Cosby High School seniors will move on to play Division 1 athletics
By Marcy Horwitz CONTRIBUTING WRITER
"This concludes your morning announcements from the best high school in the country."

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Cosby High School students (from left) Tadd Bower (William & Mary), Ronnie Shaban (Virginia Tech), Jake Lowery (James Madison University) and Whitney Haller (Longwood University) recently signed scholarships to play Division 1 ball.

That's the last thing students, teachers and staffers at Cosby High School hear before the intercom goes silent each school day.

"We're well on our way toward that vision," says Rebecca E. Miller, Cosby's head librarian, "with outstanding programs in all aspects."

The school has an especially exceptional track record in athletics. As the newest school in the county, Cosby will send four of its student athletes to Division 1 college teams in the fall.

That's a remarkable achievement for the Matoaca District school, which only opened last year serving grades 9-11. (It will graduate its first senior class this June.)

And it's a testimony to the quality of the school's athletic leadership, especially Tim Lowery, head baseball coach and department head for health and physical education, and Ray Jeter, head softball coach and a health and physical education teacher.

As Cosby students Whitney Haller, Jake Lowery, Ronnie Shaban and Tadd Bower move on to college ball, they will help create a bright future at Cosby. "They're instilling a tradition," says Coach Lowery. "Hopefully, the other kids will play up to that."

"You don't always have the greatest talent," Coach Lowery admits. Looking at this year's graduating class and the young men and women who are coming up through Cosby, he says, "I'm very fortunate to have this much talent to start with."

Whitney Haller: Talent at an early age

Like all the girls in her family, Whitney Haller started playing softball at an early age. She first hit the field at age 5.

Jeter initially saw Whitney pitch softball at Clover Hill High School when he was at Midlothian High. "Wow," he remembers thinking back then.

Whitney, who lives in Hampton Park, became a member of the Titans due to redistricting. Jeter says she was a pleasure to work with and praised her work ethic.

"She's a very determined young lady. Last year, we talked about goals. She wanted to pitch in college." To realize that goal, Jeter says, "she did exactly what she needed to," showing up at practice every day and keeping her skills up during the off-season by playing with the Rampage, a travel team.

Whitney credits Jeter with much of her success. "He pushed me a lot last year," she says.

The results of her dedication are obvious. Haller pitched every Titan game last year. She won 15 and lost seven and ended the season with an ERA of .409. As a team, the Titans gave up only 27 runs in 22 games.

Whitney will attend Longwood University on a softball scholarship in the fall. She plans to major in elementary education when she isn't pitching for the Lancers.

How does the future of softball look at Cosby?

"It looks like it's going to get even better," says Jeter. His junior varsity team won every district game they played, ending the season 17-2.

Whitney has one word of advice for the Cosby Titans.

"If we work hard, and we all do what we're supposed to do, we'll have an outstanding season and definitely surprise some people for a second year school."

Jake Lowery: All in the family

Jake Lowery wants to make it to the big leagues - and the Midlothian teen just might.

Lowery started his baseball career at Midlothian Middle School, where he made the junior varsity team. As a freshman at Midlothian High School, he played varsity. He transferred to Cosby when his parents joined the faculty of the new school. (Coach Tim Lowery is his dad; his mother, Lori Lowery, heads the World Languages Department at Cosby.)

Last year, Jake played catcher for the Titans. Tim Lowery says, matter-of-factly, that his son is good. Very good. "He had a career year," the coach says. "He's ranked as a major league arm" - an impressive achievement for a guy who hits left-handed and throws right.

A dozen or so schools from Georgia to Maryland tried to recruit Jake. In the end, he chose James Madison University (JMU). Virginia Tech coach Pete Hughes - one of Jake's collegiate suitors - advised him to follow his gut in making his choice, and his gut is leading him to Harrisonburg. He plans to study history at JMU, attending school on a baseball scholarship.

Off-season, Jake stays in top form with track, football and weight-lifting, and he helps his brother's AAU team. A schedule like that doesn't leave him much time to talk. Following an after-school meeting of the Varsity Club, a student service group he co-founded with Ronnie Shaban, he's off to Woolridge Elementary School to tutor young children and provide them with a positive role model. "I really enjoy doing that," he says.

Look for Jake Lowery on the JMU field next year when he'll be catching for the Dukes.

Ronnie Shaban: The Titans' "go-to guy"

Ronnie Shaban plays shortstop for the Titans, and he's their No. 1 pitcher as well, throwing with his right hand and hitting on his left side. Coach Lowery calls the Moseley teen his "go-to guy."

Like Jake Lowery, Ronnie had a banner year last season. "Ronnie and Jake led our team," says the coach. "Ronnie was really hot during the play-offs. When I needed to put a guy on the mound who was in good shape, I gave him the ball."

Ronnie stays on top of his game by playing baseball off-season with the Richmond Braves South, an AAU traveling team. He was also, along with the younger Lowery, a player during the 2007 Commonwealth Gold Medal games. Off the field, Ronnie co-founded the Varsity Club at Cosby and is a mentor to younger children at Woolridge Elementary.

VCU, the University of Richmond, William & Mary, George Mason, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech all pursued Ronnie, who will attend Tech ("a perfect fit for me and for my family") on a baseball scholarship in the fall. He plans to major in business there when he's not playing play infield and pitching for the Hokies. He's looking forward to playing ACC ball and hopes to be drafted into the big leagues.

But that's all in the far future. First, there's a spring season to get through. "We're hoping to have a very successful year this year in the spring," Ronnie promises. "We'll give it our best try."

Tadd Bower: A life of sports

"Tadd Bower has really come into his own," says Coach Lowery. "He was leading us at the beginning of our season. He was a huge contributor to our season and to our success."

Tadd is another left-hitting, right-throwing baseball player. His arm earned him a baseball scholarship to William & Mary, where he will be an infielder for the Tribe.

"I don't know my major yet," says Todd, who lives in Hampton Park. But he's not worried. He knows he'll get a good education at W&M. After graduation, he hopes to turn professional and go on from there.

For now, though, sports is his life. "There isn't much time when I'm not doing something with sports."

Tadd takes a moment to think about the legacy that he and his fellow seniors are leaving behind at Cosby. How will their athletic achievements be viewed in the future? How will their successes help future generations of Cosby students?

Excelling in athletics, he says, "reflects on the school and on the leadership that we have throughout the school in a good manner."

There's only one thing to say to young men and women like Tadd Bower, Jake Lowery, Ronnie Shaban and Whitney Haller.

Play ball!