Bishop O'Connell senior Nicholas Patrizio was recognized at the Washington-area National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athlete Banquet held recently at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington. Patrizio was one of 19 area seniors honored for their academic achievements, contributions to the community, and football abilities. The organization's mission is to promote and develop the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academic excellence in America's young people. Patrizio's name will forever be enshrined as an award recipient at the College Football Hall of Fame, currently located in South Bend, Ind.
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Senior Receives Football Award
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Kika Toulouse '07 Signs with Women's Pro Soccer
Washington D.C. is one of eight cities to host a women's professional soccer team as a part of the newly formed National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). On the roster of the Washington Spirit, is 2007 O'Connell graduate and soccer standout, Kika Toulouse.
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Softball Team Featured on CSN
The O'Connell softball team continues its success on the field,defeating Northern Virginia powerhouse Stone Bridge, 3-0, earlier this month in a non-league game. With a record of 11-0 (6-0 in league play), they are ranked #2 in the Washington area, and have also moved up to the #2 spot in the nation, according to both the NFCA/USA Today High School Poll and the MaxPreps.com rankings. Jill Sorenson, from CSN Washington, filed a nice story on the Knights' pitcher-catcher duo of Tori Finucane and Jillian Ferraro which played recently during the evening SportsNet Updates.
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Lacey Jacobsen Named Head Cheerleading Coach
Bishop O’Connell High School named Lacey Jacobsen as its new head cheerleading coach today.
Coach Jacobsen has ten years of experience as a cheerleading instructor and judge. She performed and competed as part of the George Mason University coed cheer team, finishing in the top five each year at the UCA College Cheerleading Nationals. She was selected to cheer at the 2006 Men’s NCAA Final Four basketball tournament. From August 2009 to May 2012, Jacobsen was the head cheerleading coach and an assistant gymnastics coach at Langley High School in McLean.
Jacobsen earned her B.S. in Psychology and her M.Ed. in Counseling and Development from George Mason University. Since August 2012, she has served as a school counselor at Bishop O’Connell.
“We are very fortunate to have Lacey Jacobsen take over the reins of O’Connell cheerleading program,” said Athletic Director Joe Wootten. “She brings a wealth of knowledge from her previous experience that will benefit all of our student-athletes. Her experience, enthusiasm and her rapport with students makes her the choice to lead our program.”
For more information on O'Connell cheerleading, visit www.bishopoconnell.org/cheerleading.
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Softball Team Claims 10th Straight WCAC Title
Congratulations to the O'Connell softball team and Head Coach Tommy Orndorff for their 5-0 victory over St. Mary's Ryken in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship game this weekend. The Lady Knights were led by senior pitcher Tori Finucane, who threw a one-hitter, struck out 11 batters, and helped propel her team with a two-run triple, in a game that was delayed for an hour due to rain in the 6th inning.
"I've said before that we have the best pitcher/catcher combination in the country with Tori Finucane and Jillian Ferraro," said Coach Orndorff. "But our entire lineup has proven to be solid throughout the year. We've played some of our best softball over the past few days, and our success is due to a complete team effort."
“I could not be more proud of this team and the commitment of all our players," he added.
O'Connell entered the tournament as the #1 seed with a league record of 16-0, and advanced to the finals by defeating Bishop McNamara (14-1 in six innings) and Elizabeth Seton (7-1) in quarter-final and semi-final games earlier in the week.
Finucane was also named as conference Player of the Year. Other team members named to the All-WCAC 1st Team are: Jillian Ferraro, Amanda Ehlers, Hayley Metcalf, and Mary Burk.
Erin Sweeney and Shannon Murphy were named to the All-WCAC 2nd Team, and Olivia Giaquinto, Jenna Spille, and Alayna Kelly were named Honorable Mention.
Next up for the Lady Knights? The Virginia Independent School tournament begins this week. Go Knights!
See more about the WCAC title game:
The Washington Post - May 11, 2013
Arlington Catholic Herald - May 13, 2013
The Connection Newspaper - May 15, 2013
Find out more about O'Connell softball on their team page.
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Coach Cindy Walls Recounts Boston Marathon Experience
Cindy Walls coaches track and cross country at Bishop O'Connell, so it wasn't a surprise to most to hear that she and her daughter Katie '08 were part of the more than 25,000 runners participating in the 2013 Boston Marathon last month. It was her 17th Boston Marathon, but Katie's first. Waiting at the finish line was her husband, John Walls, along with other family members. The Walls runners had less than ten minutes left in this race and were savoring the final moments together, when they were told there had been an accident at the finish line. For them the race was now over, but they were frantically trying to get hold of their family members. The family shared their experiences from the Boston Marathon bombing with local papers and news stations when they returned safe and sound to the Washington area.
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Softball Team Claims WCAC & State Titles
Bishop O'Connell's softball team dominated Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division I state tournament play this year as they outscored the opposition, 30-0, en route to a convincing 9-0 win over Paul VI of Fairfax in the championship game. Just a week earlier, the Lady Knights claimed their 10th straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) title with a 5-0 victory over St. Mary's Ryken. For the first time ever, the DJO girls finished with 30 wins -- sporting a 30-1 record for the 2013 spring campaign.
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Rowing Team's Success on the Water
Crew season at Bishop O’Connell is technically in the springtime, but you can see members of the rowing team working out all year long to get ready for the big races in April and May.
Knights Win League Trophies
For this sport, the league championship event was held on May 11 at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association (WMIRA) meet on the Anacostia River.
To the delight of the O'Connell contingent, the Girls Varsity 4+ boat—Sarah Robinson (coxswain), Tess Heimerman, Julia Gorka, Margaret Dail and Madeline Banister—won the league trophy for their division.
On the boys side, the Boys 2nd Varsity 4+ boat—Kitt Rom (coxswain), Antonio Marrero, Blake Martin, Jack Sullivan and Collin Snyder (pictured left)—won the title in their respective division.
In addition to these two titles, the combined score of the Boys 2nd Varsity 4+ boat and the Boys 1st Varsity 4+ boat—Anna Parker (coxswain), Reider Grunseth, Arman Darui, John Bergin and Nick Petrihos—made the O'Connell boys the overall point champions of this WMIRA meet.
Stotesbury Cup
A week later the team traveled to Philadelphia to compete in the prestigious Stotesbury Cup, which attracts more than 5,000 athletes and 10,000 spectators from the United States and Canada to race on the Schuylkill River. For the first time in O'Connell rowing history, the school had a boat in the final round. The Boys Junior 4+ boat (Rom, Marrero, Martin, Sullivan and Snyder) had the fourth best time out of 61 crews in the time trails, and finished the championship race in 6th place.
The season is not quite finished for these rowers. Next up—the Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) national championship in Cherry Hill, N.J. on the Cooper River over Memorial Day weekend. Three O’Connell boats have qualified to row for the chance at a national title: the Girls Varsity 4+, the Boys Junior 4+ and the Boys Varsity 4x, a quad boat made up of the boys on the 1st Varsity 4+ boat.
“This team has really come together over the course of this year,” said Head Coach Kim Chavers. “We’ve seen some of the best times ever for many boats, and we were particularly thrilled that we had boats in the semi-final and final races at Stotesbury this year. Our rowers are young and we look forward to what the next season will bring.”
Pictured below (top photo): The girls team poses with their WMIRA trophy, with coach Joe Ledvina (back row, right).
Pictured below (bottom photo): The boys team poses with their WMIRA trophies, with Head Coach Chavers (front row, center).
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Sister Tracey and the DJO Baseball Team
Sister Tracey Uphoff, I.H.M. teaches Math and Chemistry at Bishop O'Connell. She also manages the boys baseball team and "keeps the book."
Recently, the Arlington Catholic Herald caught up with her and published her story.
CLICK HERE to read the article online.
Photo courtesy of Dave Borowski and the Catholic Herald.
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New Ice Hockey Coach Named
Bishop O’Connell High School has named Phil “Flip” Collins to lead the school’s ice hockey program as its new head coach.
"We are excited to have Coach Collins join our coaching ranks,” said O'Connell Athletic Director Joe Wootten. “His demonstrated passion for the sport of ice hockey and his commitment to the athletes and to their development will lead our program to new heights.”
For the past two years, Coach Collins has been a part of the coaching staff of the Ashburn Xtreme travel hockey program, most recently serving as head coach of the U16 #3 A team. Before moving to this area, he was the head coach for the Marple-Newtown High School hockey team in Newtown, Penn.
Coach Collins played prep school hockey in Massachusetts and New York, and then served as a player-coach for the Catawba College Club hockey team in Salisbury, N.C.
“I am looking forward to joining the Bishop O'Connell family and creating a culture with the Knights hockey program that will enhance the Bishop O'Connell experience for all,” said Coach Collins.
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Tori Finucane Named Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year
In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, the Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Tori Finucane of Bishop O'Connell High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade Virginia Softball Player of the Year. This is the second year in a row that Finucane has been honored with this award, and she is the second Gatorade Virginia Softball Player of the Year to be chosen from Bishop O'Connell High School. Former O'Connell standout, Kelly Engman, was honored in 2006.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Finucane as Virginia’s best high school softball player. Finucane is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award announced in June.
The returning Gatorade State Player of the Year--a 5-foot-7 senior right-handed pitcher--led the Knights (30-1) to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament title and the Virginia Independent Schools state championship this past season, both for a second straight year. Finucane posted a 26-1 record with one save, a 0.21 ERA and 341 strikeouts in 164 innings pitched. She allowed 40 hits and walked 31 batters with nine no-hitters, including five perfect games. At the plate, the two-time WCAC Player of the Year batted .554 with six home runs, seven triples, 45 RBI and a 1.054 slugging percentage.
Finucane has maintained a 3.63 GPA in the classroom, while serving as editor of The Visor and volunteering locally as a youth softball coach and mentor.
“Tori Finucane’s performance on the softball field is above reproach, both offensively and in the pitching circle,” said Frank Husson, head coach of Urbana (Md.) High. “Her numbers are a testament to her determination and demonstrate the results of her sound work ethic.”
Finucane has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball on an athletic scholarship at the University of Missouri this fall.
Read more at:
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Spring All-Met Recognition
Congratulations to the Bishop O'Connell athletes who were named to the Spring 2013 Washington Post All-Met listing.
Seniors Jillian Ferraro and Tori Finucane were named to the Softball 1st Team.
Three other O'Connell athletes were given Honorable Mention recognition:
Amanda Ehlers - Softball
Devin Nihill - Lacrosse
J.J. LaPointe - Track
"We are extremely proud of all of these athletes," said Athletic Director Joe Wootten. "In this very competitive area, this kind of recognition is especially noteworthy."
Go Knights!
Read the complete Spring 2013 All-Met listing in The Washington Post.
Watch a video feature and interview with Ferraro and Finucane HERE.
Pictured: Jillian Ferraro (left) and Tori Finucane.
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Arlington Better Sports Club Awards
The Better Sports Club of Arlington annually recognizes student athletes for conduct, dedication and character on and off the playing field.
At the Better Sports Club's 57th annual awards banquet held on Wednesday, June 5 at the Arlington Knights of Columbus Hall, seven O'Connell athletes were awarded trophies for their particular sports:
At the Better Sports Club's 57th annual awards banquet held on Wednesday, June 5 at the Arlington Knights of Columbus Hall, seven O'Connell athletes were awarded trophies for their particular sports:
Claire Crutchfield – High School Volleyball Sportswoman of the Year
Michael Curtin – High School Wrestling Sportsman of the Year
Meagan David - High School Girls Track and Field Sportswoman of the Year
Junior Etou – High School Boys Basketball Sportsman of the Year
Jillian Ferraro - High School Softball Sportswoman of the Year
Clayton Koch - High School Ice Hockey Sportsman of the Year
Tommy Schefer - High School Boys Lacrosse Sportsman of the Year
In addition to these student honors, O'Connell's cross country and track coach, Cindy Walls, was surprised and honored to be named the 2013 Arlington Coach of the Year.
"This was a great evening for celebrating sports in Arlington,” said Athletic Director Joe Wootten. “We were especially thrilled to see Coach Walls recognized in this way, and for our students who receive these wonderful honors. We are grateful to the Better Sports Club for celebrating local high school sports and the importance of good sportsmanship.”
Read more about this event in the Arlington Sun Gazette.
Pictured below (left to right): Jillian Ferarro, Michael Curtin, Meagan David, Clayton Koch, Cindy Walls, Claire Crutchfield, Tommy Schefer, and Junior Etou.
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Dance Team Rocks at Camp
The 2013-2014 Royalette Dance Team from Bishop O’Connell High School just returned from the Universal Dance Association Camp at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County with a new set of trophies, ribbons and valuable team experiences.
This O’Connell squad finished in the top spot with their home routine, receiving a blue ribbon evaluation and qualifying for the National Dance Team Championship in February in Orlando, Fla., which is televised by ESPN.
The team also received a Superior trophy as one of the top averaging teams based on individual team member evaluations.
The Royalettes were also awarded the Team Drill Down Award, receiving the highest team average in ribbon accumulation from daily camp drills. On the final day of camp, members of the team competed in the final drill down competition. Out of 150 dancers, the Royalette Dance Team had nine members left in the top 30, five left in the top ten, and three left in the top five. Daisa Harris ’14 took 4th runner-up, Thalia Falcon ’14 took 3rd runner-up, and Madison Rubley ’16 took 1st runner-up.
All-Americans recognition was awarded to Carina Falcon ’14, Sydney Parker ’14, Thalia Falcon ’14, Anna Keyes ’14, Daisa Harris ’14 and Bridget Heppes ’16. These members were invited to perform in the New Year's Day Parade in London, England.
Officers of the team were invited to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and the entire team has also been invited to perform during the halftime show of the Capital One Bowl.
“Camp is a wonderful opportunity for our returning members and new members to come together as a team,” said Coach Chrissy Salvador '95. “Coming off of a very successful season last year, these girls are determined to continue to raise the bar. I could not be more proud as a coach, and especially as a Royalette alum.”
For more information on the Royalette Dance Team, visit their web page at www.bishopoconnell.org/dance.
Pictured: Coaches Kelsey Timmerberg '04 (back row, far left) and Chrissy Salvador '95 (back row, far right) join the members of the 2013-2014 Royalette Dance Team for a photo with their trophies from camp.
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Hockey Program Comes Together for 3-Day Mini-Camp
It's a new era for the Knights hockey program with new head coach Flip Collins at the helm. But O'Connell hockey players didn't have to wait until winter to see what might be in store for the new team.
Last week, Coach Collins and his staff led 37 O'Connell players through a grueling three-day camp at the Ashburn Ice House in Ashburn, Va.
Led by seniors James Klein (Reston, Va.), Bogdan Dragacevac (Rockville, Md.) and Nicholas Blanchfield-Felice (Oakton, Va.), the Knights participated in news drills and conditioning sessions both on and off the ice. Juniors Luke Collins (Vienna, Va.), Tommy Meaux (Fairfax, Va.) and David Ahlstrom (Herndon, Va.) showed tremendous skill and scoring touch. Sophomores Robert Burnham (Arlington Va.) and Matt Klein (Reston, Va.), and freshman Zach Cosgrove (Fairfax) pushed the upperclassmen with high energy and positive attitudes. Goalies Pierce Douglas (a junior from Vienna, Va.) and Zach Hales (a sophomore from Sterling, Va.) provided much need strength between the pipes.
The mini-camp gave the players an opportunity to gel as a team and to familiarize themselves with the new coaching staff and team culture.
“I was impressed with the energy level and motivation of these players and feel extremely fortunate to be working with them," said Coach Collins. "Bishop O'Connell provides these talented students with a great education, and together we are building an unrivaled hockey experience."
A special thanks goes out to players from the Ashburn Xtreme Hockey Program who also attend and provided a great atmosphere and spirited competition.
Photo: Tommy Meaux (#8) drives to the net during one of the mini-camp scrimmages.
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Mandatory Athlete/Parent Meeting Moved to Aug. 27
There will be a mandatory meeting for all athletes (all sports, all seasons) and their parents on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
This meeting has been moved from an earlier date of Aug. 22.
Please make the time to attend this meeting which covers athletics department policies and philosophies. In addition, this meeting is also part of our athletics department's concussion awareness program.
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Cheerleaders Kick Off the Season
Earlier this month, the Bishop O’Connell cheerleaders attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) summer camp on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. The DJO cheerleaders joined with high school cheer squads from throughout Virginia learning new cheers, chants, dances, and stunts and finding ways to improve on the performances every day.
On the final day of camp, the cheerleaders participated in the Camp Champion Competition. Both the varsity and the junior varsity squads were awarded second place trophies, with the varsity also bringing home the “Superior Squad” trophy for earning blue ribbons during every night of evaluation
In addition, four varsity members and one JV member were selected as “All-American” cheerleaders by the UCA staff and have been given the opportunity to cheer in the London New Year’s Day Parade. Those selected for this honor were Julia Lisbeth ’14, Tori Van Horne ’14, Grace Young ’14, Katie Ward ’15, and Catherine Nguyen ‘16.
“UCA camp was the perfect way to kick off our season,” said cheerleading coach Lacey Jacobsen. “I was so impressed with each team member’s skill, attitude and work ethic. Being recognized for our achievements was certainly a highlight; however, our greatest achievement is the camaraderie that was built. This is a reward that will benefit them for the entire season.”
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Josh Trimble '11 Featured in Washington Post
Josh Trimble '11 is a red-shirted sophomore who walked on to the football team at Virginia Tech his first year, and is now making something happen as a scholarship player and linebacker for the Hokies. He is also the youngest son of the late Steve Trimble, who coached football at O'Connell from 1999 until 2011.
The Washington Post recently published a feature article on Josh and his family.
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Girls Soccer Preview on MaxPreps
The Bishop O'Connell girls varsity soccer team is coming off an extremely successful season that took the Lady Knights to the conference championship game, and saw Coach Alberto Starace named as Regional Coach of the Year.
The team was recently featured as a national-ranking contender on the MaxPreps web site.
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Local Press Covers Football Home Opener
The Bishop O'Connell varsity football team played its first home game of the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 as they took on Paul VI on McMurtrie Field in a non-conference game.
The Knights dominated on both sides of the ball for all four quarters, shutting out the Panthers with a final score of 41-0. Read more from local media...
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