Football: Gone Bowling! Loudoun Boasts 26 Athletes on Rosters of Bowl-Bound College Teams

SB grad Zach Thompson
(photo courtesy Wake Forest)

(Dec. 6, 2011) - Loudoun's success on the football field -- Loudoun schools have made seven state title appearances since 2007 and if Briar Woods can defend its Division 4 state crown Saturday it will be the fifth straight year a Loudoun school has won a state title -- has translated to plenty of local athletes at the NCAA Division I level.

In fact, you will have a good chance this college bowl season to catch a Loudoun grad as a total of 26 Loudoun football players are on the rosters of bowl-bound teams spread over 11 bowl games from Dec. 20 to Jan. 7. An impressive 10 Stone Bridge grads are on bowl-eligible teams rosters.

Not all the players listed below suit out at games or travel as some work hard for the practice squads but they are all part of top tier football programs and they got their start in Loudoun! Across the state of Virginia there is all kinds of football talent ... see the list below:

Volleyball: Freedom's LaMantia Officially Signs with North Carolina State

South Riding (Nov. 10, 2011) - Freedom High School held a signing ceremony Wednesday as senior Kaitlyn LaMantia officially signed her Letter of Intent to play NCAA Division I women's volleyball at North Carolina State.

Photos courtesy of Freedom High School

Volleyball: Freedom Junior Kaitlyn LaMantia Makes Verbal Commitment to Play at NCAA Division I North Carolina State

Kaitlyn LaMantia

South Riding (Feb. 15, 2011) - Freedom High School junior setter Kaitlyn LaMantia has verbally committed to play volleyball at NCAA Division I North Carolina State starting in 2012.

LaMantia was named first team All-Dulles District, first team All-Region II and broke multiple Freedom volleyball records this past season such as aces in a season, match, and career, assists in career, and service points in a match.

Freedom had its best season ever, finishing runner-up in the region and advancing to the state tournament for the first time.

Also during LaMantia's VA Elite 16's club volleyball season last year, the team won the age 16 CHRVA Regional Championship tournament which qualified the team to play in the 2010 USAV Girls' Junior National Championships in Reno NV. The VA Elite 16's team placed 19th in the country in the National Division.

Currently LaMantia plays setter on the VA Elite 17's team which has won multiple tournaments this season to include the 2011 Monument City Classic 17's open division in Richmond in January.

LaMantia is the fifth member of her VA Elite 17s team to commit early to a Division 1 School.

VivaLoudoun's Updated College Choice Chart -- check out where all the athletes are headed next year and the early decisions for the Class of 2012!!