While there were over twenty teams who won high school state championships during the 2017-18 season, a title doesn't necessarily clinches a berth in our RVA Sports Network Top 10 Teams countdown. There are teams that accomplish mighty things for their program, school, and community who do not make the final game. Eight state champions did make our Top 10, numbers two through ten listed below, along with other teams who most certainly deserve honorable mention status.
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#10: Atlee Girls Lacrosse: After clinching the program's first state tournament bid in 2017, but losing a lot to graduation, the Raiders roared back behind their returnees, and two super freshman additions in Kate Miller and Stella Harrison, to dominate area teams all season, losing their only match in the Class 5 State Final on June 9th by a single goal.
#9: Thomas Jefferson Football: A program that was once an automatic victory on everyone's schedule not only completed a turnaround, but finished first overall in their region, hosting a home playoff game for the first time in recorded history. The Vikings broke ground on a new level of expectations, one of the best stories of a 2017 football season filled with them.
#8: L.C. Bird Boys Track And Field: The Skyhawks grabbed the Class 5 State Indoor Championship, then, three months later, made it a double, claiming the Outdoor Championship as well. It was an unforgettable season for L.C. Bird.
#7: Hanover Girls Tennis: Lose your #1 player to graduation after going 22-0 and winning the program's first state championship, and what do you do? You go undefeated again, replacing her with Raine Weis, who joined a veteran squad that, again, grabbed the Class 4 State Championship and earned the Hanover County Sheriff's Department's triumphant escort back to the school on June 9th.
#6: St. Christopher's Baseball: After splitting their regular season series with rival Benedictine, the Saints went on an unbeaten run to the championship, finally won at Shepherd Stadium in Colonil Heights after a host of rainouts and other delays during one of the wettest stretches of weather in recent Richmond history. Not even Mother Nature could prevent the Saints from claiming the VISAA Division I title, defeating rivals Trinity Episcopal and Collegiate before knocking off Norfolk Academy for the crown May 21st.
#5: Varina Boys Basketball: A comeback win in the Class 5 State Championship earned the Blue Devils their long-awaited title (more on that in our Top 10 Moments), finishing the season on a 22-game winning streak after starting the season 4-2. Varina never lost in the 2018 calendar year.
#4: Patrick Henry Boys Volleyball: In one of the most dominant seasons by any team, the defending Class 5 state champions moved down to Class 4 and went undefeated in five-set play, only losing a three-set match to Deep Run at the Virginia Volleyball Showcase Labor Day Weekend. Although the Patriots lose more to graduation this year, the 2018 edition will still be the favorites to make it three titles in a row.
#3: Prince George Softball: It was finally the Royals' turn in a star-studded Class 5, as the Royals took two out of three against Lee-Davis, the rubber match a 4-0 win in the state semifinals June 8th, then turning a huge first inning into an 11-4 championship win the next day over Brooke Point to claim the program's first championship. Seniors led the way, and Laura Thompson was the best of the bunch, dominant in the circle. The Royals' only loss was to Lee-Davis, 2-1, in the Region 5B Championship, a loss they avenged a week later.
#2: John Marshall Boys Basketball: What could have been, when we look down the road now. Led by Isaiah Todd, one of the top recruits of the Class of 2020, joined by the likes of Elijah Seward, Levar Allen, DeMarr McRae and Roosevelt Wheeler, the Justices earned chemistry through a rugged early schedule, and dominated in the postseason to win the Class 3 State Championship. Now, Todd is off to Trinity Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina. Attention will begin to turn to Wheeler, another big man, a year younger, who could have a breakout season trying to lead the Justices back to the Siegel Center in March.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Cosby Girls Basketball
Matoaca Girls Volleyball
Hopewell Football
Hopewell Baseball
Lee-Davis Softball
Deep Run Baseball
Deep Run Girls Tennis
Maggie Walker GS Girls Tennis
Atlee Boys Track
Hanover Girls Soccer
Deep Run Field Hockey
Colonial Heights Girls Soccer
Highland Springs Boys Basketball
Deep Run Golf
We'll name our 2017-18 Team of The Year on Friday!
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