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 grads help college soccer teams enjoy big success

By Dave Facinoli
Mia Salmon (courtesy of Springfield College)

Bishop O’Connell High School graduates helped two different Division III women’s college soccer teams enjoy significant postseason success in recent weeks.

Sophomore midfielder Sophie Viscovich helped the Washington University in St. Louis Bears win the national championship, finishing with an unbeaten 23-0-2 record.

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Sports

Busy W-L athlete places in many events at track-and-field meet

By Dave Facinoli
W-L's Alba Edsall (234) Therese Johansson (236) (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

No athlete was busier for the Washington-Liberty Generals than Camille Walker during the recent Gainesville Cardinal Classic track-and-field meet.

The senior’s top finish in the multiple-team meet at Gainesville High School was a 17th in the girls discus. She also placed 18th in the triple jump, 19th in the 100 hurdles, 22nd in the shot put and 43rd in the 100 dash.

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Sports

Marymount women’s lacrosse team has strong regular season

By Dave Facinoli
Marymount goalie Hannah Smith makes a save (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

The regular season is complete and proved a big success for the Marymount University Saints women’s lacrosse team.

Marymount concluded that campaign with a 15-2 overall record, a first-place 5-0 finish in the Atlantic East Conference and a 10-match winning streak.

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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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