For years, the narrative of MCPS boys volleyball has been dominated by the Winston Churchill Bulldogs. Their performance isn’t just a winning streak; it’s a statistical anomaly. In 2024, the Bulldogs tore their competition apart, sweeping rival school Wootton 3-0 in the county finals and dropping only two sets the entire season. Sports, however, have a way of humbling even the most dominant programs. In 2025, Churchill mirrored their regular-season perfection—again dropping only two sets—only to be swept 0-3 by Wootton in a shocking finals reversal. Now, the Bulldogs are out for blood, and the 2026 roster suggests they have it in them to reclaim the throne. Churchill’s lineup strikes fear into opponents with a mix of veteran leadership and world-class youth: The Standard: Senior Cian Tenney is a USC commit and a three-time First Team All-County selection. Nearly reaching the top of the kills leaderboard averaging 13.08 kills per game last season, Tenney’s frequent invitations to the NTDP place him among the nation’s elite prospects. The Lockdown: Junior Kaleb Mbaitoloum and senior Kyle Wang provide a massive blocking presence at the tape. Kaleb’s synergy with Tenney on STJ 18 Navy translates to a seamless transition from defense to offense. The Phenom: Freshman Noah Mbaitoloum is perhaps the most terrifying prospect for opponents. At 15, he won Best Opposite at the NORCECA Continental Championship with the Team USA U17 team. He currently plays four years up on MVP 18 Black alongside teammates Kris Shiao, Kyler Lee, Hayden Chin, Brian Chen, and Michael Rathman. At the center of this powerhouse is Coach JJ Rathman. As the head coach for both the Churchill boys' and girls' teams and the Director of MVP (Maryland Volleyball Program), Rathman has built a seamless pipeline of elite talent. His dual role ensures his players are conditioned at an elite pace year-round. The 2025 defeat has transformed this perennial powerhouse into a hungry predator. While underdogs may dream of locking the Bulldogs back up, Churchill’s verticality and Rathman’s leadership make them the undisputed favorites for revenge.
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In 2025, Montgomery County sent six teams into the state tournament, including Damascus in the 2A, Sherwood in the 3A, while Northwest, Blair, Churchill, and Richard Montgomery advanced in the highest class. Of these teams, both Sherwood and Churchill advanced to the championship game, with neither bringing home the title. With last spring marking the first time since 2021 no MCPS team won a state softball title, the question is, will any hoist the big trophy in 2026? Here are the ten teams from MCPS most likely to win the big game: 1. Damascus The Hornets’ 2025 season started very mercurially. Their 4-2 record to start the season included scoring double-digit runs in each of the wins, highlighted by a 19-0 opening day rout against Seneca Valley on opening day, but the squad gave up double-digit runs in each of the losses. After the rocky start, Damascus finished their season on an 8-1 run, including six additional double-digit offensive performances. The Hornets outscored Southern, Centennial, and Hereford 39-5 from the regional semifinals to the state quarterfinals, before a one run loss in the semifinals against Stephen Decatur. Damascus looks so good this coming spring because, after only losing senior Josie Hoffacker, they will return first-team all-MCPS nominee Brook Sell, Marymount University commit Kailyn Sheahin plus all-Met honorable mention Ana DiGiandomenico. This spring looks very bright in Damascus. 2. Churchill The Bulldogs opened their last campaign with a 3-3 record, including scoring 19 runs in a road game against Watkins Mill and a home game against Whitman, while also surrendering 20 on the road against Walter Johnson. From there, Churchill turned up their play, working towards a 10-7 regular season record. The team was one of the only of any sport in the state to play six playoff games, requiring a regional quarterfinal match all the way to the state championship. Churchill outscored opponents 41-5 in the first five playoff games, before an unfortunate end in the 4A championship, falling to Leonardtown 5-0. The loss of Villanova softball commit Maggie King will hurt this year’s squad, along with four other seniors, but they are set to be led by first-team all-division nominee Kai-En Hsu and honorable mention Jacqueline Le. 3. Walter Johnson The Wildcats opened their season dropping their first game, but they quickly turned it around with a seven game win streak. This impressive stretch started with a 26-0 blowout on the road against Gaithersburg, followed by a 20-3 win over Churchill and a 20-4 win at Whitman. However, the stretch quickly switched course, with Walter Johnson going on to lose four of their next five. After outsourcing Einstein and Springbrook 29-0 in their final two regular season games, WJ would fail to make it past the regional semifinals, as Churchill got their revenge in a 7-0 loss. Despite the unfortunate end to their season, the WIldcats look to be in prime position going into this season. After losing four seniors, they will return Ella Reynolds, the all-division player of the year and Emory University commit, along with two seniors and three sophomores who all made the division’s first team. 4. Northwest The Jaguars opened their season on a fourteen game win streak that included a 19-2 road win against Magruder, a 19-4 road win against Gaithersburg, and a 20-run shutout victory over Blake, also on the road. After this, Northwest dropped their final two games of the season, losing to Damascus and Churchill. After eliminating Frederick, Urbana, and Richard Montgomery from the playoffs, the Jaguars fell in their state semifinal game against Leonardtown, the future 4A state champions. While this year’s team will be without six members of last year’s state semifinalist team, head coach Mike Horton will look to bring his team back to the state bracket in the coming months. 5. Wootton The Patriots’ last season kicked off with a strong win over Einstein before the team dropped three of their next four. Following the slide, Wootton won five of their next six, including a 20-4 victory against Watkins Mill on the road, a 14-11 fight against Paint Branch, and a 17-0 home blowout over Northwood. The team went on to finish with an 8-7 regular season record, before beating Kennedy and Rockville in the regional bracket to win the region title. In the state quarterfinals, the Patriots had a tough seed, and were forced to face Sherwood, where they fell 15-0. The good news is that, after losing just three seniors, Wootton will return Bryn Priolo and Emily Liu, who were selected as first-team and honorable mentions to the all-division team, respectively. 6. Sherwood Last year’s 3A runner ups were the lone undefeated team from Montgomery County, finishing with 15 wins. In those 15, the Warriors plated at least 10 runs in 12 games, and at least 15 in seven. From the regional semifinals to the state quarterfinals, Ashley Barber-Strunk’s team outscored Atholton, Reservoir, and Wootton 35-0, before taking down the Dulaney Lions 2-0, punching their ticket to the big game. However, with the season on the line, Sherwood could not come through, falling 5-3 against the Chopticon Braves, ending their season. This year’s squad will be without several key members, including first-team all-met selection Keira Schlutz and first-team all MCPS nominee Avery Anderson, but all-division honorable mention Gabby Anderson will be returning as the team looks to make it back to the top of the state for the second time in three years 7. Quince Orchard The Cougars had a 4-3 start to their most recent campaign, including a 20-3 road win against Blake on opening day, plus a 13-4 road win over Seneca Valley and a 21-run shutout against Gaithersburg at home. After this start, Quince Orchard played six of their last seven games on the road, en route to a solid 10-5 regular season record. Despite this, QO would fall to the 9-9 Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons, who were coming off a 27-23 first round win over Whitman. Despite the untimely ending to their 2025 year, the Cougars will enter this season without just two members of last year’s campaign, as they look to win their first playoff game since 2024, or potentially, their first state semifinals since 1993. 8. Clarksburg The Coyotes had an impressive regular season campaign, scoring double-digit runs in ten games while surpassing the 20 run mark in three, in a season where the team finished 13-2. Despite such strong play before the playoffs, Clarksburg dropped their first game of postseason play in a 4-3 loss to the Urbana Hawks from Frederick County. After having success in the regular season, the team will lose Sommer Witz to Shepherd University and Gabby Encinas to Frostburg State. The remaining athletes will have a couple of big holes to fill before kicking off their season at home against Churchill. 9. Richard Montgomery To kick off last season, the Rockets opened with a 5-0 record that included four straight wins with over 16 runs scored. After the incredible start to their season, Richard Montgomery went on a 1-6 run that saw a 19-18 home loss against the Blair Blazers, a 23-0 win over Springbrook, which was immediately followed by a 17-run shutout loss to Clarksburg. Despite the rough patch, RM went on a four-game win streak to end their season 10-6. RM took down Einstein and Wheaton in the regional bracket, securing them the championship, before the Rockets fell to Northwest 15-3 in the state quarterfinals. 10. Blair Last Spring, the Blazers opened with a 9-6 home loss to the Churchill Bulldogs before going on a six game win streak, including a 15-0 win over Northwood and an incredible 19-18 victory on the road against Richard Montgomery. Blair slowed down a bit, finishing the regular season 11-5, but in their regional playoff games against Northwood and Laurel, the Blazers outscored the two 32-3 on the way to a regional championship. In the state bracket, their run was cut short in a 5-0 loss against Churchill, the second of the season. Additionally, this year’s team will be without an incredible nine athletes from last year’s squad, which could pose challenges for head coach Louis Hoelman, as the team looks to get back to the state semifinals for the first time in a decade.
On February 4th, the 11-1 Winston Churchill Bulldogs traveled to face off against the undefeated Walt Whitman Vikings in a high-stakes and big-rivalry varsity girls basketball match. The two faced off in the first game back from winter break, where the Vikings handed the Bulldogs their first and only loss of the season with a 65-53 final score. The two teams traded missed mid-range shots on their first possession before Kaylah Tchoufa put the Vikings on the board first with a two-pointers off the glass. The game remained close over the next five minutes, with the Bulldogs taking a 5-2 lead, but Whitman went on a scoring run. Churchill could not find the net between the six and one minute mark, allowing Walt Whitman to take a solid 12-5 lead. Returning to the game in a hole, Churchill went on a run of their own. Theirs lasted the first four minutes of the second quarter, and saw them tie the game back up before Whitman could get on the board. The contest remained close, with neither team able to get any traction, but Winston Churchill’s squad pulled a way a bit before the halftime break, as they had a 27-23 lead going into the ten-minute time out. After the spectators got some time on the court, Churchill continued their shot at growing the deficit. The separation between the rivals got to as much as six before Whitman started to claw their way back. With four minutes left in the third, the team had tied the game back up, but by the end of the quarter, the Bulldogs pulled back ahead by just one shot. Despite a quick Vikings basket, Churchill went on another scoring run, this one was an 8-1 push over the first two minutes of the final quarter, putting them ahead 50-43. As the quarter progressed, the blue and green were struggling to find the net, scoring just four points over as many minutes. With 90 seconds on the clock, the game was tied, and the two teams traded free throws. In the end, it was Whitman that pulled ahead, giving Churchill their second loss of the season, as this game ended with a 65-61 final score. Churchill, now 11-2, went on to face the Wootton Patriots at home on Friday evening, while the undefeated travel to Quince Orchard to take on the Cougars, as their quest for state glory continues.
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Photo courtesy of Churchill girls' basketball Instagram. Churchill girls’ basketball is nothing short of scary. Through three games this season, it has defeated its opponents by a collective score of 205-39 — the Bulldogs are on a mission. After bowing out against state final runner-up B-CC last year, 62-48, Churchill has put the county on notice. The program started hot last season with six wins to open the slate, but none were quite as dominant as some of the displays it has showcased — take Friday night’s 78-14 thrashing of John F. Kennedy as an example. It’s clear that the Bulldogs have taken a step forward. Some of that may have to do with its exceptionally young core taking another step forward. Head coach Pete McMahon noted six sophomores that are poised to make leaps and have even more impact than they did in their freshman campaigns: Ashley King, Maria Knowlton, Netah Shekel, Aysha Gilmetdinova, Senna Lee and Emily Sagan. But that young talent has been paired with some stellar leadership from the team’s upperclassmen, forming a combination of players that has worked extremely well together. “Although still quite a young team, we have some great leadership from our upperclassmen (Mena Hemphill, Makayla Risso, Hannah Corkery and Sydney Ashton) that has continued to hand down our team’s culture of defense first on the court and caring and respect at all times,” McMahon said. Hemphill is a beast on the court — she’s averaging a whopping 15 points and 13 rebounds. But right with her is the team’s point guard in King, who’s notching 15 points and five assists per game. Fellow sophomore Knowlton, who is averaging 11 points and three steals, should help to solidify a dominant backcourt for years to come, as well as provide balance on the perimeter with Hemphill controlling the paint. That growth from the team’s sophomores could prove imperative in winning some of the close contests it lost last year — the aforementioned B-CC game, as well as a tight 76-73 loss to eventual state champion Clarksburg. McMahon believes his team is up for the challenge. “This team has matured a lot since last year, and their talent, teamwork and effort may well move us up to another level this year,” he said. “They are working hard to improve in some key areas that we have been emphasizing.” And Churchill isn’t just a talented bunch, either. They’re easy to coach, and that may make them all the more dangerous. “This is a great group. They come to practice every day to improve their game while pushing and supporting their teammates,” McMahon said. “They are a lot of fun to coach and work with.” Next up on the docket for Churchill is Quince Orchard, who is 2-0 and gave up a combined 39 points through its first two games. The two will battle it out on Dec. 17 at 7:15 p.m.
The rockets season came to a close Friday night, against The Winston Churchill Bulldogs. View more here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRLgsmHjrQO/
Photo courtesy of Winston Churchill Athletics Instagram. The regional football playoffs are well underway in Maryland, and while that opens up the field beyond just Montgomery County, it was two Montgomery County programs that found themselves toe-to-toe with one another in the second round of the 4A bracket. The contest concluded with the Bulldogs ultimately getting the best of the Rockets in a beatdown, 35-17, Friday night. It was Richard Montgomery that got things started, as Gerard Woods Jr. pounded it up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead. And then the Rockets compounded their success. Looking for a complete drive and subsequent response, Churchill quarterback Hunter Humphries telegraphed his throw to the flat. Cornerback Isisah Womack jumped in front of the pass, taking it all the way back for a score and giving the Rockets a 14-0 lead. However, that was about as much success as Richard Montgomery would have on the evening. Humphries was composed on the following drive, with play-action fakes and rollouts that allowed him easy tosses over the middle of the field. But it was running back Noah Zhang that finished the drive strong for the Bulldogs, churning his legs up the middle for a 6-yard score. A Richard Montgomery field goal with less than 10 minutes to play in the second quarter would end up being its final points of the day. Still, Churchill needed to find a way to erase the 10-point deficit. It came rather quickly. The Bulldogs could not have been quicker in responding to the field goal, marching down the field. Humphries then fooled the entire defense, faking a handoff to Zhang and keeping it himself, bumping off defenders for a 15-yard touchdown run. Minutes into the third quarter, it was Zhang who struck again. With Churchill’s fullback leading the way, Zhang went into the end zone nearly untouched, and the Bulldogs finally got their first lead of the evening, 21-17. And unlike Churchill had done over the previous two quarters, the Rockets failed to muster a response. It went the entire third quarter without a significant offensive push, and it wasn’t until the 9-minute mark of the following quarter that a team scored. But that team was Churchill, extending its lead. Humphries immediately diagnosed that his receiver beat man coverage on a streak on the left side of the field, lofting it up into the end zone for an easily caught, 27-yard touchdown. And up 11 with three minutes remaining, it was — who else — Zhang that added insurance to the already-11-point lead, breaking through a gang of tacklers for a 52-yard rushing touchdown. With the win, the Bulldogs now face undefeated powerhouse Quince Orchard.
The set scores were: 25-13, 25-22, 25-18 Here are Broadneck’s stats: Sydney Lawrence- 23 service points, 2 aces, 2 kills, 16 assists, 12 digs Barrett Bolter- 20 service points, 2 aces, 6 assists, 4 digs Anna graves- 14 kills, 14 digs Lexi Luscomb- 8 service points, 2 assists, 18 digs Camryn Bedell- 7 service points, 1 ace, 3 kills, 1 block, 16 digs
Photo courtesy of Churchill Bulldogs Football Instagram. With the Montgomery County standings tight and the state playoffs rapidly approaching, every win matters. On Thursday night, two formidable opponents squared off, each looking to make a statement in the final standings with both programs sitting at 7-1. What first appeared to be a game the Bulldogs would run away with quickly turned competitive. The Panthers rebounded, but it was too little, too late — and Churchill emerged as 20-18 victors. Bulldogs quarterback Hunter Humphries had a solid evening, completing 9 of 17 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He got the offense rolling early, connecting on throws of 18, 24, and 14 yards — the last one a touchdown to Nolan McHugh — to give Churchill an early six-point lead. The score came on a wide-open play-action shot to the end zone, catching Paint Branch’s defense completely flat-footed. But the Panthers answered right back, knotting the score at six apiece. Running back Alijah Bah found the end zone — and he’d go on to score all three of Paint Branch’s touchdowns Thursday night. With the game even, Humphries continued to pick apart Paint Branch’s secondary, consistently gashing it for chunk yardage. His deep ball was on point, including a 25-yard completion down the right sideline to AJ Wiseman. But just when it seemed the Bulldogs’ offense was unstoppable, Paint Branch swung the momentum with a sensational four-play goal-line stand — stuffing three quarterback sneaks in a row. Still, as the first half wound down to under a minute, Churchill struck again. After making several key catches earlier, Wiseman hauled in a 25-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs ahead 13-6 at halftime. The third quarter was marked by offensive struggles on both sides. Each team opened with a three-and-out, and Paint Branch threw an interception — yet Churchill couldn’t capitalize, going three-and-out immediately after the turnover. Finally, Acque Ashwood broke through to give Churchill some breathing room. On a sweep to the left sideline, he turned on the jets, staying glued to the boundary and outpacing the entire Paint Branch defense for a 67-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing Panthers drive, the ball went right back to their most dangerous weapon — Bah. He ripped off a 25-yard carry that brought Paint Branch to Churchill’s five-yard line, and a few plays later, powered his way into the end zone on a toss play. Despite all the explosive plays Churchill had throughout the game, the Bulldogs couldn’t produce offensively when it mattered most. A three-and-out handed the ball back to Paint Branch, trailing 20-12, with five minutes remaining. The Panthers did exactly what they needed to — almost. Bah again carried the load, driving the offense downfield and winding the clock under a minute. He appeared to score on a 12-yard rush, but it was called back. Three plays later, he muscled his way into the end zone from the 1-yard line. That set up a dramatic two-point conversion — a toss to Bah, the same play that had worked earlier. But this time, Churchill’s defense held strong. The Bulldogs secured the stop, the 20-18 victory, and an 8-1 record, while Paint Branch now sits at 7-2 heading into postseason play.
Teams made up this game today, 11/1/2025 Final: Churchill JV 13 Whitman JV 0
Ba injured. Taken away in ambulance.
Overtime
The Watkins Mill vs Churchill girls varsity flag football game was postponed due to a power outage at Watkins Mill and will be rescheduled for another date.
Scores were 20–25, 25–22, 25–21, 25–22 Richard Montgomery won 3–1
Field Hockey is just around the corner, and its a sport that can be very exciting and intense. Which teams in MCPS will have the most success this season? In this preseason power rankings, I rank the top ten field hockey teams in the county. The top two teams were one win away from facing each other in the state finals last year, so the midseason matchup between the two will be a must-watch! Now let’s get to the list: Churchill (14-2) - The Bulldogs made it all the way to the Class 4A State semi finals before losing to Broadneck. It started the season 5-0 before dropping its first game. After that, the Bulldogs won eight straight games, securing five shutouts in the process. Five players received All-County recognition including seniors Jenna Pigott and Claire Gallagher. They return the other three All-County players in midfielders Junia Whang and Callie Lee, and defender Leah Offutt. They have the pieces in place to make another run to the semifinals and hopefully beyond. Whitman (14-2) - The Vikings have won four straight county championships. And it too made it to the 4A State semifinals before losing to eventual champion Crofton. Before losing to Crofton however, they were in the midst of a nine game winning streak that saw the Vikings shutout every opponent - including a dominant 10-0 win over Clarksburg in the first round of states. They lose seven seniors, including five who received All-County accolades - Kelsey Allen, Maya Raphael, Sophia Cheng, Mia Kanczuker, and Nisha Chakravarty - and Sadie Bastianelli, who was an All-Division member. They do however return rising junior Emma Foscarini; a midfielder who was a first team All-County select. The spotlight will be on Foscarini this fall as she tries to lead the Vikings to another run in the postseason. Damascus (12-2) - The Swarmin’ Hornets hope to go farther than it did last season (loss in the regional final), especially considering the strong start that they had (9-0). Their defense was one of the best in the county allowing less than a goal per game (before their defeat in regionals) and recorded eight shutouts. They lose nine seniors total, including first team All-County forward Madison Slayton and All-Divison members Sarah Jankowski and Marlene Nusraty. The good news however, is that three All-Division players are back for this fall season - forward Mary Miller, midfielder Maddie Powell, and defenseman Katie Miller. Despite the losses of nine seniors, the Swarmin’ Hornets are still in excellent position to reach states. Blair (10-4) - After a first game loss to Whitman, the Blazers won 9 out of its next 11 games, including a seven game win streak that were all shutouts. It won the regional title over Einstein before losing to Broadneck in the state quarterfinals. Seven players received accolades including three seniors - forward Carmella Beach, midfielder Eloisa Somodevilla, and goalie Keelin Pegg were All-County members. The rest of the four were all juniors and are coming back for their senior seasons. Forward Eva Schwartz, midfielder Ruth Wajda-Gotwals, and defenders Lilah Coleman and Juliet Craig will look to lead the Blazers to another successful campaign. Rockville (10-4) - The Rams rode a successful campaign all the way to the Class 3A state quarterfinals. The 3A regional champions were led by 11 seniors including captains Erin Kelly, McKenzie Chavez, and Grace Litzenberg - who was a first team All-County select. Not only will their leadership be missed, but also their experience, as they each played all four years. Finding the next group of leaders will be one of the stories to watch for this Rams team. Walter Johnson (9-5) - WJ had a nice end to its regular season, winning four out of its last five matches. It defeated Richard Montgomery in the first round of regionals, but ultimately fell to Whitman in the regional final. Ten seniors depart including four All-County/All-Division players in Gillian Rosenstock, Hidi Altman, Jackie Fuller, and Fran Sabbioni-Blanc. Defender Abby Bruskin is back for her senior season and will look to lead the Wildcats past the regionals this year. Quince Orchard (9-5) - After having a tough beginning to the season (1-2), the Cougars hardly skipped a beat after. Over its final nine regular season games, QO went an impressive 9-2, scoring 4 goals per game and allowing 1 per game (five shutouts). They lose six seniors, including four who were selected to the All-County Team - Hannah Wagner, Gabbie Spano, Ellie Wonnacott, and Faith Pleisse. All-County second team goalie Natalie Goury and Sophia Fenzel returns for her senior season. Having a returning veteran is always a welcome, especially when it provides insurance in goal. Goury recorded seven shutouts during the season. And despite having a new coach in Antonio Velasquez, and with players having to adjust to a new system, QO was able to have a winning season. Heading into year 2, it should be another successful campaign. Richard Montgomery (9-3) - The Rockets began the season 4-0 before hitting a road block that saw it lose three out of its next four. But, it was only a small bump, as they ended the regular season on a four game win streak. Unfortunately, the season came to an abrupt end when it lost to Walter Johnson in the first round of regionals. The Rockets were led by a group of veterans that included 12 seniors. Seniors Emma Pryor, Shelby Roth, and Catherine Nguyen were selected to the All-County team. And seniors Tara Amin, Abby Grandin, Pryor, Roth, and Nguyen received All-Division honors. All twelve departures will surely be missed, and it will be interesting to see who steps up in terms of leadership. Einstein (8-6) - The Titans made it to the regional final before losing to Blair. After starting the year 1-2, Einstein rallied to four straight victories and recording three shutouts in the process. They hit a road block during the final stretch, but finished with a winning record and was one game short of making states. Four seniors depart including defenders Cady Emerson (1st Team All-Division) and Maya Gutierrez-Flores (1st Team All-County. Gutierrez-Flores’s efforts on the defensive side earned her MCPS Defensive Player of the Year. Goalie Lena Fleschner and defender Lucy Stenger return for their senior seasons. Both were awarded first and second team All-Divison, respectively. B-CC (7-6) - The Barons had a nice run in the middle and end of the season, going 6-2 in its final eight games. Its season did come to an unfortunate end in the first round of regionals, losing to Whitman. They lose a total of thirteen seniors, including four who received All-County and All-Division honors - Jamie Lee, Abby Schrader, Roxana Stayeas, and Elisha Robinson. How to replace a loaded group of veterans and leaders will be a major challenge, but it will be both interesting and exciting to see who that next group will be down the road.
Back to school commercials are starting to show up which means it’s only a matter of time before hallways and classrooms are filled with students again. But it also means Friday Night Lights aren’t far out! The cornerstone of high school sports, football brings entire communities together cheering on their respective schools, filling them with a sense of pride that only the people around them can understand. Here in Maryland, and in Montgomery County, that is no exception. From getting polls on a few coaches across the county, I have compiled a Way-Too-Early rankings of the top 10 teams in MCPS. 1. Quince Orchard (13-0) - QO has been Montgomery County’s power for the longest time, and that doesn’t seem to end anytime soon. Coming off a 13-0 season in which it scored 39.7 ppg and allowed 6.7 ppg, the Cougars won its sixth state title in school history and its third in four years. Although they do lose their top rusher in Iverson Howard, they return senior WR Mason Mizzer so he’ll be a reliable target for whoever takes QB’s TJ Jackson’s role. The defense loses a few guys but does return DLs Kacey Gilliam and Jahiem Bond. It should be another fun and exciting season for HC John Kelly and the Cougars, who have averaged 11 wins during his 11 seasons at the helm. A week 2 matchup at Paint Branch will set the tone early. Speaking of Paint Branch… 2. Paint Branch (9-2) - The Panthers will look to continue their success of last season in which they had an unbeaten regular season, but had an abrupt end to their year in the first round of states. Rising junior RB Alijah Bah (1,299 yards, 21 TDs) will lead the offensive charge, and top two receivers Michael Boateng and Joshua Biando return. On defense, Kaden Chapman returns on a unit that allowed 11.4 ppg, but does lose a few key players. They open their season at home against Quince Orchard and later in September face Northwest, who they beat for the first time in school history last year. 3. Sherwood (10-3) - QB Matthew Larsen threw for 1,612 yards and a 17-9 TD-INT ratio as a sophomore last year, leading the Warriors to the state semifinals. They fell to defeat three times, but they were to the top teams in the state. Leading rusher Ryan Johnson is back for his senior season, and although they lose their top three receivers, Preston Hamrick – who averaged 11.6 yards per catch as a sophomore – will be a reliable option for Larsen. On defense, the losses Michael Robles (7 sacks, 13 TFLs), Jaden Nix (6 ints), and Khalil Wilson (5 ints) will hurt, but senior Jefferson Serkfem (64 tackles and 17 TFLs) will no doubt be up to the task of leading this unit. Mark your calendars for September 26, as the Warriors will play host to rival Blake, an always exciting matchup. Last time they hosted the Bengals, they suffered their first defeat to them since 2019. It should be a raucous environment. 4. Northwest (9-3) - Rising senior QB Jayden Vongprachahn-Nelson (1,355/13-2 td-int) will look to lead the Jaguars to another successful campaign and perhaps lead his team to its first state title since 2014. It won’t be an easy task as they lose their top rusher and top two receivers from last year. Which skill players step up this season will be interesting to watch. Nearly everyone on defense departs, but they do return junior Eric Odina (2 sacks in 1 game) and Corky Lynch (2 ints). Do it all athlete Aaron “Tank” Rivers will surely have an expanded role this year. They host Paint Branch in late September and travel to Quince Orchard in October. 5. Bethesda-Chevy Chase (8-4) - Coming off its best season in years, the Barons will look to continue their success under second year head coach Matt Schwartzback. They return top rusher Gabe Eisler (766 yards/5.6 avg/9 tds) and two of last year’s top four receivers in Andre Ekani and Nathan David who both will look to step up and be a reliable passing option for whoever starts at QB. The defense saw three players record double-digit TFLs last season, and now all three of them depart. Deandre Blakeney was productive as a sophomore (4.5 TFLs) and Eisner was impactful as a DB (3 INTs). How B-CC continues to build with a boatload of seniors departing will be fascinating to watch. 6. Blake (9-3) - The big question will be at QB, as Kirby Matson departs after starting the past three seasons as the leader of the offense. Receivers Kai Cooper, Zaire Richardson, and Joey Faunteroy also graduated so it will be a very different offense this fall. The defense held opponents to 11 ppg and they return three starters from last year who received All-Division recognition. The defense figures to be the strength this year as the Bengals and head coach Bryon Marshall will determine who takes over at QB. Watch for WR/CB Tatum Bell. 7. Blair (8-4) - The Blazers bounced back after a 3 win campaign in 2023. RB Junior Rodriguez was their top offensive contributor as he tallied 695 yards on the ground with 13 tds. He returns. Jayden Parker is also back for his senior season as the WR had 266 yards (9.9 avg) with 4 tds. Jacob Zirin seems like the player to replace Dylan Rinaldi at the QB position. The defense loses four players who made All-Division a year ago so it will be interesting to monitor who steps up this year. An early matchup at B-CC will be something to watch out for (the Barons knocked the Blazers out of the regionals). 8. Seneca Valley (7-4) - The Screamin’ Eagles had an impressive season and will look to continue that and go even further after losing in the regionals to Northwest. 9. Damascus (7-4) - Much like Seneca Valley, Damascus is one of the more storied programs in Maryland that seems to have consistent success year in and year out. They will look to have better success in the postseason after losing early in the regionals. 10. Churchill (7-5) - The Bulldogs struggled early (1-3) but were able to regroup and finished their season winning 4 out of their last 5 games. Losing QB Vasi Hallas will be tough, for fortunately RB Noah Zhang is back (491 yards/5.6 avg) to carry some of the load. The majority of their receiving corps is gone as well, so it will be an opportunity for many to take advantage. On defense, David Skopec was a force as a sophomore last year (3 TFLs/3 sacks). Zhang was also a factor on the defense (2 sacks). The Bulldogs will look to carry their momentum from the end of last year into this fall.
Sydney Mednik is an upcoming junior who attends Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. She is a member of the girls varsity soccer team and has been with the program since her freshman year. On the field, she has been a key contributor for the Bulldogs, winning Rookie of the Year honors and receiving All-Division honors. But off the field, she is building a legacy that will be remembered for years after she graduates in 2027. In 2022, the year before her freshman year, she and her younger sister Ashley co-founded the Pass with Purpose Program. This non-profit organization provides soccer uniforms to children in need “so they can play on soccer teams with a sense of unity and pride,” as the website states. The program also aims to help girls “who in many parts of the world are not encouraged to play the sport.” They believe that giving uniforms will give girls the opportunity to enjoy the game much like their male counterparts. Pass with Purpose is also looking to protect the environment, allowing the uniforms produced to be reused. Her efforts have not only helped people in Maryland, but also around the country and the world. Because of that, it has gained national recognition and she subsequently was awarded the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award by ESPN. This particular award “celebrates and honors young people who are using the power of sport as a catalyst for change and making a positive impact on society.” She was one of 20 high school/college students across the country who was selected as a regional recipient of the award. When speaking with head varsity coach Haroot Hakopian about her and her characteristics and traits, he said that she doesn’t like all the attention and tries to deflect any that is thrown her way. “It’s really funny because she's doing all these amazing things and getting recognized for it on a national level, but she's all about the team and the group and what we're doing as a collective.” He recalls a moment of when Sydney won the ESPY and how she didn’t want her mom to post it on her socials. Despite her efforts, it got posted. But not by her mom; by her coach. “I joked around with Sydney’s mom I was like, ‘Well, if you do it, you'll get in trouble. If I do it, she won't say anything to me.’" He shares his appreciation and his support for Sydney and her sister and how they’re making a difference for so many children all over the world. “It's great to play the game, but it's just different when you allow people to all look like a team and they feel like they're dressed professionally and they feel like they belong together,” Hakopian starts. “We always talk about soccer being the beautiful game and being an international game. And she really wants everyone to experience that and that's probably her greatest quality.” Sydney’s characteristics fits in well with the soccer team, as Hakopian values team culture and team building. “Part of the underlying idea is that our team culture is not just improving us but it's meant to improve our community and beyond.” And that is exactly what she is doing. Her leadership and services have greatly influenced the team and her teammates. Although it wasn’t directly connected to what Sydney was doing, her qualities certainly played a role and it influenced the entire team to partake in a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The team went all-in and purchased special pink uniforms to wear for their games in October and will be doing fundraising events to raise money for breast cancer research. “It becomes more than just uniforms. It's how can we help? How can we make a world a better place, our community a better place? How can we think outside of ourselves to help other people as much as possible?” She has taken the initiative to go the extra mile to help anyone in need of it, and it led to the entire team to do the same. After she graduates and subsequently becomes a part of Churchill’s history, her leadership displayed on and off the pitch will keep her legacy alive for many years to come. She has been shown to help thousands of children all over the world through her organization that only continues to grow, and she has proven to be an influential figure and someone her teammates can look up to. The story of Sydney Mednik is just beginning, and so far she has already built a long lasting legacy that won’t soon be forgotten.
The softball offseason is upon us, with awards and championships being handed out to the game’s most deserved winners and teams. In Montgomery County, several schools had great seasons, but these four stand out. They all won their regional titles and carried that success into state semifinals/finals appearances, with one making its first state title in program history. Here is a 2026 lookout for four of Montgomery County’s top softball teams. Churchill: After reaching the program’s first state championship, how do the Bulldogs look to continue that success? They were led by one of the best pitchers in the county in Maggie King, who won back-to-back MCPS Softball Player of the Year titles. Freshman catcher Kai-En Hsu was also a big contributor, as she led the team in RBIs, which earned her First-Team All Division honors. She was also impressive on the mound, being the No.2 starter behind King. Originally slated to start in center, she volunteered as catcher as it was a position of struggle early in the season. Her efforts of learning a new position took the Bulldogs to the “next level,” as head coach Andrew Sonnabend described it. Along with King, Churchill loses ⅔ of its outfield with Ceci Bernstein and Zoe Kospsidas departing. They also lose four-year varsity player and captain Natalie Gumagay, so her leadership and experience will certainly be missed. But Hsu returns for her sophomore year (will probably be the ace), as do rising seniors Leah Sonnabend and Jacqueline Le, who was an honorable mention for All-Division. Netah Shekel and Aysha Gilmetdinova are star basketball players who contributed to the softball team as freshman last year, and will be worth keeping an eye on. “I think that both of them, they can really show that they're not just basketball players who play softball, but indeed just athletes,” said coach Sonnabend. With the success of 2025 now a part of Churchill softball history, the Bulldogs will look to continue its ascent and add its first state championship banner. Damascus: The Swarmin’ Hornets made it all the way to the state semifinals in search of its fifth state title, but unfortunately fell to Stephen Decatur. The good news is that much of the production that was shown on the field returns as infielder Josie Hoffacker is the team’s lone departure. Though her contributions offensively and defensively will be missed, the return of All-County members Ana DiGiandomenico, Amaya Hammond, Brooke Sell, Katelynn Doyle, Kailyn Sheahin and Aislinn Sell (2A/3A Division Pitcher of the Year) will have Damascus in a good position to make another run. “We will look to build on our success by continuing much of what worked for us this year both offensively and defensively,” said head coach Liz Gall. “Additionally, we continue to emphasize having fun and growing our mental game while working hard to be successful.” That approach has so far worked as they have two regional championships, one county championship, and two state semifinal appearances in two years under Gall. Despite making the move to Class 3A, Liz Gall looks to return to the semifinals and beyond and deliver the Hornets’ its fifth state championship. Sherwood: After winning the state final last year, Sherwood once again had an outstanding regular season with hopes of making it a repeat. Though they fell just short of back-to-back titles, they remain a forced to be reckoned with as the eight time state champions are always a threat to go a major run. They do lose First Team All-MET infielder Keira Schultz, outfielders Avery Anderson and Rylie Friend, but do return Reagan Corb and Gabby Anderson who were All-Division honorees. In total they lose six seniors, but head coach Ashley Barber-Strunk looks for the returnees to take the next step in leadership. “It is now their time to lead, prove what they can do and come back to see what we are capable of.” Rising seniors along with Corb include Faith Goolsby, Sydney Gould, and Sophia Salcedo. “The goal is to build each day once the team is made and to just get better little by little and if we can do that, we can do anything!” Northwest: The Jaguars went on an incredible 14-0 run before losing their first game of the season. They won the regional title and county championship and made it to the Class 4A state semifinals before losing to Leonardtown. Senior Yasmin Qassis was recognized as the 4A West Division Player of the Year. Fellow seniors Aubrey Cammuso, Erin DeLand, and Callie Tomaszewski also got All-Division recognition. Despite the losses, Northwest does bring back star quality players including rising sophomore Nala Johnson who struck out over 100 batters in her freshman season. Ali Porter is back for catching duties so the battery will look to continue the success from last year. Both received All-Division honors. Outfielder Lucy McNulty is the other impact player who received All-Division recognition. The Jaguars will look to build on last year’s success and make a run to its second state championship victory.
Senior Claire Radford strikes out 16 in a complete game shutout, leading Leonardtown to a 5-0 win and the Class 4A softball title again! 🔥🥎
With the sun shining and bats ready, the Leonardtown Raiders stormed into the Girls 4A Softball State Championships this week with a win against the Churchill Bulldogs by 5-0! Leonardtown also finished with 15 strikeouts. What a showdown!