Gymnastics: APEX Senior Aaron Meland Signs with NCAA Division I Temple University

(Nov. 15, 2011) - APEX level 10 gymnast Aaron Meland has signed his National Letter of Intent to compete for NCAA Division I Temple University next year.

Meland has been a team member at APEX for 10 years and is coached by former Olympian Vladimir Shamenko and Denise Rowell. The Herndon High School student has also competed for the United States in the Maccabiah Games in Israel and is a Junior Olympics National Team member.

VivaLoudoun gymnastics coverage sponsored by APEX Gymnastics! Please thank them for supporting VivaLoudoun!

Competitive Cheer: Stone Bridge Second at Northern Region Meet

(Nov. 6, 2011) - The Stone Bridge High School competitive cheer squad took second on Saturday Night at Fairfax High School. The host Rebels won the event with Herndon and West Springfield also placing in the Top 4 to move onto Saturday's AAA meet at VCU in Richmond.

News: Wet Fields Force Changes Tonight

(Apr. 1, 2011) - This is no April Fool's joke ... wet fields are forcing changes to tonight's packed spring sports schedule. Here is what we know as of 2 p.m. but please check with your high school/team before venturing out in the cold tonight:

Loudoun County vs. Potomac Falls: baseball, softball and girls soccer postponed until April 6th. Boys soccer at Potomac Falls still on for tonight.

Dominion vs. Tuscarora: baseball and softball postponed with baseball playing April 14th and softball on May 2nd (it will be warmer by then ... we hope!). Soccer matches still on.

Loudoun Valley vs. Woodgrove: boys and girls lacrosse postponed until April 29th with both games now at Valley with girls at 6 and boys at 7:30.

Loudoun Valley vs. Herndon: Softball game has been moved from Valley to Herndon with a 6:30 p.m. start time. Baseball on as scheduled at Herndon.

Photo Gallery: VivaLoudoun Holiday Wrestling Tournament at Stone Bridge

Check out our photo gallery with nearly 700 shots from the VivaLoudoun holiday wrestling tournament held Dec. 30. Briar Woods, Broad Run and host Stone Bridge are all represented in these shots. Click on any photo to view the full gallery.

Wrestling: Host Stone Bridge Wins First Annual VivaLoudoun Holiday Tournament

For complete results, follow this link!

Ashburn (Dec. 31, 201010) - Host Stone Bridge High School, capturing seven of 14 title matches, won the first annual VivaLoudoun Holiday Wrestling Tournament Thursday.

The Bulldogs scored 245 points in the five-team tournament that featured all three Ashburn high schools with Broad Run second at 202. Kettle Run was third at 176 followed by Herndon (102) and Briar Woods (69).

Local fans were treated to a lot of Ashburn match-ups in the finals with the first six matches all features Briar Woods, Broad Run and Stone Bridge wrestlers.

Briar Woods 112-pounder Michael Hulcher was named the tournament's MVP after an exciting 3-2 win over Broad Run's Angel Rios in the finals. Stone Bridge's Sam Smith earned the Fastest Pin award.

The Bulldogs captured titles at 125 (Jon Sommer), 135 (Ben Oslund), 140 (Cam Bowen), 145 (Pat Taylor), 152 (Jonathan Faul), 160 (Brendan Scully), and 215 (Aaron Palmer).

Broad Run won titles at 103 (Akhil Gowda), 119 (Nelson Schmidl), 130 (Neil Hartman) and 171 (Diego Loya).

Check back later for photos from the event and more details on the finals.

Wrestling: Battle for Ashburn Today at VivaLoudoun Holiday Wrestling Tournament

Ashburn (Dec. 30, 2010) - Ashburn's three high school wrestling teams -- Briar Woods, Broad Run and Stone Bridge -- take to the mats today in the VivaLoudoun Holiday Wrestling Tournament.

Herndon and Kettle Run join the three local schools with wrestling running from 9 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m. Admission is $5.

Schedule
9:00 AM Championship- First Round (2 mats)
11:30 AM Consolation Quarterfinals (2 mats)
**Championship Semi-Finals (2 mats)
**Consolation Semi-Finals (2 mats)
**Consolation Finals (2 mats)
**Championship Finals (1 mat)

AWARDS
Trophies for the top team
Medals for top 4 place winners
Plaques for tournament “Outstanding Wrestler” and “Fastest Pin”

**Note: There will be NO breaks between rounds. Every round will begin immediately after the conclusion of the previous round** (5-10 minute break). Tournament should end around 4:30 pm

Wrestling: VivaLouodun Holiday Tournament at Stone Bridge Seeking Three Varsity Teams

(Dec. 14, 2010) - The VivaLoudoun Holiday Wrestling tournament scheduled for Stone Bridge High School on Dec. 30 has slots open for three varsity teams.

Briar Woods, Broad Run, Herndon, Kettle Run and the host Bulldogs are already slated for the event. Teams interested should contact Mike Faul (michael.faul@lcps.org) or Brian Parke (brian.parke@lcps.org).

Action for the tournament starts at 9 a.m. with weigh-in at 8 a.m. Finals are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Medals will go to the top four place winners in each weight class as well as plaques for Outstanding Wrestling and Fastest Pin. There will be a trophy for the top team.

(There is also a strong possibility that the VivaLoudoun Fox will make an appearance and demonstrated his world famous "sleeper hold" ... you will not want to miss that)

Competitive Cheer: Briar Woods Repeats as Region II Champ, Broad Run Runner-up; Stone Bridge 3rd in Northern Region

Briar Wood competitive cheer: Back-to-Back Region II Champions!
(Photo courtesy of Glenn Hancox)

(Nov. 6, 2010) - Briar Woods High School competitive cheer repeated its Region II title Saturday as the Falcons move onto the state meet where they have a chance to defend their AA state title. Broad Run was runner-up and also advances.

Stone Bridge, defending Northern Region champion, had to settle for third Saturday, but the Bulldogs will move onto the AAA state meet where they were runner-up last year.

Herndon was a surprise winner Saturday at the Northern Region meet with AAA defending state champion Fairfax runner-up. Chantilly also advance to States as fourth place.

Also moving on from Region II are third place James Wood and fourth place Sherando.

Northern Region Competitive Cheer 2010 Meet
1, Herndon 275.5
2, Fairfax 274.5
3, Stone Bridge 269
4, Chantilly 264
-------------------
5, Centreville 243
6, Hayfield 232.5
7, West Springfield 219
8, Lake Braddock 214

Photo Gallery: Football - Loudoun Valley vs. Herndon by Craig Sterburzel

(Oct. 26, 2010) - Click on any photo to enjoy the full gallery from Saturday's Loudoun Valley vs. Herndon football game by Craig Sterbutzel.

Football: McGrath's Vikings Spoil His Alma Mater's Homecoming as Valley Beats Herndon, 35-14

Herndon (Oct. 23, 2010) - Loudoun Valley High School varsity football coach Danny McGrath was honored before Herndon's Homecoming game Saturday with the 2000 Herndon graduate handed a Hornets jersey, but once the game started it was all Viking green as McGrath's men used a big first quarter to spoil Herndon' special day, 35-14.

The non-district win improved Loudoun Valley to 6-2 on the season and fortified their AAA Northwest Region Division 5 playoff position. It also assured the Vikings of a second straight winning season as the team went 6-4 last season and just missed the playoffs after struggling to a 1-9 record in McGrath's first year in Purcellville.

"We would love to be 8-0 right now but we will take 6-2," said McGrath, who at 27 years old is still one of the youngest head coaches in the state.

Valley didn't waste any time in taking the large Herndon Homecoming crowd out of the contest as the Vikes recovered a squib kickoff to start the game and needed just five plays for junior Donald Devine to take it over from the 1.

On Herndon's next series, Loudoun Valley senior R.J. Allison stepped in front of a receiver, picking off the ball, and racing 57 yards for a score to make it 14-0. Allison wasn't done as he did it again on Herndon's next possession, this time returning the ball 40 yards before being brought down at the Hornet 9.

Valley couldn't take advantage as the Vikes fumbled the ball away but after the defense held and forced good field position, the Vikings needed just three plays to score again, this time as senior quarterback found senior David Mellstrom all alone on the post pattern for a 39-yard touchdown as time ran out in the first quarter, making it 21-0 Valley.

Herndon fought back with a nice drive in the second quarter to make it 21-7 and Valley kept the Hornets in the contest as Taylor was picked off in the end zone with less than two minutes to go in the first half and then the Vikes fumbled the ball on their own 24 on the second play of the second half.

"I was here two years ago for Homecoming on a Saturday against Westfield and Westfield kept Herndon in the game and then lost in overtime. I was thinking about that game," said McGrath.

The Viking defense was up to the task as they forced a fumble on 4th-and-1 on their own 14 and then had to do it again after Herndon drove all the way to the Viking 3 where they had 1st-and-goal, this time senior Kevin Wiley stripped a ballcarrier and senior Allen Beam recovered at the 7.

Having just face the prospect of a 21-14 game, the Vikings went up by three scores as Wiley took a handoff around the right end, broke a tackle and raced 87 yards up the sidelines to make it 28-7.

After Herndon cut the lead to 28-14, Valley put together a time-consuming 12-play, 65-yard drive that was a mixture of Devine and Wiley running and Taylor throwing to Mellstrom and junior Harrison Jackson.

After a holding penalty had the Vikes facing 2nd-and-23 from the Herndon 31, Taylor hooked up with Jackson for the final score of the afternoon.

After the game, one Vikings assistant told the player: "It smells like playoffs" and McGrath said he not only wants to get his team to the playoffs but be successful in the playoffs. If Valley does punch their playoff ticket, it will be the school's first return to the playoffs since 2005.

And Homecoming turned out to be special for McGrath as he told his players: "What made today special for me today was being on the visitor's sidelines with this group."

Loudoun Valley 35, Herndon 14
LV -  21  0  7  7 - 35
H -      0  7  7  0 - 14

1: LV - Devine 1 run (Kiani kick)
1: LV - Allison 53 interception return (Kiani kick)
1: LV - Mellstrom 39 pass from Taylor (Kiani kick)
2: H - Reynolds 12 run (McLaughlin kick)
3: LV - Wiley 87 run (Kiani kick)
3: H - Schow 5 run (McLaughlin kick)
4: LV - Jackson 31 pass from Taylor (Kiani kick)

Valley Stats
Rush: Wiley 6-107, Mellstrom 4-34, Devine 18-33, Taylor 2-0. Total: 30-174.
Pass: Taylor 11-16-1 141 yards.
Receive: Jackson 6-79, Mellstrom 4-67, Beam 1-17.

Turnovers: Valley 3, Herndon 4

Volleyball: Tuesday Night Scoreboard

VivaLoudoun Volleyball Scoreboard
Briar Woods def. Woodgrove, 25-14, 25-14, 25-17
Broad Run def. Tuscarora, 25-21, 25-14, 25-22
Dominion def. Park View, 25-6, 25-12, 25-15
Loudoun County def. Freedom, 25-17, 25-21, 25-19
Stone Bridge def. Herndon, 25-12, 25-18, 25-19

Baseball: Broad Run Drops First Contest on the Season to AAA Herndon

(Apr. 8, 2010) - The Broad Run High Schoool baseball team dropped a non-conference game Wednesday against Herndon. Both teams records now stand at 5-1 on the season. With the 8-5 win, the Hornets evened the season series with Spartans at one game apiece.

On the mound, Senior Chase Warren took the loss for the Spartans allowing 6 runs in 2.67 innings pitched. Junior Brandon Craft allowed 1 run in 3.33 innings of relief, and Freshman AJ Powell allowed a run in the 7th in relief.

Offensively, the Spartans pounded out nine hits led by Senior Shane Vlasic's three hits, Powell's single and double, and Senior Tyler Small's two hits.

The Spartans return to action this coming Friday at Potomac Falls HS at 6 pm.

Gymnastics: Stone Bridge 4th at Robinson 6-Team Meet

Click the photo to view more photos from this gallery

(Jan. 7, 2010) - The Stone Bridge High School gymnastics team got a glimpse Wednesday of where the power lies in the AAA Northern Region as the Bulldogs finished fourth in a six-team meet at Robinson High School.

Chantilly won the meet with a sparkling 141.15 score followed by Robinson (134.35), Herndon (133.95) and Stone Bridge (131.75). Bulldog Amy Fissmer was second in the All Around with a 34.9.

Team Totals:
1. Chantilly 141.15
2. Robinson 134.35
3. Herndon 133.95
4. Stone Bridge 131.75
5. McLean- 88.8
6. Marshall 26.3

Top Bulldog Finishers:
Floor:
2nd. Casey Merwin 9.05

All Around:
2nd. Amy Fissmer 34.9

Top 3 All Events
Vault:
3. Amanda Famiglletti-Robinson 9.2
2. Maria Hayden-Herndon 9.25
1. Heather Guryansky-Chantilly 9.45

Bars:
3. Kelsey O'Connor-Chantilly 8.85
2. Heather Guryansky-Chantilly 9.0
1. Maria Hayden-Herndon 9.85

Beam:
3. Jessi Marco-Robinson 9.2
2. Maria Hayden-Herndon 9.4
1. Casie Morton-Chantilly 9.45

Floor:
3. Lani Kroese-Chantilly 9.0
2. Lyndsey Saunders-Chantilly and Casey Merwin-Stone Bridge 9.05
1. Maria Hayden-Herndon 9.8

All-Around
3. Lani Kroese-Chantilly 34.6
2. Amy Fissmer-Stone Bridge-34.9
1. Maria Hayden-38.3

Volleyball: Stone Bridge Rallies in Fifth Game to Defeat Herndon

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun.com Editor

Ashburn (Nov. 11, 2009) - The Stone Bridge High School volleyball team only has two seniors on the roster and the Bulldogs, trailing 5-1 in the fifth game Tuesday against Herndon, were not about to let their careers end on the school's home floor.

Stone Bridge rallied, with senior Alexis Chism igniting a 5-point run with, not one, but two, monster solo blocks, and advanced to the AAA Northern Region semifinals with a thrilling 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 12-25, 15-11 victory.

Down 5-1 in the fifth, Chism got the team fired up with two blocks sandwiched around a  Herndon error.

"That was one of those turning points. It ignited the rest of the team," said Stone Bridge coach Jill Raschiatore after her team moved to 23-2 on the year and within one win from making the state tournament. SB will face South County on Thursday at Centreville High School after Robinson takes on Langley at 6 p.m.

For good measure, Chism registered a kill to tie the match at 5-5 and then freshman Ryan Ackermann dropped in a service winner to put SB ahead. The Bulldogs would not trail again as the Hornets play became frayed in the final stages.

Stone Bridge Junior Christine Beckham who had 16 kills, 10 digs and nine service points, including an ace, in the regional quarterfinal win



Stone Bridge seniors Lindsay Gill and Alexis Chism ... please note the lousy job of focusing by the camerman (ahem!) ... yes, I did a great job of focusing on the wall behind them ... in real life the girls faces are in focus! Sorry Lindsay and Alexis!


SB Stats for the match:
Christine Beckham 16 kills, 10 digs, 9 pts, 1 ace
Lindsay Gill 31 digs, 4 pts
Alex Heyn 5 kills, 3 blocks
Alexis Chism 3 kills, 7 blocks
Ryan Ackermann 12 kills, 14 pts, 7 digs
Amy Christensen 3 kills, 8 digs, 8 pts, 1 ace
Vanessa Paige 38 assists, 3 kills, 5 pts

Volleyball: Regional Playoff Scoreboard Updated

VHSL Regional Volleyball Playoff Scoreboard

AAA Northern Region
Quarterfinals
Stone Bridge (Liberty #1) def. Herndon (Concorde #3), 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 12-25, 15-11)
South County (Patriot #1) def. Chantilly (Concorde #2)
Robinson (Concorde #1) def. Woodson (Patriot #2), 3-2
Langley (Liberty #2) def. Hayfield (National #1), 3-0

Semifinals - Thursday at Centreville
Robinson vs. Langley, 6 p.m.
Stone Bridge vs. South County, 20 minutes following

AAA Northwest Region
Loudoun Valley def. Colonial Forge, 3-0 (25-18, 30-28, 25-14)
Albemarle def. Heritage, 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 26-24)
Forest Park def. Franklin County (25-18, 24-26, 25-21, 25-17)
Osbourn Park def. Patrick Henry-Roanoke (18-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-15)

Semifinals - Thursday
Forest Park at Loudoun Valley, 6
Osbourn Park/PH-Roanoke winner vs. Albemarle

AA Region II
Loudoun County def. Millbrook, 3-0 (25-17, 25-6, 25-15)
Sherando def. Broad Run, 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 27-25)
Western Albemarle def. Fauquier, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-21)
Kettle Run def. Fluvanna, 3-2

Semifinals
Kettle Run at Loudoun County, 7
Sherando at Western Albemarle, 7

AA Region IV
First Round
Cave Spring defeated Marion 25-16, 25-11, 25-17
Patrick County defeated Tazewell 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 27-25
Hidden Valley defeated Carroll County 25-15, 25-20, 25-18
Tunstall defeated Christianburg 25-16, 25-15, 25-21

AA Region III
Second Round
Fort Defiance defeated William Byrd, 25-18, 25-18, 25-16
E.C. Glass defeated Spotswood 25-10, 25-17, 25-21
Lord Botetourt defeated Turner Ashby 20-25, 26-28, 25-13, 28-26, 15-8
Jefferson Forest defeated Staunton River 25-10, 25-17, 25-21

AA Region I
Lafayette def. Southampton, 3-1
Chancellor def. Jamestown, 3-1

Volleyball: Northern Region Scoreboard and Quarterfinal Pairings

(Nov. 10, 2009) - All the top seeds survived in the first round of the AAA Northern Region volleyball tournament Monday with National District champion Hayfield needing five games to dispatch Oakton, the No. 4 seed out of the Concorde District.

The only away team to advance to tonight's quarterfinals was Herndon, the Concorde No. 3 seed, which defated National District runner-up Yorktown in four games. Herndon is at Stone Bridge tonight at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs swept Lake Braddock Monday.

Northern Region Volleyball Bracket
First Round - Nov. 9
Hayfield (National #1) def Oakton (Concorde #4), 3-2
Langley (Liberty #2) def. West Springfield (Patriot #3), 3-0
Woodson (Patriot #2) def. Madison (Liberty #3), 3-0
Robinson (Concorde #1) def. Edison (National #4), 3-0
South County (Patriot #1) def. Fairfax (Liberty #4), 3-0
Chantilly (Concorde #2) def. Washington-Lee (National #2), 3-0
Herndon (Concorde #3) def. Yorktown (National #2), 3-1
Stone Bridge (Liberty #1) def. Lake Braddock (Patriot #4), 3-0

Quarterfinals at higher seed - Nov. 10
Woodson (Patriot #2) at Robinson (Concorde #1)
Chantilly (Concorde #2) at South County (Patriot #1)
Herndon (Concorde #3) at Stone Bridge (Liberty #1)
Langley (Patriot #2) at Hayfield (National #1)

Semifinals at Centreville - Nov. 12
Finals at Centreville - Nov. 14

Competitive Cheer: Stone Bridge Edges Fairfax for Nothern Region Title; Briar Woods Qualifies for AA States

(Nov. 7, 2009) - The Stone Bridge High School competitive cheer squad is in position to capture a fifth VHSL state title after the Bulldogs edged Liberty District rival Fairfax Saturday night to win a Northern Region title. Stone Bridge scored 263 points, just 0.5 points ahead of Fairfax at 262.5.

Also advancing to states from the Northern Region are Chantilly and Herndon. Stone Bridge has now won three Northern Region titles and five overall regional titles.

At the Region II meet at Orange County High School, Dulles District champion Briar Woods earned its first ever state bid by advancing to the final four Saturday. Broad and Potomac Falls, mainstays at the AA state meet the past several years, did not advance.

Brentsville, Louisa and Sherando will join Briar Woods at the AA state meet. Please check back for places.

Football Box: Loudoun Valley 19, Herndon 7

1ST QUARTER LV WILEY 2-YD RUN PAT FAILED 6-0
2ND QUARTER HHS THOMPSON 1-YD RUN STOPA PAT KICK 7-6
3RD QUARTER NO SCORES
4TH QUARTER LV KRANIAS 54-YD PASS FROM TAYLOR PAT FAILED 12-7
LV SIMMONS 2-YD RUN HUGGINS PAT KICK 19-7

FINAL SCORE LV-19 HERNDON-7

HIGHLIGHTS
LV IST DRIVE 99 YDS
LV TAYLOR 4-of-4 130-YDS passing