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HIGH SCHOOLS

Patrick Henry girls basketball coach Mike Hedrick resigns

ROANOKE, Va. – Patrick Henry girls basketball head coach Mike Hedrick announced Wednesday that he has resigned from his position with the Patriots. He has accepted a head coaching position in the Atlanta metro area. Our success the past 4 years will forever tie me to the Roanoke Community and I will be forever gratefulAs always,#BeBetter pic.twitter.com/1b9vuGGou1 — Mike Hedrick (@coachhedrickjr) March 3, 2021Since 2017, Hedrick has lead the Patriots to four consecutive state tournament appearances, two final fours′s, and this year, a state championship berth. In addition, his senior class has three River Ridge District titles and 2 Region 5D titles. Hedrick’s ability to shape talent is not lost either, he has sent multiple athletes to play at the collegiate level.

WATCH: State semifinals in the area, Pulaski County and Patrick Henry girls advance

ROANOKE, Va. – It was a busy night in Southwest Virginia with nearly a dozen area teams competing in the VHSL basketball state semifinals. Starting with Class 5 girls action, Patrick Henry dispatched visiting Potomac Falls 61-37 to advance to the program’s first state final. “Very blessed to have the players I have, very lucky to have Savannah Derey here for every game I’ve ever coached,” Hedrick explained. AdIn Pulaski County, the girls basketball Region D champions hosted Loudon Valley, who won the Region C title. In girls Class 2 action, Glenvar had a tall task in trying to topple defending Class 2 Champion Gate City.

Salem athletics community joins the ‘Let Them Play’ movement in area

SALEM, Va. – Members of the Salem athletic community met outside the South Salem Elementary School on Tuesday ahead of the district’s school board meeting. Salem is making their voices heard for the “Let Them Play” movement. Inspired by its surrounding communities who have made leeway in getting the board’s to reverse their decision for athletic competition, the Spartans did the same. The school board did not vote on whether or not to allow competition for its school sports.

VHSL clarifies new statewide measures, impact on sports and activities

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia High School League (VHSL) clarified the impact of updated statewide measures and recommendations to contain COVID-19 on VHSL sports and activities, specifically, guidelines for wearing facemasks and spectators attending athletic competitions. During times of substantial COVID-19 activity VDH strongly advises athletes to wear masks at all times during group training, competition, and on the sidelines. Additionally, if wearing a mask makes participation in sports difficult, it is advisable not to participate in sports at this time. The total number of spectators cannot exceed 30 percent of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue. The current VDH language relative to the wearing of masks may be accessed using the following link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/schools-workplaces-community-locations/sports/Executive Order 72 link https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-72-and-Order-of-Public-Health-Emergency-Nine-Common-Sense-Surge-Restrictions-Certain-Temporary-Restrictions-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf

Cave Spring head boys’ basketball coach awarded Coach of the Year in Virginia

ROANOKE, Va. – Cave Spring High School’s head boy’s basketball coach, Jacob Gruse, was recently named the 2019-2020 Boy’s Coach of the Year by the VHSL. It was really humbling, I feel blessed, there are so many great coaches everywhere, especially in Virginia,” Gruse said. “They are well deserving of this award.”Gruse was named the Class 3 Boy’s Basketball Coach of the Year in April. Doesn’t happen without Derrick Roth, my associate head coach, Tim Myers my assistant coach, and Ethan Humphries who was our JV coach last year. And I had unbelievable players too, really good players make a really good coach.”Cave Spring is scheduled to begin practice for the 2020-2021 season on December 7.

There might be no choice, but spring football could cause major issues for colleges, high schools

Playing high school and college football in the spring? Here are five serious issues administrators at colleges and high schools will have to address if they are forced to move football to the spring. If a spring football season ends in late May or June, that leaves barely two months before another season FULLY starts up again with practices. But the big offseason cash cow for the league, the annual NFL Draft held in April, could be impacted. What do you think about the idea of having college and high school football played in the spring?