Non-DC-Metro Virginia 09-10

[pretzeldude92]

I was wondering what other members of the quiz bowl world are thinking about VHSL and other competitions taking place in non-metro Virginia for 09-10.

I'm excited to see the outcome of the implementation of HSAPQ into VHSL, and I hope that this season will improve on the state of quiz bowl within the Commonwealth.

I'm also curious to see if there are any "realignments" in the state of quiz bowl, notably because many top teams are losing a very dominant player: JM loses Chuhern, Rapp loses its captain, Cave Spring loses Kathryn, Heritage-Lynchburg loses their captain, Charlottesville loses Sam, etc.

Are there any predictions on how this season goes?

[Frater Taciturnus]

Maggie Walker destroys everyone like they did in 07?

EDIT: do we know where sam is going next year?

[Madoc]

I'm looking forward to a big season. It certainly seems that a lot of the high-caliber players of VHSL have been lost due to graduation. I'm picturing George Mason to come out very strong this year; they had a table full of players that worked together well this past season.

I'm hoping we'll be a force to be reckoned with in the western end of the state once again, especially on the single-A level. We lost a heck of a two-player combination, and barring any unforeseen prodigies, I'll be the only senior this year. Twin Valley out of our district will have a crazy good captain this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if they make it out of regional competition one way or another.

I'm excited to see how things turn out, especially with Cave Spring and some of these other teams that lost their standout players. Oh, and it's good to see that you're still keeping an eye on high school quizbowl as well, AJ.

[sageorator]

It's amazing how much talent graduated this past year.

Maggie Walker will decidedly be very, very good. They'll probably dominate on the national level not to mention the state.

I somewhat doubt there will be significant shifts in power as the schools losing those players are mostly traditional powers who are among the hardest working.

George Mason and Radford always seem to come out of seemingly nowhere to be single-A forces. However, Radford did lose Malik and Sanjay, their top players. So it will be interesting to see what happens with them. Also, Honaker will be good and Rapp has a chance to stay pretty good.

I actually know less about AA, due to at least 5 of the teams at state losing their captain. Salem's captain graduated too, though they return arguably their best player. Western Albemarle has been good recently as well. So this seems up for grabs, which is exciting.

[pretzeldude92]

I'm gonna put in my $.02 about the upcoming year.

A: This very well could be the Mason show. They lost one starter, and, in my opinion, their two best players will be juniors this year. God that place is a machine. Radford usually reloads too, although I was disappointed at their performance in their match against Mason. Honaker should do very well again. West Point has been doing well, and I think they had a younger team. And I reserve judgment on Rapp right now, because I've seen like 3 of their practices (my brother joined the team though so yayyy.)

AA: The biggest tossup, in my opinion. It could be any of the top teams, or it could be someone completely unexpected. Charlottesville is known for doing well and restocking. Blacksburg was good, and seemed younger (or at least didn't have a large number of seniors.)

AAA: Maggie Walker. Then TJHSST. Then six others. Maybe I'll be surprised.

Oh, and it's good to see that you're still keeping an eye on high school quizbowl as well, AJ.

I need something to keep me busy before college.

[Down and out in Quintana Roo]

I need something to keep me busy during college.

Fixed.

[pretzeldude92]

I need something to keep me busy during college.

Fixed.

Yep...

Bull Run District Results from Monday, October 19 at Rappahannock County High School

Rappahannock Co. 205, Clarke 165
Strasburg 230, Madison 85
George Mason 320, Manassas Park 60

Rappahannock Co. 240, Madison 105
George Mason 315, Strasburg 130
Clarke defeated Manassas Park

George Mason 305, Rappahannock Co. 145
Clarke defeated Madison
Strasburg 250, Manassas Park 110

These results are incomplete, but so far...

George Mason 3-0 313.3 ppm
Strasburg 2-1 203.3 ppm
Rappahannock Co. 2-1 196.7 ppm
Clarke 2-1
Manassas Park 0-3
Madison 0-3

[Madoc]

Lots of scores and such

It appears that Mason is just as strong as predicted. The drop in average points per match for Rapp is down, but that was to be expected. A question for you, AJ: is your brother getting frequent playing time, or is he still being broken in on the team?

We're kicking off our regular season on Thursday, but our district play doesn't begin until late November due to our district's non-adaptation of the typical weekly round-robin format that most other districts use.

[Down and out in Quintana Roo]

That George Mason team is for real. They played some really good games at TJ the other week, then when they didn't make the playoffs, pretty much just pounded teams in the consolations. Their captain Asher put up awesome numbers... to be honest, one of the best literature players i've ever moderated to. I'm not sure he missed a lit tossup in any game i read to his school. They really are a good team.

[pretzeldude92]

Lots of scores and such

It appears that Mason is just as strong as predicted. The drop in average points per match for Rapp is down, but that was to be expected. A question for you, AJ: is your brother getting frequent playing time, or is he still being broken in on the team?

Danny is still being broken in. Part of that is because he attended only about a half of quiz bowl practices so far (he was on the Middle School Cross Country and Soccer teams). That said, he would be on a B team at outside tournaments.

That George Mason team is for real. They played some really good games at TJ the other week, then when they didn't make the playoffs, pretty much just pounded teams in the consolations. Their captain Asher put up awesome numbers... to be honest, one of the best literature players i've ever moderated to. I'm not sure he missed a lit tossup in any game i read to his school. They really are a good team.

I've heard that they are really good, probably better than last year. It was good to see them go to a non-VHSL event.

[Madoc]

Our results thus far:

10/29 vs. Lebanon High School (Region D Runner Up, #5 in VHSL A in '09) --2 Wins
11/19 At Grundy High School (AA) -- 2 Wins
11/30 At Abingdon High School (AA) -- 1 Win, 1 JV Win
12/3 At Lebanon High School -- 2 Wins
12/9-- "Tiger Quizbowl Challenge" Grundy vs Richlands (VHSL AA) vs Honaker -- loss to Grundy, win against Richlands
12/10 At Gate City High School -- 2 Wins
12/15 At Twin Springs High School-- 2 Wins
1/14-- "Honaker Academic Team Invitational" Abingdon vs Grundy vs Honaker -- 2 Wins
1/26 vs Gate City High School -- 2 Wins

Combined with our district games, district tournament, and Region D tournament, we're 31-1.

[Madoc]

VHSL Black Diamond District Regular Season

Week 1 (11/23)
Hurley High at Honaker --postponed to 12/14
Honaker-- two wins
Council High at Twin Valley High
Twin Valley-- two wins
Haysi High School-- Bye Week.

Week 2 (11/30)
Twin Valley at Haysi
Twin Valley-- two wins
Honaker --Bye Week
Council at Hurley --Postponed to 12/16
Split, 1 win a piece.

Week 3 (12/7)
Twin Valley--Bye Week
Council at Honaker--Postponed to 1/20
Honaker-- two wins
Haysi at Hurley
Hurley-- two wins

Week 4 (1/4)
Honaker at Twin Valley --Postponed to 1/19
Honaker-- two wins
Haysi at Council--Postponed to 1/19
Haysi-- two wins
Hurley--Bye Week

Week 5 (1/11)
Honaker at Haysi
Honaker-- two wins
Twin Valley at Hurley-- Postponed to 1/20
Twin Valley-- two wins
Council--Bye Week

Record
1. Honaker: 8-0; Secure BDD #1 Seed for Region D Tournament
2. Twin Valley: 6-2
3. Hurley: 3-5
4. Haysi: 2-6
5. Council: 1-7