The 2025 NOVA Legends Year-End Awards are here—our third annual celebration of the athletes, coaches, and media members who defined another unforgettable year in Northern Virginia sports.This episode honors standout performers across football, basketball (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), coaching excellence, media coverage, sportsmanship, Athlete of the Year, and Legend of the Year.All nominees are winners. Selections were based on a mix of community votes, on-field impact, leadership, and first-hand observation throughout the year.The show also features live reactions from standout soccer star Lilli Lubic, who reflects on her journey from high school success to college soccer and beyond.This episode is about more than trophies—it’s about culture, community, growth, and gratitude.If you love Northern Virginia sports and the people who make it special, this one’s for you.

Today I’m joined by Strasburg head football coach Tripp Lamb, who just led the Rams to the first football state championship in school history.Coach Lamb and I talk about why it took such a storied program so long to break through, and what the title means to Strasburg and the Shenandoah County community. We cover his playing career at Staunton River High School and Bridgewater College, followed by his long tenure as an assistant at Strasburg before taking over as head coach in 2024.We then dive into the historic 2025 season—the defining moments, the players who made the difference, and how belief, culture, and execution finally brought a championship home.If you love Virginia high school football, program-building stories, and the impact of sports on small communities, this episode is a must-watch.

This morning I’m joined by Matthew Hatfield of Virginia Preps to break down the 2025–26 high school basketball season. We start with Petersburg High, its new coach Ty White, and how the program is handling a national schedule. From there, we run through all 12 VHSL classifications (six boys and six girls), revisiting last year’s Final Fours before identifying this season’s top contenders and standout players. As always, Matthew’s depth of knowledge is unmatched, and it was a pleasure catching up with him.

Madison head coach Justin Counts joins NOVA Legends to break down a memorable 2025 season — a sixth straight Northern Region title, a brutal playoff path, and another classic battle with state power Oscar Smith.We talk about balancing roster turnover with sustained success, the early-season turning point (South Lakes), the growth of QB Andrew Rowan and RB Matthew Weiler, how Madison tightened up in the secondary late in the year, the Westfield regional final and the Oscar Smith rematch, what Counts learned as a coach, and what’s next (offseason plan + young talent coming, including Will Smoot).If you follow Northern Virginia football and love program-building stories, this one’s for you.

Two years ago, North Stafford went 0–10. This Saturday, they’re playing for a state championship. On today’s NOVA Legends Podcast, I sit down with head coach Marquez Hall to talk about:His journey from Tuskegee, Alabama to Tennessee State, the CFL, and finally North StaffordThe influence of HBCU football and Omega Psi Phi on his life and coachingHow he rebuilt North Stafford “brick by brick” from 1–9 and 0–10 to 11–3Keeping kids bought in when losing, and turning them into a player-led teamThe defensive masterpiece vs West SpringfieldHow his Wolverines match up with Oscar Smith and his keys to victoryCoach Hall also shares what a state title would mean to his players, the school, Stafford County, and to him personally after so many doubters.If you love Virginia high school football, culture, and program-building, this is a must-watch.

Virginia high school football season comes down to one final Saturday—and we’ve got the state’s best analyst to break it all down.Matthew Hatfield (VirginiaPreps.com, On3) joins NOVA Legends Podcast to recap an insane state semifinal weekend packed with one-score thrillers, and to preview all six VHSL state championship games.We cover:Why there were so many one-score semifinal games and what it says about parity in Virginia HS footballHow out-of-state scheduling (Gonzaga, McNamara, Grimsley, etc.) is sharpening top programsA deep dive on all six title games:Class 6: Oscar Smith vs North Stafford – can North Stafford’s athletes push the Tigers to the limit?Class 5: Maury vs Highland Springs – revenge, history, and whether Maury is on a different level right nowClass 4: Varina vs Loudoun County – Varina’s firepower vs County’s one-score magicClass 3: Lake Taylor vs Kettle Run – maybe the best matchup of the weekend?Class 2: Glenvar vs Strasburg – Brody Dawyat vs Strasburg’s ground-and-poundClass 1: Rappahannock vs Rye Cove – balance vs brutality in the trenchesThe coaching jobs that impressed most this postseason (including Madison’s Justin Counts)The eternal question: go for two or play for overtime?If you love Virginia high school football—from the 757 to NOVA to the far southwest—this is your full state finals primer.

Four of Northern Virginia’s top girls high school coaches sit down for a powerful 2025–26 season conversation on NOVA Legends Podcast. Coach Dianne Lewis (Edison), Kirsten Stone (Madison), Amanda Baker (Langley), and Le Towe (WT Woodson) discuss balancing parenting and coaching, the longevity of women coaches, the impact of private schools and transfer rules, sending their players to college, and what to expect from their teams and districts this season. If you enjoy NOVA girls hoops, culture, and the people shaping it, this panel is a must-watch.

2025-26 NOVA high school girls hoops are here! 🏀On this episode of NOVA Legends Podcast, I sit down with NOVAhoops’ Chris Jolly to break down the Northern Virginia girls basketball landscape: early-season surprises, Osbourne Park vs. Paul VI, Gainesville’s rise, Concord and Patriot District battles, Loudoun contenders, and the balance of public vs. private powers.If we missed your team or favorite player, check out Chris’s in-depth coverage and rankings at Nova Hoops for the full picture of this season’s storylines.

West Springfield head coach Anthony Parker joins the show after the Spartans beat rival Lake Braddock for the regional title and punched their ticket to the state semifinals. We talk about West Springfield’s first regional crown since 1980, Parker’s coaching journey from Ballou and North Carolina A&T to Fairfax County, the impact of his two sons on staff, and how this team reinvented itself into a tough, run-first group. We finish by previewing a huge state semifinal showdown with North Stafford and what it will take for the Spartans to keep their dream season alive.

The 2025–26 high school basketball season is here — and we’re tipping things off Loudoun-style. I’m joined by three of the best in the area to break down what to expect on Opening Night and beyond:🏀 Ben Farquhar — Heritage🏀 Jeff Hawes — Potomac Falls🏀 Jacob Krogh — Broad RunWe hit many of the topics fans care about:• How tryouts, practices, and scrimmages shaped their rosters• Players and teams to watch across the region• The private-school talent drain — real issue or overblown?• Monday/Thursday scheduling — love it or lose it?• Is the true point guard still the heartbeat of a winning team?Smart hoops talk, real insight, and a ton of excitement for the season ahead.

On one of the biggest days of the year for Northern Virginia basketball, NOVA Hoops founder Chris Jolly joins the NOVA Legends Podcast to break down the 2025–26 boys season. We go district by district — Concorde, Liberty, National, Patriot, Cedar Run, Cardinal, Dulles, Potomac, and more — talk transfers, academies vs public schools, rising programs in Loudoun and Prince William, and why teams like Westfield, Patriot, Broad Run, Heritage, Potomac, Hanley, and others could all be playing deep into March.If you love NOVA high school hoops, this is your preseason roadmap.Please visit NOVAhoops.com

Today I’m joined by four of the top public-school coaches in Northern Virginia:Carlos Poindexter (Hayfield)Doug Craig (WT Woodson)Sherman Rivers (Patriot)David Houston (West Potomac)We break down:• How last year’s NOVA grads are performing in college• Honesty with recruiters and helping players find the right fit• Early impressions from tryouts and scrimmages• Whether December wins matter or if everything is about Feb–March• Loudoun vs Fairfax vs Prince William this season• Public school talent vs private/academy pipelines• Westfield, Yorktown, Potomac Falls, Tuscarora, Heritage, Riverside, South County and more• Why football brings the scandals and basketball stays steadyIt’s a fast, insightful, funny look at what makes NOVA hoops special and why these programs keep producing players who succeed at the next level.Subscribe to NOVA Legends for more conversations with the coaches, players, and programs that define Northern Virginia basketball

Lake Braddock head coach Mike Dougherty joins me to break down one of the wildest Northern Virginia football seasons in recent memory.We start with this year’s off-field headlines — the Fairfax eligibility case and the Battlefield chain-crew “radio scandal” — and what they’re like from a coach’s perspective. Then Coach Dougherty walks us through Lake Braddock’s playoff run: rematches with South County and West Springfield, life as a road team, in-game adjustments, special teams philosophy, and why he thinks this year’s Bruins are different from the last two.We close by scouting West Springfield, talking about “needing a few Jack Lamberts” on defense, and getting a Steelers fan’s brutally honest over/under on Mike Tomlin’s season.If you love NOVA high school football, scheme talk, and real coach honesty, this is great dialogue.

In this special episode of NOVA Legends, I sit down for my first-ever listener Q&A, answering questions submitted by fans across the NOVA Legends Facebook and Instagram communities.From the glory days of 1970s high school basketball to today’s rising stars, I share stories that connect generations — revisiting iconic games, legendary athletes, and the lessons learned from coaches who built programs and shaped lives.Topics include:🏃‍♀️ Meghan McCarthy and what makes a true champion🏀 The greatest games in Northern Virginia sports history🏈 Madison’s 2024 state final classic vs. Oscar Smith⚽ Yorktown vs. South Lakes, 2021 — one of the wildest soccer nights ever👩‍🏫 Lessons from mentors like my Aunt Manuelita and coaching greatsI also talk candidly about podcasting itself — the people I've learned from, the ones who inspired me, and the joy of celebrating Northern Virginia sports through storytelling.Subscribe for weekly conversations with the players, coaches, and legends who built Northern Virginia’s sports legacy.

Today I’m joined by Jill Patterson, who just added another remarkable chapter to her story by winning the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in Australia — her biggest victory yet.What makes it so special is that this was a year when she wasn’t training or racing at the same intensity as she had in the past. And yet, when the moment came, she found a way to win.Jill takes us inside the race — the tactics, the pacing, the split-second decisions that allowed her to pull off a perfectly timed sprint to the line. We talk about what that moment meant to her, how she stayed composed in maybe the biggest race of her life, and what she’s learned about balancing competition, coaching, and the broader world of cycling.It’s a great conversation with one of Gran Fondo's most thoughtful and accomplished riders.

Today I’m joined by Matthew McKeag, who has coached at several top programs across Virginia, including Robinson, Varina, and Glen Allen. We talk about his new basketball consulting initiative and revisit his journey as a versatile, all-around wing at Chantilly High School and Hampden-Sydney College. Matthew reflects on the big wins, tough losses, and lessons learned along the way, while offering great insight into the differences between coaching in Northern Virginia and the Richmond area. Now serving as Human Capital Manager at Eagle Construction, his passion for the game remains as strong as ever. It was a real joy catching up with Matt — the son of my own high school coach, Bob McKeag.

Today I’m joined by Byron Thweatt, a two-year captain and standout linebacker at the University of Virginia who went on to a brief NFL career before embarking on a long and distinguished coaching journey. Byron followed his hero James Farrior from Matoaca High School to UVA, where he started all four years under legendary coach George Welsh. During his time in Charlottesville, he played in three bowl games alongside future NFL stars such as Aaron Brooks, Thomas Jones, and Patrick Kearney.After playing for elite NFL coaches Tony Dungy and Jeff Fisher, Byron transitioned into coaching, spending more than 13 years as a college assistant and as head coach at Virginia State University, his hometown college in the CIAA. Today, Byron has successfully shifted gears into a career in pharmaceutical sales with Novo Nordisk in Northern Virginia. He’s enjoying more time with his wife and three daughters, and we discuss that transition from the grind of football to life beyond the game.It was a real pleasure catching up with Byron!

Today I’m joined by Madison head coach Justin Counts, fresh off a huge win over Concorde rival South Lakes that puts the Warhawks right back in the playoff picture. We talk about how the 2025 Warhawks have evolved after losing so many key players from last year’s team that came up just short in the state final. Coach Counts walks us through a tough 4–4 start, where every game has been a battle—quite a contrast to last season, when Madison cruised through the regular schedule. We also look ahead to the remaining Concorde matchups and discuss the keys to making another deep postseason run.

Today I’m joined by Yorktown head coach Joe Keimig, who enters his third season leading the Patriots’ varsity program. We talk about what he’s learned at a school known for its high expectations and strong community support, and the great backing he’s received within the building. We also look back on a successful 20-win campaign in 2024–25, and take an in-depth look at the 2025–26 Patriots, led by standout point guard Jake Coulam. Coach Keimig brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to Yorktown, and it’s always a pleasure catching up with him.

Forest Boyce joins me fresh off another iconic victory — this time aboard Henry Walters’ Barbadian Runner in the 2025 Maryland Million Classic, one of the premier events on the Maryland racing calendar. Forest is among the most accomplished female riders in racing history, with over 1,000 wins and more than $40 million in career purses. We catch up on the evolving Maryland racing scene — from the closing of Laurel Park to the impact of HISA on jockeys — and talk about how her approach to riding has changed over time. Of course, we also dive into her thrilling ride aboard local sensation Barbadian Runner. It’s always a pleasure catching up with Forest!