Tight-knit Wilson class looks forward to spirited colleges

HARRISONBURG — If it was a busy day for Seth Lovell, he didn’t let on.

The Wilson Memorial High School girls’ tennis coach was double-booked Saturday. Just hours after leading his team to the school’s first state championship since 1980, Lovell hoofed it back to the Convocation Center at James Madison University to deliver a commencement address.

Lovell, a veteran who traveled far and wide as a Marine serving in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, found himself on more familiar territory Saturday afternoon. The 2003 Wilson graduate is currently a JMU student.

“There is so much potential in this room,” said Lovell, who gave simple advice in clear terms, often sampling from a poem about lessons learned in kindergarten.

“The best is yet to come if you’re willing to work for it,” he said.

The coach will soon be joined by a handful of Wilson graduates who plan to attend JMU, including soccer, basketball and band veteran Wil Hall.

“I wore my purple and gold strategically,” Hill said, tugging a shining tie that peeked from beneath his gown.

He said the JMU atmosphere drew him to campus, especially after the camaraderie of four years at Wilson.

“I feel like I’m friends with almost everyone in the class,” Hill said.

Sam Bowman, one of 12 students named as valedictorian for a grade-point-average greater than 4.0 (and senior class clown), agreed that campus attitude was a big influence in choosing a college. In his case: Virginia Tech.

“Tech just has so much unity and spirit,” said Bowman, who is considering a degree in genetics.

The Singing Sergeants member and team captain for wrestling and soccer said Wilson prepared him to move on, in part because students were so academically competitive.

“A lot of people have said it’s one of the smartest [classes] that went through Wilson,” said fellow valedictorian Julia Aronson, one of six students planning to attend the University of Virginia. “I feel like we’re all proud to be from Wilson.”