WAHS ATHLETICS

Despite a rainy week that saw several games rescheduled and fields soaked, the Warrior spirit never wavered! Our teams adapted to the changes, and the outpouring of support from the community was incredible. Whether games were moved or postponed, you showed up in full force, cheering on our athletes and making this week a success despite the weather.

In this edition, we’ll recap the action, share new game dates, and highlight the resilience of our teams and fans. Thank you for standing by us, rain or shine!

Go Warriors!

Meet Addi Ritter (left), a dedicated varsity golfer who has played for six years, including all four years at Western. Off the course, Addi balances a part-time job at Chick-fil-A with being a Young Life leader for middle school students and an active member of FCA. Addi also enjoys volunteering at a barn in Nelson County, where they help with chores in exchange for the opportunity to ride horses on trails, although golf has recently taken priority.

Addi is thankful for the support of family, coaches, and friends throughout the years. One of Addi’s favorite memories is when the team went to states and bonded while staying in a hotel. Music is always part of the pre-game routine, with a playlist featuring Treaty Oak Revival, Luke Combs, and Chris Stapleton.

Addi’s favorite quote is John 13:7: "You might not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand," reflecting their faith and patience throughout their journey.

Elsie MacCleery (right), a standout golfer for the past 4 years at Western, has been playing golf for 12 years. Along with her athletic achievements, Elsie excels academically, serving as treasurer of the National Honor Society and a member of the Math Honor Society. She has also been elected as a class officer for three years. Her golfing accolades are equally impressive, having been named Virginia State Golfer of the Year in 2022, Central Virginia Player of the Year in 2024, and All-District Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2023.

Elsie’s passion for service is evident through her volunteer work at the Crozet Speech & Learning Center, where she supports children with special needs in group activities, and at golf camps for young children, introducing them to the sport in fun and engaging ways.

Elsie credits her parents for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout her journey. She has a special ritual of talking to her mom before stepping up to the first tee, which she believes always brings her good luck.

While winning back-to-back VHSL Girls State Championships in 2021 and 2022 was a highlight, her favorite memory is when WAHS won the State Championship in 2023, a victory that showcased the team's hard work and perseverance.

Her favorite quote by Gary Player is: "The harder you practice, the luckier you get," which sums up her relentless dedication to excellence both on and off the course.

Photo Credit: Luke Winters

Field Hockey Teams Shine Despite the Rain

The Field Hockey teams had an outstanding week, securing multiple victories. On Tuesday night, both JV and Varsity dominated Fluvanna, with JV winning 5-0 and Varsity triumphing 8-0. Varsity goals came from Sally Beights, Skyler Powell (2), Camille Love, Gigi Hathaway, Kelly Cummings, and McLean Stokes (2), while JV goals were scored by Perry Hume, Aggie Stokes, Amari Shah, Mira Mueller, and Wallis Hrabe.

The winning streak continued on Wednesday against New Kent, with JV winning 3-1 behind goals from Molly Nolasko, Cora Matzke, and Perry Hume. Stellar defense and goaltending by Stella Pearcy limited New Kent to just one goal. Varsity edged out a 1-0 win thanks to Camille Love’s goal and Maizey McCarthy’s standout goaltending.

On Thursday, Varsity capped off the week with a 6-0 win over EC Glass. Skyler Powell netted a hat trick, with Sally Beights, Jean Nika Van der Westhuizen, and Gigi Hathaway adding goals. Audrey Abrahamson and Hannah Ford also had tremendous performances, rounding out a fantastic week for the team.

Golf Team Wins Jefferson District Tournament & Does Volunteer Work

Western Golf dominated the Jefferson District end-of-season tournament, setting a new team record with an impressive 16-under-par finish. The standout performances were led by Elsie MacCleery and Joe Morinelli, both shooting stellar 67s, with Kennedy MacCleery close behind with a 68. Brady Toms and Addi Ritter also contributed to the team's success, each shooting solid 70s, securing Western Golf’s commanding victory.

Last Thursday, the Western Golf team supported Special Olympic golfers at Birdwood, giving back to the sport and the community. The team took time to encourage and engage with the athletes, further strengthening their commitment to both the game and inclusive participation. (Pictured below - Brady Toms giving a lesson on how to hit a sand shot)

Cross Country Competes Against the Best

The WAHS Girls XC competed in the East Coast ELite at Virginia Tech this weekend. The varsity girls came in second place out of 21 teams, led by Emerson Ritter's 6th place finish. Other top finishers were Leanne Hodgson, Zoey Downer, Lily Smith, Willa Gerlach, Juliet Kielbasa, Abbie APicella, Logan Juhl, and Anja Lehemensiek.

The JV girls swept the top 6 places of their race, finishing with a perfect score of 15. The team was led by eighth graders Sofia Montini and Maddie Fritts, coming in first and second in the race. Other top finishers were Cameron Huynh in 3rd, Ruby Carlson in 4th, and Daisy McCown in 5th.

The WAHS Boys XC also competed in the East Coast Elite meet this weekend. The varsity boys came in inth place out of 21 teams, led by Finn Smith's 26th place finish. Rounding out the scorers for the boys, Spencer Envall, Silvio Sicoli, Collin Kershisnick, and Charles Larson.

In the Boys JV race, Henry Bowman (1st), Deegan Gardner (2nd), and Max Alhusen (3rd) swept the podium for the Warriors.

Football Teams Battle Hard

Despite facing challenges last week, both the JV and Varsity Football teams showed resilience and determination in their matchups against Louisa. The JV team, adapting to a last-minute venue change to CHS due to weather, fought hard but fell short in a 31-0 game. Meanwhile, the Varsity team, also dealing with a schedule shift to Thursday, gave their all but were bested 40-0.

Volleyball Splits the Week

The Varsity Volleyball team secured a win against Fluvanna in 4 games, highlighted by Cassandra Zevgolis setting a season-high with 20 digs and Lilly Kate Simmers contributing 9 service points on just 13 attempts. In a hard-fought 5-game loss to Goochland, the match was incredibly close, with both teams earning the same number of points. Ava Hardy set a season-high of 43 assists, while Katherine Heilman delivered 16 kills on just 31 attempts.

The JV Volleyball team also split the week of games, falling to Fluvanna in 3 games despite Alli Thomas contributing 3 kills and Aniyah Sims adding 3 aces. They bounced back with a solid 2-0 win against Goochland. Key performances included Cecelia Karczewski with 4 aces and 5 digs, Harper Slate with 5 kills, and Jigisha Singh leading with 6 assists and 2 aces.

The Warrior Freshman Volleyball team kicked off their season with an exciting comeback win against Albemarle. After dropping the first set 18-25 and trailing 22-24 in the second, the Warriors rallied to take the set 26-24. Riding that momentum, they dominated the third set with a 15-8 victory. Clare Novey and Avery Wright delivered clutch serves under pressure, sealing the win.

GO WARRIORS!

Thank you to all our athletes, coaches, and supporters for another exciting week of competition. Keep up the hard work, Warriors, and let’s continue to make this season one to remember!

October 11th - Homecoming Football Game

October 19th - Homecoming Dance

November 8th - Night of Champions Celebration (rescheduled from 9/27)

• 2023-2024 State championship teams will be recognized at halftime of the varsity football game.

November 13th - Senior NCAA Signing Day 2024 - 2025

• National Signing Day is a day when high school student-athletes can sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play a collegiate sport for a NCAA school. The day varies by sport and is divided into an early signing period and a regular signing period. For example, in 2024, the signing day for Division I and Division II sports outside of football and basketball is November 13, 2024. We will also have a spring signing day for Division III student-athletes and late-signing Division I & Division II athletes.
• Please fill out this form if you are a senior who plans to sign a Letter of Intent on November 13th and plans to participate in this signing event

Please go to wahswarriors.com for out of season practice details for winter and spring sports. Also, please read the requirements in order to participate in out of season practices.

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!

Coaches, Students and WAHS Athletics Families:

You should have received an email from TSS Photography with a direct link to your child’s individual and team Fall sports photos (Please check your SPAM folder).
THE ORDER DEADLINE DATE FOR BEST PRICING HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 3rd!

If this was not received, you can use the link below to locate your child’s images and order prints and product through the TSS Photography website.

Click here to view Fall 2024 WAHS Athletics Portraits

All product ordered will be shipped directly to the purchaser.

Please contact TSS Photography with any questions or concerns. CentralVA@TSSPhotography.com or 434-973-2960