WHSV’s top local sports stories in 2024

(WHSV) – The Shenandoah Valley had some memorable sports moments in 2024.

Before we look ahead to 2025, here’s a look back at the top sports stories that happened in the region in 2024.

5. State Champions

High schools and their respective athletes continued to dazzle in the Shenandoah Valley in 2024. In the winter, Strasburg’s Emily Davis won the VHSL Class 2 Girls 100 Fly. The freshman became the first ever to win a state swimming title in school history. Also, the Rams’ wrestling team won their third straight VHSL Class 2 State Championship.

In the spring, a number of athletes took home state titles in track and field. Mountain View’s (since rebranded as Stonewall Jackson) Stuart Pirtle took home first place in the 110 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, triple jump, and long jump. His time of 14.13 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles set a new VHSL Class 2 state record.

Other notable finishes in Class 2 included Fort Defiance’s Abby Lane winning the girls 1600 meter run, Strasburg’s Claire Keefe winning the girls 800 meter run, Luray’s Davey Johnson won first place in the boys 800 meter run, and Stuarts Draft’s Anna Callo won first place in pole vault.

In addition, East Rockingham’s boys 4×800 relay team took first place honors in Class 3.

In the fall, Broadway’s Tristan Yoder won the Class 3 Cross Country Championship.

Lastly, Turner Ashby’s Micah Matthews signed his letter of intent to play both football and baseball at Virginia Tech. A four-star recruit, Matthews is already enrolled in college and we’ll certainly be an athlete to monitor moving into 2025. A number of other athletes committed to colleges and this page will continue to get updated in the new year.

4. Joey Logano visits the Shenandoah Valley

It’s not everyday a NASCAR Cup Series Champion pays a visit to the Shenandoah Valley. That’s exactly what happened when Joey Logano came through Winchester back in June to take pictures with fans and sign autographs.

Up until that visit, Logano had yet to pay a visit to Victory Lane during the 2024 season. However, a visit to The Valley may’ve been just what Logano needed to kickstart his season. The first race following his trip to Winchester, Logano took the checkered flag at Nashville Superspeedway. The driver of the No. 22 would rack up three more wins, including the championship race at Phoenix to win his third NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Did a visit to The Valley play a role in turning around his season? We’ll let you be the judge of that.

3. Road to Regionals

James Madison’s baseball program put together its best season in more than a decade on its way to clinching an NCAA Regional berth. Picked to finish 10th in the Sun Belt Conference, the Dukes picked early season wins against No. 3 Arkansas and Virginia Tech that set the tone for the rest of the season. Despite a playing a challenging non-conference schedule, in addition to parody in the Sun Belt Conference, JMU heard their name called on NCAA Baseball Selection Show, reaching an NCAA Regional for the first time in 11 seasons.

Although the Dukes fell to South Carolina and North Carolina State in Raleigh to conclude their season, JMU witnessed three players selected in the MLB Draft at the conclusion of the season: outfielder Fenwick Trimble, catcher Jason Schiavone, and reliever Joe Vogatsky. With the regional appearance, head coach Marlin Ikenberry had a two-year extension exercised in his contract that keeps him in Harrisonburg through the 2028 season.

2. A New Era

After Jeff Bourne announced in September 2023 the 2023-24 academic year would be his last as James Madison’s Athletic Director, the search was on to find Bourne’s successor. In April, JMU announced Eastern Kentucky Athletic Director Matt Roan was coming to Harrisonburg to lead JMU Athletics.

Roan is a Virginia native and even played college football at Virginia Tech. Praised for his work fundraising and upgrading facilities, Roan is tasked with leading JMU into the new era of college athletics.

1. Let’s Dance

James Madison’s men’s basketball team put together their best season in program history in 2023-24, capped by their first Sun Belt Conference Championship and a win over No. 5 Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. Finishing the season 32-4, the wins was the most by a Dukes team in program history. They made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly a decade.

However, success comes with consequences. Immediately following JMU’s exit from the NCAA Tournament, head coach Mark Byington left to become head coach at Vanderbilt. Days later, Preston Spradlin was hired away from Morehead State to become head coach. Spradlin and the Dukes will be a program to watch moving into 2025.

Other Top Stories

• Mary Baldwin’s men’s basketball team reaches the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history
• Strasburg’s Macy Smith is named the Charlie Obaugh Auto Group Student Athlete of the Year. After becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer during her senior season, Smith is playing college basketball at Saint Bonaventure.
• The Clover Hill Bucks win the Rockingham County Baseball League Championship
• Lee High grad and Staunton native Tyler Zombro announced his retirement from professional baseball. Zombro made a heroic return to pro baseball following a life-threatening incident in 2021 when he was hit in the head by line drive pitching for Triple-A Durham
• Rocktown High School opens, adding another high school to the Valley District
• Turner Ashby High grad Brenan Hanifee made his postseason debut, pitching for the Detroit Tigers
• James Madison’s football program wins its first bowl game in program history. The Dukes complete Bob Chesney’s first season with a 9-4 record, which included a 70-50 rout at North Carolina in September.

In Remembrance

The Shenandoah Valley lost of the great coaches during the summer in Rich Lyons. Lyons, 82, is credited with mentoring some of the best coaches to come from The Valley, which includes Spotswood’s Chad Edwards and Joe Lucas. During stints at Luray and Albemarle High School, Lyons coached Jimmy Arrington, Stevie Allen, Greg Maynard, Darren Maynard, and Reggie Steppe.

Lyons led Luray to a pair of state runner-up finishes in his two stints as head coach. Lyons also had coaching stops at Averett College and Shepherd College.

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