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 girls, boys basketball teams open season with victories

By Dave Facinoli
Mason Burger, left, and Ryan Furlong return for Madison (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Madison Warhawks girls and boys varsity basketball teams have enjoyed significant success in recent years, and each opened its 2024-25 campaign with victories.

The host girls defeated Riverside of Leesburg, 40-23, and the boys traveled to Haymarket and rallied to down the Battlefield Bobcats, 68-55, after trailing 36-29 at halftime.

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Sports

Potomac School field hockey player finishes standout career

By Dave Facinoli
Bella Kim shots in a match (courtesy of Potomac School)

A standout high-school field-hockey career ended recently when Potomac School senior Bella Kim played her final match.

Kim finished as the Potomac School’s all-time leading goal scorer in the girls high-school sport with 74 goals, including a single-season program best this fall with 25.

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Sports

Madison, Lake Braddock to meet in state-semifinal playoff game

By Dave Facinoli
Madison and Lake Braddock met during the regular season (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

While the Madison Warhawks want a similar result, the Lake Braddock Bruins are hoping for a different outcome from when the football teams met in September.

Visiting Madison dominated early by building a 22-0 first-half lead and won, 36-15, in that regular-season contest, just the second for both high-school squads this fall.

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Sports

Va. champ Langley volleyball team begins looking to 2025’s potential

By Dave Facinoli
Hailey Park will be a returner for Langley (photo by Deb Kolt)

It’s been a few days since the Langley Saxons won a second straight and fourth overall state girls volleyball championship. But the team’s head coach already is looking ahead to what might be possible next season.

That’s what coaches do, when they are in charge of high-school programs that have enjoyed the sustained success the Saxons have.

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Sports

Six Flint Hill, Potomac School volleyball players chosen all-state

By Dave Facinoli
Flint Hill's Isabelle Bardin (courtesy of Flint Hill athletics)

Six girls volleyball players from the rival Flint Hill Huskies and Potomac School Panthers were chosen to Division I all-state teams from their performances during the fall high-school season.

Making first team from Flint Hill were senior hitter and setter Isabelle Bardin, senior libero Kadi Pynchon and sophomore middle blocker Hunter Ross and, from Potomac School, senior middle hitter Skylar Guliani.

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Sports

Langley backfield duo enjoyed productive football seasons

By Dave Facinoli
Langley quarterback Cole Samburg (photo by Deb Kolt)

For the last two seasons, Cole Samburg and Robert Roncskevitz became familiar names on the Langley Saxons football team.

The offensive-backfield-mates each amassed significant offensive statistics during two years of starting action for their high-school team, junior Samburg as the quarterback and senior Roncskevitz as runningback.

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Sports

Fairfax cross-country runners finish high at Foot Locker meet

By Dave Facinoli
Herndon High School runner Meghan Sullivan (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Multiple cross-country runners from Fairfax County high schools placed high at the Nov. 30 Foot Locker South Regional meet.

The highest local finishers came in the girls championship race on the 5K McAlpine Park course in Charlotte, N.C.

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Sports

Lake Braddock tops Fairfax in 6C region football-championship game

By Dave Facinoli
The region-champion Lake Braddock team (courtesy of Lake Braddock athletics)

For the second straight year, the Lake Braddock Bruins are the champions of the 6C North Region football tournament.

Lake Braddock (11-2) won the 2024 eight-team high-school tourney Saturday (Nov. 30) on its home field with a 40-25 victory over the Fairfax Lions.

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News

Madison rallies in final, wins fifth straight region football crown

By Dave Facinoli
Madison gathers with the championship banner (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The undefeated, top seed and host Madison Warhawks (13-0) rallied to down the second-seed and previously undefeated Washington-Liberty Generals, 48-21, Saturday (Nov. 30) in the 6D North Region football final in Vienna.

It is the team’s fifth straight region crown, all won at home, and sets the squad up to host the Lake Braddock Bruins Dec. 7 in the first round of the four-team state finals.

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Sports

Three Potomac School girls tennis players chosen to all-state teams

By Dave Facinoli
Riece Grimes-Thomas played No. 2 singles for Potomac School (courtesy of Potomac School tennis)

A standout girls tennis season by the Potomac School Panthers was capped when three players from the high-school squad were selected to Division I all-state teams.

Juniors Riece Grimes-Thomas and Riley Williams made first-team private-school all-state. Sophomore Taylor Shen was chosen to the second team.

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