​The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® relies on thousands of volunteers, and each year these community members answer the call to support the festival in a variety of ways.  Volunteers from all backgrounds and varying interests come together to plan out and execute over 50 events in a 10-day period.  The festival serves as an annual fundraising opportunity for many local non-profits including youth organizations like scout groups, school bands and civic clubs, and church youth groups, just to name a few.  These groups raise money through the sale of parade seats, souvenir programs, and concessions along the parade route.  Other non-profits are assigned meaningful tasks in exchange for a contribution by assisting with event set up and tear down, parking, and other responsibilities.
 
Every year, challenges arise as the festival is being planned. Some challenges are small in nature while others are massive voids that require creative thinking and additional resources.  Our 97th festival was not immune to these challenges.  As festival leaders, public safety officials and private security firms worked together to finalize the emergency plan, a last-minute predicament was averted with the support of several local organizations and citizens who answered the call for help. 
 
Dr. Tracy Fitzsimmons and the Shenandoah University football program answered the call to fill a last-minute void with traffic management for the parades. “In a matter of 30-minutes, Tracy (Fitzsimmons), made several calls to her athletic teams to cover traffic control points along the parade route for Friday’s Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade and Saturday’s glofiber Grand Feature Parade,” stated Brad Veach, Executive Director of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®.  Under the direction and leadership of Coach Scott Yoder and his coaching staff, the Shenandoah University football team assembled their team, was briefed by public safety officials, and worked alongside Winchester Public Services, Emergency Management and the Police Department to ensure the parade perimeter was safe.  The SU student-athletes filled a total of 90 spots over two days: 50 traffic control spots on Friday and another 40 spots on Saturday.  In exchange for the tremendous support from Shenandoah University, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is contributing to the University’s football team to purchase new safety equipment for the program. "I have always been proud of our SU student athletes.  They stepped up and answered the call when the Winchester community needed them.  We are proud to be a part of the Apple Blossom weekend,” stated Scott Yoder, Head Football Coach at Shenandoah University.  “The festival is grateful for the strong partnership that we have with Shenandoah University, and this is just another example of how SU gives back to the community.  Tracy, her leadership team, and the SU students do amazing things all the time. I believe I can speak for our community when I say thank you to Shenandoah University for instilling a sense of community on campus and encouraging students to give back in meaningful ways,” stated Sharen Gromling, President of the festival.
 
Earlier in the day on Saturday, several residents and a team from the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association joined forces with Public Services, Emergency Management and the Police Department to provide traffic control for the Valley Health 10K race. A call for help was sent out less than 24 hours before the race start time and the residents and motorcycle club assembled nearly twice as many volunteers than were needed to cover each intersection along the race route. 
 
The Festival also recognizes and appreciates the tremendous amount of work that our city and county municipal employees put into making sure our events are successful and safe.  Without them, we would not have a festival. Oftentimes this means working overtime to help with trash collection, street sweeping, inspections, public safety, and other tasks.  When possible, the Festival attempts to offset overtime pay to minimize the impact on local tax dollars.
 
“These are just a few examples of how the Winchester-Frederick County community came together this year to ensure our hometown festival was safe and enjoyable for everyone.  It’s gratifying to know that we live in a community that cares for one another and are willing to step in when necessary to ensure our 97th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® was a success and participants were safe,” states Veach.
 
Volunteerism is the life blood of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® and recruitment is a year-round effort.  The Festival welcomes you to join our team. Visit https://www.thebloom.com/volunteer to complete the volunteer inquiry form.
 
Photo Credit: Michael Brannon, Photography Chair, Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®

​The Malloy Toyota Country Music Party scheduled for Saturday evening, May 4, 2024 at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics and Events Center on the campus of Shenandoah University has sold out all reserved seating however the Festival has opened 300 additional standing room only tickets and are priced at $40.00/each.  The Tolley Dental Zone doors open at 7:00 pm and a special performance by season 24 winner of The Voice, Huntley will begin at 7:15 pm.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, special guest Davisson Brothers Band is unable to perform this year but local favorite, Ronnie Wolford & 50 West will step in and perform at 8:00 pm.  Headliner, Chayce Beckham will take the stage at 10:00 pm.
 
“The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival’s Malloy Toyota Country Music Party has been a popular event for many years, and we are pleased to be a stop on Chayce Beckham’s Bad for Me Tour and to welcome The Voice winner, Huntley and Ronnie Wolford & 50 West to our big stage.  Chayce’s recent top Country Hit “23” has increased the demand for tickets to the May 4th concert and we are excited to open up an additional 300 tickets to meet the demand, “states Bradley Veach, Executive Director for the Festival.
 
Tickets to the show are available online at www.thebloom.com/events.  For more information about the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, please visit www.thebloom.com, call (540) 662-3863 or contact us at [email protected]. 

​The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is pleased to announce that festival fans can watch the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade and the glofiber Grand Feature Parade on several local television channels and stream it on the festival’s website at www.thebloom.com.
 
The Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade will air starting at 5:30 pm on Friday, May 3, 2024 on the following:
 
Live streaming at www.thebloom.com
VA- Comcast - Channel 6
VA- Glofiber – Channel 7
WV- Comcast – Channel TV 10, Talk Radio WRNR
 
The glofiber Grand Feature Parade will air starting at 2:00 pm on the following:
 
Live streaming at www.thebloom.com
DC NEWS NOW – WDVM
VA- Comcast - Channel 6
VA-Glofiber – Channel 7
WV- Comcast - Channel TV 10, Talk Radio WRNR
 
Parade goers can reserve seats from the Festival by visiting www.thebloom.com/events.  Reserved seat locations and prices are listed below:
 
Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade steps off at 5:30 pm on Friday, May 3, 2024
$10.00 Cork St
$10.00 Handley Library
$10.00 Handley Blvd
$15.00 Handley Blvd Queen's Garden
 
glofiber Grand Feature Parade steps off at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2024
$15.00 Cork St.
$15.00 Handley Library
$15.00 Handley Blvd (North and South)
$25.00 Handley Blvd Queen's Garden
 
In addition to Festival seating options listed above, local youth non-profits will sell seating along the parade route at various prices. Seat sales by these organizations are great fundraisers for them, and we encourage you to consider supporting these groups. 
 
Festival goers can learn about important information on the City of Winchester website at www.winchesterva.gov/news-happenings/events/apple-blossom.  Information includes road closures and detours, safety tips, parking, medical aid station locations, bag checks, and prohibited items.
 
Designated accessible parking is available at the John Handley High School parking lot located along Handley Blvd. Only those with a handicap license plate or placard will gain access to this area. The parking lot can be accessed by traveling on South Stewart Street to West Cecil Street to Handley Avenue. A map to the designated accessible parking lot can be downloaded by visiting www.winchesterva.gov/news-happenings/events/apple-blossom.
 
For more information about the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, please visit www.thebloom.com, call (540) 662-3863 or contact us at [email protected]. 

For the first time in the history of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® three consecutive generations in a family will have served as Queen Shenandoah.  Susan Ford Bales, Queen in 1975, and Tyne Vance Berlanga, Queen in 2001, will be accompanying Joy Elizabeth Berlanga as she assumes her role as Queen Shenandoah XCVII. 
 
The Crowning Ceremony entertains from regal pomp and circumstance to joyful enthusiasm of Little Maids and Pages who are ever present to serve their Queen.  The youthful court interchange historical and educational facts from the British Crown to learning about a United States President – to asking, “Who has the Crown?,”  and with dancing.  The Queen will be crowned at the memorable Coronation celebration under the direction of Elaine B. Aikens.  The Ceremony to install the new sovereign is sponsored by Morgan Orthodontics, on Friday, May 3 at 1:30 p.m.at Handley High School. President Gerald Ford crowned Susan. Susan crowned Tyne, and Joy will be crowned by her mother and escorted by her grandmother.
 
Susan, Joy’s grandmother, is a Virginia native and now resides in Texas. She is the daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford.  Susan is the mother of two daughters, Tyne Berlanga and Heather Deavers, five grandchildren, Joy Elizabeth Berlanga, Cruz Vance Berlanga, Elizabeth Blanch Deavers, Jude Deavers, and Sullivan Bales, and three stepsons, Kevin, Matthew, and Andrew Bales.
 
Susan was raised in Alexandria, Virginia and attended Holton Arms School and the University of Kansas, where she studied photojournalism.  She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree, an Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.  She is the author of two novels set in the White House, “Double Exposure: A First Daughter Mystery”, and its sequel, “Sharp Focus.”
 
Susan is the Ship’s Sponsor for the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), which she officially christened on November 9, 2013.   On April 8, 2016, in recognition of her service as the Ship’s Sponsor, she was named an Honorary Naval Aviator by the United States Navy, becoming only the 31st American to receive this distinction.  And history was made with her selection – Susan is the first woman to be chosen as an Honorary Naval Aviator.
 
During her high school years, Susan lived in the White House and served as official White House hostess following her mother’s surgery for breast cancer in 1974.  In 1984, she and her mother helped launch National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Susan subsequently served as national spokesperson for breast cancer awareness.  Since the founding of the Betty Ford Center in 1982, Susan worked side by side with her mother on projects at the Center and was elected to the Center’s Board of Directors in 1992.  She succeeded her mother as Chairman of the Board 2005-2010, and currently serves on the board of directors of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. 
 
In addition to her many charitable public service activities, Susan serves as Co-Trustee of the President Gerald R. Ford Historical Legacy, Trustee, Trustee of the Elizabeth B. Ford Charitable Trust, and the Honorary Advisory Committee of the Children’s National Medical Center.
 
Tyne, mother of Joy, Queen-designate, resides in Frisco, TX with her husband Hector and two children, Joy and Cruz.  She serves as a marketing manager for Western Son. With a passion for community involvement, Tyne sits on multiple school booster club boards for all her children’s activities.
 
On Tyne’s departure as Queen she reflected, “It was easy to be kind, gracious and humble Queen when surrounded by the people of Winchester.  My five-day reign as Queen Shenandoah was an occasion that will have a special place in my heart. I have formed friendships and made memories that will hopefully stay with me for a long time to come. On Sunday morning I was doing an exit interview with one of the reporters and he asked me, "If l had a daughter would I let her be Queen?" My answer was immediately "Yes, if she's lucky enough to be given this opportunity."   Now, Tyne eagerly anticipates returning to Winchester where Joy is set to embark on a remarkable journey, echoing Tyne's own experiences from 23 years prior. It’s truly heartwarming to be able to share this moment with both her mother and daughter.  
 
The Queen and her family will ride in the Hang 10 Firefighters’ Parade Friday evening at 5:30 and the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m.   Queen-designate Joy and her family will be making appearances at Festival events during the weekend.

​WINCHESTER, VA– The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to participate in the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday May 4th, 2024. Additionally, Virginia Eagle Distributing will be hosting a meet and greet at their local warehouse on Wednesday May 1st, 2024. The public is invited to get up close and personal with these gentle giants from 6-8pm. The warehouse is located at 3425 Valley Pike Winchester, VA 22602.

The Clydesdales’ appearance in Winchester is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches.  Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800’s. Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.

Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.

A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.

The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Grant’s Farm in St. Louis, MO. They also may be viewed at Warm Springs Ranch, the 300-plus acre Clydesdale breeding farm located near Boonville, MO.

Archie Manning, of the Manning family quarterback legacy, philanthropist, football analyst, award winner will be welcomed as Sport Marshal of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® by Sharen Gromling, Festival president.
 
When people think of Archie Manning, they think football. But Archie’s appeal transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have been inspired by his warm personality, his drive and sense of humor. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional, and national companies. For 25 years he hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable and civic causes.
 
Archie was born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Mississippi. He attended the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American Quarterback and his #18 is retired. He was voted Mississippi’s Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992 and was named Mississippi’s Most Popular Athlete of the Century. He was elected to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-1990), named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and he and his son Peyton were named among the 100 All-Time Greatest College Football Players. Archie was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and is a member of other Halls of Fame including the Gator Bowl and Sugar Bowl and Louisiana and Mississippi Halls of Fame. He was named an American Spirit Medallion honoree by the World War II Museum and received the SEC’s Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award. In December 2022, Archie was recognized by the National College Football Awards Association for his contributions to college football.
 
In 1971, Archie was the second player chosen in the NFL draft – the number one draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints passing records, played in Pro Bowls, and was named the NFC Most Valuable Player in 1978. He concluded his 15-year career in 1985. He was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame and was in the first class of the Saints Ring of Honor. He was named to the All 50th Saints team, recognized as one of the top 50 players in franchise history. He was also drafted four times by major league baseball.
 
His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and is Chairman of the Board of the National Football Foundation. While in pro football, Archie received the Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the U.S. Jaycees named him one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans. In 2005 Archie received the Legends award from the Davey O’Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life’s coaches, from the Cal Ripken Foundation. Archie was honored by the United States Sports Academy with the 2006 Distinguished Service Award. He was selected Father of the Year by the National Father’s Day Council. Also, he received the Silver Buffalo, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award. Archie received the Reds Bagnell Award from the Maxwell Football Club, was the 51st winner of the Bert Bell Award, and was honored at the Super Bowl in New Orleans with the Pat Summerall Award. He was honored by the American Football Coaches Association and received the Distinguished American award from the Walter Camp Foundation. Archie and his wife Olivia were recipients of the National Pathfinder Award for their work in post-Hurricane Katrina. Archie received one of the highest honors in football, the Gold Medal Award, presented by the National Football Foundation. This award has gone to seven Presidents, Admirals and Generals, corporate CEOs, and other distinguished Americans.
 
Archie and Olivia reside in New Orleans and have three sons, Cooper, Peyton, and Eli. They are the proud grandparents of four boys and five girls.
 
Cooper was an all-state high school athlete and his football career at Ole Miss ended with a spinal cord injury. He is Senior Managing Director at the hotel/real estate firm, AJ Capital Partners. He is also the host of “The 2 Cooper Manning Hour (minus 58 minutes)” on Fox Sports. Cooper’s son, Arch, was rated the #1 high school player in the country in 2022. He is currently a quarterback at the University of Texas.
 
Peyton is a former All-American at Tennessee where his #16 is retired. He and Archie are the only father/son duo in the College Football Hall of Fame. He was the first player chosen in the 1998 NFL Draft and spent 18 years in pro football. He was named one of the top 10 pro football quarterbacks of all time. Peyton was selected to 14 Pro Bowls and named the NFL MVP five times. He retired as the NFL all-time leader in yardage, touchdown passes and wins. He quarterbacked the Colts and the Broncos to Super Bowl championships. Peyton was the NFL Man of the Year in 2006. Indianapolis unveiled a statue of Peyton in front of Lucas Oil Stadium and retired his #18. He has hosted the ESPYs and received the Lincoln Award from the White House. He was named one of the top 100 players in college and pro football. Tiger Woods and Peyton teamed up to win The Match, raising $20 million for COVID-19 relief. He was recently elected to the NFL Hall of Fame.
 
Eli was also an All-American at Ole Miss and has had his #10 retired. He won the Maxwell Award as the top player in college football. He was the first player chosen in the 2004 NFL draft. He was selected to four Pro Bowls and led the Giants to world championships in Super Bowl XLII (42) and XLVI (46) and was named MVP of both games. He was named the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. Eli won the 2020 Bart Starr Character and Leadership Award and the “Good Guy” award, selected by the Pro Football Writers of America. Eli retired after 16 years with the Giants and his #10 was retired by Ole Miss and New York.
 
Archie, Cooper, Peyton and Eli were inducted into the inaugural class of the National High School Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
 
Archie and Peyton wrote a book entitled “Manning: A Father, His Sons and A Football Legacy”. Peyton and Eli also wrote a children’s book entitled “Family Huddle”. Archie and his boys have operated the Manning Passing Academy, a summer camp for high school quarterbacks and receivers, for 27 years. Archie is an owner of Manning’s, a sports-themed restaurant on Fulton Street in New Orleans.
 
In honor of the Mannings’ college football accomplishments, the Sugar Bowl has created the Manning Award to go to the nation’s best college quarterback. The Manning family was named the second most inspiring family in America by Town & Country Magazine. They were featured in a highly rated documentary on ESPN entitled “The Book of Manning.
 
Manning will be a speaker at the Partlow Sports Breakfast in the Tolley Dental Zone at the James R. Wilkins, Jr, Athletic and Events Center on the Shenandoah University campus on Saturday, May 4 at 8 a.m.  That afternoon he will be riding in the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade, which will step off at 1:30 p.m.

​Sydney Spencer, representing the Prince William County Fair, was crowned Miss Virginia Association of Fairs 2024 during their 106th conference.  Sharen Gromling, President of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is pleased to announce that Sydney will be a special guest at the upcoming springtime Festival event.
 
Sydney graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre. She is a member of Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor fraternity and Alpha Phi sorority. At CNU, she served as Director of Philanthropy for the Theta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi. A resident of Dumfries, Sydney graduated from the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at Colgan High School where she also excelled in athletics, earning first-team all-district honors in field hockey. She is pursuing a career in acting with a focus on television and film.
 
Sydney is a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness and women’s heart health, a passion deeply rooted in her mother’s remarkable journey as a cancer survivor. She has raised close to $15,000 for various women’s health initiatives, including access to free mammograms for low-income women in Virginia.
 
During her year of service, Sydney will travel across Virginia serving as the official ambassador for the Virginia Association of Fairs at many fairs and festivals.  She will also be the spokesperson for the Miss VAF community service program, “Read to Succeed” that, in just a few years, has collected over 55,000 books.  The VAF serves its members through representation, education, information, and direction which will enhance their productivity, economic viability, and administrative capability, thus enhancing the economic growth, development, and quality of life of Virginia communities.
 
Sydney will be attending many events during the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® on May 3 and 4.

​Katie Rose, Miss Virginia 2023, is thrilled to say, “I’m honored to represent Virginia and very excited to make an everlasting impact on the place I call home.”  

The Winchester native captured the crown in July of 2023 during the annual Miss Virginia Pageant held at the Berglund Center in Roanoke. Competing as Miss Loudoun County, Katie won a total of $22,500 in cash scholarships.

Katie is an accomplished ballerina and performed a classical ballet en pointe in the talent competition. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics from George Mason University.

As Miss Virginia, she promotes her community service initiative, “Ending Domestic Violence by Empowering Women and Enabling Reform,” inspired by her own personal story of surviving domestic violence. Katie works with women’s shelters across the Commonwealth to ensure women not only survive, but thrive. She also teaches our youth about the importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Katie promotes healthy choices and substance abuse prevention to students in Virginia’s elementary schools as spokeswoman for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s Miss Virginia School Tour program.

During her year as Miss Virginia, Katie also makes personal appearances to promote local businesses and non-profits, while traveling thousands of miles across the Commonwealth speaking about the tremendous impact of the Miss America and Miss Virginia Organizations. In January, Katie represented Virginia in the Miss America Competition at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida.

Chase Ford, Millbrook High School
​
Chase Ford is a senior at Millbrook High School, where he has distinguished himself as a student-athlete. He boasts a three-year tenure on the Varsity basketball team and has been a member of the varsity baseball team for four years, starting in the outfield for three of those seasons. He has received 1st team All-Northwestern District and receipt of All-Region 4D honors for his contributions to the basketball team. On the baseball diamond, Ford has been a consistent three-year starter in the outfield, earning recognition with All-District and All-Area Honors during his sophomore year, followed by another standout season in which he was named 1st team All Northwestern District and received All-Region 4D honors as a junior. Additionally, Chase Ford maintains an exceptional academic record, boasting a 4.0 GPA. His dedication and talent have been recognized by Bridgewater College, where he has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the collegiate level.

McKenna Newcome, James Wood High School

McKenna Newcome has earned 4 varsity letters at James Wood High School in soccer. Prior to a medical condition this year, she has been the starting attacking center midfielder for the Colonels since freshman year accumulating 57 goals and 56 assists. As a Freshman, McKenna was named to the All-Region 2nd team. Sophomore year, she was named the Winchester Star Girls Soccer Player of the Year, District Player of the Year, Region Player of the Year, and 2nd Team All-State. As captain during her junior year, she was recognized as Winchester Star All-Area 1st Team, District Player of the year, Region Co-Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State, Colonels team MVP and helped lead her team to both their district championship and first-ever. state tournament berth. As a junior, she also earned the title of James Wood’s All-Time Assist Leader. While the beginning of her senior season has been impacted by her medical diagnosis, she continues to lead/inspire her team as captain from the sidelines. Along with high school, McKenna has balanced playing travel soccer for the ECNL Loudoun Soccer Club in Leesburg, VA, where she accumulated accolades within her conference (National Selection Games in FL and NJ, All-Conference 1st and 2nd teams). She has worked hard to maintain her academic standing at the very top of her class with a current GPA of 4.4 as well as attending Mountain Vista Governor’s School. She is a member of Key Club & the National Honor Society. McKenna has signed her NCAA National Letter of Intent with Marshall University to play soccer in the fall.

Emmanuel Lusca, John Handley High School 

Manno Lusca, a senior at John Handley High School, earned 9 varsity letters (3 Football, 3 Indoor Track, 3 Track).  He was a three-year starter for the Judges on the gridiron.  His senior year he led the Judges to the Class 4 Northwestern District Football Championship; winning the Barr-Lindon Crimson Apple along the way.  The Winchester Star’s Offensive Player of the Year was second in the area with 1,344 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns and 108 points. He was named the Class 4 Northwestern District’s Offensive MVP and made First Team All-Region 4D and All-District as a linebacker and running back.  As a track athlete, Manno competed in the 55m and 4x200 relay in Indoor Track and the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay in Outdoor Track winning multiple District, Region, and State honors.  He is a member of the Black Student Union and the Varsity Club.  Manno has a 3.3 GPA and has signed a letter of intent with Emory & Henry College to play football. 

Elisa Velasquez, Shenandoah University

Elise Velasquez has played field hockey at Shenandoah University since 2020 appearing in 66 games and making 59 starts.  Elise has been a stalwart on the defensive side of the ball, earning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Defensive Player of the Year for the last two seasons.  Elise has been recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) for her outstanding play as a Third-Team All-American.  Elise has also earned NFHCA All-Region honors three times and Elise has also earned NFHCA academic honors on the National Academic Squad.  The Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) has recognized Elise with All-State honors twice.  Elise’s leadership is evident as she has been a team captain for the last three seasons and Velasquez and her team have compiled a 54-13 record over her time as a Hornet.  Elise is an exercise science and business major at Shenandoah and has a 3.894 GPA and will be back for her Covid year working towards a master’s degree at Shenandoah.  

Jaclyn Grace Clark, Warren County High School

Jaclyn Grace Clark has earned 7 varsity letters at Warren County High School in Soccer and Basketball. She has been a 4-year starter for the Varsity Basketball team, and a 3-year starter for the Varsity Soccer team. She has played AAU basketball for 8 years and Soccer for 6 years. She served as the Varsity Basketball Team Captain for 2 years and was named the Most Valuable Player for both her Junior & Senior Years. She was selected to Northwestern District 1st teams as both a Junior & Senior, Region 3B 2nd team as a Junior, and Region 3B 1st Team as a Senior. She was named the Warren County Soccer Defensive Player of the Year and earned All District and Regional Honors. Jaclyn earned the Northern Virginia Daily All Area Team in both Soccer and Basketball for multiple years. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Warren County Athletics Student Council, and the Family Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Jaclyn has a GPA of 3.9 and has received an offer to play basketball at Randolph Macon College and has also been accepted to Virginia Tech and James Madison University.

Aidan Vaught, Skyline High School

Aidan Vaught has earned 5 varsity letters at Skyline High School (4 football/1 basketball). He will earn a 6th varsity letter for outdoor track at the end of the season. Aidan was a 4-year varsity starter in football and captain of the team his junior and senior years.   Aidan’s freshman year, he was selected 1st team All-Area and All-District kick returner and 2nd team All-Region kick returner. Aidan’s sophomore year, he was selected 1st team All-Area running back, 1st team All-District running back and kick returner and 2nd team All-region running back. Aidan’s junior year, he was selected 1st team All-Area offensive all purpose and punt returner, 2nd Team All-Area defensive back,1st Team All District offensive all purpose, kick returner and punt returner, 2nd team All- district defensive back, 1st team All-Region offensive all purpose, kick returner and punt returner, 2nd team All-State kick returner and punt returner. Aidan’s senior year he was selected 1st Team All-Area running back, 2nd Team All-Area punt returner, 1st Team All-District running back and kick returner, 1st Team All-Region running back and 2nd Team All-Region punt returner.   Aidan is the current record holder at Skyline High School for career rushing yards, kick return yards, punt return yards, career all-purpose yards, career touchdowns, and single game rushing yards. Aidan also holds several weightroom records at Skyline High School. Aidan was voted Offensive Player of the Year by his teammates his sophomore, junior, and senior years.  Aidan rushed for 452 yards on 26 carries with 5 touchdowns in our win vs. Meridian High School (34-20) in October 2023. That ranks him as the 8th most rushing yards in VHSL history in a single game.  Aidan has a 3.3 GPA. He plans to attend Ferrum College to continue his football and academic career majoring in Business Management.

Will Booker, Clarke County High School

Will Booker has earned 8 varsity letters at Clarke County High School (3 football/3 basketball/2 track) He has been a 3-year starter at the cornerback position and a 2-year starter at the running back/wingback position in football. In his 3 years playing varsity football, he has earned 1st Team Bull-Run District and 1st Team All Region 2B cornerback all 3 years. His junior year he received, 1st Team All Bull-Run and 1st Team and All Region 2B at the running back position. Will’s senior season he was awarded 1st Team All-State at cornerback in the Class 2 division. Will Booker was elected 1st Team Defense in the Winchester Star all 3 years of varsity football. In Basketball, Will has been a 3-year starter at the varsity level and earned 1st Team Bull-Run, 1st Team All Region, and 1st Team All Area in the Winchester Star his junior year. In his senior year he received, 2nd Team Bull-Run District and 1st Team All Region 2B. He ran track his sophomore year and placed 3rd in High Jump in Regionals his sophomore year and has placed top 3 in many invitationals in the 2022 season. He was also a part of the 4x1 team that year. He is now in his senior season for track and plans to earn even more medals in his events than he did his sophomore year.  In the weight room, Will has earned the Iron Eagle award which is lifting over 1200 combined pounds within bench, squat and hang clean.   Will has a GPA of 3.677 and plans to go to a college of his choice in the fall of 2024.

Dylan McGraw, Sherando High School

Dylan McGraw has accumulated a total of 11 varsity letters across Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track while at Sherando High School.  For the last two years, Dylan has been designated as a Team Captain. He concluded his high school cross country career with the second-fastest time ever for Sherando, earning All-State Honors with a 5th place finish at the 2023 VHSL Class 4 Cross Country State Championship. In addition, Dylan secured All-State Honors once again at the 2024 VHSL Class 4 Indoor Track State Championship, with a 6th place finish in the 1600m run and contributing to a new school record as the anchor of the 4x800m relay team, which also placed 6th. His performances have earned top-ranking positions on the Sherando All-Time Indoor Track list. He holds the #1 time for the 3200m run and the 2nd fastest time in the 1600m run. Dylan was named the 2023 NVDaily Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year and earned Winchester Star All-Area First Team Honors in 2022 and 2023. 
Dylan has a 3.3 GPA and has committed to University of Lynchburg and will compete in Cross Country, Indoor Track & Outdoor Track.

Gaven Vaughn, Mountain View Christian Academy

Gaven Vaughn has earned 8 varsity letters as a senior at Mountain View Christian Academy (1 cross country, 1 soccer, 3 baseball, and 3 basketball). He has been a captain of the basketball team the past 2 years, baseball last year, and soccer this year. In his sophomore year, he earned the Coach’s Award for baseball and was the Male Scholar-Athlete of the year. During his junior year, he achieved the Coach’s Award for cross country and Leadership Award for baseball. As a senior he earned the Winchester Star spotlight for soccer. Gaven has been a 3-year starter at shortstop for baseball and a 2-year starter for basketball. He has a 4.0 GPA and intends to join the Air Force this fall. 

Lillian Blevins, Legacy Christian Academy
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Lillian Blevins a standout senior at Legacy Christian Academy. Lillian was 4-year player on both varsity basketball and volleyball teams.  She served as the basketball captain during her junior year. She has is a member of the National Honor Society. Lillian’s integrity and character earned her the esteemed Good Character Award and the honor of Homecoming Queen. In addition to her commitments at Legacy, Lillian channels her artistic passion through ballet at Rhythm Studio.  Lillian has a 4.0 GPA.  She has been awarded the prestigious Presidential Scholarship to Cedarville University, a testament to her academic achievements, leadership qualities, and potential for future success.

​Excellence, leadership, dedication, and compassion can be used to describe Chris Garber and Jimmy Omps for their years of contributions to the youth and sports of the Apple Blossom Region and beyond.   Their outstanding athletic careers, from participant to leader, have made a difference.  Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is truly honored to announce they will be inducted into the 4th Apple Blossom Sports Hall of Fame at the Partlow Insurance Sport Breakfast. The Breakfast will be held at the Tolley Dental Zone at James R. Wilkins Athletic & Events Center on the Shenandoah University campus, Saturday, May 4, at 8 a.m.

Chris Garber

Chris Garber graduated from Handley High School in 1975. Her amazing athletic career at Handley was highlighted by her winning the 1975 AA Girls State Tennis Championship. This made her Handley's first female State Champion. After high school, she attended Radford College, majoring in Health and Physical Education, and starring at the #1 Player position on the Radford Tennis Team for three consecutive years. Post graduation, Chris received a master’s degree in Sports Education from Eastern Kentucky University, and a master’s degree in educational administration from Shenandoah University. She then spent 34 years in Education as a teacher and/or administrator. Simultaneously, she was a highly successful basketball and tennis coach. During her stellar career, she won a AA State Girls Basketball Championship at Radford High School, a AA State Girls Tennis Championship at Radford High School, and two AA State Girls Tennis Championships at Handley High School. 

Chris served as the first female Athletic Director in Rockingham County at Broadway High School, and as the first female Athletic Director in Frederick County at Millbrook High School. Chris was inducted into the John Handley Hunter Maddox Hall of Fame as a player (the first female to be so honored) and into the Radford High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach. Chris offers the following quote to summarize her success: "John Handley High School afforded me the opportunity to strive and to achieve my professional aspirations with great mentors in Jimmy Omps and Nikki Isherwood. Two other individuals that have been huge influences in my career were Norman Lineburg at Radford High School, and my brother, Chip Garber. I have been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to have the opportunity to have coached some very talented high school athletes."

Chris was the first female athlete inducted into the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Radford High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach.

James Omps

James Michael "Jimmy" Omps was born August 4th, 1935, in a farmhouse on the Kernstown Civil War Battlefield in Kernstown, Virginia, now a southern section of the City of Winchester. His education began at John Handley High School in Winchester, graduating from there with the Class of 1953. After high school, Jimmy graduated from Shepherd College in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, graduated from the University of Virginia in 1969 with a master’s degree in Secondary Education, and, in 1989, he received his certification as a Certified Athletic Administrator from the NIAAA. Jimmy started his professional experience as a math teacher and a basketball and track coach at Martinsburg Junior High School from 1957-1959. In 1959, he began his long and storied association with his alma mater, John Handley High School, again teaching math and coaching basketball and track. In 1967, he became Handley's Head Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, and Physical Education Instructor, and in 1986, he became Handley's Director of Student Activities, a position he held until his retirement from the Winchester Public School system in 1995.
 
Some interesting odds and ends from the life of Jimmy Omps would include the fact that he set the John Handley long jump record in 1953 at 20' 6-7/8"; the fact that he started as a Freshman on the Shepherd College basketball team and lettered all four years at Shepherd; the fact that he set the court record at the old National Guard Armory on Millwood Avenue in Winchester by scoring 68 points in a game on March 4th, 1954 (no 3-point shots in those days); and the fact that, from 1960 to 1966, he served as a medic with the Air National Guard in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Jimmy's Official Bio lists 26 bullet points regarding the highlights of his career in Athletic Administration. These would include being a Member of the Virginia High School League Executive Committee, being a Charter Member of the Virginia State High School Athletic Directors Association and being a Charter Member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. 

Jimmy's Official Bio lists 33 bullet points regarding awards that he has won. These would include Who's Who among Young Men of America in 1957; All-Area Coach of the Year 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1969-70; Virginia Athletic Director of the Year 1977-78; Ancil Gray Service Award for outstanding service to John Handley Athletics, 1976; and National High School Coaches Association Athletic Director of the Year for Region 2, 1980-81 and 1987-88.
 
The Hunter Maddex Gymnasium at John Handley High School became the Maddex-Omps Gymnasium in 2010 for the two remarkable coaches and athletic directors.  Coach Omps was the first person to be inducted into the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame twice. He was inducted as a player in 1992 and as a coach in 2016.  Although he is still affectionately called "Jimmy" and even "J. O." in casual conversation around the Winchester area, when his former students and athletes, to this day, are addressing him face-to-face, he is invariably addressed as "Mr. Omps." This is, plainly and simply, what is called respect!