Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Mt. Empire District has released its 2025-2026 all-district basketball teams with two players from Auburn being named to the first team. Matthew Altizer and Brody Hensel were named to the first team, and Cody Fleet and Cameron Branch were named second teamers.
Tech’s Hansberry honored
Virginia Tech forward Amani Hansberry was recognized by the NABC as a first team All-East Region player Tuesday morning. He has also earned All-ACC Honorable Mention accolades this postseason.
In his first season with the Hokies, Hansberry has made an immediate impact for the squad, starting in all 30 of his appearances in maroon and orange. The team’s leading scorer, he has averaged 14.3 points per game with an efficient 49.2% field goal percentage. The 6-foot-8 Hansberry has recorded four games of 20 or more points this season with his season-high (22) coming in the Hokies’ ACC/SEC Challenge overtime win at South Carolina. His 7.4 rebounds per game rank tenth in the conference and the Silver Spring, Maryland native’s eight double-doubles rank fourth amongst ACC athletes.
Wolfe signs with RU
Radford University Men’s Golf head coach Mike Grant has announced Carter Wolfe has been signed to the program to compete for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.
Wolfe comes from Gate City High in Gate City, Virginia, where he has seen continued success at the high school level. In 2025, he helped capture the Virginia Class 2A state championship and earned first-team all-state honors for the second consecutive year, having also received the recognition in 2024. He added to his success by winning the 2025 Ridgefield Invitational. Across the 2024–2025 season, Wolfe maintained an exceptional scoring average of 69.2 strokes per round.
Cooper, Simmons Big South award
The Big South Conference has announced Morgan Cooper has been named Pitcher of the Week and Peyton Simmons has been named the Freshman of the Week after the duo’s dominant week that saw the Highlanders pick up four victories.
Cooper was dominant for the Highlanders and helped the team pick up wins in each of the three games she pitched against Campbell and Lafayette allowing just two earned runs over 13.1 innings of work.
Cooper first worked in relief against Campbell, tossing five innings while holding the Camels to zero runs allowing for a Highlanders comeback late in a slim 3-2 win. She would slam the door shut with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in a win over Lafayette, and then finished the weekend with a dominant complete game win over Lafayette in which she retired 11 straight batters to steady the ship for an eventual 9-2 win.
Simmons got on base for the Highlanders at an incredible clip this past week with a .615 OBP% and .583 batting average and earns her first weekly award due to those efforts. With seven hits, Simmons recorded a multi-hit game in all but one contest last week for wins over Campbell, ETSU and Lafayette. She scored one of the deciding runs against ETSU in a slim 2-1 win and tallied two more runs in a decisive 8-3 win over Lafayette.
IHRA purchases Rockingham
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced the purchase of Rockingham Speedway, one of the most iconic and storied venues in American motorsports.
The move reflects IHRA’s commitment to preserving motorsports heritage while thoughtfully reinvesting in legendary racing properties. Known worldwide as The Rock, Rockingham Speedway has played a pivotal role in NASCAR and American racing history for decades and remains deeply tied to the identity and pride of the City of Rockingham and Richmond County.
IHRA intends to restore Rockingham Speedway to its former glory while enhancing the venue as a multi-use destination. Planned improvements include facility upgrades, expanded fan amenities, and the addition of entertainment elements such as concerts and festival-style experiences alongside marquee racing events.
IHRA sponsor
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced Quarter-Max has officially signed on as the title sponsor for the 2026 IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series – Outlaw Pro Mod Class. The partnership unites one of drag racing’s most storied sanctioning bodies with a brand built on 43 world championships and a legacy of dominance.
Founded in 1987 and currently led by Pro Mod Champion Clyde Scott, Quarter-Max has become the industry gold standard for hardcore chassis components. Operating out of a massive 30,000-square-foot facility, Quarter-Max produces everything from championship-winning chassis to ultra-light carbon fiber components and heavy-duty 4-link systems. The decision to name Quarter-Max as the title sponsor was a natural fit, as the brand’s philosophy perfectly mirrors the intensity of the Outlaw Pro Mod circuit.
D’Amour wins 300th
With No. 12/14 Virginia Tech’s 11-3 win over NC State on Saturday, head coach Pete D’Amour has reached 300 wins at Virginia Tech in just his eighth season at the helm.
The Hokies have been a national contender every year since D’Amour took over the reins ahead of the 2019 season. In his eighth season, D’Amour has a career record of 300-91-1 (.767), with four 40-win seasons.
In his seven complete seasons, the Hokies have reached the NCAA Tournament six times, with 2020 being the exception due to COVID-19. Tech has advanced to two NCAA Super Regionals in his tenure as well.
Since arriving in Blacksburg, D’Amour is a two-time ACC Coach of the Year (2019, 2022) and has coached 43 All-ACC selections – headlined by Cori McMillan winning ACC Player of the Year in 2025.
Additionally, D’Amour has coached Nine NFCA All-American honorees.
This season, the Hokies are 27-4 and are now 3-2 in the ACC.
