List of 5 news stories.

• This Week in Sports - Week #13

  11/15/2024
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  After last week's excitement, this was a week of settling as our winter sports teams (basketball) began their regular practice schedules. Our varsity volleyball and cross country teams held end-of-season celebrations to cap off great team and individual performances. The JV and varsity basketball boys will play in scrimmages this afternoon against Appalachian Christian, with the JV tipoff at 4:30pm and the varsity tipoff at 6pm. There are no games for any teams next week. Hope to see you in the gym!
  
  Fall athletes - please return your uniforms to me ASAP so that you will not be billed for them.

• This Week in Sports - Week #13

  11/14/2024
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
• 

  This Week in Sports - Week #12

  11/8/2024

  2024 Tandem Girls Varsity Volleyball - A Joyful Season to Remember

  When I met with Coach Kiwii over the summer, I asked her what goals she had for the season. "That's up to my players," she told me. "We'll see what kind of team they want to be."  Once the ball was tossed into the air for the first serve of the season, we knew exactly what team they would be! This group of Badgers plays with an enormous level of talent and teamwork, matched only by their determination and grit. When Monticello arrived for the battle of Mill Creek, the Badger Den was jam packed - and Tandem played their hearts out, pushing our much larger neighbor to five very close sets. The next day in practice, the team made a declaration: we want to play in the 2024 VISAA State Tournament!

   

  Tonight, the Badgers realized their goal - taking the floor against top seeded (28-1-1) Timberlake Christian, and giving their opponent all they could handle.  How did they do it?  Tandem dominated the early portion of their schedule - beating Quantico and Wakefield 3-1. Then the team really hit their stride, with 3-0 wins against RMA, WCDS, Foxcroft and Wakefield, amassing an unprecedented 20 consecutive victorious sets in a row!! These matches were not close either, with Tandem holding their opponents to single digit point totals in each set!

   

  Hungry for a challenge, the Badgers travelled to play a tough Eastern Mennonite team on the road. At the time, EMS was ranked ahead of Tandem in the standings, but the Badgers beat them 3-1!  When Maggie's ace marked the ending of the match, Tandem began their final push to accomplish their goal, moving from #10 to #9 in the rankings.  Later that week, the Badgers beat KAA at home 3-1 and Quantico 3-0, before dominating cross-town rival Miller on Senior Night! What a week!

   

  With their bid to states still up in the air, this team gave it their all for a stretch that included 4 games in 5 days, and the GPAC Tournament, in which Tandem finished 2nd. By that point, it became clear, the Badgers had moved from 9th to  8th - earning an opportunity to fulfill their goal and play in the Virginia state tournament!
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  This Week in Sports - Week #12 Part 2 TANDEM CROSS COUNTRY WINS THE VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! AGAIN!

  11/8/2024
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  Today was not a windy day, but leaves fluttered in his wake as Hayes ran by, swirling momentarily before settling back down. His footsteps were quick and light, yet each one seemed to stir the stillness around him, as if he carried a silent energy that rippled through the course. The trees stood motionless, their branches barely moving, yet the crowd could feel a powerful breeze as Hayes sped past.  

   

  Throughout the season, several runners have made the mistake of challenging Hayes in the final stretch of a race. In the Tandem Two Mile, STAB's 2023 Individual State Champion gave a valiant effort, but Hayes did what he always does: he ran a super fast, smart, tactical race - leaving STAB in the dust. A few weeks later, at the VTCA Invitational, Hayes approached the finish with a pack of Central Virginia's top runners. He timed his move perfectly and as he flew up the final hill and toward the finish line, his competition faded and Hayes was all alone as he broke the tape.

   

  Today, on the biggest stage Virginia Cross Country has to offer, the GPAC Runner of the Year was locked on his competition. Hayes spent ninety percent of the race with Wakefield's Curtis Leachman, one of the top runners in the state. As they approached the final turn, Hayes conserved his energy, waiting a moment before making his move on the incline. Curtis surged slightly ahead, breathing heavily as Hayes kept a steady pace and a calm mindset. He knew the incline would sap the strength of the competition.  

   

  As Hayes neared the finish, he felt his legs surge with energy. NOW! He leaned forward, digging his feet into the ground, propelling himself with an intensity that elite athletes reserve for state championships. He and Curtis were neck and neck as Hayes grew stronger with each step. With thirty meters to go, his competition stumbled and broke their form - meanwhile Hayes was just hitting stride to the tune of FIRST PLACE OVERALL, making him the INDIVIDUAL VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPION with an incredible time of 16:13! 
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  This Week in Sports - Week #11

  11/1/2024
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  What a week for the Tandem Badgers! Varsity volleyball hosted and won the GPAC tournament quarterfinal and semifinal matches this week, taking down King Abdullah. They are at Highland, taking on Highland for the tourney championship this afternoon. Currently ranked #8 in the state in their division, they find out on Sunday if they play in the state tournament next week. The varsity cross country team hosted the GPAC championship meet Tuesday - the boys easily won by 20 points to defend last year's title and our girls team came in second. There were personal records galore, with Tandem boys Hayes, Jack and Miles coming in 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall, and Lucy and Claire coming in 3rd and 4th overall. 
  
  All-Conference honors were announced this week as well. In cross country, sophomore Hayes was named GPAC Runner of the Year. Four boys and four girls each made the All-Conference Team by placing in the top ten at the meet: for the boys, sophomores Hayes, Miles and Peter, and junior Jack; for the girls, junior Claire, sophomore Lucy, 9th grader Hazel and 8th grader Eloise. In volleyball, seniors Chloe B and Maggie W made 1st Team; senior Tessa D made 2nd Team; junior Sofia S received Honorable Mention. Way to go, Badgers!
  
  Read more about this week's matchups below and watch for details about state play next week!
  
  Cross Country - 10/30/24

   

  Running as an elite unit, three Tandem Badgers crested the top of the hill with ease. Out of one eye, I watched them round the corner along the tree line and head for the finish. Out of the other eye, I looked for an opposing runner. There were none to be found.  Hayes dominated today's GPAC Cross Country Championships. The GPAC Runner of the Year, Hayes won for the second consecutive time on his home course, completing the 5K race in a time of 16:57 - nearly a minute faster than he ran in September.  His talent is second only to his leadership, and Hayes used this opportunity to work together with his teammates to best position them for success. Jack Blemker was second overall - his time of 17:12 was over a minute faster than his last race on the same course. Miles has taken his game to another level entirely. On September 19th, he ran 18:25 - today was 17:21 - a minute course PR and 40 seconds faster than his time at Panorama Farms.  This trio came across the line 1st, 2nd and 3rd, guiding Tandem to a well deserved conference championship.

   

   
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