The bar sat higher than Ginny Gareau had jumped before, but the freshman athlete successfully cleared it, vaulting her way to a new personal record at 5’ 8” and tying for the No. 1 high jump mark for high school girls in Virginia.
Ginny, a homeschool track athlete who competes with the Northern Virginia Homeschool Athletics Association (NVHAA) Centurions, hit her personal record at the O’Connell April Classic, a track and field meet held at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington April 14. Later in the month, she took first place in the high jump competition at the Centurions Classic in Nokesville, hosted by the NVHAA April 25, clearing the bar at 5’ 6”.
As a homeschooler, Ginny is not held back from pursuing her athletic and competitive goals, thanks to the NVHAA, one of several Christian-centered athletic organizations throughout the state that provides homeschoolers with opportunities to play and compete in varsity and junior varsity sports.
“Virginia is one of the states where you cannot homeschool and compete at your local public school,” explained Katy Gareau, Ginny’s mom and a parishioner of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton. “So that’s why we have the athletic program. It gives our kids the opportunity to compete and grow as a team and develop in the sports they love.”
The homeschool population has seen significant growth since the 1990s, growing drastically over the past five years. During the 2024-25 academic year, an estimated 3.4 million students — or 6.2% of the school-age population — were educated at home, according to the National Home Education Research Institute.
However, since Virginia remains among the minority of states that don’t permit homeschool athletes to compete on public school teams, homeschool athletic associations, such as the NVHAA, are filling the gaps to allow students like Ginny to pursue athletic interests.
“Sports is a way to teach kids how to deal with difficulties that they’ll approach in life,” said Katy, who coaches for the Centurions girls’ basketball team. “And having the Christian view, it teaches you to not look at things without God. Having good role models and coaches, that’s how we’re teaching the kids to progress and move forward with Christ in their lives, as well as tackling the obstacles that come in front of them.”
Her eight children have been involved in a wide variety of sports over the years, with two daughters going on to play basketball at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind.
Through sports, she’s seen her children meet and interact with people of different backgrounds and the athletic environment has enhanced their time management skills, she said.
“On a team, you have responsibilities; you have to show up on time for practice and games, and you can’t just skip when you want to. You’re committed to something,” Katy said. “And that helped my daughter once she went to college. By the time they graduate high school, they know how to schedule well and are able to survive out of college.”
Catholic homeschoolers in the Arlington diocese have several options to choose from when it comes to sports, including the NVHAA Centurions, the Fairfax Homeschool Athletic Association, the Fredericksburg Victory Athletic Association, the Front Royal Flames, and many other Christian and Catholic teams sponsored through parishes and homeschool co-ops. Additionally, homeschoolers can often participate in private school teams or can find a more relaxed structure through parks and recreations sports.
The NVHAA, and similar homeschool sports teams, compete against public, private and homeschool teams and travel to national homeschool sports tournaments whenever possible, allowing student athletes to compete against peers across the country.
J.P. De Gance, a parishioner of Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge and homeschooling parent of eight, appreciates the many sports opportunities that exist in the homeschool world. Sports are not a be-all, end-all for De Gance and his family, but he does see it as an important part of his children’s education.
“Sports was a big part of my adult formation, and it taught me a lot of life lessons,” De Gance said. “For me, it would be really hard to continue homeschooling if there weren’t opportunities for sports, because that’s part of my kids’ development.”
De Gance is an assistant coach for the Centurions football team, and two of his sons played for the team. His second son, Luke, just completed his first year at Ave Maria University, in Ave Maria, Fla., where he has a football scholarship.
“The Centurions really helped prepare me not only for college but for life as well,” Luke said. “It helped me develop a strong work ethic and taught me to strive for excellence in everything I do, while also growing in humility.”
While the adjustment between high school and college sports was a challenge, it was one he felt prepared to meet.
“I would not be able to do what I love today without my coaches and teammates at NVHAA,” he said. “It was more than just sports there; it was a community that helped shape me as both an athlete and a person.”
For Ben Kolodziej and his wife, Heather, homeschooling parents of five and parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lake Ridge, play and sports have been a major aspect of their curriculum.
“Physical fitness is so important to spiritual wellness, and I think that’s for every Catholic family,” said Kolodziej. “Sometimes, sports aren’t for everyone. There are kids who don’t like sports, and I think it’s important that we respect that. But it’s a good challenge for my own kids, and they’ve really lived up to it.”
The Kolodziejs have explored multiple athletic opportunities for their children, including their neighborhood parks and recreation and involvement with the Lumen Christi Catholic Homeschool Group, a co-op based in Prince William County that provides physical education, social activities and more for regional homeschoolers.
It’s all about finding the right balance for your family, said Kolodziej. Sometimes that means switching around to find the proper fit for an individual child.
“We have to prioritize our faith and our spirituality first. Time for prayer, Mass and youth ministry is super important to us,” said Kolodziej. “But there are really a ton of opportunities for homeschool families to engage in athletics and sports in the area. A lot of it is just prioritizing what’s most important for your kids’ interests, for them to grow within their family and to grow with their neighbor as well.”
