WAHS ATHLETICS

Welcome to the Western Albemarle High School Athletic Department newsletter! We’re excited to keep you informed about all things related to Warrior athletics. Our student-athletes are dedicated to excellence both on and off the field, and this newsletter is your inside look at their achievements, upcoming events, and stories of hard work and sportsmanship. From game highlights and season previews to athlete spotlights and important updates, we’re here to bring our athletic community closer together. Thank you for being part of the Warrior family and for supporting our teams.

Go Warriors!

Photo Credit:WAHS Sports Photography

This past weekend was a shining example of what makes our Western community so special. We are incredibly grateful to Cass Girvin, Charlie Hurt, and Alec Lorenzoni—all Western Albemarle alums—who served as meet organizers and directors for the Dogwood Track Classic, held Friday and Saturday at UVA’s Lannigan Field. This event is the largest and most presitgious outdoor high school track meet in the state of Virginia, hosted an astonishing 132 teams and over 2,500 athletes. Their professionalism, vision, and dedication helped create a first-class experience for high school athletes from across the region.

At the same time, Western hosted the second race in the Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League’s mountain bike series on Saturday. Coaches Allie Hill and Wayne Fusco of our own Western Mountain Bike team handled every aspect of event planning and logistics. Their work made it possible for over 600 student-athletes from schools throughout the state to compete in an all-day, well-run, and welcoming event right here on our home trails.

These five leaders gave their time, energy, and expertise—not for recognition, but because they care deeply about young athletes and their communities. It’s truly inspiring to see them create such impactful experiences and ask for nothing in return. We are so lucky to call them part of the Western family. Thank you, Cass, Charlie, Alec, Allie, and Wayne!

Ava Nauman - With an impressive 4.00 unweighted GPA exemplifies excellence both on and off the field. A standout leader at WAHS, Ava serves on the Executive Council, represents the school on the Jefferson District Sportsmanship Council, and rallies school spirit as one of the Crozet Crazies. As president of Champions Together, she helps build meaningful connections between students and peers with disabilities.

Ava’s passion for soccer extends into her community through volunteer coaching with Charlottesville Alliance Sports Club, where she works with children ages 3–9 and participates in the TOPSoccer program for youth with disabilities.

Ava attributes her love for the game to her father, who coached her in her early years and continues to support the team in countless ways. Her iconic #4 jersey is a tribute to his lasting influence.

Known for her game-day slick back bun and pregame anthem prayer with teammate Chloe Gates, Ava’s commitment and traditions reflect her deep dedication to her team. Her favorite memory? The 2024 season-ending pool party at the Pinto’s house — a perfect celebration of team, family, and fun.

Sadie Bruton has made her mark at WAHS as a dedicated and talented soccer player, who last year earned Region Honorable Mention honors and helped lead her team to a State Championship runner-up finish. Off the high school field, Sadie also competes at a high level with Skyline Elite Soccer Club.

Next year, Sadie will take her game to the collegiate level as she continues her soccer career at Lynchburg College. Known for her quiet determination and quirky sock superstition — always wearing her right sock on her left foot and vice versa — Sadie brings both skill and personality to every game.

When reflecting on her time at Western, Sadie cherishes the team lunch gossip sessions during a tournament weekend, a reminder that the best memories often come from the moments shared off the field. Her guiding words, “This too shall pass,” reflect the perspective and resilience that have defined her journey. Sadie extends her heartfelt thanks to her family and friends for their constant support.

Emily Schinstock has been a standout student-athlete at WAHS, balancing academic excellence with athletic success. A certified personal trainer and recipient of the French Academic Award her freshman year, Emily is also a dedicated member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and National Medical Honor Society. Off the field, she volunteers with the SPCA—helping animals find forever homes—and at Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, showing her commitment to both compassion and community.

On the soccer field, Emily’s leadership and talent have earned her Second Team All-District, Second Team All-Region, and All-Central Virginia Honorable Mention honors in 2024. Her favorite moment? Scoring the game-winning goal in the region finals to give the seniors one more home game — a memory that captured her love for her teammates and the game.

A pregame ritual involving a mixed berry Celsius and warming up to the right of teammate Ava Nauman speaks to the deep connections she’s formed on the team. Emily credits her mom for always being her biggest supporter, and she’s especially grateful to Coach Kristie, who has guided her since she was 11, both on and off the pitch.

Guided by the words “Live well, laugh often, love much,” Emily embodies the heart, hustle, and humility of a true Warrior.

Photos: Carlos Ibanez

Baseball: Two games this week for the Warriors - Against Albemarle, the Warriors jumped out to a fast 6–0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by a 2-RBI double from Odin Erickson. Despite being held scoreless the rest of the game, Western held on as Albemarle chipped away, cutting the lead to one in the seventh. With runners on second and third and no outs, clutch defense—including a rundown tag by Matthew Lapinski and a final groundout handled by Jack Parkins—sealed the 6–5 win.

On Thursday, the Warriors battled Louisa through eight tense innings to earn a 2–0 victory. At the plate, Jack Racicot broke up a perfect game in the 6th and on the mound, he pitched 6.2 strong innings giving up 3 hits and 1 walk. Smith Winslow earned the win in relief, striking out four and shutting down Louisa in the 8th. Western’s offense came alive in extra innings with an RBI double from Odin Erickson and key hits from Connor Nelson and Jack Parkins. Strong defensive plays by Will Huffmeyer and Jack Racicot helped seal the shutout win.

Crew: Congratulations to the WAHS crew team - they competed in 12 events at the Virginia State Championships regatta this weekend and placed in 11. The team brought home 3 third place finishes (girls senior quad, boys senior quad, boys junior single), 5 second place finishes (boys senior single, girls senior single, girls junior single, girls senior double, and girls junior quad), and 3 first place finishes with Charlotte Pelton and Faith Brown taking first place in the girls junior double, Thomas Lambert and Walt Donovan in the boys senior double, and Atticus Schomer, Mattie Kueter, Gary Shildkrot, and Jonah Venables in the boys junior quad. Congratulations to all rowers!

Boys Lacrosse: Two games for the BLAX teams this week. On Tuesday, both the JV (10-5) and Varsity teams defeated their cross-town rivals, Albemarle. JV won 10-5 and Varsity won 8-6. On Saturday, the teams battled Jefferson Forest. The games were highly competitive but in the end the Warriors fell short of the wins - JV boys lost 8-7 and the Varsity lost 12-10. Both teams are back in action on Tuesday at home vs. Orange County.

Girls Lacrosse: On Tuesday, the girls varsity lacrosse team delivered a commanding 17–0 win over rival Albemarle, showcasing both offensive firepower and defensive discipline. Shutouts are rare in girls lacrosse, but goalies Maizey McCarthy and Lily Spollen combined for six saves to keep the scoreboard clean. In a true team effort, all 17 goals came from 17 different players, with six players also recording assists. It was a night to remember for a squad firing on all cylinders.

The JV girls lacrosse team also earned a win versus Albemarle on Tuesday winning, 11-9. Aggie Stokes led the way by scoring six goals. She was supported by strong contributions from Anna Clifford with two goals, while Addie McNaul, Virginia Parrish, and Susie Dean each added one goal apiece to round out a well-balanced scoring effort. In addition to her goal, Virginia played a critical role in the midfield, leading the team in draw controls and helping to set the tone for possession throughout the game.

Mountain Bike: Western Albemarle riders delivered strong performances at the second race of the Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League series, held right here at Western on Saturday. In a highly competitive freshman boys field of 59 racers, Kaiden Baker and Nick Welsch rode to impressive 5th and 6th place finishes, respectively. On the girls' side, Louise Foster earned a podium spot with a 3rd place finish in the sophomore girls race, and Hazel Gillespie powered her way to an outstanding 2nd place finish in the JV girls competition.

Soccer (Boys): The varsity boys soccer team had a big week, starting with an 11–0 win over Louisa County, led by Parker Polk’s standout performance (3 goals, 3 assists). Keeton Rittenhouse added 2 goals and an assist, with additional goals from Daniel Sanchez, Michael Cleveland, Tommy Boyd, Ben Bergert, and Braden Clarke. Remy McDonald notched 2 assists in his varsity debut, and Peyton Webster secured the shutout. On Friday night, the Warriors earned a hard-fought 2–1 overtime win against EC Glass. Daniel Sanchez scored both goals, the first was on a throw-in from Jeremiah Nicholson and the OT goal was off a free kick from Parker Polk. Anders Felts came up big in goal—just hours after competing in the Dogwood Track Meet earlier that day.

The JV Boys Soccer team bounced back from a tough 3-1 loss to Albemarle with two dominant wins to close out the week. They defeated Louisa 6-1 with goals from Nolan Stype, Jacob Deaton, Scott Rozyn, Teddy Murphy, Ethan Madagan, and Noah Davis, and assists from Stype (2), Rozyn (2), and Murphy (1). The momentum carried into Friday’s match against E.C. Glass, where the team delivered a commanding 4-0 shutout. Scoring came from Davis, Maddox Jacks, Grant Pinson, and Madagan, with assists by Shane Patel, Beckett Kellum, and Madagan. It was a strong finish to the week, showcasing the team's depth and teamwork.

Soccer (Girls): The Western Albemarle Varsity Girls Soccer team showed resilience and growth this week, bouncing back from a tough 3–2 loss to Albemarle on Monday with a dominant 4–0 win over Louisa on Thursday. Against Albemarle, the Warriors struggled in the opening 15 minutes, falling behind early. Despite the rough start, they settled in and controlled much of the remainder of the match. Goals from Sadie Bruton and Reese Coggeshall brought the team within striking distance, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. The squad responded with energy and focus against Louisa. Linden Yates led the charge with a two-goal performance, while Coggs and Tori Huynh each added a goal to secure the shutout victory. The defense was solid throughout.

The JV Girls Soccer team continued its impressive run this week, earning two more shutout victories to extend its streak to five consecutive games (and eight overall) without conceding a goal. On Monday, the Warriors edged out Albemarle 1–0 behind a first-half goal from Edith Moak and strong defensive play throughout. Goalkeepers Zoe Paige and Charlotte Wood combined once again to keep the opposition scoreless. The team followed up with a dominant 8–0 win over Louisa on Thursday. Maeve Driscol notched her fifth goal of the season to lead the team in scoring, while Paige and Wood turned in another flawless effort in goal.

Softball: It was a busy week for the Warrior Softball teams as both the JV & Varsity played three games. The varsity Warriors went 1-2 on the week, shutting out Albemarle, 10–0 and losing to Louisa and Fluvanna. Aniyah Sims had a big week racking up 8 hits including a home run in the 3 games. Jillie Clark and Addy Hux also had big weeks at the plate. Pitcher Katherine Heilman was lights out aginst Albemarle, allowing just one hit over four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Lillie Boyle closed out the win with a clean fifth inning, striking out two. Against Fluvanna, Ava Hardy provided a strong relief effort in the circle, allowing just one earned run over 3.2 innings with three strikeouts.

The JV Warriors went a perfect 3-0 for the week. Pitcher Stella Wolfe was dominant in the circle, striking out 27 batters in the 3 games! Against Albemarle, Gwyn Davis had a standout day at the plate, driving in four runs on three hits—including a three-run homer. Kynlee Miller also homered in the game. The Warriors had 10 hits against Louisa, led by Brynley Clark and Kynlee Miller's two hits apiece. Against Fluvann, Kynlee Miller hit her 2nd homer of the week. Savannah Hankins and Piper Fronceck also added RBI hits.

Tennis (Boys): The boys varsity tennis team had a standout week, earning a hard-fought 6–3 victory over Albemarle despite missing key players due to illness and other absences. The team's depth and resilience were on full display as they stepped up to secure the win in a tough matchup. Later in the week, the team followed up with a commanding 9–0 sweep of Spotswood, showcasing dominant play across both singles and doubles courts. The two wins reflect the team’s grit, adaptability, and growing confidence as they continue to build momentum this season.

Tennis (Girls): The girls varsity tennis team continued their impressive run last week, notching two dominant 8–1 victories against strong opponents from Albemarle and Spotswood. The team showed focus, depth, and consistency across both matches, extending their winning streak and building momentum as the season progresses. Blythe Sturman, Iz Brann, Grace Zhang, Amanda Bilchick, Maddie Brann, Javiera Ferrer, Molly Nolasco, and Danielle Love led the charge. Their ability to take control of points early and apply pressure throughout each set was key to securing the team’s dominant results.

Boys Track: The Western Albemarle boys track and field team delivered a strong all-around performance at the Harrisonburg JV Invitational, earning multiple event victories and top finishes across the board.

Notable Performcances: Zach Salzberg won the 800m, Ethan Apicella took 1st in the 1600m, followed closely by teammates Luke Sullivan and Max Alhusen, who finished 2nd and 3rd. Reid Vagnetti placed 1st in the 110m hurdles and 2nd in the 400m. Cole Thomas claimed victory in the shot put and was runner-up in the discus (98-07). Derek Dong and Jack Woodrow went 1-2 in the pole vault. Joel Bird won the long jump. The 4x200m relay team of Cort Stakem, Joel Bird, Tony Agnello, and Sam Wooster took 1st. The 4x400m relay team of Bird, Vagnetti, Reid Green, and Agnello also placed 1st.

Girls Track: The Western Albemarle Girls Track Team—made up largely of 8th and 9th graders—put on a dominant performance to win the Harrisonburg High School JV Invitational.

First-place finishes included: Maddie Fritts in the 1600m, Ashley Rowland in the long jump, Angie Newsome in the 100m dash, Lia Zawacki in both the shot put and discus, Louise Foster in the pole vault, Hanna Seideman in the 800m, the 4x800m relay team of Maddie Fritts, Sofia Montini, Paige Lane, and Sophia Cook, the 4x200m relay team of Antonia Ferrer, Angie Newsome, Caroline Collins, and Ashley Rowland, the 4x400m relay team of Maddie Fritts, Sophia Cook, Sofia Montini, and Lily Zovko

Second-place finishes: Caroline Collins (tie) in the high jump, Louise Foster in the 800m, Sofia Montini in the 1600m, Hanna Seideman in the triple jump

Third-place finishes: Antonia Ferrer in the 100m, Allison Novey in the pole vault,

Fourth-place finishes: Lauren Luna in the 1600m, Paige Lane in the 800m, Ashley Rowland in the triple jump

Fifth and sixth place finishes: Lily Zovko (5th) and Ellie Winn (6th) in the 400m, Hanna Seideman (6th) in the long jump

This well-rounded effort across all events secured a team victory and highlighted the depth and potential of this young squad.

MONDAY: MAY 5TH

HOME

Boys Soccer (JV & Varsity) @ 5:30/7 PM vs. Orange

AWAY

Girls Soccer (JV & Varsity) @ 5:30/7 PM vs. Orange

TUESDAY: MAY 6TH

HOME

Boys Tennis @ 5:00 PM vs Orange

Boys Lacrosse (JV & Varsity) @ 5:30/7 PM vs. Orange

Baseball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Orange

Softball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Orange

AWAY

GirlsTennis @ 5:00 PM vs Orange

Girls Lacrosse (JV & Varsity) @ 5:30/7 PM vs. Orange

Baseball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Orange

Softball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Orange

WEDNESDAY: MAY 7TH

HOME

Girls Tennis @ 5:00 PM vs Fluvanna

AWAY

Boys Tennis @ 5:00 PM vs Fluvanna

THURSDAY: MAY 8TH

HOME

Girls Soccer (JV & Varsity) @ 5:30/7 PM vs Fluvanna

Baseball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Fluvanna

Softball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Fluvanna

AWAY

Boys Soccer (JV & Varsity) @ 5:30/7:00 PM vs. Fluvanna

Baseball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Fluvanna

Softball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Fluvana

FRIDAY: MAY 9TH

NO EVENTS

SATURDAY: MAY 10TH

AWAY

Track & Field @ 10:00 AM -Louisa

Crew (10th & 11th): US Rowing Mid-Atlantic Youth Champships - select boats (West Windsor, NJ)

Mountain Bike: RACE 3- BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL

Fall sports are right around the corner! Families interested in participating in Fall athletics at Western should start planning accordingly.

July 28th First Day of Practice

Golf - Darren Maynard - dmaynard@k12albemarle.org

July 31st First Day of Practice

Football - Michael Redmond - mredmond@k12albemarle.org

Sideline Cheer - Abigail Lassiter - a.wilson9708@gmail.com

August 4th First Day of Practice

Cross Country - Boys - Lindy Bain - lbainxc@gmail.com

Cross Country - Girls - Katie Pugh - kpugh@k12albemarle.org

Field Hockey - Krissi Dawson - kdawson@k12albemarle.org

Volleyball - Sean Meslar - smeslar@k12albemarle.org

The Charlottesville Blues FC are back for season two, promising another unforgettable experience for our Fox Den fans. Even though our home field is at CHS, we are the only summer sporting event that unites us all. As we like to say, "Where the town is the club, and the club is the town!" Let's rally together.

We're excited to announce that our season opener will feature our USL 2 Men's match on Saturday, May 10th at 7pm, themed HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT OUT. With Raising Cane's sponsoring the event, if the Blues score the first goal, we will distribute 500 BOGO gift cards to our Fox Den fans. It’s poised to be a fun and electrifying evening.

We’d like to offer free entry to any student proudly wearing their high school colors at our season opener.

Additionally, we encourage your marching band drummers to come and energize the stadium with their presence.

Lastly, for your family's newsletter, please see this graphic for a 50% discount on season tickets ($35 for an all-season pass) via your special code below.

Support our school and show your spirit! Visit our online store to browse a variety of school-related gear, from apparel to accessories. A portion of every purchase goes directly back to our school, helping to fund programs and activities that benefit all our students. Shop now and make a difference while looking great!