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

Robinson girls win third straight region swim and dive title

By Dave Facinoli
The region champion Robinson Rams (courtesy of Robinson athletics)

With top-three finishes in 10 of 12 events and a little help from an opponent, the Robinson Rams won a third straight girls 6C Occoquan Region swimming and diving championship.

The Rams won the high-school competition Friday (Feb. 7) with 365 points at the Oakmont Rec Center in Oakton. The C.G. Woodson Cavaliers were just three points behind in second.

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Sports

West Springfield boys win region swim and dive championship

By Dave Facinoli
The region champion West Springfield team (courtesy of West Springfield swim & dive)

The West Springfield Spartans have again claimed a significant swimming and diving team championship, despite winning few, if any, events.

The latest title won by the high school boys’ squad was the 6C North Region Occoquan competition, where they amassed 367 points on Friday, Feb. 7. The Lake Braddock Bruins finished second in the region with 310 points.

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Sports

Oakton gymnasts win fifth straight Concorde District championship

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Oakton Cougars (courtesy of Oakton gymnastics)

A young Oakton Cougars squad continued an established tradition by winning another Concorde District girls gymnastics championship.

Oakton High won a fifth straight title, by fractions, over the Chantilly Chargers, finishing first with a 139.625 team score. Chantilly had 139.175. The Madison Warhawks were third at 137.025.

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Sports

West Springfield repeats as Patriot District swim & dive champion

By Dave Facinoli
The champion West Springfield team (courtesy of West Springfield athletics)

By scoring in every event, the West Springfield Spartans amassed enough points to win a second straight Patriot District boys swimming and diving championship.

The Spartans won two of the 12 boys events and scored 452 points in the high-school meet, as their depth showed throughout the competition. Lake Braddock finished second with 410.

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Sports

Championship string ends for Langley swim-and-dive team

By Dave Facinoli
Michael Zhou is a top Langley swimmer (file photo by Deb Kolt)

The Langley Saxons’ streak of five straight boys postseason swimming and diving championship meets came to an end this season — but barely.

The two-time defending Class 6 state champions finished second in this winter’s Liberty District meet by just 23 points. The McLean Highlanders won the Saturday (Feb. 1) event with 488 points. Langley had 465.

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Sports

Seeding meeting on horizon for popular summertime swim league

By Dave Facinoli
Cardinal Hill is a member of the NVSL (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The seeding meeting that will determine the setups of the 17 divisions for the 2025 Northern Virginia Swimming League summer season has been scheduled for Sunday, March 2 at Key Middle School in Springfield.

Representative from each of the league’s 102 teams will be present to discuss and arrange the divisions. There are six teams in each division.

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Sports

Multiple FCPS female wrestlers earn berths into state tournament

By Dave Facinoli
Oakton wrestlers qualified for the state (courtesy of Oakton wrestling)

Wrestlers from 20 different high schools in Fairfax County recently earned berths at the Zone 4 qualifying event to participate in the Virginia High School League girls state tournament.

The top five wrestlers in each weight class earned those berths at Hayfield Secondary School, with the fifth-place finishers designated as alternates. The state tournament is Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 26-27, at the Henrico Sports and Events Center in Glen Allen.

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Sports

McLean boys swim and dive team finishes first in Liberty District meet

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

Aaron Jia’s high school swimming and diving career now includes bookend Liberty District boys championships for the McLean Highlanders.

The latest came last Saturday (Feb. 1), when the senior swimmer won two events and was on a winning relay to help McLean finish on top with 488 points.

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Sports

Chantilly boys take their turn to win district swim-dive title

By Dave Facinoli
Ben Farello won two district races (courtesy of the Farello family)

This season it was the Chantilly Chargers’ turn to win the boys Concorde District swimming and diving championship.

The Chargers won the crown Saturday (Feb. 1) at the Cub Run Rec Center in Chantilly with 565 points. The defending champion Oakton Cougars were second with 443 in the high-school meet.

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