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

Langley wrestlers win initial girls Liberty District tournament title

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

Girls wrestling continues growing as a high-school sport in Northern Virginia, and the Langley Saxons recently won the initial Liberty District tournament.

With four individual champions, Langley won with 121.5 points. The Marshall Statesmen were second (102 points), the McLean Highlanders third (58) and the host Herndon Hornets (52) fourth.

Go to Langley wrestlers win initial girls Liberty District tournament title Read more
Sports

Sports-scholarship organization preps for year’s worth of events

By Dave Facinoli
Scholarship winners also receive gift bags (courtesy of NVADACA)

The first monthly meeting of 2025 for the Northern Virginia Athletic Directors, Administrators and Coaches Association (NVADACA) organization is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19 at 11 a.m. at Springfield Golf and Country Club.

The cost for lunch is $20.

Go to Sports-scholarship organization preps for year’s worth of events Read more
Sports

Two key Potomac School basketball players sidelined with injuries

By Dave Facinoli
Margit Crittenberger, left, and Zora Burrell (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Margit Crittenberger and Zora Burrell were in an unwanted place and situation during the Potomac School Panthers’ most recent girls basketball game.

The senior teammates, three-sport athletes and top players for the private high-school wintertime hoop team, were sitting side-by-side on the bench against the host Flint Hill Huskies in that Jan. 25 game, unable to play because of lower-leg injuries.

Go to Two key Potomac School basketball players sidelined with injuries Read more
Sports

Flint Hill repeats as conference swim and dive boys champions

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Flint Hill team (courtesy of Flint Hill Swim & Dive)

Overall depth, including victories in two relays and three in individual races, and many more top-five finishes helped the Flint Hill Huskies win their second straight swimming and diving league championship.

The Oakton private school’s boys high school team won the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference private-school title on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Catholic University with 162.5 team points. The Huskies’ neighborhood rival Potomac School Panthers were second with 127.

Go to Flint Hill repeats as conference swim and dive boys champions Read more
Sports

Potomac School’s girls basketball team continues win streak against rival Flint Hill

By Dave Facinoli
Sabrina Anderson, left, Catherine Letendre, back, and Raigan McCalla (1) were top scorers (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

An entertaining individual shootout occurred involving three top scoring leaders when neighborhood rivals met on Saturday, Jan. 25 in a girls’ high-school basketball game.

The Potomac School Panthers defeated the host Flint Hill Huskies, 73-53, for their second straight win in that Independent School League private-school clash. The loss snapped the Huskies’ four-game victory string, as Flint Hill stands 12-6.

Go to Potomac School’s girls basketball team continues win streak against rival Flint Hill Read more
Sports

Oakton high sports siblings continue to excel in sports

By Dave Facinoli
Nick Toole passes for Carleton College (courtesy of Carleton athletics)

Two have moved on to college sports, while one remains at Oakton High School, but all three Toole-family siblings are plenty busy and productive in athletics.

Girls basketball and softball player Sophie Toole is a junior standout in both sports at Oakton, currently helping the hoop team to a 15-1 record this winter season. She leads the team in many statistical categories.

Go to Oakton high sports siblings continue to excel in sports Read more
Sports

Oakton overcomes coaching absence in basketball victory over Madison girls

By Dave Facinoli
Kathleen Rose, left, was Oakton's coach against Madison (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

It took a bit, but once the Oakton Cougars “calmed down” they took control of the road game against their biggest neighborhood basketball rival en route to a comfortable victory.

After trailing 17-12 early in the second quarter, Oakton (15-1, 3-1) rallied to defeat the Madison Warhawks, 56-34, Friday (Jan. 24) in a Concorde District girls high-school game.

Go to Oakton overcomes coaching absence in basketball victory over Madison girls Read more
Sports

Post-season track & field meets held far away for local teams

By Dave Facinoli
The Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex (courtesy of the learning complex)

Much travel will be involved over the next month for teams participating and spectators attending some of the upcoming girls and boys postseason track-and-field meets for local high-school squads.

That has been the case every year for many winter indoor seasons, as those postseason meets are no longer held at the indoor facilities of George Mason University.

Go to Post-season track & field meets held far away for local teams Read more
Sports

Madeira girls third in conference swim and dive championships

By Dave Facinoli
Diya Redburns swims for Madeira (file photo)

Led by two first-place relays, the Madeira Snails finished third in the swimming and diving team’s recent conference-championship meet.

The girls high-school team won the 200 and 400 freestyle relays at the Independent School League conference meet at Stone Ridge School in D.C. The 200 relay won in 1:37.1 and the 400 in 3:34.71.

Go to Madeira girls third in conference swim and dive championships Read more
View More Stories