WAHS ATHLETICS

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Western Albemarle Athletics Newsletter! We’ve had another exciting week of competition, with outstanding performances across multiple sports. Be sure to check out the recap of this week’s results, including big wins, memorable moments, and standout athletes. We’re also looking ahead to some exciting upcoming games, so don’t miss the chance to support our teams!

First off - Congratulations to Sadie Bruton, Jillie Clark, Walt Donovan, Carsten Paschke, Sani Reed, Addi Ritter, Emily See, Lily Smith, Kate Voelmle, and Evie Woodrow who were celebrated on Thursday morning for commiting to continue their academic and athletic careers in college!

This week, we’re spotlighting some of our senior athletes who have made a significant impact on their respective sports. Their hard work, dedication, and leadership will surely be missed, and we celebrate their achievements. Plus, we’ve got updates on fall sports as they prepare for the start of their seasons.

And finally, a special shoutout to one of our athletes who has earned a prestigious opportunity to compete at the national level. Read on for all the details!

As always, thank you for your continued support of Warrior Athletics. Let’s keep the momentum going!

Photo Credit: Luke Winters

Isabelle Brann (right) has been a key part of the WAHS tennis program, bringing focus, consistency, and team spirit to every match. Known for her match-day rituals—using the same racket she warmed up with and wearing her hair the exact same way—Isabelle brings both intensity and joy to the court. Her favorite tennis memory is celebrating a state championship win with her teammates, all crammed into one booth at dinner, laughing, beaming with pride, and sharing a moment that captured everything they worked for.

Academically, Isabelle is an outstanding student. She’s earned multiple honors, including the World History I, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP U.S. History, and Library Aide academic awards. She serves as Co-President of the Science National Honor Society and President of the French Club, and she volunteers as a music volunteer at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, using her talents to brighten the days of patients. Isabelle would like to thank her family for all they’ve invested in her and for being by her side every step of the way.

Octavia Lawson (left) has had an impressive career both on and off the tennis court. As a dedicated athlete, Octavia made her mark early, helping the team win the state championship as a freshman and being a vital member of the runner-up team in 2024. Her athletic achievements are matched by her dedication to serving others and her leadership in various extracurricular activities.

Octavia is the President of the National Art Honor Society and serves as the Service Officer for Rho Kappa, where she has demonstrated a strong commitment to community involvement. She has also volunteered as a guide at the Kluge-Ruhe Art Museum, at the Virginia Discovery Museum, and at the Boys and Girls Club, contributing her time and energy to support others.

When reflecting on her success, Octavia credits her parents and coaches for their unwavering support. She is grateful for their encouragement and guidance throughout her tennis journey.

With her accomplishments in tennis and her dedication to service, Octavia has made a lasting impact at Western Albemarle High School, and we look forward to seeing all that she will continue to achieve in the future.

Danielle Love (center) has been an integral part of the Western Albemarle tennis program throughout her high school career. A dedicated student-athlete, Danielle is a co-founder of the Girls Who Code Club and a member of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS), Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society (MHS), Spanish National Honor Society (SNHS), and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society.

Outside of school, Danielle shares her love of tennis as a summer camp counselor at Farmington, teaching the sport to 4–8-year-olds. She also gives back to the community by volunteering at the Virginia Children's Museum on the Downtown Mall.

Danielle would like to thank her mom, who has been at every match, always cheering her on and providing endless support.

Her favorite athletic memories include winning a state championship her freshman year, going undefeated in singles during her sophomore season, and playing a grueling 2.5-hour singles match in the 85-degree heat during the state quarterfinals — stepping (or collapsing!) off the court victorious was a moment she’ll never forget.

Baseball: On Tuesday, Jack Parkins dominated on the mound, throwing a 4-hit shutout in Western's 3-0 win over Monticello. The Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning, with Grey Heilman’s single, Parkins’ walk, a sacrifice bunt by Matthew Lapinski, and an RBI double by Odin Erickson. Strong defense included two pick-offs, one by catcher Will Huffmeyer and another by Parkins to Tyler Williams at first. With the win, Western claimed first place in the Jefferson District.

On Thursday, Western overcame an early 3-0 deficit to defeat Charlottesville 13-7. The Black Knights retired the first 7 Warriors, but Jack Racicot’s hit-by-pitch sparked a 9-run rally over the next two innings. Jack Connelly led with 4 hits, including 3 doubles, while Parkins and Will Huffmeyer each had 2 extra-base hits. Connelly also pitched the final 3 innings, allowing just 1 earned run and striking out 4 to earn his second win of the season.

Finally, on Friday, Western held on to a 3-2 victory over Regents School in their first-ever meeting. The Warriors collected 8 hits, with Jay Miller, Parkins, and Tyler Williams each contributing 2. Kase Goldstein made his first mound appearance and earned the win, walking just 1 batter and striking out 4. The defense stepped up in the 6th, with a crucial pick-off at second and a throw-out at second base by Sam Seaborn to prevent a Regents rally.

Crew: The WAHS crew team traveled to Occoquan this weekend, where they were able to compete in nine races before the remaining events were cancelled due to weather. In the completed races, the WAHS crew team placed in each event, bringing home 7 first place finishes (men's senior single, men's senior double, men's junior quad, women's junior double, men's junior double, mens' junior single, men's freshman quad) 5 seconds (women's senior single, women's junior quad, men's junior quad, women's junior double, men's junior double) and 1 third (men's junior single). Congratulations to the crew team, and good look next weekend when they row in the Virginia State Championship regatta.

Boys Lacrosse: The Western Albemarle Boys Varsity Lacrosse team picked up a big 12-8 win over Monacan on Friday night. Quinn Shifflett, Chris Baglio, and Hunter Wertheim led the charge on offense, each contributing key goals and assists to secure the victory. Alex Jones was stellar in goal, making several crucial saves to keep the team in control throughout the game.

The team will return to action on Tuesday, taking on Albemarle at home. JV starts at 5:30 PM, followed by the Varsity game at 7:00 PM. Come out and support the Warriors!

Girls Lacrosse: The Western Girls Varsity Lacrosse team’s unbelievable 43-game winning streak came to a thrilling end Friday night, after an intense overtime battle against Class 6 State Champion Yorktown, with the Warriors narrowly falling 16-15. But the Warriors didn’t flinch — they bounced back less than 24 hours later with a statement win over Class 6 runner-up Robinson, dominating 15-6 in another physical, high-energy battle!

Leading the offensive firepower over the two games were McLean Stokes (9 goals, 3 assists) and Annie Alhusen (7 goals, 5 assists), each racking up 12 points and setting the tone on attack. Taylor Florin was electric with 4 goals and 6 assists, while Gigi Hathaway brought the heat with 4 goals, 1 assist, and a team-leading 7 draw controls to keep the Warriors rolling. Camille Love, Marchelle van der Westhuizen, Perry Hume, and Skyler Luzar all added big goals at crucial moments, showing just how deep and dangerous this team is.

On the defensive side, Camille Love scooped up 5 ground balls and Emmy Williams added 3 to help flip momentum back to the Warriors. Eva Florin and Skyler Powell were lockdown defenders, each causing 2 turnovers. Between the pipes, Maizey McCarthy was an absolute wall, staying calm under pressure and racking up 16 massive saves across the two contests.

The Warriors now set their sights on Albemarle as they head back into district play this Tuesday — JV at 5:30 PM and Varsity under the lights at 7:00 PM. Come out and support — this team is battle-tested, hungry, and ready to keep making history!

The JV girls lacrosse team stormed back into action this week with an absolutely electric performance against Patrick Henry-Ashland, crushing it with a 17-1 win! From the first draw, the energy was off the charts as the girls came out fast, fierce, and focused. An incredible 15 different players scored, proving just how deep, talented, and unselfish this team is across the board.

The defense was a brick wall all night, completely shutting down any chances Patrick Henry tried to create. Goalies Stella Percy and Lulu Hitt led the charge between the pipes, making clutch saves and commanding the defense to dominate every possession. Every ground ball, every clear, every hustle play — it all added up to one of the most complete team wins of the season so far.

Mountain Bike: Western traveled to Stokesville for the first mountain bike race of the spring season. Nick Welsch and Hazel Gillespie were on the top 5 podium for the Warriors with the remainder of the team's strong efforts rocketing Western to third place in the state!

Soccer (Boys): The Varsity Boys Soccer team had a great week, securing a 1-0 victory over Monticello on Tuesday. Daniel Sanchez scored the game-winning goal, while Jeremiah Nicholson and Spencer Marazita anchored a strong defensive performance to keep the clean sheet.

On Thursday, the Warriors traveled to Charlottesville, where they battled to a 1-1 draw. In the final minutes, Josel Santugini scored a crucial equalizer, assisted by Jeremiah Nicholson's pinpoint long throw. Player of the Game, Anders Felts, made several incredible saves to keep the team in the match.

The team takes on Albemarle at the Stadium on Monday! JV @ 5:30 & Varsity @ 7PM.

Soccer (Girls): The varsity girls soccer team had an outstanding week, scoring 10 goals across two matches to stay undefeated. The Warriors dominated Monticello with a 7-0 victory, led by Victoria Ibanez’s two goals. Reese Coggeshall, Leah Raab, Bella Saucerman, Chloe Gates, and Emily See each added a goal to the scoreboard. The team kept up the momentum with a 3-1 win over Charlottesville, powered by two goals from Reese Coggeshall and another from Marin Hammon. Great work, Warriors!

The JV Girls Soccer team wrapped up a perfect 2-0 week, starting with a 1-0 win over Monticello on Tuesday and following it up with a 1-0 victory over Charlottesville on Thursday. Alexis Theile (8th) scored the game-winning goal against Charlottesville, while standout performances in midfield came from Edith Moak (9th), Cameryn Huynh (9th), and Mary Smith (9th). Virginia Parrish (9th) and Maeve Driscoll (10th) were solid as always at center back, anchoring the defense.

Softball: It was a rollercoaster week for the Western Albemarle Varsity Softball team! After a tough 7-4 loss to Monticello on Tuesday, where Aniyah Sims launched a solo homer and Addy Hux drove in a run, the Warriors kept fighting! Hux’s sacrifice fly tied the game, but the team couldn’t keep up with Monticello’s offense.

The next day, they fell just short in a heartbreaker to Louisa County, 6-5. The Warriors held the lead until a late homer in the seventh gave Louisa County the win. Hux blasted a three-run homer, and Mary Kumer led the offense with two hits.

But the Warriors were back in business on Thursday, cruising to a 19-1 victory over Charlottesville! They lit up the scoreboard with explosive offensive play, including a monster five-run third inning, and Ella Wagner’s impressive three walks. Katherine Heilman led with 4 RBIs, while Jillie Clark went 3-for-4 at the plate. On the mound, Heilman and Ananya Madaan combined for 4 strong innings of shutout ball.

The Warriors are ready for Tuesday’s showdown with Albemarle. Stay tuned — the team is on a mission!

Tennis (Boys): The WAHS boys tennis team had a dominant week, going 2-0 with convincing 9-0 victories in each match. The team remains undefeated in singles play all season and has only dropped one doubles match overall.

Tennis (Girls): The girls tennis team wrapped up their match against Maggie Walker in Richmond, coming up short with a 2-7 loss. Although a few close matches didn’t fall their way, the team showed resilience and gained valuable experience as they look ahead to a potential postseason rematch.

The Warriors bounced back in a big way later in the week, securing two dominant victories — sweeping Monticello 9-0 and posting an 8-1 win over Charlottesville High School.

A special congratulations to Blythe Sturman, who received a wild card into the qualifying round of the Charlottesville Women’s Open, hosted at Boar’s Head Sports Club. Blythe faced off against a seasoned professional and, despite the result, represented WAHS, Boar’s Head, and the Charlottesville community with outstanding play and sportsmanship!

Boys Track: Western Albemarle’s boys track and field team had a strong showing at their first home meet on the newly renovated track on Wednesday, April 23. The Warriors competed in a variety of events, with standout performances across the board.

In the 100 Meter Dash, sophomore Elias Campbell led the Warriors with a third-place finish in 11.79 seconds, while senior Ben Hostler followed closely in seventh with a time of 12.03. Quinn Fusco also showed strong form, placing ninth in 12.09 seconds.

The 200 Meter Dash saw a great effort from junior Finn Naughton, who finished second with a time of 23.56 seconds. Other notable performances came from junior Graham Hill, who placed eighth with a 24.74, and sophomore Jacob Kasen, finishing ninth in 24.77 seconds.

In the 400 Meter Dash, senior Connor Rittenhouse blazed through the competition, capturing first place with an impressive time of 50.24 seconds. Sophomore Bennett Kim also posted a solid performance, finishing third in 51.69 seconds.

The 800 Meter Run was another strong event for Western, with senior Henry Kimbrough claiming first place in 1:59.91. Junior Spencer Envall followed closely, earning a second-place finish with a time of 2:00.33.

In the 1600 Meter Run, Christophe de Wekker, a freshman, proved his stamina with a first-place finish in 4:39.41, edging out competition. Senior Collin Kershisnik placed fourth with a time of 4:43.25, and sophomore Silvio Sicoli earned a sixth-place finish with a time of 4:43.94.

The 3200 Meter Run saw senior Ben Amago take first place in 9:37.81, followed by sophomore Finn Smith in second place with a time of 9:49.89. Freshman Christophe de Wekker also contributed to a strong showing, finishing seventh in 10:50.78.

In the 110 Meter Hurdles, senior Anders Felts took first place with a time of 15.28 seconds, while senior Nathan Peterson finished in second place with a time of 16.22 seconds.

The 300 Meter Hurdles were dominated by the Warriors, with senior Anders Felts finishing in first place again, clocking in at 39.75 seconds. Sophomore Noble Cooper earned fourth place in 42.73 seconds, and senior Lucca Papale finished in fifth with a time of 46.96 seconds.

The 4x100 Meter Relay team of Fusco, Hostler, Campbell, and McLaughlin placed third with a time of 48.40 seconds, showing solid teamwork in their debut on the new track.

Girls Track: Western Albemarle hosted its first home track meet on the new track on Wednesday, April 23, and the girls' team delivered impressive performances across multiple events. The meet featured strong competition from Louisa County, Monticello, and Fluvanna County.

In the 100 Meter Dash, Western Albemarle swept the top spots, with Julia Hill taking first place in 12.72 seconds, followed by, Maddie Hill, in second at 12.97 seconds. Caroline Pearson also earned a top-three finish, securing third place in the 200 Meter Dash with a time of 27.00 seconds.

The 400 Meter Dash saw a strong showing from Sarah Jane Broadbent, who finished second with a time of 1:03.62, while Lily Zovko and Paige Morris also posted solid times.

In the 800 Meter Run, Emerson Ritter claimed first place for Western Albemarle with a time of 2:25.54, while teammates Zoey Downer and Hannah Seideman rounded out the top three spots. Western continued to dominate in the 1600 Meter Run with Emma Schmitz securing first in 5:25.79, and Leanne Hodgson contributing another strong finish in second place.

The 3200 Meter Run was another highlight, with Daisy McCown and Hadley Cabell placing second and third, respectively, contributing valuable points for the team.

Western Albemarle's 4x100 Meter Relay team took first place in a time of 49.55 seconds, while the 4x400 Meter Relay team earned second with a time of 4:40.81. The 4x800 Meter Relay team also showed well, finishing in third place.

In the field events, Maddie Hill claimed the Long Jump with a leap of 16'9", while Raina Fitzwater dominated the Pole Vault, taking first place with a height of 12'6". Julia Hill and Maddie Hill both had excellent showings in the sprints, while Fitzwater added another top finish in the Long Jump (16'2.5").

Both teams also competed in the Knights Classic Track Meet on Saturday:

On the track, Anders Felts led the way with victories in both the Boys 110m Hurdles (15.01) and 400m Dash (49.03). Silvio Sicoli won the Boys 1600m (4:44.99), while Emerson Ritter took 2nd in the Girls 1600m (5:26.25). The Girls 4x100m Relay team also placed 2nd with a time of 49.83.

Other standout performances included Julia Hill finishing 3rd in the Girls 100m Dash (12.96) and Noble Cooper taking 2nd in the Boys 800m (2:08.09). On the sprint side, Joseph Rowland (7th) and Finn Naughton (8th) both cracked the top 10 in the Boys 200m Dash.

In the field events, Raina Fitzwater captured 1st in the Girls Pole Vault (11'6"), with strong jumps from Caroline Pearson, Maddie Hill, and Julia Hill in the Long Jump and High Jump events. Maddie Hill also finished 2nd in the Girls Triple Jump (34'3½"). On the throws side, Elisabeth Shin placed 2nd in the Girls Discus (112'3") and 10th in Shot Put. In Boys Pole Vault, Nathan Peterson and Ollie Woodrow both cleared 14'0" to place 3rd and 4th respectively.

Congratulations to all our athletes for their excellent performances!

MONDAY: APRIL 28th

HOME

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

AWAY

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

TUESDAY: APRIL 29th

HOME

Boys Tennis @ 5:00 PM vs Albemarle

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

Baseball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Albemarle

Softball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Albemarle

AWAY

GirlsTennis @ 5:00 PM vs Albemarle

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

Baseball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Albemarle

Softball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Albemarle

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 30th

No events scheduled

THURSDAY: May 1st

HOME

Boys Tennis @ 5:00 PM vs Spotswood

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

Baseball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Louisa

Softball (JV) @ 6:30 PM vs Louisa

AWAY

Girls Tennis @ 4:30 PM vs Spotswood

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

Baseball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Louisa

Softball (Varsity) @ 6:30 PM vs Louisa

Track & Field @ 4:30 PM vs. Harrisonburg

FRIDAY: May 2nd

HOME

Softball (JV & Varsity) @ 5:00 / 7:00 PM vs. Fluvanna (non-district games)

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

AWAY

Boys Lacrosse (JV & Varsity) @ 6:00 / 7:30 PM vs. Powhatan

Track & Field @ 5:00 PM - Dogwood Invitational @ UVA

SATURDAY: May 3rd

HOME

Boys Lacrosse (JV & Varsity) @ 11:00 AM / 12:30 PM vs. Jefferson Forest

Mountain Bike Race @ 8:00 AM

AWAY

Track & Field @ 10:00 AM - Dogwood Invitational @ UVA

Crew: VASRA - (Occoquan, VA)

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

Congratulations to Sam Seaborn for receiving an invitation to participate in Canada's U16 Men’s High Performance National Team Assessment Camp! Sam’s selection comes after impressive performances at regional identification camps across the country, as well as his outstanding play during both high school seasons and club competitions. This prestigious camp will help identify top talent for the national team, and we are incredibly proud of Sam for representing Western Albemarle at this elite level!

The Western Albemarle Mountain Bike Team is hosting a statewide race on campus this Saturday, May 3rd. The event is part of a four-race series with 649 racers registered from 47 teams. Elementary and Middle School racers will compete in the morning with high school racers in the afternoon. Please stop by and cheer on the Warriors as they look to defend their placement as third place statewide!

The Western bike trail is a 3.5 mile loop that is open to the public outside of school hours. You'll find the trail map and loop start in the upper parking lot. We welcome you to come visit! The mountain biking team is open to all students from 8th to 12th grade and we welcome all levels, from beginners to experienced riders.

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.

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!