Langley High's State Championship Teams Honored By Fairfax Supervisors

Correction: An earlier version of this story misattributed remarks made by Langley swim and dive Coach Meghan Overend. The story has been corrected.

MCLEAN, VA — At its meeting on Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors presented proclamations to the Langley High School swim and dive and ice hockey teams, who each won championships during the 2023-24 winter sports season.

In February, the Langley boys swim and dive team won the Virginia High School League Class Six State Championship for the second consecutive year and the third time in the school's history.

To win the state championship, the Saxons defeated runner-up Robinson Secondary School, with a score of 216 to 161. The team also won both the district and regional championships.

"The Langley Saxons use the balanced attack to score in every swimming event of the championship, scoring particularly well with close second place finishes in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay," said Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville), reading the proclamation resolution. "These impressive achievements bring honor to the athletes, their coaches and their school."

Langley Head Coach Meghan Overend accepted the resolution on behalf of the boys swim and dive team, explaining that the athletes couldn't attend the presentation because they were taking advance placement exams on Tuesday morning.

"I am really appreciative of the recognition and it's all thanks to their hard work and the leadership of a really strong senior class," she said.

The supervisors also recognized the Langley Saxons ice hockey team that defeated the Stonebridge Bulldogs in February to win their third consecutive Northern Virginia Scholastic High School League Championship.

"On its way to the title, the team powered through a 13-0 season and extended the winning streak to 34," Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) said, reading the proclaimation.

Herrity called out the play of senior forward Noah Sherman and goalie Harrison Smith, who both received all-league honors. Smith, who made 27 saves during the championship game, captured the NBSHL Player of the Year honors as well.

Coach Patrick Keough thanked the board and acknowledged that he also had team members who couldn't make it to the presentation due to AP exams.

"I would like to add that we had eight players on the National Showcase Team from Fairfax County, so it wasn't just Langley players," he said. "The Langley hockey team went to the USA Hockey National Championship and, unforunately, we were eliminated in the quarterfinals. But, we ended up being rates the sixth highest high school hockey team in the United States of America. I think that's pretty good."

While Keough was at the podium, he told the supervisors that the 2023-2024 season would be his last as Langley's ice hockey coach. He will be taking over the ice hockey program at James Madison University next season.

"This has been a great honor for me and my son to coach at Langley," he said. "It's bittersweet to say goodbye, but I'm ready for the next challenge."