Tag: sports
Softball fields at Wakefield Park improved
The softball fields at Wakefield Park have been upgraded, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced on June 11. The improvements include renovated playing surfaces and amenities, upgraded LED lighting, new dugouts, new fencing, new batting cages, and new picnic tables and bleachers. Field 8 has been converted into a state-of-the-art synthetic turf surface. Wakefield Park … Continued
Local man to compete in international freediving event
Carlos Villamar, a 67-year-old patent attorney and inventor from Bailey’s Crossroads, is preparing to compete for an Ecuadorian national record at a pool freediving competition in Tampa Bay, Fla., in December. Villamar’s mission is more than a personal athletic challenge, he says. He has launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover both his basic costs, with … Continued
Supervisors approve expansion of the St. James Academy
The Board of Supervisors on June 9 approved a zoning special exception to allow a major expansion of the private school for elite student athletes at the St. James sports complex in Springfield. The St. James Performance Academy offers an online college preparatory educational program on-site starting with grade 5, along with athletic training, coaching, … Continued
Where to watch the World Cup
There are plenty of places to watch a FIFA World Cup game on a big screen starting this week in venues not too far from the Annandale/Mason District area. Here are a few options: There will be large indoor and outdoor viewing areas with high-quality broadcasts, live DJs, entertainment, food and drink specials, and giveaways. … Continued
Indoor soccer training facility proposed for Port Royal Road
A large indoor soccer training facility has been proposed for a vacant building on Port Royal Road in Springfield. The Board of Zoning Appeals has scheduled a hearing on July 22 for a special permit for the project. The site is zoned for industrial uses. Capstone Soccer would be located at 5256 Port Royal Road. … Continued
Z’s Boxing Gym trains a Golden Gloves champion
Z’s Boxing Gym in Annandale has produced a champion boxer. Nandintsetseg (Nandin) Myagmardulam brought home a champion belt from the Golden Gloves of America national competition in Tulsa, Okla., on May 16. That’s the highest achievement in the U.S. for amateur boxers, says Eric Zimmerman, Nandin’s coach and the owner of Z’s Boxing Gym. Nandin … Continued
Westminister field project nearly complete
The Griffin Field project – the “field of dreams” – at the Westminster School in Annandale is nearly completed. A ribbon-cutting celebration will be held in October. The independent, private school, located at 3819 Gallows Road, serves students from preschool through middle school. The new turf field is already being used by students for soccer, … Continued
Boxing shop to open in Annandale
Z’s Boxing Gym in Annandale is opening a shop selling high-end boxing equipment a couple of doors away. Z’s Boxing Gear will open at 4113 John Marr Drive within the next few weeks, says Monica Zimmerman, the wife of Z’s Boxing Gym owner Eric Zimmerman. The new shop will replace Word of Life Books, a … Continued
School board considers selling naming rights
The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved a motion to consider selling naming rights for athletic facilities. The motion, proposed by school board members Kyle McDaniel (at-large) and Mateo Dunne (Mount Vernon), calls for the superintendent to draft a proposal on naming rights opportunities by July. “Pursuing naming rights is a very common approach for public … Continued
School news roundup – March 2026
The following news items highlight student achievements and issues affecting Annandale/Mason District area schools. Deepfake crackdown – The Fairfax County School Board is considering updates to its Student Rights and Responsibilities document that would set clear consequences for students who create or share intimate images of their peers and staff, including digitally altered “deepfakes” and … Continued
FCPS tightens rules on athletic transfers
Fairfax County Public Schools announced the results of an investigation of the Hayfield Secondary School football recruiting scandal and said changes are in the works on athletic transfers and eligibility. The trouble arose at Hayfield in 2024 after the new football coach, Darryl Overton, was accused of recruiting 14 students from his former state championship-winning … Continued
Rocks appear on field at Roundtree Park
Why is the soccer field at Roundtree Park covered with at least a hundred rocks? Park visitors had some ideas: Maybe it’s an alien landing strip, one person jokingly suggested. Or something to do with a mystical ceremony? A nearby neighbor walking her dogs had an answer. She was at Roundtree Park on Dec. 30 … Continued
Pickleball tournament supports after-school programs for Asian American youths
A pickleball tournament on Saturday at the Down the Line Sports Center in Annandale raised funds for Asian American LEAD, an organization that supports after-school leadership development programs for Asian American youths. The event featured a pickleball clinic, recreational games, and a tournament for competitive players. The event was AALEAD’s first pickleball fundraiser, says the … Continued
Wakefield Park gets new pickleball courts
The Fairfax County Park Authority has completed a court reconfiguration project at Wakefield Park in Annandale that includes the addition of six new dedicated pickleball courts. One tennis court was converted into four dedicated pickleball courts, while two dual-use courts were returned to tennis-only play. With these changes, Wakefield Park now has 10 tennis courts … Continued
The St. James proposes a major expansion
The St. James sports complex is planning a major expansion of its private academy for elite student athletes. The facility, located on Industrial Road in the Springfield area of Mason District, is proposing a 20,000-square-foot expansion to accommodate future growth of the St. James Academy, a private school that opened in August 2024. The academy … Continued