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

O’Connell brothers place high in early-season cross-country meet

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell brothers Jayse Brefczynski, left, and Landon Brefczynski, behind, attempt to overtake a Langley High School runner (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Brefczynski brothers — Jayse, a junior, and Landon, a freshman — posted breakout performances in high-school cross-country competition during an early-season fall meet.

The Bishop O’Connell Knights siblings and teammates finished second (Jayse in 15:37) and fourth (Landon in 15:42) at the boys Monroe Parker Invitational, run the morning of Sept. 6 on the 2.9-mile Burke Lake Park course.

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Sports

Wakefield, W-L, Yorktown record second-week blowout victories

By Dave Facinoli

Points were abundant in blowout victories by Arlington’s three public-school teams in their second games of the 2025 high-school football season.

Two of the Sept. 5 wins were home, non-district blowouts for the Yorktown Patriots and Wakefield Warriors, now both 1-1, in public-school contests.

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Sports

Quarterback play starts off strong for Arlington’s high-school football teams

By Dave Facinoli
Bishop O'Connell quarterback Ryan Turpin (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Strong performances by quarterbacks proved a major highlight for Arlington’s four high-school football teams during opening games of the 2025 fall season.

On the night of Aug. 28, the foursome combined to complete 53 passes for 772 yards and eight touchdowns, throwing just three interceptions. Their strong play could continue to be a big positive point for the remainder of the campaign.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty wins county golf tournament for second year

By Dave Facinoli
The 2025 county champion Washington-Liberty golf team (courtesy of W-L golf team)

It was by a slimmer margin than in 2024, but the Washington-Liberty Generals recently won the three-team Arlington County high-school golf championship for the second straight year.

The Generals finished first with a 9-hole score of 143 on the East Potomac Park Golf Links course in D.C. The Yorktown Patriots were second with 146 and the Wakefield Warriors third at 149.

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Sports

Late field-goal miss costs Patriots a victory in football season opener

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown's Samson Schneider passed for 233 yards (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Victory came so close to the Yorktown Patriots in their opening game of the 2025 high school football season.

A 24-yard field goal attempt off a high snap hit the right upright and bounced away in the final seconds, allowing the host South Lakes Seahawks of Reston to hold on for a 29-28 win the night of Aug. 28.

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Sports

Special-teams mistakes hurt Wakefield in season-opening football loss

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield quarterback Judah Connor threw two touchdown passes against Falls Church (file photo)

Mistake-prone special-teams play was costly in a season-opening loss for the Wakefield Warriors in high-school football action.

The Warriors fell behind 24-0 early in a 38-17 defeat to the host Falls Church Jaguars the night of Aug. 28.

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Sports

42 years after their last meeting, W-L defeats O’Connell in football

By Dave Facinoli
The Washington-Liberty offense is set to run a play against Bishop O'Connell (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

They had not met in 42 years. But when the 2025 football season kicked off the night of Aug. 28, the Washington-Liberty Generals used a balanced attack to defeat the Bishop O’Connell Knights in high-school action.

W-L won 55-22 in what served as the season-opener for both squads.

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Sports

Wakefield soccer team completes historic run deep into Va. tourney

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield gathers with the second-place state trophy (courtesy of Wakefield athletics)

A strong regular-season and playoff run for the Wakefield Warriors boys soccer team ended with a runner-up finish in the Virginia High School League Class 6 state tournament.

After a scoreless first half in the June 14 title match at Glen Allen High near Richmond, Wakefield fell to the Herndon Hornets, 3-0.

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Sports

Yorktown brings home third state championship in girls lacrosse

By Dave Facinoli
The state champion Yorktown team (photo by Grant Yoder)

The Yorktown Patriots captured their third state lacrosse title by finishing strong in the championship game.

Yorktown (21-1) won the Virginia High School League Class 6 state-tournament crown in Richmond after rallying to defeat the Madison Warhawks, 16-14, in the final Saturday (June 14) at Douglas Freeman High School.

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Sports

Yorktown girls fall in Class 6 state-tournament soccer semifinal

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown's Caitlin Wright eyes the ball (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

As has been the case since winning their first state soccer title in 2017, the Yorktown Patriots again were in contention this year.

But the squad fell just short of its goal, losing in the Virginia High School League Class 6 state tournament semifinals, 2-0, to the Deep Run Wildcats on Friday (June 13) at Glen Allen High near Richmond.

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Sports

W-L senior runner comes close to goal of winning a state title

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty runner Emmett Englehardt (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

He came close in his final meet, but Emmett Engelhardt’s goal of winning a state championship during his high-school career eluded the Washington-Liberty senior runner.

At this season’s outdoor Class 6 state championship boys track and field meet in Virginia Beach, Engelhardt finished second in the 1,600-meters in a 4:13.98, one of his top high-school times in the race.

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