<b>Cudas Third</b>
The Commonwealth Cudas’ 13-14-year-old boys’ 200-meter freestyle relay team of Paul Betzold, Nick Bynum, James Rowan and Jared Steen finished third at the Northern Virginia Swim League’s All-Star Relay Carnival on July 15 with a time of 1 minute, 54.29 seconds.
The Cudas are coached by Betzold’s older sister, Amanda Betzold, who graduated from Robinson Secondary School and is currently a sophomore at James Madison University.
Commonwealth boasts other familial aspects, too. Both Nick Bynum and his brother, Joe Bynum, share swimming lanes. So do the Steen brothers. Stuart Steen, the oldest brother, is a coach on the team while the youngest brother, Ethan Steen, swims for the Cudas as well.
Information on Commonwealth, which will host Raft Night on Aug. 5, can be found at www.csc-cudas.com.
<b>Softball Tryouts</b>
The Virginia Patriots, a fastpitch softball team made up of high school-age girls, will conduct tryouts for its 2009-10 team on Aug. 15-16 at Falls Church High School. Both tryouts will be from 2-4 p.m. Prior to attending, call or e-mail coach E.J. Thomas so an information packet can be prepared. Contact coach Thomas at ejt1609@aol.com or 703-255-2613.
<b>Honoring Lopynski</b>
Robinson Secondary School will host a 5K race called “Run for Ryan” Aug. 1, at 9 a.m. The event was named for Ryan Lopynski, a 2008 Robinson graduate who died on April 26, 2009 during his freshman year at Virginia Tech. It’s designed to raise money for a scholarship and to honor Lopynski. Cost of participation is $25 and registration is available on the day of the race.