Concluding with a whispered hush as the last leaves fall and the air grows crisp, the Fall sports season for the Orange County Fighting Hornets has officially wrapped up. The past season has left behind a trail of unforgettable moments, hard-fought victories, excruciating losses, and lessons learned both on and off the playing surfaces.

As the respective seasons of Orange County’s sports teams concluded one by one, each program delivered its own unique story.

Cross-Country

Literally kicking things off, the Hornet boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams persevered through countless challenges, determined that their individual and collective efforts would pay off. Multiple personal bests and strong showings at District and Regional events showcased their hard work and camaraderie.

Head Coach Amber Pannell praised the program’s progress: “It was a great 2025 cross country season for Orange County High School. I am so proud of all the athletes and their hard work. We had 64 personal records made, 12 of them came at the Regional meet… Montpelier is a beautiful place to train, and we appreciate it greatly!”

Golf

The fairways of local golf courses bore witness to the Hornets’ consistency and determination this season. With dominant wins over rival William Monroe, a top-10 finish at the Shriners Brockman Golf Event, and two golfers — Seth Bryant and Jackson Neeley — advancing to the All-Region Tournament, the team’s resilience and unity were clear.

Field Hockey

With energy and determination, the field hockey squad powered into the postseason with a four-match win streak, defeated King George in the Region Quarterfinals, and advanced to the Region Semifinals. The Hornets finished the season 9–8 overall and 6–6 in the Jefferson District.

Coach Elise Lloyd celebrated the team’s growth and grit: “Our players showed incredible commitment and heart every step of the way… One of the highlights was our home game against Monticello — a tight, intense match that resulted in a 2–1 win and redemption from earlier in the season.”

The junior varsity team captured the Jefferson District Championship after two dramatic, overtime, shootout wins — a promising sign for the future.

Football

The football season wasn’t measured solely in wins and losses, but in perseverance, teamwork, and pride. After early victories — including a dramatic Homecoming win over Goochland — the Hornets finished 3–7 as their youth and inexperience became apparent.

Head Coach Colston Bayless shared his optimism: “We knew going into the season that we were young and small… We have a lot of returning kids, a lot to build on, and the future is extremely bright.”

Volleyball

The Hornet volleyball squad showed resilience and unity through a challenging season. Despite mid-season coaching changes, the players continued to grow, compete, and develop as a team.

Head Coach Nina Williams reflected: “I’m so proud of the way these players handled this season… They handled the mid-season coach changes with grace and resilience. Rony Oudeh and Lana Pounds earned All-Jefferson District Honorable Mentions. I’m excited to see how they grow next season.”

The Orange & Blue Shines Bright at Fall Sports Varsity Awards Night

Recently, the OCHS athletic department recognized the Fall Varsity Award Recipients in a ceremony at the high school auditorium. The evening celebrated outstanding achievements across athletics and recognized the dedication, sportsmanship, and hard work of student-athletes.

Athletic Director Mike Neeley opened the ceremony and introduced Principal Dominic Sardano, who expressed pride in the athletes’ accomplishments. Neeley explained how district and region awards are determined through coach nominations and collective voting within the Jefferson District and Region 4D.

Golf — Jefferson District

• 2nd Team: Seth Bryant (Junior), Jackson Neeley (Senior)

Both athletes advanced to Regionals.

Field Hockey — Jefferson District

Honorable Mention: Ellie Clemet (Junior), Eva Shifflett (Sophomore), Amber Trask (Senior)

2nd Team: Lauren Cottrill (Senior), Lilly Hartzfeld (Sophomore), Lilah Kestner (Senior)

1st Team: Emma Slaughter (Senior), Caroline Quimper (Senior)

Field Hockey — All Region 4D

• Lauren Cottrill — Defender
• Lilly Hartzfeld — Defender
• Emma Slaughter — Forward
• Amber Trask — Midfielder
• Caroline Quimper — Midfielder

Volleyball — Jefferson District

Honorable Mention: Ronya Oudeh (Sophomore), Lana Pounds (Sophomore)

Theatre — Region 4D

Most Outstanding Actress: Lyra Day Tusing

Coach Reflections

Competition Cheer — Head Coach Christina Brooks

Brooks highlighted her program’s rigor and success, including a first-place finish at Riverbend High School and a bid to compete in Orlando.

Cross Country — Head Coach Amber Pannell

Pannell celebrated an extraordinary year, including 64 personal records and 12 PRs at Regionals alone.

Field Hockey — Head Coach Elise Lloyd

Lloyd praised the varsity and junior varsity teams’ achievements and highlighted the growing youth programs building the future of Hornet field hockey.

Football — Head Coach Colston Bayless

Bayless noted the unusually high number of freshmen and sophomores earning letters, signaling strong potential for future seasons.

Golf — Head Coach Adam Utz

Utz thanked the community and noted the strong strides made by his team this season.

Volleyball — Athletic Director Mike Neeley (on behalf of Coach Williams)

Neeley acknowledged the challenges of the season and praised the program’s commitment to developing youth athletes for future success.

Theatre — Coach Robbie Kristel

Kristel applauded the theatre students for their dedication, 100+ hours of rehearsal, and standout performances, culminating in Lyra Day Tusing’s regional award.

Closing Remarks

Principal Sardano concluded the ceremony with gratitude and encouragement: “Please make sure you get your pins, wear them proudly, and be proud of what you’ve done. You’ve accomplished something. We love you guys — have a great night!”

Doug Ponton

I am sixth generation Orange County, Virgina.  Our family farm is a Century Farm in Barboursville, established in 1848.

I graduated Orange County High School in 1977, received a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in Kinesiology/Physiology and attended the University of Virginia for graduate school (K-12 education).

I had a 30-year Personal Training Practice, retiring from that aspect of my life in 2017.  This is my 37th year as a sportswriter, mainly with the Orange Review but for various newspapers across the Commonwealth.  Currently, I have a podcast, “Hornet Buzz with Doug” that covers all Orange County High School sports and activities. 

My wife Elaine and I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary this past June (2025)