WAHS ATHLETICS

As we head into another exciting week of competition, we’re proud to celebrate the achievements of our dedicated student-athletes and share important updates from the Athletic Department.

In this edition, you’ll find:

• Senior Spotlights
• Recaps of last week’s highlights
• A look ahead at upcoming games and events .
• Spring sports details

Thank you for being a part of Western Albemarle Athletics, where sportsmanship, teamwork, and pride define our community. Let’s keep the Warrior spirit strong at every game and competition!

Go Warriors!

Lucy Nicholson has been a dedicated 4-year member of the Western Albemarle swim team. A team captain in her senior year, she holds the school record in the 500-yard freestyle and was a key contributor to the 2024 state championship team.

Beyond swimming, Lucy maintains a 4.5 GPA, is a National Honor Society member, and has consistently earned a spot on the honor roll. She gives back to her community through volunteer work at Crozet Fellowship Church, National Honor Society events, and by assisting in a kindergarten classroom.

Lucy would like to thank her parents, siblings, friends, teammates, and all the inspirational coaches she has had over the years for their unwavering support. Her pre-race ritual includes wiping her goggles at least three times before diving in. One of her most memorable moments was when Travis shaved his head in the bathroom of the hotel before states during her sophomore year.

Lauren Britt has been a dedicated member of the Western Albemarle swim team all four years of high school, having started swimming at the age of 8. A three-time state qualifier, she placed 5th in the 100-yard butterfly at the Region 3C Meet in 2023 and was part of the 2024 state championship team.

Outside of the pool, Lauren is a member of the National English Honor Society and the Environmental Studies Academy. She stays busy coaching younger swimmers at Fairview and helping run her family’s franchise business, in addition to working as a sales associate at Monkee’s clothing store.

Lauren is passionate about giving back, volunteering on Sundays at her church’s Sunday school and participating in the Rivanna River cleanup for the Rivanna Conservation Alliance. She is grateful for the support of her parents, coaches Lauren, Lindsay, Erin, Adam, and Dan, all of whom have played a role in her journey.

One of Lauren’s favorite memories was celebrating Western’s state championship victory last year—heading to Wegmans as a team and sharing a special dinner and bus ride home filled with excitement and camaraderie. She cherishes the bond she formed with her teammates and the unity they felt in that unforgettable moment.

Her favorite quote, “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things,” perfectly reflects her appreciation for the experiences and friendships she has built throughout her swim career.

Swim & Dive

The Western Albemarle Swim & Dive team dominated the Class 3A state championships, with both the boys and girls securing decisive team victories. This marks the eighth consecutive and ninth overall title for the boys, while the girls claimed their second straight and tenth overall championship. The girls were led by Harper Stone, who won the state diving title, with strong contributions from Madison Anderson (4th), Jourdan Prevete (5th), and Caitlin Bernard (7th). In the pool, freshman Meghan Ayres captured the 500 Freestyle state title and added a third-place finish in the 200 Individual Medley. Lily Phillips placed second in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle, setting a new team record in the latter. Eliza Osada earned runner-up in the 200 Freestyle and placed third in the 100 Butterfly. The 200 Freestyle Relay team of Osada, Gigi Hathaway, Molly Streit, and Phillips won the state title while breaking the school record, and the 400 Freestyle Relay team of Ayres, Osada, Phillips, and Lucy Nicholson also claimed a state championship.

The boys continued their dynasty with dominant performances across the board. Jack Hathaway was a double state champion, winning the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Breaststroke, where he set both a school and Class 3A state record. Sam Bledsoe was the state runner-up in the 50 Freestyle and placed third in the 100 Backstroke, while Richard Wang secured third-place finishes in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly. Ben Tungate added a runner-up finish in the 500 Freestyle and placed fourth in the 200 Freestyle. In diving, Oliver Wray placed fifth and George Novey finished ninth. The boys swept all three relays, highlighted by the Medley Relay team of Bledsoe, Hathaway, Charlie Alexander, and Wang, which set a new Class 3A state record. The 200 Freestyle Relay team of Tungate, Eli Rutherford, Zach Fisher, and Alexander, along with the 400 Freestyle Relay team of Bledsoe, Jacob Cohen, Wang, and Hathaway, also claimed state titles. Congratulations to all the swimmers, divers, and coaches on another historic championship performance!

Track & Field

The Western Albemarle Track & Field teams delivered outstanding performances at the Class 3A state championships at Liberty University, with the boys finishing as state runner-up and the girls placing third overall. Leading the boys’ team, Anders Felts captured the state title in the 500-meter dash and secured runner-up in the 300-meter dash, while Connor Rittenhouse added a third-place finish in the 500-meter dash. Pole vaulters, Charlie Strobach and Ollie Witherow finished 5th and 6th respectively. The 4x400-meter relay team of Rittenhouse, Hery Kimbrough, Nathan Peterson, and Henry Rowland also contributed to the team’s success with a third-place finish.

On the girls’ side, Raina Fitzwater claimed the state championship in pole vault, and the 4x400-meter relay team of Julia Hill, Lilly Jamison, Jordan Henderson, and Camille Love not only won the state title but they also set a new state and school record. The 4x200-meter relay team of Julia Hill, Maddie Hill, Emmy Williams, and Jordan Henderson also broke the school record while earning a runner-up finish. Camille Love placed second in the 500-meter dash, while Evie Woodrow (pole vault) and Caroline Pearson (high jump) each secured fourth-place finishes. Emerson Ritter had a strong meet, finishing seventh in the 1000-meter and eighth in the mile, and the 4x800-meter relay team of Ritter, Leanne Hodgson, Louise Foster, and Zoey Downer placed fifth. Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches on an incredible state meet!

Wrestling

The Western Albemarle wrestling team wrapped up a strong season with a competitive showing at the VHSL Class 3 State Championships. Isaiah Erkel and Quinn Fusco faced two of the top wrestlers in the state in their opening matches, battling hard but coming up short. Will Grisdale showed resilience, fighting through the consolation bracket after an early loss before being eliminated. Senior Cole McGinty started strong with a first-round victory, then fell to an opponent from Skyline, who went on to win the state title. Cole rebounded to finish 4th overall in his weight class, capping off an impressive high school career. It was a great season for the Warriors, filled with hard work and determination on the mat.

Boys Basketball

The Western Albemarle boys' basketball team had a thrilling week in the Region 3C tournament, securing a spot in the state playoffs. The Warriors opened with a 65-42 quarterfinal win over Monticello, fueled by a 17-2 opening run and 18 points from Jack Castner and strong play by Gray Clifford off the bench. In the semifinals, Western edged out Liberty Christian 57-56, with clutch free throws from Castner, strong performances from Aaron Rochman, Jake Jeronimous, and Sam Seaborn, and lockdown defense by Dillon Bergert to punch their ticket to the state tournament. In the region final, the Warriors fought back from an early deficit but ultimately fell to Spotswood.

In the first round of the Class 3A State Tournament, the Warriors lost lost to an incredibly talented Northside team on their home floor. The Warriors end their season with a 19-7 record!

Girls Basketball

The Western Albemarle girls' basketball team had an exciting week in the Region 3C tournament, securing a spot in the state playoffs. They opened with a dominant 71-38 win over Alleghany in the quarterfinals, fueled by Maggie Camblos’ 28 points and lock down defense by Ellie Klaff-Laymon. In the semifinals, the Warriors battled through overtime to defeat East Rockingham 46-39, earning their state tournament bid behind Taylor Florin’s HUGE double-double (18 points, 16 rebounds). The region championship game was a tough 46-34 loss to Spotswood, but Emma Schmitz led with 13 points, and the team is now focused on the next challenge.

In the the first round of the state tournament, the Warriors lost to the top-seeded team from Lord Botetourt. The Warriors end their season with a 20-6 record.

Disclaimer: The information in the team updates section is gathered from coaches and others associated with each program. If you notice missing or incomplete details, please reach out to the team directly to ensure all accomplishments are recognized.

Thursday (3/6)

- Varsity Baseball at Wilson Memorial @ 6:30PM - RESCCHEDULED FOR 3/7 @ 5:30

- Varsity Softball at Wilson Memorial @ 6:30PM - RESCCHEDULED FOR 3/7 @ 5:30

- JV Softball at Home vs. Wilson Memorial @ 6:30PM - RESCCHEDULED FOR 3/7 @ 5:30

- JV Baseball at Home vs. Wilson Memorial @ 6:30PM - RESCCHEDULED FOR 3/7 @ 5:30

- JV & Varsity Boys Soccer at Jefferson Forest (5:30 / 7:00PM)

Saturday (3/8)

-Varsity Girls Soccer at Blacksburg (All Day)

- Varsity Girls Tennis vs Midlothian & Douglas Freeman @ WAHS

Warrior Nation, it’s time for spring sports season! Tryouts and practices begin this week (for most teams), so make sure you have all necessary forms completed and are ready to go!

For practice schedules and coach contact information, check out the link below:

Spring Sport Information

Let’s make it a great season—Go Warriors!

MARCH 5th - Spring Sport Parent Meeting (6:30PM) (Originally scheduled for February 26th)

As we gear up for the Spring sports season, we invite you to our mandatory parent meeting in the cafeteria. This meeting is essential for all families with student-athletes participating in Spring sports.

We will cover important information regarding schedules, expectations, safety protocols, and our commitment to fostering a positive and supportive environment for our athletes. Your involvement is crucial to our success, and we encourage all parents to attend.

March 19th - Winter Sport Awards Event (6:30PM in Main Gym)

We are thrilled to announce the revival of our Winter Sports Awards Event.This celebration will honor the outstanding achievements of our teams and individual student-athletes from the winter season. Join us as we recognize their hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate our athletes’ accomplishments. We hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars! Tryouts and practices for Western Albemarle’s fall sports begin this summer on the following dates:

• Golf – July 28
• Football & Cheer – July 31
• Volleyball, Field Hockey, & Cross Country – August 4

If you have a conflict with your sport’s start date, please contact the head coach or Athletic Director Dan Bledsoe (dbledsoe@k12albemarle.org) as soon as possible. We’re looking forward to another great season—Go Warriors!

Warrior fans, we are incredibly fortunate to have a group of talented photographers who capture the excitement, energy, and dedication of our student-athletes. Their images (like the one of Jack Hathway swimming breaststroke shot by Luke Winters) not only showcase the hard work and passion in the pool, on the field, court, and track but also provide lasting memories for athletes, families, and fans.

These photographers generously share their work, making photos available for viewing and downloading. We encourage our community to check out their incredible galleries and show appreciation for their efforts.

Thank you to all who contribute their time and talent to documenting the Warrior athletic experience!

WAHS Sports Photography

Ron Wade of Crozet Gazette

Luke Winters Photography

Emmy Franklin Photography

Kai Fusco Photography

Scrimmage Play

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!