<b>BI’s Irwin, Tela Sign Letters of Intent</b>
Bishop Ireton senior lacrosse players Madeline Irwin and Janet Tela signed national letters of intent to compete at Division I programs starting in the fall of 2010. Irwin will attend the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, while Tela will attend the University of Connecticut.
Bishop Ireton finished the 2009 season ranked No. 25 in the nation with a 19-4 overall record, advancing to the finals of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and Virginia Independent School state semifinals. Last season’s team also posted a collection of awards and accolades including four All-Americans, five Academic All-Americans, six All-Area, three first-team All-State, six first-team All-WCAC and three second-team All-WCAC. Bishop Ireton also sent five players to the US Lacrosse Women’s Division National Tournament. The Cardinals return nine players in 2010, including seven seniors and open the season at home against St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes on March 17.
<b>T.C. Boys Lose Season Opener</b>
The T.C. Williams boys basketball team lost its season opener to Hayfield, 57-49, on Tuesday at Hayfield Secondary School. Billy Rowland led the Titans with 21 points, and Ryan Yates finished with 14.
T.C. Williams head coach Julian King said Rowland was whistled for three fouls in the first half and the Titans started falling apart when Rowland was called for his fourth midway through the third quarter. The coach added losing early in the season is a wake-up call for his players that opponents are going to give their best effort against T.C. Williams.
The Titans host Patriot District opponent West Springfield at 7:45 p.m. on Friday. T.C. Williams has not lost a district game since the 2004-05 season.
<b>Boys Basketball Doubleheader Rescheduled</b>
The Parker-Gray Memorial boys basketball doubleheader was rescheduled for Dec. 19 at T.C. Williams High School. Annandale and Norview will face off in the 6 p.m. opener before T.C. Williams hosts Kecoughtan and former Titans head coach Ivan Thomas at 8 p.m.
<b>Titans Wrestling Sits at 2-2</b>
The T.C. Williams wrestling team defeated James Madison, 49-24, and lost to Potomac Falls, 54-21, on Saturday at Potomac Falls. On Dec. 2, T.C. Williams defeated Wakefield, 46-26, and lost to Washington-Lee, 45-31.
The Titans competed against Mount Vernon on Wednesday. Results of the meet were not available at the Gazette Packet’s deadline. The Titans will compete at the NOVA Classic Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Fairfax High School.
<b>Saints swim teams have strong showing</b>
The St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes boys swim team defeated Sidwell Friends 113-52 on Dec. 3. Standout performances included sophomore Joe Lindsay in the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle. He placed first in both events. Sophomore Ferrel Atkins had another solid meet placing first in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. Senior Parker Davis proved his versatility by turning in an upset performance and taking first place in the 100 butterfly. In diving, senior Robbie Long dominated the competition and placed first. Senior diver Robbie Hyatt participated in the 200 free relay and posted one of the fastest splits of the night.
The St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes girls swim team continues to improve as it posted big time drops from the first meet. Although the team lost with a score of 110-77, there were many notable performances. Freshman Marian Shaw found her event in the 50 freestyle and placed second with a time of 27.95 seconds. Junior Rachel Movius cruised to first place in the 100 freestyle. Senior Taylor Bono dropped six seconds off her 100 fly time in the previous meet and placed second in that event. The divers had a good night with freshman Kelsey Stowers, sophomore Cristina Thompson and senior Sarah Mathiesen placing second, third and fourth, respectively.
<b>Sports Club meeting Tuesday</b>
The Alexandria Sportsman’s Club will hold its December meeting on Tuesday at the Old Dominion Boat Club. The guest speaker is Thom Loverro of the Washington Times. Social hour begins at 7 p.m. and the meeting begins at 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and free food and beverages will be served.
<b>Avengers open season Saturday</b>
The Alexandria Avengers, a semi-pro basketball team and member of the Eastern Basketball Alliance, open their season at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Newark Patrons at Mount Vernon High School. The team is owned and coached by 1997 T.C. Williams graduate Dominic Manuel.
<b>Cheerleading Exhibition</b>
The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will host the Annual City-Wide Cheerleading Exhibition on Saturday at T.C. Williams High School beginning at 11 a.m. The exhibition features cheerleading teams from Charles Barrett, Charles Houston, Cora Kelly, Mount Vernon, Nannie J. Lee, Patrick Henry and William Ramsay Recreation Centers. There will also be special performances by the T. C. Williams High School cheerleaders and others.
The exhibition features teams in three divisions: the pee wee, junior varsity and varsity divisions. Teams will display their skills and enthusiasm as they prepare for the main event, the cheerleading competition, in April of 2010. The April competition will be an invitational event with teams from the Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland areas competing against the Alexandria teams.
Tickets will be on sale in advance of the exhibition at the neighborhood recreation centers as well as at the Lee Center Recreation Services Division Office now through 5 p.m., Dec. 10. Adult tickets for ages 13 and older are $5; youth tickets for 6-12 years are $2, and youth 5 and under are free. Tickets will be sold at the door for $6 for adults and $3 for children.
For more information on the cheerleading program and other youth sports programs, call the Youth Sports Office at 703-746-5402.
<b>Winter Box Lacrosse Registration</b>
The Beltway Box Lacrosse League is registering now for a boys high school and youth winter box lacrosse program beginning Dec. 19. Games will be played in Alexandria at the in-line hockey rink behind Francis C. Hammond Middle School. Divisions are boys high school varsity and JV and youth U-9/U-11, U-13, and U-15. A seven-game season is planned. US Lacrosse membership is required. Information is available at www.BeltwayBoxLacrosse.com.
<b>MVHS dinner and auction approaching</b>
Mount Vernon High School Girls Basketball 11th Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on Dec.19. Tickets are $5. See a student athlete from the girls basketball team or contact Terry Henderson at 703-619-3146 or Terry.Henderson@fcps.edu.
<b>Saints swim teams win big</b>
The St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes boys and girls swim teams won by wide margins over Edmund Burke on Tuesday. The girls team won with a score of 118-35 and placed first in every event. Standout performances included junior Rachel Movius in the 500 free and 100 breaststroke. She earned state qualifying times in both events. Other first place performances were turned in by freshmen Kelin Baldridge, Marian Shaw and Lizzie Beane and Senior Laura Goff.
The boys team won with a score of 124-34. Sophomore Ferrel Atkins and junior Conor MacNair qualified for States in both the 200 I.M. and 100 backstroke. Freshman Lucas Jennings also qualified for states in 100 backstroke. Other standout performances included sophomore Luke Frerichs in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, senior Parker Davis in the 50 freestyle and senior Matt McLean in the 500 freestyle.