Football: Grafton Coach Van Acker to Take Over Freedom Program

Photo from nflhspd.com article by Jared Van Aker:
"Advice to Young Coaches from a Young Coach"

By Dan Sousa
Viva Loudoun Editor

South Riding (Feb. 12, 2013) - After official approval at tonight's Loudoun County School Board meeting, Freedom High School will unveil their new football coach, Jared Van Acker, in a meeting with athletes in the school's auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 4 p.m.

Van Acker, who comes to Freedom after three years as head coach at Grafton High School in Yorktown, Va. and three years at Galax High School in southwestern Virginia, will also attend a meet-and-greet with his family on Saturday Feb. 16 between noon and 1:30 p.m. at Glory Days in Stone Ridge.

Van Acker's hiring is on the consent agenda at tonight's meeting published to the public online by the school system. (Read an article by Marty O'Brien on HRVarsity.com on Van Aker resigning from Grafton; he was informing his players after school today of his move to South Riding)

He is also a social studies teacher.

Girls Soccer: Loudoun County, Woodgrove AA State Quarterfinal Previews

Woodgrove's Tabitha McHale talks about her goal in the 1-0
Region II title game win over Loudoun County

(June 5, 2012) - The Woodgrove High School girls soccer team rolls into the state playoffs tonight on a 20-game winning streak fueled by a roster with 10 college-bound athletes. Tabitha McHale's early goal on Saturday was all the scoring for Woodgrove over Dulles District foe Loudoun County in the 1-0 Region II finale.

The Raiders are on the road tonight with high-scoring Shauna Kain up top and hoping for another big game from keeper Kelsey Slack, who had some great saves in the second half Saturday to keep it a 1-goal game.

Grafton (14-2-3) at Woodgrove (21-0-1), 7 p.m.
*Woodgrove has won 20 straight since an opening-week tie with Briar Woods
*Since the start of May only Briar Woods has scored off Woodgrove with the Wolverines registering seven shutous
*Woodgrove made it to the state semifinals in the first year the school opened.
*Morgan Singer leads Grafton with 27 goals scored - More on Grafton from HRVarsity.com
*Grafton must recover from giving up a goal in the final minute of regulation in the regional final game that sent things to overtime and then given up a goal in the final seconds of OT to lose.
*Woodgrove line-up is chalk full of college-bound players including: senior Katie Beebe (Longwood), Lexi Clarke (Stony Brook), Lucy Etro (Wofford), Addie Healy (Washington and Lee), Tabitha McHale (UNC Greensboro), Charlotte Radcliffe (Coastal Carolina), and junior Brittany Basinger (Penn State), Ashley Bonner (American), Bergen Elkjer (Indiana State), and Sarah Hardison (George Mason).
*Bonner leads WG with 18 goals and Hardison has 16 with McHale scoring 12.
*Clarke has 15 assists with Victoria Perry picking up nine.
*Basinger spent time this spring with the US. Women's U-17 team, starting on defense as the team won the CONCACAF championship in Guatemala and qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup this summer in Azerbaijan.

Loudoun County (16-4-2) at Tabb (20-2-1) at Bailey Field
*All 4 of Loudoun County's losses this year have come against unbeaten Woodgrove
*Loudoun County forward Shauna Kain was named the Region II Player of the Year, scoring 21 goals.
*Tabb got a goal from Sydney Omweg in the final minute of regulation to send the Region I title game with Grafton into overtime and then Haley Mill won it int he final seconds of the second OT. - Read more on HRVarsity.com
*Kain will play next year at the University of South Carolina Upstate. LC defensive stalwart Alana Mackey will play at Longwood.
*Many of the seniors on the Raiders roster were on the squad two years ago that finished state runner-up to Broad Run
*Emma Sieber has 10 assists for LC

Football: Briar Woods Shut Out Grafton, 31-0, to Book Return Trip to D4 State Finals

By Marty O'Brien
Special to VivaLoudoun

Williamsburg (Dec. 2, 2011) - Briar Woods High School will make a return trip to Williams Stadium at Liberty University in Lynchburg to defend its Group AA Division 4 state title. The Falcons booked passage with an all-encompassing 31-0 win over Grafton on Saturday at Bailey Field on Yorktown.

The Falcons (13-1) dominated on both sides of the ball. Cory Colder led the offense with 113 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Football: VHSL Division 4 State Semifinal: Briar Woods at Grafton

(Dec. 2, 2011) - Briar Woods High School has won 12 straight games and the Falcons are two wins away from defending their VHSL Division 4 state title. They take to the road on Saturday at 4 p.m. at York High School to face Region I champion Grafton.

Marty O'Brien of the Daily Press is helping VivaLoudoun with our coverage on Saturday and here is his preview of the big game.

Photo Gallery: Volleyball - AA State Finals - Loudoun County vs. Grafton by Richard Kirby

(Nov. 21, 2010) Click on any photo to review the full gallery by Richard Kirby from the VHSL AA girls volleyball state finals where Loudoun County High School swept Grafton to claim the Raiders fourth consecutive state title.

"4-Peat's Sake!": Loudoun County Wins 4th Straight AA Girls Volleyball State Title; Stone Bridge Falls in AAA Finals

Richmond (Nov. 20, 2010) - Loudoun County High School captured its fourth consecutive VHSL girls volleyball AA state title on Saturday at VCU's Siegel Center with a sweep over Grafton. Stone Bridge fell in the AAA finals, 3-1, to Kellam. See full Live play-by-play below.

Photo Gallery by Craig Sterbutzel: Volleyball - Loudoun County vs. Grafton - AA State Finals

Click on any photo to go to the gallery

Live! From Siegel Center ... State Championship Volleyball

Dan Sousa is on hand to give you all the details ... Loudoun County Raiders are warming up in attempt for third straight AA title vs. Grafton

Loudoun County up 2 games to 0 over Grafton in 3 out of 5 match at 1:08 PM
First Game: 25-17
Second Game: 25-12

Game 3 underway: LC starts out with a 10-0 run; LC Raiders now leading 25-10 at 1:26 PM. Loudoun County Wins!