At least once a week after school outside of Coach Mark Ingerson’s classroom, the noise waxes and wanes as the team of 25 forensics students practice their skits. If other sports have laps, then the forensics team has run-throughs.

“It’s literally like talking to a brick wall,” said team member Jessica Scaggs.

“It lets me know they’ve run through their piece completely and it also makes them practice with distraction,” said Ingerson. He’s coached the team through three state championships, and he knows what they need to to do win.

Seniors Jonathan Walker and Danielle Stump co-captain the team this year. Their role at practice will be to critique team member’s pieces “for emotion and inflection, and pinpoint stuff they need to work on,” said Stump. How will they keep the state title this year? “Each person needs to develop their interpretation, to add their own personality and perfect it,” Stump said.

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Salem High has a decathlete-in-training and a new indoor sprint coach. The decathlete: Scott Campbell. The new coach: Adam Linkenauger, a Lord Botetourt grad, and a recent Clemson University graduate.

The boys’ and girls’ teams each have about twenty members, and while the name says “indoor,” training in winter temperatures is anything but. Longtime coach Roth had the teams staying in motion to keep muscles from getting cold.

“We want to build a tradition. Indoor track hasn’t been a very popular sport here recently,” said Linkenauger. “Hopefully these kids will be proud to be on the team.” Each team has around 20 athletes.

Boys team: First row, from left: Brandon Ali, Brandon Adams, Mark Wade, Michael Lefew, Jusin Harris. Second row: Manuel Martinez, Chandler Swartzendruber, Darias Medley, Riley Newsom, Carl Maxwell, Joe Villanueva. Third row: Isiah Calloway, Antwan Saunder, Harry Hoyt, Terae Harris, Johnathan Lambert, Andrew Webber, Cameron Taylor, Brian Ledwith, Coach Adam Linkenauger.

Girls team: Kneeling from left to right: Morgan Walker, Lilly Minix, Amber Gravely, Bronwyn Foley, Katie Stauffner, Ayla Krause, Erica Schlecht, Alyssa Koumaras, Lindsey Siska. Standing from left to right: Alana Haskins, Deisha Jackson, Kerea Griffin, Samantha Waehler, Kelsey Cotter, Caroline Brooks, Lauren Gillespie, Shuree Bailey, Troi Calloway.

OTHER RECENT SALEM HIGH SCHOOL COVERAGE
* Nov. 26: Salem boys’ basketball team moving quickly
* Nov. 26: Webcast has video from Salem-Pulaski football playoff game
* Nov. 22: A few more photos from the Salem-Pulaski football playoff game
* Nov. 22: Photos from the Salem-Pulaski football playoff game
* Nov. 22: Salem’s wrestling team gets ready for new season
* Nov. 22: Salem girls’ basketball team ready to go
* Nov. 15: More photos from the Salem-Bassett football game
* Nov. 15: 181 fan photos from the Salem-Bassett football game
* Nov. 14: Photos from Salem volleyball’s state semi-final game vs. Hidden Valley
* Nov. 14: Salem High School Latin teacher wins recognition

Coming off last season’s as District and Regional Champions and as the runners-up at states, the Glenvar wrestling program is gearing up to be as strong as ever under the direction of head coach Kevin Clifford.

“This is a program that’s on very solid ground. Coach Solstice obviously reinvigorated the program and they were state champions in 2007. He’s the reason why the program is where it is now, and I just hope to continue to do that. We’ll work hard,” Clifford said. Last year’s record was 12-6.

“We’ll probably have four to five new starters in the lineup,” said Clifford, but he’s still got nearly a full deck from last year. Returning state finalists include Tyler Tate, Andrew Cundiff, Kahlil Carazo, Alex Asimakapoulos, Zach Hill, and Jason Ayers, and also senior John Wiley who was injured last year, but finished fourth in states as a freshman in the 103 weight class.

“It’s combative, wrestling and archery are two of the oldest sports,” he said. “This is a blue collar sport, and we’re a blue collar school.”

“Most people don’t understand a lot about the sport … You can be an average athlete and if you’re willing to work and have an exceptional work ethic you can win in wrestling,” said Clifford.

Photo courtesy of Wing I.T. Photo Arts

First row, from left: Jeremy Dolan, Cole Herndon, Kahlil Carazo, Tyler Tate, Corey Hancock, Tyler Haynie, Alex Burke. Second row: mgr. Emily Fulp, Nick Banforth, Andrew Fridley, Jason Ayers, Andrew Cundiff, Zach Hill, Taylor Lawrence, mgr. Lauren Fulp. Third row: Coach Kevin Clifford, asst. coach Malachi Underwood, Devon Carroll, Camren Wynn, Jacob Nobel, Brandon Mays, Alex Asimakopoulos, asst. coach Cecil Coleman, asst. coach Brian Burke.

Not pictured: Craig Russell, John Wiley, Justin Farmer, and Derek Abdelnouk.

OTHER RECENT GLENVAR COVERAGE:
* Nov. 26: Glenvar girls basketball team vows to “bring it back”
* Nov. 26: Glenvar boys basketball team heads into “uncharted waters”
* Nov. 20: Photo of Glenvar reading club at David Baldacci book signing
* Nov. 17: Letter from Glenvar student Taylor Powell in China
* Nov. 17: Glenvar students help honor Dr. Juliette Myers
* Nov. 14: Glenvar students help during United Way Day of Caring
* Nov. 14: Video of Glenvar students in Day of Caring
* Nov. 11: Webcast looks at Glenvar runner Megan Marsico
* Nov. 11: Glenvar students to participate in Day of Caring
* Nov. 10: Glenvar cheerleaders take second place in state
* Nov. 3: Glenvar plants a tree in Ryan Shelor’s memory
* Nov. 3: Glenvar cheerleaders take first in regional competition

Last year, the girls’ basketball team went 13-12 and were the runners-up in the district tournament championship game, but Coach Billy Wells has a new motto to revive the Highlanders: “Bring it back.”

To do that, they’ll have to beat the number one team in the state, Floyd County.

“We’ve got a young group, only one senior, but we’ve got a couple freshmen moving up from the JV team that will probably play key roles,” Wells said. Other challenges include staying healthy and fast.

“We only have one post player, so we’re vertically challenged, but our vertically challenged athletes are pretty talented and very quick” Wells said. “We’ll probably try to play more of an uptempo, full court game.”

Wells just happens to have a new assistant coach in the lineup, recent Liberty University graduate Allyson Fasnacht. The 2004 Glenvar grad went to the Flames on scholarship and started all four years.

One last thing: “that home court advantage is a lot better when you have a rowdy loud crowd,” Wells said.

Photo courtesy of Wing I.T. Photo Arts

Seated, from left: Rachel Moore, Chelsea Arthur, Chasidy Williams, Kayla DeHart, Lyndsey Hunter, Jessi Strom. Standing, from left, asst. coach Allyson Fasnacht, Jeff Strom, Molly Wilbourne, Ashley Trivette, Jessica Rhodes, Coach Billy Wells, asst. coach Lyndsey Carroll.

OTHER RECENT GLENVAR COVERAGE:
* Nov. 26: Glenvar boys basketball team heads into “uncharted waters”
* Nov. 20: Photo of Glenvar reading club at David Baldacci book signing
* Nov. 17: Letter from Glenvar student Taylor Powell in China
* Nov. 17: Glenvar students help honor Dr. Juliette Myers
* Nov. 14: Glenvar students help during United Way Day of Caring
* Nov. 14: Video of Glenvar students in Day of Caring
* Nov. 12: Glenvar theatre students present play this weekend
* Nov. 11: Webcast looks at Glenvar runner Megan Marsico
* Nov. 11: Glenvar students to participate in Day of Caring
* Nov. 10: Glenvar cheerleaders take second place in state
* Nov. 3: Glenvar plants a tree in Ryan Shelor’s memory
* Nov. 3: Glenvar cheerleaders take first in regional competition

With the start of the basketball fast approaching, athletic director Richard McElwee had been appointed interim coach for the boys team but wasn’t sure until the season started. He’d spent time sizing up the players during open gym but had tried to keep his distance. With no other options in sight, McElwee became this season’s boys’ basketball coach for Glenvar High school on Mon., Nov. 17.

“As far as philosophy, I’m pretty much adjusting to the talent, the level that we have,” he said. “We’ve got to act right and play hard. If we play harder than all the rest, we’ll be successful.”

This will be his 24th year as a basketball coach and his 25th year in education. While coaching at men’s basketball at Eastern Mennonite University, he was proud to go with the team to the NCAA sweet sixteen. He also coached for 18 years in Bath County, both girls and boys.

“They do need to get some passion, try to get their emotions involved,” said McElwee. But without a definite coach for so long, he added that “this is unchartered territory for them.”

Photo courtesy of Wing I.T. Photo Arts

First row, from left: John Gibson, Kyle Horne, asst. coach Nick Stewart, head coach Richard McElwee, asst. coach Brian Crockett, Jonathan McGhee, Cory Terrell. Second Row, from left: Tyler Trevillian, Cory Bolden, Eddy Kasper, Dakota Barlow, Derek Nicewonder, Mark Johnson, Matt Ferguson, Philip Morris, Evan DeHart.

OTHER RECENT GLENVAR COVERAGE:
* Nov. 20: Photo of Glenvar reading club at David Baldacci book signing
* Nov. 17: Letter from Glenvar student Taylor Powell in China
* Nov. 17: Glenvar students help honor Dr. Juliette Myers
* Nov. 14: Glenvar students help during United Way Day of Caring
* Nov. 14: Video of Glenvar students in Day of Caring
* Nov. 12: Glenvar theatre students present play this weekend
* Nov. 11: Webcast looks at Glenvar runner Megan Marsico
* Nov. 11: Glenvar students to participate in Day of Caring
* Nov. 10: Glenvar cheerleaders take second place in state
* Nov. 3: Glenvar plants a tree in Ryan Shelor’s memory
* Nov. 3: Glenvar cheerleaders take first in regional competition
* Oct. 29: Glenvar student studies in China
* Oct. 20: Red Ribbon Week at Glenvar High School
* Photos from the Glenvar homecoming dance.

With several players still in football season, there are coaches that would slow things down and get back to basics, but Coach Kevin Garst doesn’t have time for that.”We’re going to try to play as fast as we possibly can. We’re going to press a lot, you know, try to fast-break as much as we can, and hopefully we’ll be able to use our depth to our advantage,” Garst said. At least twenty athletes were at a Nov. 20 practice, and Garst was running quick, tough drills.

“I feel like we’re pretty deep, we’re quick. I don’t feel like we have a lot of size, so we don’t want to play at a kind of slow, ground ‘em out, pace,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll be a fun style to watch, fan friendly … we’re going to play hard every night.”

But the River Ridge District is tough. Salem has three returning starters and at least seven athletes who lettered last year returning. Garst doesn’t want to name a roster until the full team is official.

Garst, a ’95 graduate of Salem, played basketball for Charlie Moore. This year is his third as Salem’s girls head coach. He also served as an assistant basketball coach at Hampden Sydney College for two years.

OTHER RECENT SALEM HIGH SCHOOL COVERAGE
* Nov. 26: Webcast has video from Salem-Pulaski football playoff game
* Nov. 22: A few more photos from the Salem-Pulaski football playoff game
* Nov. 22: Photos from the Salem-Pulaski football playoff game
* Nov. 22: Salem’s wrestling team gets ready for new season
* Nov. 22: Salem girls’ basketball team ready to go
* Nov. 15: More photos from the Salem-Bassett football game
* Nov. 15: 181 fan photos from the Salem-Bassett football game
* Nov. 14: Photos from Salem volleyball’s state semi-final game vs. Hidden Valley
* Nov. 14: Salem High School Latin teacher wins recognition

Normally, Beth Carson and market manager Alice send this report out on Fridays (which I’m going to start posting here on the notebook, too.) But since it’s Turkey-Day Eve, it’s got to come a little early this week. Keep on reading to see what you can find farm-fresh for your pre- and post-Thanksgiving table:

Today (Nov. 26) on the Market:

Produce: onions, turnips, potatoes, cabbage (Bent Mountain and gourmet), butternut squash, sweet potatoes, apples (all types!), and pumpkins.

Baked Goodies: Mr. Malouf is on the market this morning for those of you who have pre-ordered rolls, cakes, and pies in advance. He also has brought extras for those of us still needing items to round out our Thanksgiving bounty. We do not expect other baked goodies this morning, but we do have apple butter, jams, and jellies.

Other: We have local honey this morning and some pretty Frazier Fir wreaths and pine roping to decorate your home with for the holidays.

Friday and Saturday : Alice says to expect to see all of the above plus: kale and mustard greens, organically raised produce, , artisan breads, cookies, doggie treats, garlic, jams and jellies, black walnuts, Irish soda bread, cookies, brownies, heavenly coffee cake, croissants, chow chow, herb biscuits, and fresh eggs .

Gardeners! Accent Nurseries will be on the market this Saturday with lots of landscaping plants. Fall is an excellent time for planting because it gives your new plants time to get lots of new roots established before next summer’s heat sets in. It’s not too late to plant now!

Although the Farmers Market will be closed tomorrow for the Thanksgiving Holiday, it will open again on Friday and Saturday. The Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are usually the kickoff days for holiday wreath and roping sales, and our farmers have some of the prettiest greenery around!

Other Notes:

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Maybe this isn’t one that fans in Salem want to see, but this week’s Varsity Cast — our weekly high school sports webcast — does have video from last week’s Salem-Pulaski football playoff. Sportswriters Robert Anderson and Aaron McFarling say the mid-season injury to Salem quarterback Derrick Hickman hurt the Spartans more than folks realized at the time.

The So Salem gingerbread house. What is that inside the house? Check out the link to our photo gallery for more views of the snowy scene.

So we set out to enter a gingerbread house in this year’s Gingerbread Festival in Salem.

The picture you see is here is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. For a full view of the scene, check out our photo gallery. As you’ll see, Santa had a bit of a mishap on the roof, though he’s OK. You’ll also see our staff assessing some of the damage. But kudos to Miranda Adkins, So Salem community journalist, for her hard work, and to other staffers who pitched in to help decorate, advise, and gawk at the scene.

And it’s all for a good cause.

Here’s some information about the festival, and more can be found on the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce Web site:

The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce Foundation will host the Gingerbread Festival in Longwood Park on Saturday, December 6, 2008. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Longwood Park on East Main Street in Salem. Gingerbread houses will also be on display at the Carriage House on December 2-6 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and December 7 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Winners of the competition are determined by silent auction bid and a “Best in Show” winner will be decided by $1 votes. Proceeds benefit the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s scholarship program and Carriage House restoration fund.

Meanwhile, we’d be happy to see photos of your gingerbread creations. Send them on to news@sosalem.com. And if you need tips for gingerbread home repairs, drop us an e-mail. We’ve learned a lot today.