some part in talking September into suiting up for William & Mary. But until recently, September, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound athlete, wasn’t sure he’d even get the chance.
“He did tell me a little bit about the school and we were thinking how nice it would be for both of us to go there,” September said. “But I wasn’t sure that was going to happen. It happened so deep in the recruiting process that I wasn’t sure it was going to happen.”
September, who registered 133 tackles last year for an average of 12 per game, ould play anywhere on the field for the Tribe. He’s talked to coaches on both sides and is going into the process with an open mind.
Stinnie, a first-team All-Central Virginia honoree on defensive line and a second-team selection on offensive line, will likely line up at defensive end at least to start, but he could, of course, be shifted around depending on William & Mary’s needs.
For now, he’s just excited to have September coming along.
“Quincey is one of my best friends, we’ve gotten really close over the last few years and now having him come with me to college is really cool,” Stinnie said. “We’re going to go in there and work hard and try and make our mark.”
And don’t make the mistake of thinking Wednesday was just a formality for Stinnie either. Even with the decision made back in the fall, this day was a long wait.
“Now it’s official — I’m a part of Tribe football and I’m just so happy with my decision,” Stinnie said.
Leatherwood inks with NSU
Charlottesville is in a battle with Western Albemarle for the Jefferson District boys basketball title, but hoops was the last thing on Kevin Leatherwood’s mind on Wednesday morning.
That’s when the Black Knights’ quarterback sealed his college fate, signing a letter of intent with Norfolk State.
“I just can’t wait to be down there,” said Leatherwood, who chose the Spartans over William & Mary, Virginia State, Glenville (W.Va.) State and Liberty. “I can’t wait to get with the players and start lifting with them. I know I’m supposed to be concentrating on basketball, but this has me thinking about playing football.”
Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian stayed with Leatherwood as he struggled through an injury-plagued senior season. The Spartans’ incumbent quarterback, Dennis Brown, is a rising senior, so Leatherwood could get a shot at early playing time on an offense that also features local products Takeem Hedgeman (Monticello) and T.J. Minor (Orange County).
“A lot of coaches will come in and feed you lies,” said Leatherwood, who is listed at
6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. “Coach Adrian was real genuine throughout the recruiting process.”
That process culminated Wednesday with Leatherwood signing his letter of intent in front of a crowd that included CHS football coaches past (Garwin DeBerry) and present (Chris Fraser), as well as Virginia men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao.
“I felt like I really wasn’t here,” Leatherwood said. “It was kind of like a dream. I dreamed last night that I forgot the papers.”
Nicholaou to become a Cavalier
Once again, Western Albemarle has a member of its field hockey team continuing her playing career with a Division I school. Effie Nicholaou won’t be going far from home as she officially signed with Virginia.
Choosing UVa didn’t exactly come easy. For the past three years Nicholaou thought long and hard about leaving Charlottesville, but when push came to shove, Virginia seemed to be the right fit.
“I was a little against staying in Charlottesville,” Nicholaou said. “But after I got over that I asked myself ‘Why would I not go here?’ It’s a great school. The program is amazing. The field hockey team is getting better, and I’m just excited to get a chance to be a part of it.”
Over the past two seasons, Nicholaou has been on a goal scoring tear, and Warriors coach Nikki Desch thinks that should continue for four more years.
“She can just score goals and get the job done,” said Desch, who graduated from Western and went on to play for Vermont. “Her stick skills are amazing. She can beat anybody on the field. She scores in critical points in the game. When we needed a boost for the team she was always there.”
As a junior, Nicholaou help to guide Western to a Group AA state title. This past season she and the Warriors made it to the state semifinals. Nicholaou scored 20 goals as a senior, earning a slew of honors in the process including first team All-Jefferson District, first team All-Region II, first team All-Central Virginia and Region II offensive player of the year.
The new Cavalier is happy to have helped the Warriors elevate their play to a new level these past two years. The Warriors accession to the top is a source of pride for her.
“I think people are expecting more and more out of Western which is the best thing,” Nicholaou said. “We used to think that we could win regions, now we can win states. It’s about raising the level of expectations.”
Two Blue Devils headed to Ohio
Two of Fork Union’s prep football players have secured their college plans — and both are headed to Ohio University. Lineman Skyler Allen and defensive back Jamil Shaw signed their national letters of intent to play for the Division I school. The pair are among 22 newcomers who will join the Bobcats next season.
“I’m always excited [on signing day]. It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of time and a lot of effort by the players, the families and the coaches,” Fork Union coach Micky Sullivan said. “Fork Union’s a great place to be from. I’m tickled to death, it’s a really exciting day.
Allen, a 6-foot-4, 290-pounder, is one of five offensive linemen in Ohio’s 2009 recruiting class. He entertained offers from Eastern Michigan, Gardner-Webb University, Alcorn State and Miami (Ohio) before settling on Ohio.
“I went on a visit and really liked the coaching staff, and over the summer I went to their camp,” said Allen, who hails from Mechanicsville. “It just really felt like a family atmosphere. I really liked the players and I have a chance to go on in and maybe play soon.”
Allen was a first team all-state selection his senior year and showed his versatility at FUMA, playing every position on the offensive line at some point.
Shaw, a speedy cornerback, drew interest from Eastern Michigan, Temple and Old Dominion.
“After seeing the campus and talking to all of the coaches on the visit, I decided it was the place I wanted to be,” said Shaw, who recorded 25 tackles and had eight pass deflections his senior year. “So I went ahead and made the commitment. Coach Sullivan has helped me grow since freshman year. He’s been like another father figure in my life, and he means a lot to me.”
As a junior, Shaw, a 6-foot,
183-pounder from Alexandria, made 54 tackles and had a fumble return for touchdown and two pass deflections.
Ohio, piloted by former Nebraska coach Frank Solich, finished 4-8 last season and 3-5 in the MAC last season.
In addition to Allen and Shaw announcing their college plans, Fork Union’s postgraduate program has had a multitude of football players make commitments. They include: Paris Walker (American International University); Benjamin D’Aguilar (Arkansas); Marquell Rozier (Bethune Cookman); Travis Carroll (Campbell University); Aaron Boyd (Delaware State); Jonathan Sharp (JMU); Brentley Vinson (Liberty); Cody Blue and Zach Kerr (Maryland); Mohamed Seisay (Memphis); Kameron Scott (Morehead State); Michael Yocius (New Mexico State); Brandon Carr and Alex Johnson (ODU); Jelani Woseley (Ohio University); Maurice Jones, Shahid Paulhill and Deon Miller (Temple); Donte Rumph (Kentucky); Erwin Roach and Troy Russell (Maine); Chaz Sutton and Ronald Byrd (South Carolina); Brander Craighead (University of Texas at El Paso); DJ Coles, Adam Dyer, Tony Gregory and Daniel Overstreet (Virginia Tech); Jordan Rigby (Virginia State); Andrew Toone (Wagner); and Averick Walker (Youngstown State).
Brown to suit up for Dukes
Orange County’s D.J. Brown had already signed his letter of intent to play baseball at James Madison, but took part in the signing ceremony Wednesday in the Hornets Sports Complex.
“It means everything that I’ve ever done towards baseball has come true,” said Brown, who also plays basketball at Orange.
Brown, a 6-foot-3 right-hander, went 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 49 strikeouts for American Legion Post 156 last summer.
Rasnick signs with Glenville
Orange County’s Jon Rasnick shored up his plans for the next four years, as he signed his letter of intent to play football at Glenville State College, a Division II school in West Virginia.
Rasnick, a center, was a three-year starter for the Hornets.
“From the beginning this was my first choice, so once that offer came in, I took it,” Rasnick said. “It’s been a dream since I was a kid to get the chance to further my career at the college level, and now I’ve got that shot.”
Rasnick was a first team
all-Region II and all-Jefferson District selection this past season.
Wynn signs with Spiders
Louisa County’s Kerry Wynn made his plans for the next four years official, as he signed his national letter of intent to play football with the University of Richmond.
Before giving a verbal commitment in November, Wynn also drew interest from Virginia Tech, Liberty, William & Mary, James Madison and Elon.
The two-way standout led the Lions in receiving from his tight end position with 32 catches for 428 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder led recorded 14 sacks and was the team’s leading tackler with 56 stops this season.
Wynn earned second team all state, first team All Region II and Jefferson District defensive player of the year honors his senior year.