3/14/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9
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Off Route 419 • across from Oak Grove Plaza 4920 Woodmar Drive SW • Roanoke, VA 24018
400-0990
www.parkoakgrove.com • mbelďŹ ore@parkoakgrove.com
Serving the Roanoke Valley since 1989
F o r e s t , Vi r g i n i a • B e d f o r d C o u n t y • M i n u t e s f r o m Ly n c h b u r g
VALUABLE REAL ESTATE
AUCTION
Photo by Willow Rosenblatt
Coach Joe Gaither is shadowed by his two Lithuanian basketball players. Mindaugas Markevicius, left, is a senior who will play college ball next year, and Domas Rinksalis, right, is a junior with another year left to play for the Celtics.
Catholic offseason no sweat
Off-season basketball practice at Catholic looks more like the team is getting ready to play for a state title. No wonder these young men strive for greatness when they have a head coach like Joe Gaither. He teaches his players to not only keep their body strong, but that a strong mind will take them further than a basketball court. “The academics here are challenging and we expect to win championships so to put it into perspective, the kids know it doesn’t come easy.� Gaither said. One of the best kept secrets to Catholics program has been a transplanted Lithuanian student by the name of Mindaugas Markevicius. Trying to pronounce his name may take a couple of tries but he says, “just call me M-Dog, that’s what everyone calls me here.� This 6�3 senior, who recently turned eighteen, maintains a 3.2 GPA and scored a 910 on his SAT’s. He will take the TOFL exam on Friday that will score his English literacy since English is not his first language. Moreover, this outstanding student athlete has contributed over 1200 points in his two years with the Celtics, making him a wanted man for several colleges that plan on taking a closer look. Coach Gaither is planning on visits with him to Longwood College and Milligan, among others. Long Island University and Middle Tennessee State are both coming to Roanoke to either watch tapes or for a full work out. “Milligan has already offered me a full scholarship,� Markevicius said . He is expecting a similar offer from Hampden-Sydney following the results of his TOEFL exam, which would qualify him for an International Merit Scholarship. He is hosted by Angela and Patrick King, along with their son, John Michael, who is also a senior at Catholic, and five yearold daughter, Lillie. “Lillie is always cheering me on
when I play or practice,� Markevicius said . “She calls me ‘brother,’ I like that.� Markevicius does all that he can to stay in touch with his family back in Lithuania. He uses the Internet and a web cam through a program called Skype to video conference with them almost daily. Missing his mother’s cooking is foremost in his mind, but he is enjoying his time in the United States and wants to continue to play basketball and finish his education here. “My family worries{about me}, especially my mom, but I’m really happy about being here and so are my parents,� he said. “It was a hard decision to leave but I love it.� In addition to his parents in Lithuania, he has two younger sisters aged thirteen and two years old. Markevicius started playing ball at age 8 in Lithuania when a friend of his father’s, who was a basketball coach, asked him if he was interested. In Lithuania, there are no school teams. You have schools just to receive an education and then you have schools just for basketball, so he was very busy doing both. There are agents that scout players for the States and if you are talented enough they will offer you a place to stay with a host family. If he could play college ball anywhere he said his choice would be UCLA. His favorite pro team is the Los Angeles Lakers. In the last two years Markevicius has made every All-Tournament Team and will most likely be named 1st Team All State for the Virginia Independent School division this year. He will declare his intentions by mid-April, if not before, but he will consider all options carefully, with the guidance of Coach Gaither. Graduation is set at Catholic for June 7, which will reunite him with his mother, father and oldest sister as they make the trip to Roanoke from Lithuania. After graduation his plans include re-
turning home to practice for the Lithuanian National Team with the hope of eventually playing again for the European Championship Team, for which he has previously been a Captain. Then he will report to the college stateside that is lucky enough to get a commitment from this well rounded, likable athlete. With his positive outlook and hard work ethics, success will hopefully find him wherever the road leads him. Roanoke Catholic was not only blessed to have one Lithuanian player, but two this season. Domas Rinksalis is a junior in his first year and is being hosted by Becky and Taz McDole, along with their two daughters. He is seventeen and stands about 6�4 with plenty of talent on the court. Domas was found in a camp the same way that his countryman, Markevicius, was and in fact, the two had played in Lithuania against each other before coming to the US. They are from towns approximately 200 miles apart but both agree it is nice to have someone to speak to in their native language – they also share similar appreciations in regard to life here. Rinksalis will be staying a total of two years with his host family and is looking forward to his future. He has one sister and his parents in Lithuania and admits that his mother misses him the most and makes him email her daily. He misses the girls back home, saying that they are different from girls here, but finds it hard to describe in detail. His hardest class is British Literature but is taking Spanish and said, “I like it, it’s easy for me. There are a lot of good things here, sometimes it is frustrating, but overall, it’s great.� he said. “Great� will be having his welcome talent on the court for Catholic again next season - the future looks bright for the Celtics.
Fr i d a y , M a rc h 2 8 a t 3 : 0 0 P M 5 2 8 ¹ A c re s O f fe re d i n 1 4 Tra c t s Attention developers, investors and individuals looking for acreage tracts in Bedford County. The Sieverdes Farm is located in Forest, Virginia, the most sought after area of Bedford County. This is your opportunity to purchase acreage tracts in this wonderful community which is surrounded by high end subdivisions, making it ideal for development. Part of the property is covered with mature timber and the rest open pasture land. Tracts range in size from 1.07 to 92¹ acres. 5% Buyer’s Premium applies.
Auction Sale Site is the Forest Recreation Center For More Information, Contact Russell Seneff
VA #321
540-342-3560 800-551-3588 www.woltz.com
(VA#1185)
Preview at Your Leisure. Auctioneers will be On Site for Open Houses on March 11, 16 and 22 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Auctioneer will be on Tract 8.
,?Q *CMNCHA -J?H &IOM? Bedford Bulletin 5.6 x 5
You’re invited to an Open House in South Roanoke this Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Gorgeous, newly painted 2,200 sq. ft. two-story cape cod with extra lot. It’s a unique property because it’s currently set up as two apartments, which means two streams of income. You’ll walk off the sprawling front porch that overlooks the beautiful Mill Mountain Star to local restaurants, banks, shops, parks, post ofďŹ ce, pharmacy grocery and Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The amenities include 4 bedrooms 2 baths with hard wood oors, ďŹ replace, crown molding, central ac, built in bookshelves, two car detached garage, and a new architectural copper-style roof. The backyard features a deck for entertaining with a 6 ft privacy fence. Don’t miss this chance to visit the best buy in South Roanoke because it won’t last long. $289,950
Location: 2223 Wycliff Avenue, SW Roanoke 24014 Directions from Tanglewood Mall: Take Franklin Rd. and then make a right onto Avenham. At the end of Avenham make right on Broadway, right on 22nd st. and then an immediate right on Wycliff where you’ll see the house on the right.
Teresa Prillaman - Realtor Gwyn & Harmon Realtors GMAC cell: 540.761-5148 mprillamanm@aol.com F r a n k l i n C o u n t y, V i r g i n i a
Smith Mountain Lake 2 Valuable Real Estate Auctions
By Willow Rosenblatt willow@theroanokestar.com
Pitch and catch Spring training is underway and the season not far off. Lucian Grove, left, an outfielder for the Patriots baseball team, warms up on the mound. Patrick Henry plays Glenvar in their first game of the season.
Sale held April 5th, 2008 Auction Sale Site is the John W. Elkins and Company Auction Gallery in Glade Hil, VA
Sale 1: 42.5¹ acres Offered in 10 Tracts at 12:00 Noon 3,814¹ feet of Lake Frontage - Sold Without Reserve The estate of A.P. Davis will be sold without reserve - subject only to approval from the Franklin County Circuit Court. Located across the lake from the Water’s Edge, this pristine property is within minutes of marinas, restaurants and the State Park. The property is ideal for development, a family retreat or individual home sites.
Sale 2: 17.8Âą acres Offered in 4 Tracts at 2:30 PM 2,400Âą feet of Lake Frontage
2 beautiful waterfront homes offered with a unique peninsula waterfront tract and an additional lake lot. Located across the lake from Magnum Point Marina, these tracts offer you a chance to experience lake living at its best. For More Information, Contact Russell Seneff (VA#1185) VA #321 5% Buyer’s Premium
540-342-3560 800-551-3588 www.woltz.com
Open Houses: Preview either property at your leisure. Auctioneers will be On-Site Thursday, March 20 and Sundays, March 23 & 30. Sale 1: Open House from 12:00 to 3:00 PM Sale 2: Open House from 3:30 to 6:00 PM