Gloucester Dukes Sports

Dukes' volleyball off to unexpected slow start

Gloucester volleyball, girls and boys, begin a five day home stretch on September 27th.   That home stretch may be just what they need to springboard their season.  So far both teams are off to slow starts after coming off successful seasons last year.

The 2009 season proved successful for the girls  when they won the district title for the first time, but they currently hold a record of 1-2 for the season. 

The boys are off to one of the worse starts in the short history of the sport in the peninsula district, without a win.  The Dukes are without Coach Barry Childress for the first time since the program began too.  Childress resigned at the end of the 2009-2010 school year,  after taking the Dukes to several district titles. 

Both teams face off at home on Monday, September 27, against Menchville where both the boys and the girls teams have only won one game each.  Game time begins with the girl's game at 5pm and the boy's to follow.

Dukes' field hockey continues to roll undefeated

It may not be a surprise to most Gloucester fans, but the field hockey team continues their success with an undefeated season.  On September 8, they defeated Bay Rivers rival Jamestown 2-0 and Peninsula rival Menchville 1-0 yesterday, September 22.  The Dukes currently sit at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the district.

However, the game that most wait for during the season is the unmatched rivalry with Kecoughtan.  For several years, district titles have come down to these two teams.

Gloucester faces off with Kecoughtan at Christopher Newport University on October 7, 4pm.  It's a pretty safe bet that the stadium will be packed and filled with red and green.

100 strokes and cruising

The Dukes' have only one district match left for the season, before they head into regional play.  Chances are no one is going to catch them now.  Pretty confident statement?  Not when you consider that the Dukes are 100 strokes ahead of the pack. Yes, 100 strokes ahead of the closest competitor. 

As regional play approaches though, the game, the competition, and the pressure gets tougher.  Zach Robb and Grinnan Haskins continue  to anchor down the Dukes' and this past Wednesday even found themselves in a tight match against each other at Deer Run.  Robb captured low medalist honors, but if Haskins had held his game together he would have claimed the honors.  Haskins four putted the 18th green to give the victory to Robb.

The final match of the season will be played at The Woodlands in Hampton and regional play begins October 5th.

Dukes' athletic trivia question: Coach Jerry Morgan has been around Gloucester golf for a very long time.  Can anyone guess how many years he's been at the helm and better yet how many district titles has he claimed?

Can Dukes' continue to move forward?

Looking over their shoulder at the Granby win may be a motivator, but the Dukes' know that to win tomorrow night against Bethel they'll have to focus and work harder.  It might help that Bethel's offense is struggling on the ground  and only returns one offensive starter.  However, the Dukes' know they "need to execute a lot better" than they did in last week's game, according to senior, Robbie Freiermuth.

Maybe the one lesson the Dukes' have learned from the last three weeks, is that despite adversity you have continue to work together as a team.  Seniors Shamar Marsh, Dion Harris, and Friermuth all agree with fellow teammate and senior, A.J. Hamilton that they "won because they came together for a common goal".

J.B. Bennett will have to continue to lead the improvement seen in the defensive squad if the Dukes' want to continue to win.  Bennett had a pivotal interception in the end zone against Granby, but as the team will tell you "that was last week".

The Dukes play at home tomorrow night beginning at 7.  The annual Hall of Fame athletic inductions will be held tomorrow night at halftime so maybe that will be added motivation and provide an even larger fan base.

Read Dave Johnson's story of Coach Sonny Merchant's reaction to the Granby win in his blog from  September 21st.

http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/peninsulablog/2010/09/gloucester_coach_proud_of_his.html

 

Tarpey leads in Dukes win over Granby

Dukes broke their 12-game losing streak by beating Granby 24-13. Visit the blog on Tuesday for more details, including quotes from players and coaches. 

Read the rest of the story here: Daily Press Coverage of Dukes' Win

Golfers control first place

Standing strong in first place, Gloucester's golf team has an 82 stroke advantage over second place Woodside in the current peninsula standings.  The Dukes have claimed the team low medalist titlein four of the five matches played thus far.  They have a 160 stroke cushion over third place Kecoughtan.

Sophomore, Zach Robb is Gloucester's steady and consistent leader and currently sits 3 strokes back from the district's leading low medalist.  Robb's personal best this season was a 71, which he shot in the third match.

Junior, Grinnan Haskins is currently ranked third in the district, shooting a personal best the first match out with a 75.

Gloucester' golf team boasts four players in the top ten individual standings. GHS is the only school in the district that can currently claim that title.

Gloucester's next match is September 15th at the Hamptons.

Focusing on the positives

There are some things certain in life,  of course death and taxes topping the list.  According to Dave Johnson, Gloucester football ending the season in 10^th place seems to be a given too.  Granted, our history probably gives credence to his pick. 

As the season opens tomorrow night in our stadium against Dave's number 1 pick and back to back state champions Phoebus, lets focus on the positives:

1. Despite our history, our community continues to support the program in home attendance. Phoebus fans may consider it a pretty boring game and just too far to travel for this one.
2. Coach Sonny Merchant is still here.  Merchant begins year 3 and is driven by the motivating force to turn Gloucester football around.  He has no hidden agenda and he's a solid addition to Gloucester High School.
3. Despite the win/loss record, knowledgeable football fans can see improvement in player skill sets, team effort, and fortitude.
4. The best changes come with time.

With the hopes that Hurricane Earl's threat level drops from medium to low, we hope to see you out at GHS stadium, 7 pm, Thursday.