Three Cavs named all-state
Published 10:21 pm Friday, December 16, 2016
- Damontra Milteer runs for extra yardage against Deep Creek on Sept. 30. Milteer is a second team All-State selection at running back along with two other Cavs. Sam Mizelle photo
Accolades continue to pour in for the Lakeland High School Cavaliers after the team produced its best season in school history.
The VHSL 3A All-State teams were released Thursday morning, and the Cavs were represented well. There are two teams made up of 3A school players across the state of Virginia.
Seniors Damontra Milteer and Garrett Whitley were named to the second team offense at running back and offensive lineman, respectively. Milteer enjoyed a season where he ran for more than 2,000 yards, breaking a school record while also rushing for more than 20 touchdowns. His list of accolades his senior year alone includes Conference 27 Player of The Year, All-Conference, All-Region and State selections. The Cavs running back was also named Duke Automotive-Suffolk News-Herald’s Male Fall Player of the Year.
For Whitley, he was named to All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State at offensive lineman during his senior year.
“Around this time last year, my name wasn’t really out there,” Whitley said. “I put in a lot of hard work during the offseason, and it translated into production during the season. I’m just happy to get the recognition.”
Colleges have been inquiring about the two seniors, but no announcement is imminent on what the two players have planned after their senior years.
Junior DeAndre Faulk was named to the second team defense at linebacker. He, like Milteer and Whitley, was named to All-Conference, All-Region and All-State teams this year.
“This means a lot,” Faulk said. “I’ve worked my way to my goal. I’ve always wanted to be All-State since I started as a freshman. It really means a lot to accomplish this goal.”
Lakeland finished the season with a 7-6 record and a conference championship berth. Under Cavs coach Kevin Knight’s direction, this is the most players he has named to the All-State team in one season.
“I’m proud of all these guys,” Knight said. “To be All-State is a huge honor. We didn’t make it to the state championship, but to make it to the regional was great. We were also able to host two playoff games. For our guys to be able to make All-Conference, All-Region and now All-State speaks to the hard work those guys put in.”
Most of the players will tell you they didn’t expect to have such a high volume of success this year.
“I did not see all of this coming,” Milteer said. “Lakeland has a lot of talent, and for us to be a part of this just means we have come a long way.”
Faulk will be the only player returning from the three who made the All-State teams. He feels the success the Cavs had this year will motivate them to be even better next year.
“I think we are going to come back even stronger next year,” he said. “Guys are staying humble and are going to feed off of what we did this year. It starts in January for us, so we have confidence about next year.”