Viva Loudoun: Stone Bridge Rising Senior Jackie Howell to Intern for Viva for 2013-14 School Year

(July 9, 2013) - Viva Loudoun welcomes Stone Bridge High School rising senior Jackie Howell as an intern for the 2013-14 school year. Howell, with the Stone Bridge student newspaper since 2010 as a reporter and then Sports Section editor, will write a weekly column for Viva Loudoun focusing on Bulldog athletics.

For the fall season, Howell aims to give fans a behind-the-scene look at Stone Bridge athletics, especially its highly-regarded football program. She will cover everything from the ticket takers to the student managers and of course all the action on the field.

Howell has been very active at Stone Bridge as a member of the Youth Advisory Council, National Honor Society, Key Club, Awareness Club and Future Educators of America Club. In additions she played on the freshman volleyball team, was on the track and field team for a season and just recently was part of the Ashburn Ballet.

When not cheering for Stone Bridge High School football, Howell can be found with her family rooting for Georgia football on the weekends.

Viva Loudoun is looking for high school interns from all 13 Loudoun County Public Schools. Cover your high school for Viva Loudoun while receiving editorial guidance from veteran journalist and editor Dan Sousa and receive exposure for your work on a website that will break 3 million page views in the coming year. Contact Dan at dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com to apply for an internship.

Graduation 2013: Stone Bridge - A Stand Up Guy Speaks to Bulldog Graduates

This is the 10th part of a Viva Loudoun 18-part Graduation 2013 series with a detailed look at the graduations at all the Loudoun County Public Schools high schools and programs.

(July 7, 2013) - Peter Bladel, a 2004 graduate of Stone Bridge High School, is not someone who’s afraid to go out on a limb.

On Monday, June 10th, he invited the 494 members of his alma mater’s Class of 2013 to join him on that limb during their graduation ceremonies at George Mason University’s Patriot Center.

Football: Stone Bridge Rising SR Lineman Nate Davis Commits to UNC-Charlotte

(June 21, 2013) - Stone Bridge High School rising senior offensive lineman Nate Davis has committed verbally to play football at UNC-Charlotte according to Bulldog coach Mickey Thompson.

The 6-foot-3, 285-pound tackle, according to Thompson, has the ability to be the best OL to ever come out of Stone Bridge, which is high praise considering Thompson's tenure as the Ashburn school has included such linemen as current Philadelphia Eagle and Virginia Tech standout Ed Wang.

Thompson calls the 2013 offensive line for the Bulldogs one of the deepest groups since the school opened in 2000 with all-state rising senior center Connor Smith flanked by a set of guards and tackles that should average almost 290 pounds.

Recruiting has also been heating up for the other linemen such as rising seniors Nick Sobhani and Mike Hickey.

Softball: Stone Bridge Comeback Falls Short as Great Bridge Outlasts Bulldogs, 10-9, in AAA State Finals

By Owen Gotimer 
Viva Loudoun College Intern 
Chantilly (June 9, 2013) – For the second time in school history, Stone Bridge High School fell shy of collecting the Bulldogs first VHSL AAA state softball title after coming up just one run short of a come from behind victory against Great Bridge, falling 10-9 at Westfield High School Sunday.

“I guess the only way it could have been a little better is if we could have got one right there and given ourselves a chance,” Bulldogs coach Billy Rice said.

Stone Bridge fought back from an 8-run, fifth inning deficit to pull within one run in the seventh.

“The Stone Bridge kids are awesome,” Great Bridge coach Kirk Clayton said. “That is a fantastic team. They had us pretty scared there at the end. They just came back: hitting, hitting, hitting, hitting.”

With one out and two runners aboard in the final frame, Stone Bridge cleanup hitter and starting pitcher Kelly McDaniel stepped up to the plate and ripped a line drive at the third baseman who caught the ball before throwing to second to double off the runner ending the Bulldogs magical season at 28-2.

Softball: Stone Bridge Advances to AAA State Title Game After Knocking off Reigning State Champs Cosby, 9-1

 By Owen Gotimer 
Viva Loudoun College Intern 
Chantilly (June 8, 2013) - Stone Bridge High School had five players with multi-hit games while senior Kelly McDaniel led the way in the pitching circle, allowing only one run, as the Bulldogs knocked off reigning state champion Cosby, 9-1 on Saturday afternoon at Westfield High School to advance to the VHSL state championship game.

Stone Bridge (28-1) will face Great Bridge at 1 p.m. Sunday in the state finals at Westfield High School. Great Bridge beat Orange County, 4-1, Saturday in the other semifinal match-up.

Offensively Saturday Stone Bridge was led by sophomore Emily Kenny (2-4, HR, 4 RBI, R) and aided by seniors Sydney Broderick (2-2, 2B, 2 BB, SB, 2 RBI, 2 R), Katie Bellino (2-3, 2B, BB, R) and McDaniel (2-4, 2 RBI, R). The Bulldogs fifth multi-hit game came off the bat of senior leadoff batter Niki Prince (3-5, 2B, SB, 2 R).

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: AAA State Meet Complete Results -- 3 Earn All State

(June 6, 2013) - The AAA state track and field meet was held last weekend and Stone Bridge High School junior D'Ante Yarborough finished second in the 110 meter hurdles at 14.32. Also earning all-State honors were Broad Run senior Dorian Jenkins (7th in the high jump at 6-4) and Freedom junior Amanda Salami (7th in 100 meters 12.24).

Complete Results

AA State Semifinals: VHSL Moves Baseball, Softball at Westfield to Saturday and Sunday

(June 6, 2013) - The VHSL AAA state semifinal baseball and softball games have been pushed back a day due to the incoming storm. Stone Bridge High School will now play at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Westfield High School against Cosby.

VHSL released the following notes Thursday:

• Due to the pending weather forecast, all VHSL Group AAA softball semifinal games will be played at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 8. The VHSL Group AAA championship game will be played at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, June 9th.
  
• Due to the pending weather forecast, all VHSL Group AAA baseball semifinal games will be played at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 8. The VHSL Group AAA championship game will be played at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, June 9th.

Softball: Stone Bridge Senior Kelly McDaniel Uses Bat, Arm to Guide Stone Bridge to 6-3 Come-from-Behind State Quarterfinal Win Over Osoburn

By Owen Gotimer 
Viva Loudoun College Intern 
Ashburn (June 4, 2013) - The Stone Bridge High School softball team has seldom had to play from behind this season, but on Tuesday night in the Virginia AAA state quarterfinals the Bulldogs found themselves behind Osbourn, 3-0, and they would have to dig their way out of to keep their season alive. Senior Kelly McDaniel rose to the occasion, hitting the go ahead 2-run home run in the fifth inning while earning the win in the pitching circle as Stone Bridge took down Osbourn, 6-3.

Softball: Stone Bridge, Woodgrove Girls Bring Home Regional Titles

See Jeff Vennitti's photo gallery from the Region II finals at Powhatan

(June 3, 2013) - The Stone Bridge and Woodgrove high school softball teams brought back regional titles to Loudoun Friday with the Bulldogs taking the AAA Northern Region title with a 4-0 win over Madison at Falls Church High School and the Wolverines taking the AA Region II title wit a 6-0 win on the road at Powhatan.

For Woodgrove it was a third straight Region II title and for Stone Bridge it was back-to-back Northern Region crowns.

Both teams earned VHSL state quarterfinal home games Tuesday, June 4 with Stone Bridge (26-1) hosting Osbourn at 5:30 p.m. and Woodgrove (24-2) hosting Tabb at 6 p.m.

See Stone Bridge softball galleries from games this year against Edison, O'Connell and Madison

Recaps of both games ...

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.

Softball: Stone Bridge's Niki Prince Named Northern Region Player of the Year; Three Teammates Make First Team

Stone Bridge SR Niki Prince smacking a triple this season.

(May 31, 2013) - The 25-1 Stone Bridge High School softball team will take the field at 4 p.m. today in the Northern Region finals against Liberty District foe Madison at Falls Church High School with some new honors in tow as senior shortstop Niki Prince has been named the region's Player of the Year and three of her teammates -- senior pitcher Kelly McDaniel, sophomore third base Emily Kenny and senior outfielder Sydney Broderick -- have been named first team in a vote of the region's coaches.

And, quite naturally, Stone Bridge's Billy Rice has been named the Coach of the Year.

2013 All-Northern Region Softball Team
First Team
Pitcher of the Year Taylor Nuehart Hayfield 12
Player of the Year Niki Prince Stone Bridge 12

Pitcher Kelly McDaniel Stone Bridge 12
Catcher Heather Ferguson Herndon 12
1st Base Amanda Hendrix Lake Braddock 10
2nd Base Kiana Shurlund Fairfax 10
Short Stop Whitney Burks South County 11
3rd Base Emily Kenny Stone Bridge 10
Outfield Sydney Broderick Stone Bridge 12
Outfield Christi Geisler McLean 12
Outfield Jocelyn Hotter Annandale 11
At-Large Ashley Fleisch Lake Braddock 11
At-Large Rebecca Martin South County 11
At-Large Kat Olson Madison 11
At-Large Jenny Peel Washington-Lee 12
At-Large Sabrina Pierce Chantilly
10 At-Large Stormy Zyzyk Mount Vernon 10
DP/Flex Teresa Cardamone Chantilly 12

Coach of the Year Billy Rice Stone Bridge

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.

Softball: Stone Bridge Swats Way to State Tournament

(May 30, 2013) - The Stone Bridge High School softball team, which is averaging 13.5 runs per game in the postseason, had just an average night in the Northern Region semifinals as the Bulldogs bashed their way to a 13-1 win over Langley.

Stone Bridge (25-1), with 81 runs in six postseason games and 286 runs total, has qualified for the state tournament and will play Liberty District rival Madison Friday in the Northern Region finals.

College Choice Chart: Class of 2013 Now Up to 171 Athletes Committed to Play at Next Level

(May 30, 2013) - The Viva Loudoun College Choice Chart is now up to 171 athletes from the Class of 2013 that will play at the next level. Recently added from Tuscarora High School:

• Logan Feierbach (XC/Track) William and Mary
• Brittany McCullock (Softball) Green Mountain College
• Myron Hernandez (soccer) Shepherd

And from Stone Bridge High School, Trevor Mack will play ice hockey at IUP.

Last year the Class of 2012 set a record with 207 athletes committed. This year's class is the second largest with Class of 2010 at 159 and the Class of 2011 at 145.

 

Soccer: Bounces Go Broad Run Boys Way, Not Stone Bridge Girls in Regional Semifinals

(May 30, 2013) - Soccer can be a funny game. Sometimes the bounces go your way and other times they simply don't. On Wednesday it was the Broad Run High School boys with the right bounces and the Stone Bridge High School girls not as fortunate.

Broad Run faced the prospects of overtime when Mountain View was awarded a late penalty kick but Wildcat senior Omar Munoz's kick clanged off the right post. Moments later, the Wildcats keeper slipped while making a play on a ball and the Spartans (12-3-3) padded their lead and went on to win the Northwest Region semifinal 2-0.

Track and Field: Stone Bridge Top 8 Finishes at Northern Region Meet

(May 26, 2013) - Here at the Northern Region track and field meet held at Robinson High School on May 23-24 top eight finishes by Stone Bridge High School athletes:

Girls Discus Throw
4, Jordan Nielsen (Stone Bridge) 101-05

Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
1, D'Ante Yarborough (Stone Bridge) 14.78
3, Selwyn Lawrence (Stone Bridge) 15.43

Baseball: J.B. Bukauskas Tosses 2-Hitter to Lead Stone Bridge Over Yorktown, 1-0, in Northern Region First Round

(May 25, 2013) - J.B. Bukauskas left no doubt as to why he was named this week as the AAA Northern Region Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore as the Bulldog threw a 2-hitter Friday night to lead Stone Bridge High School to a 1-0 win at Yorktown in the first round of the Northern Region tournament. Senior Matt Hough had the game's lone RBI.

Stone Bridge faces Oakton at 1 p.m. Monday at Lake Braddock High School in the regional quarterfinals.

Baseball: Stone Bridge Soph J.B.Bukauskas Named Northern Region Pitcher of the Year

(May 24, 2013) - Stone Bridge High School sophomore J.B. Bukauskas has been named the Northern Region Pitcher of the Year in a vote of the region's coaches. Madison's Ben Socher was named the Player of the Year and Warhawks skipper Mark "Pudge" Gjormand was named Coach of the Year.

2013 Northern Regioon Baseball Team
1st Team

College Corner: Stone Bridge Grad Derek Maltz and Loudoun Valley Grad Chris Daddio Help Top-ranked Syracuse into NCAA Final Four

College Corner with Dan Sousa
(May 24, 2013) - You can catch a couple of local grads on national TV Saturday as Stone Bridge High School grad Derek Maltz and Loudoun Valley High School grad Chris Daddio will take the field for Syracuse University as the top-ranked Orange take on No. 4 Denver at 5 p.m. in the NCAA Final Four at Lincoln Financial Field in Phileadelphia.

The other other semifinal pits No. 7 Duke against unranked Cornell at 2:30 p.m.