Fall 2013 Jaguar Sports Boosters bulletin The Director of Student Activities Wow- what an amazing fall season for the Falls Church High School Jaguars!!! When the season began in early August, we were dealing with many obstacles that could have hindered success for our sports teams: stadium and practice fields were under construction, the track was not available, teams had to practice off campus, and there were unexpected coaching vacancies. Through it all, the coaches persevered and the athletes persisted, and instead of being brought down, the Jaguars rose above – way above! In late August, FCHS was fortunate to celebrate the installation of two new beautiful synthetic turf fields due to the support from Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, and the Falls Church High School Athletic Booster Club. These new fields have made a very positive impact on our teams, students, and community! Once the school year began, the good news kept coming…. Our golf team had three members compete in the new Region 5A North Tournament –Gary Bornholdt, Ryan Krepp and Kevin Moore. Our volleyball and field hockey teams showed steady progress at all levels (freshmen, jv and varsity) and several athletes earned All-Conference recognition. The Cross Country teams had many accomplishments: in the Capitol Conference 13 Championship, Seniors Emily Grabauskas and Erin Nunan placed in the top 15 along with Nicolas Rodgers on the boy’s side. For the second year in a row, the entire girls’ team advanced to the Region Championship. Nicolas also advanced to Regions for the boys cross country program. From Regionals, Emily Grabauskas and Nicolas Rodgers advanced to the VHSL 5A State Championship and represented FCHS very well! The FCHS Varsity Cheerleaders had an outstanding season- the Jaguars were the 2013 Capitol Conference 13 Champions! At the 5A North Region Cheerleading Championship, the Jaguar Cheerleaders were phenomenal and advanced to the second round - for the first time in school’s history! In addition they were just a few points away from advancing to the State Championship. And last but certainly not least…. The Jaguar Varsity Football team finished the regular season with a 7-3 record, had the best record in the Capitol Conference 13, won the Bell game vs. Stuart, and was undefeated at home! The Jaguars advanced to the Region playoffs for the first time since 1986. In the first round of the Region 5A North Playoffs, the Jaguars defeated Albemarle H.S. – this was the first Region playoff victory for FCHS since 1976! At print time, the Jaguars are preparing for the second round Region playoff game which will be on November 22nd at Massaponax High School. I am very proud of all of the teams not only for how they competed on the fields, gyms, and courses, but also for how they represented themselves in the classroom (many of our fall athletes were Scholar Athletes - earning a 3.5 grade point average or higher) and in the community! Jaguar School Spirit seems to be at an all-time high and that is due not only to the success of the student athletes, but also to the outstanding support of their parents, the Athletic Booster Club, the FCHS administration and faculty, and the awesome Hype Squad (the student cheering section). —continued on the next page Falls Church High School Lastly, I want to thank all of the people who do the work behind the scenes to make sure that the Jaguar student athletes have everything they need to be successful – our wonderful new Assistant Directors of Student Activities - Ms. Belinda Kim and Mr. Bobby Krause, our amazing new Administrative Assistant - Ms. Esther Rodriguez, our outstanding Athletic Trainers - Mr. Jon Thompson and Mr. Jake Ivey, our fabulous Athletic Booster Club - led by President Reid Trautz, our very supportive new Principal - Mr. Mike Yohe, and of course our very dedicated coaches! Way to go Jags!!! — Jeanne Kelly, Director of Student Activities A Word from the FCHS Sports Boosters President ow, what a year so far! We are proud to have played a role in securing our W turf fields. We created the first Mosaic Bowl football The fall season launched with a bang in August game to develop another local rivalry and build with the dedication of our two new turf fields and has important relationships with area businesses. We also yet to finish as our varsity football team continues their participated in the planning of the first Falls Church season into the playoffs. Shopping Night at the Mosaic District - again to build August 29th was a happy day, many years in the community awareness and support of FCHS. making. Through the foresight of Activities Director We have had a successful season of fundraising too. Jeanne Kelly and the hard work of her staff and many The on-line email fundraiser in which most fall athletes Falls Church parents over many years, we have participated raised over $11,000 in just a few short modern world-class turf fields for our athletic teams to weeks. That roughly equals $10 for each valid email practice and play on and our marching band to address entered by athletes. We know it was not easy perform on. It has brought a new sense of pride to our to provide some names and emails for this activity, but school and our athletic program. Jaguar pride. it paid off. We hope to have even greater participation However, the on-field performances of our athletes when we repeat this fundraiser next fall. have been a greater source of pride. Several Jaguar Thanks to all those families who are Booster members golfers advanced to regional play, our cheerleaders and are taking advantage of the free entry into all claimed a new conference championship, followed by Jaguar home games. A special thanks to Patron our varsity football winning their first conference members. championship in many years. In November, several cross-country runners advanced to state competition, Like our athletes, when we step up our game, great and we witnessed the first home football playoff things happen. We invite all parents to participate in game—and victory—in many, many years. Booster activities. Whether than is filling multiple shifts each season in the snack bar, helping out at games, The Falls Church Jaguar Athletic Boosters are proud planning for our spring golf tournament, raising of our athletes. Our mission is to enhance the athletic needed funds, selling spirit wear, or being part of our experience of all our athletes. We raise money and we community outreach team, we are happy to have raise community awareness of our athletic program at everyone be a part of the Booster team. Contact any Falls Church. This fall we have been successful in of the Booster Board members, and we’ll find the right both. fit for your busy schedule! — Reid Trautz, Sports Boosters President Mark Your Calendars: Dec 3 - Winter sports parents/coaches meeting Feb 27 - Winter Sports Awards Night Dec 4 - Winter sports pictures Mar 12 - Spring sports parents/coaches meeting Dec 27 - 30 - Joe Cascio Memorial Basketball Mar 13 - Spring sports pictures Tournament Apr 14 - 18 Spring Break Feb 24 - Spring Sports Tryouts Begin April 26 - Jaguar 5K/1 mile fun run Feb 21 - Mr. Jaguar Competition to benefit ANGC June 5 - Spring Sports Awards Night 2 Fall Sports Wrap-Up Cheerleading School. Sophomores Emily Seracino, Campbell Coach Bea Codjoe Scheuerman, Katie Valases, Sandy Kendall, Batres Maku, and Junior Prethi Chaudhari will lead a strong group of girls that should compete his has been a great year for Falls Church for the conference 13 title and possibly even a 5A T High School Cheerleading. We have North championship nest year. accomplished so much including becoming the first Capitol Conference Champions! Like the girls team the boys team enjoyed great progress this year. Captains Nicholas Rodgers Expectations were high this season even with two and Matthew Rhodes led the boys cross country new Varsity coaches. With most of the squad team through a very strong season. The boys returning from the previous season, athletes had team enjoyed a huge breakthough performance to get used to a brand new coaching style. We with a great 13th place finish in the highly practiced six days a week and went by the motto competitive Manhattan College Invitational in the “No Excuses, No Regrets”—giving it Bronx, NY. everything we had each and every practice. Finally the Jaguars are incedibly proud of their Head Coach Bea Codjoe is very proud of her new two 5A state meet qualifiers in Emily Grabauskas squad. “I am proud and honored to be a and Nicholas Rodgers and wish them luck in the Jaguar. We have accomplished so much this upcoming 5A state Championship. season and the best is yet to come.” Coach Codjoe went on to say that the nine seniors on the squad played a huge role in their success. She also pays respect to the three captains: Moriah Dreisbach, Sydney Seol, and Brittany Pak, stating that their leadership helped serve as a backbone Golf to the squad. Coach Mike Power Assistant Coach Brown described the season as triumphant, saying that despite defeats, setbacks, he 2013-2014 golf was a success all around. and injuries, the team pulled together for this win. T We had a number of new players enter the “Nothing can top that feeling of being a program. Being new to the game and the concept conference winning coach your first time.” of team golf, the season was a learning experience for both players and coaches. By mid season the veterans and rookies began to mesh as a team.