Don’t look now but high school winter sports are scheduled to begin with Thanksgiving leftovers still in the refrigerator. Salem and Glenvar teams will hit the court, mats and pool next week for the first week of official Virginia High School League competition.
Action begins Monday when the Salem High boys’ basketball team is at William Byrd and the Glenvar girls’ team is home to Craig County. Both teams scrimmaged last week in preparation for the coming season and looked promising.
Next Tuesday, December 2, the Salem High girls’ will open with a home game against William Byrd. The girls are coming off a season where they went to the state final and have a strong group returning.
“I feel very good about our team this year,” said Salem coach Scott Jester. “We have a ton of experience and production returning as well as some newcomers that we expect to make an impact. I think the biggest strengths of our team is that we have strong player leadership and good chemistry.”
Salem’s swim team also opens next Tuesday with a meet at the Salem YMCA.
On Wednesday, December 3, the Glenvar wrestling team will open with a match in Martinsville. The Highlanders will begin their second year under coach Tim Miles.
A week from tonight, on Thursday December 4, both Salem basketball teams play with the girls at Northside and the boys at home against the Vikings. Glenvar’s boys will make their season debut at home against Blacksburg.
“We return All-District junior guard Jax Bolling, who is one of the top scorers in Roanoke,” said Glenvar coach Hank Luton. “We will rely heavily on his experience and play making abilities to lead our group. This group will be defined on how they guard people. If we progress in that area we can be solid.”
Salem and Glenvar wrestlers will take the mat on Friday, December 5, for the two-day Titan Toughman Tournament at Hidden Valley, and Glenvar will also send some wrestlers to a tournament in Greenville, NC. The Glenvar girls’ basketball team is at Eastern Montgomery on December 5.
On December 6 the Salem boys’ basketball team will host Mecklenburg County in a Saturday afternoon game. Also on that day both the Salem and Glenvar indoor track teams will debut at Liberty University.
