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

Yorktown football team responds with win after a lopsided loss followed by bye week

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown's Brady Owens, left, and Coby Casalengo (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

A week off seemed to have been good for the Yorktown Patriots, considering how they bounced back with a strong performance and a winning result on the football field.

Yorktown (6-4, 3-2) defeated the visiting Marshall Statesmen, 24-14, in Liberty District high-school action Nov. 2. That was after getting blown out by the Langley Saxons in the team’s previous game, followed by their regular-season bye week.

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Sports

W-L repeats as district champ, aims to beat Wakefield for 10-0 football season

By Dave Facinoli
Matthew Abramson fakes a handoff to Brayden Black (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Instead of wasting time discussing or writing down their team’s primary goal for the 2024 football season, the Washington-Liberty Generals concentrated on accomplishing that task on the field.

On Saturday (Nov. 2) the high-school team did just that — winning a second straight Liberty District championship.

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Sports

O’Connell football team holds off Ireton in conference road victory

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell kicker Josh Graham (file staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

A strong start on offense and big defensive play near the end of the football game propelled the Bishop O’Connell Knights to a road victory on Saturday (Nov. 2).

Visiting O’Connell (2-7, 1-2) led from start to finish but had to hang on to defeat the Bishop Ireton Cardinals, 17-13, in a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Metro Division high-school contest in Alexandria.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty, Yorktown reach region field-hockey semis

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty will play in the region semifinals (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots have reached the semifinals of the 6D North Region girls field-hockey tournament.

In order for the Arlington rivals to meet in the championship match on Wednesday (Nov. 6), the high-school teams have to win matches set for Monday (Nov. 4) at 7 p.m. Yorktown (14-3) will host the Madison Warhawks (16-3) and W-L (13-6) will play at the defending champion Oakton Cougars (18-2).

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Sports

Arlington United 13-under baseball team goes 25-4, wins tourneys

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Arlington United team (courtesy of Arlington United)

A new Arlington United team with the 13-under regional baseball program won two tournaments over consecutive October weekends.

One was at the Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, Md., the other in Arlington at the Coach Sam Fox Fall Classic at Gunston Park.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty facing football showdown against Langley for first place

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

First place will be on the line Saturday (Nov. 2) when the Washington-Liberty Generals play at the Langley Saxons in a 4 p.m. Liberty District high-school football showdown.

Defending champion Washington-Liberty enters the game undefeated at 8-0 and atop the standings with a 4-0 record. Langley stands 7-1, 3-1.

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Sports

W-L runner wins Liberty District cross-country meet as team looks to regionals

By Dave Facinoli
Emmett Engelhardt wins for Washington-Liberty (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

At significant cross-country races on the Burke Lake Park course this fall, Emmett Engelhardt has won two, with another still to come.

His latest victory on that 2.98-mile trail was on a warm Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 30) at the boys Liberty District high-school championship meet.

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Sports

Arlington high school sports schedule for Nov. 1-7

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty girls runners (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Arlington high schools have a full week of sports ahead, including many playoff events.

There will be no football games Friday night (Nov. 1)  involving Arlington teams, because of the observance of a no-play date for Fairfax County schools owing to the Diwali Hindu festival.

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Sports

Two boats from One Arlington Rowing Club reach medal stand in Boston

By Dave Facinoli
The girls youth quad (courtesy Arlington One Rowing)

In recent competition, boats from the One Arlington Rowing club reached the medal stand at the Head of the Charles Regatta, held on the Charles River in Boston.

Rowers from One Arlington, consisting of students from Arlington’s three public high schools, showcased their skill and determination at the regatta.

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Sports

Two golfers from Arlington schools play in Girls State Open tourney

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown's Ginger Beall (courtesy of Yorktown golf)

Ginger Beall and Malia Perry had both struggles and good moments during the Girls State Open golf tournament.

The 18-hole Virginia High School League competition was played Monday (Oct. 28) on the par-70 Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg. Beall, a sophomore for the Yorktown Patriots, shot 82 to finish in a four-way tie for 25th. Perry, a senior for the Washington-Liberty Generals, shot 90.

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Sports

Young runners boost O’Connell’s fortunes in cross-country championships

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell girls runner Grace Fumich (staff file photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Bishop O’Connell Knights had middle-of-the-pack finishes at conference cross-country championship meets, but saw positive signs in the performance of ninth-grade runners.

The girls placed sixth and the boys eighth at the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference races, run Saturday (Oct. 26) on the 5,000-meter Kenilworth Park course in D.C.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty wins district cheerleading crown, places third at regionals

By Dave Facinoli
The champion Washington-Liberty cheerleaders (courtesy Washington-Liberty cheerleaders)

The Washington-Liberty Generals prevailed as the champions of the Liberty District cheerleading competition, the squad’s first district title since 2013.

“This is huge,” Washington-Liberty coach Ghita Haronni said.

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