October 29, 2025
Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith (L) with Mt. Vernon District Champions of Character honorees Tate Allen, Michael Day and Zoe Tickner, and Tom Fitzpatrick of the Fairfax County Athletic Council. Click to see photo in high-resolution.
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.