Writing the Perfect Script

Four Collegiate athletes – yes, four! – earned VISAA player of the year distinction this past spring season.

 

Sophomore Caroline Curtis and junior Jack Montague shared the honor by shooting 1-under-par 69s in the state independent schools golf tournament at the Meadowbrook Country Club May 22 to lead the Cougars to a second-place overall finish.

 

“Jack and Caroline really push each other,” said Coach Chris Williams of his co-medalists. "They’re really good for each other. The competition makes them both better. It’s all friendly. That’s one of the reasons they were so successful this year.”

 

Two weeks later, Caroline defended her RWGA championship with a 3-and-1 victory over Tatum Walsh in the finals of match play at the Hanover Country Club. She became only the second golfer in the RWGA’s 90-year history to win twice before she reached the age of 16.

 

A two-time VSGA junior girls golfer of the year, Caroline burst onto the scene in 2013 as an 11-year-old rising 7th Grader when she shot a 70 and finished a stroke behind 18-year-old Lyberty Anderson in the final round.

 

“Caroline’s really dedicated,” Williams added. “She knows what part of her game she needs to work on, and that’s what she does. She’s focused. She practices with a purpose, and when she gets on the course, she’s 100 percent golf.”

 

Evan Justice, a 6-5, 170-pound senior lefthander, was voted both Prep League and VISAA baseball player of the year based on his eye-popping stats and his imposing, dignified presence.

 

The N.C. State commit recorded a 7-1 record and 1.05 ERA with 70 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 60 innings. He also batted .506 with five home runs (including three grand slams), 40 RBI, 22 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases for the 15-8 Cougars. This past winter, he averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, hit 80% of his free throws, and was selected All-Prep League for Collegiate’s 18-11 basketball team.

 

“Evan singlehandedly had the most impressive statistical season of any player in Collegiate history,” said Andrew Slater, Collegiate’s baseball coach. “He was dominant. Every time he went out on the mound or was at the plate, he willed himself to success and put the team in a position to win. He’s a super-talented kid but also a player who competes at a high level regardless of the game situation.”

 

Junior Scott Phillips, the No. 1 singles and doubles player on Collegiate’s boys’ tennis squad, added a state POY honor to the host of All-Prep and All-State citations he’s earned over the past three years.

 

He was 12-4 in singles (and Prep League champion) and 11-3 as a member of a doubles team that included, at different times, Dorsey Ducharme and Shaan Kapadia. The Richmond Tennis Association recently honored him with the Richard B. Passloff Boys' Sportsmanship Award.

"Scott was a true leader by example in the weight room, on the court, and in the tennis classroom,” said Coach Karin Whitt. “He knew when to have fun and when to get down to work. His ability to make the not-so-fun things fun – cardio for instance – really brought the team together and helped propel it to a winning season.”

 

Like the state players of the year, Jess Speight couldn’t have scripted a better spring.

 

A 6-4, 290-pound offensive lineman headed for the University of Michigan as a preferred walk-on, he earned first-team All-Prep, All-State and All-Metro honors and played a huge role in Collegiate’s stellar football season that ended with a 22-14 victory over Benedictine in the VISAA championship game.

 

He was just getting started. In the winter, he won the league and state championships in the shot put, then duplicated the feat in the spring. In fact, he made his last throw his best, a 55-0 heave that surpassed his own school record.

 

He wasn’t finished, though. On a windy afternoon at Sports Backers Stadium, he also won the state championship in the discus with a throw of 137-5, a distance that exceeded his lifetime best by a stunning 14 feet.

 

It wasn’t just stellar performances that enabled Jess to earn the 2017 A.L. “Petey” Jacobs Sportsmanship Award.

 

“Jess is an incredible young man,” said throws coach Beth Kondorossy. “He is one of the most selfless athletes I have ever coached. When I think of the perfect teammate, Jess comes to mind. Jess has had such an amazing impact on the throwing group these past several years. His teammates train harder when he's around because he sets the standard and he buys in. Not only will I miss coaching him, but the track program will miss his leadership and presence at practice and in meets.”

                  -- Weldon Bradshaw