By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Purcellville (February 12, 2017) – Woodgrove High School senior Mason Gryniuk has made a commitment to continue his football career at James Madison University beginning in the 2017-2018 academic year. “Outside of JMU being a great academic institution, the coaching staff and players at JMU are all about family. They made me feel like a part of their family prior to committing and that was one of the main reasons why I chose JMU,” the 6-foot-2 Gryniuk said. “JMU’s program is very much like Woodgrove’s program; it simply feels like home. And they…

Ashburn (February 5, 2017) — It’s not every day that one ventures to Antarctica, much less to run a marathon!  On March 10 and 11, 200 runners will tackle a challenging 26.2 mile or 13.1 mile course on King George’s Island. Local runner, Jodi Morton, will be departing in early March for the two-week adventure that begins in Argentina to board one of the Russian polar vessels that will be home for the 10-day expedition to the “last continent”.  This journey requires rigorous training as well as being properly prepared for the varying elements. “I have a group of girl…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Leesburg (February 3, 2017) – The rest of the gymnasts were finished competing. She had one event to go. All eyes were on her as she took a deep breath before the first of several tumbling passes in her floor routine. In front of a home crowd in Leesburg, Heritage High School sophomore Leah Trepal, not only had the pressure of being the conference-favorite on her shoulders, but also the weight of hundreds of eyes as she finished out the Conference 21B meet on February 1. After turning in top performance after top…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Ashburn (February 1, 2017) — The Tuscarora High School gymnastics team headed to Ashburn on January 31 in an attempt to defend their 2016 conference title. Led by all-around champion Claire Pettit, the Lady Huskies accomplished their mission with a team score of 139.325, outlasting Potomac Falls High School, to repeat as Conference 14 champion. “It feels even better than last year, because it means it wasn’t just a fluke,” Tuscarora senior Julia Thoppil said. “We actually have the skill, and we were able to do it again.” After narrowly escaping the Lady…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Leesburg (January 27, 2017) – In front of a home crowd in Leesburg, Heritage High School senior point guard Zach Garrett tallied a near triple-double as the No. 2 Pride knocked off the previously-undefeated No. 1 Loudoun Valley Vikings, 63-60, in a Conference 21B clash of the titans on January 26. “We really played as a team. We moved the ball great and shot the ball great,” Garrett said. “But, most importantly, we had the heart. We were ready for this game, ready for this moment.” This isn’t a new story. It’s been…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Ashburn (January 14, 2017) – Down three points with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, everybody in the gym knew who the ball was going to. But it didn’t matter. He had the answer. Then in a tie game 20 seconds later, everybody in the gym once again knew who the ball was going to. But once again it didn’t matter. He had the answer. The answer: Anthony Cooper. After trailing for the majority of the game, Broad Run High School turned to senior point guard Anthony Cooper when they needed him…