Titans win first against Rapids

By Staff Reports

Published: October 14, 2009

James River's field hockey team shares the top spot in the Dominion District.

Usually, the Rapids are alone, but Cosby upended James River 2-1 at James River last Wednesday. Cosby, in its fourth year, was 0-7-1 against the Rapids. The tie with Cosby was James River's only blemish in district play in the past four seasons.

The Titans are coached by Rachel Mead, who built a Central Region title-winning program at James River before becoming the school's activities director and handing the Rapids' reins to Slade Gormus in 2000. Gormus directed the Rapids to the state Group AAA title in 2002, the only Central Region team to win the state championship.

Mead stepped down as AD and moved to Cosby to coach field hockey and girls basketball when the school opened in 2006. The Titans' basketball team won the Central Region title last year and is the favorite to repeat. The field hockey program appears to be taking off as well.

The Titans are 8-1 in the district and 11-1 overall. They lost to James River 3-2 Sept. 17.

"For several of my girls it was larger than life," Mead said of the victory. "I have girls who have been with me since they were freshmen and are now seniors, so to finally beat one of the best teams in the region that we have lost to over and over was extremely rewarding to them."