Speech

After a long and exciting day at the Hollins University Invitational on Feb. 4, the Fluvanna Speech team placed 2nd overall against many other teams (including a few former state champions). Fourteen of the following Fluvanna students were able to place in finals, contributing to the team’s overall place: Junior Madison Stafford (first in Storytelling); Juniors Kate Moncure and Alex Logan (first in Serious Duo); Junior Caden Koslowski and Sophomore Paul Nazari (third in Humorous Duo); Senior Nikola Bajs (third in Impromptu); Junior Corban Van Ornum (third in Poetry); Junior Mia Gonzalez (fourth in Original Oratory); Sophomores Hailey Donald and Jordyn Palmer (fourth in Serious Duo); Seniors Savannah Forren and Maddie Garrett (fourth in Humorous Duo); Senior Jeremy Schwartz (fifth in Humorous Interpretation); and 8th grader Hollyn Pleasants (fifth in Storytelling).

“For the schools we were up against, placing second was a really good accomplishment for us. It was exciting, but we always strive to be better than where we are and how we placed,” said Donald.

Traveling to Broadway for their Conference tournament on Feb. 9, the team placed first with a total score of 83 points, beating Broadway and Turner Ashby. Seven Fluco entries placed first in their categories: Freshman Alex Pellicane (Extemporaneous); Junior Madison Stafford (Storytelling); Junior Mia Gonzalez (Original); Sophomore Trinity Haynes (Dramatic); Junior Corban Van Ornum (Poetry); Sophomores Hailey Donald and Jordyn Palmer (Serious Duo); and Junior Caden Koslowski and Sophomore Paul Nazari (Humorous Duo).

Placing second in their categories were six other Fluco entries, including: Senior Nikola Bajs (Impromptu), Senior Jeremy Schwartz (Humorous); Senior Julianne Bryant (Original); Senior Dillon Elliot (Dramatic); Seniors Maddie Garrett and Savannah Forren (Humorous Duo); and Juniors Alex Logan and Kate Moncure (Serious Duo). Eighth grader Hollyn Pleasants placed third in Storytelling and Rodasia Watkins placed fourth in prose.

The Speech team will be traveling to Regionals at Liberty High School on Feb. 23.

Wrestling

The Fluco Wrestling Team was away at Western Albemarle on Feb. 4 for their conference tournament. Fighting hard, the team finished in eighth place.

“As a team, we did okay. We have a lot of younger guys who did extremely well in the tournament and showed that we would be going into this season with a really good team,” said Sophomore Ethan Vernatter.

The Fluco boys placed well individually, including Senior Ian Dillon with second place, Sophomore Mason Justus with fourth, Sophomore John Bland with fourth, Sophomore Ethan Vernatter with fourth, and Freshman Matthew Haden with fourth.

Swim and Dive

The Lady Flucos of the Swim and Dive team came away from the Conference 29 Meet at FUMA on Feb. 4 with a second place overall finish.  Their total score was a 98. Many of the Lady Flucos scored and placed high to contribute to the team’s placing in Conference.

Coach Feda Morton was very pleased with the girls’ performance. “It was a total team effort for the girls to be able to do this. Without our divers and the sixth and seventh place finishes, we could not have made it. I am so very proud of all these athletes,” she said.

Senior Fefe Nardone placed first in the 200-meter individual medley and first in backstroke, while Junior Caylyn McNaul placed first in the 400-meter freestyle and second in the 200-meter freestyle. Both Nardone and McNaul qualified for the States meet. Meanwhile, four Lady Flucos placed second in their 200 medley relay: Nardone, McNaul, Junior Morgan Maupin, and Junior Zoe Moore. These ladies also placed second in their 200-meter freestyle relay.

In addition, Maupin placed second in the 100-meter breaststroke and seventh in the 100-meter butterfly, Sophomore Olivia Strickland placed sixth in the 100-meter breaststroke, Moore placed seventh in the 50-meter freestyle, and Strickland, Junior Haley Smith, Senior Sophie Kershner, and Moore placed 6th in the 400-meter freestyle relay.

Helping their team earn 16 points in diving, Senior Anna Hurdle placed sixth, Senior Emily Baker placed fifth, and Senior Lydia Reynard placed first, winning the title of the Flucos’ Conference 29 Dive Champion.

As for the Fluco Boys, they placed sixth overall as a team at the FUMA Conference 29 Meet with a score of 45. Senior Brennan King placed third in the 100-meter backstroke, Senior Michael DiFazio placed fifth in the 100-meter butterfly, Senior Alex Scalzo placed seventh in the 50-meter freestyle, Senior Morgan Milburn placed seventh in the 200-meter individual medley and eighth in the 100-meter butterfly, and Sophomore Rhett Jones placed seventh in the 400-meter freestyle. In addition, Junior Josh Rocklein, Scalzo, King, and DiFazio placed third in the 200-meter freestyle relay. Rocklein, King, DiFazio, and Milburn placed fourth in another 200-meter freestyle relay.

The Flucos moved onto the Regional Swim Meet in Christiansburg on Feb. 7. The Lady Flucos placed fifth out of 14 other teams, while the boys team placed seventh out of 16 other teams. Three Fluco athletes fought hard to be awarded Regional Champions: Fefe Nardone in the 200-yard individual medley, Caylyn McNaul in the 100-yard breastroke, and Michael DiFazio in the 100-yard butterfly.

Eight Flucos on the Swim and Dive Team will be moving on to the State Meet in Richmond. The Fluco divers will be diving on Feb. 16, while the Fluco swimmers will be swimming on Feb. 18.

Girls’ Basketball

The varsity Lady Flucos traveled to Powhatan on Feb. 3. The team came out victorious when going into overtime with a score of 74-65. It was a close game, it went into overtime. The girls were able to get the upper hand. “Though we won, we got a talk about going into overtime,” said Senior Alex Daniels.

Meanwhile, the JV team also went up against Powhatan, but with opposite results. It came to a close game of 33-31 with Powhatan coming out on top. The girls tried as much as they could, but it was not enough to turn the outcome in their favor. “We tried our best, but it wasn’t enough,” said Sophomore Savannah Quinn.

Boy’s Basketball

On Feb. 3, varsity took on Powhatan, but was defeated by a score of 52-46. They tried their best to gain the upper hand, but was not able to do so. That same evening, the JV team also played at home against Powhatan, but unlike varsity, they were able to defeat the Indians 55-46 in their final game of the season.

On Feb. 8, varsity had an away game at Orange, resulting in a loss of 77-53. During the first half of the match, they were unable to play well enough to start the game with the advantage. “We played really well during the second half, but that doesn’t count,” said Head Coach Jason Davis.

Indoor Track

On Feb. 4, the Flucos’ indoor track team competed in the Indoor Conference at Heritage High School where the girls placed second out of nine teams. “I think we did good. We worked together as a team and cheered each other on,” said Junior Camryn Frederick.

All-Conference Honors was awarded to Senior Renee Custer (shot put); Freshman Kieri Hart (4×800 meter relay); Sophomore Brianna Parker (4×800 meter relay); Freshman Shae Jonkman (4×800 meter relay); Sophomore Ashlee Pieno (pole vault); Freshman Amina Wilson (pole vault); Senior Jackie Rodriguez (4×800 meter relay and 3200 meter run); Senior LeMaya Lacy (High jump and 55 meter hurdles); Junior Saige Haney (1600 meter run and Conference Champion in 3200 meter run); Senior Cyan Coates (pole vault, long jump triple jump, 55 meter dash, and Conference Champion in 300 meter and 500 meter run); and Senior Matasha Martin (Conference Champion in 55 meter hurdles and 55 meter dash.) “I thought they did a very outstanding job at conference. Everybody did what was expected and a little more,” said Coach Rose Brogan.

Meanwhile, the boy’s team placed sixth overall out of eight teams with the following grabbing All-Conference Honors: Junior Griffin Klauder (55 meter hurdles); Sophomore Colby Martin (55 meter hurdles and triple jump); Senior Jake Morris (shot put); Senior Zach Hartzog (shot put with a state-qualifying throw of 44 feet and 8 inches); and Sophomore Prophett Harris (high jump and Conference Champion in triple jump).

Both the boys and girls will move forward to compete in the Regional Track Championship meet at Liberty University on Feb. 17.