(January 15, 2015) – In an effort to better recognize student-athletes in Loudoun County who exemplify the values classmates, coaches, spectators, officials, families and friends look for in teammates, the LoCoSports team has selected its December 2014 Teammates of the Month for boys and girls basketball, football, gymnastics, swim and wrestling.
The selections were made based on the following criteria: selflessness, hustle, work ethic, attitude, team-first mentality, spirit and heart.
If you wish to nominate a student-athlete for athlete or teammate of the month, please reach out through our contact form or email us at locosportsnews@gmail.com.
By Owen Gotimer
Nominated by Laura Wrighte
In December, Freedom High School junior Anna Broussard bounced back from a few injuries during her freshman and sophomore years to emerge as one of the top gymnasts in Loudoun.
During her last two meets in December, Broussard really shined taking second in the all-around in both meets.
On Dec. 10, Broussard tied for second on the vault and placed second on the floor, bars and beam. The following week, on Dec. 16, the junior tied for first on the beam, placed second on both the floor and bars and placed third on the vault.
“She manages practicing for club 20-plus hours a week, a rigorous course load, leaving club practice and coming directly to high school practice each night. While she’s at high school, she’s very willing to help others with routines and skill improvement,” Freedom head coach Laura Wrighte said. “[One] competition she was only supposed to compete on a limited number of events because she’d had four meets in ten days, but one of her team members was hurt so she stepped up to do all events.”
In her first January meet, Broussard placed third in the all-around. Freedom is back in action Jan. 15 in a meet at Park View High School.
By Hanna Duenkel
In his senior season playing for the Tuscarora High School football team, linebacker Jason Chubbuck made some impressive plays for the Huskies while adding a constantly high performance level. Chubbuck’s season was riddled with injuries to his legs and ankles, but the linebacker was always on the field.
During the final game of his high school career, Chubbuck’s injuries finally caught up to him as he was injured in the first quarter of the VHSL 5A state championship game, eventually sitting out for the rest of the game.
When he was not playing, he was on the sidelines with his teammates, observing the game with a watchful eye and offering a bright morale to the team.
“On a team with some gifted athletes that garner much of the attention, Jason not only relishes in their successes, but works tirelessly to make those players better,” Tuscarora head coach Michael Burnett said. “Everything that Jason does, he does for the good of the team. He is selfless and resilient and is the ultimate team player.”
Chubbuck acted as a massive blocker at fullback, alongside Tuscarora’s offensive lines and occasionally caught passes from quarterback Daniel Smith. In his 2014 season, the senior converted two of his caught passes into touchdowns.
For his efforts during his senior year, Chubbuck was named a VHSL 5A all-state first-team linebacker.
By Owen Gotimer
In the month of December, Rock Ridge High School junior forward Monteral Jackson led the first year Phoenix program to a 5-4 record including an appearance in the championship game of the first ever Explosive Performance Holiday Tournament hosted by Rock Ridge.
Throughout December, Jackson averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game and was named to the all-tournament team following his effort at the EP Holiday Tournament.
“He is a great leader. We saw this when he first arrived with us. Monteral set the tone for the program early on as he never missed a workout, summer league game, fall league game, training at Explosive performance,” Rock Ridge head coach Jay Geyer said. “Monteral is someone you can truly count on. He hasn’t missed a practice and continues to play through injuries and sickness as the season goes on. He’s early for every practice. He’s early for every team meeting. He comes in and is always wanting to watch film. Those are things go a long way for our program.”
On Dec. 3, Jackson helped the Phoenix to the school’s first ever win in boys varsity basketball in the school’s first ever boys varsity basketball game ousting the Freedom High School Eagles, 63-50, in front of a home crowd. For all the Phoenix boys except Jackson – who transferred to Rock Ridge from Park View High School – it was the first varsity basketball games in their career.
“He knows there is more to leadership than leading by example. Monteral takes the time on and off the court to help he younger guys. He is learning when to put his arm around guys and when to get on guys,” Geyer said. “So far this season he has been Mr. Consistent.”
By Owen Gotimer
Loudoun Valley High School junior Cade Kiely continued to prove himself on the wrestling mat in December. Wrestling at the 138-pound weight class, Kiely placed second at the Loudoun County Public Schools wrestling championships on Dec. 19-20.
Just a week before, Kiely was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the 106- to the 145-pound weight classes at the Max Horz Tournament after winning the 138-pound final.
“Cade is always the hardest working kid in the room. His work ethic elevates the competitiveness in our room and resonates as the standard for our younger wrestlers to live up to. All that not mention the wealth he offers to questions on technique,” Loudoun Valley head coach Troy Mezzatesta said.
Kiely shined through the rest of December and into early January. On Dec. 29-30, Kiely placed third at the Willie Walters Invitational in Winchester before claiming the top spot at the Millbrook Mayhem tournament on Jan. 3 going 5-0 in his weight class.
Mezzatesta added Kiely’s success on the mats, is driven by his work ethic.
“Cade is the first to show up and the last to leave,” Mezzatesta said. “He is there working with all teammates to offer his advice and experience to improve their skill set on the mat.”
By Joe Skinner
Nominated by Mike Petrella
Only in her second year of high school basketball – both on varsity – John Champe High School sophomore guard Blair Thompson is getting many opportunities to prove herself as top talent on the emerging Lady Knights basketball team.
When given positions on the court that she is unfamiliar with, she still finds a way to help her team win. Over the course of December, injuries of her teammates placed her in positions she does not typically play, and she is showing John Champe head coach Will Patton that the underclassmen can be true leaders.
“Blair’s such a good teammate because she is always so positive with her teammates and her coaches. She is a great teammate because the kids really look to her to organize them on the court. She knows the plays better than the coaches do,” Patton said.
The Lady Knights sported a winning 7-3 record in December of their young season and are preparing to begin their conference schedule in the New Year.
Thompson has played a big role in the early start for the Lady Knights including helping her team on Dec. 27 with a career high 24 points in a win against Hedgesville High School in the Cougar Classic Holiday Tournament.
“She never worries about her own personal stats. She’s always putting people in the right positions for them to be successful. She’s very knowledgeable about the game and very helpful to her team and coaches,” Patton said.
By Owen Gotimer
Dominion High School senior Eric Wong is a fish in the water and an Eagle Scout out of it. In December, Wong played a crucial role in helping the Titans’ swim team get off to a good start through his leadership and success in the pool.
“Eric was a captain last season and this season. I let the boys vote, so it’s clear his teammates appreciate his leadership,” Dominion head coach Susan Schlemmer said. “Eric truly makes the effort to reach out to, connect with and include all the kids on the team, male and female, freshmen to seniors. If you ask the kids who gets you fired up before a meet, they would all say Eric.”
Wong performed well in multiple Titan relays as well as in individual freestyle and backstroke events this winter, however, Schlemmer noted his most valuable asset is his team guidance.
“As a coach, I really appreciate his leadership during meets. As you may know there are times during a meet when coaches have to act fast,” Schlemmer said. “Two meets ago, I had to completely redo all the boys 200 and 400 free relays during the meet! Coach’s nightmare!
“That’s a lot of relays when you have 16 kids swimming in different combinations for each of these two events,” Schlemmer continued. “As I redid these lineups, Eric gathered each relay team to make sure the boys knew what they were doing. I can’t tell you how much that helped me out.”
