Heritage Proves It's All About Pride in 2006
Four years ago, who would have guessed that two bus loads of eager fans would travel to Waynesboro to watch their team compete in the regional semi-final volleyball match, or that hundreds of people would rock the James Madison Convocational Center to watch every single second of a thrilling, heated game of basketball, or that on the football field, the Pride would battle it out with the Panthers during overtime and prevail! Well, their mascot says it all. It’s 2006 and the red and black have something to be proud of. The Leesburg community has something to talk about, and as for the rest of Loudoun County, the Pride has gained their respect.
"Our game plan was to hire the best staff possible to teach fundamentals, create a positive environment, and reward positive attitudes," says Athletic Director, Ron Petrella. The Heritage athletic program has proven itself as a dominating force within the Dulles District. The Heritage volleyball team took first in the regular-season standings, as did the golf team. The boys’ basketball team won the regular season as the first team to go undefeated in the history of the Dulles District. As district co-champions, the Heritage football team also had their share of success. Bringing the year to a close, both the boys’ and girls’ track teams won their first district titles. This year, 17 Heritage seniors signed with colleges. All-state hurdler, Les Bradley, signed with the University of Miami. Kaitlin Petrella will play volleyball and softball at the University of Mary Washington, and standout catcher, Kelly Haller, will play for the University of Virginia. The list goes on.
Outside their locker room hangs a sign that reads, "Play like a champion today." That is the volleyball’s team motto - how appropriate. With the support of the "Chaos Crew", the team’s personal cheering section, the Pride finished at the top of the district as the regular-season and tournament champions. "When we first started, I wanted the kids to know that we were a first year program and Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither would this program," says Coach Carmel Keilty, all-district coach of the year. "I wanted the kids to have fun and win some along the way. That we did!"
"Hard work pays off." The Pride, the 2005 Football district co-champions, has confirmed that phrase. The Pride who won only three games their first year, held a 7-3 regular season record this year. "Being a young school, you have to be patient, positive and find the best offensive and defensive systems that fit your personnel. That involves some trial and error," says Driskill. "I felt like we had a great group of coaches to weather the storm." With hard work comes determination. "I have admired the grit of a lot of our players who hung in there in tough times," says Driskill. The Pride has proven their relentlessness by winning every overtime game (four games) in the last four years. "The X's and O's are not the most important things," says Driskill, "Teaching the kids about a work ethic, responsibility, and the importance of team bonds gives them the best chance for football and life success." Football players, Brosnan, Tibbs and Pierce Bullock, will play at Frostburg State University next year. Tyler Langmead signed with Shenandoah University and Matt Lucas with Ferrum College.
At regionals they were the only team to have five players shoot in the 70’s. The Pride golf team took first in the regular season standings and third in the Region II tournament. Their season was highlighted by a 16 stroke win and a school record of 299 at the (eight-team) Cheers Tournament. "It was pretty impressive," says Coach John Dugger, "I believe of our six scores, we did not count an 82 and a 79- two scores that would usually be posted." Senior Greg Brouse advanced to the Group AA State Golf Tournament and finished second. He will be playing at Longwood University next year.
This winter, they were ranked in the Washington Post top 20 and ranked fifth in the Virginia State Associated press polls. With a 1-22 record their inaugural season, the Heritage boys’ basketball team impressed the entire area this year with their remarkable 23-4 record. "Our kids have turned a doormat program into a respected winning program," says Coach Marquez Mallisham. The team is led by a solid core of kids: Paul Shockley, Nick Scott, Quinn Tibbs, Brian Brosnan, and Rusty Smith. Shockley has signed with Frostburg State University and Scott with Hood College. "Out of all the new high schools that have opened up in the Northern Virginia over the last 10 years…our kids have come the closest to advancing to the state tournament," says Mallisham, "We were only two points away!" Mallisham can recall the entire game in his head, play-by-play. "It will always be a lasting memory," he says, "not because we lost by one point, but because our kids played with passion! We made a strong statement that game. Our kids played like champions and proved that they belonged here."
Both the boys’ and girls’ track teams dominated the district. The girls’ team was led by Brittany Rose, Raquel Curtis, Jazlynn Finney, Kenice Brown, Jayde James and Tisha O'Bannion. The girls won both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay. Rose came through for the Pride winning both the high jump and the 100m hurdles and was runner-up in the 300m hurdles. The boys were led by Dale Taylor, 400m champion, Nick McLaughlin, 1600m and 800m champion, and Dominick Kroupa, 3200m runner-up. What a great way to close out the year.
The Pride continues to excel across the board. The Heritage swim team has quadrupled since its first season. This year 11 swimmers qualified for states. Stand-out swimmer Bryan Durazo led the Pride and signed with Duke University. The Heritage cheerleaders took third in the district tournament and eighth in the regional tournament. Both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams took second at districts.
Heritage hopes to continue this tradition of excellence. The Pride owes its school’s success not only to the athletes and coaches but also to the undying support from the entire Pride community: the administration, staff, student body, family and volunteers. "Our name - Pride - symbolizes our school as a 'community' of mascots," says Petrella.
"Perhaps one day…" says Mallisham, "we will get a crowd so big that the Fire Marshal will have to turn people away."
