Past Glory

1997-1998

1997-98 was a bounce-back year for Valencia. Coaches feared the worst, as for the first time in years no players returned from the "A" team, but a new crop of determined players came in to continue the team's success. Valencia hosted the regional championships and again emerged victorious, again defeating Florida College, who for the second year earned a berth in the state championship tournament. The state team--captain Brian Rooney, Jezebelle Enriquez, Danielle Rubin, Keith Lyons, and Richard Deakins, who dissed the team during the state tournament to slouch around Italy with the Valencia Honors Program--did well, losing to an experienced Broward C. C. team in the final. Rooney was the second-highest individual scorer in the tournament. Unfortunately, the team wasn't able to recapture the Berry Invitational hardware.

Walking the battle charge routes at Chickamauga Battlefield: From left, Leanne Wimberly, Gose Nesov, Brian Rooney, Craig Kelley (in background) coach Chris Borglum and Damion Hammock.