Colonial Forge has two key coaching vacancies to fill.
Veteran track and field coach Harry Booth has stepped down after five seasons. He previously had a lengthy stint at North Stafford. He’ll remain the Eagles’ cross country coach this fall, giving the Eagles time to land a full-time replacement before the winter track season.
Booth was named Free Lance-Star coach of the year this past spring after leading the Eagles’ boys and girls to Region 6B championships. Colonial Forge also swept the Commonwealth District and region titles in the winter. The boys 1,600 relay team won state championships in the winter and the spring and captured a national title last month.
Athletic director Jeff Berry said the ascent of the Eagles’ program in recent years will make it an attractive position for in-house candidates and outside prospects.
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“We have options all the way around,” Berry said. “We’re going to look for the best person available. We feel very confident that we’ll get somebody pretty good because of what coach Booth has done with the program the last three or four years. Every year has gotten progressively better.”
The Eagles are also seeking a new gymnastics coach. Lisa Rankin resigned after guiding Colonial Forge to a tie for the district title last winter and a regional runner-up finish.
“We’ve got a great returning team,” Berry said. “Hopefully we’ll find somebody good to fill that spot quickly, too.”
McGOWAN ADDS TWO
North Stafford rising senior defensive end Chase McGowan has added two scholarship offers from traditional FCS powers New Hampshire and Richmond in the past week.
McGowan, a first-team all-Commonwealth selection in 2017, holds several FCS scholarship offers. Former North Stafford all-state defensive end Jae’Wuan Horton is a rising four-year starter and co-captain for New Hampshire. Wolverines head coach Joe Mangano said McGowan plans to commit before the 2018 season.
REDDING GETS OFFER
Recent Colonial Forge graduate Jadon Redding has picked up his first scholarship offer. Urbana (Ohio) University, a Division II program, extended an offer to the 2017 first-team All-Area kicker. Redding plans to enroll in Erie (N.Y.) Community College this fall and become a 2019 college prospect.
CLOSE RECEIVES HONOR
Colonial Forge girls lacrosse standout Jessie Close has been named second-team all-state by Class 6 coaches. Close was a first-team all-district and all-region selection. She’s signed to compete with Division II Northern Michigan University.
BEARS HUNT HASKINS
Brown University has extended an offer to Mountain View rising senior quarterback Tyler Haskins. It’s the second offer for Haskins (6-foot, 170 pounds), who is also being courted by Davidson.
IRBY PICKS FERRUM
Chancellor graduate Chris Irby will continue playing soccer at Ferrum College. Irby received Battlefield District honorable mention recognition this past season as he helped the Chargers reach the Class 4 state semifinals.