The Shadow
While there have been lingering questions about the recent consolidation of Alleghany High School and Covington High School i.e., will the kids get along? Can they coexist? Work together? — those concerns certainly don’t seem to be playing a role in sports. In fact, the community has seen overwhelming success over the past few weeks in volleyball, track, football, and especially golf.
Archie Lemon, head coach of the Varsity Golf Team noted, “We had 23 kids come out for varsity golf this year which is just outstanding! Collectively, both schools combined never had that must interest in playing varsity golf.” There was so much interest, in fact, Alleghany High School is seeing their first-ever Junior Varsity Golf Team! Given that golf was first introduced to Alleghany High School in 1974, this feat is 49 years in the making.
Ironically enough, Archie Lemon —the same Archie Lemon coaching Varsity this year— not only joined Alleghany High School’s golf team, alongside his sister, Sandy, but he also won the championship. Following a highly successful golf career, Lemon recently returned to the area to give back to the community to coach Varsity Golf and help to grow interest in the sport. So far, it would seem he’s doing just that!
The Varsity Golf Team has a roster of 12, while the JV Golf Team, coached by Jerome Johnson, has a roster of 6. “Our area is rich in golf history,” Lemon says, as he went on to talk about golf champions Sean Ginger and Mark Fry, both of whom are from the area. Ginger went to Covington High School while Fry attended Bath County High School.
Lemon went on to talk about other opportunities for growing junior golf in the area and how he has personally seen a growing interest in the sport. “Since becoming golf coach, I’ve had people donate golf clubs, golf bags, golf balls and even a pull cart. That is a huge part of growing junior golf! Collectively, we can create an abundance of junior golfers. They are the future of the game.”
