sports | FFXnow

Published January 22, 2025 at 8:15AM

Hayfield Secondary School (staff photo)

Virginia lawmakers are moving forward with a bill to crack down on the misuse of the “homeless” designation by school officials to recruit student athletes. House Bill 1656, introduced by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, also prohibits officials from accepting money or gifts intended to influence a student’s decision to transfer schools for athletic purposes.

The legislation narrowly advanced to the full House on an 11-10 party-line vote in the House Education Committee. No lawmakers spoke on the bill ahead of the vote.

News

Edison HS suspends basketball coach over player eligibility issues

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 16, 2025 at 9:00AM

Thomas Edison High School in Rose Hill (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Allegations of player recruiting irregularities have engulfed another Fairfax County high school sports team.

Tre Ford, the head coach for Edison High School’s varsity boys’ basketball team, has been suspended after administrators learned that several athletes who played for the school in a tournament last summer weren’t enrolled as students at Edison, principal Mandy Burke said in a message to the community on Tuesday (Jan. 14).

Around Town

New pickleball facility in Chantilly targets spring opening

By Jared Serre

Published January 14, 2025 at 11:15AM

The location of the forthcoming Dill Dinkers facility in Chantilly (staff photo by Jared Serre)

It won’t be long before pickleballers are dinking and volleying at a new indoor facility in Chantilly.

Owners of the forthcoming Dill Dinkers space are hoping to open doors this spring — a minor delay after they previously anticipated a winter opening.

News

Developer will still pursue indoor ski resort in Lorton after losing exclusive rights

By Jared Serre

Published December 24, 2024 at 9:00AM

A rendering of Alpine-X's planned Fairfax Peak project in Lorton (via Alpine-X)

The exclusive rights to bring an indoor ski resort to Lorton will soon expire for one developer, but the project isn’t going away.

Alpine-X, which is looking to build a 450,000-square-foot complex on a closed section of the I-95 landfill, will continue to pursue the “Fairfax Peak” project after the rights end on Dec. 31.

Countywide

Superintendent lays out timeline for revising FCPS athletic policies

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 23, 2024 at 11:15AM

Superintendent Michelle Reid (staff file photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid outlined a timeline on Thursday (Dec. 19) for revising policies related to student athletics following a controversy over alleged football-recruiting irregularities at Hayfield Secondary School.

Engaged in ongoing damage control, the superintendent told the Fairfax County School Board at its last meeting of the year that “clear, bright-line rules and regulations” will be rolled out in coming months.

News

GMU basketball team defrauded out of Bahamas trip, prosecutors say

By Jared Serre

Published December 16, 2024 at 1:15PM

George Mason University (file photo)

Federal prosecutors have charged a travel agent accused of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme and ultimately defrauding the George Mason University men’s basketball team earlier this year.

Maurice Eugene Smith, 44, of Atlanta is believed to have used the nearly $160,000 paid by the school to cover his personal expenses instead of booking the team’s anticipated trip to the Bahamas, according to court records.

Countywide

‘I am sorry’: Superintendent works to make amends following uproar over Hayfield football

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 9, 2024 at 1:15PM

Superintendent Michelle Reid (staff file photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County School Board members and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid took formal steps last week to address the alleged athletic recruiting irregularities at Hayfield Secondary School that have roiled the entire community.

At the school board meeting on Thursday (Dec. 5), Reid offered her first public mea culpa for the crisis of confidence in Fairfax County Public Schools leadership sparked by its handling of the controversy around Hayfield’s football program.

Countywide

State champion FCPS athletes honored by Fairfax County leaders

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 6, 2024 at 1:15PM

2024 Robinson Secondary School cheer team (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Dec. 3) honored students and teams from the county’s public high schools for state-championship performances this fall.

“We have a long list of champions, which is fantastic,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said during a presentation that helped kick off the body’s final meeting of 2024.

Countywide

Fairfax City school board calls for transparency in Hayfield football investigation

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 5, 2024 at 11:15AM

Hayfield Secondary School (staff photo)

Leaders of Fairfax County Public Schools are under growing pressure from both the Fairfax City School Board and their own school board to shed light on accusations of recruiting violations at Hayfield Secondary School.

The City of Fairfax School Board approved a resolution on Monday (Dec. 2) formally requesting that FCPS contract an independent investigator “with expertise in athletic ethics and compliance to conduct a thorough review” of Hayfield’s football program.

News

McLean-area pickleball courts could be removed, but no changes imminent

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 4, 2024 at 11:15AM

Pickleball players use a court that also supports tennis at Linway Terrace Park in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Pickleball and tennis courts at two parks in the McLean area might be retired in the future.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is considering relocating two shared-use courts at Linway Terrace Park (6246 Linway Terrace) in McLean. Westgate Park (7508 Magarity Road) in Tysons also has two courts — one dedicated to tennis and one for both tennis and pickleball — slated for removal.