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

Lake Braddock wins fourth straight state gymnastics title

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

Add another state championship to the Lake Braddock Bruins’ long list of titles in girls gymnastics.

The Bruins recently won their 13th Virginia High School League (VHSL) state crown — a statewide record and their fourth in a row — with a 147.875 point total in the Class 6 meet at their home gymnasium in Burke last Friday (Feb. 28).

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Sports

Chantilly wrestlers cap strong season with a second-place finish in state

By Dave Facinoli
Chantilly gathers after winning a district title (courtesy of Chantilly athletics)

With a district tournament title and runner-up finishes in region and state tournaments under their belt, the Chantilly Chargers enjoyed one of the school’s best wrestling seasons ever.

On Saturday (March 1), Chantilly placed second in the Virginia High School League Class 6 state competition in Virginia Beach with three individual champions and 165 points. The Grassfield Grizzlies of Chesapeake won with 192.5 points.

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Sports

South Lakes boys win fourth straight region basketball title

By Dave Facinoli
The champion South Lakes teams (photo by Rena Schild)

A simple team approach, coupled with reliance on a standout player, helped the South Lakes Seahawks win a fourth straight regional basketball championship.

Led by senior forward Jordan Scott, South Lakes won the 6D North Region tournament Friday night (Feb. 28) by defeating the Westfield Bulldogs, 67-51, in the title game of the boys high school competition at Wakefield High School in Arlington.

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Sports

Langley girls top Oakton for the Saxons’ first region hoop title since 2017

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Langley Saxons (photo by Rena Schild)

The Langley High School girls basketball team won its second-ever region title and first since 2017 by defeating the Oakton Cougars Friday night (Feb. 28) in a championship game at Wakefield High School.

The Saxons (24-3) won the game and the 6D North Region title with a 54-37 victory. Oakton fell to 23-5 for the season, but both teams move on to the state tournament, which opens this week.

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Sports

Former Flint Hill football coach eulogized as outstanding leader, person

By Dave Facinoli
Michal Wright coaching at Pinewood Prep (courtesy of Pinewood Prep)

During the eight varsity seasons when Michal Wright was the head football coach at the Flint Hill School, his Huskies accomplished a lot.

But for those now mourning the 63-year-old Wright, who unexpectedly died of cardiac arrest on Feb. 17, his coaching abilities aren’t what they remember the most. Instead, it was how he lived his life that took center stage.

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Sports

Flint Hill girls basketball team perfect in conference competition

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Flint Hill team (courtesy of Flint Hill athletics)

It took a determined fourth-quarter rally in a title game for the Flint Hill Huskies to complete a perfect dual-championship girls’ basketball season against conference opponents.

By defeating the No. 2 seed Episcopal Maroon, 52-48, in the final of the Independent School League A Division high-school tournament on Sunday (Feb. 23), Flint Hill capped an undefeated 14-0 season against conference opponents.

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Sports

South Lakes boys’ team wins region track & field championship

By Dave Facinoli
The champion South Lakes team (courtesy of South Lakes athletics)

With athletes placing in multiple events, the South Lakes Seahawks delivered a versatile performance last week to win the boys 6D North Region track-and-field championship.

South Lakes amassed 119 points to finish well in front of the runner-up Wakefield Warriors with 59.

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Sports

Local swimmers, one diver win Virginia’s private school championships

By Dave Facinoli
Elizabeth Bryan swims the backstroke (courtesy of Oakcrest athletics)

Counting swimmers, a diver and a relay team, there were four champions from local schools at the recent private school state meet in Stafford.

In swimming, juniors Kate Douglas from Potomac School and Elizabeth Bryan from Oakcrest School each won two races in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association girls’ competition, held at the Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center last Saturday (Feb. 15).

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Sports

Chantilly girls squad vaults over McLean to win region gymnastics crown

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Chantilly team (courtesy of Chantilly athletics)

The Chantilly Chargers narrowly won the team title and had the individual all-around winner at the girls 6D North Region gymnastics championship this week.

The Chargers won their first team regional crown since 2011 with a 141.450 score during the Monday (Feb. 10) meet at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.

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