MWiklund

http://www.orsoccercats.org/

Golly I hate to bring this up, but with respect to the critisism of the OR school ad ministration it seems to me that their primary responsibility is the education of our children. I can not fault them in doing that job and I assume that they will continue to keep ORHS at the level they always maintain in the state. As to sports of course we want to win as all sports are competitive but the most important thing is what the kids take from the experience. I never had a child play football in OR but they have played other varsity sports (and quite successfully as in state runner-up) and all I ever really wanted is that they will look back on it as an experience they would repeat if they could. As I told told an overly competitive mom when our kids were 10 at a soccer tournament: "These are just kids playing a game."

Did something odd happen at this game? I notice the OR stats indicate the game lasted just 74 minutes and OJ's limited comments indicate a certain level of tension.

Probably Dennis Rush at Oak Ridge 335-97-28 1974-2001

I am aware of the physical differences relating to strength and size with boys. I also am not trying to imply that they will challenge for state but that they should improve as the season progresses. I expect this will be a trying season for Oak Ridge.

The rebuilding task is huge as they lost 10 seniors last year and 9 the previous year. Only 1 of this years varsity players was on the 04 team that finished 2nd in Memphis. But the coach has always used a lot of younger players on the girls team and been quite successful. If the team pulls together and develops the right attitude they will be competitive come May.

Oak Ridge did also win 2 soccer titles with Coach Rush.

I am not real sure what you are saying, but the district and region semis are usually on Tuesday and if you lose then you are out. The finals would normally be on Thursday and that just determines seeding for the next level. The substate game is also a knockout game. So there are many chances to get knocked out of the tournament and of course all of the games at the state tournament are lose and go home.

While we would all wish for more to have a chance to participate, I can assure that volleyball is not singled out in this case. My son played soccer in the state finals and I know that both the boys and girls soccer are done with 2 teams advancing from the district and 2 advancing from the region to substate with an adjoining region. The 2 winners from the double region substate advance to the state tournament which involves 8 teams.

Is there any info on the results of the freshman and JV tournaments in Bristol this weekend?

Final is Oak Ridge - 2 Science Hill - 0

Oak Ridge beat Kingston 5-0. It was 4-0 at the half and Oak Ridge played lots of subs and freshman the second half.

I did not say anything bad. To the contrary I said I expect Farragut to contend in May. One game does not a season make.

The Knoxville morning paper shows 0-0 tie and Webb outshooting Farragut 14-12. How long has it been since Farragut has been shutout and outshot? Kind of a surprise, but I still expect Farragut to be a major player come May.

O J Sheppard, longtime girls coach at OR. He does know what he is doing and anything he changes is probably for good reason.