WAHS ATHLETICS
September 28, 2024
Welcome to this week's Athletic Department Newsletter!
This week, we’re especially excited to celebrate our senior athletes who have dedicated so much to their teams and school over the years. Their leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on Western Albemarle athletics, and we can’t wait to honor them during upcoming Senior Night celebrations.
In addition to recognizing our seniors, we’ll be recapping the results from last week’s games and providing a rundown of upcoming matchups, so you can stay in the loop and come out to support our teams as they compete.
As fall sports begin to wrap up, it’s time to start looking ahead to the winter sports season. Information on tryouts, schedules, and team meetings will be available soon, so be sure to check in for important updates.
We’re also planning several future events in the athletic department, including a community-wide food drive to give back during the holiday season. Your support in helping us reach our goals will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for being an essential part of our athletic community. Let’s keep the spirit strong as we head into another exciting week!
Go Warriors!
Senior Spotlight
Avery Ibbeken (#17)
Avery Ibbeken has been a dedicated member of Western's field hockey team for the past five years. In addition to her commitment on the field, Avery is actively involved in several clubs, including Morgan's Message, Key Club, and One Love, where she attends every meeting and event. Her strong work ethic extends beyond school as she also assists with event management, helping with setup, transportation, and cleanup at weddings and events throughout the year. Avery plays both field hockey in the fall and lacrosse in the spring while excelling academically with seven AP classes and two Dual Enrollment courses. Her favorite field hockey memory is making the bus driver stop at McDonald's with Ms. Fields after a tough game against Meridian. She would like to thank her parents for their continuous support and encouragement.
Favorite Quote: "It's not how good you are but how bad you want it."
Avery Powell (#12)
Avery Powell has been playing field hockey for 11 years, including five years at WAHS. As a dedicated team member, she is also involved in Morgan’s Message and One Love, showing her commitment to supporting her peers on and off the field. Avery would like to thank her mom, Coach Dawson, and Mr. Bledsoe for their unwavering support in her athletic and academic endeavors. Her most memorable moment was reaching the state semifinals with her team last year, a testament to their hard work and dedication.
Skyler Powell (#9)
Skyler Powell is a co-president of the One Love club and an active member of Morgan's Message and Key Club, where she volunteers her time at Loaves and Fishes. With seven years of field hockey experience and five years playing for WAHS, she has been a key part of the team. Skyler’s favorite moments include the bonds formed with teammates and the shared experiences on and off the field. She would like to thank her mom and dad for their constant support throughout her journey.
Week in Review (September 29th - October 5th)
Cross Country Competes at Panorama Farms
Boys XC – Virginia Track Coaches Association Fall Classic.
Having previously raced in tough conditions the week prior, many of the boys did not compete but rather volunteered in the Virginia Track Coaches Association Fall Classic. Carson Floyd finished as our top Boys Varsity runner finishing 23rd in a time of 18:56.
In the Boys JV race the team swept the top three places and 6 of the top 10 to outscore second place St. Anne's Belfield by 30 points. Victorious George Geis stopped the clock at 17:58. Ethan Apicella was second in 18:40 and Christophe de Wekker third in 18:49. Pat Johnston-Fox, Asher Dawson, and Zach Hamernick also placed in the top 10 finishing 5th, 9th and 10th.
Girls XC – Virginia Track Coaches Association Fall Classic.
The Varsity girls team came in a strong 2nd place, even with 4 of the top runners unable to compete in the race. The team was led by freshman Zoey Downer, finishing in 9th place overall with a big PR time of 20:53. Other varsity scorers were Juliet Kielbasa, Cameron Huynh, Logan Juhl, Abbie Apicella, Daisy McCown, and Anja Lehmensiek.
The girls JV team won with a low score of 19 points. The JV team was led by 1st place finisher Ruby Carlson. Other JV scorers were Sarina He, Lily Cayce-Luckett, Anisten Luzaich, Hanna Kim, Miriam Walcott, and Dani Tepe.
Football Teams Battle Hard
This past Saturday, the varsity football team fell to Orange 42-8 at Woodberry Forest. Despite the loss, there were some standout performances. Quarterback Gray Heilman threw for 164 yards, while RJ Corbey hauled in 7 catches for 102 yards, including a touchdown and a two-point conversion. On defense, Wyatt Carter made a highlight-reel play with a leaping interception to stop Orange from adding another score. The team will look to bounce back this Friday against Fluvanna in our Homecoming Game.
Volleyball Loses a Tough Match
On Thursday night, the varsity volleyball team fought through a tough, back-and-forth match but ultimately came up short against Charlottesville. The JV volleyball team also faced a difficult road loss against CHS, with standout performances from Ciciley Rocco (4 kills, 2 aces), Jourdan Prevete (5 digs), and Lila Mae Isley (5 assists, 2 aces). Both teams showed great effort and determination throughout the night.
Field Hockey Teams Continue to Impress
The varsity field hockey team delivered an impressive all-around performance in their recent match, securing a strong win with contributions from multiple players. Goals were scored by Avery Powell, Avery Ibbeken, Mack Kinnan, Camille Love, and Jean Nika Van der West Huizen, who found the back of the net twice.
The entire team played cohesively, with excellent corner plays and possession throughout the game. On defense, Berkeley Chambers made key stops to prevent Charlottesville from capitalizing on fast breaks, helping to seal the win.
In an exciting game, JV field hockey beat Charlottesville 1-0 off a 60-yard fast break goal by Mira Mueller. Perry Hume, Amari Shah and Hadley Barrett played great defense in the victory!
Golf Team - Not in action
The Region Tournament was rescheduled to October 8th due to unplayable conditions.
GO WARRIORS!
Thank you to all our athletes, coaches, and supporters for another exciting week of competition. Keep up the hard work, Warriors, and let’s continue to make this season one to remember!
This Week in WAHS Athletics
Upcoming Events
October 11th - Homecoming Football Game
October 19th - Homecoming Dance
November 8th - Night of Champions Celebration (rescheduled from 9/27)
- 2023-2024 State championship teams will be recognized at halftime of the varsity football game.
November 13th - Senior NCAA Signing Day 2024 - 2025
- National Signing Day is a day when high school student-athletes can sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play a collegiate sport for a NCAA school. The day varies by sport and is divided into an early signing period and a regular signing period. For example, in 2024, the signing day for Division I and Division II sports outside of football and basketball is November 13, 2024. We will also have a spring signing day for Division III student-athletes and late-signing Division I & Division II athletes.
- Please fill out this form if you are a senior who plans to sign a Letter of Intent on November 13th and plans to participate in this signing event
New Opportunity: JV Cheer Squad
Winter Sports
Please go to wahswarriors.com for out of season practice details for winter and spring sports.
PER ACPS, the following items are required for all athletes to be eligible to participate in official team activities:
1. A completed VHSL Physical Form dated after 5/1/2024. Submit complete physicals (4 pages) to the Athletic Department.
2. Submit ONLINE “Activity Registration”. Helpful information can be found on the left side of the homepage … “Activity Information for Parents” under “Quick Links”. (Please remember the email that you use to register your athlete & the name you use for your athlete)
WAHS Apparel & Accessories Website
Support our school and show your spirit! Visit our online store to browse a variety of school-related gear, from apparel to accessories. A portion of every purchase goes directly back to our school, helping to fund programs and activities that benefit all our students. Shop now and make a difference while looking great!
Student Led Philanthropy
Please consider supporting our students as they spearhead efforts to support local and regional needs.
A Flood Relief Supply Drive starts Monday, October 7th. Bins are in the cafeteria.
- Cases of water, hydration packets (powdered packets)
- Baby formula, baby wipes, diapers, new blankets
- Contractor trash bags, tarps, plastic sheeting
- Flashlights with batteries and pack of batteries
- Cleaning supplies, plastic utensils
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- First aid kits
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletry items
- Manual can openers and non-perishable food items
- Heavy duty work gloves
Pink Out Game (October 8th)
Join us for a special Pink Out Game to raise awareness for breast cancer and support the Susan G. Komen Fund! Wear your pink and cheer on the Warriors as they take on Albemarle High School in this meaningful Field Hockey match.
Let's come together as a community to fight breast cancer. 💖
Donations welcome online and at the gate!
Spirit Week Money Drive will start October 10th
- contributions split between grade-level fundraising and our local SPCA.
Canned and Non-Perishable Food Drive for the Jefferson Area Food Bank
- The Western Football team is organizing a food drive for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank at the Homecoming game against Fluvanna. Please help those in need by bringing canned food items to drop into the bins at the gate. Our goal is to donate 1000 pounds of food!