EVHS, CCHS will compete for trophy

By Jeff Say

Published: August 20, 2008

Pride won’t be the only thing on the line when Culpeper County High School and Eastern View High School — the Blue Devils and Cyclones will have a piece of hardware to fight over.

Virginia Community Bank and the two high schools have partnered to produce the “Community Cup” — a large silver chalice, reminiscent of the NHL’s Stanley Cup — that will belong to the school that earns the most points.

How does a school earn points? That’s a good question according to Virginia Community Bank Vice President Tripp Butler. Butler, along with colleague Steve Southard, EVHS activities director Mark Settle and CCHS athletic director Billy Thornhill will serve on a committee along with at least three other community members to form a plan on how points will be awarded.

“One of the challenges for us is to be even in our support of both schools and help foster a well-intentioned rivalry,” Virginia Community Bank Vice President Tripp Butler said.

The cup will be unveiled at halftime of Eastern View and Culpeper’s scrimmage Friday night, but the game will not count toward the cup points. Points will only be awarded during sanctioned Virginia High School League games. The cup is similar to the Wachovia Cup, sponsored by the VHSL. The Community Cup points will be awarded to the winner of the Eastern View-Culpeper games and the points will be tallied and a winner announced in June of each school year.

“This will add excitement to the schools,” Settle said. “Not only are they playing for pride, they’re competing with other sports to see who can come out on top.”

In the first year, the award will be displayed in each high school’s trophy case for half of the year. Competition for the cup will begin this school.

“We hope this builds a spirit and bond and exudes a well-intentioned spirit that is fun,” Butler said.

Big game coming
Eastern View is preparing for a large crowd for Friday night’s scrimmage against Culpeper.

Settle said that, according to Thornhill, CCHS typically sees between 2-3,000 people at a game on Friday night. With Friday’s scrimmage being the inaugural meeting between the two new rivals, Settle is expecting a bigger turnout.

“I know a lot of people are talking about it and I know we’ve sold a lot of advance tickets,” Settle said.

In preparation for the expected influx of fans, Settle has discussed plans with VDOT, the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office and Culpeper County Parks and Rec.

VDOT will have extra signs up along US 29 letting motorists now about an event going on at the school. Parks and Rec has allowed the school to use its parking lots as overflow parking and a sheriff’s deputy will be stationed at the traffic light, manually controlling it to keep the flow of traffic moving.

“We’ve put a little extra into this because it’s the first time out,” Settle said.

He also commended Eastern View’s booster club for “feverishly” working to ready the concession stands for the expected onslaught.

“Everything the next few days are going to be all about Friday night.”

Jeff Say can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 115 or at .