Quince Orchard High’s Natalie Ellenberger is the Washington-area’s lone selection for the U.S. Field Hockey 2006 Junior Olympic Games, held next week in Virginia Beach. The rising junior was chosen for the 16-and-under squad after competing for the Mid-Atlantic region’s squad early this month at the National Futures Championships.
Majors’ King resigns
Mount Vernon High girls basketball coach Stan King has resigned, according to the school’s activities director, Bernie Forte.
King was a victim not of a losing record, however, but a promotion earned by his wife, Nardos, who was named the new principal at Mount Vernon on Wednesday evening.
According to Paul Jansen, coordinator of student activities and athletics for Fairfax County Public Schools, county regulations state that immediate family members can’t work in a school where another family member holds a supervisory position. King was 29-20 in two seasons. He can work with the program as a volunteer assistant.
Northwood names Harris
Dennis Harris is the new football coach at Northwood High, athletic director Michael Wood said Thursday. Harris, formerly an assistant at Virginia Union University, will coach the Class 1A Crusaders in their first season of varsity football. The Silver Spring school will compete without a senior class this year. The school will add its third freshman class this year. It has fielded junior varsity teams the last two years.
Mayer takes over WJ lax
Jon Mayer is the new boys lacrosse coach at Walter Johnson High, succeeding Jim Collin. Mayer, an assistant on last year’s 11-5 squad, played for Collin at WJ and was a three-year starter at Babson (Mass.) College.
Collin, who stepped down in May, was 80-28 in seven seasons, leading the Wildcats to four Montgomery County division titles and 4A West Region championships in 2004 and 2005.
Hearing set for Edison’s Obi
Lawyers representing Edison High rising senior Kene Obi have set a date to meet with Virginia High School League officials next month to determine the 7-foot-2, 260-pound center’s eligibility status to play basketball for Edison this season.
Obi, who has yet to play high school basketball since arriving in the United States from Nigeria last fall, will present his appeal before the VHSL Executive Committee on Aug. 15, according to Edison activities director Martin Grimm. The VHSL previously denied Obi eligibility in February because he lacked proper documentation regarding his educational history in Nigeria.
Playoff schedule changed
The playoffs for the Sleepy Thompson Summer League have been postponed until next week.
St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes High boys basketball coach Kevin McLinton said too many players from the six playoff teams are participating in Amateur Athletic Union tournaments in Florida and Nevada this weekend.
Instead, the first round is slated for Monday evening with Mount Vernon High facing Wakefield High and either Lake Braddock High or West Potomac High playing third-seeded T.C. Williams High. St. Stephen’s, the No. 1 seed, and No. 2 Potomac High both received byes. The league semifinals are Wednesday and the championship is next Friday.
