Football: Local Players Square Off Against Each Other in NCAA Division II Playoffs This Weekend

Mike Charmo: One of three Loudoun players
that helped IUP win the PSAC title this year.

(Nov. 14, 2012) - Four Loudoun athletes will take the field this Saturday -- three as key defensive players and one as an offensive starter -- in the NCAA Division II playoffs when Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) hosts Shepherd University.

Suiting up for IUP will be linebackers Joe Walter (Broad Run High School/Ashburn) and Alex Berdahl (Bishop O'Connell/Ashburn) and offensive right guard Mike Charmo (Loudoun Valley/Hamilton), and for Shepherd will be defensive linemen Robert Hayes (Park View/Sterling).

Football: Broad Run to Hold College Signing Celebration for Five Players Friday

(May 18, 2011) - Broad Run High School will hold a college signing celebration for five football players that will continue their careers next year on the college level.

The ceremony at 4 p.m. will honor: Joe Walter IUP (ndiana University of Penn); Ryan Garity - Randolph-Macon; Kevin Varella - Randolph-Macon; Eddie Barnes - Washington and Lee; and Tyler Lafollette - Fairmont State.

Football: Broad Run Senior Linebacker Joe Walter to Play at NCAA Division II IUP Next Year

Joe Walter (#34) applies another big hit for the Spartans.

Ashburn (Feb. 10, 2011) - Broad Run High School senior Joe Walter has signed a Letter of Intent to play football next year at NCAA Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

The Spartans captured two state titles and lost only two games while the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Walter was on the varsity roster with a 3-year record of 39-2. The hard-nosed linebacker was first team All-Dulles District this year and second team Region II.

"Joe is a tremendous football player and kid who loves contact," said Broad Run coach Matt Griffis. "He just likes to hit people, he is "Old School"."

Walter will play under new Crimson Hawks coach Curt Cignetti, a 28-year veteran assistant coach most recently at the University of Alabama and son of legendary IUP coach Frank Cignetti, who retired following the 2005 season.

IUP went 6-5 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference last season which includes the following schools: Bloomsburg, C.W. Post, California (Pa.), Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Gannon, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mercyhurst, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.

Walter joins two other Loudoun players who were freshmen on the Crimson Hawks roster in the fall: LB Alex Berdahl, who played at Bishop O'Connell, and OF Mike Charmo who played at Loudoun Valley.

IUP, founded in 1875, has more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students and is the fifth-largest university in Pennsylvania. Indiana, Pa. is located about 60 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Soccer: Broad Run Senior Brooke Collins to Play at IUP and Potomac Falls Senior Isaac Owusu to Play at VCU

Ashburn (Feb. 1, 2011) - More local soccer commitments are rolling in as Broad Run High School senior Brooke Collins will play for NCAA Division II Indiana Univiersity of Pennsylvania and Potomac Falls senior Isaac Owusu will play for NCAA Division I Virginia Commonwealth.

Collins has helped the Spartans to the last two of their three straight state titles including a 22-2-1 season in 2010. The midfielder is one of the captains of the Loudoun 93G Red club team.

After playing in a Bethesda tournament just a few months ago with her travel team, Collins was contacted by IUP and she made a visit to the campus.

"I loved it! The campus was perfect and after spending some time with girls on the team I knew it was the right school for me," said Collins. "I plan to play defensive center mid for the team this upcoming fall."

IUP went 9-8-1 last year including 7-6-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Owusu was second team All-Dulles District and plays defender for his club soccer team with McLean Premier Soccer.