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 high school sports schedule for Jan. 31-Feb. 6

By Dave Facinoli
The Liberty District gymnastics meet is Feb. 5 (courtesy of Wakefield athletics)

Some high-school postseason competitions for winter sports teams are on the schedule over the coming week.

Liberty District swimming and diving, girls gymnastics and track-and-field championships involving the Wakefield Warriors, Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots all are on the calendar.

Go to Arlington high school sports schedule for Jan. 31-Feb. 6 Read more
Sports

Yorktown grad enjoys productive Division I college-football season

By Dave Facinoli
Max Patterson (0) started for the University of Delaware (courtesy of Delaware Athletics)

Max Patterson has several options once his college football playing career ends next fall.

If the Yorktown High School graduate has another good season as a wide receiver for the Division I University of Delaware team and draws interest from a professional team, he will entertain that possibility.

Go to Yorktown grad enjoys productive Division I college-football season Read more
Sports

Wakefield girls wrestling team enjoys another strong showing

By Dave Facinoli
The Wakefield girls wrestling team (courtesy of Wakefield wrestling)

The Wakefield High School girls wrestling team showcased its talent at the recent Orange County Open tournament.

The competition was hosted by Orange County High School in Orange, Va., and included more than 300 wrestlers. Wakefield entered six wrestlers and finished 15th in the team scoring. There were 54 teams entered.

Go to Wakefield girls wrestling team enjoys another strong showing Read more
Sports

It’s a homecoming for new Washington-Liberty girls soccer coach

By Dave Facinoli
Mike Woods is the new W-L girls soccer coach (courtesy of Mike Woods)

Mike Woods is coming home, where there is so much longstanding family history.

The 1986 graduate of Washington-Liberty High School (then named Washington-Lee) recently was named the new head girls varsity soccer coach for the upcoming spring season.

Go to It’s a homecoming for new Washington-Liberty girls soccer coach Read more
Sports

W-L girls basketball team has now won two straight over Yorktown

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty plays tight defense (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Washington-Liberty Generals drew a little closer with a recent win, but still trail in victories this decade against their top rival Yorktown Patriots in girls varsity basketball action.

Washington-Liberty defeated host Yorktown, 46-33, in that Liberty District high-school meeting. The Generals led 23-17 at halftime, then pulled away a bit more in the second half.

Go to W-L girls basketball team has now won two straight over Yorktown Read more
Sports

O’Connell teams win Catholic swimming and diving meets

By Dave Facinoli
The championship O'Connell teams (courtesy of O'Connell swimming)

After falling just short last year, the Bishop O’Connell Knights had the necessary added incentive to win this season’s Northern Virginia Catholic swimming and diving team championships.

O’Connell won both the girls and boys high-school titles Saturday (Jan. 18) at the 15th annual event, held at Freedom Center in Manassas. The girls won with 400 points and the boys with 404.

Go to O’Connell teams win Catholic swimming and diving meets Read more
Sports

Arlington high school sports schedule for Jan. 24-30

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield runners will compete at the district meet (courtesy of Wakefield track and field)

Some high-school postseason action for winter sports teams are set to begin, with the Liberty District swimming and diving and track-and-field championships for the Wakefield Warriors, Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots.

The coming week also includes plenty of regular-season basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, ice hockey and track-and-field action for Arlington teams.

Go to Arlington high school sports schedule for Jan. 24-30 Read more
Sports

O’Connell drops two in boys hoops, then bounces back with victory

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell's Liam Koelsch (photo by Rena Schild)

Home losses in consecutive conference basketball contests over a four-day stretch snapped a six-game winning streak for the Bishop O’Connell Knights boys team.

O’Connell (13-5, 3-2) shot poorly in both outings as it lost to the Bishop McNamara Mustangs, 59-39, then to the Gonzaga Eagles, 56-47, Friday (Jan. 17) in high-school action.

Go to O’Connell drops two in boys hoops, then bounces back with victory Read more
Sports

W-L boys basketball team finds rhythm with two straight victories

By Dave Facinoli
Carmichael Williams was a top scorer for W-L (photo by Rena Schild)

With two straight significant victories, the Washington-Liberty Generals boys basketball team has entered the conversation as a contender in the Liberty District.

The Generals snapped a three-game losing streak with league wins over the host Langley Saxons, 65-57, then the visiting Wakefield Warriors, 58-44, on consecutive nights.

Go to W-L boys basketball team finds rhythm with two straight victories Read more
Sports

O’Connell swim and dive teams place at National Catholic meet

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell girls swimmers warm up (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

A victory by one diver and a second by another helped the Bishop O’Connell Knights girls and boys teams enjoy top-10 finishes at the National Catholic Swim & Dive Championships.

O’Connell freshman Raito Detten won the boys diving competition with a 253.46 point total, as the Knights finished seventh in the high-school meet. O’Connell’s Isabel Smith was second in girls diving, helping her team place fifth.

Go to O’Connell swim and dive teams place at National Catholic meet Read more
Sports

Wakefield enjoys a strong showing at girls wrestling tournament

By Dave Facinoli
The Wakefield girls wrestling team (courtesy of Wakefield wrestling)

Led by standout wrestler Cameron Millsapps, the Wakefield Warriors enjoyed a strong performance at the La Luchadora Classic girls high-school competition.

Millsapps won the individual championship at 152 pounds at the 28-team event. She dominated the weight class with a 4-0 record and four pins.

Go to Wakefield enjoys a strong showing at girls wrestling tournament Read more
View More Stories