This Week in VMI Athletics - Feb. 23

All right, let's get right into it, shall we? It's been a crazy week.

A week ago today, Austin Kenon exploded on Senior Night. A career-high 38 points later, the Keydets had a huge 91-84 win over High Point, helping VMI keep its tournament hopes alive. Next up? Charleston Southern, who's enjoying a respectable year down at the BucDome. That game goes off Thursday night, and a win would be, shall we say, helpful. Looming in the season finale is Coastal Carolina, who is bearing down on the Big South record for regular season victories.

It would be nice for the Keydets to be looking for a momentum win in Conway, rather than simply trying to get into the conference tourney...However, if VMI does get in, that season-ending game at CCU could pay dividends. The Keydets and Chanticleers would likely face off again, just days after the regular season ended, and it is very hard, historically speaking, to beat a team in two games that close together. It is certainly a two-sided coin, without a doubt.

Wrestling continues to march toward the SoCon Championships...A 31-9 loss to Chattanooga ended the team's regular season, but they have time to rest up and train for the conference tournament, as that doesn't take place until March 6.

Baseball opened its season with an impressive sweep of Bucknell this past weekend...The three-game series featured some very notable play from a handful of freshmen, particularly Cory Spangenburg, who hit .500 with two doubles and a home run over the three-game sweep. This week's game with Richmond has been postponed, leaving the Keydets looking toward Friday for their return, when Lafayette is expected to come to Gray-Minor Stadium for the opening of a three-game series.

Also with baseball, our popular player blogs have made a return. Tanner Biagini is filing this one from baseball, and it is quite the humorous read so far...Make sure you check it out, and read all about the "House that Sam Roberts Built".

Lacrosse had a head-turning game Saturday, nearly pulling off an upset of Army before eventually falling, 11-9. A four-goal comeback in the fourth quarter, a push that got the Keydets within one with 5:51 to play, fell just short as Army notched the clincher in the final 90 seconds. Stephen Robarge was the catalyst for the team's performance, as he won 16 of 19 face-offs on the day, helping earn himself the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honor. Jacksonville comes to town Saturday, fresh off its first win in program history, a triple OT thriller over #18 Denver. That game will be at 1 p.m.

Track sent a handful of athletes to Virginia Tech this past weekend, and action was headlined by Felix Kitur posting an NCAA Provisional Qualifying time in the 800-meters (1:49.55). The Big South Championships now loom large, and VMIKeydets.com is conducting an in-depth preview all this week. Monday, we broke down the contenders in the women's pole vault, and later today, we'll have a detailed overview of the men's weight throw. The series culminates Friday with an interview with VMI head coach Darrin Webb, before the Championships begin Saturday in Clemson, S.C.

In a side note for track, we're preparing for the Military Championship meet that we'll host at Foster Stadium in March...Look for more info on that as we get closer to the date.

Swimming and Diving closed out its season this past week, as they took part in the CCSA Championships. James Goodwillie had a great meet (In a bit of a scoop, Goodwillie and the aforementioned Robarge will share the VMI Athlete of the Week honor that'll be announced later today), including earning the first podium finish for the Keydets since they joined the conference. Both the men's and women's teams broke multiple school records, and matched their best finishes since becoming part of the CCSA.

Finally, VMI men's soccer coach Ben Freakley announced his resignation Wednesday. He will accept a position at Georgia Southern, and a national search for a new head coach is underway. Former assistant Richie Rose has assumed the title of Interim Head Coach during the search.

This Week in VMI Athletics - Feb. 16

Let's jump right in...

The picture at left is from VMI lacrosse's
season opener, a 16-5 loss at Navy Saturday afternoon. The Keydets fell behind early, but a solid performance from redshirt freshman keeper Kelly McMinn, as well as three goals from Tim Moran, helped keep the game somewhat competitive. LAX is back in action Saturday at West Point, taking on Army.


Baseball is on the verge of opening its season, with three games scheduled for this weekend. There is still snow on the field and on the grounds as a whole, but at this moment, the games are still on. There certainly will be updates on the web site if that changes.

Also for baseball, I'm told that the season preview and the entire media guide will go onto the web site either today or tomorrow. Also scheduled to debut in the next 48 hours is a player blog for baseball, written by Tanner Biagini...No official title yet, but these blogs have gotten good reviews for other sports, and this one should be no exception.

Basketball split its North Carolina road swing, including pulling out a huge win at Gardner-Webb. That victory, coupled with the Keydets' victory over HPU earlier in the season, puts VMI at the #8 spot in the Big South standings with three games to play...And those three games begin tonight, as High Point comes into Cameron Hall for Senior Day. Tip is at 7 p.m.

Track and Field competed in two meets this weekend, with a Lindsey Carty PR pacing the teams at Liberty and five IC4A qualifying marks coming in Akron, Ohio. There's a question right now where the Keydets will next compete, as they may send a few competitors to Virginia Tech this coming weekend. The conference championships will be the following weekend, Feb. 27-28, in Clemson, S.C.

Wrestling dropped a pair of SoCon duals this week, falling to UNC Greensboro and App. State. Senior night is Friday evening, as the Keydets host Chattanooga.

That's all for this week...Check back next week, when we just might have the first baseball results of the new year.

This Week in VMI Athletics - Feb. 8

With apologies to the Colts fans who might be reading, one has to feel good for the Saints today. What a story...I truly believe this year's New Orleans team was one that, 20-25 years down the line, you look back on and remember. Now then...

A vicious winter storm hit the Mid-Atlantic this week (picture at left - Saturday, 5 p.m., about two miles from the Hill), and even though we here at the I didn't get the three feet Washington did, we were still belted pretty well...But the sporting events marched on in true VMI fashion. We'll start with track.

Hannah Granger was profiled by the Big South this week, as she was put in the "Musco Women's Spotlight". The lengthy interview revealed some interesting answers by the 2009 Big South Women's Cross Country Champion...Take a look here.

Despite the snow you see above, the VMI Winter Relays ran on...Didn't mean the pun (track "ran" on) :-). Anyway, the weather precluded all visiting teams except Washington & Lee from attending. Cody Davis posted two personal bests (and is likely to be the VMI Athlete of the Week for the first time in his career), and Aquisi Harris set a new PR in the weight throw. Track's back in action this coming weekend, splitting into two groups. One set of athletes will go to Akron, Ohio, while the other travels to Liberty. Results will be posted on VMIKeydets.com as always.

Speaking of this next weekend, lacrosse will open its season for the third consecutive year at the Naval Academy (Noon, Saturday). The 2010 LAX interactive guide is in its final proofs right now and hopefully will be released by Wednesday, followed by game notes and a preview sometime Thursday. We'll be there, but are still working out the details of what we'll be able to do (live blog, tweeting, etc).

Wrestling was in action this past weekend, as they braved the bad weather to go up to the All-Academy Championships, where they placed fifth. Five Keydets finished in third place in their weight classes, including Josh Wine, who suffered his first loss of the year. Wine now stands at 17-1 on the season.

And finally, basketball went 1-2 this week. A loss to Radford started the week, as Art Parakhouski tied a Cameron Hall record with 22 rebounds (oh yeah, he also had 30 points). This just in: He's pretty good. The Keydets rebounded Thursday with a rout of Presbyterian, overcoming an early 22-8 deficit, before falling to Winthrop (despite a furious rally in the last 3:40) to conclude the week. VMI's back in action this Thursday, taking on Gardner-Webb in a road game that is, without a doubt, the Keydets' biggest game of the season.

In other news, Reggie Williams '08 was named to the D-League's All-Star squad this week. We've got everything you ever wanted to know about those festivites, but were afraid to ask.

Of course, it was football signing day on Wednesday, and the Keydets were not idle. 12 student-athletes inked deals to become cadet-athlete, and you can read capsules on them here.

Finally, Wade Branner hosted the Winter Sports Showcase (presented by Buddies True Value Hardware) on 3WZ radio this past Wednesday, and the event was taped for 'Roo-Tube (picture at left). Several VMI coaches, including Sparky Woods, Duggar Baucom, Rocky Trudgeon and Darrin Webb all discussed the current state of their programs...The event is linked here.

That's all we've got for this week...Baseball's season opener is just 11 days away, but no events are on Post until Feb. 16, when basketball returns to action vs. High Point. We'll talk to you next week.

This Week in VMI Athletics - Feb. 1

What is about this week that seems to bring out hectic scheduling at the I? We have three home basketball games, a home track meet, lacrosse's 2010 debut (an exhibition event) and a Winter Sports Radio Show at Salerno's...All of it in a five day span. Welcome to the 2010 incarnation of the Winter Blitz.

Basketball comes off a disappointing effort in Lynchburg Thursday, and will look to rebound tomorrow night at Cameron Hall versus the defending conference champions, Radford. The Highlanders have lost three of their last four, including a 92-84 loss to UNC Asheville (currently the hottest team in the league) on Sunday. Presbyterian (Thursday) and Winthrop (Saturday), two teams who beat the Keydets on their home courts, will also visit Lexington this week.

The 2010 VMI Winter Relays are approaching, one of two track meets the Keydets will host this year. The meet is scheduled to go off at 8:30 Saturday AM, with the men's weight throw. One could make a day of it, and could plan to watch the Winter Relays, hit the lacrosse game up at the Turf Field (see below), then visit Cameron for VMI/Winthrop, which will include the presentation of this year's three-legged stool. An Alumni Game will follow the current Keydets' efforts on the hardwood.

Lacrosse will make its 2010 debut Saturday in an exhibition, as was mentioned above. Belmont Abbey and W&L will both be participating in the event, currently scheduled for the Turf Field at 11 a.m. Hopefully the snow will melt off and conditions will cooperate. In a side note, the Interactive Guide for LAX is near completion, and is expected to be ready by early next week.

This winter's radio program is titled the VMI Winter Sports Showcase, presented by Buddies True Value Hardware, and it will take place Wednesday night at 6:30 at Salerno's in Lexington. Various VMI coaches will be arriving periodically to be interviewed by Wade Branner, "The Voice of the Keydets", and one can (of course) purchase dinner. The event will be broadcast on 96.7 3WZ in the Lexington area.

That'll do it for this week...Congratulations to the newly minted Class of 2013, as they successfully broke out this past Saturday. Check back next week for results of all the above events, and another look inside Keydet sports.