Kicking off the season
CSE File Photo
CCHS senior Tommy Jocz contemplates a shot during a match last summer. The Blue Devils kick off the 2008 season today with a district tournament.
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Mark O’Connell, Sports Correspondent
Published: August 10, 2008
The Blue Devils finished the 2007 campaign with a 5-5 dual-match record but tied for sixth in the Cedar Run District.
Climbing up from the sixth spot won’t be easy for the team this season and going into today’s match the Blue Devils have just four players teeing off. Among them is Derek Orshoski, a senior and one of the biggest surprises so far this season.
“Derek came out for the team this year and is doing real well,” said Gray. “He is very consistent and he goes in as our No. 1 player today.”
Tommy Jocz is in the No. 2 spot followed by Brad Johnson, a junior, and Mike Hedlund, a freshman.
Gray hopes that the roster gets a boost next week when he anticipates some additional players joining the team. Only Bates, however, is projected as definite.
“Team-wise,” said Gray, “we have five players and possibly four or five more joining us in next week.”
The Blue Devils are members of the tough Cedar Run District. A year ago Battlefield captured both the regular season and district tournament championships but nemesis Loudoun Valley, which finished in the runner-up spot twice to Battlefield, exacted some revenge at the Northwest Region tournament where the Vikings were crowned as king and the Bobcats finished fifth.
Gray believes that Loudoun Valley is the team to beat this year.
“They are the strength of the district and they are hosting the district tournament,” he said. “They have all of last year’s players returning as well.”
Gray’s golfers travel to Purcellville today to compete in a preseason district mini tournament hosted by Loudoun Valley and where all eight district teams will compete at the 18-hole match.
They are set to tee off at 9:00 a.m.
Whether the team wins or loses Gray has already decided that this year he plans on having fun.
“I plan on it,” he said with a smile. “It’s fun teaching these guys. They are a great group of kids and they have great attitudes. We don’t have any superstars but our players are all coach-able. We’re not going to win a lot of matches but we’re definitely going to have fun.”
Given his knack for persuasion, Gray could probably make a convert of even Lombardi.
Contact Mark O’Connell at
CCHS Golf
What:
District
tournament
When : 9 a.m. today
Where: Purcellville
Teeing off for CCHS:
Derek Orshoski (Sr.)
Tommy Jocz (Sr.)
Brad Johnson (Jr.)
Mike Hedlund (Fr.)
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