VIENNA, VA — Vienna has proven to be a town of champions lately. On Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized three more championships involving Vienna teams just over a month after celebrating another team’s championship.
Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who represents the Town of Vienna, and other supervisors honored two Madison High School state championships: the baseball team for their second Virginia Class 6 state title in the last three seasons and boys lacrosse for their second consecutive state title and third in the past four seasons.
The championship-winning baseball team notably includes, Bryce Eldridge, who is expected to be a top draft pick in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft.
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Another team, Vienna Rugby, was honored for its first Tier 2 boys high school level national championship with a resolution from Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity and other supervisors.
“A recent article in the Washington Post sports section referred to championship crazy Vienna, commenting on the number of state championships that had been won by the James Madison High School teams, and so it continues into 2023,” said Alcorn at Tuesday’s meeting.
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The winning baseball team was led to victory by Eldridge, a first baseman and pitcher ranked as the potential 21st MLB draft pick. Alcorn noted this could be the second MLB draft pick from Madison High School in three years, as Madison graduate James Triantos was picked in the 2021 draft.
As for the lacrosse team, Alcorn said the team earned a 13-game winning streak and only had two losses this season.
The board requested a certificate of recognition be presented to the school and student athletes on both teams. This is the second recognition in the last two months for Madison High School student athletes, as the board honored girls basketball in May for winning their fourth consecutive state championship.
Vienna Rugby had players and as well as its Commissioner Stuart Zimmerman present for the national championship recognition. According to the board’s resolution, the team won the state championship over the “longtime powerhouse” Fort Hunt before winning the Tier II national title over the South Orange County Raptors of California on May 27.
” Your journey from the program’s beginnings in 2006 to two being ranked the number 10 youth rugby club in the nation, it took a lot to get here. I know it wasn’t easy,” said Herrity.
Zimmerman attributed success to people that have helped the program succeed.
“The team’s achievement of the high school national tournament in Elkhart, Indiana last month was the culmination of years of dedication and hard work,” said Zimmerman. “The success is not just an achievement of the players on this championship team, but the many players and families that came before whose commitment has built the club over the 17 years since we were founded.”
The national championship team includes players from Madison High School, Oakton High School, Marshall High School, W.T. Woodson High School, Robinson Secondary School, Langley High School and Walt Whitman High School, many of whom have played together since elementary school. Several of the players on this year’s team won the middle school level national title together in 2018. According to Zimmerman, 22 graduating seniors are leaving the program.
Chairman Jeff McKay noted the significance of Vienna Rugby defeating the dominant Fort Hunt Rugby.
“I know for the kids participating that’s huge because that’s a local rivalry,” said McKay. “Fort Hunt’s existed and been exceptional for a long period of time, and to be able to knock them off as a huge feather in your cap.”
McKay also said the national tournament was one of the most competitive to date.
“It takes a team effort, and anytime we have our young people here, we of course want to recognize them for their academic and athletic achievements,” said McKay. “But also the parents, the coaches, the staff, all the people that make this happen, because it is truly a community effort to succeed in the way that you have.”
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