By James J. Lidington

ISLE OF WIGHT

Isle of Wight Academy junior golfer Jed Davies won the individual title at the state private school golf tournament on Monday, firing an even-par 72 at Williamsburg National Golf Club.

Davies birdied three of the first nine holes and bogied three on the back nine to finish as the only player at par or better.

IWA’s Sydney Grimes finished third with a 75 at the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Div. II Championships. Ellie Provost finished 22nd; Caitlyn Kinsey, 29th; Hannah Willman, tied for 32nd; Nick Seward, 38th.

As a team, the Chargers came up nine shots shy of the team title. Steward School of Richmond was the eventual state champion by a margin of 316-327.

The Chargers also claimed the Metro Conference Varsity Tournament on May 7 at Sleepy Hole Golf Course in Suffolk. Grimes was the top finisher in the tournament.

IWA finished with 333 strokes as a team, 108 shots better than second-place Hampton Christian.

The all-conference team included Davies, Grimes, Provost, Kinsey and Willman. Grimes was voted MVP.

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The Isle of Wight Academy baseball and softball teams will compete this week in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Div. II State tournaments.

Due to rain on Monday, the varsity boys play-in game between No. 8 IWA and No. 9 Fredericksburg Christian was to be played at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Miller School in Crozet. Winner plays No. 1 Miller at 4:30 p.m.

IWA defeated Trinity Christian last year in the state play-in game and was defeated by No. 1-seeded Miller 10-0 the following day.

The girls varsity softball team was to host Atlantic Shores at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the quarterfinal round of the VISAA Tournament.

The Lady Chargers claimed the state Div. II title a year ago.

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The Isle of Wight Academy boys soccer team defeated Southampton Academy 5-3 last Thursday to claim the state championship.

Berny Vazquez scored three goals and six assists; Jack Powell had one goal and two assists; and Connor Capwell had a goal and two assists.

The team defeated Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot 4-0 in a state semifinal on Wednesday.

The Chargers finished with 101 goals scored on the season and a perfect 15-0 record. They were ranked 186th in the country and 17th in Virginia among schools reporting stats to the website Maxpreps.

The Chargers also won the state title in 2013-15 and 2017.

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The IWA JV Soccer Team finished 10-0, outscoring our opponents over the course of the season 68-5, including seven shutouts.

All players from the sixth through 10th grades contributed during the season in practices and games. Particularly noteworthy was the leadership and dedication of co-captains Connor Lanthorn and Tyler Collie, according to Coach M. Heath Henderson.

“They kept the team focused and helped develop strong team cohesion,” Henderson said. “They planned and led all practice sessions, executing challenging and productive drills to improve individual player skills and team chemistry.”

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The Chargers baseball squad was 1-2 on the week, defeating Broadwater Academy in conference tournament semifinal last Thursday before falling to Atlantic Shores 6-0 in the final on Friday. IWA also was vanquished by Fuqua on Monday in a non-conference game.

IWA had been ranked in a seventh-place tie with North Cross, but was demoted to eighth place and into the host’s role for the play-in game with No. 9 Fredericksburg.

The Chargers had finished in a tie with Atlantic Shores for the regular-season conference title based on a split with the Seahawks.

IWA’s Ryan Boyce was named player of the year following the Metro Tournament. Chargers Bryce Daniels, Andrew Holt, Cole Praither and Aidan Williams received all-conference honors.

IWA defeated Portsmouth Christian School 15-0 on Friday to win the Metro Conference Varsity Softball Tournament.

IWA’s Mackenzie Wooten was named conference player of the year. IWA’s Jill Edwards was named coach of the year.

The Chargers’ Lauren Jones, Jillian McAdoo and Madison Rountree earned all-conference honors.

JAMES J. LIDINGTON is a teacher at Isle of Wight Academy. Contact him at at 357-3866.