ALEXANDRIA, VA -On May 21, more than 270 people packed the ballroom at the Westin Alexandria Old Town for the 69th Annual Alexandria Sportsman’s Club Awards Banquet. By the time dinner was served, old friends were reconnecting, coaches were swapping stories, proud parents were taking pictures, and student-athletes were preparing for an evening many of them will remember for the rest of their lives.

The program called it “A Celebration of Success,” but anyone who spent a few minutes in the room quickly realized it was really a celebration of Alexandria itself.

Nearly eight decades ago, Tommy Ennis and a handful of local football players decided Alexandria’s young people deserved recognition and support. What began as a simple idea has grown into one of the city’s longest-running traditions.

Generations of student-athletes have come and gone since then, but the purpose remains remarkably similar: encourage young people, celebrate achievement, and remind them that their community is behind them.

Serving as master of ceremonies, ASC President Ryan Fannon guided the evening through a program honoring student-athletes, scholarship recipients, coaches, civic leaders, and community volunteers. As the evening unfolded, it became clear that the real story was not about awards. It was about the remarkable young people who continue to make Alexandria proud.

Investing in Alexandria’s Future

The evening’s centerpiece was the Marion and Rick Moon Scholarship Program.

This year, the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club awarded $56,000 in scholarships to 20 graduating seniors, including two vocational scholarship recipients.

Some of the scholarship recipients will soon be heading off to college. Others will pursue vocational careers. All of them left the banquet knowing that a community believed in them enough to invest in their future.

That is what has made the Marion and Rick Moon Scholarship Program so meaningful. Since 2016, the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club has distributed more than $405,000 to nearly 175 local students, helping turn dreams into opportunities.

“A key driver of the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club’s growth is our commitment to celebrating student-athletes through strong partnerships with all four city high schools and the Alexandria Recreation Department,” said Fannon. “Together, we honor Athletes of the Month and Year and provide meaningful scholarships for seniors heading to higher education. This citywide collaboration allows us to recognize today’s student-athletes while celebrating a legacy that began in 1947.”

Sportsman of the Year: Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields, USMC (Ret.), was recognized as the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club’s 2026 Sportsman of the Year.

One of the loudest ovations of the evening came when Fields walked forward to accept the honor.

Club members know Fields for something far beyond his military résumé. Month after month, he boards a flight from Atlanta to attend meetings in Alexandria. Before the evening’s business begins, members rise as Fields leads the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem with the same enthusiasm and pride he has brought to military service and community involvement throughout his life.

“We’re proud to have him as a vital part of our ASC organization and recognize him with this year’s award,” said Fannon.

Hall of Fame Honors Thad Levine

Gene Bode Hall of Fame Award

Thad Levine

A former T.C. Williams High School standout, Levine went on to build one of the most respected careers in professional baseball.

After graduating from Alexandria’s public high school, he rose through the ranks of Major League Baseball, serving in senior executive positions with the Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Twins.

Known throughout baseball for his expertise in player evaluation, scouting, roster construction, and organizational leadership, Levine has helped shape multiple playoff-caliber franchises during a career spanning more than three decades.

Like so many Alexandria success stories, Levine’s journey began on local playing fields before reaching the highest levels of professional baseball. His induction into the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club Hall of Fame recognizes not only an outstanding professional career, but also the pride he continues to bring to his hometown.

Preserving Alexandria’s Military Legacy

William Hersberger Civic Award

Col. Kevin Rue (U.S. Army, Ret.)

Rue was recognized for his tireless work with the Friends of Rocky Versace and for helping preserve the memory of the 67 Alexandrians who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.

A retired Army colonel and longtime community leader, Rue has devoted countless hours to ensuring that the sacrifices of Alexandria’s fallen service members are never forgotten through educational programs, commemorative events, historical research, and public outreach.

His work has become an important part of Alexandria’s commitment to honoring military service and preserving local history.

Coach of the Year: Kathy Jenkins

For the past 50 years, Kathy Jenkins has been a fixture on the campus of St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School and one of the most influential figures in girls’ lacrosse in the United States.

Widely regarded as one of the premier coaches in the sport, Jenkins has built a nationally recognized program while accumulating more than 900 career victories.

Yet those who know Jenkins best will tell you that her greatest impact extends far beyond wins and championships. Over five decades, she has mentored generations of young women, helping them develop confidence, leadership skills, discipline, and character.

The Alexandria Sportsman’s Club’s Coach of the Year Award recognizes not only an extraordinary coaching record but also a lifetime dedicated to teaching, mentoring, and inspiring student-athletes.

Recreation Department Athletes of the Year

Adrian Callahan and Anna Garvey

The Alexandria Recreation Department Athletes of the Year Award recognizes young people who demonstrate excellence not only through athletic achievement, but also through leadership, sportsmanship, dedication, and community involvement.

This year’s recipients, Adrian Callahan and Anna Garvey, embody those qualities.

Their recognition reflects the strength of Alexandria’s recreation system and the significant role youth sports continue to play in developing confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.

2026 Athletes of the Year

Baseball

Jason Kruczek (ACHS)

Basketball

Silas Devonish (BI)
Nina McEldon (BI)

Cheerleading

Georgia Grace Ruhlen (BI)

Climbing

Leithen McMillan (EHS)
Amy Braine (EHS)

Cross Country

Jason Day (BI)
Regan Schultz (BI)

Field Hockey

Gracie Buxton (EHS)

Football

Alpha Jalloh (ACHS)

Golf

Luke Booma (SSSAS)
Emma Blue Sinclair (EHS)

Gymnastics

Katherine Connelly (ACHS)

Ice Hockey

Connor Seibel (BI)
Ginny Purkey (BI)

Lacrosse

Gavin Lewis (EHS)
Harper Jensen (SSSAS)

Rowing

Max Boudreau (BI)
Eddy Paz-Hernandez (ACHS)
Sara Glade (ACHS)
Fiona Sullivan (BI)

Rugby

Derek Weihmiller (ACHS)

Soccer

Roger Mata Castillo (EHS)
Halle Thomas (ACHS)

Softball

Anna “Annie” Simon (BI)

Squash

Marshall Ebel (EHS)
Piper Ogden (EHS)

Swim and Dive

Tobias Damico-Lassman (ACHS)
Rachel Cotton (ACHS)

Tennis

Bennett Krusen (EHS)
Virginia Goodwin (EHS)

Track & Field

Zion Allen (EHS)
Merrill Plotkin (ACHS)
Sophie Meisner (ACHS)

Volleyball

Luke Hales (ACHS)
Alicia Randall (ACHS)

Wrestling

Ethan Thompson (SSSAS)
Kinaya Bowe (EHS)

Marion and Rick Moon Scholarship Recipients

Alexandria City High School

Linnea Caldwell, Rachel Cotton, Luke Hales, Ainsley McDermott, Aidan Muldoon, Eddy Paz-Hernandez, Jonathan Ramsdell, Grace Redican, and Ella Weber.

Bishop Ireton High School

Andrew Antonio, Marcella Forrer, Ciara Funk, Landon Koch, Trevor Pickard, Jack Riley, Regan Schultz, and Anna “Annie” Simon.

St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School

Meg Adams, Madison Hughes, and Ali Rouse.

Vocational Scholarship Recipients

Tomar Crawford (ACHS) and Gerbin Alejandro Velasquez Fernandez (ACHS).

A Legacy That Continues

Since 1948, the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club has served as a bridge between the community and local student-athletes.

Through monthly awards, annual recognition programs, scholarships, and community support, the club has spent decades encouraging young people to pursue excellence in athletics, academics, and life.

While the evening celebrated accomplishments already achieved, Fannon spent just as much time talking about the future.

“We hope student-athletes will one day return after college as members, mentors, board leaders, and coaches, paying forward what they experienced,” said Fannon. “We’re proud of our history and committed to expanding our mission to support Alexandria athletics in even more impactful ways.”

He also thanked the many people whose support made the year’s accomplishments possible.

“We’re grateful to the student-athletes, sponsors, donors, school and recreation administrators, coaches, members, and our leadership team whose support made the 2025-26 school year such a success,” said Fannon. “Their dedication continues to make a meaningful impact across the city.”

The names on the awards may be different today than they were in previous years, but the purpose remains remarkably familiar.

Each spring, Alexandria still comes together to celebrate the young men and women who represent its future and to remind them that their community is proud of what they have accomplished.