November 2024

President's Corner

A word from VAS President - Dan Foutz

To all our supporters, athletes, coaches, sponsors, and volunteers. 

It is that time of the year we look forward to the Star City Half Marathon, 10K & Kid’s Fun Run. The Star City Half is one of the area’s oldest endurance road races and is commonly known as “flat and fast with a bump in the road.” The race is also the final leg of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Triple Crown. We have an awesome post-race party featuring food from local restaurants such as the Texas Tavern, Montano’s, Canale’s BBQ, & the Roanoke Co+op. Beverages from Blue Ridge Beverage and music provided by DJ Flex make for a nice cool down after a crisp autumn run. There is still time to register, sign up now and join the fun. 

In this month’s edition we feature a Virginia Commonwealth Games athlete in swimming and track & field. Trent Hollandsworth has competed in both events however, swimming is his specialty as he seeks to make the Team USA and the goal to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA. Trent represents the New River Valley and at Virginia Amateur Sports we are proud to have had him compete in our Games and wish him luck in his future. 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It kicks off the holiday season, however, more importantly it is time when we gather with family and friends to give thanks and celebrate all we have. 

As always, we appreciate your support and participation. Continue to train, practice, and prepare and I look forward to seeing you all out there! 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Dan Foutz 



Kicking Down Barriers, Able Games Athletes Shine in Soccer

The Commonwealth Games Able Soccer event, hosted on October 24 at Coolwell Recreation Center in Amherst, was a night of soccer skill training and fun. Big thanks to MacKenzie Pigg, Ryan Pigg, and the Amherst High School Boys’ soccer team for coaching, assisting and inspiring the participants and their families. Thanks also to Moore’s Electrical & Mechanical for sponsoring the event. 

  


Commonwealth Games a Starting Block to a Standout Career

by Chris Moody, VA Contributor
From the Christiansburg Aquatic Center to the Olympic pool at the 2028 games in Los Angeles, Trent Hollandsworth’s journey will take him through Lynchburg, Blacksburg, and San Diego, among countless other towns and pools along the way.

Granted, the Olympics are a goal, but swimming for Team USA is a reasonable goal and not   a lofty pipe dream for the young man who is now a senior at Radford High School.

As he has made waves in the sport of swimming, Trent counts at least five trips to Lynchburg and the Commonwealth Games as primers in his standout career as a scholastic and club swimmer.

As Hollandsworth commences his senior season, he is already a Virginia High School League state champion six times over, winning one team championship and five titles as an individual – three times the winner of the 200m individual medley and twice the champion in the 100m breaststroke.

Breast is Trent’s primary stroke. He is fast enough that he beat Olympian Thomas Heilman, the top swimming recruit in the U.S. in their Commonwealth Games meeting in the breaststroke.

Hollandsworth started swimming at age 8 and was clearly a natural. By the time he was 10 he was qualifying for zones – the regional meets put on by USA Swimming. His first Commonwealth Games came at age 11 and he loved everything about the meet. It was when Trent was 14, the top of his age bracket, that he won the majority of his 15 Commonwealth Games medals.

“The Commonwealth Games are a fun time,” Hollandsworth said. “Those huge, chunky medals are what everyone wants.”
 
(Read More)
 


Upcoming Special Events

Registration for the Star City Half Marathon, 10K and Kids Miler 

Click Here for More info!

 

Volunteers Needed

Seeking volunteers to help with the event finish line, coat check, water stations, food drive, road marshals and more!
Register at this link 
 

Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons


 

Win-Win!

Buy discounted tickets for Liberty University’s last home Football Game against Western Kentucky University on November 23, at 1 pm and a portion of the ticket will benefit Virginia Amateur Sports!

Link to Tickets
Deadline to buy tickets is November 23 at 11am



Save the Date for the 2025 Virginia Commonwealth Games at Liberty University/Lynchburg –
Main Games Weekend July 18-20


 
 
         
 
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