Well, there’s little doubt things have been buzzing among the readers of The Star.
No, it has nothing to do about wasps or bumblebees.
Everyone is talking about the idea of me sculpting ‘Manneken Chief’ and putting the statue in a fountain on the front lawn of corporate headquarters.
While the sculpture itself can take place off premises, you can expect the end result to go up in the middle of the night. Probably, when The Chief is on vacation.
Remember, sculpture-viewers. Keep the traffic moving, no loitering and throw your coins with caution. The Chief likes a championship atmosphere.
On to sports where we honor state champions and VHSL All-Stars among our ‘Big-11’ spring sports teams.
The big winner among the ‘Big-11’ came from the Cave Spring girls tennis team which captured the Group 3A state championship with a 5-3 win over defending state champs Western Albemarle.
It was a exciting match at Liberty University where the score was tied 3-3 after the six opening singles matches. The Knights got the advantage in the #1 doubles that followed when sisters Fallon Delp and Reagan Delp topped Albemarle’s Maddy Ix and Stephanie Barton 6-3; 6-2. Cave Spring’s #2 doubles team of Caitlin Carter and Christy Goldsmith finished the deal when they took down Hannah Kearns and Savannah Diamond 6-1; 6-0.
In addition to the Delps, Carter and Goldsmith, other team members included Veronica Hamilton, Bianca Roman, Maha Ali, Maddie Harrison and Jayali Samarasinghe.
On Friday, the Delp sisters also brought a state championship to Roanoke when they teamed in the Group 3A state doubles final to defeat Abingdon’s Tyler Blalock and Haley Stallard 7-5; 6-2. Earlier on Friday, the Delps knocked off James Monroe’s #1 doubles team of Lucy Castles and L.C. King to reach the afternoon final.
State championship runners-up included the Hidden Valley boys tennis team, a 5-4 loser to Blacksburg in the Group 3A final, and Cave Spring’s Fallon Delp, falling in the Group 3A girls tennis singles to Abingdon’s Tyler Blalock, 6-1; 7-6 (7-4).
Now, to VHSL All-Star teams, where numerous ‘Big-11’ athletes were honored.
Group 2A Girls Soccer All-State 2nd Team: Megan Jacobs and Paige Stinson of Glenvar
Group 2A Baseball All-State 1st Team: Zach Duncan and Matthew Pulliam of Glenvar
Group 2A Softball All-State 2nd team: Haley Green of Glenvar
Group 3A Baseball All-State 1st Team: Dean Hermanson (William Byrd) and J.D. Mundy (Northside)
Group 3A Girls Soccer All-State 2nd Team: Sara Bane and Kellen Spradlin (Lord Botetourt); Morgan Todd and Kaitlyn Huiff (Cave Spring)
Group 3A Boys Soccer All-State 2nd Team: Skyler Marrox and Paxton Daniels (Cave Spring); Aaron Van Ravestein (Lord Botetourt)
These selections were among those announced through June 18th.
Congratulations to all these winners as well as all other players in the ‘Big-11’ that made our spring sports season a success.
Finally, to the mail bag where one reader questions my qualifications as a sculpture model.
Dear Wild Bill: So you were asked by Natalie Merchant’s mother to model for her sculpture class? What in the world did she see in you? (Margaret/ Roanoke County artist)
Well, Margaret, probably looks, versatility and being able to sit still for an hour at a time. I shouldn’t have declined Ann’s request. I may have been the next Venus de Milo.
Until next time, get your raw clay ready and send those artsy inquiries to [email protected]
– Bill Turner
