VARSITY LADY VILLAINS - FIRST NINE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
NCHSAA RECORD NINE CONSECUTIVE STATE TITLES BETWEEN 2006-2014.
CLICK BELOW FOR A HIGHLIGHT VIDEO OF PAST TITLES (COURTESY OF ASSISTANT COACH LAURIE MULQUEENY).
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP VIDEO
NCHSAA RECORD NINE CONSECUTIVE STATE TITLES BETWEEN 2006-2014.
CLICK BELOW FOR A HIGHLIGHT VIDEO OF PAST TITLES (COURTESY OF ASSISTANT COACH LAURIE MULQUEENY).
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP VIDEO
STATE CHAMPIONS - 1982, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022, 2023
Above Are The Ten Western Regional Championships (2006-2014, 2022) The Varsity Lady Villains Won On Their Way To The State Championship Games...
2005-2006
Season Record: 31-0. Front Row (L-R): Megan Rembielak, Maggie Ronan, Sarah Foroudi, Brittany Cox, Anna DeFrancesco. Second Row: Assistant Coach Craig Clark, Mackenzie Wheaton, Assistant Coach Rochanda Saunders, Scorekeeper Allie Thompson, Margaret Minton, Gina Simmons, Erinn Thompson, Katheryn Lyons, Head Coach Brian Robinson, Assistant Coach Trish Grant.
2006-2007
Season Record: 32-1. (L-R): Anna DeFrancesco, Katheryn Lyons, Margaret Minton, Sarah Foroudi, Gina Simmons, Erinn Thompson, Maggie Ronan, Emily Sickelbaugh, Brittany Cox, Megan Rembielak. (Not pictured: Head Coach Brian Robinson, Assistant Coach Trish Grant, Assistant Coach Craig Clark, Assistant Coach Laurie Mulqueeny.)
2007-2008
Season Record: 27-6. Front Row (L-R): Brittany Cox, Maggie Ronan, Megan Rembielak, Gina Simmons, Emily Sickelbaugh. Back Row: Head Coach: Brian Robinson, Alyssa Gaudio, Kelli Bonner, Erinn Thompson, Whitney Knight, Emma Blaney, Erin Fitzgerald, Anna DeFrancesco, Assistant Coach Laurie Mulqueeny, Manager Kelsey Rochford, Assistant Coach Craig Clark, Scorekeeper Christa Dolan, (Hiding - Assistant Coach Trish Grant).
2008-2009
Season Record: 29-4. Roster: Emily Sickelbaugh, Gina Simmons, Erinn Thompson, Alyssa Gaudio, Brittany Cox, Emma Blaney, Anna DeFrancesco, Erin Fitzgerald, Megan Buckland, Gabby Mortis, Whitney Knight, Marie Petrangeli, Sarah Coon, Sammi Goldsmith, Manager Kelsey Rochford, Scorekeeper Christa Dolan, Head Coach Brian Robinson, Assistant Coach Trish Grant, Assistant Coach Craig Clark, Assistant Coach Natalie Caldwell.
2009-2010
Season Record: 23-7. Roster: Erin Fitzgerald, Gabby Mortis, Jeanine Mason, Megan Buckland, Sammi Goldsmith, Sarah Coon, Erin Liebal, Lauren Cushing, Kelly Elder, Marie Petrangeli, Katie Burske, Manager Tori Koesters, Scorekeeper Stephanie DeGuzman, Head Coach Brian Robinson, Assistant Coach Trish Grant, Assistant Coach Craig Clark, Assistant Coach Shannon McCourt.
2010-11
Season Record: 26-6. Roster: Megan Buckland, Marie Petrangeli, Lauren Cushing, Sammi Goldsmith, Kelly Elder, Sarah Coon, Erin Liebal, Alex Errington, Katie Burske, McKenzie Rochford, Julia Brown, Cameron Nieters and Olivia DeFrancesco. Scorekeeper: Victoria Herschel. Head Coach: Brian Robinson, Assistant Coach Trish Grant, Assistant Coach Shannon McCourt, Assistant Coach Temekia Moses, Assistant Coach Gina Simmons.
2011-12
Above Pictures Courtesy of Winston-Salem Journal
Season Record: 27-5. Roster: Marie Petrangeli, Sarah Coon, Sammi Goldsmith, Erin Liebal, Lauren Cushing, Kelly Elder, Katie Burske, Cameron Nieters, Julia Brown, Olivia DeFrancesco, McKenzie Rochford, Alex Putman, Tessa Johnston, Sarah Ann Craven. Head Coach: Brian Robinson, Assistant Coach: Trish Grant, Assistant Coach: Shannon McCourt, Assistant Coach: T.J. Eggers, Assistant Coach: Merritt Rizoti.
2012-13
2013-14
Two photos above are courtesy of the Winston-Salem Journal. Two pictures below are courtesy of the High Point Enterprise.
2021-22
2022-23
Former And Current Varsity Lady Villains Participate In NCHSAA's 100th Year Reunion Celebration!!!
Members of the Varsity Lady Villains' 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 (and now 2013) Sate Championship Teams participated in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's 100th Year Anniversary Reunion on March 16, 2013.
The reunion took place at halftime of the 1A Boys State Title Game.
Go Varsity Lady Villains!!!
The reunion took place at halftime of the 1A Boys State Title Game.
Go Varsity Lady Villains!!!
Ring Ceremony 2006.
Ring Ceremony - 2007.
Ring Ceremony - 2008.
Ring Ceremony - 2009.
Ring Ceremony - 2010.
Ring Ceremony - 2011.
Ring Ceremony - 2012.
Ring Ceremony - 2013.
Ring Ceremony - 2014.
Ring Ceremony - 2022.
Ring Ceremony - 2023.
Anatomy Of A Comeback - State Championship, March 16, 2013 - Raleigh, North Carolina.
On March 16, 2013, the Varsity Lady Villains played the River Mill Jaguars for the 1A State Championship. After a Jaguars basket in the fourth quarter, the Lady Villains trailed 50-39 with 5:45 left in the game. The Lady Villains called a timeout and did not talk about strategy. The question that comes up is "What,then, did you all talk about during that timeout?" Basically, see the "Continuity over the years" page on this site to get an idea...
A free throw by Olivia DeFrancesco at the 4:17 mark made the score 50-40; time and the game was slipping away... then an incredible rally took place. Here is a look at that rally through pictures from Perry Roach and Ben Coon.
A free throw by Olivia DeFrancesco at the 4:17 mark made the score 50-40; time and the game was slipping away... then an incredible rally took place. Here is a look at that rally through pictures from Perry Roach and Ben Coon.
Then... The Next Season There Was This... March 15, 2014 - "The State Title Shot"
On Saturday, March 15, 2014, the Varsity Lady Villains found themselves tied at 58 with Riverside-Martin in the State Championship Game with under ten seconds to play in the fourth quarter. The Lady Villains committed a foul, sending Riverside to the line for two shots with 5.2 seconds left. Things looked bleak for the Lady Villains.
However, for the past three weeks, the Lady Villains had been a similar spot:
On February 21st in the Northwest 1A Conference Tournament Championship game, the Lady Villains had to play the final three minutes vs. Winston-Salem Prep without senior starters Julia Brown and Cameron Nieters who fouled out. The Lady Villains held on for 60-57 win.
On February 28th in the third round of the state playoffs, Tia Cappuccio made a jump shot to put the Lady Villains up 44-43 over Atkins HS with under a minute left. After a blocked shot and an altered shot caused by Danielle Nieters, the Lady Villains led 45-43. The Lady Villains withstood a point blank shot in the lane that hit the back of the rim and came out as time expired to win 45-43.
On March 8th, in the regional semifinals, the Lady Villains trailed Winston-Salem Prep 46-44 with just under 27 seconds left when Cappuccio banked in a 3-pointer to give the Lady Villains a 47-46 lead (Picture on the left). A blocked shot by Danielle Nieters followed by two free throws by Tessa Johnston allowed the Lady Villains to escape 49-46.
On March 9th, the Lady Villains trailed Hayesville by eight early, then found themselves up by two late in the third quarter before making free throws down the stretch to win 57-49 and advance to the state championship game.
Back to the state championship game...
Following a timeout,, the Villains last timeout of the game, the Lady Villains watched as Riverside-Martin's first free throw was on target but somehow rattled in and out. Now came the second free throw... it too was dead-on but click HERE or click HERE to watch what happens...
Alex talks to ESPNW about the state championship win and winning streak HERE.
Alex' halfcourt shot covered by Yahoo Sports: HERE.
ALSO CLICK HERE TO SEE IT ON ESPN SPORTCENTER'S TOP TEN - IRONICALLY, IT CAME IN AS #9.
AND THE QUESTION THAT CAME FROM THAT SHOT WAS: "HAVE YOU ALL PRACTICED THAT BEFORE?" CLICK HERE. OR SEE HERE:
| b_paul_.mov |
Winston-Salem Journal 2013-14 Year In Review - June 15, 2014.
(Courtesy of the Winston-Salem Journal)
Mason Linker/Winston-Salem Journal Winston-Salem Journal
No program in the N.C. High School Athletic Association has a current streak of state championships to match the nine straight won by Bishop McGuinness in girls basketball.
After the Villains’ escape acts in the last two Class 1-A championship games, it’s easy to wonder if a higher power of some sort isn’t aiding the dominance.
In 2013, there was the matter of McGuinness’ trailing River Mill Charter 50-39 with five minutes left. An out-of-nowhere 15-0 surge helped the Villains overcome that deficit to win their eighth straight title.
But not even that nail-biter could prepare the Villains for what happened March 15 of this year.
Kayla Jones, a freshman for Williamston Riverside who already had scored 31 points, stood at the free-throw line with 5.2 seconds left in a game that was tied at 58. She had already made 9 of 11 foul shots, and a single free throw, or a miss with the right ricochet, could have ended McGuinness’ reign.
As it was, Jones narrowly missed both free throws, with the second shot spinning out and into the hands of junior guard Alex Putman of McGuinness. With no time for planning, Putman weaved to halfcourt and unleashed a shot from 47 feet that dropped as the buzzer sounded. McGuinness won 61-58 win.
“Sometimes you just have to hang on to your faith a little bit, and when Kayla Jones was missing those two free throws, we found a way,” Coach Brian Robinson of McGuinness said that day from the bowels of the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. “'When she was shooting those free throws, I honestly said in my head 'OK, how will we get out of this one?’”
McGuinness stayed one step ahead of Parkland’s dominant wrestling team — which won the NCHSAA 4-A team championship for its eighth straight title — and the two were among 25 area high-school teams that won state championships during the 2013-14 school year, with 16 of those going to teams from Forsyth County.
Also, two of Forsyth County’s oldest traditional high schools made history — Parkland in girls track and field, and West Forsyth in baseball.
Before this year, no girls team from Parkland — in any sport — had won a state championship. But the ultra-talented Mustangs’ track-and-field team did it twice — winning the 4-A indoor title in February and running away with the 4-A outdoor title last month.
West Forsyth, now in its 50th year, had never won a team title in any boys sport. But a baseball team laden with 11 seniors put an end to that drought. The Titans won their first five playoff games on the road, with dramatic late-inning wins against rivals Reagan and Reynolds included in that stretch.
West then swept Charlotte Providence in a best-of-three semifinal series, then had to go to the third game of the championship series to close out Richmond Senior and clinch the state championship.
The Winston-Salem Prep boys basketball team also won another NCHSAA title, outlasting East Carteret 72-71 for its third straight and tightening Forsyth County’s stranglehold on NCHSAA 1-A basketball.
Parkland’s wrestling team is more than a statewide powerhouse. It also owns the nation’s longest current winning streak at 345 dual matches and counting.
But a big change will be coming. Maurice Atwood — the architect of the dominant stretch — announced in early May that he was leaving Parkland to become the wrestling coach at West Forsyth.
The new coach at Parkland will have big shoes to fill.
Ian Milder of Mount Tabor made his first blip on state radar as a junior in the NCHSAA 4-A cross-country championships with a fourth-place finish in 2012. From there, he took off.
Milder, who has signed with N.C. State, had a monster senior year in 2013-14. He won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the indoor championships, then winning the same events in the outdoor championships last month. He also ran the anchor legs for the winning 4x800 relay team and the second-place 4x400 team that lifted Mount Tabor to the boys team championship.
In the first year of a new four-year conference realignment in the NCHSAA, the Northwest 1-A made a big statement. Teams from that league combined to win 10 state titles this school year, with Bishop McGuinness accounting for five.
In the spring, Northwest 1-A teams won state titles in five of the seven sports in which they participated, with McGuinness winning in boys golf and tennis and girls track and field and North Stokes winning in boys track and field and softball.
mlinker@wsjournal.com
(336) 727-7324
Mason Linker/Winston-Salem Journal Winston-Salem Journal
No program in the N.C. High School Athletic Association has a current streak of state championships to match the nine straight won by Bishop McGuinness in girls basketball.
After the Villains’ escape acts in the last two Class 1-A championship games, it’s easy to wonder if a higher power of some sort isn’t aiding the dominance.
In 2013, there was the matter of McGuinness’ trailing River Mill Charter 50-39 with five minutes left. An out-of-nowhere 15-0 surge helped the Villains overcome that deficit to win their eighth straight title.
But not even that nail-biter could prepare the Villains for what happened March 15 of this year.
Kayla Jones, a freshman for Williamston Riverside who already had scored 31 points, stood at the free-throw line with 5.2 seconds left in a game that was tied at 58. She had already made 9 of 11 foul shots, and a single free throw, or a miss with the right ricochet, could have ended McGuinness’ reign.
As it was, Jones narrowly missed both free throws, with the second shot spinning out and into the hands of junior guard Alex Putman of McGuinness. With no time for planning, Putman weaved to halfcourt and unleashed a shot from 47 feet that dropped as the buzzer sounded. McGuinness won 61-58 win.
“Sometimes you just have to hang on to your faith a little bit, and when Kayla Jones was missing those two free throws, we found a way,” Coach Brian Robinson of McGuinness said that day from the bowels of the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. “'When she was shooting those free throws, I honestly said in my head 'OK, how will we get out of this one?’”
McGuinness stayed one step ahead of Parkland’s dominant wrestling team — which won the NCHSAA 4-A team championship for its eighth straight title — and the two were among 25 area high-school teams that won state championships during the 2013-14 school year, with 16 of those going to teams from Forsyth County.
Also, two of Forsyth County’s oldest traditional high schools made history — Parkland in girls track and field, and West Forsyth in baseball.
Before this year, no girls team from Parkland — in any sport — had won a state championship. But the ultra-talented Mustangs’ track-and-field team did it twice — winning the 4-A indoor title in February and running away with the 4-A outdoor title last month.
West Forsyth, now in its 50th year, had never won a team title in any boys sport. But a baseball team laden with 11 seniors put an end to that drought. The Titans won their first five playoff games on the road, with dramatic late-inning wins against rivals Reagan and Reynolds included in that stretch.
West then swept Charlotte Providence in a best-of-three semifinal series, then had to go to the third game of the championship series to close out Richmond Senior and clinch the state championship.
The Winston-Salem Prep boys basketball team also won another NCHSAA title, outlasting East Carteret 72-71 for its third straight and tightening Forsyth County’s stranglehold on NCHSAA 1-A basketball.
Parkland’s wrestling team is more than a statewide powerhouse. It also owns the nation’s longest current winning streak at 345 dual matches and counting.
But a big change will be coming. Maurice Atwood — the architect of the dominant stretch — announced in early May that he was leaving Parkland to become the wrestling coach at West Forsyth.
The new coach at Parkland will have big shoes to fill.
Ian Milder of Mount Tabor made his first blip on state radar as a junior in the NCHSAA 4-A cross-country championships with a fourth-place finish in 2012. From there, he took off.
Milder, who has signed with N.C. State, had a monster senior year in 2013-14. He won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the indoor championships, then winning the same events in the outdoor championships last month. He also ran the anchor legs for the winning 4x800 relay team and the second-place 4x400 team that lifted Mount Tabor to the boys team championship.
In the first year of a new four-year conference realignment in the NCHSAA, the Northwest 1-A made a big statement. Teams from that league combined to win 10 state titles this school year, with Bishop McGuinness accounting for five.
In the spring, Northwest 1-A teams won state titles in five of the seven sports in which they participated, with McGuinness winning in boys golf and tennis and girls track and field and North Stokes winning in boys track and field and softball.
mlinker@wsjournal.com
(336) 727-7324
20 WAYS TO GET MENTALLY TOUGH
Excerpt from Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else
1. When you face a setback, think of it as a defining moment that will lead to a future accomplishment.
2. When you encounter adversity, remember, the best don’t just face adversity; they embrace it, knowing it’s not a dead end but a detour to something greater and better.
3. When you face negative people, know that the key to life is to stay positive in the face of negativity, not in the absence of it. After all, everyone will have to overcome negativity to define themselves and create their success.
4. When you face the naysayer’s, remember the people who believed in you and spoke positive words to you.
5. When you face critics, remember to tune them out and focus only on being the best you can be.
6. When you wake up in the morning, take a morning walk of gratitude and prayer. It will create a fertile mind ready for success.
7. When you fear, trust. Let your faith be greater than your doubt.
8. When you fail, find the lesson in it, and then recall a time when you have succeeded.
9. When you head into battle, visualize success.
10. When you are thinking about the past or worrying about the future, instead focus your energy on the present moment. The now is where your power is the greatest.
11. When you want to complain, instead identify a solution.
12. When your own self-doubt crowds your mind, weed it and replace it with positive thoughts and positive self-talk.
13. When you feel distracted, focus on your breathing, observe your surroundings, clear your mind, and get into The Zone. The Zone is not a random event. It can be created.
14. When you feel all is impossible, know that with God all things are possible.
15. When you feel alone, think of all the people who have helped you along the way and who love and support you now.
16. When you feel lost, pray for guidance.
17. When you are tired and drained, remember to never, never, never give up. Finish Strong in everything you do.
18. When you feel like you can’t do it, know that you can do all things through Him who gives you strength.
19. When you feel like your situation is beyond your control, pray and surrender. Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.
20. When you’re in a high-pressure situation and the game is on the line, and everyone is watching you, remember to smile, have fun, and enjoy it. Life is short; you only live once. You have nothing to lose. Seize the moment.
GO VARSITY LADY VILLAINS!!!! STATE CHAMPIONS 1982, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014...
Excerpt from Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else
1. When you face a setback, think of it as a defining moment that will lead to a future accomplishment.
2. When you encounter adversity, remember, the best don’t just face adversity; they embrace it, knowing it’s not a dead end but a detour to something greater and better.
3. When you face negative people, know that the key to life is to stay positive in the face of negativity, not in the absence of it. After all, everyone will have to overcome negativity to define themselves and create their success.
4. When you face the naysayer’s, remember the people who believed in you and spoke positive words to you.
5. When you face critics, remember to tune them out and focus only on being the best you can be.
6. When you wake up in the morning, take a morning walk of gratitude and prayer. It will create a fertile mind ready for success.
7. When you fear, trust. Let your faith be greater than your doubt.
8. When you fail, find the lesson in it, and then recall a time when you have succeeded.
9. When you head into battle, visualize success.
10. When you are thinking about the past or worrying about the future, instead focus your energy on the present moment. The now is where your power is the greatest.
11. When you want to complain, instead identify a solution.
12. When your own self-doubt crowds your mind, weed it and replace it with positive thoughts and positive self-talk.
13. When you feel distracted, focus on your breathing, observe your surroundings, clear your mind, and get into The Zone. The Zone is not a random event. It can be created.
14. When you feel all is impossible, know that with God all things are possible.
15. When you feel alone, think of all the people who have helped you along the way and who love and support you now.
16. When you feel lost, pray for guidance.
17. When you are tired and drained, remember to never, never, never give up. Finish Strong in everything you do.
18. When you feel like you can’t do it, know that you can do all things through Him who gives you strength.
19. When you feel like your situation is beyond your control, pray and surrender. Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.
20. When you’re in a high-pressure situation and the game is on the line, and everyone is watching you, remember to smile, have fun, and enjoy it. Life is short; you only live once. You have nothing to lose. Seize the moment.
GO VARSITY LADY VILLAINS!!!! STATE CHAMPIONS 1982, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014...
"Never give up on a dream because the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway"~Earl Nightingale
"Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please." —Pythagoras