Youth athletes, coaches and parents were honored on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, 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 in 2023 in honor of the late Stephen A. McLaughlin, the longtime Providence District Representative to the Fairfax County Athletic Council.

This year's Champion of Character Award was given to Harold Leff, a member of the Fairfax County Athletic Council for 33 years. This award is given to an individual for their longstanding service to athletics in Fairfax County and commitment to the values of the Champions of Character.

The awardees are as follows:

Braddock District

• Male Athlete - Tillman Abeyta, Football, Braddock Road Youth Club
• Female Athlete - Norah Garcia, Soccer, Annandale Boys & Girls Club
• Coach - Carlos Santizo, Soccer, Braddock Road Youth Club
• Parent - Angela Santizo, Soccer, Braddock Road Youth Club

Dranesville District

• Male Athlete - Brady Britt, Football/Baseball, Great Falls Little League and Langley High School
• Female Athlete - Ayla Sayd, Volleyball, Marshall High School
• Coach - Khayla Williams, Basketball, Herndon Optimist Club
• Parent - Martine Silve, Field Hockey, Herndon Reston Youth Field Hockey

Franconia District

• Male Athlete - Kibowen Kirui, Soccer, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club
• Female Athlete -  Vivienne Jensen, Soccer, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club
• Coach - Russell Balikian, Soccer/basketball, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club
• Parent - Tara Suga, Baseball, CSLL/Patriot/Hayfield HS

Hunter Mill District

• Male Athlete - Teddy Gill, Football, Reston Youth Association
• Female Athlete - Sienna McIntyre, Ice Hockey, Reston Raiders
• Coach - Terry Redican, football, South Lakes HS
• Parent  - Walid Choueiri, Basketball, Swim, Football

Mason District

• Male Athlete - Makai Carothers, Football, Annandale Boys & Girls Club
• Female Athlete - Michelle Soto, Soccer, Annandale Boys & Girls Club 
• Coach - Alicia Hopkins, Basketball, Soccer, T-Ball, Football, Annandale Boys & Girls Club
• Parent - Maria Colbert, Soccer, Premier Athletics Club

Mt. Vernon District

• Male Athlete  - Tate Allen, Basketball, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club
• Female Athlete - Zoe Tickner, Soccer, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club /West Potomac HS
• Coach - Garrett Kell, Basketball, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club
• Parent - Michael Day, Basketball, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club

Providence District

• Male Athlete - Ben Ochsendorf, Basketball, McLean Select and Nova Cats AAU
• Female Athlete - Ryan Elizabeth McIntosh, Swimming
• Coach - Mark Cruz, Volleyball, Vienna Youth Inc.
• Parent - Mary Wong, Volleyball, Vienna Youth Inc.

Springfield District

• Male Athlete - Simon Fischer, Baseball, Central Springfield Little League
• Female Athlete - Valeria Morales, Soccer, Braddock Road Youth Club
• Coach - Dan Walsh, Baseball, Central Springfield Little League
• Parent - Kwame James, Basketball, CTAB Hoops

Sully District

• Male Athlete - Otto Hutchins, Soccer
• Female Athlete - Quinn Crozier, Softball, VA Glory
• Coach - Javier Alarcon, Soccer, SYA
• Parent - Dan Mac, Soccer, SYA 

Visit the 2025 Awards Flickr photo album to view and download more photos. 

Visit the Stephen A. McLaughlin Champions of Character Awards page for more information on the annual awards. 

 

See a Channel 16 Around Fairfax video of the event below.