On the latest Sportswire Spotlight, Godwin High School senior Riley Guyer and teacher Rebecca Martino chat about Riley’s accolades as a cheerleader, dancer and leader within the Eagles community. Guyer reflects on growing up around her school from a young age, while Martino discusses Guyer’s contributions to Godwin as SCA president and much more.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Welcome to Episode 2, Season 3, of the Sportswire Spotlight, featuring a father-son duo from Hermitage High School — Dr. Michael Jackson, principal, and Michael Jackson Jr. (MJ), a senior student-athlete for the Panthers.

Dr. Jackson and MJ discuss their football careers across different eras at Hermitage High School, and MJ reflects on his four years at Hermitage with his dad as principal — and vice versa!

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH7WDDQYyU0

Listen to an audio version of the Sportswire Spotlight on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and follow Sportswire on Instagram @sportswire_henrico!

Welcome to Season 3 of the Sportswire Spotlight podcast from Henrico County Public Schools! In our first episode of the 2025-26 school year, hosts Will Kaderli and Dylan Garner talk to senior Laila Egerton and coach Ashley Banks from Varina High School’s new girls flag football team: the Varina Snap Queens.

Laila and her coach describe how this team — the first girls flag football team at HCPS — came together and the potential of flag football in the region, along with the support the team has received and Laila’s various passions in track, boxing, aviation and JROTC.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ2Gaui3IMo

Sprint to our final Sportswire Spotlight episode of the year, featuring Ethan Mullinix and Jack McDonald from Deep Run track and field!

Ethan and Jack discuss the intricacies and energy of the 4x400 relay, setting school records against each other and their plans after graduating as part of the #HCPSClassof25 this week.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g23NwldL8K8

On Season 2, Episode 11 of the Sportswire Spotlight, senior Christian Bolar joins the show to chat about his many pursuits at Highland Springs High School and his lifelong passion for music.

Christian has played football, baseball, basketball and run track at Highland Springs, but he’s also recorded three gospel albums and has been featured as a soloist with the East End Singers at major Henrico Schools events such as Graduation and Convocation. The Old Dominion-bound Springer discusses what it was like hearing his music on the radio for the first time, the similarities between performing on stage and on the field, and how he balanced music, sports and academics en route to his upcoming graduation as part of the Highland Springs Class of 2025.

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KzL_NtG0SrE?si=bjacrrKskOX6pcXM

Welcome back to the Sportswire Spotlight from Henrico County Public Schools! On the latest episode, Will and Dylan return to Mills Godwin High School to talk baseball with senior standout Luke Smyers and coach Josh Gentry.

The University of Alabama baseball recruit shares his perspective on being the center of attention of pro scouts as a pitcher and the elation of some massive walk-off hits he’s had over the past year, while Coach Gentry discusses the Eagles rebounding from last year’s state title loss and the impact Luke has had on the program.

You can also listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

On Season 2, Episode 9 of the Sportswire Spotlight, members of the Douglas S. Freeman High School swim and dive team reflect on their triumph at the Class 5 championships, where both the boys and girls claimed state team titles!

In the first segment, coach Steven Gromling is joined by seniors Allison Bischoff and Nathan Szobota — who are both committed to swim at UVA — to reflect on each of their journeys to swimming stardom and how both the boys and girls teams reached their apex.

Then, senior diver and three-sport athlete Blaine Nelson and Joe O’Connor, a Freeman grad and assistant coach at DiveRVA, talk about diving becoming a critical part of the championship formula for the Mavericks boys over the past two years, as well as exactly what it takes to become successful in their craft.

Watch the video version at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Rn8Ah-Yg4tlIecW0XtBCDF3xk_YM8q9

On Season 2, Episode 8, of the Sportswire Spotlight, we meet with several members of the Hermitage girls track team and their coach, Tenise Patrick.

Freshman state champion Massandje Comara discusses her quick rise to record breaking numbers in the 500 meters, and freshman Taryn Patrick talks about competing at the highest levels with her mom as coach. Then, shot putter Brenley Doran and relay sprinters Samia Johnson and Asah Delaney chat about the culture of track at Hermitage and the importance of coaching in events like shot put and relays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlmQNaSYpkE&list=PL0Rn8Ah-Yg4tlIecW0XtBCDF3xk_YM8q9&index=19

https://www.henricoschools.us/page/sportswire-spotlight

On Season 2, Episode 7 of the Sportswire Spotlight, sophomore star Brian "JR" Mitchell of the Varina boys basketball team is joined by teacher and “Team Mom” Ashley Johnson to discuss all things Blue Devils hoops. JR looks back on his hot start to the season and his ambitions for the Blue Devils this season, while Johnson describes her passion for her students’ success and how she tries to keep them on track on the court and at school.

You can also listen to the Sportswire Spotlight on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

https://www.henricoschools.us/page/sportswire-spotlight

On Season 2, Episode 6 of the Sportswire Spotlight, sophomore Riley Garnett and coach Sharon Kelly from the Douglas S. Freeman High School gymnastics team take the mics to chat about the ins and outs of their successful program.

Riley, who was a first-team All-Metro selection by the Times-Dispatch as a freshman, describes the joy and happiness that’s necessary for her Mavericks to perform and her aspirations while still early into her high school career. Coach Kelly looks back on multiple decades as a coach at Freeman, where she has led the team since 1995, and what has made Riley an instant success in her program.

You can also listen to the Sportswire Spotlight on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

https://www.henricoschools.us/page/sportswire-spotlight