Even though it was an early 8 a.m. pep rally for the
North Cross boys soccer team, the excitement was palpable in the Fishburn Auditorium on Thursday, Jan. 3.
In the inaugural MaxPreps Boys Soccer Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, North Cross School ranked 13th in the nation out of 14,000 high school boys soccer teams according to the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings. Not only did the North Cross Raiders win the Virginia Independent Conference Division II state championship, but the team also finished their season with a perfect 24-0 record. This is the second state title that the Raiders can boast, after also winning the championship in 2007.
Opening the pep rally, Eric Lawrence, athletic director for North Cross, introduced the team and head coach, James Brown, to the excited crowd of Raiders and fans. The North Cross Raiders boys soccer team was presented with the National Guard national ranking trophy for their outstanding performance by Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Morris of the Virginia Army National Guard.
Parents, students and faculty were in awe of the team's accomplishment and it was truly a proud moment for the players as they were honored on stage. Local television stations WDBJ and WSLS also came out to show their support for the Raiders as both covered the event.
For a small school where only 426 students attend grades K-12, it is quite an accomplishment to be honored nationally and the coach expressed that he and his players were appreciative and honored by this recognition. With not only the school but the whole community behind them, the North Cross Raiders have a strong support system to help encourage them as they endeavor to continue their unbeaten streak next season.
