Photo by Matt de Simone
By Matt de Simone
Contributing writer
The Botetourt County School Board’s focus on student achievements recognized athletes from Lord Botetourt High School and James River High School who made the all-state teams at their respective spring sports last Thursday at the board’s monthly meeting.
Recently graduated James River players Morgan Bryan and Colleen Peery were both named to the all-state team in girls soccer. Bryan was a four-year starter whose game caught life this past season. She was unable to attend the meeting as she is beginning her first year at Virginia Tech. Peery was the 2018 Player of the Year in her playoff region following her excellent showing as James River’s goalie. Like the 2018 season, Peery was once again named Player of the Year in her region despite coming up short in the state playoffs. Peery was in attendance to accept the recognition for both players.
Cameron Hildebrand, James River softball star, was named to Virginia’s 1st team all-state softball team. The lead-off hitter had an on-base percentage (OBP) of .588 with 18 walks and 31 hits. Out of those walks and hits, Hildebrand was on-base almost two and a half times a game. Fans know that’s all you can ask for out of a lead-off hitter. Well, that, and a near-4.0 GPA which Hildebrand held in her time at James River.
Ian Hester represented James River while winning a state championship in the 300-meter hurdles this past spring. He too was named to Virginia’s all-state team in track and field.
Lord Botetourt had three players in their soccer program make the all-state team. Nathan Rich (1st team defender) and Zach Durham (1st team forward) both led the boys program to the state championships two years in a row. Briana Myers is the Lord Botetourt girls team’s leading scorer. Although Myers made the all-state team her sophomore year in 2019, she still has more to prove in the next two seasons.
Finally, J.P. Whorley and Ethan Ruble, recent graduates from Lord Botetourt’s FFA program, accepted their recognition for winning their Ag Mechanics development event at the Virginia FFA Convention. Both young men join the rest of their team as they compete in the FFA’s National Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. at the end of October.
Photo by Matt de Simone
