Marion Moon Fondly Remembered at Alexandria Sportsman’s Club Awards Banquet May 17 

Alexandria, VA – It was that time of year again. The Alexandria Sportsman‘s Club gathered at the Westin Alexandria for its 67th Annual Awards Banquet. Over 200 guests began arriving at the elegant hotel for a night of partying, schmoozing, dining, and basking in the glow of their children receiving athletic awards. Adults who serve the high school sports community were also feted that evening. 

But there was something noticeably different this year. Something noticeably absent. The driving force behind this monumental effort was missing. Living Legend Marion Moon, the architect of the organization, had passed away unexpectedly on Easter evening April 1, a mere six and a half weeks earlier.  

“What I realized is that Marion was the heart and soul of the Sportsman’s Club,” Secretary Jeanne Jacob told Zebra. Jacob was suddenly thrust into the role of unofficial chair. “Marion not only provided the matching grant of $20,000 a year for scholarships. But she also helped us find speakers, she was the president of the club, she brought in Eddie George, the Heisman Trophy winner, to speak. How many people can bring a Heisman Trophy winner to Alexandria?”  

The Club had to battle twin surprises. The first was the sudden loss of Marion Moon. But it also had to move the banquet up two weeks because one of the schools scheduled its graduation on the same date. Jacob scrambled to meet the deadline. 

The Alexandria Sportsman’s Club was founded in 1947. Its mission is to support the city’s student athletes and to celebrate local sports history and fellowship. In 1956 the club inaugurated the annual high school awards banquet as its premiere event.  

Marion Moon was honored posthumously with the William Hershberger Civic Award. Organization President Jerry Whitmire noted that Moon had never received that award and now it was time. Moon, a lifelong resident of Alexandria, was remembered as a “philanthropic leader who generously supported numerous nonprofit organizations,” especially the city’s underserved youth. 

“We may not see Marion again but she is still a very vital part of this club. She was transformative,” Whitmire told Zebra.  

Zebra caught up with Vice Mayor Amy Jackson before she dashed off for the second event of the evening. 

“I’ve been coming to this for a long time. It is about the youth, the athletes, it’s also about their next steps. It’s not just our public school but our private schools as well. You have all four high schools represented. This culminates the entire city right here with our greatest student athletes.” 

Thirty-two city high school athletes won awards, representing all four Alexandria high schools, including the three private ones. Twenty seniors received scholarships. See full list of winners below. 

Katharine Dombrowski and her husband traveled all the way from California for this Marion Moon recognition. Dombrowski met Moon at a trade show years ago and they went on to cultivate a 43-year friendship. Dombrowksi flew east in March to be by Moon’s bedside as she was recovering from surgery for a broken elbow. 

“The shock of it is the hardest because Marion was so full of life, she had so much more to do, so much more to give, “Dombrowski shared in an interview after dinner. “However, I am one of her trustees and the giving will continue for many many years. Marion’s been extraordinarily generous to her charities and the organizations that meant so much to her.” 

Whitmire reflected on the hardships of Marion Moon’s life. Moon grew up in the projects of Nashville, moved to Alexandria at age 10, married, had two sons, and then divorced. Despite all that, Whitmire recalled, “she built a thriving career.” Tragically both sons predeceased Moon. 

“One of the most amazing things about Marion, she didn’t put a name on anything. She was involved in so many groups, the list is ridiculously long. She was a big person and paying it forward.” 

 

2024 ASC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR – All four city high schools are represented. College destinations are listed for seniors. 

Alexandria City High School 

Baseball   

Aidan O’Brien-Gonzalez 

 

Basketball – Boys 

Kye Wesley Robinson – University of Mary Washington 

 

Crew – Girls 

Nardos Fenta 

 

Dive – Girls 

Maria McLemore 

 

Dive – Boys 

Mac Coulby 

 

Field Hockey 

Grace Meltzer – Hobart And William Smith College 

 

Rugby – Girls 

Marianne Livingstone – North Carolina State University 

 

Rugby – Boys 

Michael Nolan 

 

Softball 

Allison Goetz 

 

Swimming – Girls 

Rachel Cotton 

 

Swimming – Boys 

Jolan Foronda 

 

Track and Field – Girls 

Alisha Jackson 

 

Volleyball  

Bridget (Bridie) Wendling – Virginia Tech 

 

St. Stephens & St. Agnes Upper School 

 

Cross Country – Girls 

Lauren Scott 

 

Football 

Carter Stimson 

 

Golf  

Jacob Foti – Christopher Newport University 

 

Ice Hockey 

Trey Knott 

 

Lacrosse – Girls 

Mason Mantey – Cornell University 

 

Soccer – Boys 

Colton Jensen – New York University 

 

Track and Field – Boys 

Bradley Cruthirds – Davidson College 

 

Wrestling  

James Blackman – George Mason University 

 

Bishop Ireton High School 

 

Basketball – Girls 

Nyla Brooks 

 

Cheerleading 

Ellie McNulty – North Carolina State University 

 

Crew – Boys 

Henry Boudreau 

 

Tennis – Boys 

Ben Phelps 

 

Episcopal High School 

 

Climbing 

Max Yang 

 

Cross Country – Boys 

Wyatt Moore – University of Edinburgh – Scotland 

 

Lacrosse – Boys 

Grayson Falk – Bucknell University 

 

Soccer – Girls 

Emily Garrard – Dartmouth University 

 

Squash – Girls 

Piper Ogden 

 

Squash – Boys 

Tilford Griggs 

 

Tennis – Girls 

Campbell Shelby 

 

2024 ASC SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS 

 

Alexandria High School 

 

Emily Brennan 

Benji Chader 

Lia Natalie Estrella Fitzgerald 

Niko Hales 

Hannah Kidd 

Emily Mikolop 

Kyra Grace Nebolsine 

Michael Nolan 

Aiden O’Brien 

Cassidy Pyke 

Kye Wesley Robinson 

Auborn Shepard 

Rania Shuster 

 

Bishop Ireton High School 

 

Sarah Finamore 

Samuel Wilson Hamilton 

Nina Jenkins 

Caroline Miller 

 

Episcopal High School 

Emily Garrard 

Wyatt Moore 

 

St. Stephens & St. Agnes Upper School 

Mason Mantey 

 

2024 Special Recognition Awards 

ASC Hall of Fame Inductee – Jim Worden Jr. 

William Hershberger Civic Award – Marion Moon – posthumous 

Sportsman of the Year – Reverand James Gibson 

Coach of the Year – Kesha Walton and Tom Noone – Bishop Ireton High School 

Alexandria Recreation Department Athletes of the Year –Public Schools 6th graders River Washington and Delray Waters. Each won a bicycle. 

 

Master of Ceremonies – Ryan Fannon 

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