Appomattox County High School
Encyclopedia
Appomattox County High School is a public high school
located in Appomattox, Virginia
. Appomattox has an enrollment of 686 as of 2008. Its teams are known as the Raiders and its colors are blue, grey, and red. The school was built in 1973. It is known for its size and its constant switching in the VHSL between Group A Dogwood and Group AA Seminole
Districts.
Gordan Bragg served as Head Football coach for over 30 years until his retirement in the mid-1970s. Coach Bragg is recognized in the VHSL Hall of Fame. The football program has not had stable success since then, until recently, as it went through a number of football coaches after the retirement of Gordan Bragg. Since the retirement of Coach Bragg, there have been numerous coaching changes, especially in the past ten years. Larry Kidd, Lance Carter, Jeremy Haymore, and Ben Martin have been a head coach at the school since 2000. Since 2008, Ben Martin has provided stability and structure to the program. As of the 2009 football year, the varsity football team has been in the playoffs for three straight years, including a share of the schools first Dogwood district title in 11 years.
The Volleyball program has had success in recent years, and has been served by some very good coaches. Louise Martin, Lucy Harris, and Mark Drinkard. They have made several appearances in the Regional Tournament in the 2000s.
The Basketball Programs have been tremendously successful on both sides, girls and boys, with the boys being the most successful of late. Mary Tolley served as the girls coach for 17 years and won numerous championships. Gary Ferguson took over and continued the trend winning a school record 21 games in 2008, his final season. DJ Jack has continued to build a solid basketball program, advancing to Regionals in 2009.
The Boys Basketball program has not been as successful until recently. Numerous individuals coached basketball in the 1960s and '70s, including Gordan Bragg. Beginning in the 1980s, Cody Dickerson led the team to a 1983 Region Finals appearance against Martinsville. Bob Hudson took over after Dickerson for 7 seasons, and was followed by Steve Williams, Andrew Kelso, Gary Ferguson, Doug Marshall, Brantley Shields, and currently Arik Mawdessly. The program saw some success under the leadership of Andrew Kelso, but has seen its most successful years since 2008 under the leadership of Brantley Shields with a combined record of 54-22 from 2008-2010. In 2008, they had a 15-13 record and advanced to the state tournament, in 2009 they finished with a 21-5 record and in 2010 won the schools first ever Conference Championship and finished with an 18-4 record.
The wrestling program has produced numerous state tournament contenders under the leadership of legendary wrestling coaches Chris and Scott Conkright over the past 30 years.
The baseball team has had tremendous success over the past 30 years, beginning with Coach Howard Claybo. Claybo led the baseball team to Conference Championships in 1983, 84, and 85, winning Regional Championships in 83 and 85. After the departure of Claybo, the program went through several head coaches before Joe Caruso took over in 2002. Since that time Caruso has led the program to several Conference and Regional Championships, including a 2006 trip to the AA State Tournament.
The softball team, coached by legendary coach and VHSL Hall of Fame member Mary Tolley, won numerous Conference and Regional tournaments under the legendary coach. In 1987, she led them to the State Championship. Gary Ferguson took over upon Tolley's retirement, and continued the winning tradition. Upon the departure of Gary Ferguson, Donnie Jack took over and led the team to the State Tournament in 2010.
The track team has been very successful since the mid-1980s under the leadership of David Read. They won numerous Conference and Regional titles. Lance Carter took over in the late 1990s and led the team to a AA State Championship in 2006. Upon the departure of Lance Carter, Kevin Walker led the team to a 2008 indoor state title. Since that time, the program has been in transition from coaches attempting to find the right person to lead the program to its successful future.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Appomattox, Virginia
Appomattox, Virginia
Appomattox is a town in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,761 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Appomattox County.Appomattox is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. Appomattox has an enrollment of 686 as of 2008. Its teams are known as the Raiders and its colors are blue, grey, and red. The school was built in 1973. It is known for its size and its constant switching in the VHSL between Group A Dogwood and Group AA Seminole
AA Seminole District
The AA Seminole District is a district in Region III of the Virginia High School League. The schools of the district are located in and around Lynchburg, Virginia. US 29, which passes through the area, is named the Seminole Trail through much of Virginia...
Districts.
Athletics
Howard Clayboough served as Athletic Director from 1983–1993 and also served as baseball coach. Bob Hudson served as Athletic Director from 1993-2008. Ron Carter has served as Athletic Director since 2008.Gordan Bragg served as Head Football coach for over 30 years until his retirement in the mid-1970s. Coach Bragg is recognized in the VHSL Hall of Fame. The football program has not had stable success since then, until recently, as it went through a number of football coaches after the retirement of Gordan Bragg. Since the retirement of Coach Bragg, there have been numerous coaching changes, especially in the past ten years. Larry Kidd, Lance Carter, Jeremy Haymore, and Ben Martin have been a head coach at the school since 2000. Since 2008, Ben Martin has provided stability and structure to the program. As of the 2009 football year, the varsity football team has been in the playoffs for three straight years, including a share of the schools first Dogwood district title in 11 years.
The Volleyball program has had success in recent years, and has been served by some very good coaches. Louise Martin, Lucy Harris, and Mark Drinkard. They have made several appearances in the Regional Tournament in the 2000s.
The Basketball Programs have been tremendously successful on both sides, girls and boys, with the boys being the most successful of late. Mary Tolley served as the girls coach for 17 years and won numerous championships. Gary Ferguson took over and continued the trend winning a school record 21 games in 2008, his final season. DJ Jack has continued to build a solid basketball program, advancing to Regionals in 2009.
The Boys Basketball program has not been as successful until recently. Numerous individuals coached basketball in the 1960s and '70s, including Gordan Bragg. Beginning in the 1980s, Cody Dickerson led the team to a 1983 Region Finals appearance against Martinsville. Bob Hudson took over after Dickerson for 7 seasons, and was followed by Steve Williams, Andrew Kelso, Gary Ferguson, Doug Marshall, Brantley Shields, and currently Arik Mawdessly. The program saw some success under the leadership of Andrew Kelso, but has seen its most successful years since 2008 under the leadership of Brantley Shields with a combined record of 54-22 from 2008-2010. In 2008, they had a 15-13 record and advanced to the state tournament, in 2009 they finished with a 21-5 record and in 2010 won the schools first ever Conference Championship and finished with an 18-4 record.
The wrestling program has produced numerous state tournament contenders under the leadership of legendary wrestling coaches Chris and Scott Conkright over the past 30 years.
The baseball team has had tremendous success over the past 30 years, beginning with Coach Howard Claybo. Claybo led the baseball team to Conference Championships in 1983, 84, and 85, winning Regional Championships in 83 and 85. After the departure of Claybo, the program went through several head coaches before Joe Caruso took over in 2002. Since that time Caruso has led the program to several Conference and Regional Championships, including a 2006 trip to the AA State Tournament.
The softball team, coached by legendary coach and VHSL Hall of Fame member Mary Tolley, won numerous Conference and Regional tournaments under the legendary coach. In 1987, she led them to the State Championship. Gary Ferguson took over upon Tolley's retirement, and continued the winning tradition. Upon the departure of Gary Ferguson, Donnie Jack took over and led the team to the State Tournament in 2010.
The track team has been very successful since the mid-1980s under the leadership of David Read. They won numerous Conference and Regional titles. Lance Carter took over in the late 1990s and led the team to a AA State Championship in 2006. Upon the departure of Lance Carter, Kevin Walker led the team to a 2008 indoor state title. Since that time, the program has been in transition from coaches attempting to find the right person to lead the program to its successful future.