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Pioneer picked for soccer first team
Skyler Leinhart, a senior at Fort Chiswell, was recently picked for the Virginia High School League’s All State soccer first team.
Leinhart is a forward.
Northampton senior forward Luke Jones was named the Class 1 Player of the Year, and Northampton head coach Chase Baxa was the Class 1 Coach of the Year.
Jones capped off a stellar senior season with 27 goals and 13 assists in 17 games while leading the team with a 1.6 goals per game average. He added three goals in the state finals to lead Northamption to a 6-0 win. His dynamic scoring and playmaking ability earned him back-to-back first team All-District, All-Region, and All-State honors, as well as the prestigious Player of the Year award at all three levels—District, Region, and State. Jones officially signed with the University of Delaware, where he will join the Blue Hens men’s soccer program in the fall. Jones finished his Yellowjacket career with 78 goals and 35 assists.
Baxa led Northampton to a 13-8 record and its second straight championship, and third state title over the past three seasons, with a 6-0 win over Galax in the Class 1 finals. The Yellowjacket completed their dominating three-game run-in to the state championship by outscoring their opponents 20-1. Since taking over as head coach in 2022, Baxa has built a championship program with three state titles and a runner-up finish, compiling an impressive 72-24-1 record. His teams have played in four of the past five Class 1 state championship games and have three straight Region A titles. Baxa earned VHSL State Coach of the Year honors in 2023, after leading his team to a 16-4 record and the program's first-ever state championship, along with state COY honors in 2025 and 2026. Baxa played four years of collegiate soccer at Geneva College (Pa.) and captained the team as a junior and senior.
The all-state soccer team consists of five forwards, five midfielders, five defenders, and one goalkeeper.
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Seeking gold: Marion teen to compete in world fly fishing championship (copy)
SPorter
Blake Hall is serving as captain of the US Fly Fishing Youth
Team.
Submitted photo
Blake Hall and is his team will be competing in the 23rd youth
world fly fishing championship.
Submitted photo
Blake Hall loves to fish locally and around the world.
Submitted photo
To learn more about Blake Hall, see him on Instagram
@holston_native.
Submitted photo
A rising senior at Marion Senior High School is preparing to go to Ireland to compete against teams from eight other countries and bring a gold medal back to the U.S. However, expenses come with the endeavor and to help raise money Blake Hall is holding a drawing. The winner will get a guided fishing trip led by Hall, a recognized champion at 17 years old.
Hall is serving as captain of the US Fly Fishing Youth Team that is preparing to compete in the 23rd youth world fly fishing championship.
Hall is no stranger to the international stage. For the last three years, he’s helped secure the team’s gold medals and is anxious to bring home a fourth. In last year’s world championship, he brought home an individual bronze medal, and he’s a three-time national champion.
For Hall, this competition is important. “This year's world championship is very important to me as it is my final year on the youth team. I am super proud to be able to represent the USA and to try to bring back the win for our country,” he said.
Hall and his five teammates come from all over the country.
When he was 13 years old, Hall told the News & Messenger that he started fishing with his dad -- “just regular spin fishing”.
The son of Brent and Kellie Hall, he said, “we did it a lot, almost every afternoon, and one day, I don’t exactly remember how the conversation came on but he started talking about my grandmother [and how] before she passed she liked to fly fish a lot. We had lots of her stuff that she had fished with. We went through it and it seemed pretty cool, and that Christmas, I believe I was 10, I think I got my first fly rod. It took me a little while to get the hang of it. Once I got the hang of it, I loved it. Every single afternoon I was out fishing after school. It was great.”
Now, when asked about the time and energy he’s devoted to fishing, Hall said, “I feel it's been a good journey getting to fish all kinds of different places and meet a lot of amazing people. I wouldn't have it any other way!”
He’s also excited about sharing his sport with other people.
“I'm very passionate and thankful to be able to teach others things I have learned and give people an appreciation of the waters I live on and love fishing,” said Hall, who has already gained a year’s experience guiding fishing on several local rivers.
He hopes his future includes even more time in and on the water. Hall plans “to continue guiding and competitive fly fishing. I hope to own a guiding company and be able to make a living at it. I also hope to make the men's USA team and continue to fishing world championships.”
Kelli Hall noted that “the expenses for a world championship are many and are the sole responsibility of the angler/family. With the team spanning the entire country, team fundraising is not an option.”
To help her son, she’s set up a raffle for a guided fishing trip for two with Blake. Trips will be tailored for any age and skill level and will be catered to suit client ability and goals. Tickets are $15 for one or $25 for two. Interested individuals can pay via Venmo at https://venmo.com/u/Kellie-Vernon-2 and include name and phone number. Other payment arrangements can be made if preferred by messaging Kelli Vernon.
The drawing will be held on July 7.
For those not interested in fishing, a GoFundMe effort to assist him has been set up at https://gofund.me/027091be7.
To learn more about Blake Hall, see him on Instagram @holston_native.
Maroons, Pioneer named to softball second team
Two George Wythe players and a Fort Chiswell standout were named to the All State softball second team.
Sophomore Morgan Layne was selected as a pitcher for the second team. Joining her in the honor was junior George Wythe teammate Emma Faulkner, who was picked as a second team outfielder.
Fort Chiswell catcher Lily Gofort, a junior, was also picked for the second team.
Eastside senior pitcher Emma Sartin was named the Class 1 Player of the Year, and Buffalo Gap head coach Holly Desper was picked as the Class 1 Coach of the Year.
FC hitter picked for second team
Fort Chiswell junior Mac Phillips was named to the All State second team in the designated hitter spot.
The Virginia High School League recently announced the Class 1 All State baseball teams, naming Patrick Henry senior Aidan Monahan the Class 1 Player of the Year. Patrick Henry head coach Eric Rutherford was named Coach of the Year.
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