High School Notebook: Tyler to coach Eagles

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

Claude Tyler will roam the sidelines once again.

The veteran coach has been hired to lead Fredericksburg Christian School’s girls basketball program.

Tyler was previously the boys basketball coach at Spotsylvania for the 2010–11 season. He was also the girls basketball coach at Riverbend in 2004–08 and at Spotsylvania in 1996–2004.

He compiled 203 victories, seven district titles and six district tournament titles in 12 years as a girls head coach. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Spotsylvania’s boys team.

“He’s a Christian guy with solid character, and that’s first for us when we’re looking for a coach,” FCS athletic director Chris Mandell said. “After that, knowing he’s coached both girls and guys at Spotsylvania and Riverbend, it was a no-brainer for us.”

Tyler replaces Jeff Shaeffer, who is now the middle school boys coach at FCS.

Shaeffer helped lead the Eagles (26–4 last season) to an appearance in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state semifinals last season. They have key players returning from that team, including second-leading scorer and top rebounder Brittany Burton (14.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game as a junior).

“We should be good again this year,” Mandell said. “We needed someone who can handle a team with a lot of returning players and talent.”

CARTER PICKS ASU

Spotsylvania senior girls basketball standout Bria Carter has orally committed to Appalachian State University. The 5-foot-11 forward is expected to sign a national letter of intent with the Mountaineers in November.

Carter was a first-team all-Battlefield District and all-Region I selection in 2010–11, but suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during the first game last season.

Carter chose ASU, which is located in Boone, N.C., over a scholarship offer from Radford.

“I think it was the atmosphere,” Carter said of why she picked the Mountaineers. “It was very lively. It’s like a little town in itself. It was perfect for me.”

Appalachian State finished 27–7 last season and won a share of the Southern Conference regular-season title. The Mountaineers’ season ended with a loss to Virginia in the Women’s NIT.

Carter said she was released by her doctor last week to resume basketball activities. She was provided a brace, but said she doesn’t need it. She said ASU’s coaches didn’t need much convincing that she would recover just fine.

“I didn’t have to show them anything,” Carter said. “I think my earlier work from before I got injured spoke for itself. They had faith in me that I could come back stronger and be a really good asset for their team.”

TRAVELING ABROAD

Massaponax junior Michael “Bo” Barry was a member of the Northern Mariana Islands Men’s National Soccer Team over the summer. Barry, who plays varsity football and soccer for the Panthers, played in the East Asian Football Federation Asian Cup preliminary competition in Guam. He also played for the NMI U14 and U15 national teams.

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526

tcoghill@freelancestar.com

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