The sports year for 2011 was loaded with competitive events and filled with numerous athletic achievements by teams and individuals specific to the Sun Gazette’s coverage area in Arlington.
Following is a list of what the sports staff at the Sun Gazette ranked as the top 20 highlights in 2011 that were reported in our paper.
1. Yorktown Football
The Yorktown High School football team completed its first undefeated regular season in school history with a 10-0 record, won the National District championship with a 7-0 mark, finished second in the Northern Region, and set a single-season school record for victories with 12. In addition, longtime Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson won his 200th career game during the 2011 campaign.
2. O’Connell Cross Country
The Bishop O’Connell High School girls cross country team won a fifth straight state championship, a fifth consecutive conference title and a sixth straight Arlington County crown during the fall of 2011.
3. Henry Majano
Wakefield High School junior wrestler Henry Majano won National District and Northern Region championships at 130 pounds, finished second in the Group AAA state meet at that weight, and compiled a 43-1 record.
4. O’Connell Girls Softball
The girls softball team at Bishop O’Connell High won an eighth consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship and finished second in the state tournament.
5. Carl Buergler
Washington-Lee High School diver Carl Buergler won the boys Group AAA state championship, one week after finishing second in the Northern Region meet. He also won a National District title.
6. Overlee Swimming
The Overlee Flying Fish summer swim team won the Division I championship of the Northern Virginia Swimming League for the 27th time. Overlee finished the summer season with a 5-0 record.
7. Arlington Sage
The 16-under Arlington Sage summer girls softball team won a state championship and finished seventh in the World Series. The team compiled a 32-7-1 record.
8. Yorktown Tennis Players
Yorktown High School tennis players Emily Flickinger and Esu Erdenenbat won National District and Northern Region doubles crowns, then finished second in the state. Flickinger also won district and region singles titles.
9. Washington Golf Diving
The Washington Golf and Country Club boys and girls diving team won a 14th straight Country Club Swim & Diving Association championship during the summer.
10. Chris McCartin
Yorktown High School graduate Chris McCartin won a professional golf tournament on the eGolf mini tour early during the spring season.
11. Arlington All-Stars
The 11-under Arlington Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken all-star baseball team won a district championship, then finished second in the state tournament.
12. Tommy Orndorff
Longtime Bishop O’Connell High School girls softball coach Tommy Orndorff won his 600th career game late during the 2011 spring season. His career record is 601-71.
13. Washington-Lee Soccer
The Washington-Lee High School boys soccer team won the National District tournament championship, then lost in the semifinals of the Northern Region competition.
14. Yorktown Girls Volleyball
The Yorktown High School girls volleyball team won the National District title, then advanced as far as the semifinals of the Northern Region tournament for the first time in the team’s history.
15. W-L Field Hockey
The Washington-Lee High School girls field hockey team captured the National District tournament crown, then won a game in the Northern Region competition for the first time in school history. The Generals lost in the second round of regions, but set a single-season record for wins with 14.
16. Mary Lynn Clark
Washington-Lee High School gymnast Mary Lynn Clark won the girls Northern Region all-around competition and helped her team place third in the event. Clark and W-L also won National District team and all-around championships.
17. Wakefield Football Duo
The Wakefield High School football duo of quarterback Drew Powell and wide receiver/kick returner Khory Moore amassed 4,556 combined yards during the fall campaign.
18. Yorktown Softball
The Yorktown High girls softball team won the National District tourney, and Kate Bauman came within an out of pitching a perfect game in the title contest.
19. W-L Girls Cross Country
The Washington-Lee High School girls cross country team won the National District title for the second straight year. The Generals were led by individual winner Isabel Amend, who went on to place sixth in the Northern Region meet.
20. Michael Crozier
Arlington resident Michael Crozier, who attends Gonzaga College High School, finished fourth at the boys Nike Southeast Regional Cross Country Championship, then placed 13th at the Nike national meet. Crozier also won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference boys title.
Honorable Mention
* The Yorktown High School golf team won a National District title and qualified for the Northern Region tournament for the 19th year in a row.
* Washington-Lee High baseball coach Doug Grove learned he’d won his 200th career game during the past season.
* The Arlington Snook Hers, a women billiards team, won a national pool championship.
* Yorktown High boys and girls lacrosse teams won National District titles.
* The Washington-Lee boys and Yorktown girls won National District swim and dive titles.
* The Yorktown High girls soccer team won the district championship.
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