Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (Aug. 26) honored five teams and multiple individuals for winning Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6 state championships in spring sports competition.
“This has become a special tradition — a proud moment,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said during the presentation, which filled the board auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center with student-athletes, coaches and families.
Among the champions honored was the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology girls’ tennis team, which won the Class 6 state title after finishing as runner-up for five years. The TJ squad defeated Oakton High School, 5-2, for the state title.
“It is a story of dedication and training,” Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez said of the achievement.
The Langley High School boys’ soccer team won its third state crown in a row with a victory over Vienna’s James Madison High School.
“It’s a joy to coach these young men,” Jack Porter, Langley’s coach, said at the recognition ceremony.
For the Herndon High School boys’ soccer team, its victory over Arlington’s Wakefield High School marked the school’s first state championship in the sport since 1986.
“I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys,” said Jordan Steffey, the team’s second-year coach.
He noted that the squad started the season 4-4 before rebounding with a 12-1-1 run that culminated in the state title.
The complete list of honorees, provided by Fairfax County Public Schools:
Outdoor Track and Field
- South County High School
- Girls’ team
- Mia Mason: girls’ 100-meter dash
- Girls’ 4×100-meter relay
- Chantilly High School
- Jacqueline Bullock: girls’ pole vault
- Apria Smith: girls triple jump
- Chris Hwang: boys’ discus throw
- West Springfield High School
- Michael Murray: boys’ pole vault
- Julia Wallace: girls’ 400-meter dash
- Girls’ 4×800-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay
- Boys’ 4×800-meter relay
- South Lakes High School
- Caroline Elliot: girls’ 1600-meter run and the 800-meter run
- Robinson Secondary School
- Harry Economon: boys’ 400-meter dash
- Boys’ 4×400-meter relay
Tennis
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
- Girls’ tennis team title
- Avery Huang: girls’ singles
- Avery Huang and Karis Kim: girls’ doubles
- Langley High School: boys’ tennis
Other
- West Potomac High School: boys’ lacrosse
- Herndon High School: boys’ soccer
In addition to the state champions, Fairfax County had five teams and 20 individuals finish as runners-up in Virginia Class 6 state competition.
At the Aug. 26 event, the Board of Supervisors also honored school and individual champions in spring regional crew and riflery competitions, which are non-VHSL-sanctioned sports.
Nardos King, the chief equity officer for Fairfax County Public Schools, saluted the “dedication, discipline and heart” students put into athletic competition.
“Sports are a lot of fun, but they also teach a lot of valuable lessons,” King said, praising coaches who served as mentors and role models for youth.
McKay also paid tribute to coaches and family members for supporting athletic programs countywide.
“So many people make this happen,” he said before adding one last comment: “Now, everyone race back to class.”
