Presidents Award 2011

The WinS President's Award is intended to provide special recognition that is not necessarily covered by any of the categories and/or awards that we bestow. WinS recognizes a coach who has definitely left his mark not only in terms and wins and losses, but perhaps, even more so, by how he has touched the lives of the young women who played under his guidance.

Lance Rogers, Volleyball Coach - Western Albemarle High School

Lance Rogers has coached girls volleyball for 25 years. At the club level, he started the Metro Volleyball Club in Maryland, where his teams qualified for the U.S. National Tournament 4 years in a row. After moving to Charlottesville he served as an assistant at Albemarle High School for 6 years and was a co-founder and director of the Charlottesville Area Volleyball club.

In his 9 years as the head coach at Western, Lance compiled an overall record of 185-35. His record against Jefferson District opponents stands at an impressive 131-1. Lance led the Warriors to 9 consecutive regular season championships and 9 consecutive district tournament championships; he took the team to the state quarterfinals in 2007, 2008, and 2009. He was named Jefferson District coach of the year in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2010. Although retired from coaching volleyball, Lance continues to referee college volleyball matches.

Lance is a lawyer (although he claims he's "in recovery") and he once argued a murder case before the US Supreme Court. The WinS Court of Recognition 'serves' a President's Award to Coach Lance Rogers.

Once again this year we have the opportunity to recognize 'local trailblazers' for Women in Sport: Lauren Eklund, Whitney Pace and April Eckenrode. These young women pursue competition in the sport of their passion, golf, by playing on the boys golf team as it is the only option for them at this time.

Lauren Eklund, Junior Albemarle High School
Her coach said that "Lauren was our team MVP. She had a 78.6 stroke average and was 1st team all Commonwealth District. Lauren won the individual district championship with a 70 in our district tournament and she finished 5th in the Girls State Tournament out of 90 other girls. She helped our team to a 16-1 record."

Whitney Pace, Sophomore Monticello High School
Top 6 for ½ the season
Qualified for State Tournament

April Eckenrode, Junior Monticello High School
Qualified and competed in Regionals

For 'persistence to excel and create opportunities for those who follow' President's Awards are given to each of these three young women.