Graduation 2013: Briar Woods - Nothing Wimpy About the Falcons Grad Speaker

Today Viva Loudoun kicks off an 18-part Graduation 2013 series with a detailed look at the graduations at all the Loudoun County Public Schools high schools and programs.

Ashburn (June 28, 2013) - “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” author Jeff Kinney was the commencement speaker (his niece was among the graduates) at the Briar Woods High School graduation on Monday, June 10, at George Mason University’s Patriot Center.

Football: Cardinal Connection? Briar Woods Speedy Polk Gets Stanford Offer

(June 21, 2013) - Briar Woods High School speedy rising junior Brandon Polk picked up an offer from Stanford a week ago. Former Briar Woods star Alex Carter made an impact on the West Coast this past season as a true freshman.

Polk, who won the 100 and 200 meters AA state titles earlier this month, also has offers from Maryland, ODU, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Football: Briar Woods Rising Senior Lineman Jared Coker Commits to Bowling Green

(June 21, 2013) - Briar Woods High School rising senior lineman Jared Coker verbally committed on May 24 to play football at Bowling Green in 2014. The talented guard had double digits offers before making his choice:

• Bowling Green
• Bucknell
• Hampton
• Kent State
• Miami (OH)
• Old Dominion
• UMass
• UNC-Charlotte
• Toledo
• VMI

News: Coaching Changes from June 11 School Board Meeting Include 4 New Head Coaches

(June 21, 2013) - Briar Woods High School's competitive cheer coach Kristin Develli, who in 2012 led the Falcons to their four consecutive straight AA state titles, will not be at the helm in the fall as former Dominion coach Lucia Curry was approved as the new Briar Woods varsity head coach at the June 11 school board meeting.

Other new varsity coaches according to the board docs:

• Juliet Kenny will be John Champe's head gymnastics coach in the winter. She was an assistant in the Knights first year under Hope Spivey.
• Sema Knonur is Heritage High School's new varsity cheer coach
• Kendall Beebe, a Potomac Falls High School grad, is Park View's new girls volleyball coach.

Here is all the coaching news from the meeting:

Girls Soccer: Woodgrove Wins Back-to-Back AA State Titles with 2-0 Win Over Dulles District Rival Briar Woods

By Kyle Frazier 
Special to Viva Loudoun
Radford (June 10, 2013) - Woodgrove High School, which opened just three years ago, has already won two girls soccer state champions as the Wolverines topped Dulles District foe Briar Woods, 2-0, on a sunny afternoon at Radford Sunday to claim a second straight state title.

"It feels pretty good. I was just thinking when they got the awards that it is a little surreal to win two in a row," said Woodgrove coach Erin Barrett. "Last year we were the home team all the way through, and this year we were the away team - with a lot of traveling. They did this for each other, they were playing for each other."

Girls Soccer: Dulles District Foes Briar Woods and Woodgrove to Face Each Other in State Finals Sunday

By Kyle Frazier 
Special to Viva Loudoun 
Radford (June 8, 2013) - The Briar Woods High School girls soccer team punched its ticket to the VHSL AA state championship game with a 1-0 victory over Blacksburg Saturday afternoon at Radford University. The Falcons defense only allowed two shots on goal in their victory.

In the second semifinal, defending state champion Woodgrove earned their spot in the championship game with a 6-1 victory over Salem. Only one shot on goal was allowed by the Wolverines.

In fact Dulles District teams simply haven't allowed any other schools around the state a shot at a state title and this will be the second straight year and third time in four years that the AA state final is an All-Loudoun affair.

Briar Woods and Woodgrove, which have split postseason meetings this spring with Woodgrove winning the Dulles title game, 3-0, and Briar Woods taking the Region II title contest in overtime, 1-0, will play for the state championship Sunday at Patrick D. Cupp Stadium in Radford with a noon kickoff.

The winner will bring home a sixth straight state championship to Loudoun with Broad Run winning from 2008-2011 and Woodgrove winning last season. Since the AA state tournament started in 1999 for girls soccer, Loudoun teams will have won 10 titles and made 16 state finals appearances including a team in the finals in 13 of 15 years.

Boys Soccer: Tuscarora, Briar Woods Both Fall in State Semifinals

By Kyle Frazier 
Special to Viva Loudoun 
Radford (June 8, 2013) - The defending AA state runner-up Tuscarora High School boys soccer team allowed four goal in 23 minutes in the second half Saturday in a 4-0 loss to Blacksburg in the state semfinals. Earlier in the day at Radford University, Briar Woods Fell to E.C. Glass, 1-0.

Boys Tennis: Briar Woods Plays for AA State Title Saturday Morning at Virginia Tech

(June 8, 2013) - There was something action on a rainy Friday as the Briar Woods High School boys tennis team defeated Hidden Valley, 5-3, to a advance to the VHSL finals Saturday morning, June 8, at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Tech tennis center.

The Falcons (21-1) will face E.C. Glass, which knocked off Handley, 5-3.

Spring Sports: State Semifinal Schedules for Loudoun Schools *Updated Again*

(June 8, 2013) - Updated dates for VHSL state semifinals for Loudoun schools and athletes:

Saturday, June 8
AAA at Westfield High School
Softball
Stone Bridge vs. Cosby, 4 p.m.

AA at Radford
Baseball
Woodgrove vs. Tunstall, 7 p.m. at Calfee Park, Pulaski

Softball
Woodgrove vs. Fort Defiance, 4 p.m.

Boys Soccer
Briar Woods vs. E.C. Glass, noon
Tuscarora vs. Blacksburg, 2 p.m.

Girls Soccer
Briar Woods vs. Blacksburg, 4 p.m.
Woodgrove vs. Salem, 6 p.m.

Track and Field: AA State Meet Complete Results - Loudoun County Boys Take 3rd; LC's Joseph, BW's Polk Double Winners

(June 6, 2013) - The Loudoun County High School boys track and field team capped a great season with a third place finish at last weekend's VHSL AA state track and field meet at Harrisonburg High School.

Loudoun had two double winners with Briar Woods sophomore Brandon Polk winning the 100 meters (11.09) and the 200 meters (22.50). Meanwhile, Loudoun County senior Patrick Joseph finished an amazing career winning the 800 meters (1:53.86) and the 1600 meters (4:18.09).

Another Raider senior ending a great run was Steven Graham, who captured the 400 meters with a 48.34 and was 4th in 200 meters at 22.96. It was a 1-2-3 local finish in that 400 as Dominion senior Garrett Robinson ran 49.64 and Champe sophomore Brenden Wallace turned a 49.68.

Graham and Joseph combined with junior Nolan Graves and sophomore Michael Durrer to take 2nd in the 4x400 relay at 3:23.60.

In the 4x800 relay, Tuscarora (junior Michael Nerantzis, JR John Dooney, SR Logan Feierbach, JR Logan Carrington) was third at 8:05.59 and Potomac Falls (JR Kevin Ryan, SO Chris Galloway, JR Brandon Lathrop, SR Jordan Ferbrache) finished 5th at 8:11.82

Carrington was 6th in the 800 meters at 1:56.74. In the 1600, Briar Woods junior Ryan Hughes was 7th at 4:24.88  and Dominion junior Trent Lancaster was 8th at 4:25.36.

Loudoun Valley freshman Andrew Hunter was 8th in the 3200 at 9:40.59.

In the 300 meter hurdles, Loudoun Valley senior Phillip Sherrod was 4th at 40.60 and Potomac Falls' Tommy Fort finished 5th at 40.72.

Tuscarora senior Brandon Chirinos was 5th in the discus with a throw of 149-00.

On the girls side:

• Loudoun Valley freshman Alexis Randall was 8th in the 400 meters with at 59.33
• Woodgrove freshman Emma Gillies was 5th in the 800 meters at 2:21.79
• Potomac Falls senior Eileen Fauteux was 2nd in the 300 meter hurdles at 44.72
• Tuscarora senior Takiea Edmonds was 5th in the 300 meter hurdles at 47.00
• Heritage High 4x100 relay (JR Maia Llewellyn, SR Anna Rich, JR Whitney Amo, JR Ashley Gregory) was 8th at 50.41
• Woodgrove 4x800 relay (FR Jeela Fesharaki, SR Alex Juzbasich, FR Emma Gillies, SR Mariah Quintero) was 5th in 9:50.82
• Tuscarora 4x800 relay (JR Colleen Heberle, SO Anna Wasko, SR Jeanna Mazaris, JR Courtney Walker) was 6th 9:53.20
• Heritage senior Courtney Glover was 8th in the high jump at 5-02

Soccer: Fantastic Four! Briar Woods Boys, Girls; Tuscarora Boys, Woodgrove Girls All Advance to AA State Semifinals

(June 6, 2013) - A week ago when the Region II championship games were all-Dulles District affairs -- decided by one goal on the boys side and by a Golden Goal in overtime on the girls side -- we said that we wouldn't be surprised if all four teams didn't meet again at Radford in the state finals. On Tuesday all four teams took a big step towards that rematch with AA state quarterfinals wins.

The Briar Woods High School boys and girls swept a doubleheader at home with identical 3-0 shutouts -- the Falcons boys over Culpeper and the Falcons girls over Jamestown -- and the Tuscarora boys and Woodgrove girls brought home road victories with the Huskies beating Lafayette, 2-1, and the Wolverines taking Courtland, 3-1.

All four teams will play back-to-back-to-back-to-back at Radford on Saturday, June 8 in the state semifinals, pushed back a day due to incoming storms: Briar Woods boys vs. E.C. Glass 10 a.m.; Tuscarora boys vs. Blacksburg noon; Briar Woods girls vs. Blacksburg 2 p.m.; Woodgrove girls vs. Salem 4 p.m. Finals are slated for Sunday, June 9. (see jump for game recaps)

Girls Soccer: 2013 All-Region II Team Released; Woodgrove's Hardison Named Player of the Year

(June 4, 2013) - The 2013 All-Region II girls soccer team was released this week with Woodgrove High School senior Sarah Hardison named Player of the Year and Briar Woods coach Ann Vierkorn named the Coach of the Year:

2013 All-Region II Girl's Soccer 
Player of the Year: Sarah Hardison, Woodgrove
Coach of the Year: Ann Vierkorn, Briar Woods

First Team
Emily Littell, Loudoun County
Sarah Hardison, Woodgrove
Brittany Basinger, Woodgrove
Ivana Szwejkowski, Kettle Run
Marina Clark, Western Albemarle
Kaleigh Chiodini, Briar Woods
Caity Ashley, Fauquier
Mandy Fogarty, Sherando
Erika Blevins, Kettle Run
Abby Downey, Tuscarora
Maggie Buxton, Woodgrove

Second Team 

Boys Soccer: 2013 All-Region II Team Released

(June 4, 2013) - The 2013 All-Region II boys soccer has been released this week. Despite an all-Dulles District regional final, just three of the 11 players on the first team are from the Dulles District. Briar Woods coach Francois Bernard was named the Coach of the Year.

2013 Boys Soccer All-Region II
Player of the year: Rodrigo Casteriana, Sherando
Coach of the year: Francois Bernard, Briar Woods

First Team
Collin Verfurth, Briar Woods
Dale Ludwig, Fluvanna
Alex Hartman, Kettle Run
Angel Ceron-Garcia, Tuscarora
Cade Petty, Sherando
Grant Tolber, Western Albemarle
Forrest White, Western Albemarle
Tim Coleman, Kettle Run
Sergio Resendiz, Tuscarora
Shane Moyer, Millbrook
Rodrigo Casteriana, Sherando

Second Team

Soccer: Briar Woods Sweeps to Boys, Girls Region II Titles over rivals Tuscarora, Woodgrove; Broad Run Boys Fall in Northwest Final

(June 4, 2013) - The Briar Woods High School boys and girls soccer teams captured their first ever Region II titles Friday with wins over Dulles District rivals with the Falcon boys beating Tuscarora, 2-1, in Leesburg and the Falcon girls dramatically beating Woodgrove, 1-0, in overtime in Ashburn.

All four teams advance to tonight's AA state quarterfinals with Briar Woods hosting a doubleheader with the boys facing Culpeper at 5:30 p.m. and the girls hosting Jamestown at 7:30 p.m. The Tuscarora boys are on the road vs. Lafayette at Wanner Stadium at 7 p.m. and the Wolverine girls travel to Courtland for a 6 p.m. start.

A win would advance each team to this weekend's Final Four which will be held at Radford on Friday and Saturday.

In AAA boys action, Broad Run fell in a high-scoring affair to Forest Park in the Northwest Region finals, 5-4. The Spartans are at Northern Region champion Oakton tonight at 7 p.m.

Game recaps:

Spring Sports: 11 Loudoun Teams Plays this Week in State Tournaments!

(June 3, 2013) - School ends this week in Loudoun on Thursday but athletes from 11 local teams hope they are still playing on Saturday as the Virginia High School League holds its annual state tournaments in baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer and tennis this week. Those teams with hopes of bringing a state title back to Loudoun and their next state game:

• Baseball: Woodgrove: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at Warhill, 6:30 p.m.
• Softball: Stone Bridge: AAA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Osbourn, 5:30 p.m.
• Softball: Woodgrove: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Tabb, 6 p.m.
• Boys Lacrosse: Dominion: state semifinals Wed. June 5 vs. Madison at Westfield High School, 5 p.m. 
• Girls Lacrosse: Loudoun Valley state semifinals Tues. June 5 vs. Langley at Westfield High School, 7:30 p.m.
• Boys Soccer: Briar Woods: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Culpeper, 5:30 p.m.
• Boys Soccer: Broad Run: AAA quaerterfinals Tues. June 4 at Oakton,  7 p.m.  
• Boys Soccer: Tuscarora: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 vs. Lafayette at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Girls Soccer: Briar Woods: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at home vs. Jamestown, 7:30 p.m.
• Girls Soccer: Woodgrove: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 at Courtland, 6 p.m.
• Boys Tennis: Briar Woods: AA quarterfinals Tues. June 4 vs. James Monroe at the University of Mary Washington

Ticket prices at each venue are $10. Senior citizens must pay at state events.

Soccer: 4 for States! Briar Woods Sweeps Boys, Girls DH; Woodgrove Girls Keep Rolling, Tuscarora Boys Survive OT Scare

(May 31, 2013) - The Briar Woods High School boys and girls soccer teams were simply bigger and stronger than their opponents Thursday as they muscled their way into the AA state tournament with the boys edging Park View, 2-1, and the girls dominating Tuscarora, 3-0, in a Region II semifinal doubleheader in Ashburn.

It will be an all-Dulles District Region II finals in soccer yet again as the Woodgrove girls continued their postseason offensive explosion behind senior Sarah Hardison with a 3-0 win at Fauquier and the Tuscarora boys remained unbeaten on Diego Rodriguez's goal in overtime for a 1-0 win over Sherando.

Tuscarora will host Briar Woods at 7 p.m. in Leesburg in the Region II boys final tonight and Briar Woods will  host Woodgrove at 7 p.m. in the girls final. All four teams advance to next week's AA state tournament, which the Woodgrove girls won in 2012 and the Tuscarora boys finished runner-up. (Read on for recaps of all four games plus a look at the all-time series records for the teams in the finals)

State Tournament Scorecard: 15 Loudoun Teams Make States Including 5 from Woodgrove

(May 29, 2013) - A total 15 Loudoun teams qualified for state tournaments this spring including five teams from Woodgrove High School. Briar Woods, with three, and Broad Run, with two, were the only other schools with multiple teams moving on past region. Eight of the 13 Loudoun schools had at least one team make States.

Boys Soccer: Region II Bracket - Potomac Falls and Tuscarora Clash in Quarterfinals

(May 28, 2013) - The Region II boys soccer quarterfinals feature a match-up between the top two Dulles District regular-season teams as Potomac Falls is at Tuscarora tonight. Park View and Briar Woods are both on the road with the Patriots at Kettle Run and The Falcons at Western Albemarle.

Region II Boys Soccer 2013 Tournament
First Round - Monday, May 27
Park View 1, Millbrook 1 (2OT, PV advances on PKs, 3-2)
Potomac Falls 3, Fluvanna 2

Quarterfinals - Tuesday, May 28
Park View 2, Kettle Run 0
Briar Woods 1, Western Albemarle, 1 (2OT, BW advances on PKs, 6-5)
Tuscarora 2, Potomac Falls 0
Sherando 6, Warren County 0

Semifinals - Thursday, May 30
Park View at Briar Woods, 6 p.m.
Sherando at Tuscarora, 7 p.m.

Finals - Friday, May 31

Girls Soccer: Region II Bracket - 3 Dulles District Teams in Quarterfinals

(May 28, 2013) - The Region II girls soccer quarterfinals feature three Dulles District teams in ction tonight with Briar Woods hosting Charlottesville, Woodgrove at Western Albemarle and Tuscarora at Kettle Run.

Girls Soccer Region II 2013 Tournament
First Round - Monday, May 27
Woodgrove 6, Loudoun County 2
Tuscarora 4, Sherando 0

Quarterfinals - Tuesday, May 28
Woodgrove 5, Western Albemarle 1
Fauquier 4, Millbrook 3
Tuscarora 1, Kettle Run 0 (OT)
Briar Woods 2, Charlottesville 0

Semifinals at high seed - Thursday, May 30
Woodgrove at Fauquier, 6 p.m.
Tuscarora at Briar Woods, 8 p.m.

Finals at high seed - Friday, May 31

Softball: Region II Bracket - Loudoun County and Woodgrove Collide in Quarterfinals

(May 28, 2013) - The Region II softball quarterfinals are set and Dulles District foes Loudoun County and Woodgrove will tangle tonight in the quarterfinals in Purcellville. Briar Woods will be on the road at Skyline.

2013 Region II Softball Tournament
First Round - Monday, May 27
Warren County 3, Loudoun Valley 2
Loudoun County 3, James Wood 1

Quarterfinals - Tuesday, May 28
Powhatan 3, Warren County 2
Skyline 3, Briar Woods 2
Woodgrove 5, Loudoun County 3
Fauquier 1, Fluvanna 0

Semifinals - Thursday, May 30
Skyline at Powhatan, 6 p.m.
Fauquier at Woodgrove, 7 p.m.

Finals - Friday, May 31 at high seed