Looking for something to do this holiday weekend? See our picks for some fun local events.
A new travel team, the 10U Virginia Nationals, finished runner-up in their division for their first tournament, March Madness, played in Salem the weekend of March 27. Each player is from Salem or Glenvar.
Submitted by Drew Taliaferro
The Spartan girls netted three goals in the first half and kept the Terriers from scoring Wednesday night, March 30 on Salem’s turf field. This win, along with their March 25 win over William Byrd, puts Salem at 2-0 in the River Ridge District this season.
From varsity.roanoke.com:
Sarah Collie scored twice and Sierra Sallah added another goal, as Salem scored all three of its goals in the first half to cruise to victory.
Jade Andrade added two assists for the Spartans (2-2).
Hannah Henley made eight saves for William Byrd (4-2).
Photos by Miranda Beck
10U Virginia Nationals: Front row from left: Trenton Bowers – Tyler Smith – Aidan Perkins – Peyton Taliaferro and Justice Forster. Second row: Jake Skelton – Ryan Wilkes – Torren Pellant – Matt Wright and Maxx Philpott. Coaches Jimmy Philpott – Junior Smith and Drew Taliaferro
This is a photo of the 10U Virginia Nationals travel baseball team. All of the boys are from Glenvar and Salem. We are a new team and this was only our second tournament (March Madness March 18 in Salem). We ended up finishing second in the tournament (there were only three teams) and the boys were very excited. So far this season we are 3-2 in division play.
Submitted by Drew Taliaferro.
Chilly drizzling rain fell on the turf field at Salem High Wednesday evening, March 30, as the Salem JV girls soccer team played William Byrd to a 1-1 draw.
Photos by Miranda Beck
The Salem High School Forensics Team won its 6th straight Virginia High School League state title on Saturday at the Group AA championships in Harrisonburg. Salem captured its latest VHSL championship by beating 39 other high schools, including second place Waynesboro.
The team’s 56-18 victory over the Little Giants was once again fueled by head coach Mark Ingerson. Salem put 14 individuals into the final round of competition and won individual state titles in 5 of 10 events.
“I think at this point, people take for granted that we will win each year, but trust me when I say that when the season begins nothing is set in stone,” says Ingerson. “This year we had the smallest team I’ve ever coached at Salem, but the members worked extremely hard and perfected the art of speech. There were moments of doubt, but in the end, this season proved that hard work and dedication do pay off.”
Salem has now accumulated 35 individual state championships, which is the fourth most in VHSL history across all Groups. Only Blacksburg (AA) with 66 individual winners, Madison (A) with 57, and James Madison (AAA) with 36 have had more state champions since 1971 when modern forensics events were initiated in the Virginia High School League.
“Champions are not born, they are created,” he says. “There are no ‘rec league forensics’ or ‘travel team forensics.’ These kids learn to take criticism, both good and bad. They win, they lose and they continue to improve. We don’t hide from failure. We learn from it.”
Ingerson, who announced this week that he is stepping down as the team’s coach after an ultra-successful championship run, created a culture of winning at Salem High by encouraging students to never give up. Four team members who scored critical points in the state finals this year didn’t even make the Forensics team in past seasons and were cut from the squad.
“I lift up these students as models to teach us all character,” he says. “Their hard work and perseverance are the reasons we win championships.”
The 5 individual state champs:
Senior Jerrel Ledbetter (Extemporaneous Speaking) – Jerrel is only the 16th three-time Forensics state champ in VHSL history. He is the fourth Salem student to join this elite club.
Sophomore Austin Peters (Impromptu Speaking) – Last year he finished 6th in this category.
Junior Emily Shelton (Humorous Interpretation)—VHSL State Champ in Storytelling in 2010.
Juniors Kathryn Zamorski & Drew Kearns (Serious Duo Interpretation)—Last year Kathryn became only the third girl in 25 years to win Humorous Interpretation in Group AA.
Junior Mary Cameron Brooks and Sophomore Savannah Stevens (Duo)—Back-To-Back titles in this category for this duo.
Also scoring points in the finals:
Sophomore Dylan Wade – State Runner-up in Prose
Senior Leslie Brittain – 3rd Place in Original Oratory
Senior Jade Andrade – 3rd Place in Serious Dramatic
Sophomore Katelyn Barker – 3rd Place in Poetry
Senior Joanne Tranquille – 3rd Place in Impromptu Speaking
Junior Asheley Kennedy & Freshman Dylan Halstead – 4th Place in Serious Duo
Sophomore b– 4th Place in Storytelling
Junior Olivia Mischianti – 5th Place in Poetry
Freshman Taylor Barker – 5th Place in Storytelling
Submitted by Mike Stevens.
Food critic Wade Anderson has a review of The Blue Apron in Salem in The Roanoke Times today. He says it has an enchanting vibe and tasty fare.
“The Risen Christ”
A dramatic presentation of Jesus’ last days on earth, His death and resurrection using Adult Choir, soloists, a readers theatre, and projection.
Sunday, April 17th, 10:30 a.m. –Part 1
Sunday, April 24th, 10:30 a.m.-Part 11
Maundy Thursday Service, April 21st, 7 p.m.
Salem Baptist Church, 103 N. Broad St., Salem, VA 24153
Phone: 387-0416
www.salembc.net
Submitted by Brenda, Salem Baptist Church.
Shopping blogger Rebecca Holland has tips on where to find some on her blog, The Shoptimist.
The Glenvar prom is May 7, the Salem prom is May 14.
It’s not too early to send out a reminder: You can share your prom photos at news@sosalem.com.
The lady Spartans lost 10-4 against the Patriots on what is forecasted to be the only sunny day this week, Tuesday, March 29.
The boys lost to PH 9-2.
Click here to read Roanoke Times sports reporter Doug Doughty’s pre-game story outlining this year’s lacrosse season for both local teams.
Salem lacrosse girls’ and boys’ have two home games next week:
Tuesday, April 5 vs. EC Glass (5 p.m. girls, 6:45 p.m. boys)
Friday, April 8 vs. Western Albemarle at the turf field in front of Salem High (5 p.m. girls, 6:45 p.m. boys)
The Republicans who control the House of Delegates and the Democrats who control the state Senate released their respective redistricting plans late Tuesday.
Not surprisingly, each party seeks to help itself and hurt the other.
* The House plan would expand the district now represented by Del. Greg Habeeb, R-Salem, to include Craig County and part of Montgomery County.
* The Senate plan would create a Senate district that runs from Salem through Southwest Roanoke County all the way down to Smith Mountain Lake. State Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Moneta, currently lives in that district, though most of his current district winds up elsewhere. Salem is currently represented in the Senate by Ralph Smith, R-Botetourt, who wound find himself in a district that runs toward Lynchburg.
You can see the maps and get more info over on our Blue Ridge Caucus politics blog.
No word yet on proposed congressional district maps.
