Author: Dave Facinoli

Dave Facinoli grew up in Prince George’s County, Md. and attended Friendly High School. After attending Prince’s George Community College and James Madison University, where he covered sports on both college papers, he launched a local newspaper career that included roles as the sports editor of the Alexandria Gazette, the Arlington Sun Gazette and GazetteLeader, and other local papers.

Sports

Madison among multiple teams with all-region football selections

By Dave Facinoli
Madison's Teddy Lewis (71) was chosen all-region (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Players from the Concorde District and region champion Madison Warhawks were among those chosen to the all-6D North Region football team

Madison had three first-team selections on offense with one on second team, and six first-teamers on defense.

Go to Madison among multiple teams with all-region football selections Read more
Sports

Robinson now 4-0, rallies past visiting W-L in girls hoop action

By Dave Facinoli
The jump ball between Robinson and Washington-Liberty (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

They started slow and fell behind early, but by game’s end the Robinson Rams had rallied and were still undefeated in girls high-school basketball action.

Host Robinson (4-0) defeated the Washington-Liberty Generals, 36-29, Monday night (Dec. 9) in a non-district game in Fairfax. The Generals, who were without injured starting center Eve Jungman, fell to 1-2.

Go to Robinson now 4-0, rallies past visiting W-L in girls hoop action Read more
Sports

Langley, Potomac School girls teams split games against top basketball contenders

By Dave Facinoli
Zora Burrell was a top scorer for Potomac School (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Langley Saxons and Potomac School Panthers had recent mixed results against opponents that were top teams in girls state basketball tournaments last season.

Langley (2-1) defeated the visiting Woodgrove Wolverines (0-1) of Purcellville, 59-54, as Anya Rahman scored 31 points with two steals.

Go to Langley, Potomac School girls teams split games against top basketball contenders Read more
Sports

Falling behind proves costly as Lake Braddock is ousted from football playoffs

By Dave Facinoli
Lake Braddock defenders stop a Madison runningback (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

It was an unwanted déjà vu situation all over again that proved costly for the Lake Braddock Bruins in the team’s state-semifinal football game against the Madison Warhawks.

Just like during an early regular-season game against the Warhawks, the Bruins fell behind 21-0 again in the Dec. 7 Virginia High School League Class 6 state-tournament semifinal, and never caught up.

Go to Falling behind proves costly as Lake Braddock is ousted from football playoffs Read more
Sports

Early leads propel Madison to 14-0 record and state-title appearance

By Dave Facinoli
Madison's defense has helped the team get leads in games (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

A key reason for the undefeated Madison Warhawks’ 2024 success has been the team’s ability to build early leads — often large ones — in football games.

The Warhawks (14-0) have trailed in just three games this season. The squad rallied to win each, two by blowouts.

Go to Early leads propel Madison to 14-0 record and state-title appearance Read more
Sports

Madison defeats Lake Braddock in football, heads to state-title game

By Dave Facinoli
Xander Cuadros (13) tries to tackle Madison's Dominic Knicely (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Will the third time be the charm for the Madison Warhawks in the football team’s quest to win its first state championship?

Next Saturday (Dec. 14) in Harrisonburg, Madison will play in a state-title game for the third time in four years, having been defeated in its 2021 and 2022 appearances.

Go to Madison defeats Lake Braddock in football, heads to state-title game Read more
Sports

Madison senior football player chosen as region’s best on offense

By Dave Facinoli
Madison's Dominic Knicely, No. 1 (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Awards have been piling up for recently chosen all-region Offensive Player of the Year Dominic Knicely.

6D North Region coaches made all-region selections earlier this week, with the senior runningback taking the top honor for an offense. He also was chosen as the first-team All-Purpose Offensive Player of the Year.

Go to Madison senior football player chosen as region’s best on offense Read more
Sports

South County boys basketball team opens with lopsided victory

By Dave Facinoli
Elija Eccleston shoots a foul shot for South County (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The South County Stallions opened their boys basketball season with a 30-point home blowout victory Thursday night (Dec. 5).

The Stallions defeated a young Washington-Liberty Generals team of Arlington, 71-41, in non-district high-school action.

Go to South County boys basketball team opens with lopsided victory Read more
Sports

Langley High boys swim/dive team has three titles to defend

By Dave Facinoli
Langley swimmer Michael Zhou (file photo)

As the 2024-25 high-school swimming and diving season begins, the Langley Saxons have an impressive championship streak in the works.

The boys team has won five straight significant postseason titles, including Liberty District, 6D North Region and Class 6 state crowns last winter. The season before, Langley won region and state crowns, after a second-place finish in the district.

Go to Langley High boys swim/dive team has three titles to defend Read more
View More Stories