By Owen Gotimer LoCoSports Editor Sterling (Dec. 17, 2014) – As the halftime buzzer sounded during the boys edition of the Battle of Route 7 varsity basketball doubleheader featuring the Dominion Titans and Potomac Falls Panthers, the public address announcer asked everyone to remain seated for a special ceremony. On Aug. 28, 2011, United States Army Spc. and Potomac Falls High School graduate Doug Green (2006) of the 25th infantry division, 3rd battalion was killed in action at the age of 23 during his second tour in Afghanistan while in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

*Update (11/18/2015): Stone Bridge High School senior Jake Pehlke has officially signed his National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse Monmouth University. (December 14, 2014) – Stone Bridge High School junior Jake Pehlke has made an early verbal commitment to continue his lacrosse career at Monmouth University beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year. “I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to go,” the 6-foot-2 Pehlke said. “Now, I can focus on working in the class room and on the field.” On the field, Pehlke helped the Bulldogs to a 16-2 record in 2014 after winning the Potomac Group championship, 10-5, on May…

(December 10, 2014) – After leading the Division I Nittany Lions women’s soccer team to a No.6 seed in the country, Pennsylvania State University senior Whitney Church was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America first team. Church also earned Big Ten Defender of the Year honors. A 2011 Broad Run High School graduate, Church led a Nittany Lions’ defense which posted nine shutouts and allowed more than one goal only twice in Penn State’s 2014 campaign. Church started all 24 games for the Nittany Lions, logging a team high 2,106 minutes while scoring a goal and adding…

(December 6, 2014) – Stone Bridge High School junior Briana Alston has made an early verbal commitment to continue her soccer career at nationally-ranked Florida State University starting in the 2016-2017 school year. “After doing over 15 unofficial visits to UCLA, UNC, Boston College, UVA, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, Miami and several others – Florida State was the one that just felt right.  I loved the attitude of all the players, I immediately felt connected to the coaches.  Their style of play is exactly what I was looking for,” the 5-foot-10 Alston said. “The academics at FSU are strong and the…

(December 5, 2014) – Tuscarora High School junior Jena Calvitti has made an early verbal commitment to continue her softball career under veteran head coach Dee Conway at the University of Mary Washington beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year. “I chose Mary Washington for every aspect; the academics, the softball program and its location. The campus is beautiful and so are the facilities,” said the 5-foot-5 Calvitti. “Playing collegiate softball has always been a passion of mine, and coach Conway has allowed me to reach that goal. Coach Conway is a great person, and with her 20-plus years coaching for…

(December 2, 2014) – Tuscarora High School junior Courtenay Kaplan has made an early verbal commitment to continue her soccer career at Radford University starting in the 2016-2017 school year. “All of the hours of hard work and dedication and everything I have given up have all paid off,” the 5-foot-6 Kaplan said. “My parents made sure I had every opportunity to improve as a soccer player.” Kaplan will continue to work on improving her game before she makes the nearly 250-mile trek down to southwestern Virginia in the summer of 2016 noting one reason she chose Radford was because…