WAHS ATHLETICS

As we gear up for another exciting week of competition, we’re excited to showcase the achievements of our talented student-athletes and provide key updates from the Athletic Department.

In this issue, you’ll find:

• Senior Spotlights honoring the hard work and dedication of our Class of 2025 athletes.
• Recaps of last week’s action, featuring big wins and standout performances across multiple sports.
• Upcoming games and events to add to your calendar.
• Spring sports information, including tryout details and important deadlines.
• Thank you for your support in making Western Albemarle Athletics a community built on sportsmanship, teamwork, and pride. Let’s continue to bring the Warrior spirit to every game and competition!

Go Warriors!

Photo Credit: Luke Winters (@luke_winters)

Elinor James Smith (Right) has excelled as a multi-sport athlete at Western Albemarle, competing for both the varsity swim and soccer teams while maintaining a remarkable academic record. An AP Scholar with Honor, she has earned the National and Virginia Emergency Medical Technician Certification, the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and academic awards in Honors Chemistry and Honors World History I. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Honor Societies for English, Science, Math, History, and Medicine. She is also an active member of the We The People Club and Medical Careers Club. Beyond academics and athletics, James is dedicated to service, volunteering with the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.

She extends her gratitude to her parents for their unwavering support, sacrifices, and encouragement that helped her achieve her goals. One of her most cherished memories is having the opportunity to swim alongside both of her brothers, valuing the bond they shared through athletics at Western.

A standout competitor, James has been a multi-event qualifier for the state swim meet, she was named Most Valuable Player for JV Soccer in 2022 and 2023, and earned Most Improved Swimmer in 2022.

James embraces the philosophy of Coach Herb Brooks: "Great moments are born from great opportunities."

Reagan Weathers (left) has been a dedicated member of the Western Albemarle swim team for the past two years, bringing both talent and enthusiasm to the program. Outside of the pool, she is the head editor of Myriad, the school’s literary magazine, a board member for the National Art Honor Society, and an active member of her church youth group. She has also given back to her community by volunteering at her church and at the Crozet Arts Summer Camp.

Reagan extends her gratitude to Coach Reinhard and Coach Dan for encouraging her to join the swim team, calling it one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Some of her favorite memories include helping design and create posters for Senior Night, driving Mady and Cordelia to school after practice, watching the divers at the Woodbury meet, and, of course, team breakfasts!

Reagan's favorite saying is, "Live in the moment and be kind :),"

A huge shoutout to our WAHS Fanatics and Crozet Crazies leaders (pictured at the top of the page from left to right) Cooper Shelton, Skyler Powell, Ava Nauman, and Dillon Bergert (who is not pictured because he was playing in the varsity game) for their incredible dedication this year! This group coordinates events with administration, organizes weekly game-day themes, they run our social media, at the game they are up front leading cheers, and they even stay after to clean up. Their hard work has helped create an unrivaled student section that is recognized by opposing teams, coaches, and athletic directors. Thank you for bringing the energy and making every game unforgettable!

Western Diver Jourdan Prevete (photo credit - @WAHS_ SportsPhotography)

Wrestling

On Wednesday, Western defeated Charlottesville High School on Senior night, 54-30. Seniors Cole McGinty, Will Grisdale, and Ian Marshall all won their matches against the Black Knights. Overall the team finished 11-9 in dual competitions and in 4th place in the Jefferson District. The Warriors will be back in action on Wednesday night in the Region 3C Qualifier.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Western Albemarle boys basketball team dominated the competition this week, securing three big victories with strong team play and defensive intensity.

On Tuesday, the Warriors took down Fluvanna 68-38, fueled by a balanced scoring effort. Aaron Rochman and Davis Winters each tallied 12 points, while Jack Castner added 11 and Sam Seaborn chipped in 10.

On Friday, Western cruised past Goochland 59-24, using a well-balanced offensive attack and relentless defense to shut down the Bulldogs.

The Warriors capped off the week with a 56-44 win over Monticello on Saturday. Jack Castner led the way with a dominant performance, scoring 23 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Sam Seaborn contributed across the board with 13 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals, while Aaron Rochman added 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Jack Camblos made an impact on the boards with 5 rebounds and delivered a key blocked shot.

Western Albemarle continues to show strong depth and defensive toughness as they head into the final stretch of the season.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Western Albemarle girls Varsity basketball team continued its dominant run this week, securing three decisive wins over Fluvanna, Goochland, and Monticello.

On Tuesday, the Warriors defeated Fluvanna 68-38, led by a stellar performance from Emma Schmitz (20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 9 steals). Maggie Camblos added 14 points and 4 rebounds, while Kate Voelmle contributed 12 points. Taylor Florin controlled the paint with 8 points and 7 rebounds.

On Friday, Western rolled past Goochland 66-10 with balanced scoring throughout the lineup. Maggie Camblos and Emma Schmitz each had 15 points, while Maeve Driscoll posted 10 points and 6 rebounds. Contributions came from all over, with Taylor Florin, Ellie Klaff-Laymon, Laveah Strickler, Eva Florin, Mary Smith, Leila Harris, Addy Hux, and Skyler Luzar all making an impact.

Closing out the week on Saturday, the Warriors locked down Monticello 48-16 behind Maggie Camblos (13 points, 3 steals) and Emma Schmitz (11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals). Kate Voelmle, Taylor Florin, and Laveah Strickler all contributed on both ends of the floor to secure the win.

The Western JV Squad split their games this week, losing to Fluvanna on Tuesday but bouncing back to defeat Goochland on Friday night. Keegan Breheny scored 8 points in the loss to Fluvanna.

Aniya Mims and Virginia Parrish led the Warriors in their win over Goochland.

The Western 9th Grade team defeated the William Monroe JV team on Thursday. 7 of the 8 girls scored in the win.

Western Albemarle continues to showcase strong team play and defensive intensity as they push forward in the season.

SWIM & DIVE

With dominant relay performances, standout individual swims, and depth across multiple events, the Warriors asserted their strength over their cross-county rivals from Albemarle on Senior Night. Before the meet, fourteen incredibly talented graduating seniors (Sam Bledsoe, Lauren Britt, Jacob Cohen, Sophia Garono, Gigi Hathaway, Jack Hathaway, Thomas Heilman, Audrey Miracle, Lucy Nicholson, Lily Smith, James Smith, Molly Streit, Richard Wang, and Reagan Weathers) were recognized at their final home meet.

The boys’ team set the tone early, winning the medley relay with the all-senior team of Sam Bledsoe, Jack Hathaway, Richard Wang, and Jacob Cohen finishing well ahead of the competition. On the girls' side, the all-freshman team of Willow Phillips, Meghan Ayres, Cate Pearson, and Sophie Wang took a close second in the opening relay. Lily Phillips dominated the 200 & 400 Freestyle events, winning both by a combined 36 seconds and Eli Rutherford captured the boys' 200 IM title by over 3 seconds. The Warriors’ sprint corps was on fire, with Richard Wang and Sam Bledsoe going 1-2 in the 50 freestyle. Meghan Ayres and Claire Contiliano led the charge for the girls, also securing a 1-2 finish. Meghan would go on to win the 100 Freestyle event as well.

Western Albemarle continued to pile up victories, with Charlie Alexander taking the 100 butterfly and Lucy Nicholson winning the girls’ event. Jack Hathaway secured wins in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke events. Brayden King added to the Warrior win total with a great swim in the 100 Backstroke.

The Dive Team celebrated their seniors, Madison Anderson, Raley Baynes, Caitlin Bernard, and Gracie Snyder on Friday night at the Crow Invitational. On the girls side, Harper Stone won the event, Joudan Prevete placed third, Madison Anderson finished fourth, and Caitlin Bernard finished 6th. On the boy side, Oliver Wray finished fourth ad George Novey finished in 7th. All of our athletes earned their state qualifying standards.

Monday (2/3): Girls JV (6:00PM) & Varsity (7:30PM) Basketball vs Fluvanna @ WAHS

Monday (2/3): Boys JV (6:00PM) & Varsity (7:30PM) Basketball vs Fluvanna @ Fluvanna

Tuesday (2/4): Girls JV (6:00PM) & Varsity (7:30PM) Basketball vs Orange @ Orange

Tuesday (2/4): Boys JV (6:00PM) & Varsity (7:30PM) Basketball vs Orange @ WAHS

Wednesday (2/5): Boys 9th Grade Basketball End of Season Game (5:30PM) @ Monticello

Wednesday (2/5): Region 3C Qualifier - Wrestling (6:30PM) @ Fluvanna

Thursday (2/6): Girls JV (5:30PM) & Boys JV (7:00PM) Basketball vs. Monticello @ WAHS

Friday (2/7): Boys & Girl Swim Regional Qualifying Meet (6:15PM) @ Brooks YMCA

Friday (2/7): Girls & Boys Varsity Basketball (5:30 & 7:30PM) vs. MoHS @ WAHS (Senior Night)

Saturday (2/8): Boys & Girls Diving Region Meet (10:00AM) @ FUMA

February 26th - Spring Sport Parent Meeting (6:30PM)

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!

As we gear up for an exciting spring sports season, don't forget to check the out-of-season practice schedule for your team! These sessions are a great opportunity to sharpen your skills, build team chemistry, and stay in shape ahead of tryouts. Click on the link for schedules and coach contact information.

Spring sports out of season practices

IMPORTANT DETAILS! In order to participate in out of season practices, athletes must have a completed VHSL Physical Form dated after 5/1/2024 must be on file with the Athletic Department. Submit completed physicals (all 4 pages) to the Athletic Department via email to slovaglio@k12albemarle.org or drop off at the athletics or main office. Additionally, athletes who are participating in a Winter sport for Western Albemarle High School cannot participate in the out of season workouts for another sport.

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!

The Western Albemarle Mountain Bike Team is gearing up for the spring season! We have both a fall season and a separate spring season, so we welcome new students at the start of each season. Contact WAHSMtnBike@gmail.com for more details. Our first team practice is Tuesday, March 11th, and we have team bikes to loan for those curious to try it out.

At the East Coast NICA Championships this past fall, including the best cross country mountain bikers from 11 states, freshmen Nick Wesch, Kaiden Baker, and Owen McMurray raced into the top 15 of their category. Sophomore Henry Chupick and junior Griffin McMurray earned top 25 spots in their category. Congratulations to them for such strong finishes!

We are collecting information from high school athletes to ensure accurate records of varsity awards earned in the past and to identify any items that may not have been received.

Please provide detailed and accurate responses so we can address any discrepancies and ensure all awards are appropriately distributed. Your input is vital in helping us recognize your achievements and celebrate your hard work!

Google Form

If you have any questions or need assistance while completing this form, please reach out to the athletic department.

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!