Foxcroft School has been around for almost 100 years, but this was a first: Two athletic teams advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament this fall, with one of making it all the way to the championship game.

The field hockey team, ranked second through most the fall, fell 3-0 to Fredericksburg Academy in the VISAA Division II Title game Saturday (Nov. 10) – just a day after FA eliminated Foxcroft's tennis team in a semifinal match. The fact that neither Foxcroft squad came away with the championship was academic. The journey was special, especially for a school that has traditionally been better known for its riding program than for its team sports.

Foxcroft's athletes from both team and equestrian arenas amassed a stunning array of honors, too, this fall as five athletes earned All-State honors, 10 earned All-Delaney Athletic Conference mention and several riders collected prestigious ribbons at SWVHJ shows in Lexington, VA. Four field hockey players and a junior cross-country athlete who had never run competitively before were the All-State stars.

Riders captured numerous titles at top shows in Lexington, VA, including the SWVHJA Hunter Medal Finals.

With 10 seniors on the squad, field hockey was expected to be strong this year but it turned out to be even better than advertised. Coached by athletic director Michelle Woodruff and former Loudoun County Player of the Year Jessi Coil (a Foxcroft alum), the team compiled a 12-5-2 record with four of those losses came against Fredericksburg Academy, including a 1-0 loss in the DAC championship game and the state title game.

Hosting its first state game ever, Foxcroft field hockey rolled past Norfolk Christian, 3-0, at Foxcroft in the first round of the state tournament to earn a trip to Viriginia Beach for the semifinals. Determined not to let the long trip or the unfamiliar artificial turf deter them, Foxcroft came from behind on a pair of second-half goals by forward Olivia Jane Johnson to defeat Hampton Roads Academy on Friday, November 9, setting up the showdown with nemesis FA. The Falcons jumped to an early lead and then played the same stifling defense that had shut down Foxcroft's offense in previous games. It was the third state championship in the past 10 years for Fredericksburg.

Four Foxcroft players – Caroline Fout of Middleburg, Johnson of Rectortown, Alicia Holz of Delaplane and Lilly MacDonald of Bluemont -- were named First Team All-State and, along with Carter Ware of Middleburg and Rebecca Mann of Hamilton collected All-DAC honors as well.

While field hockey entered the season with high expectations, no one knew quite what to expect from tennis. The team went only 1-9 last season but with several new faces dotting the lineup the team turned completely around and posted a 10-4 record to earn a number 3 seed in the state. Like field hockey, tennis has fallen three times to Fredericksburg Academy, the third coming in the DAC Championship. In its first state tournament appearance in years, perhaps ever, Foxcroft coasted to an easy 7-1 victory over Norfolk Christian in the first round to set up a rematch with FA in the semifinals. Once again, the Falcons prevailed, winning 5-4, although they ultimately fell, 5-0, to Hampton Roads Academy in the championship.

Junior Amalia Simpson of Newtown Square, Pa., and freshman Annie Mickum of The Plains, who anchored the top two singles positions and combined for the top doubles pair, were named to the All-DAC by the league's coaches.

The All-State tennis team has not been announced yet but in cross country, Amy Edgemond, a junior from Reston, earned First Team All-State honors by finishing among the top 20 of 182 competitors in the state meet held at Woodberry Forest on November 9. She finished 18th in the race.

A rider who had never run competitively before this year, Edgemond also finished fifth in the DAC championship to earn All-DAC honors.

Also receiving first team All-DAC honors was volleyball player Melanie Monroe, a senior from McLean. Although the young and inexperienced team finished with an 0-14 record, Monroe, its lone senior, was one of the most consistent players in the league with an all-around game that included strong serving and solid play both at the net and the back row.

On the riding front, senior Caroline Quanbeck of Middleburg and her horse Sambuca won the SWVHJA Hunter Seat Medal Finals in Lexington, VA, on Nov. 10 a day after sophomore Lee Muse of Texas was Hopeful Hunter Champion and Courtny Cunningham of Hamilton was reserve champion in the Open Hunters. Earlier this fall, Tessa Paget-Brown was Children's/adult jumper champion and Quanbeck, Abby Bauer of Purcellville and Meghann Harmon of Middleburg earned reserve champion honors.

Complete results and more information on Foxcroft athletics, including riding, may be found on the School's website (www.foxcroft.org).