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 graduate makes early mark in college cross country

By Dave Facinoli
Molly Weithman was a top runner at Bishop O'Connell (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Bishop O’Connell High School graduate Molly Weithman already is making a strong impact in college cross country.

The freshman runner for the College of William and Mary’s Division I women’s team finished ninth in one of her first collegiate races. Her place helped the team win a championship with a low 19 points Oct. 5 at the Pirate Invitational at East Carolina University.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty runner wins a third big race this fall

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty's Emmett Engelhardt (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

For Emmett Engelhardt, the cross country season keeps getting better and better.

The high-school campaign is a little more than a month old and the Washington-Liberty Generals senior runner already has won three big races, the latest Oct. 5 at the Octoberfest Invitational on the Great Meadow course in The Plains.

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Sports

O’Connell blanks Potomac School in girls soccer showdown

By Dave Facinoli
O'Connell's Sadie Smith heads the ball to Arden McEldowney (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Being the regular season, there wasn’t as much at stake except bragging rights.

Host Bishop O’Connell Knights earned them with the squad’s 3-0 victory over the Potomac School Panthers in girls high-school soccer action the afternoon of Oct. 4 in Arlington.

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Sports

Wakefield football team walloped on road against Westfield

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield High School's football team (courtesy of Wakefield athletics)

The Wakefield Warriors haven’t had much luck against the Westfield Bulldogs in recent seasons, and this year was no different.

Wakefield was blanked by host Westfield, 63-0, the night of Oct. 4 in a non-district high-school football game. The Warriors fell to 2-4.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty football team 6-0 for first time in 68 years

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty's receivers line up on a play (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

It took 68 years, but the Washington-Liberty Generals have again started a season 6-0.

By rallying on the road to defeat the Herndon Hornets, 28-18,on Oct. 4 in Liberty District high-school football action, the Generals improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1956 when the team (then named Washington-Lee) finished the regular season undefeated at 10-0.

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Sports

Yorktown football coach earns 300th career victory in win over Centreville

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson and his team gather (courtesy of Yorktown athletics)

It’s now 300 career victories and onward for Bruce Hanson.

The longtime head high-school football coach reached the milestone the night of Oct. 4 when his host Yorktown Patriots routed the Centreville Wildcats, 34-7, in a non-district clash.

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News

W-L quarterback has been an accurate passer through teams five games

By Dave Facinoli
W-L quarterback Matthew Abramson passing (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

There are numerous reasons the Washington-Liberty Generals are off to a strong 5-0 start in high-school football this season.

Perhaps at the top of the list is the consistent and highly-accurate passing performance of starting senior quarterback Matthew Abramson.

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Sports

Washington-Liberty golfer, team win district championships

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty High School players gather with the Liberty District golf championship banner and trophy (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

There were two reasons to celebrate for the Washington-Liberty Generals at the conclusion of the recent Liberty District golf tournament.

The Generals won the high-school competition for the first time, compiling a two-day, 36-hole team score of 304-294–598, winning by nine strokes over the nine-time defending champion Langley Saxons (307-300–607) on the Herndon Centennial Golf Course.

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Schools

Overtime loss prevents Yorktown coach from 300th career victory

By Dave Facinoli
The Yorktown High School offense sets to snap the ball against West Springfield during the 2024 season (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Career victory number 300 came teasingly close to reality for longtime high-school football coach Bruce Hanson the night of Sept. 27, but the coveted milestone will have to wait until at least the next game after his Yorktown Patriots suffered an overtime loss.

Yorktown (3-2) led the host West Springfield Spartans, 22-14, with 2:08 left in regulation play in the non-district tilt, was ahead again 28-22 in overtime, then lost 29-28. The difference was a missed extra point in OT by Yorktown, then a made point after by the Spartans in their walkoff win.

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Schools

W-L routs Falls Church in football, remains undefeated at 5-0

By Dave Facinoli
Washington-Liberty quarterback Matthew Abramson, left, and running back Brayden Black await a snap in recent action (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Washington-Liberty Generals improved to 5-0 with a 49-14 road win over the Falls Church Jaguars in a Sept. 27 non-district high-school football game.

The defending Liberty District champion Generals also started the season 5-0 last fall. The Generals have scored 40 points or more in each victory.

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