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

Arlington NVSL swim, dive teams set to host 22 meets this summer

By Dave Facinoli
Finley McDonnell swims for Donaldson Run (file photo by Deb Kolt)

When it comes to home swimming and diving meets during the summertime’s Northern Virginia Swimming League seasons, Arlington will be a busy place for a little over a month starting in mid-June.

The four Arlington pools in the league each have both swim and dive teams. Those squads will combine to host 22 home meets, starting Saturday morning, June 14 with swimming competition.

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Sports

Combo of new coach, experienced soccer players is working for W-L

By Dave Facinoli
Frances Shapiro, left, and Danicka Miller of W-L (file photo by Deb Kolt)

The combination of a new head coach and an experienced squad, including 13 seniors, is working well so far this spring for the Washington-Liberty Generals girls soccer team.

The high-school team has a 7-1 overall record through this week, and is 2-0 in the Liberty District. The Generals have five shutouts in eight matches and have allowed only three goals.

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Sports

Yorktown, O’Connell alums seeing significant college-baseball action

By Dave Facinoli
James Tallon pitches at Duke (courtesy of Duke baseball)

A number of former baseball players from Yorktown and Bishop O’Connell high schools had seen significant action for Division I and III college teams this spring through April 21 games.

The list from Yorktown includes James Tallon (junior pitcher, Duke University), Kyle Langley (sophomore outfielder, James Madison University), Jack Rucker (freshman pitcher, Richard Bland College), Chase Rubin (junior pitcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Ketz Murray (sophomore pitcher, Marymount University).

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Sports

Arlington wrestlers see strong results at Warrior Classic tourney

By Dave Facinoli
Wrestlers prepare to meet in the Warrior Classic (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

With the most individual entries, the host Arlington Wrestling Club had a strong showing at the second annual Warrior Classic.

The club had two champions and six other top-four finishers at the Saturday (April 19) event at Wakefield High School. There were 109 wrestlers participating from some 30 club teams, made up of high-school-age grapplers.

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Sports

O’Connell softball team aims to score another 20-victory season

By Dave Facinoli
M.J. Melvin bats for O'Connell (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

With just nine potential games remaining on its schedule, the undefeated Bishop O’Connell Knights (11-0) have no room for error in order to continue the squad’s long streak of winning 20 softball games in one season.

The girls high-school team has won 20 or more times for 30 straight spring campaigns.

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Sports

Former Yorktown standout gets ready for his eighth NFL season

By Dave Facinoli
M.J. Stewart (courtesy of the Houston Texans)

With seven NFL seasons now complete, M.J. Stewart is busy preparing for his next pro campaign with the Houston Texans this coming fall.

This will be the fourth football season with Houston for the 5-foot-11-inch, 205-pound safety, a 2014 graduate of Yorktown High School where Stewart was a standout runningback, defensive back and kick returner.

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Sports

Arlington high-school sports schedule for April 25-May 1

By Dave Facinoli
The Yorktown baseball team has multiple games ahead (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The high-school sports schedule for Arlington’s three public high schools is back in full swing after spring break, with a full slate of competition.

The regular seasons last only a couple of more weeks, followed by the start of postseason action.

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Sports

Former Yorktown football coach honored by D.C. Touchdown Club

By Dave Facinoli
Bruce Hanson, middle, accepts his award (courtesy of Cory Royster/DC Touchdown Club)

The renowned D.C. Touchdown Club recently recognized former longtime Yorktown High School head football coach Bruce Hanson for his highly successful career and amassing 302 career victories over more than 40 years in the game.

Hanson was honored at the club’s annual awards dinner on April 10 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, receiving the Circle of Legends award.

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Sports

Marymount baseball coach earns 100th win in just fourth season

By Dave Facinoli
Marymount baseball coach Mike Cassidy (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

Reaching the milestone of 100 career wins came quickly for Marymount University head baseball coach Mike Cassidy.

Cassidy, who took the reins of the Saints’ Division III program to start the 2022 campaign, earned the century mark for victories when Marymount defeated Atlantic East Conference rival Neumann University, 22-6, Sunday (April 13) at Barcroft Park.

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Sports

Baseball roundup: County teams enjoyed spring-break success

By Dave Facinoli
Drew Markey pitches for O'Connell (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

With varying degrees of success, the Wakefield Warriors, Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots participated in different spring-break baseball tournaments in recent days.

Yorktown (7-5) had the best record of the three high-school teams, finishing 3-2 in the competition at Patriot Park in Fairfax.

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Sports

O’Connell soccer player chosen to U.S. development select team

By Dave Facinoli
Campbell Knisely (courtesy of U.S. Soccer)

Campbell Knisely, a sophomore on the Bishop O’Connell High School boys soccer team this past fall, recently was chosen a member of the under-17 U.S. Olympic Development Program National Select Team.

The squad of 18 players is training and participating in matches against top European Youth Academies this month in Italy. The selection process included progressing through district, state and regional training camps.

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Sports

Wakefield boys lacrosse team enjoying best start in its history

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield celebrates after defeating Marshall (courtesy of Wakefield lacrosse)

The Wakefield Warriors are outperforming expectations in boys lacrosse action, hitting a high-water mark in the team’s final pre-spring-break contest.

The rescheduled Liberty District high-school game was against the host Marshall Statesmen on a rainy Friday night the weekend before spring break.

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