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

Three softball pitchers from Arlington schools enjoying college success

By Dave Facinoli
Emily Doty pitches for Smith College (courtesy of Smith athletics)

Three standout pitchers from girls high-school softball teams in Arlington are continuing their success during the early season among the college ranks.

On the Division I level, Bishop O’Connell High School graduate Katie Kutz has a 7-2 record with a 2.58 earned run average for the women’s team at Oklahoma State University.

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Sports

W-L blanks Yorktown in hockey’s annual Battle of Arlington faceoff

By Dave Facinoli
The winning Washington-Liberty Generals (photo by Rich Vizard)

With yet another shutout, the Washington-Liberty Generals capped their ice-hockey season with a second big accomplishment.

The high-school team’s fifth straight shutout triumph was a 3-0 win over the Yorktown Patriots at a packed MedStar Capitals Iceplex in the season-ending match between the Arlington rivals.

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Sports

Yorktown tops O’Connell in early-season county baseball showcase

By Dave Facinoli
Grayson McCarthy was the winning pitcher (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

For the fourth time since an annual all-Arlington rivalry baseball game was re-established in 2019, the Yorktown Patriots defeated the Bishop O’Connell Knights.

The most recent win was by a 7-4 score at O’Connell on Wednesday (March 19) and was the Patriots’ second straight over the Knights.

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Sports

Arlington high school sports schedule for March 21-27

By Dave Facinoli
Soccer teams will be in action (file photo by Deb Kolt)

The spring sports season is underway in full with regular-season action taking place for all of Arlington’s high-school teams.

Many days, with the exception of Sunday, have multiple contests for all of the teams in baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and track-and-field.

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Sports

Two young O’Connell runners place in final indoor track meet

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell's Lance Jayme (photo by Dave Facinoli)

Two young runners from the Bishop O’Connell High School boys indoor track-and-field team placed high in the mile at a late-season meet.

Jayse Brefczynski had one of his most successful races of the indoor season when the sophomore won the mile in 4:34.24, with his freshman teammate Peter Fleenor in sixth in 4:43.43.

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Sports

Arlington Tigers excel at statewide gymnastic championships

By Dave Facinoli
Alex Epstein performs (courtesy of Epstein family)

The Arlington Tigers boys gymnastics program had a strong showing at the recent Virginia State Championships in Lynchburg.

Alex Epstein was one of the top individual performers, winning the all-around competition at the platinum level and helping the Tigers win the state team title at that level.

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Sports

Divisions set for Arlington diving teams in 2025 summer campaign

By Dave Facinoli
Helen Butler of Dominion Hills (photo by Dave Facinoli)

As a result of tying for a division championship last year, the Arlington Forest diving team will compete one level higher this summer in the Northern Virginia Swimming League.

Arlington Forest tied for the Division VII crown with a 4-1 record last summer. Teams that finish first often are moved up at least one division.

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Sports

Former O’Connell teammates face off in college-tourney semifinals

By Dave Facinoli
Towson's Christian May (courtesy of Towson athletics)

Two former high-school teammates for the Bishop O’Connell Knights squared off on the basketball court during a recent men’s college game.

In the semifinals of the Coastal Athletic Association tournament, Christian May was a starting junior guard/forward for the Towson Tigers and junior guard Cavan Reilly started for the Delaware Blue Hens, which won 82-72.

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Sports

Despite small roster, Marymount swimmers enjoy winning season

By Dave Facinoli
The Marymount women swimmers (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

The Marymount University Saints made the best of a roster of just 11 during the winter swimming season.

After finishing 5-0 to win the regular-season title, the squad placed second in the Division III Atlantic East Conference postseason championships.

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Sports

Two O’Connell boys basketball players make all-state teams

By Dave Facinoli
Shane Lincoln was chosen all-state (photo by Rena Schild)

The top two scorers for the Bishop O’Connell Knights boys high-school basketball team this season earned all-state honors for their performances.

Junior guard and leading scorer Darius Bivins was a first-team Division I private-school selection in Virginia. Senior guard Shane Lincoln, the Knights’ No. 2 scorer, made the second team.

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Sports

W-L baseball team to host second Norwood Classic at Quincy Park

By Dave Facinoli
Sean Guffey will be a top player for W-L in the Norwood Classic (photo by Dave Facinoli)

Having had success a year ago in the inaugural event, the Washington-Liberty High School baseball team will host the second-annual Norwood Classic early in the 2025 season.

The tournament is named for former and legendary W-L head baseball coach Del Norwood. The late Norwood is a member of four Hall of Fames as a result of his success as the Generals’ head coach.

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