The Blue Devil Report from Fork Union Military Academy's Athletic Department is your source for weekly updates on the Fork Union Blue Devils. Here's the latest from @FUMAathletics.
Want to view past issues of the Blue Devil Report? Find them all on our website.
Contents:
- Make sure you register for the 2022 Sports Hall of Fame!
- FUMA Athletics Recap
- Feature Stories: Prep Baseball, Prep Lacrosse, Track & Field
- Up Next in FUMA Athletics: Summer Camps
- Have You Joined the Athletic Director's Club?
Do you want to attend the Sports Hall of Fame?
The deadline to register for the Sports Hall of Fame is Monday, May 30.
The Fork Union Military Academy is excited to host the 2022 Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 4, celebrating the Class of 2022. This year’s class includes 1991 graduate Braxton Davenport, 1990 graduate Tyronne Drakeford, 1967 graduate Micky Sullivan and 1982 graduate Mike Young.
The Fork Union Sports Hall of Fame Weekend begins with a golf tournament on Friday, June 3 at the Spring Creek Golf Club. Tee times begin at 1 p.m. The Sports Hall of Fame Brunch kicks off the Saturday, June 4 festivities at 10:30 a.m. on Fork Union's campus in the Estes Dining Hall, followed by the Sports Hall of Fame Banquet at the Tavern on the Green at the Spring Creek Golf Club. A cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by the banquet dinner at 6:30 p.m.
To register for the Fork Union Military Academy Sports Hall of Fame Weekend, please click here.
Scores from the past two weeks:
Tuesday, May 10
- Prep Baseball vs. Trinity Episcopal School • W, 8-1
Wednesday, May 11
- Junior Prep Baseball vs. St. Christopher's School • W, 5-4
Thursday, May 12
- Prep Lacrosse vs. New Covenant School • W, 12-9
Saturday, May 14
- Outdoor Track & Field at Prep League Championships • 2nd
Saturday, May 21
- Outdoor Track & Field at VISAA State Championships • 2nd
Prep Baseball Finishes Season with an 8-1 Win over Trinity Episcopal School
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
FORK UNION, VA – The Fork Union Military Academy Prep baseball team finished the season with an 8-1 win over Prep League opponent Trinity Episcopal School Tuesday during the final week of regular season athletics.
The win helped the Blue Devils finish 10-6 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
Fork Union’s offense was impressive all game, scoring in four of its six innings at the plate. The Blue Devils got on board with a run in the first two innings and then pulled away with five runs in the third to gain the 7-0 lead.
After a run in the fifth, Trinity Episcopal tried to get their offense rolling with a run in the seventh but it was not enough for the Blue Devils. Braden Piersol led the squad with two hits, while Lance Gowans led the squad with two RBI.
Senior Connor Smith pitched all seven innings for the Blue Devils, recording 10 strikeouts, including 15 first pitch strikes.
Fork Union’s 10-6 record is the first 10-plus winning season since 2017.
Senior Connor Smith Earns All-Virginia Prep League Honors
FORK UNION, VA – Senior Connor Smith of the Fork Union Military Academy Prep baseball team earned 2022 All-Prep honors the Virginia Prep League announced Monday.
"Congratulations to Connor on his selection to the All-Prep team,” said head coach Roger Bowles. “We compete in a very competitive and talented league, and it is always nice when our student-athletes get the recognition they deserve. Connor has had two great seasons at Fork Union, and he will be hard to replace.”
Smith had a very impressive season on the mound for the Blue Devils, recording 100 strikeouts with just 11 walks in 53 innings pitched. The Midlothian, Virginia native started 8 of his 11 games on the mound and ended the season with a 1.45 ERA. At the plate, Smith recorded 18 hits, 14 RBI and 15 runs scored for a .383 batting average with 14 stolen bases. He was also the Jenson Baseball Award recipient this year, which goes to a baseball player that exhibits love of the game, competitiveness, desire to excel, sportsmanship, and team spirit. Smith shared the award with fellow senior Casey Labasky.
Smith has been enrolled at the Academy for two years and is the son of Shannon and Mark Smith. He will play baseball next year at Bridgewater College.
Prep Lacrosse Finishes the Season with a 12-9 Win over New Covenant School
Thursday, May 12, 2022
FORK UNION, VA – The Fork Union Military Academy Prep lacrosse team finished the season with a 12-9 win over New Covenant School Thursday during the final week of regular season athletics.
The win helped the Blue Devils finish 6-3 which included a five-game win streak to close out the year.
"I'm very proud of the way our boys ended the season this year,” said head coach Chip Chase. “After starting out 1-3, they bounced back and won five straight against some quality opponents. It was also our first winning season since I've been here which was a very important goal for us this season. I'm especially happy for our seniors, Oliver Hall, Eric Jones, Michael Luce and Austin Storm. Our final game against New Covenant was back and forth the entire time but we eventually pulled ahead thanks to great performances by Aiden Bailey, Lucas Yates, Austin Lenherr, Michael Marandure, and Eric Jones. Overall, I'm very happy with this season and can't wait to build on this success next year."
Fork Union finished with a winning record for the first time since the 2018 season.
Prior to the start of the game, the Academy honored its four seniors, Oliver Hall, Eric Jones, Michael Luce and Austin Storm.
Outdoor Track & Field Places Second at the Prep League Championships
RICHMOND, VA – The Fork Union Military Academy outdoor track and field program finished second at the Virginia Prep League Championships Saturday at the Collegiate School. The Blue Devils were led by the Julius brothers who helped the squad collect 58 out of Fork Union’s 97 points.
“It was all around a very good day for us,” said head coach Winston Brown. “We had good performances across the board. Mason Bligen was so close to winning the high jump. Obviously, it was a great day for Dominique Julius, who won the meet MVP. Dominic was outstanding as well, setting a meet record in the 400-meter. And it was great to close out the meet with a 4x400 win. Depth has been our only real problem this season. We are on to the State meet next weekend following graduation.”
Senior Dominique Julius shined, winning three individual events and helped a relay team to a gold medal to be named the Virginia Prep League Most Valuable Performer. The youngest Julius won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.73, the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.71 and cleared 23-03.00 in the long jump to win the gold. He also ran the first leg of the 4x400 relay to help his team to a 3:27.06 finish.
His twin brother, Dominic, ran the final leg of the 4x400 relay and won the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.41. He also took second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.83.
In addition to the Julius brothers, seniors Mason Bligen, Elijah Munoz, Robel Lulseged and Gavin Demorro also shined for the Blue Devils. Bligen cleared 6-feet in the high jump to place second overall and scored in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 18.33 to place eighth. Lulseged scored in two distance races, placing fourth in the 1600-meter run and sixth in the 800-meter run. Demorro placed fourth in the pole vault, clearing 12-06.00, while Munoz won a bronze in the discus with a 130-08 performance.
Caleb Davis, Sa’eed Dasher, Tobias Atkins and Sebastian Antoine-Pompey put together a time of 45.57 in the 4x100 relay to bring home the bronze medal.
Woodberry Forest came out on top, winning the championships with 206 points.
The Blue Devils continued their momentum at the VISAA State Championships Saturday, May 21 at Sports Backers Stadium.
Julius Brothers Finish Careers Leading FUMA to a Second Place Finish at VISAAs
RICHMOND, VA – Senior twin brothers Dominique and Dominic Julius helped lead the Fork Union Military Academy outdoor track and field program to a second-place finish at the VISAA State Championships this past Saturday at Sports Backers Stadium.
The duo scored 46 points to finish their Fork Union careers with two individual state titles each. Dominique Julius won the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.94 and took home the long jump title, clearing 23-00.50. Dominic Julius won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.98 and the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.16. He also placed third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.65.
“It was really a tremendous achievement for our team to finish second at the VISAA State Championships,” said head coach Winston Brown. “Our hats are off to Woodberry Forest for an incredible season. The heat was a real drawback, but we hung in there. Our seniors were fantastic today, especially Mason Bligen, Nhyiraba Asamadu Addo and Elijah Munos, who were all podium performers. Two other seniors that performed well were Robel Lulseged and Gavin Demorro. For Gavin, it was his first time scoring in the State meet. The ‘BIG 2’ were amazing again with four state titles between them. The sped-up schedule was all that kept them from an even bigger day. Dominique and Dominic Julius now go down as two of the very best the Academy has ever had. Best of luck to all our seniors, you will all be missed.”
Seniors Mason Bligen and Elijah Munoz also took home medals for the Blue Devils. Bligen cleared 6-feet, 2-inches in the high jump to place third overall, while Munoz threw 125-feet, 5 inches in the discus to take home a bronze medal also.
Senior Robel Lulseged finished his distance career with a sixth-place finish in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:06.30. Senior Gavin Demorro scored for the first time in his career in the pole vault, clearing 11-feet, 6-inches to place sixth. Senior Nhyiraba Asamadu Addo scored in both throwing events, placing fourth in the discus (121-10) and eighth in the shot put (42-7).
Woodberry Forest won the meet with a total of 214.5 points. Fork Union took second with a total of 74 points, while Collegiate School followed with 53 points.
Please make sure you continue to check the athletic website on a weekly basis, for all game updates.
If you haven't already, please download the Fork Union Athletics Mobile App for all game day information right at your fingertips!
Up Next in FUMA Athletics:
Football, Strength & Speed Camp
Friday, June 10 - Sunday, June 12
Football, Strength & Speed Camp is set for Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12. The camp is for boys ages 7 through 17 of all skill levels.
Father-Son Weekend
Friday, June 24 - Sunday, June 26
Father-Son Weekend is a weekend dedicated to father and sons who can utilize all the amenities the Academy has to offer.
Basketball School
Sunday, July 17 - Thursday, July 21
The 37th annual Basketball School is set for July 17-21 and is for boys and girls ages 7-17. This year the camp is under the direction of head postgraduate coach Bob Williams.
Being a member of the Athletic Directors Club helps the department with buying new equipment and uniforms, post-game meals, partial scholarships and much more!
