This year, the school has housed many talented athletes, notably senior and soccer midfielder senior Lucas Mendes, who has been signed by the University of Virginia and who recently won the Gatorade National Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year award. He also received the award for Liberty Conference Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.

Q: How did you feel about winning the National Player of the Year award?

A: It means a lot to me. It is a huge award for all athletes in this country, and I am just so happy to be able to receive it.

Q: What are you excited for next year?

A: Next year I am going to UVA, and I think that this award is really going to push me to work harder.

Q: Any other thoughts on the season or the future?

A: Playing for Washington-Lee this year has been amazing. I have wanted to since freshman year, but now this year I finally got the chance to. It has been like a family, and I’m just so glad I got this opportunity.

Junior Colleen Norton, who plays attacking mid-center on the varsity girls’ soccer team, won the Liberty Conference award for girls’ soccer. This is a very impressive and prestigious award, as the Liberty Conference includes a sizable piece of Northern Virginia.

Q: What are you most proud of for the year?

A: We had a winning record with only one loss in the regular season, as well as great representation of four girls on the first team all conference list. We also had five freshmen who contributed a lot to the team, specifically our keeper who also got a first team all conference award. I am really proud of our last regular season game against South Lakes, which we won in overtime.

Q: What do you wish you had done better?

A: One thing I wish I had done better is making sure our whole team bonded right at the beginning of the season. We didn’t truly feel like a family until maybe halfway through.

Q: How did you feel about winning the Liberty Conference Player of the Year award?

A: I actually thought I was in trouble when I got called down to the office, so I was shocked when they told me. I couldn’t have done it without great teammates and coaches who supported me and worked with me on and off the field.

Q: What are you most excited for next year?

A: I’m really excited about having a lot of returning players that already know how to play well with each other.