Loudoun Valley Boys SWEEP Virginia State Championships

Jeez, imagine being 6th on the team and 8th at state!

Even if that's a fast course, 5 under 16:05 is no joke.

The course can be fast (rolling, usually wide, nearly all grass, but many turns, one decent set of hills).

That said, conditions weren't fast today. Plenty of rain over the last week had things a bit damp and the grass wasn't mowed short. Temps were chilly (around 40) and the winds were gusty (15-25 mph). Times across the board were a bit slow compared to prior years.

LV was quite impressive, especially their top 2. The largest 3 of the 6 VA divisions ran today and LV had the top 2 runners overall. Merging the three divisions, LV #5 had the 13th best time today.

Blacksburg won the girls.

Awesome but wrote:

Blacksburg won the girls.

And Tuscarora won the girls (5A). And Lake Braddock won the girls (6A).

And Albemarle won the boys (5A). And Lake Braddock won the boys (6A).

Waaaaahhhhh!!!! I don't think it's FAIR that someone, of his or her own free will, took the time and effort to start a thread about the #1 or #2-ranked boys' team in the nation (depending on point of view/poll), and their stunning, record-breaking 1 2 3 4 5 (and let's not forget 8...six in the top 10) team sweep in the 4A Class on Friday, and then didn't mention Blacksburg girls, and Tuscarora girls, and Lake Braddock girls, and Lake Braddock boys.

Hey, Awesome butt, why don't you quitcherbitchin and start your OWN Blacksburg girls-themed topic? They do deserve it.

Now, in my best Jerrah Jones voice: "HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS, I MEAN VIKINGS!!!"

6 state meet races is kind of ridiculous.

It is impressive that Loudoun Valley ran so well despite the fact that two of their top 5 have only been students there for the past 3 months. It's almost umbelievable that they could turn these random transfers into all-state runners in such a short time frame.

I think he's referring to the fact that sweeping something means winning both boys and girls, not going 1-5. We call that perfect scoring.

It's funny cause somebody probably thinks this actually happened

Fair Facts Runner wrote:

It is impressive that Loudoun Valley ran so well despite the fact that two of their top 5 have only been students there for the past 3 months. It's almost umbelievable that they could turn these random transfers into all-state runners in such a short time frame.

I was looking at results from past few years and it appears that indeed Loudoun Valley's #1 and #5 runners are transfers. Their #5 guy, Connor Wells, ran 5 seconds faster this year compared to last year at this meet, but last year he was running for a team that was located about 25 miles away from Loudoun Valley.

Kvothe wrote:

6 state meet races is kind of ridiculous.

As an old Virginian who ran back when it was just three classes (i.e., any time before 2012 or so), I agree with you. Virginia isn't Texas. The population doesn't necessitate six classes; three was a good number. It just waters down the state races/tournaments for no good reason, I guess other than "now more kids get to be state champions!"

VA changed from 3 to 6 division starting the Fall of 2014. It was done to make football more competitive supposedly is what we were all told.

Why do states always need to treat different sports the same? I see no reason Virginia can't have less classes for certain sports. In Virginia boys volleyball does not need 6 classes, some classes have less than 30 schools with teams. There is absolutely no need for 6 classes for most sports, and I'd even make the argument football is the only one that "needs" that many.

But the real gripe I have with the Virginia state course is how crappy it is for an event. The course is a true XC course, I love it in that regard. But spectators get to see the start from 200m away and get to stand along a fence for the last 200m. The other 4600m they have to watch with binoculars. Old timers will always say, "Its been there for 30 years we would lose so much history." That is a crap argument on various levels (weather differences, grass length differences, 3 classes vs 6 classes, etc.). There are numerous places that can handle the event in the state. Its sad that those kids do not get to have a true, exciting event.

But in theme with the original post, LV is great. They have great coaching and don't appear to be slowing down any time soon.

I live in a different state now, which uses a different classification scheme for every sport. Football has the seven classes, other team sports tend to have three or four, while XC/track only have two. A few sports are just a single-class free-for-all. It's an interesting system, though some sports cry out for more classes than they currently use.

As far as Virginia football, I thought they did use six "divisions" when I was in school (early 2000s). I was under the impression that they divided the three normal classes in half and held six state football tournaments. I may be wrong, but I thought they did that even before they forced all the sports to go to six classes.

The level of pathetic jealousy about Loudoun Valley HS is laughable. Kids' parents move here and there. I had a teammate on my high school XC team who was on his third team in three years, and he was a top runner, and not one of the three teams was State Champ material. Free country, brother! Connor Wells, who had done nothing great all year, was a transfer, like kids at every school are transfers. Following strict rules. Get over it.

Regarding Sam Affolder, who won yesterday for LVHS after transferring, here's something written in an earlier thread. And happy Veterans Day to Colonel Affolder. The previous bit:

Sam Affolder's FATHER'S career brings about frequent change in their family -- and that means lots of moving. Regular uprooting/relocation goes with the territory -- being in the US Army -- it's the norm. Most of us know an "army brat" -- someone who attended X number of schools in X number of years in X number of locales because the father and/or mother was/were bounced around in the military. Just remember, it's not the kids who brought on the change, but a parent or parents who's service to the US called for geographic change.

And Col (didn't I read of this rank in one of the news stories?) Affolder's US Army career will now take him to the Pentagon for the couple of years that just happen to coincide with son Sam's last two years of high school. And his father is willing to sacrifice a fairly big chunk of his own comfort -- I'm talking about the daily commute between home and the Pentagon -- by giving his amazing son Sam an incredible GIFT -- a chance to be part of a high school running program which will be mutually beneficial to Sam and his teammates and coaches.

You hear from time to time of parents who do amazing things to give their kids opportunities that wouldn't come otherwise. I'd say Sam going to Loudoun Valley is one example. As Col. Affolder is stuck in traffic coming home from the Pentagon, no doubt his impatience with the lunacy of the roads will be eased at least a little bit by his firm satisfaction with his decision to put Sam into GREAT hands at LVHS, with GREAT teammates and GREAT coaches.

This is not a case of parents uprooting their elite athlete son simply for the sake of conveniently plopping him into an elite high school program. Again, the root cause of the relocation is a career move that brings Col. Affolder to the DC area. The parents had to choose where, in a major metropolitan area, they wanted to live. Given Sam's resume, and the chance for him to attain even loftier goals within the right running program, I think it's pretty damn impressive that LVHS has been chosen. Impressive, as in way to go, Col. and Mrs. Affolder! LVHS didn't choose Sam Affolder; the Affolders chose LVHS.

Course history is complete horse crap! The fact that kelati and hunter didn't break course r cords there two years ago says it all..... not weather related that year..... as drew said, the grass was so high it was like running in a jungle.

Fair Facts Runner wrote:

It is impressive that Loudoun Valley ran so well despite the fact that two of their top 5 have only been students there for the past 3 months. It's almost unbelievable that they could turn these random transfers into all-state runners in such a short time frame.

Good point. They won this with transfers, not coaching.

gahuga wrote:

I live in a different state now, which uses a different classification scheme for every sport. Football has the seven classes, other team sports tend to have three or four, while XC/track only have two. A few sports are just a single-class free-for-all. It's an interesting system, though some sports cry out for more classes than they currently use.

What state is that?

You are mistaken. Without super star "transfer" Sam Affolder at number 1, LV would still have scored 15 points. Their 6th man was 8th overall, but 6th and 7th were individuals and did not count in team scoring. Even without Wells AND Affolder, they would have easily won the meet with under 40 points (using their 7th man's finish as 5th man). Wells, while a "transfer" (he MOVED to the area from 20 miles away) and clearly somewhat talented, was not a superstar. Not to mention that LV has 2 kids who didn't even race at State who could have filled in just fine as a solid 6th or 7th runner. Their 7th man yesterday did not have a good day...it happens.

So how do we convince the old guard to change the course to a better course? Convincing the old guys that control the state is going to be difficult... If you are in the state you know the 5 or so coaches that can get things done. Talked with one yesterday and he got upset with the idea of it being moved. We know Panorama or Pole Green (lower course) could have a great meet with a fair course. Both locations already host meets larger than the state meet, so they clearly can handle it.

This all being said I'm not knocking meet management. They do a great job. Results fast, everyone is informed, etc. Just think the kids would have so much of a better experience at a course that allows people to cheer them on.