UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

Washington Post beat reporter Nicky Wolcott joins me to break down the 2025 All-Met soccer team and the final Top 10 team rankings. We dive into his selection process, the toughest calls he had to make, and share our overall reflections on the season. Plus, we look ahead to what’s in store for the 2025–26 campaign.

Riverside and George Mason University midfielder John Balkey joins me just days after being named the 2025 Washington Post Player of the Year. We reflect on a standout season in which he led the Rams to the state semifinals and helped them finish at the top of the local rankings. John shares what this prestigious honor means to him—especially following the tough disappointment of a state tournamen...

Today, I'm joined by three key members of Meridian High School's 2025 state championship team: senior center back Aiden Bakewell, freshman forward Zach Miller, and senior forward Fletcher Saaty. We talk about what it’s like playing for Northern Virginia’s “small-town” school and the keys behind the Mustangs’ second state title in three years. Our conversation touches on their standout coac...

Today, I'm joined by Lilli Lubic of Independence, one day after she was named the 2025 Washington Post Player of the Year. We explore many factors behind her success on the soccer field and her journey to earning a Division I opportunity at the University of Delaware. Lilli reflects on her two state championship seasons—how each one felt and whether they were different experiences. We also hig...

Independence Head Coach Ann Vierkorn recently guided the Tigers to their second state championship in three years, capping the season with a thrilling overtime victory over perennial powerhouse Kellam. Coach Vierkorn joins me to reflect on an incredible undefeated season, sharing insights into the pivotal moments and keys to her team's success. We dive into the experience of coaching high school s...

Yorktown soccer coach Hannah Davis joins me during the week of the state playoffs, which kick off at home against Robinson on June 10. We break down this year’s Patriots squad and how they stack up against her 2022 state championship team. We wrap up with a look at the upcoming Robinson matchup and the key factors for a deep playoff run.

Wakefield Coach Eddie Carrasquillo is enjoying the kind of stretch every coach dreams of, guiding his Warriors to the state semifinals with a remarkable run that includes upset victories over two of Virginia’s top teams, McLean and Robinson. Coach Carrasquillo joins me to talk about Wakefield’s dramatic penalty shootout wins and the overwhelming support the team has received in the aftermath. We d...

Today, I'm joined by South County Coach Darryl Springer, whose Stallions are set to face the defending champions this Friday in the Virginia 6A state semifinals. We talk about Coach Springer's journey—from his roots in Trinidad and Tobago, to his time as a Division I player at Radford, and later as a club technical director. This season, he was promoted to interim head coach after the prev...

Today, I’m once again joined by Alexandria Soccer Association Executive Director Tommy Park to dive into the ever-evolving landscape of club soccer. We explore the ongoing tension between club and high school soccer, particularly in light of restrictions some leagues and teams place on high school participation. Coach Tommy also shares updates on recent developments in the youth soccer scene, incl...

Today, I’m joined by members of Lightridge Soccer, the newest high school in Loudoun County, which made waves by winning both the district and regional titles—despite sharing a district with Riverside, the top-ranked team in the area. Joining me are senior goalkeeper Jimmy Brown, junior center back Brayden Moyssiadis, senior midfielder Alex Owellan, and senior forward Ahmad Sajad. We dive into the...

Today, I’m once again joined by Northern Virginia basketball legends Katie Smrcka-Duffy and Tim Fudd for an in-depth conversation about their extraordinary daughter, Azzi Fudd, UConn basketball, and the ever-evolving landscape of elite women’s basketball and player development. We dive into how the WNBA is promoting its stars—not just Caitlin Clark, but also A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, and Angel...

Today, I had the opportunity to meet with several members of the 2025 Herndon Hornets, who recently won the Northern Region and are set to host a state quarterfinal matchup against Wakefield this week. The players included Andrew Tunley (senior, fullback/midfielder), Bryan Leiva (senior, fullback/midfielder), Brennan Mara (junior, center back), and Otu Bisong (senior, forward).We discussed Herndon...

This evening, I had the chance to speak with four standout seniors from Wakefield High School’s soccer team following their stunning regional semifinal upset over defending state finalist McLean. Joining me were Vajk Dawson (heading to VCU), Ryan Goff-Glennon (JMU), Ricky Perez (VMI), and Erik Vasquez (Lynchburg).We reflected on a season where Wakefield consistently performed well, yet few expecte...

Today, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Ellie Goodrich — former Alexandria City High School standout and current U.S. Women’s Futsal National Team goalkeeper — to talk about her experience at the inaugural CONCACAF Futsal Qualifier in Guatemala. Ellie started in goal and helped lead the U.S. to a strong showing, finishing the tournament with a 1-1-1 record. We discussed what it was like com...

Today, I’m honored to be joined by Ambassador Mark Brzezinski to explore his remarkable life and career. We begin by discussing his legendary father, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, who is the subject of Edward Luce’s new biography, "Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski: America’s Great Power Prophet." We reflect on Zbig’s reputation as a formidable power broker, as well as...

Today, I’m joined by Cardinal Association basketball officials and administrators Scott Bach-Hansen and Adam Brick to discuss recent rule changes and to spotlight some exciting Cardinal events coming up this summer. We delve into updates on basket interference and goaltending—sensible changes that align high school calls more closely with college and professional standards. We also tackle some of...

On the eve of postseason play, I’m joined by senior captains of Yorktown HS soccer to reflect on the 2025 Patriots season and the broader local soccer landscape: Quincy Greene, forward (Washington & Lee ’29), Reese Montgomery, midfielder (Davidson ’29), Avery Stell, forward (Boston College ’29), and Meri Strazzella, fullback (University of Delaware ’29). We take a look at how this year’s team...

Erin Keogh Breitenbach is one of the most accomplished high school female distance runners in U.S. history. She set numerous track and course records across the country, won the prestigious Kinney Cross Country Championship twice, and was twice named a national champion. A two-time Gatorade National Track Athlete of the Year, Erin once held national records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters, as...

Today, I'm joined by several standout members of the 2025 Robinson High School girls soccer team to discuss the Northern Virginia girls high school soccer scene and their exceptional season. The Rams have clinched the Patriot District title, and we delve into the keys to their success and what it will take to make a deep postseason run. Joining me are:Julia Joyner, midfielder ('25)Kasey Maida, mid...

Tonight, I’m joined by two standout Liberty District athletes and Division I signees—Joe Margita from McLean and Quinn Belt from Yorktown. We dive into high school soccer through the lens of top college prospects, exploring the contrasts between club and high school play. We also break down the current season and highlight the exceptional talent across Northern Virginia this year. Finally, we disc...

Madelaine Walsh brings deep expertise in the rapidly evolving NIL landscape, with over three years of hands-on experience, most recently as Director of Marketing and Athlete Engagement at UCLA. Her journey began at Cavalier Futures—UVA’s NIL collective—where she worked alongside Lo Davis, and since then, she’s been at the forefront of shaping how athletes and programs engage with NIL. In our conve...

Herndon High recently made a big move, bringing home 2011 graduate Austin Hamilton as its new varsity basketball head coach. Himself a former Hornets All-Met performer, Coach Hamilton now takes the reins of historically one of Northern Virginia’s most respected programs. He joins me to talk about his decision to return, the coaches who shaped his journey, his approach to leadership, and the influe...

Keith Honore faced a monumental challenge when he stepped into the role at Potomac High School, succeeding his own former coach, the legendary Kendall Hayes. But he rose to the occasion, forging a legacy of his own at the Dumfries school—guiding the team to two state championships, multiple regional and district titles, and dedicating himself to the growth and development of young athletes. Coach...

Former Henrico coach Vance Harmon has lived a remarkable and unique basketball journey—most of it rooted in his hometown of Richmond. A graduate of Douglas Freeman, where he now serves as Athletic Director, Coach Harmon made an uncommon move as a white player by playing at Virginia Union, a storied HBCU and longtime member of the historic CIAA. He joins me to reflect on his basketball path—from th...

Stanford signee Dillon Logan is making his high school soccer debut with the AC Titans in his senior year, after spending the past three seasons focused on his club career at Alexandria Soccer. He joins me to talk about his impressive rise through the local soccer scene and the key figures who’ve shaped his development. We also dive into what’s driving the Titans’ undefeated run and discuss his go...