Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Christiansburg High School volleyball team claimed the River Ridge District tournament title over Hidden Valley this past week, and one of its players, Ela Shepherd has been named the district player of year.
She was joined on the first team by teammates, Blair Self, Ellie Eddleton and Reese Hall. Blacksburg’s Josephine Rhoads was also named to the first team.
Christiansburg’s Tatum Trotter and Blacksburg’s Kaleigh Whittaker, Clara Gresham and Bailey Capwell were named to the second team.
Second-year Christiansburg coach Madison Taylor was named the RRD coach of the year.
Eastern Montgomery top honors in Pioneer
The Pioneer District released its 2025 all-district volleyball team, and Eastern Montgomery’s Macie Akers is the player of the year. Her coach Whittney Shaver was named coach of the year after the team won both the regular season and tournament titles.
Akers was joined on the first team by teammates, Olivia Boone, Lyla Jo Sutphin and Karen Underwood. Brookelyn Kingery was named to the second team.
Hokies at ACC championships
The Virginia Tech Cross Country Team competed at the ACC Cross Country Championships at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, with the women’s squad finishing eighth and the men in fifth. Three Hokies earned All-ACC honors on Friday morning.
Katie Bohlke led the women’s team, finishing 21st overall with a time of 20:06.8 to secure her first All-ACC honor. In her Hokie debut, Faith Kipmaiyo was second for Virginia Tech, finishing 29th with a time of 20:13.0. Freshman Jule Lindner also made an impact, finishing 51st with a time of 20:21.1.
On the men’s side, George Couttie made a statement with a season-best time of 22:54.4, finishing fourth overall to lead the Hokies and earn his second All-ACC honor. Nicholas Kipchirchir followed in 20th place with a time of 23:18.8, securing his first career All-ACC honor. Declan Rymer rounded out the top three for Virginia Tech, finishing 38th with a time of 23:42.7.
CHS cheer fourth in region
The Christiansburg High School competition cheer team finished fourth in this past week’s competition.
Five members were named all-region. 3D first-teamers were Ceci Cromer and Brooklyn Procaccio. Second-teamers were Saymone Wright, Piper Chamlis and Kylee Sartin.
Whitfield ACC swimmer of week
The ACC tabbed Brendan Whitfield as Swimmer of the Week following his stellar performance against Duke.
The Virginia Tech Hokie logged first-place finishes in the 100 free (41.79) and 200 free (1:33.79), posting NCAA cut times in each race. Whitfield sits at third in the nation for the 100 free and 15th nationally and the 200 free. His leadoff 50 free (19.10) in the 200 free relay ranks him fourth nationally.
This marks the first ACC weekly honor of Whitfield’s career, coming in his second year in the program.
