Football: Loudoun County Duo Sign - Szoka (JMU), Taylor (Alderson-Broaddus)

Trey Taylor signs in top photo while Brad Szoka is surround
by family in the bottom photo (photos courtesy LCHS)

(Feb. 6, 2013) - A pair of Loudoun County High School seniors, who helped the Raiders make it to the Region II football finals in the fall, made it official Wednesday morning with their college signings as Brad Szoka officially committed to James Madison University and Trey Taylor to Alderson-Broaddus.

Girls Soccer: Woodgrove to Celebrate Eight Seniors Headed to College Ranks with Ceremony on Jan. 29

Purcellville (Jan. 24, 2013) - Defending VHSL AA girls soccer state champion Woodgrove High School has eight seniors that will play at the college level next year and the Wolverines will celebrate the talented group with a ceremony on Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. in the school's library.

Six of the seniors will sign their National Letter of Intent on Feb. 1 to play NCAA Division I soccer:

• Brittany Basinger (Penn State)
• Ashley Bonner (American)
• Maggie Buxton (James Madison)
• Bergen Elkjer (Indiana State)
• Sarah Hardison (George Mason)
• Ashley Tilly (Coastal Carolina)

And two of the seniors have committed to play at the NCAA Division III level next year:

• Victoria Perry (Christopher Newport)
• Samantha Winkler (Eastern Mennonite)

Football: Loudoun County SR Brad Szoka Commits to James Madison

Leesburg (Jan. 16, 2013) - Loudoun County High School senior wide receiver Brad Szoka committed this week to play football at James Madison University in the fall.

Szoka was first team All Region II at both WR and kick returner, and was named All State by Maxpreps.com. He led Loudoun County with 67 catches for 1071 yards (Yards ranked him 3rd in Washington Post rankings) and 15 touchdowns (3rd in Washington Post also).

Softball: Stone Bridge Trio Signs - Sydney Broderick (BYU), Courtney Gibson (Shepherd) and Nicole Prince (JMU)

More photos from this signing!

(Nov. 21, 2012) - A trio of Stone Bridge High School softball seniors that led the Bulldogs to the AAA Northern Region celebrated on Tuesday their commitment to play next year at the college level including Sydney Broderick (BYU), Courtney Gibson (Shepherd) and Nicole Prince (JMU).

More photos from this signing!

Broderick is a center fielder who can also play catcher. She was first team all-state, all-region and all-district OF last year.

More photos from this signing!

Gibson is a second base and outfielder who was second team all-state last year at 2B and first team all-region and all-district.

More photos from this signing!

Prince was the Norther Region Player of the Year while being named first team all-state, all-region and all-district.

College Corner: Potomac Falls grad Heather Kiefer Named CAA softball Rookie of the Year

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio

Courtesy of JMU

(May 8, 2012) - Potomac Falls High School grad Heather Kiefer, a freshman pitcher for James Madison University softball team, was recently named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Week. Then the big news came in: Kiefer was also named CAA Rookie of the Year and made First Team All-CAA.

 Kiefer garnered her third CAA Rookie of the Week accolade this season, after going 2-0with a 0.50 ERA in a pair of starts against Georgia State University who came into the weekend series tied for second place with JMU. The Dukes won two of three to improve to 26-24 overall and 12-5 in the CAA and take sole possession of second place and clinch an appearance in the CAA Softball Championships that begin May 9-11.

Kiefer was also previously named CAA Pitcher of the Week back on April2. For the season, Heather is 12-5 in the circle with a 1.80 ERA (ranked2nd in the CAA and 53rd in NCAA Div 1). Read More

Track: Woodgrove Celebrates the College Commitments of Lydia Cromwell, Anna Harpster, Audrey Houghton

Purcellville (May 4, 2012) - Woodgrove High School held a ceremony Thursday evening to recognize several senior track and field athletes who will be continuing on to compete at the collegiate level in track & field: Lydia Cromwell (Christopher Newport), Anna Harpster (James Madison) and Audrey Houghton (Penn State).

Swim: Freedom SR Stephanie Clarke Signs with James Madison

South Riding (May 1, 2012) - Earlier this month Freedom High School senior Stephanie Clarke  signed a letter of intent to swim at James Madison University next year. Clarke is the first Eagle swimmer in school history to receive an athletic scholarship.

Track and Field: Woodgrove to Hold Signing Ceremony May 3 for Lydia Cromwell, Anna Harpster and Audrey Houghton

Purcellville (May 1, 2012) - Woodgrove High School will hold a ceremony on May 3 to recognize several senior track and field athletes who will be continuing on to compete at the collegiate level in track & field: Lydia Cromwell (Christopher Newport), Anna Harpster (James Madison) and Audrey Houghton (Penn State).

Cromwell has been a major contributor in both cross country and track as a middle distance runner. She has committed to run at Christopher Newport University.

Harpster has been a major contributor in sprints, hurdles, relays and jumping events. She has committed to attend James Madison University.

Houghton has been a force in both cross-country and track where she has been a top middle distance runner and an anchor of two relays. She has committed to Penn State University.

Woodgrove will be having a special ceremony to celebrate their commitments to compete at the next level on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the school's library.

Swim: Freedom Senior Standout Swimmer Stephanie Clarke to Sign Wednesday with James Madison

South Riding (April 17, 2012) - Freedom High School senior standout swimmer Stephanie Clarke will sign her National Letter of Intent on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the school's library. Clarke, the first Eagle swimmer to receive an athletic scholarship, will swim next year for NCAA Division I James Madison University.

Swim: Tuscarora SR Amanda Presgraves Commits to James Madison

(April 13, 2012) - Tuscarora High School senior, Amanda Presgraves, recently committed to swim for James Madison University next year. The JMU Swim and Dive team won the 2012 Division I CAA Conference and is currently ranked second in the Mid-Major Poll.

Presgraves has competed with SNOW Swimming for the past 12 years and currently holds several swimming records for 2nd-year Tuscarora.

Viva Loudoun College Choice Chart is now up to 115 athletes from the Class of 2012!

Football: Briar Woods Serigne Picks Up Third Offer with JMU Joining UMass and Ohio

(March 19, 2012) - Briar Wood High School junior tight end/H-back Cam Serigne picked up his third college offer on Friday as James Madison University joined the University of Massachusetts and Ohio University as schools seeking the football services of the Falcon.

College Corner: Stone Bridge grad Johny Bladel Named to Preseason All-CAA Baseball Team

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio:

Courtesy of JMU Dukes

(Feb 24, 2012) - Stone Bridge High School grad Johny Bladel, a junior pitcher and outfielder for NCAA Division I James Madison University (JMU) Dukes, has been named to the 2012 Preseason All Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Team.

As a sophomore, Bladel was named American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) First Team All-East Region, Second Team All-CAA, and First Team All-State.

College Corner: Former Broad Run and Loudoun Valley Cheerleaders Help James Madison Grab Championship

VivaLoudoun College Corner
(Feb. 13, 2012) - Former Broad Run High School cheerleaders Amanda Olimpio and Jenny Tashjian, and Loudoun Valley's Shae Spotts competed for James Madison University over the weekend in Atlantic City, NJ at the Battle of the Boardwalk National Championships. JMU was crowned Level 6 Grand Champions.

News: Briar Woods Celebrates Trio of Signings - Baker (JMU), Pompilio and Leach (Virginia Tech)

Special to VivaLoudoun
By Carl Lukat/Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports

Ashburn (Feb. 3, 2012) - A trio of Briar Woods High School seniors made their college destinations official Feb. 1 in front of family, friends, coaches and school administrators in the school library. Justin Baker will continue his football career at James Madison University, Shaquera "Shaq" Leach will run track at Virginia Tech and Connor Pompilio will play soccer at Virginia Tech.

Justin Baker earned first-team All-Dulles District as both an offensive and defensive lineman in 2011. Baker, who transferred to Briar Woods prior to his junior year, helped the Falcons win consecutive Virginia Division 4 state championships in his final two seasons. He registered 76 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss, and forced two fumbles as a senior.

Briar Woods football coach Charlie Pierce also credited Baker for becoming a better student during the last two years. Baker earned a 3.65 GPA on his latest report card. Baker was joined by his parents, Terra and John Baker, and his grandfather Nelson Griffin at the ceremony.

Connor Pompilio is a forward on the Falcons' boys soccer team. Pompilio led his club team, Vista RFC 93 to the Under-18 Boys Virginia State Cup title in the fall of 2011, scoring two first-half goals in a 3-0 win over ABGC Annandale United FC in the championship game.

Pompilio was joined at the ceremony by his parents, Leslie and Richard Pompilio, sister Kathryn Rowe Pompilio, and Briar Woods head coach Francois Bernard and assistant coach Gene Legg.

Shaquera Leach holds Briar Woods school records in the 100-meter dash (12.13), 200 (25.76) and 400 (57.66). Leach's favorite event is the 400 - she set a personal best of 55.06 seconds as a member of Special Forces Track Club at the 2011 Junior Olympics to earn All-American Status.

Leach, who attended Heritage High School as a freshman, led Briar Woods' girls team to their first Dulles District track and field championship last spring, placing first in the 100, 200 and 400, along with a runner-up finish in the high jump.

Leach was joined by her parents, Brandon and Natasha Graham, along with several current and former coaches, including Briar Woods coach Kelly Colebank and Special Forces coach Nick Savage. Follow jump for more photos from event by Carl Lukat!

Girls Soccer: Broad Run Senior Erin Brady to Play at James Madison Next Year

(Nov. 18, 2011) - Broad Run High School senior Erin Brady, who has helped the Spartans win the last three of their four straight AA girls soccer state titles, has committed to play next year at NCAA Division I James Madison University.

Brady scored the first goal in the state title game in 2009 as a freshman in a 3-0 win over Hidden Valley and in the spring she had the lone goal for the Spartans in a 1-0 state title win over Blacksburg.

2009 state title goal by Brady!

Soccer: Briar Woods Senior Samantha Russell to Play at James Madison Next Year

(Sept. 7, 2011) - Briar Woods High School senior central defender and one of the Falcons captains, Samantha Russell, will play next year at NCAA Division I James Madison University.

Russell is part of a "college choice" trend as Briar Woods now has six athletes from the Class of 2012 verbally committed, more than any other high school in Loudoun, and of the 41 athletes on our charts, 17 of them are slated to play soccer in college, more than any other sport.

Football: Briar Woods Senior Justin Baker Makes Commitment to Play at James Madison

(July 25, 2011) - Briar Woods High School football coach Charlie Pierce released Monday that rising senior defensive/offensive lineman Justin Baker has made a verbal commitment to accept a full scholarship from NCAA Division I James Madison University.

Baker joins teammate, senior Alex Carter (Stanford), in making the commitment prior to the start of the high school season. Baker and Carter, who helped the Falcons to a AA Division 4 state title last year, are the first players in school history to make the early commitments.

Girls Soccer: Stone Bridge Rising Junior Ashley Herndon Verbally Commits to James Madison

Special to VivaLoudoun

Ashburn (July 7, 2011) - All-Met and AAA all-state forward Ashley Herndon, a rising junior at Stone Bridge High School, has verbally accepted a full scholarship offer to play soccer in 2013 at James Madison University.

Herndon, a dynamic scorer, has tallied 54 goals over the past two years while leading Stone Bridge to a 34-4-3 record and a 2010 Virginia AAA state championship. She is also a standout forward on the nationally ranked VSA Heat club soccer team and recently became the youngest player on the DC United Women’s W-League squad.

Football: Magnificent 7! Stone Bridge Celebrates Group Moving to College Ranks

There are almost 100 photos from the celebration ... check them out!

Ashburn (Apr. 29, 2011) - The Stone Bridge High School football program threw a big celebration Wednesday to recognize seven football players from the talented Class of 2011 that are headed for the college ranks.

The seven players honored before teammates, coaches, family and friends included: Alex Mohkiber (Catholic), Kyle Gouveia (James Madison), Brian Rody (Virginia Tech), Dexter Rogers (Hampton), James Johnson (Christopher Newport), Ben Branower (McDaniel) and Marcus Harris (College of the Canyons Junior College).

Bulldog head coach Mickey Thompson had nice things to say about the players that as a group made back-to-back state title appearances. In particular he said that James Madison was getting a bargain in Gouveia, one of the top players in the state at linebacker but overlooked by larger schools because of his size. Thompson also liked the chances of Harris, one of the top running backs in the state, to be able to transition from his California junior college to a top tier 4-year program.

Rody was the Bulldogs starting quarterback and will be a preferred walk-on at Tech. Mohkiber and Johnson were key cogs on the Bulldog offensive line with Johnson expected to play D-line in college. Branower at linebacker and Rogers at DB were two reasons that the Bulldogs defense allowed only an average of six points per game while riding a 14-game winning into a title rematch with Phoebus.

Thursday's signings give Stone Bridge 11 from the Class of 2011 to play in college with early signees: Rob Burns (Virginia), John Cheritis (Washington and Lee), Calvin Hollenhorst (Coastal Carolina) and Spenser Rositano (Boston College).
Kyle Gouveia


Brian Rody


Alex Mohkiber


Dexter Rogers


Ben Branower


James Johnson


Marcus Harris

Football: Stone Bridge Standout Gouveia to Play at James Madison

Ashburn (Feb. 22, 2011) - Stone Bridge High School senior Kyle Gouveia, an all-around leader for the Bulldogs back-to-back runs to the VHSL Division 5 state title game, has committed to play football next year at James Madison University.

Gouveia becomes the fifth Bulldog to commit, joining teammates Rob Burns (Virginia), John Cheritis (Washington and Lee), Calvin Hollenhorst (Coastal Carolina) and Spenser Rositano (Boston College).

The recruiting process between Gouveia and James Madison happened late and rather quickly according to the Bulldog in an interview Tuesday as he said the school asked him to make a visit on Saturday and then an offer was made and accepted. The Dukes envision Gouveia, a linebacker in high school, as a safety in college.

"I'm excited, playing defense is what I love," said Gouveia, who also played offense and special teams for Stone Bridge. "I've always been more a defensive kind of guy."