Dave Facinoli | ARLnow

Published January 7, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated January 8, 2026 at 1:56AM

Yorktown's Bennett Haas takes a shot against Potomac Falls (photo by Truman Becknell)

With productive scoring and some strong shutdown defense, the Yorktown High School varsity ice-hockey club team is enjoying a 5-1 start this season.

The winning record is no surprise — Yorktown has become one of the top teams in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League in recent seasons and has an experienced lineup this fall, including eight seniors.

Sports

Holiday basketball tournament at Wakefield showcased local talent for 23rd year

By Dave Facinoli

Published January 5, 2026 at 11:45AM

Former Marymount University men's coach Chuck Driesell was back in Arlington coaching basketball at the George Long tournament (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

There wasn’t a local champion, but the annual George Long Holiday Hoops Tournament again proved a popular boys high-school basketball event, with multiple side stories emerging.

The 23rd annual tourney, which has included eight teams every year, has been held at Wakefield High School each time, this year Dec. 26, 27 and 29.

Sports

W-L girls basketball team opens season with best start in decades

By Dave Facinoli

Published January 2, 2026 at 10:00AM

Washington-Liberty's Eve Jungman shoots a free throw against Robinson (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The solid 9-1 start enjoyed by the Washington-Liberty Generals this season is the best in at least 35 years for the girls high-school basketball team.

After a season-opening 10-point road loss to the Oakton Cougars, the W-L squad has run the table with nine straight victories.

Sports

Wakefield, W-L combine for three wins in holiday basketball tournament

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 31, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated January 1, 2026 at 9:15AM

Wakefield's Zak Amadou takes a shot against South Lakes (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Of the two Arlington squads that played in the annual eight-team George Long Holiday Hoops Tournament, the host Wakefield Warriors placed highest.

The boys high-school basketball team (8-2 overall) ended up in fifth place with a 2-1 record, playing in three close games in the popular 23-year-old holiday event, the only one of its kind in the county.

Sports

W-L first-year center chosen first-team all-state in Class 6 football

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 29, 2025 at 10:00AM

Washington-Liberty center Grant Siebert was chosen first-team all-state (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Grant Siebert didn’t realize at the time that learning to play center in youth flag football would pave the way for significant achievements as a high-school senior.

The Washington-Liberty Generals’ captain recently was chosen to the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 first-team on offense as the lone center. He is the first W-L offensive lineman chosen first-team all-state at any position in Josh Shapiro’s 19 seasons as the Generals’ head coach.

Sports

Wakefield boys basketball coach Tony Bentley earns 400th career victory

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 26, 2025 at 11:45AM

Tony Bentley coaches Wakefield during a timeout (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

After the Wakefield Warriors went 0-3 to open the 2002-03 boys basketball season, new head coach Tony Bentley grew increasingly anxious about getting his first victory.

In the squad’s fourth game of the season, the Warriors managed to eke out a win over the Marshall Statesmen, 61-60.

Sports

Holiday boys basketball tournament to begin at Wakefield on Friday

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 23, 2025 at 2:45PM

The Wakefield Warriors will host the annual George Long Holiday Hoops Tournament (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

A holiday boys basketball competition is set to tip off in Arlington this Friday at Wakefield High School.

The eight-team George Long Holiday Hoops Tournament, which will run through Monday, Dec. 29, is under the leadership of Warriors’ head coach Tony Bentley. He founded it and has served as event director the past 23 years.

Sports

W-L girls, Yorktown boys win neighborhood hoop showdowns

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 22, 2025 at 2:45PM

Washington-Liberty’s Eve Jungman (34) is surrounded by Yorktown defenders (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The rivalry is decades old, but there was something brand new in this season’s first of two regular-season all-Arlington girls neighborhood basketball clashes between the Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots.

The head coaches of both high-school teams are brand new this season as they led the Dec. 19 showdown at Washington-Liberty.

Sports

Standout Yorktown tight end earns football scholarship to Rutgers

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 18, 2025 at 9:15AM

Brady Owens gets set to start a receiving route (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Having first learned to play the precision football position of a long snapper, Brady Owens found himself developing into a talented tight end.

Owens honed those skills into becoming a standout player during his four-year high-school career playing for Arlington’s Yorktown Patriots.

Sports

Arlington boys basketball teams get off to best start in 35+ years

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 16, 2025 at 2:25PM

Yorktown's Walton Butler heads to the basket, guarded by Wakefield's Jeremiah Poole (photo courtesy Jennifer Snow Butler)

Added together, Arlington’s four boys high-school varsity teams are enjoying their collective best start of a basketball season in decades.

Through Dec. 13 action, the squads had a cumulative 20-3 overall record. One of those three losses was inevitable, as it came in a neighborhood rivalry contest between the Wakefield Warriors and Yorktown Patriots. Yorktown came away with the victory.

Sports

Yorktown wins opening county rivalry game of basketball season

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 12, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated December 13, 2025 at 9:35AM

Wakefield moves the ball against Yorktown’s defense (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Between them, girls and boys varsity public high-school basketball teams in Arlington have six regular-season rivalry games scheduled this season.

The first contest was a boys clash Thursday night, Dec. 11, when the host Wakefield Warriors (3-1) lost to the Yorktown Patriots (4-1) by a 73-41 score in Liberty District action.

Sports