Hard Work has Paid off for 26 Freshman D1 Sports and Athletics (D1SA) Student Athletes who made their Loudoun County High School V and JV Basketball Teams

D1 Sports & Athletics Builds Successful Program

Hard work has paid off for 26 freshman D1 Sports & Athletics (D1SA) student athletes who made their Loudoun County High School Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball teams last week. D1SA, a non-profit basketball organization founded in 2011 has placed 12 of its freshman players on Varsity HS basketball teams and 14 on JV teams this winter season. These athletes have worked hard to get there, says D1SA Athletic Director and Head Coach Eric Williams. He said, “These kids knew that being part of D1SA pushed them beyond their comfort zone to get them where they wanted to be. That’s the spirit of a Spartan.” Coach Mike Payne says that this accomplishment is a huge testament to the D1SA program. He said, “The Spartan Nation is making its mark.”

The D1SA program has a yearlong basketball curriculum, competing in both regional and national league play, open gyms, team training, and individual workouts. Williams says D1SA is based on the principal of hard work and preparation. No other freshman basketball athletes in Loudoun County schools have participated at the level of these student athletes, he said.

D1SA’s Boys 14U Elite team placed third this summer at AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) National Finals in Hampton, Virginia. Student Athlete Marthell Hicks III, Rock Ridge JV team said, “being a part of D1SA has given me the best basketball experience. As a Spartan, I have developed a mental toughness and an understanding of the game…and made me an AAU National Champion.” Dominion freshman Jayde Pierre, who will play Varsity this season said, “Coach has made me mentally tough by helping me conquer adversity and D1SA has given me the chance to challenge myself in many diverse situations all these years. Making varsity is the first step in my high school career, but only the beginning to where I want to go. I now have the confidence to succeed in whatever battle that comes.” Matthew Traub, Loudoun Valley Freshman, who started last year as an eighth grader on the LV JV team, will play Varsity this season. He said, “Long ago we learned, No Fear, our rally cry from Coach. There are never excuses, before, during or after a competition. Self-discipline is the important part of being a Spartan, Traub, a five-year member of the team said.

This year for D1SA was called, Spartan Invasion 2014. All D1SA teams from 3rd grade to high school participated in environments up and down the East coast. Our girl’s athletic program has just taken off in the past two years and you won’t find a harder working group of young women, William states. The testament to the success of D1SA is placing these nine girls on their respective high school teams. Putting in hours of hard work these D1SA freshman athletes will take to the basketball courts on their JV and Varsity teams at Briar Woods, Dominion, Heritage, Loudoun Valley, Potomac Falls, Rock Ridge, Stone Bridge, Tuscarora, and Woodgrove.

D1SA’s goal in the community is to work together with all resources and outlets to expand and expose the student athletes to basketball enrichment that provides opportunity. “I can’t say enough about the D1SA Program and the impact it has had on my child’s basketball development and mind set as an athlete. D1SA has given my daughter, Amber, the opportunity to be part of an amazing family on and off the court,” said Carol Kaiser. “The Goal was set back in the 4th grade to prepare these kids for competitive middle school, high school and AAU basketball. I would say that the goal was met by every kid that stuck with the program and did the work, said D1SA parent and Coach Bill Krueger “Basketball is a game won and lost on the court, but my hope is to instill in these athletes values that can be taken off the court and incorporated into their daily lives that lead them to excel mentally, physically and spiritually. This freshman class has excelled and exemplified the Spirit of Spartan. “Watch for great things from these over-achieving athletes on the Loudoun courts and beyond,” Williams proudly said.

D1SA Athletes Representing Loudoun County High School Teams:
Jayde Pierre, Jordan Miller, Jalen Williams, Billie Walker, George Richardson, Matthew Traub, Marthell Hicks, Morgan Gray, Kalvin Bustamante, Kendall Edmond, Amber Kaiser, Kayren Gaither, Spencer Payne, Wyatt Krueger, Jadan Pierre, Dominic Peterson, Madi White, Jaylen Reid, Julia Ng, Ashley Dean, Kennedy Middleton, Nate Martin, Jackson Steele, Thomas Pritchard, Kellis Martin, and Lorenzo (Renzo) Guevarra.