<b>Vienna Wildcats Win in Soccerfest</b>
The Vienna Wildcats placed first in the girls’ U-9 age group at the Mid-Atlantic Soccerfest in Poolesville, Md., on June 27. The Soccerfest is a four-on-four soccer tournament for youths ages 5-16 and adults within divisions based on age, gender, and ability. The tournament — designed to capitalize on a developmental program that MSYSA and VYSA have introduced to regional soccer organizations — is ideal because it enables younger players more opportunities to touch the ball than in regular games. The Wildcats put up a good fight and came out victorious, playing their best game of the season in the championship round.
<b>Site Determined</b>
Beijing had the 2008 Summer Games. Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Games and the 2015 World Police and Fire Games. They’ll be right here in Fairfax County. A group of Fairfax representatives from the police, fire and sheriff’s departments, Team Fairfax recently learned that it was awarded the right to host the event, which will include events at George Mason University, the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, various regional parks, the National Mall, Nationals Park, Reston Town Center and Quantico Marines Corps Base. In its 30th year of existence, the WPFG brings together participants from more than 65 countries, and the event has been going on since 1985. This year will coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Fairfax Police Department. The WPFG include over 60 different sporting events, which range from soccer, basketball and tennis to stair climbing, shooting and SWAT exercises.
<b>Lange Booked</b>
After headlining the previous seven professional boxing shows at George Mason University’s Patriot Center, Great Falls native and Bishop O’Connell graduate Jimmy Lange will return to Fairfax on Saturday, Sept. 26 to defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. National Boxing Championship (USNBC) 154-pound title against Jonathan Reid. Lange is familiar with Reid, too, as both spent time on NBC’s “The Contender,” a reality boxing show. Lange (30-3-2, 21 KOs) and Reid (34-11, 19 KOs) will meet in the card’s 12-round Main Event. Tickets, which range in price from $30-$500, are available at the Patriot Center box office and through all Ticketmaster outlets. Lange last appeared at Patriot Center in May, scoring a fifth-round TKO of Frank Houghtaling.
<b>Joseck Shines</b>
Hanna Joseck of the U-16 NOVA Blaze Blue was recognized as a Player of the Game at the 2009 Fast Nationals (fastpitch softball tournament) in Ocoee, Fla. Players of the Game are chosen by the opposing team’s coaching staff. The Fast Nationals tournament brings the top travel softball teams and players in the country to one venue, where teams compete to become the 2009 Fast National Champions.