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

Two W-L football players enjoyed standout seasons on offense

By Dave Facinoli
Matthew Abramson, left, and Jon Malatesta (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Even though their team lost in the region final, Liberty District offensive football standouts Jon Malatesta and Matthew Abramson amassed big numbers in the game, as the seniors often did for the Washington-Liberty Generals during the 2024 high-school season.

At wide receiver, Malatesta had one last hurrah by catching nine passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in W-L’s 48-21 loss to the Madison Warhawks in the 6D North Region championship game Nov. 30.

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Sports

Marymount women’s volleyball team wins third straight tourney title

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Marymount team (courtesy of Marymount athletics)

In front of a big home crowd, the Marymount University Saints women’s volleyball team recently won a third- straight Atlantic East Conference tournament championship.

The top-seeded Saints were 2-0 in the tourney, defeating Gwynedd Mercy University in the semifinals, then Neuman University in the title match, each by 3-0 scores.

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Sports

W-L lineman chosen defensive Liberty District Player of the Year

By Dave Facinoli
Ben Hughes, No. 6, was a standout on defense (photo by Deb Kolt)

The stingy play of the Washington-Liberty Generals defense was a big reason for the football team’s success during the fall season.

A top player and a leader in tackles was senior lineman Ben Hughes. For his regular-season performance, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Hughes was chosen as a Defensive Player of the Year in the Liberty District, as well as a first-team lineman.

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Sports

W-L’s football season ends with loss in region-championship game

By Dave Facinoli
David Toepel caught five passes (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Its best football season in decades ended for the Washington-Liberty Generals Saturday afternoon (Nov. 30) with a loss in the championship game of the 6D North Region tournament.

The second-seeded and previously undefeated high-school team fell to the host and top seed Madison Warhawks, 48-21, in Vienna. Also undefeated entering the game, Madison improved to 13-0 and won its fifth straight region crown.

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Sports

W-L’s second Braylon Meade hoops tournament will host more teams

By Dave Facinoli
Bobby Dobson coaches W-L in last year's Braylon Meade Classic (courtesy of the Braylon Meade Classic)

The second annual Braylon Meade Basketball Classic has been expanded to include more varsity high-school teams, both girls and boys.

This year, eight teams will participate in four non-district contests played at Washington-Liberty High School on Saturday, Dec. 14. The W-L and Yorktown High girls and boys teams are among those competing.

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Sports

Multiple O’Connell football players selected for all-conference teams

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell's Brandon Green made first team all-conference (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Standout defensive lineman Brandon Green was one of multiple players for the Bishop O’Connell Knights chosen to 2024 all-league football teams.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Green was a first-team selection on defense in the Metro Division of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. The high-school senior tackle also was nominated for the Defensive Player of the Year.

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Sports

Three Yorktown High field-hockey players chosen to all-state teams

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown's Elena Reiser was the state's Player of the Year (file photo by Deb Kolt)

Three standout senior girls field-hockey players who helped the Yorktown Patriots win a 2024 state championship were honored with Class 6 all-state selections.

Senior forward Elena Reiser was chosen as the Virginia High School League Player of the Year at the Class 6 level. Reiser scored 15 goals, had nine assists and took 62 shots in 22 games for Yorktown, which finished 18-4 in winning its second straight state title and third in four seasons.

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Sports

W-L football team aims to break 50-year losing streak vs. Madison

By Dave Facinoli
Braylen Black runs the ball for Washington-Liberty (photo by Deb Kolt)

The 6D North Region high-school football championship game has all the makings of a classic showdown, with plenty in common among the teams.

On Saturday (Nov. 30) at 1 p.m. in Vienna, the Washington-Liberty Generals will face the host Madison Warhawks in the tournament final.

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Sports

W-L head football coach moves up to top spot in regionwide seniority

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty coach Josh Shapiro (file photo by Deb Kolt)

With longtime Yorktown High School head football coach Bruce Hanson having retired in recent days, Josh Shapiro has moved up to No. 1 on a seniority list.

Shapiro, who has been head coach of the Washington-Liberty Generals for 18 seasons, is now the longest-tenured head coach, by far, of the same team in the 6D North Region.

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Sports

17-win season is best in years for O’Connell boys soccer team

By Dave Facinoli
Bishop O'Connell's boys soccer team (courtesy of Bishop O'Connell soccer)

The Bishop O’Connell Knights enjoyed another strong campaign, one of the best yet, in boys soccer.

The Knights finished 17-5, the most wins in a season since Chris Jennings took over as head coach 13 years ago. The squad had eight shutouts and reached the tournament semifinals of both the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and Division I state competitions.

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Sports

W-L heads to region football championship game for first time since 1975

By Dave Facinoli
Jon Malatesta catches a pass for Washington-Liberty (photo by Deb Kolt)

What already was a standout championship football season for the Washington-Liberty Generals got better with the high-school team’s latest victory.

By defeating the No. 3 seed Langley Saxons, 20-14, Friday night (Nov. 22), the host, second seed and undefeated Generals (12-0) will play in a region-tournament championship playoff game for the first time since 1975.

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