Author: Jarrett
Athlete of the Week 12/22
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Toby Corriston is a star golfer at Harrisonburg High School who is leaving his legacy in the Friendly City.
Corriston has been surrounded by the golf course for his entire life but started playing seriously during the pandemic. He did not even join the Harrisonburg golf team until his sophomore year. Since then, he has been the team’s top golfer, qualifying for regionals three times. Corriston even qualified for the 2021 State Championship.
“He was a natural from the beginning. He always had a great golf swing but he’s taken it upon himself to take lessons. He works here as well, for more opportunities to learn,” said Harrisonburg golf coach Chris Sorber.
Corriston said he fell in love with the game and the competitiveness of the sport.
“It’s a personal sport, you’re on your own on the course. I’ve enjoyed being able to compete against myself every day… that has been the biggest challenge of it all,” he said.
Corriston works with First Tee Shenandoah Valley which helps teach golf and life skills to children around the area.
“I really enjoy giving back to because I’ve gotten so many opportunities from First Tee, one of those being the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach,” he said.
Corriston said he enjoys watching the next generation of golfers develop at First Tee.
“After just a couple of classes, you see them make big improvements with little adjustments,” Corriston explained. “It’s fun to be sharing my experience with them.”
Corriston also plays baseball and performs musicals with the Blue Streaks. Last winter he played the lead role in Harrisonburg High School’s production of Chicago.
“Both my parents are dance teachers so I’ve grown up around the theatre world. It’s a really fun experience to work with all of the amazing people who are part of the musical,” he said.
As a student, Corriston attends the Massanutten Regional Governor’s School and boasts a 4.32 GPA.
“My job would be a whole lot easier if I had a whole classroom full of Toby’s,” said Jay Hook, a government teacher at Harrisonburg. “He’s thorough, he’s thoughtful, and he always sees his school work all the way through.”
For Corriston, getting good grades has always been important, especially as he looks to play college golf next year.
“If I want to be a student-athlete in the future, it’s important for me to keep my grades up so I can show coaches I can balance school and sports. I know it’s going to be an important skill for my future,” he said.
Corriston also works on the student newspaper at HHS. He hopes to study sports communication in college and pursue a career in sports broadcasting or sports marketing.
Sorber said that Corriston represents the epitome of a student-athlete at Harrisonburg High.
“People often come up to me and say how much they appreciate Toby and the example he is setting for our team.”
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
Denton Foundation Chooses First Tee 10/22
https://www.whsv.com/2022/11/01/denton-family-foundation-presents-check-first-tee/
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – The Denton Family Foundation presented a check of $53,000 to First Tee in Harrisonburg on Tuesday morning.
The foundation hosted its 20th annual golf tournament to raise money for local non-profit organizations. This year golfers and local sponsors raised a record-breaking amount towards First Tee.
First Tee focuses on empowering kids and teens through the game of golf. They’re a development organization that helps build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience.
“We believe in giving back to the city of Harrisonburg and Rockingham. Making sure the children have an opportunity to have sports, music, and education in their life. We believe something like this gives everyone an opportunity.” said Linda Denton
“I think giving back to the community is a way of showing and enjoying the community. It’s not just the Dentons. It’s the whole community. It takes a large number of people, it takes a large number of donors, and it takes everybody to make this successful. So giving back to Harrisonburg is a small part of what the Dentons can do.” said Terri Denton
First Tee is located at 690 Garbers Church Road in Harrisonburg, and you can learn more about the Denton Family Foundation by clicking here
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
Community Spotlight 6/21
https://www.whsv.com/2021/06/29/community-spotlight-first-tee-shenandoah-valley/
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – First Tee is is a national non-profit organization with chapters all across the country. In the Shenandoah Valley, the local chapter has helped with character development for our youth through the game of golf.
“They’re introduced to our core values and our healthy habits,” said Tom Tattersall, executive director of First Tee Shenandoah Valley. “Ultimately, we’re trying to make them better citizens.”
Six weeks of classes with one end goal; giving kids and teens five through 17 years old, “drive” on and off the course.
“Yes, they will learn the physical game; how to hold the club, how to stand, how to swing real big, how to hold your balance,” said Drew Fournier, program director for First Tee Shenandoah Valley. “But the most rewarding part of the program is the life skills and the core values.”
First Tee Shenandoah Valley has helped thousands of kids over the years. Whether it’s in the classroom or on the green, the goal is to help shape the world beyond a Valley golf course.
“With our core values, we have things like honesty, integrity, responsibility, sportsmanship,” said Tattersall. “Golf is one of those unique sports out there, where you have to show those core values to really grow and progress, and go through the game.”
The team of coaches and volunteers work to help grow youth into stronger citizens. Financial help is available for anyone who may need it, for their child to play.
The overall goal for the nonprofit is to send youth off with having a golf club in one hand, and a diploma in the other, along with life lessons instilled in them.
“Patience,” said Fournier. “It’s a little white ball, hitting it into a really small hole. Definitely perseverance. First when you start something new, it’s going to be very difficult. But the more you do something, the better you get. All of a sudden your confidence starts to go up and up and up.”
The non-profit also works with “at-risk” and troubled youth in their Juvenile Diversion Program. They also go into schools for lessons and put together clinics to link local heroes with the pros. Anything they can do to help kids and teens grow character.
Copyright 2021 WHSV. All rights reserved.
Toby to Pebble Beach 9/22
https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/18/harrisonburg-golfer-represent-first-tee-international-event/
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – A Harrisonburg senior will be playing in the event of a lifetime when he takes his golf clubs to Pebble Beach, California this fall.
Toby Corriston will be representing First Tee Shenandoah Valley when he competes in the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee held at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Golf Course. First Tee helps young athletes develop life skills through the sport of golf.
Corriston will be joining 77 other teenagers from First Tee chapters from around the world.
“I’m very lucky and feel honored to have this opportunity,” said Corriston. “If First Tee wasn’t here, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today and I probably wouldn’t be golfing.”
Each player will be paired with a PGA TOUR Champions player along with amateurs from the business world. The field of PGA TOUR Champions players features World Golf Hall of Fame Members Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, and Vijay Singh, along with three-time PURE Insurance Championship winner Kirk Triplett.
First Tee participants were selected by a national panel of judges that chose players based on their playing ability and personal growth through First Tee programs.
Corriston has been playing with First Tee Shenandoah Valley for nearly ten years.
“I’ve learned how to represent myself as a person,” said Corriston. “Golf is very much like life, you want to represent yourself in a good way and always show sportsmanship.”
The event will be held on September 23rd-25th and will be broadcast nationally on Golf Channel.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
Thomas Harrsion and Skyline Middle School Golf Club
This Fall, we have started a Golf Club for Thomas Harrison and Skyline Middle Schools. We are hoping this will get more kids interested in golf and help grow the Harrisonburg High School golf program. We have had a tremendous turnout and support from the schools. The kids are very enthusiastic and are eager to learn and improve their games. We are hoping the weather is good enough to continue having classes after school on Thursdays and Fridays until Christmas Break. The plan is to continue classes in the Spring and hopefully the kids will continue to play through the Summer as well.
