Fall to usher in Winter at RCHS
FOOTBALL takes the headlines again this weekend on the strength of the Junior Panther football team’s dramatic road win last Thursday at the Maryland School for the Deaf.
Prevailing by just one point, 14-13, Rapp used their running game to perfection to eat up the clock and put points on the board, including a dramatic 4th quarter possession that sealed the win. Andrew Hitt, filling in at fullback due to an injury, and Mason Ramey ran the old “Riggo drill” to perfection, each scoring one TD behind some outstanding blocking from the offensive line, led by T.J. Keane and Hunter Baker. Jacob Kidwell added the conversion points and also recovered a key fumble late in the game to preserve the lead for Coach Rich Hogan’s Junior Panther squad. The JP Panthers have their final home game this Monday, hosting Locust Grove at 6 p.m.
Coach Kemp Pullin’s Varsity squad takes to the road for the next two weekends and then returns to Panther Stadium for their season’s final game on Friday, November 3. The team will be competing against Nelson County, kickoff at 7 p.m. This will also be the season’s final appearance for the award winning Panther Marching band and the Rapp faithful are encouraged to come out and fill the stands for football’s season finale.
Our VOLLEYBALL teams had a split week last week, but getting back in the win column in dominating straight set fashion at home over Strasburg last Thursday. Stats leaders for the week for Varsity included Sarah East with 17 kills, Hannah East with 12, Amber Smoot with
8, Virginia Wyatt with 7 and Deanna Abdullah with 3. Additionally Hannah added 5 blocks and Virginia 4 of her own. Both teams return to the home gym tonight, Thursday, hosting the Falcons of Central Woodstock. Tonight’s game is also the kickoff of the Dig Pink campaign to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
Last week was positive for Rapp’s HARRIERS, with new PRs set. The Varsity teams traveled to Madison in what was likely their last race in hot and humid weather. Several of our boys’ runners along with girls’ runner Rachel Weghorst set new personal records by races’ end. The Junior Panther squad competed in their final race of the season last Thursday, running at the New Market Battlefield in a Bull Run District middle school competition. Headliner for the day was boys’ runner Luke Ellis who placed fifth overall in a very competitive field.
Last Saturday the varsity squad traveled to Charlottesville to compete in the Albemarle Invitational. Competing against 35 other schools, predominantly from the bigger 6A, 5A, and 4A groupings, Rapp was the only 1A school in attendance but did well. Out of over 380 girls racing, Rapp’s Rachel Weghorst
placed 22nd with a time of 20:13 and teammate Jacklyn Humphries was not far behind, placing 69th with a time of 21:35.
The boys ran hard to stay with the pack in Charlottesville, with the Rapp contingent led by Dalton Renner, who was followed in order by Daniel Dale Lucca, Matthew Paratore, Grant PerDieu,
and Hunter Nicodemus, the latter two setting new PRs for themselves.
Winter sports are just around the corner and parents should mark calendars for tryout dates. JV and Varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball tryouts begin Monday, Nov. 3. Varsity Wrestling begin tryouts also on Nov. 3. Junior Panther girls’ and boys’ basketball begin tryouts Nov. 13. All athletes must have a current VHSL school sports physical on file to participate in tryouts.