Track and Field: Freedom's Brandon Polk Wins Freshman 60 Meter Dash at New Balance Indoor Nationals

South Riding (March 13, 2012) - Freedom High School's Brandon Polk captured the Freshman 60 meter dash while running for the Ashburn Elite track club at the New Balance Indoor Nationals held March 9-11 at the New Balance Armory in New York, N.Y.

Polk ran a 6.61 in the Freshman finals. He also ran a 6.66 to finish 11th in the Emerging Elite 60 meter dash.

Photo Gallery: Girls Lacrosse - Stone Bridge vs. Loudoun Valley by Tom Lighton

(March 13, 20120 - The spring sports season has sprung and that can only mean good things as we have some wonderful photographers out shooting some great events in the daylight! For starters here is Tom Light's photo gallery from Monday's Stone Bridge vs. Loudoun Valley girls lacrosse match. Enjoy the full gallery here.

Gymnastics: APEX Boys Crowned State Champions

(March 13, 2012) - APEX Boys Team Members Aaron Meland, Chase Clingman and Tanner Collins were crowned state champions at the Virginia Mens Gymnastics Championships held on March 10 and 11 in Richmond.

Over 200 gymnasts competed. Logan Voegele was also named to the Virginia State Regional Team and APEX qualified 14 boys to Regionals.

Individual results are listed below:

Spring Scoreboard: March 12

(March 13, 2012) - Here is the drill sports fans (coaches, team managers, parents, athletes, mascots, ADs ... poease don't read into the mascots and AD being next to each other ...) send us your scores right after your game in any of the following easy and Surgeon General approved methods:

1. Text us at 703.509.8826
2. Hit us up on Twitter @vivaloudoun
3. Hit us up on Facebook on VivaLoudoun Fan Page
4. Email us at dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com
5. Skywrite the message over our Ashburn World Headquarters
6. Put a message in a bottle on the Potomac River ... upstream from Leesburg please

OK ... 5 and 6 won't work but the first four are Golden!

Monday, March 12
Baseball
Loudoun Valley 16, Park View 4 (6)
Stonewall Jackson 4, Briar Woods 2
Freedom 3, Potomac Falls 0
Broad Run 12, Washington-Lee 5

Softball
Park View 6, Loudoun Valley 5
Potomac Falls 9, Freedom 2
Dominion 21, Wakefield 7

Boys Soccer
Herndon 7, Broad Run 1
Park View 4, Loudoun Valley 3

Girls Soccer
Park View 1, Loudoun Valley 0

Boys Lacrosse
Loudoun County 12, Potomac Falls 5
Briar Woods 9, Madison 6
Dominion 9, Broad Run 5

Girls Lacrosse
Loudoun County 20, Potomac Falls 11
Briar Woods 13, Kettle Run 10
Broad Run 14, Dominion 12
Stone Bridge 19, Loudoun Valley 9
Freedom 19, Tuscarora 15 (OT)

Boys Tennis
Loudoun County 9, Potomac Falls 0
Loudoun Valley 9, Park View 0
Tuscarora 9, Heritage 0
Dominion 9, Woodgrove 0
Freedom 9, Millbrook 0

Girls Tennis
Potomac Falls 5, Loudoun County 4
Park View 6, Loudoun Valley 3
Tuscarora 6, Heritage 3
Woodgrove 8, Dominion 1
Millbrook 7, Freedom 2

Basketball: VHSL State Semifinals and Finals Scores

(March 13, 2012) - Here are the final scores from the VHSL state semifinals and championship basketball games.

Tues. March 6
D3 Girls: Liberty-Bealeton 42, Richlands 34
D3 Boys: Cave Spring 76, Fluvanna County 59
D3 Girls: R.E. Lee-Staunton 58, Woodgrove 34
D3 Boys: Brunswick 64, Rockbridge County 59 (OT)
D4 Girls: Millbrook 65, Carroll County 31
D4 Boys: Christiansburg 66, Potomac Falls 52

Wed. March 7
D4 Girls: Courtland 70, Salem-Salem 30
D4 Boys: Grafton 63, Heritage-Lynchburg 48
AAA Girls: Princess Anne 57, Highland Springs 48
AAA Boys: Petersburg 77, Kecoughtan 56
AAA Girls: Oakton 46, Woodside 43
AAA Boys: Hampton 74, Hernrico 60

Thurs. March 8
D1 Girls: East Rockingham 59, Galax 40
D1 Boys: Amelia County 68, Hurley 64
D1 Girls: Covington 50, Altavista 47 (OT)
D1 Boys: Galax 64, Charles City 54
D2 Girls: Gate City 48, Stuarts Draft 42
D2 Girls: George Mason 64, Glenvar 48

Fri. March 9
D2 Boys: Lancaster 82, Virginia High 60
D2 Boys: George Mason 62, Fort Chiswell 50

Championship Schedule
Fri. March 9
D1 Girls: East Rockingham 66, Covington 42
First state title for Eagles from Elkton 

D1 Boys: Galax 66, Amelia County 49
Second state title for Maroon Tide from Galax. They won in 2011

AAA Girls: Oakton 58, Princess Anne 39
First state title for Cougars from Vienna

AAA Boys: Hampton 64, Petersburg 51
Fifth state title for Crabbers from Hampton. They won in 1997, 1989, 1969, 1939

Sat. March 10
D3 Girls: R.E. Lee-Staunton 44, Liberty-Bealeton 37
Third state title for Fighting Leemen from Staunton. They won in 1994, 1975

D3 Boys: Brunswick 48, Cave Spring 33
5th state title for Bulldogs from Lawrenceville. They won in 2011, 2003, 1988, 1987

D2 Girls: George Mason 50, Gate City 47
Fourth state title for Mustangs from Falls Church. They won in 2010, 2009, 1998

D2 Boys: Lancaster 66, George Mason 51
First state title for Red Devils from Lancaster

D4 Girls: Millbrook 63, Courtland 38
Third state title for Pioneers from Winchester. They won in 2011, 2010

D4 Boys: Christiansburg 70, Grafton 69 (OT)
First state title for Blue Demons from Christiansburg

Boys Soccer: Stone Bridge Celebrates College-Bound Duo Hamdan and Wood

More photos from this celebration

(March 13, 2012) - The Stone Bridge High School boys soccer program celebrated the college choices of seniors Adam Hamdan and Brad Wood.

Hamdan, who returns to the Bulldog program after concentrating on Academy play last spring, will play at NCAA Division I VCU in Richmond. Hamdan will be one of the captains and key midfield cog for Stone Bridge this season.

Wood, a defensive stalwart for Stone Bridge, will play at NCAA Division III Albright College in Reading, Pa.

More photos from this celebration 

Views: Loudoun Education Association President Sandy Sullivan on LCPS Budget

"Views" are opinion pieces or columns penned by those in the Loudoun community ...
Today's View is by Sandy Sullivan
Loudoun Education Association president 

(March 12, 2012) - Much has happened since Dr. Hatrick proposed his budget in early January. As LEA does every year, we have worked tirelessly to keep members and other budget stakeholders informed throughout the process — we do this so you will be informed and will know what you can do in order to be heard.

Boxing: Blood Sweat and Tears - Fighting for a Future

By Apolonia S. Pollock
Special to Viva Loudoun

(March 11, 2012) - Since 1923, the Golden Gloves has been a gateway for amateur boxers to be exposed into the professional world of boxing. Many former Golden Gloves champions such as, Muhammed Ali (1960), Oscar de la Hoya (1989), and Jermain Taylor (1998 and 1999) have gone on to win world titles and become role models in boxing.

courtesy National Golden Gloves Inc.

Five local Loudoun amateur boxers, Jose Israel Flores, 19; Eric Hernandez, 18; Manuel “Manny” Hernandez, 13; Matthew Abregu, 19; and Diego Abregu, 18 are hoping to not only follow Ali, de la Hoya, and Taylor Golden Gloves titles’, but to fulfill their own personal dreams of becoming world champions as well.

“Golden Gloves to me is an opportunity to prove that I belong in this game,” said Eric Hernandez, “but it is going to be a hard tournament.”

Alongside Hernandez, teammate Matthew Abregu says, “boxing isn’t just a hobby to me, but a way of life, so winning the gloves will be a big stepping stone in pursuing my dream of becoming a professional boxer.”

These locals will be fighting in the Golden Gloves Championship on Friday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1 at the Elizabeth City Boxing Club in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Science: Loudoun Teen Making Waves in Quantum Teleportation

(March 11, 2012) - Meet a Loudoun high school senior is already making waves in the science field of quantum teleportation! Read the full story at Washington Post Local

NFL: Statement from Redskins and Rams on Trade

STATEMENT FROM REDSKINS EVP/GENERAL MANAGER BRUCE ALLEN AND RAMS GENERAL MANAGER LES SNEAD

“In order to execute each of our club’s plans for free agency and the upcoming draft, we have agreed to a trade between our two teams for the 2nd pick in the 2012 draft. We will submit this trade to the NFL for approval."

News: 2012 PRCS Summer Camp Guide Online - General Registration Begins March 20

(March 10, 2012) - The 2012 PRCS Summer Camp Guide is available online at www.loudoun.gov/camps. Copies of the camp guide are being sent home through (LCPS) elementary school backpack mail. Guides will also be available at PRCS centers and parks, and county libraries. General registration for summer camp begins March 20.

Men's Soccer: Broad Run Grad Shane Johnson Signs Pro Contract with Richmond Kickers

Photo courtesy Richmond Strikers

Richmond (March 10, 2012) - The Richmond Kickers announced Friday that they agreed to terms with defender Shane Johnson (Broad Run High School graduate) for the 2012 season, pending USSF approval.

“We have been impressed with Shane ever since he played for Longwood against the pro team in last season’s spring exhibition,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “We feel he has all the qualities needed to make an outstanding professional player and we look forward to him contributing immediately.”

College Corner: Potomac Falls Grad Josh Hardin Runs His Way to a Lifetime-Best for William & Mary

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio

Courtesy of William and Mary

(March 8, 2012) - Potomac Falls Hifh School grad Josh Hardin ran his way to a lifetime-best in the 5,000 meter run for NCAA Division I William & Mary with an impressive 14:04.12 at the IC4A Indoor Track and Field Championships March 3 in Boston.

 Hardin's time is the 10th-fastest ever run indoors at W&M, and ranks him fourth among athletes all-time at the College. The win is the first indoor IC4A title since 2009 for the Tribe (Ian Fitzgerald '09 won the 1,000m), and Hardin is just the second man to win the indoor 5,000m along with Kevin Krause '94 (winner in 1991).

Read More

News: Loudoun County Regional Science Fair Seeks Judges

(March 8, 2012) - The Loudoun County Regional Science Fair, which will be held March 15, still needs judges in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Microbiology and Plant Sciences. Judges will need to be at Woodgrove High School near Purcellville between 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15.

To become a judge you need to apply by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 13. To become a judge, click here.

Baseball: Woodgrove's Reed High Honorable Mention Preseason All-American by Rawlings; Tuscarora's Dietrich, Stone Bridge's Mocabee, Woodgrove's Sarty HM Atlantic Region

Matthew Reed signing to catch at Clemson University

(March 8, 2012) - Rawlings Sporting Goods announced its annual Rawlings Preseason All-American and All-Region Teams to recognize the top 400 high school baseball athletes in the U.S., while also showcasing their abilities to collegiate and professional scouts. Among those selected was Woodgrove High School and Clemson recruit, catcher Matthew Reed, as an high honorable mention All-American and second team Atlantic Region.

Named to the Atlantic Region honorable mention were Woodgrove second baseman and William and Mary recruit J.J. Sarty, Tuscarora pitcher Tyler Dietrich and Stone Bridge pitcher Tyler Mocabee.

College Corner: Freedom Grad Meixandra Porter Dribbles Her Way to Another Postseason Honor

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio

Courtesy of NSU

(March 8, 2012) - Freedom High School grad Meixandra Porter has been selected to the Daktronics, Inc. All South Region Second-Team for NCAA Division II Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball.

Porter, a transfer from Colorado State, started all 28 games this season for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Sharks. She led the team with 14.8 points per game, which ranks second in the Sunshine State Conference. The junior also dished out a team-best 85 assists and tied for second with 45 steals this season.

Baseball: Potomac Falls Right-Hander Jackson Rogers to Pitch for Hampden-Sydney

Sterling (March 8, 2012) - Potomac Falls High School right-hander Jackson Rogers will pitch next year for NCAA Division III Hampden-Sydney College.

Last year Rogers was named the Region II Player of the Year and was an unanimous selection at pitcher for the Dulles District and second team all-district at second base. He pitched Potomac Falls to a 5-1 win over James Monroe in the Region II semifinals last spring to secure the Panthers a repeat AA state tournament bid.

Rogers struck out 113 in 90 innings with an ERA of 1.17 while finishing with a 12-1 record. At the plate he hit .357 with 23 RBIs and three home runs.

College Corner: Potomac Falls Grad Christina Lee, Loudoun Valley Grad Maggie Gutierrez Earn All-East Honors for William and Mary Track and Field

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio

Christina Lee
(Courtesy of William and Mary)

(March 8, 2012) - Potomac Falls High School grad and William & Mary redshirt freshman Christina Lee ran a lifetime-best for the second time in less than 24 hours to take 7th in the 1,000 meter run Sunday at the ECAC Track and Field Championships and earn her first All-East Honor in 2:52.47. The fourth-fastest athlete in school history in the event, Lee's time was the seventh-fastest ever run indoors at W&M.

Maggie Gutierrez
(Courtesy of William and Mary)

Another Loudoun athlete, Maggie Gutierrez of Purcellville, led off the All-East 4x800 meter relay team with a 2:17.2 split. The team went on to place seventh in 9:11.16, the ninth-fastest time ever run indoors at W&M. Gutierrez, a freshman, is a Loudoun Valley grad where she was a senior track captain.

News: Titans Athletic Booster Club Mulch Orders Due by Friday

(March 8, 2012) - The Dominion High School Titans Athletic Booster Club is holding a bagged mulch sale with orders due by March 9 and pickup/delivery on March 24. Free delivery with an order of 20 bags or more within five miles of Dominion High School. View the flyer and order form

College Corner: Stone Bridge Grad Derek Maltz Named BIG EAST Honor Roll for Syracuse Men's Lacrosse

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio


Courtesy of Syracuse

(March 6, 2012) - Stone Bridge High School grad Derek Maltz, Syracuse men’s lacrosse sophomore attackman, was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on Monday March 5, for his five-point performance in the Orange’s 14-10 loss at No. 1 Virginia. Maltz set career highs in goals (3) and assists (2) in the contest.

Maltz had a hand in all four of SU’s second-half goals against the Cavaliers. He scored three and assisted on one in the fourth quarter. He was also credited with an assist during a 5-0 second-quarter run that helped the Orange to 6-4 halftime advantage.

Maltz is the first Orange player to record a five-point game this season and he currently leads the team in both points (10) and goals (7). Read More on Derek Maltz

Boys Basketball: Potomac Falls Quest for Third Straight State Title Runs Out of Gas Against Christiansburg

(March 7, 2012) - The Potomac Falls High School boys basketball team surprise run for a third straight VHSL Division 4 state title appeared to be on track in Tuesday's semifinals as the Panthers led Christiansburg, 39-32, late in the third quarter. The Blue Demons, however, went on a 19-0, and became the first team in three years to beat Potomac Falls at VCU's Siegel Center with a 66-52 victory.

Christiansburg (27-2) had been dominated by Potomac Falls (21-9) in last year's semifinals by a senior-laden Panther squad but the tables were turned Tuesday as the Blue Demons returned most of their starters from 2011 including Virginia Tech football recruit Brenden Motley, who was 0 for 11 from the field a year ago, but Tuesday the senior cored a game-high 20 points with seven rebounds and played tough defense on Panther 6-foot-7 senior star Greg Graves.

The only starter back from last year, Graves scored just one field goal in the first half and finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five block shots. The double-double for Graves ended a brilliant 4-year career that saw him become one of the only players in state history to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds.

News: Viva Loudoun Seeks Part-Time Ad Manager

(March 6, 2012) - Viva Loudoun is seeking a part-time ad manager to sell advertising for the Loudoun-based website that is on pace for 2.5 million page views this school year.

The position is based upon commission with complete flexibility. If interested please contact Viva Loudoun publisher Dan Sousa at dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com.

Girls Basketball: R.E. Lee Wrecks Woodgrove's State Title Hopes

(March 6, 2012) - R.E. Lee (Staunton) High School never trailed Tuesday and ended Woodgrove's state title run with a commanding 58-34 victory at VCU's Siegel Center in the VHSL Division 3 girls basketball state quarterfinals.

James Madison recruit Angela Mickens scored a game-high 19 points and nearly had a triple-double (14 rebounds, 8 assists) while controlling the flow of the contest. 

Woodgrove (25-5), a second-year program with no seniors on the roster while Lee suited eight seniors, got in foul trouble early and Lee had a huge advantage at the foul line, shooting 39 free throws to Woodgrove's 17. The Wolverines had trouble against Lee's defense, turning the ball over 22 times.

Freshman Brooke Basinger came off the bench to lead Woodgrove in scoring with 11 points.

Boys Basketball: And the Purple Band Played On and On as Potomac Falls Back for 3rd D4 State Title Try after Milestone Saturday; Loudoun Valley Dream Ends

Greg Graves: 1,000+ career points and rebounds ... shows off his dunk-ability earlier this season

On the Sidelines with Dan Sousa

(March 6, 2012) - In this reoccurring dream I have, around March each year, I am sitting courtside at Robinson High School and the Potomac Falls High School boys basketball team is playing Tabb in a back-and-forth VHSL Division 4 state quarterfinal ...

I can see the Potomac Falls parents behind the bench screaming for their boys, and the Panther Pit student fans dressed in purple jumping up and down behind the basket chanting "I believe ... I believe ... I believe we will win" and there is Panther coach Jeff Hawes removing his jacket early making it that much easier for everyone to see him instructing his team with his emotions on his sleeve ...

And the players faces and names change ... except for that one constant ... Greg Graves ... And each dream ends the same with Potomac Falls winning and celebrating and at some point, back behind the big stage there is Hawes and Graves with a big embrace ...

Back in January when Potomac Falls had dropped four of five and was struggling at 11-7 overall it appeared the Panthers dream of a third straight VHSL Division 4 state title were just that ... a dream. And yet here we are again in March and the Potomac Falls Purple Band continues to play on and on ...

Yet another win over Tabb -- the third straight quarterfinal win vs. the Hampton Roads crew -- this time 63-58 with Graves, supporting a swagger of a mohawk haircut, and the game to back it up as he threw down 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks in the fourth quarter alone.

News: Super Tuesday! Polls Open Until 7 p.m. for Republican Primary

(March 6, 2012) - Polls are open in Loudoun County until 7:00 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, March 6, 2012, for voting in the Republican Presidential Primary election. Election results from Loudoun County will be posted online at www.loudoun.gov/election-spreadsheet. More information about the election is online atwww.loudoun.gov/vote.