Kyle Green

sports: singles

Brandi Hash (left), waits for friends with son, Tyreik Hash (right), age 6, at the entrarance to Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke, Virginia during the 17th Annual Henry Street Heritage Festival.

Franklin County High School wrestler, Hunter Adams (middle, top), jumps in the air after winning his 140lb match against Lord Botetourt High School wrestler, Jamie Carr, in overtime at the Big Orange wrestling tournament held at William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia. Adams stopped Carr's attempt at 4 consecutive Big Orange titles. Franklin County won the tournament 222 points to Grundy's 205 and 1/2 points.
   
Cesar Vega (left), composes himself after being knocked down by Andrew Farmer from Front Royal, Virginia (middle, back) during the 139 lb fight at the Salem Civic Center. Fight Nite featured an eight-bout card including 12 fighters from Virginia,four of whom train in Roanoke.
   
High school track and field remains an unspoiled sport. There are no sponsorships, no multibillion-dollar television contracts, no stadiums named after banks, no kids skipping college to go pro, and no brawls.These high school kids give everything they have — sometimes more than their bodies can reasonably take. Go to a track meet, and you will see young athletes stepping just past the finish line and collapsing — sometimes throwing up from pushing themselves just a little too far.Jackie Zillioux from Cave Spring High School runs the anchor leg for the girls’ 1,600-meter relay, a race known for its ability to expend athletes. She made it several yards past the finish before falling to the grass next to the track, her face a portrait of pain and exhaustion. “Good job. … Keep moving. … On your feet. … Work it out,” said a meet volunteer, and soon Jackie was back on her feet, into the waiting arms of her teammates. They greeted her with smiles bigger than you have ever seen on pro athletes who have finished in third place.These were kids participating for the love of the sport in an atmosphere of respect and mutual support.This is the essence of sport.
     
  
   
Participants in a Big Wheel race, barrel down the city parking complex on Church Avenue in downtown, Roanoke, Virginia. The race was put on by an improv group called "Playing in Traffic", whose call to action is "we create scenes". Note...members of this group prefer to remain anonymous.
   
Blacksburg High School runner Kathleen Stevens (left) leads sister, Johanna Stevens (right) as an official rings the bell for the last lap of the girls 1600 meter race at the State AA Championship at Harrisonburg High School in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Saturday. Kathleen won the 1600 meter in 4:52:61 and Johanna was second with 4:53:04. Kathleen and Johanna are the #1 and #2 ranked 1600 meter runners in the United States.
     
  
he Coventry Commonwealth Games Virginia state arm wrestling championship came down to two men, the only two men who showed up for the tournament. Lienen Huang (left), a 47-year-old software engineer from Roanoke, Virginia squared off against 55-year-old Rick McChesney (right), a retired corrections officer from Staunton, Virginia. Huang, who is originally from China, said this was the first time he had entered an arm wrestling tournament. "My kids usually take part in chess tournaments in the summer, but they are visiting China now. I was bored, and thought that I would give it a shot". Huang won a decisive battle for the right hand championship. The left handed championship was won by McChesney who stormed back with three consecutive victories after losing the first round of a best of 5. After the competition the two men congratulated each other, shook hands and embraced. Walking offstage holding his arm, Huang said to McChesney "I heard something crack (in my arm)" during the last round. "Yeah", said McChesney. "I heard it too. Sounded like Rice Crispies".
   
"Finished Project". All-ACC pre-season second team pick, J.R. Reynolds, Roanoke native and senior guard for the Virginia Cavaliers, leads the team into the 2006-2007 season.
   
Blacksburg High School soccer player, Allistair Moore (middle, #10), screams as he celebrates his goal which tied the score at 1-1 with under a minute left in the game against Jefferson Forest High School. Blacksburg defeated Jefferson Forest 3-1 in a shootout after the game was tied through four overtimes in the AA State semifinal at Radford University. Blacksburg player, Sam Cooper (left, #27), Daniel Hiller (middle left, back, #17), and Brandon Brodkin (back, right, #18), as well as Jefferson Forest player, Dave Rochow (back, black jersey, #14) are also in the picture.
     
  
Portland Trailblazer, Darius Miles (23) gets his head caught in the net after a slam dunk against the New Orleans Hornets. The Blazers lost to the Hornets 80-91 at the Rose Garden.
   
Narrows High School baseball player, J.W. Lucas (#8) makes a diving stop on an infield hit, saving a run during the bottom of the first inning in the Region "C" Baseball Tournament game against Glenvar High School at Salem's Kiwanis Field on Friday afternoon. Glenvar defeated Narrows 2-1 in 12 innnings.
   
Robert Coleman, from Caroline High School, crashes into the sand at the end of his last long jump in the finals at the 2007 Group AA Boys and Girls State Track and Field meet in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Saturday. Coleman finished in fourth place.
     
  
Radford High School girls basketball player, Candice Akers (left, #50), fights for a rebound with Lee High School player, Chelsea Cluesman (right, #22), during the Group A Division 2 Girls State quarterfinal game held at the Salem Civic Center on Friday night. Lee defeated Radford 61-50.
   
Narrows High School freshman baseball catcher, Corey Lowe (middle, #6) is overcome with emotion in the dugout after losing the Region "C" Baseball Tournament game against Glenvar High School at Salem's Kiwanis Field on Friday afternoon. Glenvar defeated Narrows 2-1 in 12 innnings.
   
Cave Spring girls soccer player, Meredith Walker (middle, 12), heads a ball over Riverbend player, Carly Sulivan (left, 7) during Cave Springs' 0-5 loss at the VHSL State Championships Spring Jubilee held in Radford, Virginia on Friday.
     
  
After his first loss of the season, freshman Malik Mubeen, from Radford High, walks off of the court holding a teddy bear. Mubeen lost the A state final against 2-6, 1-6 to Logan Bricker from Page County. The teddy bear was a good luck charm carried by Mubeen to every match this year. "I learned alot from this loss", said Mubeen, "I will be back stronger next year."
   
Clarke County player, Danielle Moyer (right, #6), hugs teammate, Jull Hobbs (right, #5) after Moyer scored the winning goal during the Virginia High School League State Championship Group A Girls Soccer Final. Radford lost to Clarke County 1-0.
   
Joel Wagner (age 17), skims the water during a wakeboarding session on Smith Mountain Lake. Joel and his brother, Lee, are two up and coming wakeboarders who will compete in The 2007 Wake N Skate Board Shop Annual Wakeboard and Wakeskate Contest Saturday. Joel won last years competition.
     
  
As fellow hunt club member, Jimmy Brugh (right), looks on, Blake Craig waits to release his four hounds after they picked up a bear scent during a bear chase training session in the Jefferson National Forest near Arcadia in SW Virginia. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is in the process of studying the controversial topic of hunting with hounds in Virginia.
   
5' 8" Salem Avalanche outfielder, Orlando Rosales (12), goes airborne to make a leaping catch of a fly ball against the outfield wall at Memorial Baseball Stadium in Salem, Virginia. Orlando was participating in deep fly ball catching practice, getting instruction from Avalanche head coach, Jim Pankovits, and hitting coach and former MLB player, Chuck Carr.