Sports

As the spring sports season comes to a close, many student athletes are beginning to fill their summer schedules with intense training sessions and practices.

Athletes discussed how summer training and practices do more than just improve general endurance and skills in a certain sport.

Freshman Jordan Light, a member of the girl’s varsity basketball team, plans on attending many basketball camps over the summer, both school-sponsored camps and outside camps such as Longwood University’s summer basketball camp.

With the continuing economic slump, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is doing whatever it can to make ends meet. Next year, in an attempt to work around the budget, athletes participating in school sports will be required to pay a $100 fee.

The county had two options regarding sports funding: either freshmen sports would be cut from the budget or athletes would face the mandatory payment.

Spring track and field competed at district and regional competitions this season, with seniors Brittany Johnson and Meara Goss qualifying for the 2010 VHSL Group AAA State Outdoor Championships.

Neither Johnson, who qualified for the triple jump, nor Goss, who qualified for shotput, actually competed at the State Championships. Johnson was injured, so she did not participate. Goss, on the other hand, went to prom instead of competing at States.

On the morning of May 20th, the day after the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) draft lottery, the headlines of newspapers around the nation were plastered with grand pronouncements, such as “Washington Wizards Win the John Wall Sweepstakes,” or even weighty questions like “Can John Wall Save the Wizards?”

After a successful season, softball went to the regional tournament but lost in the semifinals to Madison High School, which went on to win the Northern Region championship.

Coach Laura Campbell said that the season has been the “best season our softball program has seen.” Campbell believes that the players “played as a team and ...came through in big moments.”

Senior Michelle Tilson, who has committed to playing for St. John’s College for Division 1 softball, said that the team bonding “is what helped us the most.”

After a successful season, softball went to the regional tournament but lost in the semifinals to Madison High School, which went on to win the Northern Region championship.

Coach Laura Campbell said that the season has been the “best season our softball program has seen.” Campbell believes that the players “played as a team and ...came through in big moments.”

Senior Michelle Tilson, who has committed to playing for St. John’s College for Division 1 softball, said that the team bonding “is what helped us the most.”

After a successful season, softball went to the regional tournament but lost in the semifinals to Madison High School, which went on to win the Northern Region championship.

Coach Laura Campbell said that the season has been the “best season our softball program has seen.” Campbell believes that the players “played as a team and ...came through in big moments.”

Senior Michelle Tilson, who has committed to playing for St. John’s College for Division 1 softball, said that the team bonding “is what helped us the most.”

Leaving the support of their teams behind, the top four players from each of the boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis teams battled their district counterparts in the Liberty District singles and doubles tournament last week.

Seniors David Freund and Robbie Hayes advanced to the second round of the boys’ doubles tournament after beating South Lakes High School’s top doubles team in round one. Freund and Hayes were defeated in the second round of districts.

Senior Kelly Crider also won in her first match at the girls’ singles tournament and lost in the second round.

Varsity baseball played Stone Bridge High School at a game on Thursday and lost 6-0. The JV game meant to be the same day was cancelled.

Aside from this game, the team has shown a pattern throughout the season: a good defense but a poor offense.

“Our pitching is keeping us in games, but we’re struggling getting timely hits,” coach Joseph McDonald said.

The team strove throughout the season to become a better defensive team.

“We have improved on most flaws by improving our defense,” senior and captain Jake Bennett said.

The girls’ varsity lacrosse team won a close match against Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology on Thursday to earn its first victory in district competition.

The team also won on the road against Wakefield High School 23-0 on April 29.

Girls’ coach Nicholle Depaz said that to be successful in tournament play the team needs to “maintain possession on transitions.”

The team had won its last four games in a row with a combined score of 75-19 goals for and against.