Golf: Woodgrove Grads Nick Kovach and Maclendon Aiken to Continue Careers in College

(July 9, 2013) - Two recently graduated Woodgrove High School golfers will be continuing their athletic careers in college.

Nick Kovach has signed with Virginia Wesleyan College. Virginia Wesleyan is a Division 3 school that competes in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. While at Woodgrove, Kovach has set the school record for best score over 18 holes (74) and is tied with three others for nine holes (37). He was a 2012 Dulles District medalist at 74 and a 2012 regional qualifier.

Maclendon Aiken signed with Taylor University in Indiana. Taylor University is a NAIA school that competes in the Crossroads League. Taylor is a three-year letterman who was consistently in the top six for the Wolverines. He qualified for districts all three years and set a personal best score (79) in the 2012 Dulles District Tournament.

The Viva Loudoun College Choice Chart is now up to 177 athletes for the Class of 2013 with Woodgrove tied with Stone Bridge for the most playing in college at 27 each. The Class of 2012 had an all-time high of college athletic participation of 207 athletes.

Add your favorite athlete to this chart: email dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com.
 

Graduation 2013: Woodgrove - Wolverine Grads Encouraged to 'Work, Honor and Strive'

This is the 12th 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 9, 2013) - Woodgrove High School’s graduation was held inside for the second consecutive year because of rain on Monday, June 10th.

But the lack of sunshine was overcome by the enthusiasm and smiles of the families and friends of the 389 graduates that packed the gym and auditorium. Some of the graduates even found it necessary to wear the sunglasses they found waiting for them on their seats.

Softball: Woodgrove Falls One Game Shy of Retaining AA State Title

By Jason S Rufner
Special to Viva Loudoun
Radford (June 10, 2013) - Making an appearance in the Group AA state championship softball game for the third consecutive season, the defending champion Woodgrove Wolverines suffered a 9-3 loss to Cave Spring in Radford on Sunday.

"We might have been trying to do a little bit too much, trying to overpower the ball a little bit," Woodgrove coach Joe Spicer said as his players showed somber expressions in the game's aftermath.

The Wolverines (26-3) were not without offensive opportunities against the Knights (24-4).

Girls Soccer: Woodgrove Wins Back-to-Back AA State Titles with 2-0 Win Over Dulles District Rival Briar Woods

By Kyle Frazier 
Special to Viva Loudoun
Radford (June 10, 2013) - Woodgrove High School, which opened just three years ago, has already won two girls soccer state champions as the Wolverines topped Dulles District foe Briar Woods, 2-0, on a sunny afternoon at Radford Sunday to claim a second straight state title.

"It feels pretty good. I was just thinking when they got the awards that it is a little surreal to win two in a row," said Woodgrove coach Erin Barrett. "Last year we were the home team all the way through, and this year we were the away team - with a lot of traveling. They did this for each other, they were playing for each other."

Girls Soccer: Dulles District Foes Briar Woods and Woodgrove to Face Each Other in State Finals Sunday

By Kyle Frazier 
Special to Viva Loudoun 
Radford (June 8, 2013) - The Briar Woods High School girls soccer team punched its ticket to the VHSL AA state championship game with a 1-0 victory over Blacksburg Saturday afternoon at Radford University. The Falcons defense only allowed two shots on goal in their victory.

In the second semifinal, defending state champion Woodgrove earned their spot in the championship game with a 6-1 victory over Salem. Only one shot on goal was allowed by the Wolverines.

In fact Dulles District teams simply haven't allowed any other schools around the state a shot at a state title and this will be the second straight year and third time in four years that the AA state final is an All-Loudoun affair.

Briar Woods and Woodgrove, which have split postseason meetings this spring with Woodgrove winning the Dulles title game, 3-0, and Briar Woods taking the Region II title contest in overtime, 1-0, will play for the state championship Sunday at Patrick D. Cupp Stadium in Radford with a noon kickoff.

The winner will bring home a sixth straight state championship to Loudoun with Broad Run winning from 2008-2011 and Woodgrove winning last season. Since the AA state tournament started in 1999 for girls soccer, Loudoun teams will have won 10 titles and made 16 state finals appearances including a team in the finals in 13 of 15 years.

Softball: Defending AA State Champion Woodgrove Claws Way Back into State Finals

By Jason S Rufner
Special to Viva Loudoun

Radford (June 8, 2013) - The three-year-old Woodgrove High School softball program made it a perfecdt 3-for-3 in getting to AA softball championship games with  the Wolverines 6-2 state semifinal win over Fort Defiance at Radford University on Saturday.

Woodgrove, which finished state runner-up in 2011 and won the state title last year, defends its crown at 1 p.m. Sunday at Radford as the Wolverines (26-2) take on Region IV champion Cave Spring (23-4).

"When you're chasing one, it's easy, but when you're defending one, I think that's one of the hardest things to do in sports," said Woodgrove's veteran coach Joe Spicer, who won state crowns with Loudoun Valley in 2003 and 2005.

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.

Soccer: Fantastic Four! Briar Woods Boys, Girls; Tuscarora Boys, Woodgrove Girls All Advance to AA State Semifinals

(June 6, 2013) - A week ago when the Region II championship games were all-Dulles District affairs -- decided by one goal on the boys side and by a Golden Goal in overtime on the girls side -- we said that we wouldn't be surprised if all four teams didn't meet again at Radford in the state finals. On Tuesday all four teams took a big step towards that rematch with AA state quarterfinals wins.

The Briar Woods High School boys and girls swept a doubleheader at home with identical 3-0 shutouts -- the Falcons boys over Culpeper and the Falcons girls over Jamestown -- and the Tuscarora boys and Woodgrove girls brought home road victories with the Huskies beating Lafayette, 2-1, and the Wolverines taking Courtland, 3-1.

All four teams will play back-to-back-to-back-to-back at Radford on Saturday, June 8 in the state semifinals, pushed back a day due to incoming storms: Briar Woods boys vs. E.C. Glass 10 a.m.; Tuscarora boys vs. Blacksburg noon; Briar Woods girls vs. Blacksburg 2 p.m.; Woodgrove girls vs. Salem 4 p.m. Finals are slated for Sunday, June 9. (see jump for game recaps)

Girls Soccer: 2013 All-Region II Team Released; Woodgrove's Hardison Named Player of the Year

(June 4, 2013) - The 2013 All-Region II girls soccer team was released this week with Woodgrove High School senior Sarah Hardison named Player of the Year and Briar Woods coach Ann Vierkorn named the Coach of the Year:

2013 All-Region II Girl's Soccer 
Player of the Year: Sarah Hardison, Woodgrove
Coach of the Year: Ann Vierkorn, Briar Woods

First Team
Emily Littell, Loudoun County
Sarah Hardison, Woodgrove
Brittany Basinger, Woodgrove
Ivana Szwejkowski, Kettle Run
Marina Clark, Western Albemarle
Kaleigh Chiodini, Briar Woods
Caity Ashley, Fauquier
Mandy Fogarty, Sherando
Erika Blevins, Kettle Run
Abby Downey, Tuscarora
Maggie Buxton, Woodgrove

Second Team 

Wrestling: Woodgrove's Joe Cavallaro Commits to York College

(June 4, 2013) - Woodgrove High School senior Joe Cavallaro has committed to wrestle for NCAA Division III York College.

Cavallaro was recruited by York Coach Duane Bastress. York College finished with and 18-7 dual meet record last year. Cavallaro was a mainstay in the varsity line-up for Woodgrove in the school’s first three years competing the the 160 pound weight class in all of those years.

He was the first wrestler in the Woodgrove program to both qualify for and place in the state AA tournament. Joe finished 7th in the state his junior year and owns the school record for fastest pin.

Soccer: Briar Woods Sweeps to Boys, Girls Region II Titles over rivals Tuscarora, Woodgrove; Broad Run Boys Fall in Northwest Final

(June 4, 2013) - The Briar Woods High School boys and girls soccer teams captured their first ever Region II titles Friday with wins over Dulles District rivals with the Falcon boys beating Tuscarora, 2-1, in Leesburg and the Falcon girls dramatically beating Woodgrove, 1-0, in overtime in Ashburn.

All four teams advance to tonight's AA state quarterfinals with Briar Woods hosting a doubleheader with the boys facing Culpeper at 5:30 p.m. and the girls hosting Jamestown at 7:30 p.m. The Tuscarora boys are on the road vs. Lafayette at Wanner Stadium at 7 p.m. and the Wolverine girls travel to Courtland for a 6 p.m. start.

A win would advance each team to this weekend's Final Four which will be held at Radford on Friday and Saturday.

In AAA boys action, Broad Run fell in a high-scoring affair to Forest Park in the Northwest Region finals, 5-4. The Spartans are at Northern Region champion Oakton tonight at 7 p.m.

Game recaps:

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 ...

Lacrosse: Woodgrove Boys, Girls End Year in State Quarterfinals

(June 3, 2013) - The Woodgrove High School boys and girls lacrosse teams saw their seasons come to an end Friday in the VHSL state tournament quarterfinals.

The Wolverine girls (17-3) couldn't hold a 6-goal lead at home and fell to Osbourn Park, 15-13, while the Wolverine boys (11-8) nearly pulled off an upset on the road, giving Northwest Sectional champion undefeated Battlefield (20-0) a scare before falling, 12-11.

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: Harris, Rorher Lead Woodgrove to Region II Finals with Extra Innings Win Over Fauquier

Viva Loudoun photographer spoke with Rachel Harris after her walk-off hit clinched Woodgrove's win Thursday in 10 innings.

(May 31, 2013) - The AA defending state champion Woodgrove High School softball team needed a 15-strikeout performance from junior Jazmyn Rohrer and a game-wining RBI by junior Rachel Harris in the bottom of the 10th inning to clinch a return to the state tournament and a trip to Powhatan tonight to play in the Region II finals.

Soccer: 4 for States! Briar Woods Sweeps Boys, Girls DH; Woodgrove Girls Keep Rolling, Tuscarora Boys Survive OT Scare

(May 31, 2013) - The Briar Woods High School boys and girls soccer teams were simply bigger and stronger than their opponents Thursday as they muscled their way into the AA state tournament with the boys edging Park View, 2-1, and the girls dominating Tuscarora, 3-0, in a Region II semifinal doubleheader in Ashburn.

It will be an all-Dulles District Region II finals in soccer yet again as the Woodgrove girls continued their postseason offensive explosion behind senior Sarah Hardison with a 3-0 win at Fauquier and the Tuscarora boys remained unbeaten on Diego Rodriguez's goal in overtime for a 1-0 win over Sherando.

Tuscarora will host Briar Woods at 7 p.m. in Leesburg in the Region II boys final tonight and Briar Woods will  host Woodgrove at 7 p.m. in the girls final. All four teams advance to next week's AA state tournament, which the Woodgrove girls won in 2012 and the Tuscarora boys finished runner-up. (Read on for recaps of all four games plus a look at the all-time series records for the teams in the finals)

Boys Lacrosse: VHSL State Tournament Brackets

(May 31, 2013) - The VHSL boys lacrosse state tournament opens Friday, May 31 with Dominion hosting Broad Run in a quarterfinal at 7 p.m. and Woodgrove is on the road at Battlefield.

2013 VHSL Boys Lacrosse State Tournament
Quarterfinals
Friday, May 31
Broad Run at Dominion, 7 p.m.
Woodgrove at Battlefield, 6 p.m.
Chantilly at Albemarle, 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 1
E.C. Glass at Madison, 7 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: VHSL State Tournament Brackets

(May 31, 2013) - The VHSL girls lacrosse state tournament features Woodgrove at home tonight against Osbourn Park in a quarterfinal at 6 p.m. and Loudoun Valley on the road for an early 4:30 p.m. start at Battlefield.

2013 VHSL Girls Lacrosse State Tournament
Quarterfinals
Thursday, May 30
Langley 13, Western Albemarle 10

Friday, May 31
Osbourn Park at Woodgrove, 6 p.m.
Loudoun Valley at Battlefield, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 1
Salem at Madison, 5 p.m.

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.

Girls Soccer: Region II Bracket - 3 Dulles District Teams in Quarterfinals

(May 28, 2013) - The Region II girls soccer quarterfinals feature three Dulles District teams in ction tonight with Briar Woods hosting Charlottesville, Woodgrove at Western Albemarle and Tuscarora at Kettle Run.

Girls Soccer Region II 2013 Tournament
First Round - Monday, May 27
Woodgrove 6, Loudoun County 2
Tuscarora 4, Sherando 0

Quarterfinals - Tuesday, May 28
Woodgrove 5, Western Albemarle 1
Fauquier 4, Millbrook 3
Tuscarora 1, Kettle Run 0 (OT)
Briar Woods 2, Charlottesville 0

Semifinals at high seed - Thursday, May 30
Woodgrove at Fauquier, 6 p.m.
Tuscarora at Briar Woods, 8 p.m.

Finals at high seed - Friday, May 31