Youth sports athletes, coaches and parents were honored on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 at the annual Stephen A. McLaughlin Champions of Character Awards at the Fairfax County Government Center.

The annual awards, founded in 2001, honor county youth, coaches and parents in each magisterial district for extraordinary service in pursuing victory with honor on and off the field of competition. Instituted by the Fairfax County Athletic Council, this program aims to support the tradition of amateur athletics in cultivating teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship and community service. 

The award was renamed this year in honor of the late Stephen A. McLaughlin, the longtime Providence District Representative to the Fairfax County Athletic Council. A special presentation was made to the McLaughlin family.

"Each year, this program honors our athletes, coaches and parents not just for what they do on the field, but for living the traits that make a good person – respect, responsibility, caring, trustworthiness, citizenship and fairness," said NCS Director Lloyd Tucker, recalling his own days as a youth athlete.

The Stephen A. McLaughlin Champions of Character Awards are presented in partnership with the Fairfax County Athletic Council with support from TD Bank.

The awardees are as follows:

Braddock District

• Female Athlete: Katherine Suson, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Capital Gymnastics — Gymnastics
• Male Athlete: Daniel Belloni, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Top Caliber Lacrosse — Lacrosse
• Coach: Douglas Alcorn and Malcolm H. Squires, Jr. Braddock Road Youth Club — Soccer
• Parent: Elizabeth Giuliani, Braddock Road Youth Club — Soccer

Dranesville District 

• Female Athlete: Riley Losick, Great Falls Basketball — Basketball
• Male Athlete: Luca H. Sanchez, Langley Club & FISH Swim Team — Swimming
• Coach: Craig Cook, Great Falls Little League — Baseball/Softball
• Parent: Patricia Walker, Glory Fastpitch Softball — Softball

Franconia District

• Female Athlete: Mya Cook, Glory Fastpitch Softball — Softball
• Male Athlete: Urban Ramirez, Lee Mt. Vernon Sports Club — Soccer
• Coach: Chris Larson, Lee Mt. Vernon Sports Club — Basketball
• Parent :Corea B. Smith, Lee Mt. Vernon Sports Club — Soccer

Hunter Mill District

• Female Athlete: Noor Atiya, Langston Hughes Middle School, Reston Youth Basketball — Basketball
• Male Athlete: Andrew Carroll, Premier Athletics Club — Soccer
• Coach: Randy McCargo, Vienna Youth Inc. — Football
• Parent:  Amber Kluesener, Vienna Girls Softball League — Softball 6 7

Mason District

• Female Athlete: Caroline O’Brien, Annandale Boys and Girls Club — Soccer
• Male Athlete: Bradley McCall, Villarreal Virginia Academy — Soccer
• Coach: Karen Billingslea Villarreal, Virginia Academy — Soccer
• Parent: Randa A. Gabr, Annandale Boys and Girls Club — Soccer

Mount Vernon District

• Female Athlete: Rhys Smith, Lee Mt. Vernon Sports Club — Soccer
• Male Athlete: Graham Swoope, Fort Hunt Youth Lacrosse — Lacrosse
• Coach: Kevin Jeffery, Lee Mt. Vernon Sports Club — Soccer
• Parent: Tina Hopkins, Gunston Soccer — Soccer 8

Providence District

• Female Athlete: Helen Kluesener, Vienna Girls Softball League — Softball
• Male Athlete: Wes Ochsendorf, NOVA Cavaliers — Basketball
• Coach: Ryan Webb Great Falls - Reston Soccer Club — Soccer
• Parent: Nicole and Chris McGarrigal, Vienna Youth Soccer — Soccer

Springfield District

• Female Athlete: Jaisley Tibayan, Braddock Road Youth Club — Volleyball
• Male Athlete: Connor Cluxton, Springfield/South County Youth Club — Soccer
• Coach: Paul Miller, Southwestern Youth Association — Basketball
• Parent: David Fields, Springfield/South County Youth Club — Soccer 9

Sully District

• Female Athlete: Ava Keegan, Southwestern Youth Association — Field Hockey, Softball, Soccer
• Male Athlete: Christopher Schafer, Southwestern Youth Association — Track
• Coach: Samantha Nhan, Southwestern Youth Association — Volleyball
• Parent: Pamela Woodfield, Southwestern Youth Association — Baseball, Wrestling

To see the full photo album, please visit NCS' Flickr page.

For more information on the awards, please visit the awards website.

To see the full presentation, please visit Fairfax County Channel 16 's website.

See the highlight video below.