Shelley Blumenthal gets an ice bath courtesy of several of his players.
Alizer, Blumenthal, Adams honored for coaching
Marty Gordon
[email protected]
For the past two years, Eastern Montgomery High School has not had enough players to field a girls’ soccer team, but Olivia Boone was convinced she was still going to play.
So, she dressed for the boys’ squad.
Boone was a second team all-Region 1C soccer selection for the past two years and a 2026 all-Pioneer District first-team selection.
It is not known how much success she might have experienced on the female side of the field. Because of her determination and play on the field, Boone is the 2026 all-county, all-city girls’ soccer player of the year.
Meanwhile, Auburn baseball coach Eric Altizer has been honored as all-county, all-city coach of the decade. Altizer led this year’s team back to the state playoffs before announcing his retirement.
One of the most successful baseball coaches in southwest Virginia and maybe the state is hanging up his clipboard. Auburn’s Eric Altizer is stepping down after 39 years of coaching.
Altizer, who led this year’s team to another postseason run, has won four state championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2025), was runner up in 2023 and semi-finalist from 2022 to 2024. He was also a 2022 Salem/Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee.
Blacksburg’s Shelly Blumenthal led his boys’ soccer team to a 24-0 undefeated season and a Class 4 state championship. [Remove ‘reloading.’] He has a career record of 637 wins, 56 losses and 26 ties. This has included 13 state championships and 10 state runner ups in 33 seasons. He is expected to be back on the sidelines for season number 34.
Blumental is the spring all-county, all-city of the year.
Radford High School won this year’s Class 2 state volleyball title. Karen Adams continues her successful coaching career, and for her success, she is the 2026 all-county coach of the year.
