RamPage

An unofficial archive of Strasburg sports.

Tag: The Winchester Star

  • Wrestling Program Adds Another Champion

    Wrestling Program Adds Another Champion

    Strasburg Wrestling Team Secures Third Place at State Championships

    Jonathan Brill’s championship victory propelled the Strasburg wrestling team to a third-place finish at the 2007 State Championships. Brill, a junior competing in the 112-pound weight class, was one of five Rams to place. His championship marks the first for the program since 2005, when Brandon Holbert (140) and Jeff Musterman (145) claimed titles.

    Fellow junior Carlos Ortiz secured second place in the 215-pound weight class, while Sean Hall (119), Michael Prince (130), and Brent Judy (145) each earned third-place finishes, contributing significantly to the team’s 106.5-point total.

    This was a successful campaign for a young team that brought nine wrestlers to the tournament, a week after capturing the Region B Championship. Despite predictions of a down year, Region B outperformed Region C, the home of state champion Glenvar.

    Strasburg has high hopes for next season, with only one wrestler graduating and first-year coach Brian Kibler gaining valuable experience from the tournament. Kibler, a former three-time state champion for Strasburg, understands the significance of success in his hometown. As quoted in the Northern Virginia Daily, he stated, “Any time you can come back to where you are from and have success, it’s a nice feeling.”

    Behind champion Brill, Strasburg finishes third
    By Chuck McGill
    Northern Virginia Daily

    SALEM – Brian Kibler smiled and shook his head in disbelief.

    Strasburg’s first-year wrestling coach was clearly pleased by his team’s performance this weekend at the state tournament in Salem, but he scoffed at his wrestlers’ notion that he was the driving force behind the Rams’ impressive showing in the two-day event.

    More at The Northern Virginia Daily

    Brill’s title helps Rams take 3rd
    From Star Staff Reports
    The Winchester Star

    SALEM – The Strasburg wrestling team followed up its Region B championship with a third-place showing at the Group A State Tournament, led by 112-pound state champion Jonathan Brill.

    More at The Winchester Star

  • Rams’ Baseball Team Win Fifth-Straight

    Rams’ Baseball Team Win Fifth-Straight

    Strasburg Routs Clarke County 15-2
    By Jerry Holsworth
    The Winchester Star

    STRASBURG – Strasburg High School solidified its third seed in next week’s Bull Run District baseball tournament by pasting Clarke County 15-2 Tuesday in its season finale at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

    “I don’t think you can single anyone out as the key player for us,” Rams coach Jeff Smoot said. “Everyone played awfully well tonight. This was a complete team effort.”

    Strasburg (15-4, 7-3 in district), which has beaten the Eagles (3-17, 1-9) in all three meetings this year, will face them for the fourth time next week in the opening round of the district tournament.

    More at The Winchester Star

  • Six Rams Place at State Tournament

    Six Rams Place at State Tournament

    Strasburg Shines at State Wrestling Tournament

    Strasburg had a remarkable showing at the 2005 Group A State Wrestling Tournament, with six wrestlers placing.

    Seniors Brandon Holbert (140) and Jeff Musterman (145) successfully defended their titles from the previous year, showcasing their dominance with a combined single loss throughout the entire season.

    Other notable performances include Brandon Pangle (112) and Nick Bowers (130), who both secured second-place finishes. Carl Hall (125) earned third place, and Robbie Gossard placed fifth in the 198-pound weight class.

    As a team, the Rams finished in second place with 134.5 points, trailing fellow Bull Run District squad Manassas Park.

    Bull Run Dominates Group A Wrestling
    By Drew Houff
    The Winchester Star

    SALEM – Under first-year head coach Daniel Smith, the Strasburg Rams concluded a strong 2004-05 season by finishing second at the Group A Wrestling Tournament at the Salem Civic Center.

    Strasburg’s Bull Run District rival Manassas Park claimed five individual titles and placed an additional five grapplers to easily claim the Cougars’ ninth state wrestling championship.

    More at The Winchester Star

  • 2004/2005 Basketball Season Ends

    2004/2005 Basketball Season Ends

    Strasburg’s basketball season ended Wednesday night at the hands of the Clarke County Eagles. The 74-66 loss in the semi-finals of the Bull Run District tournament put the Rams’ final record at 10-11 and capped off a second straight losing season.

    Emotional Eagles Get Big Victory
    By Greg Brill
    The Winchester Star

    BERRYVILLE – One can just about always expect Brent Emmart’s Clarke County High School boys’ basketball team to play with emotion.

    Wednesday night was a little different, though. Not only were the Eagles trying to advance to the Bull Run District Tournament championship game for a fourth straight season, but the death of Emmart’s father, John, on Tuesday left Clarke even more determined to win.

    More at The Winchester Star

  • Local Media Reports

    Local Media Reports

    Local newspaper, The Winchester Star, has two reports on Strasburg’s wrestling squad. First, a recap of their convincing victory against district opponent Clarke County last night, and a story about two promising Ram wrestlers vying to duplicate last year’s success.

    Rams Handle Eagles
    By Drew Houff
    The Winchester Star

    STRASBURG – Two forfeits got things started and Strasburg took eight of 12 matches wrestled to soundly defeat Clarke County 50-18 in Bull Run District action Thursday night.

    The host Rams racked up four pins and a technical fall en route to the convincing victory.

    Strasburg’s dominance left Clarke County coach Jon VanSice lauding the Rams’ performance.

    “That was bad,” sighed VanSice. “They were too tough in the middle and lightweights. We lost a match (152 pounds) 6-5 and that hurt. That hurt real bad.”

    More at The Winchester Star

    Different Rams, Same Goals
    Strasburg’s Holbert and Musterman Eye Second State Titles
    By Drew Houff
    The Winchester Star

    STRASBURG – Between them, they have a record of 67-1 this season.

    More impressive, Strasburg High School wrestlers Brandon Holbert and Jeff Musterman have won a total of 239 matches in their career as well as 2004 state titles at 135 and 145 pounds, respectively.

    The two seniors each aim to add another state title at the Group A State Wrestling Tournament in March.

    More at The Winchester Star

  • Winter Sports Round-Up

    Winter Sports Round-Up

    Basketball

    The Rams basketball season so far can only be described as a rollercoaster. After a four game winning streak Strasburg boy’s basketball team is in the mist of a three game slide, including two blow-out losses to district rival Clarke County. All of this after starting the season with two defeats. With their record now standing at 4-5, and more importantly 1-2 in the Bull Run district, the Rams’ young team will need to regroup with the bulk of their district games still left to be played.

    Eagles Down Rams To Win Daily Title
    By Chris Clark
    The Winchester Star

    STRASBURG – Six players are not allowed on the basketball court at once, but Strasburg felt like it was playing against that many at times Thursday night in the championship game of the Daily Basketball Classic against Clarke County.

    More at The Winchester Star

    Eagles Use Pressure to Stifle Rams
    By Jeff Nations
    The Winchester Star

    STRASBURG – Aggressive, in-your-face defense has long been a trademark of Brent Emmart-coached Clarke County High School boys’ basketball teams

    More at The Winchester Star

    Wrestling

    Several solid dual meet wins and high tournament finishes have given the Ram wrestlers an already great season that would make most other teams jealous. Already ranked number two in state by Single A Wrestling Zone, Strasburg continues to improve and showed that by handily winning the Bison Duals over the weekend. The Rams will hit the mat once again when they travel to Rappahannock County Wednesday evening.

    Strasburg dominates Bison Duals; hosts place 2nd
    By Ken Bosserman
    The Staunton News Leader

    BUFFALO GAP – Powerful Strasburg posted a 5-0 record to win the fourth annual Bison Duals wrestling tournament Saturday at Buffalo Gap High School.

    More at The Staunton News Leader

  • Strasburg Gets Sloppy 12-9 Win Over Mustangs

    Strasburg Gets Sloppy 12-9 Win Over Mustangs

    Kibler Leads Rams to Victory Despite Turnovers

    STRASBURG, VA – Strasburg (7-3, 2-2 Bull Run) overcame wet conditions and three turnovers to secure a 12-9 victory over district opponent George Mason (5-5, 2-2 Bull Run) on Senior Night. The victory earned the Rams home-field advantage for the first round of the Region B, Division 1 playoffs, where they will host the No. 3 seed, Stonewall Jackson, on Friday night.

    Despite playing their second consecutive week without key starters in several positions, Strasburg found themselves trailing early. The Mustangs capitalized on their first possession, driving 59 yards in eight plays, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Travis Greene.

    The 7-0 lead was short-lived, as the Rams responded with their own score. Freshman Josh Kibler found the end zone from seven yards out, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 7-6 in favor of George Mason.

    The score remained unchanged for the next two and a half quarters until Strasburg finally regained the lead. Starting from their own 24-yard line, the Rams executed two significant plays to set up Kibler’s second touchdown. Running back Tim Rodrigues caught a screen pass from Parker Neal and gained 33 yards before being tackled at the Mustang’s 41-yard line. He might have reached the end zone had he not accidentally collided with Kibler, who was blocking downfield.

    On the very next play, Neal connected with Kibler on a wide-open pass down the left sideline, gaining another 33 yards and bringing the ball to the Rams’ 8-yard line. Kibler then carried the ball twice to cover the remaining distance, giving the Rams a 12-7 lead.

    With only 5:28 remaining on the clock, George Mason drove as far as Strasburg’s 20-yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. The Rams then attempted to run down the clock.

    Cory Spiker intentionally took a safety out of the punt formation, leaving just 18 seconds on the clock. The three-point lead held when Kibler intercepted Stephen Williams’s halfback pass attempt on the ensuing play.

    George Mason outgained Strasburg in yardage (268 to 190) and had a touchdown in the fourth quarter nullified by a penalty. Williams led the Mustangs in rushing, accumulating 125 yards on 19 carries (6.58 yards per carry) from his fullback position. Greene added 17 rushes for 106 yards (6.24 yards per carry).

    Kibler led the Rams with 74 rushing yards on 20 carries (3.70 yards per carry) and scored both of their touchdowns. Senior Brandon Holbert contributed 12 rushes for 37 yards (3.08 yards per carry). Neal completed 3 of 8 passes for 75 yards.

    Winchester Star: Strasburg Slips Past Mustangs

  • Strasburg Downs High-Flying Falcons, 17-14

    Strasburg Downs High-Flying Falcons, 17-14

    Underdogs Unleashed: Rams Shock Rivals in Woodstock

    WOODSTOCK, VA – Strasburg entered their matchup against Central as underdogs, facing skepticism from both media and fans. However, as the adage goes, “every underdog has its day,” and Friday night belonged to the Rams. Capitalizing on their rivals’ mistakes and misfortunes, Strasburg secured an impressive 17-14 victory in Woodstock.

    This win, coupled with their earlier victory over Stonewall Jackson, solidifies Strasburg’s (4-1, 0-0 Bull Run) claim to the mythical Shenandoah County football title and signals their return to gridiron prominence.

    The game began with a scare for the Rams. On Central’s opening drive, running back Brandon Pence burst through the line for a 50-yard gain, positioning the Falcons deep in Strasburg territory. However, the Rams’ defense stiffened, forcing Central into a field goal attempt. The snap sailed over the holder’s head, and Strasburg recovered the loose ball at their own 28-yard line.

    Strasburg’s offense went three-and-out, punting the ball back to Central. The Falcons capitalized on the favorable field position. On the first play of their second drive, quarterback Kolter Stroop connected with a streaking Sean Sherfey for a 55-yard touchdown pass, giving Central an early 7-0 lead.

    The momentum shifted in the second quarter. After weathering the initial onslaught, the Rams’ defense tightened, holding strong in the red zone when Jeff Musterman intercepted a Stroop pass.

    With 2:38 remaining in the half, Strasburg finally found the end zone. Freshman Josh Kibler, the area’s leading scorer with seven touchdowns, broke through the line and scampered 19 yards for a touchdown. Ryan Swanger’s extra point tied the game at 7-7.

    The Rams quickly regained the lead. The Falcons fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Strasburg’s Robbie Gossard recovered, giving the Rams excellent field position at the 27-yard line. Three plays later, Kibler again found the end zone, this time from 18 yards out. Swanger’s extra point gave Strasburg a 14-7 lead heading into halftime. Kibler finished the night with 80 rushing yards on 12 carries (6.67 yards per carry) and added 21 receiving yards on two catches.

    The third quarter saw a back-and-forth battle. Strasburg eventually mounted a 16-play, 75-yard drive that consumed over seven and a half minutes of clock time. The drive stalled at the 13-yard line, but Swanger’s 30-yard field goal extended the Rams’ lead to 17-7.

    Trailing by ten, Central attempted to mount a comeback. The Rams effectively neutralized the Falcons’ deep passing game, forcing them to rely on methodical drives. Jason Erick scored on a 3-yard run to narrow the deficit to three points. However, the long drive, aided by two Strasburg penalties, consumed valuable time, leaving only 1:09 on the clock.

    Central attempted an onside kick, but the ball rolled into the hands of Strasburg’s Justin Baker. Three kneel-downs by the Rams sealed the victory.

    For the second consecutive week, Strasburg’s ground game proved effective, churning out 186 yards on 40 carries (4.65 yards per carry). Brandon Holbert had a standout performance, rushing for 82 yards on 15 carries (5.47 yards per carry). Quarterback Parker Neal had an efficient night, completing 7 of 11 passes for 60 yards.

    Winchester Star: Strasburg Outlasts Falcons

  • Rams Defeat Generals, 22-6

    Rams Defeat Generals, 22-6

    Kibler Leads Strasburg to Victory

    STRASBURG, VA – Head coach Glenn Proctor emphasized the strength of his defense before the 2004 season began. Ten experienced starters returned to a unit that had shown flashes of brilliance the previous year, despite facing numerous challenges.

    In the first two games of the season, the Rams’ defense has been a dominant force. Four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and only six points allowed in two games have set an impressive early tone for the Strasburg (2-0, 0-0 Bull Run) squad.

    For the second consecutive week, a strong defense and a methodical, conservative offense propelled the Rams to a 22-6 non-district victory over rival Stonewall Jackson (1-1).

    Strasburg capitalized on an early General fumble to score first. After recovering the fumble in Stonewall territory, the Rams marched down the field, methodically advancing towards the goal line. It took four plays from the one-yard line to score, but on fourth down, freshman Josh Kibler took a pitch left and scored. Ryan Swanger’s extra point gave Strasburg a 7-0 lead with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter.

    Moments later, Kibler added to his point total.

    After forcing the Generals to punt, punt returner Caylin Valentine showcased his speed, agility, and a bit of luck to set up Strasburg’s offense. Valentine muffed the wobbly punt but calmly recovered it while several Stonewall defenders closed in. He reversed field, running towards the right sideline and receiving key blocks before being tackled deep in General territory.

    On the next play, junior quarterback Parker Neal delivered a perfect swing pass over a defender to Kibler. Kibler accelerated towards the end zone, eluding several tackles. Neal’s two-point conversion run extended the lead to 15-0.

    Stonewall Jackson managed to score late in the second quarter with a nine-play, 54-yard drive. Running back Luke Wilson’s two-yard touchdown capped the possession. The two-point conversion attempt failed after a fumbled exchange between the quarterback and center.

    This late score provided the Generals with some momentum, but with only two minutes remaining in the half, Strasburg responded.

    Starting from their own 40-yard line, the Rams utilized their rushing attack to advance 60 yards. With only six seconds left in the quarter, Kibler fumbled the ball into the end zone while attempting to score his third touchdown. Offensive tackle Robbie Gossard recovered the fumble, and another Swanger extra point gave Strasburg a 22-6 halftime lead.

    The score remained unchanged for the rest of the game as both teams exchanged possessions without much success.

    The Rams employed two late drives to consume nearly thirteen minutes of game clock, leaving Stonewall with little time to mount a comeback.

    Senior Brian Blevins led the Strasburg rushing attack with 12 carries for 50 yards. Kibler added 37 yards on seven carries and two receptions. The Rams combined for 183 rushing yards on 46 attempts.

    Neal completed 2 of 8 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.

    Winchester Star: Kibler’s Two Scores Lift Rams

  • Site Updates

    Site Updates

    It’s that time of the year again. Tell-tale signs of fall can be seen slowly seeping in. Trees shedding their leaves, the cool evenings after a warm summer day, and high school students across the country suiting up in football pads under the glow of Friday night lights.

    And with that the annual updates begin at RamPage. All 2003 statistics along with last year’s roster have been placed into the archive, making way for 2004. Already the new varsity roster and schedule has been added in anticipation of tonight’s game. More updates will follow shortly.

    For now, in depth team information can be found in The Winchester Star’s High School Football 2004 guide, which is in the September 1st edition of the newspaper or online.

    The Strasburg related articles are noted below.

    Rams Try To Bounce Back in ’04
    At Strasburg High School, fans normally begin counting down the days until football season starts soon after the last one ends. More at The Winchester Star.

    Holbert Eager to Make Amends
    For all those associated with the Strasburg High School football program, last season was a bitter pill to swallow. More at The Winchester Star.