Patrick Bannon, Class of 2007

Football and Wrestling

While at RCHS, Patrick played football and wrestled. During his football career, Patrick was voted team captain in 2005 and 2006 and was part of a district and region champion football team, ultimately becoming the state runner-up in 2006. He earned first-team All-District recognition as a linebacker in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons as well as first-team all-District tight end in 2006. Patrick was voted the 2006 Valley District Defensive Player of the Year. He was also recognized as a first-team All-Region and All-State linebacker in 2005 and 2006 and voted first-team All-Region and second-team All-State tight end in the Fall of 2006. Patrick was also a three-time member of the All-Timesland team, a member of the 2006 Roanoke Times Elite 11, and played in the 2007 Virginia All-Star game. Before leaving RCHS, Patrick would hold several school records during his tenure including, all-time career tackles with 424, most tackles in a season with 153, most tackles in a game with 21, most career caused fumbles with seven, most career blocked FG/PAT with 5, and the most blocked kicks in a single game with two. Patrick was also a standout wrestler for RCHS accumulating over 100 career wins. While on the wrestling team, Patrick was a three-time Captain, District Champion, three-time region qualifier, and three-time state qualifier. His highest finish was fifth in the VHSL State Wrestling Tournament at 215 pounds. After his time at RCHS, Patrick played football at Liberty University. He was a four-year letter winner on teams that won four Big South Conference Championships. Patrick was voted team defensive captain his senior year and a member of the All-Big South Conference team as a defensive end in 2010. Patrick will go on to earn an MBA in Strategic Leadership from the University of Delaware, and is a Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Tennant Company. Patrick and his wife Samantha reside in Clayton, Delaware, along with their children Laikyn and Trace.

Kaitlyn (McFaddin) Deacon, Class of 2006

Volleyball

While at RCHS, Kaitlin was a standout volleyball player for the Wildcats. She was voted second team All-Valley District in the Fall of 2004, and first team All-Valley District in 2005. Kaitlin was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and received first-team All-Timesland honors in her junior and senior years. Also during her high school career, Kaitlin played volleyball for the Roanoke Juniors Roanoke Club, on the 16’s Elite, 17’s National, and 18’s National teams. Kaitlin was selected for the 2006 Virginia High School League All-Star game. Kaitlin played tennis for the Wildcats and was named Top Cat and Homecoming Queen. After her time at RCHS, Kaitlin played college volleyball at James Madison University. As a freshman, she would earn Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week honors, and be voted to the CAA All-Rookie Team. As a sophomore at JMU, Kaitlin had 10 matches with double-digit kills, including 10 kills in the CAA tournament semi-finals against the University of Delaware. During Kaitlin’s junior year, she received the CAA Commissioner’s Award and the JMU Athletic Director Scholar Athlete Award. Kaitlin would retire from competitive volleyball after her Junior year because of injuries and multiple surgeries. Kaitlin graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health Education. Kaitlin and her husband Nathan live in Lexington with their three daughters Sophie, Abby Leigh, and Ridgely.

Lauren Prasnicki, Class of 1994

Lacrosse and Basketball

While at RCHS, Lauren was a four-year letter winner in lacrosse and basketball. In lacrosse, Lauren was voted first-team All-District and All-Region as a Junior and Senior in the Spring of 2009 and 2010. She would play for Team Virginia at the National Tournament in her junior year. Lauren would also earn Team MVP her senior year. She was also a member of the National Honor Society. After her time at RCHS, Lauren would be a four-year letter winner in lacrosse at Longwood University where she was voted team captain her junior and senior year. During her junior and senior years, Lauren received several accolades including All-Big South First Team, VaSID All-State Second Team, IWCLA Academic Honor Roll, Big South Honor Roll, and Longwood Scholar-Athlete Award. Before leaving Longwood, Lauren became the All-time career assists leader in school history, a record that still stands at RCHS. Following graduation from Longwood, Lauren went on to receive a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from James Madison University and currently works at Walter Reed National Military Center. Lauren and her husband Peter Reifenrath reside in Bethesda, Maryland.

Chase Prasnicki, Class of 2006

Football

While at RCHS, Chase was the starting quarterback for three years from 2003-2005. He earned first-team All-District recognition as a quarterback in 2004 and 2005, along with being named Valley District Offensive Player of the Year in 2005. Chase was also recognized as a first-team All-Region quarterback and earned All-State recognition in the Fall of 2005. During his tenure at Rockbridge County, Chase would finish his high school career with several career passing records. He would hold the record for most total career yards with 4, 230, most completions in a game with 25, best completion percentage in a game completing 80.6% of his passes, best season completion percentage completing 67% of his passes, and best career completion percentage completing 60.3% of his total passes. Chase would be named RCHS Athlete of the Year in 2006 and was a Wendy’s High School Heisman Recipient. After his time at RCHS, Chase received an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point and played for the Army. During his first three years at West Point, Chase would serve as a back-up quarterback, before moving to safety his senior year. Chase would be a vital member of the Army Black Knight defense during his senior campaign and earned significant playing time. After graduating from West Point in 2010, he served as a graduate assistant football coach at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

In 2011, Chase graduated with honors from the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leaders Course, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Before attending U.S. Army Ranger and Airborne Schools at Fort Benning, Georgia, Chase was assigned briefly as an Army Recruiter in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He graduated from Ranger School in September 2011 and Airborne School in October 2011. Chase would depart for his first duty assignment as an Army Ranger with the 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Airborne Brigade Combat Team stationed at U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg, Germany. While stationed in Germany, Chase completed Army Pathfinder School. He was trained to provide navigational aid and advisory services to military aircraft. On June 22, 2012, Chase and his team were deployed to Afghanistan. On June 27, 2012, Chase paid the ultimate sacrifice when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. For his actions in defending his country, First Lieutenant Stephen Chase Prasnicki was awarded a Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Heart. 

Wray Sherman, Class of 2001

Tennis

While at RCHS, Wray was a four-year letter winner in tennis from 1998-2001. During his tenure, Wray played #1 singles for three years and #1 doubles all four years, compiling over 60 wins. His senior year, Wray was voted the 2001 Blue Ridge District Player of the Year going 12-0 in both singles and doubles competition. After his time at RCHS, Wray would take his talents to Shepherd University and continue his tennis career. He was a four-year starter for a record-breaking team. Shepherd went 78-10 including 39-0 in the WVIAC conference over his four years. Personal accolades for Wray while at Shepherd include a record of 129-28, two individual conference championships, and hitting the conference-winning shot in the last and decisive match of the 2003 WVIAC conference championship tournament. Wray continued with tennis for ten year’s post-college as a USTPA-certified tennis teaching professional and coach. He coached Waynesboro High School and served as Assistant Coach for the JMU Women’s team from 2010 – 2012. Wray coached thousands of students; many who went on to have college tennis careers themselves. Lastly, Wray achieved a USTA 5.0 ranking as an adult and won over 40 Open Division tournaments in Singles, Mixed, and Men’s Doubles. Wray currently resides in Waynesboro with his wife, Ashley, and their sons Kellen and Bryce.