Well, the 3rd annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard is halfway completed, and on Friday, January 18th a record setting four schools were honored across the country - Prosser in WA, Arrowhead in WI, Naperville North in IL and the # 9 ranked Westfield High School Bulldogs in Chantilly, VA.
After traveling south from the Pittsburgh area through the snowy and windy mountains to northern Virginia, Sam Ritter, who is from Texas and not accustomed to this type of weather, and me finally made it to the northern VA school in the morning of the 18th.
This visit was all about the school's 15-0 championship season, well, sort of. Unexpectedly, the snowy evening played a role in this tour stop. The school had to delay its opening due to the weather, not accustomed to Virginia. So, the ceremony slated for 1pm had to be moved to 11:55am. Coach Tom Verbanic and Principal Tim Thomas did a masterful job in altering plans on the fly.
The ceremony went from a Winter Assembly for juniors and seniors to an Assembly for designated classes with the entire football team, cheerleaders and mascot in attendance. The large high school was still able to have approximately 500 students and certain faculty in attendance. As the players and cheerleaders filled the gymnasium, the VA Guardsmen/women handed the commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts to them.
With footballs being tossed to the crowd, the mascot "breaking it down" and the football team ready to accept its National Ranking Trophy, Smooth Sam from MaxPreps took the mic. To an "Are you ready Westfield High School", the crowd roared. Sam spoke about Westfield #1 Virginia ranking and its #9 national ranking and heaped praise on Coach Verbanic, the coaching staff and players, most notably, the 48 seniors on the squad.
Sam introduced SPC Grace Nunez who walked the Tour of Champions National Ranking trophy to the center area. Sam thanked the team and on behalf of the VA Army National Guard, SPC Nunez presented the trophy to Coach Verbanic.
Coach Verbanic thanked everyone for a great season. Afterwards, formal pictures were snapped with the Principal, Coaching Staff and a very fine team picture.
