Leesburg (September 17, 2016) – Loudoun Valley High School juniors Natalie and Peter Morris turned in the top finishes from Loudoun athletes at the Oatlands Invitational in Leesburg on September 17. Both of the juniors also ran the top times out of any Loudoun athlete this fall at the invite. Natalie (18:55) passed Tuscarora sophomore Ava Hassebrock (19:36) for the top spot in LoCo. Peter (15:50) improved his own top spot. On the boys side, the Loudoun Valley Vikings won the team title while the Freedom Eagles placed third out of 56 teams. On the girls side, the Tuscarora Lady…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Leesburg (September 14, 2016) – When your team opens up game one of a volleyball match on a 9-0 run, you can be pretty confident that you are in control. But on September 13, the Rock Ridge High School volleyball team found out the hard way that big leads can quickly vanish as Heritage High School upended them in the first game and eventually battled them  into the fifth set. The third-year Phoenix finally got the answer they were looking for when a Pride hit sailed out of bounds late in the fifth…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Purcellville (September 13, 2016) – High school teams do not have the same luxury that professional teams are sometimes granted regarding long-term roster consistency and team chemistry. Teams turnover on a yearly basis as seniors graduate, and the transition period can be taxing. While the Potomac Falls High School volleyball team is no different than other teams transitioning from the previous year, the 2015 VHSL 5A state runner-up lost two integral parts of their team from last season: head coach Linda Lachey-Helms and 6-foot-5 North Carolina-commit Holly Carlton. Yet first-year head coach Nick…

By Owen GotimerLoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Leesburg (September 7, 2016) – Sitting at my first high school field hockey game – the first varsity field hockey game in Loudoun’s history – I quickly realized I was outmatched. The sport was different and something I had only  seen once before – at the collegiate level – so my understanding of the sport was limited. At halftime, the umpire approached my photographer and me to see how we were doing. I told him that we were getting by but that a field hockey reference guide would have really helped in our reporting and learning…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Leesburg (September 3, 2016) – When a team loses a fumble on their first play from scrimmage, they typically give up and crumble. But, on September 2 in Leesburg, the Heritage High School football team bounced back, forced a turnover on downs on Fauquier High School’s ensuing possession after the lost fumble then went on to mount a second half comeback to defeat the Falcons, 21-12. “Obviously, in the first half, we made too many mistakes. We knew they were going to be a tough opponent; they were much improved from last year,”…

By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor-in-Chief [twitter-follow screen_name=’BigO_Gotimer’] Ashburn (September 1, 2016) – When the reigning VHSL 5A state championship team matches up with a team coached by one of the winningest coaches in Virginia State history, you know you are in for a night of excellent volleyball. On August 30, the Stone Bridge High School volleyball team – the 2015 state champions – and Woodgrove High School volleyball team – coached by legendary head coach Carmel Keilty – provided just that. While the Lady Bulldogs swept the match (25-21, 25-14, 28-26), the Lady Wolverines put up tremendous fight in both the…