(October 9, 2015) – In an effort to better recognize student-athletes in Loudoun County who exemplify the values classmates, coaches, spectators, officials, families and friends look for in teammates, the LoCoSports team has selected its September 2015 Teammates of the Month for cross country, football and volleyball.
The selections were made based on the following criteria: selflessness, hustle, work ethic, attitude, team-first mentality, spirit and heart.
If you wish to nominate a student-athlete for athlete or teammate of the month, please reach out through our contact form or email us at locosportsnews@gmail.com.
By Joe Skinner
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Nominated by Tony Pham
One of the hardest things to do in sports is to stay focused when you are not in the midst of the action, and when she is ready to be sent on the court, Park View High School sophomore Hyasmine Briones exemplifies this standard on the daily.
“She’s always there for her teammates, even when she’s on the sidelines,” Park View assistant coach Tony Pham said. “She’s always ready to be put in when it’s time for her to go in. [She] has a great attitude on and off the court even when we’re leading or falling behind on points.”
Briones is always there for her teammates — in good times and bad times — as Pham points out. Especially as a sophomore, when Briones’ coach is saying how she has a first-team mentality, she is a major cog in the wheel that turns the Patriots volleyball team.
“[Briones] puts everyone [before herself]by always motivating them in any way possible whether it’s game situations or practice,” Pham said.
By Spencer DuPuis
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Nominated by Hunter Jackson
On September 25, senior defensive back Marcos Pierce and the Loudoun Valley Vikings beat the Dominion Titans, 26-13, in Purcellville to improve their record to 3-2.
“Marcos does everything to improve his craft,” Loudoun Valley head coach Anthony Long said. “[He] wants nothing more than the team to be successful.”
With four interceptions on the season – including a pick six against Rock Ridge – Pierce’s team first mentality is evident by his ability to encourage his teammates even when the ball isn’t thrown his way.
“If he doesn’t get thrown at, he doesn’t care or if someone else makes a great play, he is more excited than when he makes a play,” Long said.
By Owen Gotimer
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Consistent team encouragement and improvement is something all coaches, athletes and fans hope to see in great teammates, and Tuscarora High School junior Tucker Stuntz has provided just that for the Huskies cross country team.
“Tucker — like many of the kids on our team — wants to compete. What makes him special is, he tries to pull his teammates up with him,” Tuscarora head coach Troy Harry said. “During his race, you can see as he encourages other guys to go with him. He’s also the guy who is out on the course, screaming his head off for our kids, until the last one crosses the line.”
Opening at the Great Meadow Invitational, Stuntz (19:18) found his way to a 17th place finish in the Varsity B race with a time good enough to put him among the top 200 Varsity A finishers.
A week later, Stuntz (19:05) shaved 13 seconds off his season-best time to finish 15th in a varsity dual with Broad Run which he followed up another week later with an 11th place finish in a varsity dual with Stone Bridge.
Sandwiched in between the two local duals, Stuntz (17:46) ran the fastest time in the JV A race at the Monroe Parker Invitational on September 12.
In two of his latest meets, Stuntz has turned in a couple of his top performances on the season. On September 19, Stuntz (18:56) ran to a 40th place finish in the Varsity B race at the Oatlands Invitational before finishing 76th in the Pacers Running DCXC on September 26 in Washington, D.C. with a time of 18:47.
“Tucker’s team-first mentality is exemplified by his approach to practice,” Harry said. “He understands that he’s on the bubble for varsity, and it’s his job to push as hard as possible to keep our Top 7 honest. That’s a tough thing to do: being right outside our Top 7 and still being motivated to push himself and thus, pushing his teammates.”
