Winter Sports Banquet Details and Images
As the winter sports season comes to a close, the Caissons’ athletic teams can point to several successes and positive momentum in its athletic programs.
The varsity basketball team finished another winning campaign with a regular season record of 9-8, including a stirring three-game winning streak to end the season, followed by a tough loss to Hargrave Military Academy in the quarterfinals of the VIC (Virginia Independent Conference) tournament. Fishburne also completed the season with a third place ranking in the Piedmont Division of the VIC. The team earned a birth in the VISAA (Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association) tournament for the second time in three years, which is a testament to the coaching ability of Coach Chip Crabill, Coach Larry Crabill, and the players. The Caissons were led by David Candalerio and Glen Franklin, who each averaged 14 points per game and garnered all-conference honors. Ben Gomez averaged 8 points per game, while Chet Berry added 7.
The junior varsity basketball team struggled to two wins during the season, but won a big game against rival Massanutten Military Academy. The junior Caissons were led by Chance Berry averaging 9 points per game, and Angel Carrion with 8. Coach Jason Pullen complimented his players for “working hard day in, day out, and never giving up… they were a joy to coach and the improvements they made over the season was remarkable”
Coach Rich Chiarolanzio, or “Coach C”, reenergized the wrestling team and led the grapplers to a regular season 9-0 record and a 4th place finish in the conference. Jonathan Vincent peaked at just the right time took to knock off the #7 Seed to advance to the top 8 in the state. The wrestling team also gathered several conference accomplishments with the following medalists:
Michael Labianca finished 2nd overall, losing a tough match in the championship
Bevin Morrison-Rodgers finished 4th
Kyle Harvey finished 2nd wrestling the best he has all season
Joseph Forehand finished 4th
Christopher Sliger finished 4th
Tyler Lawson finished 4th after suffering an injury in his first match toughed it out for 2 more matches.
Novak Porter finished 3rd
Conner Smith Finished 3rd
and Justin Bell finished 3rd
According to Coach C, “As the new head coach in my first year at FMS I have to say that this team has brought me as much pride as any team I have coached in any sport for the past 31 years. The hard work and drive of these young men has truly paid off for all of us in the FMS family as something to be proud of.”
The swim team, under Coach Katherine Gray, made great strides with a young and inexperienced group of hard working swimmers. According to Coach Gray, “We had by far the smallest team to start with and then had two swimmers disqualified from the conference meet because they barely missed reporting to the blocks in time for there events. These disqualifications were demoralizing to the team and they had a hard time recovering. Though we didn’t beat any other teams, every single swimmer dropped time in every event they swam!!!” The Fishburne swimmers raced their best swims of the season in the final meet, and the progress and work ethic they demonstrated during the season was commendable.
Final VIC Swim Meet Results:
Hargrave 110
Roanoke Catholic 110
Covenant School 100
VES 78
North Cross School 61
Fishburne Military School 35
Head Football Coach Val Gochenour, who led the Fishburne football team to its first conference championship since 1990, has established a new strength and conditioning program for the winter and fall terms. This popular activity includes football players looking to gain strength for next fall’s football season, and other cadets that simply want to increase their level of fitness. Award winners included Joey Clare, Derek Rogers, Alex Boswell, and Colin Green. Most successful athletic programs include strength and conditioning, and we are fortunate to have someone as experienced as Coach Gochenour to head up the program.
Cadet Chris Sliger was honored individually with the Colonel James G. Hogg Scholar Athlete Award given out to the cadet who best exemplifies the true Fishburne Man – honorable both scholastically and on the playing field (or in this case -the wrestling mat). Congrats to Chris!
Thanks to the long hours, hard work, and dedication of the coaching staff, the Fishburne athletic program is on solid footing and poised to move into the future with confidence and enthusiasm.
Mike Anson, AD
