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

County’s four high-school football teams all score second-week wins

By Dave Facinoli
Running back in black jersey carries the ball as white-uniform defenders close in on a crowded line.
The Bishop O'Connell offense (black) and Washington-Liberty defense (white) had strong performances in week-two action (file photo by Dave Facinoli)

Arlington’s high-school football teams each came away with a victory in Sept. 3-4 competition, and for the first time since the 2014 season, all four have at least one win after two games of a new season.

On Sept. 3, the visiting Wakefield Warriors (1-1) held off the Rock Ridge High School Phoenix of Ashburn to win 21-14 in non-district play, the host Washington-Liberty Generals (2-0) topped the McLean Highlanders, 17-7, in a Liberty District contest, and the host Yorktown Patriots (1-1) blanked the Ballou Knights (1-1) of D.C., 41-0, also in non-league action.

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Sports

Yorktown and Wakefield football teams show potential despite first-game losses

By Dave Facinoli
Quarterback in light blue jersey throws a pass as teammates and defenders watch the ball in the air on a nighttime football field.
Yorktown quarterback Jack McCorry throws a pass in the season opener (photo by Dave Facinoli)

Despite opening-game losses, the Wakefield Warriors and Yorktown Patriots had bright spots to expand on as the 2026 high-school football season kicked off.

Playing at home on Friday night (Aug. 28), Wakefield lost to the Falls Church Jaguars, 34-21, while Yorktown fell to the South Lakes Seahawks, 43-21, in non-district action.

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Sports

W-L defeats rival O’Connell in football season opener

By Dave Facinoli
Two football players sprint near the sideline; a white-jersey runner holds the ball while a black-jersey defender reaches in to tackle him.
Receiver Colby Arenson tries to make a catch for Washington-Liberty as O'Connell's Timothy Robertson defends (photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Washington-Liberty Generals defeated the Bishop O’Connell Knights for the second straight season in an all-Arlington high-school football showdown.

Visiting W-L won the Aug. 28 non-conference contest, 35-21, in the fall opener for both squads. Because there is no field lighting at O’Connell, football games are played in the afternoon.

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Sports

Wakefield football team seeks turnaround under new head coach

By Dave Facinoli
On-field football scene with a kneeling player in white and green, a referee nearby, and opposing players in blue and gold watching from the sideline.
Wakefield kicker Andrew Jackson returns this season (photo by Dave Facinoli)

As the team’s third new head coach in five seasons, Brian Slay has set realistic expectations for the Wakefield Warriors in the upcoming high-school football campaign.

Slay inherits a squad that won few games the previous four years, and victories could be a challenge again this fall with a young, sophomore-heavy unit.

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Sports

O’Connell coaches are optimistic about upcoming football season

By Dave Facinoli
Blue jersey ball carrier (#7) runs with the ball while a white-uniform defender (#50) pursues on a green turf field.
Nick Morris returns as a top running back for O'Connell (photo by Dave Facinoli)

Victories have been few and sometimes far between in recent seasons for the Bishop O’Connell Knights’ varsity football team.

The private-school squad hopes to change those results during the 2026 campaign, which begins with an afternoon non-conference home contest at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, against the Washington-Liberty Generals in an all-Arlington showdown.

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Sports

Arlington Youth Football Club honors top players as new season arrives

By Dave Facinoli
Group of students and coaches posing on a stage in front of a colorful balloon arch backdrop, some with fists raised in celebration.
The 2025 Arlington Youth Football Club champion Admirals (courtesy Arlington Youth Football)

Coming off a successful season last fall, the Arlington Youth Football Club is looking forward to more good things in the upcoming 2026 campaign as competition begins next month.

Practice began for the league on Aug. 11. Games are scheduled to kick off Saturday, Sept. 12 at Wakefield High School from 3-9 p.m. The season runs until early November.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty will rely on strong offense as it battles for Liberty District crown

By Dave Facinoli
Two football players in white uniforms crouch on a green field as crowds watch from the stands.
Jasper Dennis, left, and Tyler Flint-Steinig, right, return for Washington-Liberty (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

With some key football players returning and others stepping up to replace graduates, the Washington-Liberty Generals are optimistic about having a fourth straight winning season.

The high school team is scheduled to open the 2026 campaign on the road on Friday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m., facing the Bishop O’Connell Knights in an all-Arlington public-vs.-private-school clash.

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Sports

Freshman golfers help Yorktown squad win invitational tournament

By Dave Facinoli
Five young athletes in matching blue shirts and white caps pose with medals and trophies after a win? holding a cup and plaques in a hallway.
The Yorktown Patriots won the Don Roth Warhawk Invitational golf tournament (courtesy Yorktown golf)

Led by the individual champion and three other golfers placing in the top 10, the Yorktown Patriots won the recent Don Roth Warhawk Invitational tournament.

Yorktown comfortably won the one-day, 18-hole, 17-team high-school golf event at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton with a 295 team score. The host, the Madison Warhawks, placed second with 309.

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Sports

Yorktown varsity football team looking to defend district crown

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown football player in light blue jersey #18 runs downfield during a game on a turf field.
Jack McCorry will be Yorktown's starting quarterback this season (photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Yorktown Patriots are hungry for the 2026 high-school football season to bring more of the same, if not better, under second-year head coach Alec Hicks.

Under Hicks in 2025, the Patriots finished 7-4 overall, won the Liberty District title with a 6-0 record, were 2-0 against Arlington County rivals and earned a region-tournament playoff berth.

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Sports

All six Arlington swim teams earned winning records this summer

By Dave Facinoli
Group of children in a swimming pool with colorful inflatables and pool noodles, posing and smiling.
Arlington Knights of Columbus won the 2026 relay carnival (photo from the Knights of Columbus)

All six Arlington teams emerged with winning records in this summer’s Northern Virginia Swimming League and Colonial Swimming League competition.

Of those, the two Colonial Swimming League squads won division championships with undefeated 5-0 marks.

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Sports

High school football kicks off in Arlington later this month

By Dave Facinoli
Football game at the line of scrimmage: white-uniformed offense facing a dark-uniform defender, players crouched and ready to snap, with fans and a 'WILD WEST' banner in the background.
Ryan Turpin, left, returns as O'Connell's starting quarterback (photo by Dave Facinoli)

High school football in Northern Virginia is set for kickoff later this month.

Arlington’s Bishop O’Connell Knights, Wakefield Warriors, Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots open their 10-game regular-season campaigns, which include a bye week for each, on Aug. 27 and 28.

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Sports

Wakefield HS celebrates two coaches named district and regional ‘Coach of the Year’

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield girls lacrosse coach Tylar Abrams designs a play during a match (courtesy Wakefield lacrosse)

It’s a big deal any time a head coach of a high-school sports team is chosen as Coach of the Year.

But two different head coaches from the same school receiving that recognition during the same campaign by separate organizations? That’s a very rare occurrence — but happened during the 2026 spring outdoor season at Arlington’s Wakefield High School.

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