High Schools with State Championship Hopes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple weeks ago I identified the five Northern Virginia high school state champions and what their hopes were of repeating. These are the high schools that are looking to compete for a State championship in 2022. Below are also my predictions for the District champions of 2022, who also could be in the State championship run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the historical references for high schools are the pennants that hang high above the gyms, listing the years the high school either won a conference/division or a State championship. The more years listed on the pennant the greater the legacy, the more recent the years the greater the significance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are some of the high schools that hope to add another year to those pennants.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop O'Connell </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last year Bishop O'Connell won a State Championship was in 2016, when they beat Flint Hill. Since 2012 Flint Hill has won all the other State Championships, including last year when they beat the Knights in three. This year many of the players were teammates for Metro 16 so there will be a different dynamic when the two teams play in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a good year for O'Connell last year. They only lost four matches, three of them to Flint Hill and one to Holy Cross. The Knights were also the only team to beat Flint Hill in a match last year and avenged their one loss against Holy Cross by defeating them in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The three big returnees for them this year are setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180281' first='Erin' last='Debiec']</strong>, right side turned left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria']</strong> and middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180296' first='Madison' last='Bowser']</strong>. That is a significant cast of players to build a championship roster. Erin is one of the top setters in the area, while Grace and Madison have upped their game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They will also rely on the libero more with a number of options on the table such as sophomore transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212889' first='Hannah' last='Kotb']</strong> or returning sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212888' first='Maia' last='Cerezo']</strong>, two girls who appear in our 2025 prep dig rankings. Incoming frosh <strong>Teodora Stamenkovic</strong> could also have an impact on the right side or in the middle. Tryouts for private schools start this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Langley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Langley has won a couple State championships in 2013 and 2017. They have also won a number of District/Conference and Regional championships. Losing to McLean in the Regional finals last year had to be disappointing, but they have a good group of girls returning for 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The outsides are young but very talented, led by junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180292' first='Riley' last='Buddie']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos']</strong>. Middle and some time outside sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker']</strong> is another powerful offensive weapon, while Buddie can also slide over to the middle. To orchestrate all this firepower will be setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson']</strong>, who at 6'1" can be a force at the net. Three of the four players mentioned are 6 feet or greater with Parker-Stanton listed at 5'10". </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The passing should be strong with seniors <strong>Erica Maebius</strong> and <strong>Daniela Aborleda</strong> providing veteran leadership in the back row. That will be a tough group to beat in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alexandria City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181179' first='Chloe' last='Wilmot']</strong> will be spending their last year with the Titans. In the past two years the team has gone 54-1, winning one championship two years ago but falling short last year. Their only loss last year was to Herndon in five games in the semi-final State championship match. They have lost a lot of seniors, but their junior varsity team was pretty strong last year. I would not count them out, especially being led by a duo of seniors who have lost only one match in two years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Predicting the District Champions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concorde - Oakton with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209789' first='Seliz' last='Aktuglu']</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='209792' first='Jocelyn' last='Shortle']</strong> on the outside and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181188' first='Jade' last='Brooks']</strong> in the middle will be tough to beat. Chantilly could answer with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> leading the charge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty - Langley (see above)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>National - Justice with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181205' first='Helen' last='Frankovich']</strong> doing damage on the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patriot - Alexandria City (see above)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cedar Run - Battlefield led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181311' first='Skyler' last='Tennant']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal - Colgan will defend their championship with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181185' first='Brielle' last='Kemavor']</strong> up the middle and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209790' first='Aubrey' last='Hatch']</strong> from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dulles - Broad Run has the setters with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181244' first='Ryan' last='Hicks']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181181' first='Kaitlyn' last='Owens']</strong> with <strong>Sheridan Stephens</strong> hitting from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Potomac - Stonebridge will repeat with the setting of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209175' first='Trisha' last='Guevara']</strong> and the outside attacks from<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='180289' first='Lilah' last='Stevens']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ISL (AA) - Flint Hill has too many weapons but Georgetown Day with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu']</strong> could give them another run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ISL (A) - Bullis has too much <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181300' first='Alexis' last='Ewing'] </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WCAC - Bishop O'Connell (see above) brings back a lot of talent but Holy Cross has <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180288' first='Emerson' last='Sellman'].</strong> It could be a rematch in the finals to see who comes out on top. This would be their third conference championship in seven years with the two teams even up at one apiece. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>High School Tournaments</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If anyone knows of any high school tournaments in Northern Virginia let me know and I'll try to stop by. The more teams I can see the better my knowledge. The predictions above are based on rosters from last year so there could be some changes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->