Football: Woodgrove JR Defensive End JJ Jackson Commits to Virginia

Jackson putting pressure on the quarterback last season.
(photo by Rob Warfel/Viva Loudoun)

(April 22, 2013) - Woodgrove High School junior defensive end J.J. Jackson has verbally committed Sunday to play football at the University of Virginia starting in 2014-15 according to Wolverines coach Mike Skinner. T 6-foot-4, 220-pound Wolverine also had offers from Duke, Hampton, ODU, Ohio University, and Yale.

11 athletes from the Class of 2014 have now committed.

Swim: Heritage Celebrates SR Kaleigh Rosenburg's Signing with University of Virginia

Leesburg (Nov. 20, 2012) - Heritage High School celebrated Monday afternoon senior Kaleigh Rosenburg's signing of her letter of intent to swim next year at the University of Virginia.

More photos from this signing!

Swim: Heritage SR Kaleigh Rosenburg to Swim at Virginia Next Year

(Nov. 14, 2012) - Heritage High School senior will sign her National Letter of Intent this coming Monday to swim next year at NCAA Division I University of Virginia. In February Rosenburg captured the VHSL A/AA state title in the 100 meter breast with a 1:03.21 time. She was also 4th in the 200 IM with a 2:06.55.

Swim: Potomac Falls Grad Matt McLean Shoots for Gold in London

(July 28, 2012) - Potomac Falls High School grad Matt McLean, a former ACC Swimmer of the Year while at the University of Virginia, will make his Olympic debut on Tuesday, July 31 as part of the U.S. men's 800-meter freestyle relay team.

A year ago, McLean capped his Cavalier career with a NCAA title in the 500 free. He made the U.S. Olympic squad with a fifth place finish in the 200 meter free trials.

While at Potomac Falls, McLean won the VHSL AA state title in the 200 free in 2005 and 2006 and he still holds the state record in the event. Also in 2006 he captured the VHSL 500 free state title.

From 2008-2011, McLean won ACC titles in 17 events. In 2011, McLean earned Virginia its fourth national title when he won the NCAA title in the 500 freestyle.

News: Dominion Grad Joseph Williams on Why I'm Hunger Striking at UVA

(Feb. 25, 2012) - Dominion High School grad and former Titan football player Joseph Williams is making national headlines with his hunger strike at the University of Virginia in support of the University's service-sector employees. The junior walk-on for the Cavs football team has been on a hunger strike now for eight days "to protest the economic and social injustices perpetrated by the UVa administration against the vast majority of the University's service-sector employees."

Read his essay on why he is hunger striking here: Why I'm hunger striking at UVA | MichaelMoore.com

Read an article on Yahoo Sports about the hunger strike here.

Football: Broad Run Celebrates Four Seniors to Play at College Level

Jackson Matteo, Derril Thomas, Caleb Lindsey and Connor Jessop are 4 big reasons why Broad Run football was so good the last four years!

More photos from the celebration

(Feb. 2, 2012) - Broad Run High School celebrated on Wednesday college signing day with four of its seniors heading to the college football ranks. Family,friends, teammates,coaches and staff packed the school's cafeteria to honor Caleb Lindsey, Connor Jessop, Jackson Matteo and Derril Thomas.

Caleb Lindsey proudly wears the VMI hat after signing

Lindsey, a tight end, linebacker, will play at NCAA Division I VMI; Thomas, a running back/DB, at NCAA Division II Concord University while Jessop and Matteo accepted preferred walk-on status with Jessop, a 3-year starter at quarterback who led the Spartans to a state title his sophomore year, heading to Virginia Tech and Matteo, an All-Met lineman heads to Virginia.

All smiles for Jackson Matteo who will be heading to Charlottesville

Matteo originally verbally committed to Temple before deciding to stay in-state. Jessop sat out much of his junior season with a broken collar bone but returned in the playoffs to lead the Spartans to the regional finals. He threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns this season as Broad Run moved up to AAA.

Broad Run coach Griffis said Derril Thomas will be an impact player at Concord

Thomas, who stepped into the state title game as a sophomore after T.J. Peeler was injured early in that contest, and had a big impact, went on to score more than 40 touchdowns and account for 2,000-plus yards in the single wing offense of 2nd-year coach Matt Griffis.

3-years as QB1 at Broad Run, now Jessop will try and make a name for himself with the Hokies

Football: Briar Woods JR Matt Rolin Gets Offer from Virginia and SR Alex Carter Named Parade All-American

(Jan. 17, 2012) - Back-to-back VHSL Division 4 state champion Briar Woods High School continues to have a big football off-season with junior linebacker Matt Rolin picking up an offer Tuesday from the University of Virginia and senior defensive back/wide receiver Alex Carter named as a Parade All-American.

It was just the latest honor for the Stanford-bound Carter who played earlier this month in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl all-start game in Texas and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Virginia.

For Rolin, the UVa offer came on the heels of an offer from Virginia Tech and he has three other offers already from Boston College, Washington and Tennessee.

Boys Soccer: South Riding Native Foss Makes Verbal to Play at Virginia in 2013

South Riding (Dec. 17, 2011) - Patrick Foss, one of the top boys soccer prospects in Virginia, has made a verbal commitment to play at the University of Virginia starting in the 2013 season. Foss, a junior, is home-schooled.

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:

Football: Stone Bridge Rising Junior Quarterback Burns is Offered by Virginia

(June 20, 2011) - Stone Bridge High School rising junior Ryan Burns picked up an offer from University of Virginia coach Mike London after participating in their 7x7 camp over the weekend.

Burns before his sophomore year picked up an offer from Boston College. He has been named as one of the "35 to Watch For in 2013" by the 2011 Sporting News College Football Magazine. Burns is one of six quarterbacks listed in the nationwide list.

Track and Field: Loudoun Duo Ryan Hagen and Nick McLaughlin Help Virginia Tech Capture ACC Indoor Title

Track and Field: Loudoun Duo Ryan Hagen and Nick McLaughlin Help Virginia Tech Capture ACC Indoor Title

Football: Briar Woods Big Playmaker Junior Alex Carter Drawing College Interest with Six Verbal Offers

Carter makes leaping grab in state title win

(Feb. 24, 2011) - Briar Woods High School big playmaker Alex Carter, a junior WR/DB that helped the Falcons to the school's first ever state football title in December, is drawing bigtime interest from NCAA Division I schools with six verbal offers already from Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Stanford, Duke and Kansas State.

Falcon coach Charlie Pierce says that Tennessee and Notre Dame are close to making their offers soon.

"Alex has a lot to offer to these programs on offense, defense or special teams," said Pierce.

Carter, son of former Washington Redskins defensive back Tom Carter, led Briar Woods in all-purpose yards and in total receptions with 48 for an average of 15.8 yards per catch.

Averaging 4.6 yards per rush, Carter was electrifying on returns, averaging 38.5 yards per kickoff return and scoring two touchdowns including a school-reocrd 98-yarder. He finished second on the team with 11 total touchdowns.

On defense, he had 50 total tackles with two interceptions and 10 pass break ups.

"The one thing that really stands out with his play is his ability to come up with big plays when the team needed it," said Pierce.

Those big plays in the playoffs included a 65-yard field-reversing catch-and-run TD against Liberty in the regional playoffs that was the game's only score and a leaping grab that he turned into a 77-yard touchdown in the state title game against Harrisonburg. That catch from freshman quarterback Trace McSorley came with Briar Woods trailing and turned the game around as the Falcons went on to win 41-21. On the defensive side of the ball he had an interception return of 38 yards for a score in the state semifinals.

In the classroom, Carter tackles AP and honor classes while carrying a 4.10 GPA leading Pierce to label him truly an "outstanding student athlete."

Football: Stone Bridge Celebrates the Signing of Four Players

(Feb. 2, 2011) - Stone Bridge High School celebrated on National Signing Day with four football players finalizing their college plans -- Spenser Rositano (Boston College), Rob Burns (Virginia), Calvin Hollenhorst (Coastal Carolina) and John Cheretis (Washington and Lee) -- before a packed cafeteria.

Spenser Rositano

Rob Burns

Calvin Hollenhorst

John Cheretis

Check back later for a full photo gallery from the signings.

Football: Stone Bridge to Host Signing Ceremony for Four Bulldogs Wednesday

Ashburn (Feb. 1, 2011) - Stone Bridge High School will a signing ceremony Wednesday for four football players in the school's cafeteria at 4 p.m.

Spenser Rositano (Boston College), Rob Burns (Virginia), Calvin Hollenhorst (Coastal Carolina) and John Cheretis (Washington and Lee) will all take part in the ceremony. The quartet has helped the Bulldogs finish runner-up in Division 5 in the state the past two years while collecting two Liberty District and Northern Region titles.

Baseball: Dulles Little League Team Headed to States in Louisa

Left to Right- Coach Bob Hough, Ryan Blazauskas, Jonathan Hogue, Kurt Doescher, Sean Clark, Danny Sullivan, Malachy McGann, Matt Molthen, Josh Greenberg, Jack Jaekle, Billy Quinn, Zachary Buck, Gino Ventrice, Coach Dan Sullivan

(July 21, 2010) - While it was set last month that District 16 would be sending a Dulles team to the Virginia State 10/11 tournament starting in Louisa tonight - the question was National or American? And it was answered in a Dulles vs. Dulles championship game between the two teams that dominated the District 16 tournament with determination and confidence in every aspect of the game. The National team won the title game 10-0.

Cross Country: Broad Run Grad Garcia Represents Team USA, Second in Under-23 3000-meter Steeplechase

(July 21, 2010 - Stephanie Garcia, former Broad Run High School and University of Virginia cross country standout, finished second recently at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Florida while representing Team USA.

Thanks to alert VivaLoudoun fan Paul Gilmore who spotted the good news about Garcia in a recent issue of the Washington Running Report newsletter:

Representing Team USA, Stephanie Garcia of South Riding, VA placed second (10:20.50) in the women's 3000m steeplechase on Sunday, July 11 at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Miramar, FL. Athletes (age 23 and younger) representing 32 member nations from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean competed in the meet.

Photo courtesy the University of Virginia Athletic Department.

Softball: Briar Woods Senior Kate Fowler to Play at Virginia

Special to VivaLoudoun.com

(May 11, 2010) - Briar Woods High School senior Kate Fowler has been offered a roster spot to play at the University of Virginia beginning next season. Fowler is the first Falcon in the program’s five-year history to commit to play at a Division I school.

“I am so proud of Kate for her hard work over the last few years,” said Briar Woods head coach Jennifer Traina. “She is our first player to play at the Division I level, and to be offered a spot at a school like the University of Virginia is a great opportunity for her. “

Fowler has enjoyed a strong career at Briar Woods. As a sophomore, she hit .378 with six doubles, two triples and 12 RBIs, and she posted a 7-7 record with a 2.33 ERA in the circle.

Last season, Fowler earned first-team All-Dulles District and second-team All-Region II honors after helping lead the Falcons to an 18-5 overall record and the program’s first-ever Dulles District Tournament championship and region playoff berth.

Fowler went 13-4 with a 0.75 earned run average, striking out 119 and walking just 18 in 111 2/3 innings. She tossed four shutouts and combined on three others, and she fired a one-hitter to lead the Falcons past Sherando 2-1 in the region quarterfinals.

At the plate, Fowler paced the Falcons with a .377 batting average with five doubles, two triples and one home run. She drove in 14 runs and also scored 14 runs.

As a senior this season, Fowler is hitting .383 with three home runs to go along with 17 RBIs and 14 runs scored. She is 6-2 with a 2.22 ERA in the circle.

“Last year, Kate pitched the second half of the season injured to support the team through the playoffs," said Traina. "She worked so hard over the last year on physical therapy so that she could be ready for this season. Obviously, the dedication paid off for her.”

Boys Soccer: Former Stone Bridge Keeper Matt Miscione Transfers to Virginia

(Feb. 13, 2010) - Former Stone Bridge standout keeper Matt Miscione has transferred from Bryant University in Rhode Island and is now enrolled at the University of Virginia where he will play for the Cavs next season.

Miscione, who holds most of Stone Bridge's goalkeeping records after graduating in 2009, opted to play for Bryant in the fall instead of attending Virginia, where he was academically accepted, and trying out for the Cavs as a walk-on. After one semester at Bryant, however, Miscione transferred to UVa and has found a spot on the men's soccer team.

At Bryant Miscione started 12 games and played in 14 total going 3-10-1 with a 1.53 goals allowed average. He made 80 saves for a .792 percentage and faced 201 shots total. Miscione had four shutouts including his final contest at Bryant, a 0-0, double overtime tie where he went 110 minutes without giving up a goal.