From a press release: 

This morning the Board of Directors of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce unanimously voted to endorse the proposed Potomac Nationals stadium in eastern Prince William County. After several months of meetings with representatives from the County and the project, Chamber Board members agreed the new stadium represents a significant economic opportunity that should not be missed by Prince William County.

“Earlier this year, Prince William County approved their new strategic plan. That plan calls for what the County has branded as their ‘moonshot goal’ of more than doubling the existing commercial tax base,” said 2017-2018 Chamber Chairman, Jim Elliott. “Projects like this one only come around but so often and if the County is serious about meeting their economic development goals, they should support these types of initiatives.”

The Chamber’s Economic Development Committee Chairman, Gary Jones, II, stated, “I hear from business owners regularly on how they would like to see our region be more aggressive in terms of our approach to economic development. I am glad that the Chamber’s Board voted to endorse the stadium. This project, along with the great work JBG Companies has already done in the corridor, has the opportunity to fundamentally reshape economic development in eastern Prince William County.” 

See attached letter sent to Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

From The Destination Management Tourism Organization of Prince William & Manassas:

Dale City Independence Day Parade

Thousands are expected to line Dale Boulevard on Saturday morning for the 47th annual Dale City Independence Day parade. The annual tradition in Dale City showcases scouting troops, churches, politicians, performing arts groups and other groups from throughout the area. The Family Fun Day festivities, including vendors, games and entertainment.

Celebrate America with Old Town Manassas
The fun starts with children’s activities, food vendors and a red, white and blue hayride followed by a fireworks display at the Manassas Museum. Bring your lawn chairs and get there early to get the best spots! (more…)

The Potomac Nationals this upcoming season will giveaway bobble head dolls, welcome a WWE star, celebrate Frank Costanza’s hilariously frightful “Festivus” holiday, and honor the films “Star Wars,” “Top Gun,” and “The Bad News Bears.”

Here’s the info you need to get the hookup, and your Admiral Ackbar jersey. (more…)

The Hylton Bulldogs charged onto the field for their homecoming game Friday night after an hour-long lightning delay.

DJ Wright received the ball from the Gar-Field Indians and ran it down to the 35-yard line. A pass to Christian Brisueno brought the ball down to the one, where Jared Austin carried the ball in for a touchdown with 11:26 to go in the first quarter, bringing the score to 7-0.

The Indians fumbled the ball with 8:43 left in the quarter, and it was recovered by Albert Nunez. Later, a 19-yard pass to DJ Wright allowed Hylton to score their second touchdown of the night. Hylton was up 14-0 with 7:58 left to go in the first.

Seconds later in the game, the Indians fumbled the ball and the Bulldogs recovered it and took over on the 20-yard line. The play set up the team for its third touchdown of the night, scored by DJ Wright, bringing the score 20-0.

While Gar-Field struggled with fumbles, Hylton was plagued with penalties. Game officials called a pass interference play on a pass meant for Gar-Field wide receiver Malachi Smithen. It was one of many penalty calls on the Bulldogs during the game.

Gar-Field tried to come alive last in the first with a pass that was nearly picked off by Teryance Thomas. With 7:07 left in the first, Hylton’s Brandon Benson passed the ball down to the one-yard line, and that set up another touchdown for Jared Austin making the score 20-0.

With 1:30 left to go in the explosisve first quarter, a 20-yard run by Hylton’s Ishmeal Farmah set up the team to score again, this time on a pass play. Quarterback Brandon Benson threw the ball to Seshun Mickens who was waiting in the end zone.

With Hylton now up by 54 points, Gar-Field put eight points on the board late in the 2nd quarter with a touchdown and two-point conversion.

A touchdown catch by Gar-Field’s Chris Frederick brought the score to 54-14. Frederick made another touchdown, allowing the team to score 20 points in the game.

The final score was 61-20 Hylton.

Tacketts Mill #FootballFriday — Live coverage from Woodbridge Senior High School starts 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11

The varsity Vikings are playing to win tonight.

They’ll have home field advantage when the Battlefield Bobcats from Haymarket come to Lake Ridge. The game starts at 7:30 p.m at Woodbridge Senior High School.

The Vikings are, for the most part, a new team. Coach Gary Wortham now leads these young men on the field. He came here after five years as head football coach at nearby Freedom High School.

“Woodbridge is home, and I’m glad to be home. It’s a great opportunity for me. It’s a dream job. And I’m living the dream,” said Wortham.

He was an assistant football coach at Woodbridge from 1995 to 97, and again from 2003 to 2010, before leaving for Freedom.

Wortham has developed a team he says focused on both the running and passing game. It’s a way to make sure all of those on the field are “playing honest.”

Both Woodbridge and Battlefield are 2-0 in this early season. Tonight’s match-up is an out of conference for the teams. And while both teams will play for a win, one of them will walk off the field tonight with its first loss of the season.

“You’ve got two very good teams. it should be an exciting game,” said Wortham.

His players are focused on the task at hand. The confident senior defensive tackle Kyree Campbell, 17, followed Wortham from Freedom to Woodbridge and had already committed to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. It was on of 42 schools that made him an offer.

“This is a game where I’ve got to be selfless. I’m Kyree Campbell, and nobody can block me,” he said.

Campbell said the team gelled over the summer by not only working out on the field but eating dinners together and going to the movies. The family base and the fan base at Woodbridge is better, he said.

Senior running back Jay-Jay Burris, 18, said he uses the energy on the field to get him excited to play well. If’s he’s breaking tackles, as he’s done so this season on a regular basis, he’s doing his job.

“…when I run the ball…as long as my team is on the sideline rooting for me, I’m going to clap it up when they get into the game,” said Burris.

Cameron McAfee, 18, a senior, has been on the varstiy squad for three years, and a team captain for two years. He plays left guard on the defensive line. He’s focused and determined not to make his teammates or his coaches look bad.

McAfee says the football program at Woodbridge has improved under Wortham.

“He was hard on us at first, and then we learned he was cool.. he wants the best for us,” said McAfee.

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Tacketts Mill #FootballFriday!

The Hylton Bulldogs beat the Osbourn Eagles Friday night at home 35 to 13. The Bulldogs of Woodbridge led the Eagles of Manassas the entire game.

The most explosive play in the first half of the game came when C.D. Hylton’s Kris Thornton ran the ball 60 yards deep into Osbourn territory for the touchdown. It was one of five touchdown plays led by Hylton quarterback Donovan Williams.

The Hylton Bulldogs played at home Friday nightWoodbridge facing the Osbourn Eagles, of Manassas. The score was 14-7 following the play.

This is week two of prep football action in the region. Both Hylton and Osbourn came into the game zero and one.

A big play in the 2nd half — Hylton’s Ricky Slade number 3 ran 25 years to score another touchdown with 3:41 left in the 2nd half, extending Hylton’s lead by seven points.

Osbourn came alive in the later in the 2nd quarter and looked liked they wanted to score, with more visible drive and determination by quarterback Anthony Pearson. A holding call against the team with 1:14 left in the quarter slowed down the Manassas team.

Then, Hylton intercepted the ball on the five-yard line with 33 seconds to go in the half. Williams connected well with Slade, and Benson while picking up small passes.

For Osbourn, Pearson threw a 42-yard pass for the touchdown early in the 3rd quarter. Later in the quarter, Hylton’s DiVijan Franklin intercepted a pass by Eagles quarterback Anthony Pearson.

With the Eagles, fumbled the play with 9:54 left in the 4th quarter. That set up a touchdown pass for Hylton’s Justin Torian, number six. It was the third catch for Torian for the night.

“We did some good things out there tonight, and we’ve got lot of things that we need to get corrected and do better at” said Hylton Head Football Coach Tony Lilly. “We’re a young team, and we’ve got a lot of young players that haven’t played varsity ball.”

Hylton was plagued by penalties Friday night, something Lilly says he will focus on for next week’s home game against Patriot High School, of Nokesville. Patriot is now 1-1 after the team’s 54-6 loss against Forest Park in Woodbridge.

“Patriot is a good team. They score a lot of points, and have a lot of discipline. And that is what we are going to instill in our guys this week,” added Lilly while still on the field Friday night.

This was the second loss this season for the Eagles and the team’s former Washington Redskin, head coach Chris Samuels. Osbourn will take on the Potomac Senior High School Panthers next week in Woodbridge.

#FootballFriday coverage is brought to you by Tacketts Mill in Lake Ridge, Virginia.

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Scoreboard 

Mountain View vs. Freedom 

Final Score: Mountain View 42 Freedom 20. Great way to start the season. pic.twitter.com/ymuxxJS15Z

— MV Wildcat Athletics (@MVHS_SPORTS) August 29, 2015

Battlefield vs. Hylton 

FINAL: Battlefield beat C. D. Hylton 28-0 Share #HighSchool #Football scores! http://t.co/EZxJP3qiLy

— Score Scout (@ScoreScout) August 29, 2015

Patriot vs. Stafford 

Pioneers win 20-17. #welcometomoes free queso this weekend #papajohns 50% off large carry out on Saturday Bring ticket stub or pass.

— PatriotPioneers (@PatriotPioneers) August 29, 2015

Park View (Sterling) vs. Manassas Park

FINAL: Park View (Sterling) beat Manassas Park 26-21 Share #HighSchool #Football scores! http://t.co/nWmzX6ybeA

— Score Scout (@ScoreScout) August 29, 2015

Brooke Point at Colonial Forge

Forge 26 BP 23 Final

— Forge Athletics (@ForgeAthletics) August 29, 2015

North Stafford vs. Osbourn 

FINAL: North Stafford beat Osbourn 53-22 Share #HighSchool #Football scores! http://t.co/9PyH0n1A79

— Score Scout (@ScoreScout) August 29, 2015

Gar-Field vs. Potomac 

46-20. Potomac. Final. @InsideNoVA @allmetsports @PotomacLocal

— Gar-Field Athletics (@G_FHSAthletics) August 29, 2015

Forest Park vs. Osbourn Park

FINAL: Forest Park beat Osbourn Park 38-25 Share #HighSchool #Football scores! http://t.co/EbrTluiNAR

— Score Scout (@ScoreScout) August 29, 2015

Woodbridge vs. Stonewall Jackson

Woodbridge 17, Stonewall 13

All scores provided by schools’ Twitter accounts or crowdsourced via Twitter. Don’t see your school on the board? Ask your school to Tweet final varsity football game scores to @PotomacLocal.

Joey Rohal of Team Power Kix.
[submitted]

Team Power Kix, based in North Stafford, gave impressive performances at multiple events in the U.S. and Mexico.

First, they competed in the 2015 US Open TaeKwonDo Championships in Orlando, Florida this past January. Over 2000 athletes from more than 15 countries competed at this event, according to a press release.

Joey Rohal won a bronze medal in the Junior Division.  

Other participants included Devon Lewis, Alison Fetchko, Jordan Stewart, Wardell Samotshozo, Ernest Samotshozo, Charlie Buset, Kym Buset, Taylor MacLeod, Matt Gallagher, Matt Allen, Keegan Chaney, Brandon Curry, Joey Rohal, Hunter Cobb, Mathew Vickers, Landri Vickers, Emily Allen, Brayden Hanny, Adeeb Shuhaite and Omar Shuhaite.  

Keegan Chaney and Coach Bardatos.
[submitted]

Keegan Chaney, who was unable to participate in the 2015 Virginia State TaeKwonDo Championships Official USAT National Qualifier last month, made a road trip to South Plainfield, New Jersey with Team New Jersey Head Coach Peter Bardatos. 

Keegan won gold and qualified for 2015 USA National championships that will be held in July in Austin, Texas.

Team Power Kix in Mexico with Coach Arlene Limas in the center.
[submitted]

Then, Team Power Kix were successful at the Pan American Games Qualifying event where U.S. athletes claimed 11 medals and secured four quota spots for the 2015 Pan American Games at the Mexico Open International TaeKwonDo Championships.  

Team Power Kix brought home two bronze medals, which is very impressive for the Pan American Games. Charles Buset won bronze in the Senior Division, and Hunter Cobb won bronze in the Junior Division. 

Other participants included Devon Lewis, Alison Fetchko, Jordan Stewart, Wardell Samotshozo, Charlie Buset, Taylor MacLeod, Matt Gallagher, Keegan Chaney, Brandon Curry, Joey Rohal, Hunter Cobb, Mathew Vickers, Landri Vickers, Brayden Hanny and Adeeb Shuhaite.

The Virginia State Taekwondo Championship Qualifier will be held Saturday, May 9, in Fredericksburg, Virginia at Riverbend High School. 

Team Power Kix is a non-profit organization lead by 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Arlene Limas. Coach Limas is currently one of the AAU National Team Coaches and owner of Power Kix Martial Arts.

Byrne (center) met with Aaron Norris (right) and Chuck Norris at his karate championship in Las Vegas.

Teen competed for Chuck Norris Cup

Byrne’s kick form earned her praise during the competition from Norris.

Vanessa Byrne has had a unique opportunity to combine her passion for karate and a brush with fame.

The senior at North Stafford High School met and trained with Chuck Norris in Chun Kuk Do. Byrne began her training in Chun Kuk Do when she was just seven years old at Champion Martial Arts in Stafford, which is owned by Norris.

“I started training in Chun Kuk Do, when I was seven years old, because I didn’t like dance or swimming, or anything my mom put me in,” Byrne said.

She did well, earning her first black belt in 5th grade, and her second in 6th grade. All of this training paid off for Byrne, when she began attending Norris’ karate championship in Las Vegas each year.

“He does a world championship karate tournament and conference every year in July. And we attended one back in 2009, that’s when she first had her picture taken with him and trained with him a little bit and got to know him, and we’ve been going ever since,” said Bill Byrne, Vanessa’s father.

Byrne receiving an award at Norris’ competition.

Byrne did well in this year’s competition, where she actually got to train with Norris himself. “I got into the championship – I got into Grands – and I got to compete for the Norris cup,” said Byrne.

“It was a great honor, especially now that I have become friends with his daughter. He lives up to the expectations of what you see on TV – he’s actually as nice as he seems. He’s very personable,” Byrne said of her experience meeting Norris.

While Byrne had intended for Chun Kuk Do to be a hobby, she plans to incorporate it into her life for many years to come, with hopes of becoming an instructor.

“Especially after the competition this year, because I did very well…I plan on continuing it more than ever. I was planning on taking a break during college, but now I’m picking my college around places that teach Chun Kuk Do,” said Byrne, who is planning to attend West Virginia University.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — The Potomac Nationals (5-1, 4-0) captured their fifth championship in franchise history with a 5-1 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (3-4, 0-2) on Wednesday night. LF Randolph Oduber’s first inning home run was the difference in the game as the P-Nats pitching staff retired the final 19 Pelicans batters they faced.

Potomac’s DH John Wooten was named as a unanimous MVP for the Mills Cup Championship Series. Wooten hit three home runs and collected eight RBIs in the series.

Oduber’s bomb in the first came with two on and two out against Pelicans starter LHP Luis Parra (L, 1-1). 2B Tony Renda reached on a walk followed by a two-out Wooten single to bring up Oduber.

Myrtle Beach put their lone run on the board in the top of the second inning against LHP Hector Silvestre (W, 2-0). SS Michael De Leon singled in CF Lewis Brinson to cut the Potomac lead to two. Silvestre dazzled in the series clinching game. He tossed six innings allowing the one run on five hits with six strikeouts.

The Nationals answered the Pelicans run with one of their own in the second. C Pedro Severino drove home SS Stephen Perez with a single up the middle. The P-Nats added one final insurance run in the seventh when 1B Shawn Pleffner knocked in Tony Renda’s leadoff triple.

Myrtle Beach’s offense was completely shut down following RF Royce Bolinger’s third-inning single. With Silvestre and a relief core of RHP Manny Rodriguez and RHP Gilberto Mendez, Potomac’s pitching staff set down 19 batters in a row to clinch the series. Rodriguez twirled a perfect pair of frames in the seventh and eighth while Mendez slammed the door shut in the ninth. The final out came on a check-swing, 0-2 pitch to Lewis Brinson. Home plate umpire Cody Oakes said Brinson went around, and the P-Nats mobbed the mound in celebration

The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, which is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com, will be back on the air in 2015 for opening day after enjoying their championship-filled offseason.

Photo: Jessica Rene Hartman

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Baseball is back in Woodbridge. The Potomac Nationals opened their home opener at Pfitzner Stadium playing against the Lynchburg Hillcats.

Just before the 7:05 p.m. first pitch Tuesday, a line of cars all with Minor League Baseball fans inside strung from the stadium’s entrance to the entrance of the Prince William County Government Center, the building the stadium sits behind.

Some of the excitement was spoiled, however, when the Potomac Nationals fell to the Hill cats in a 10-7 slugfest. A team spokesman said the Nationals never garnered a lead or tied the game.

Both teams faceoff again tonight at Pfitzner.

Earlier this year, Potomac Nationals Team Owner Art Silber said plans are still in the works to build a new 6,000-seat baseball stadium at the Potomac Town Center, between a Wegmans grocery store and Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

Photo: Bryanna Altman

Photo: Cindy Ludington

It’s come down to just two companies negotiating with the Potomac Nationals for the naming rights for Minor League Baseball team’s new stadium in Woodbridge.

We just don’t know who they are.

We do know, however, whatever name goes onto the soon-to-be-built 6,000-seat stadium now slated to open in 2016 instead of 2015, it will be there for at least 10 years.

“We’re really close to the one that puts us over the top which is the naming rights deal,” said team owner Art Silber.

The stadium’s new name should be announced within the next 60 days, he added.

The stadium will be located behind Wegmans at the Potomac Town Center. Silber says it will be one of the few stadiums every built with private funds. A new $15 million, 2,800 space parking lot to be built next to the stadium will be paid for with public funds, and commuters will be able to park at the garage during the day and clear out by evening game times.

The Potomac Nationals, fresh off their franchise attendance record of getting nearly 237,000 fans to come out to their current home at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge during the 2013 season, on Sunday night talked about the upcoming season in 2014.

At the team’s annual Hot Stove Banquet in Fairfax County Sunday night, new team Field Manger Tripp Keister was introduced, who comes to Woodbridge after he was promoted from the Class A Hagerstown Suns in Maryland.

There will also be new additions at the stadium this year for hungry fans. New menu items for the 2014 season include spicy chicken sandwiches, turkey burgers, funnel cakes, and crab cakes, said Potomac Nationals Vice President and General Manager Josh Olerud.

The Potomac Nationals had 84 wins last season and came in 4th in Minor League Baseball. The team is affiliated with the Washington Nationals.

Photo: Potomac Nationals Team Owner Art Silber speaks at the team’s annual Hot Stove Banquet.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, the Majest Martial Arts Demo Team performed between innings during the Vintage Baseball Tournament at  Richard G. Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge.

They were invited to this fundraising event by the Occoquan, Woodbridge, Neabsco Optimist Club who support local children and their schools. Our team demonstrated board breaking, sparring techniques, and martial arts forms, while synchronized to a variety of crowd pleasing music.

This group of children, ranging in age from 8–15, are under the leadership of Master K.B. Kim at the Majest Martial Arts Academy in Montclair. They are the first place winners of the Washington, D.C. Tae Kwon Do Open tournament, May 2013, as well as the parade trophy winners in the Dale City Fourth of July Parade 2012.

Master Kim, a sixth degree black belt, has studied Tae Kwon Do for the past 37 years. Less than two years ago he, his wife Ayoung, and children; David, Sua, and Hyuna, moved from Seoul, Korea to Centreville. He teaches traditional Korean Tae Kwon Do to a family of 150 students of all ages, beginning at age 3.

Master Kim considers his Academy “more than just business…in class Master — outside class, friend.” He goes on to explain, “We teach our students motivation, confidence, and discipline in a fun and focused atmosphere.”

Demo Team Members:

Yasemin Berlas
Zakariya Berlas
Desmen Boykin
Gavin Cook
Jamee Daly
Isabella Dana
Jacob Dana
Andrew Frigo (not pictured)
Jared Girvan
Alex Haskovec
David Kim
Sua Kim
Ben Merchant
Ashley Nelson
Eric Nelson
Andrea Rodriguez
Isata Sankoh
Manuel Tsoukatos

The Manassas BATtle 8U travel baseball team continued its recent success to wrap up the summer with a championship at the Mt. Vernon Patriots 1st Annual Labor Day Classic Tournament. Over the course of three days and five games, the BATtle were undefeated, extending their winning streak, dating back to early, July to 17 games.

The BATtle began the weekend with a convincing 16-3 victory in 4 innings on Saturday against the Loudoun South Eagles. They continued pool play on Sunday with a doubleheader, topping the Loudoun Senators 14-3 in the opener. They wrapped up the #1 seeding with a six inning, 29-5 victory over the tournament host Mt. Vernon Patriots.

In the morning semi-final game on Labor Day, the BATtle triumphed over the #4 seeded Patriots by a final score of 9-2, advancing to the afternoon championship game.

In a rematch of their tournament opener, the BATtle faced the South Eagles in the championship game. In an exhilarating, back and forth, 2 hour and 45 minute championship game, the BATtle prevailed in the bottom of the 6th with a walk-off 15-14 victory.

This weekend capped off a successful three month swing from Memorial Day through Labor Day during which the BATtle brought home three championships and two 2nd place finishes. The Manassas BATtle looks to continue their success this fall as they kick off play in the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League this Sunday with a doubleheader against the Loudoun Senators.

The BATtle would like to acknowledge and thank their corporate partners from the Manassas, Prince William, and greater Northern Virginia business community for their sponsorship and generous support:
– Jeff & Debbie Ferlazzo of Re/Max Allegiance
– Armstrong Management
– Chantilly Midas
– The Mike and Manu Team of Weichert Realtors
– Diesel Doctor
– Virid Incorporated
– Bobby G’s Disc Jockey
– Mike Garcia Construction
– The Compass School
– Baby2Teen Furniture
– Glory Day’s Grill
– Occoquan Lodge #301
– Express Garage Door
– Sweet Creations Frozen Yogurt of Bristow
– Masterpiece Mail Marketing
– Hollins Associates CPAs
– Asha Public Relations
– Prospero’s Books
– Welch, Graham & Ogden Insurance
– Main Street Landscape
– Real Estate Results LLC
– The Bassette Real Estate Group
– Contract Solutions, Inc.
– Gaeltek LLC
– NOVEC

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — When Cutter Dykstra steps on the field with the Potomac Nationals, his love for baseball has deep roots all the way back to his father Lenny Dykstra, who was a star in the 1980’s for the New York Mets and then the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dykstra started with the P-Nats in 2011, and has been playing baseball “since I could walk,” he said.

He now hopes his tenure with the P-Nats is a stepping stone to the majors.

“I like to go out there and give it all I got every day,” he said.

And that attitude was inherited in part from his father who was part of the magical Mets of 1986. It was Dykstra who hit a walk-off home run in game three of the National League Championship, and then the team went on to beat the Boston Red Sox in the World Series that year.

This was three years before Cutter was born, but his father continued to play a major role with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1989-1996. In 1993, Dykstra won the Silver Slugger Award, and led the Phillies to the World Series that year, only to lose to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cutter Dykstra, who plays third baseman, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers minor league team in 2008 and was traded to the P-Nats before the 2011 season. His batting is contributing to the success the team has had this year.

“He’s had a career year,” said Potomac Nationals spokesperson Bryan Holland. “He just waits and gets his pitch.”

The minor leagues has a style all to its own. Most of the players are drafted out of high school and don’t get paid much, but it’s a much-needed step to playing in the Major Leagues. Minor league players are so transient that they live with “host” families in the team’s town. Dykstra is appreciative of this arrangement in Prince William County. “They take real good care of us here,” he said.

The fan base in Prince William supports the team. At a recent Sunday afternoon game, 9-year-old Drew, had a baseball in hand.

“The best thing is to get my ball signed,” he said.

For Monica from Falls Church, it was worth driving down for a game with her three children that play on a team.

“We just love baseball, we start them young,” she said.

The P-Nats provided a good start for most of the Washington Nationals, said Holland, noting that current players Ian Desmond, Ross Detwiler, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Drew Storen were all P-Nats in the past.

MANASSAS, Va. — Anthony Pearson’s level of play imitates that of Paul George, a small forward from the Indiana Pacers.

He can shoot the long and medium jumper and has tremendously increased his hustle on the defensive side of the ball. If you were to attend one of his games, you may notice that his rebounding may set him apart from some of the others. He can’t be packaged any better as a basketball player, according to his coaches.

This fall, Pearson, will attend Osbourn Senior High School in Manassas as a freshman, but hopes to show his skill sets while trying out for both the Eagles football and basketball teams.

For the last three years, Pearson has thrived in both sports. He has played for the Manassas Mutiny, a Virginia Youth Football Association team, and was also enrolled in the Manassas Park Youth Football League (MPFYL). During his 2012-2013 school year at Grace E. Metz Middle School, Pearson played the role of quarterback for the Mustang’s football team.

In addition, he played AAU Basketball for the 14U Division with G Team Sports this past Spring. “Anthony is just an all-around player. He has long-range shooting ability and is an excellent ball handler,” says his coach and trainer, George Logan, G Team Sports, Inc. “His rebounding and defense are his most-improved attributes this past season.”

“I hope to gain experience if I am selected for any of the teams,” Pearson states of his plan to tryout for both football and basketball at Osbourn. “If I am successful in making the team, I plan on working hard to one day get a scholarship.”

At any given time, both of his parents, Melanie and Tony Pearson, can be found at his game in support of his endeavors and watching their son challenge himself either on the field or the court playing the two sports he enjoys. “I would have to say that my Mom, Dad and Coach Logan are my biggest supporters,” said Anthony.

While only beginning his journey into the 9th grade, Anthony understands the essence of hard work and dedication to both of the sports he plans to play.

The one lesson he always remembers: “Never give up! It’s important in football, basketball and life,” says Pearson.