Clover Hill High School - Ducemus Yearbook (Midlothian, VA)

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They ‘have the stuff’ What’s the most successful team in Clover Hill history? It isn’t baseball, or track, or even basketball. In fact, no athletic squad can match the achieve- ments of Clover Hill’s only academic team—Forensics. Ever since Clover Hill opened, the Forensics Team has walked away with the district title. The 1978 team was determined by a tryout held in November. Unlike the two previous years, the group was almost entirely new—only Kim Makowsky and Donald Smith return- ed from the ’77 champs. Again the team was coached by Mr. A. J. Sligh and Ms. Jackie Pendergraft. The newly-selected members began the preparation for the season ahead. Topics were selected for speeches, books were scoured in search of readings, magazines were studied over and over for current topics, and spelling books received constant scrutiny. Under the critical eye of the coaches and the other team members, speakers polished their readings and speeches in constant after-school practice sessions. Slowly the team evolved its competitive edge and prepared for the first meet of the year—the Longwood Invitational. The Invitational is a competition primarily for private schools, but public schools also compete, usually as a dry run for the district meet. Clover Hill put forth its best showing ever, with two fourth places, two seconds, and the only first ever won by a Cavalier—D avid Dee's triumph in Boys’ Poetry. Few knew what to expect of the new team at the district meet, but the Cavs proved they “had the stuff’’ by taking five first places, two seconds, and a 16 Forensics third, easily breezing to their sixth dis- trict title. : Seven speakers qualified for th regional meet, also at Longwood. Fate and hard work smiled again; four speakers placed, and Forensics took its place alongside tennis as the only other CH team to win a regional cham- pionship. David Dee and Kim Makowsky ad- vanced to the state championships at U. Va. in Charlottesville. Ironically, the day of the championship was April 1, but Kim Makowsky didn’t play the fool and walked away with a first place and the state title in Girls’ Poetry. “Tt was a big honor to go, and I was shocked to win,’”’ recalls Kim, “You never know what to expect from the judges. Last year at State I didn’t even place.” 1978 was another good year for Forensics. The first regional title was won, the team had a state champion, and the district crown had been suc- cessfully defended. Six district wins in the bag. On to Number Seven! LEER “Well... they liked my tie!” Mark Winckler and Ms. Jackie Pendergraft study the judges’ grading sheet for errors that Mark made in his speech during district competition. Despite the errors, Mark's speech placed him in first in district com- petition. |

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The voice of experience in person That’s a good question Former Attorney General Anthony Troy discusses his duties as at- torney general with Mr. Bill Pritchett’s govern- ment class. A snip here, a snip there Yvonne Stemmal warily accepts a complimentary haircut from John Stewart of Miller Rhoad's Canned Ego Salon as part of Home Ec’s personal care program. How often does a high school baseball team have the opportunity to learn from a pro? Not very often, but such was the case at CH early in the '78 season when Johnny Grubb came to give the varsity players a pointer or two. Grubb, an all star outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, was originally coached under Marshall Pearman in high school. Returning at his invita- tion, Grubb advised the CH team on hitting techniques and the importance of determination to success. “T feel it’s the most valuable ex- perience an athlete can have, to ac- tually talk to someone who is suc- cessful,” stated Coach Pearman, con- cerning Johnny’s visit. “It shows the community that a local athlete can make it big.”’ Team member Danny Morgan said he learned you have to work hard to be a good hitter. ‘‘There’s still a lot to learn about hitting, and even Johnny doesn’t know it all,’’ commented Danny. Often the voice of experience is the best teacher, as the team proved by taking Johnny’s advice, not only to heart, but to practice with them each afternoon. Inhale, exhale Mr. Charles Colstead, a Red Cross Volunteer, assist Adam Turner in practic- ing artifical respiration during Special Ed’s first aid classes. Guest Speakers 15

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Study, study Wendy Link, senior high spelling Forensics Team (front row) A. J. Sligh (coach), Dawn Sears, Jackie Pendergraft (coach), Debra champion, and Thomas Robertson, junior high Christi Mansini, Mark Winckler, Shannon Gibson, Mark Edwards, Donald Smith, David Dee, — winner, bone up on their vocabulary in prepara- Golightly, Sharon Jones, Wendy Link; (second row) Andrea Damerel, Kim Makowsky, Janis Rogers. tion for their respective county finals. “Are you listening, Lord?” Dawn Sears gathers her nerve and appears to be searching for divine guidance moments before she leaves to com- pete in the Longwood Invitational. Those last few minutes Sharon Jones con- verses with Christie Mansini while Kim Makowsky studies her reading in those tense moments before competition begins at the Dis- trict Meet. Forensics 17