Towson High School

Jonah Spiegelman

8d ago

Despite losing eight seniors from last year’s team, including Ohio Wesleyan commit Emmerson Crist, Carver will retain both athletes selected to the all county squad. Junior defender Zoe Drane and sophomore attack Kara Foertsch will return to the team that had one of the county’s best offenses, averaging 5.7 goals per game in the regular season. The team will open their regular season with a postseason rematch at home against Sparrows Point The Pointers sent attacker Arianna Perry and goalkeeper Caroline Weaver to the division one all county team, but Perry will not return this fall. In her sophomore season, Weaver will have a crucial role on a team that averaged 1.6 goals per game against in the regular season after losing defenders Jaslyn Nida and Allie Roberts. Currently, Sparrows Point has just nine games on their schedule with a two and a half week break from September 16 to October 2. Like Sparrows, Towson also finished 8-6 last season, reaching the state semifinals before a loss against Westminster. The team will go into this season without seven seniors including all county selectees Lily Franklin and Sarah Parks. Midfielder Lilyann Richard, who is committed to Appalachian State University, will return for her senior season this fall along with junior Cat Lang who was nominated as the most improved athlete on the team last fall. Eastern Tech’s team will be headed by St. Mary’s College of Maryland commit Bella Wexler. Wexler, along with rising junior Payton Lentz, were both selected to the division two all county team in 2025. Riley Ruhling leads the five seniors that graduated this past spring, as she was also selected to the BCPS squad. The Mavericks will face the Carver Wildcats once and Sparrows Point twice, both of which handed ET a loss last regular season. Dulaney’s Achilles heel in 2025 was out-of-county opponents, against which the Lions went 0-6. That is in comparison to a 5-0 record against Baltimore County schools. Dulaney graduated seven seniors including all county selectees Sarah Crowley and Mia Edwards, but they will return Northeastern University commit Sarah Sugarman and all county selectees London Krafft and Stella Smith. The Bulls will look to improve upon their 4-6 regular season record from last fall after losing seven seniors including a pair of graduated all county athletes, Grace Berquist and Lauren Matthews. Head coach Camryn Kelbaugh will still return a pair of athletes who made the list including Celia and Linley Morrow. Hereford’s 2026 schedule does not include any of three IAAM teams they played last fall, but the Bulls will face Century, Fallston, McDonough (IAAM), CMW, South Carroll, and Francis Scott Key as their out-of-county opponents. Unlike several other teams on this list, the Franklin Indians swept their three out-of-county games, including a postseason win against City College. The team graduated American University commit Nora Tromble along with defender Polina Markelova, but Franklin will have plenty of returning talent this fall. Mady Eisenberg, Ella Green, and Mae Norris were three of the team’s four captains (Tromble), and will all return this fall. Eisenberg, along with rising junior Hayden Meloy, received all county honors last season. Pikesville graduated three athletes, each of whom made the all county team – forwards Sophia Fung and Lennon Wollman along with goalie Casey Robb. Senior midfielder Jillian Modell and junior defender Sarah Fung will return to the team under first year head coach Jordan Wagner following the departure of Mackenna Gehman (Bush).

JSpiegelman

150d ago

In 2025, Baltimore County featured five teams that advanced to the regional tournament, with Carver in the 1A, Hereford and Sparrows Point one class above, Dulaney as a 3A and Perry Hall in the highest grouping. Despite this, just one team made it past round one, with Dulaney reaching the semifinal match. Fans have to go back to 2021 for the county’s most recent state championship, with the Catonsville Comets taking home the 4A trophy. The question is, will any teams hoist the biggest trophy the state has to offer? Here are the ten teams from BCPS most likely to win the big game: 1. Dulaney Last season’s Lions finished with the best record in the county with 14 wins, two losses, and a tie. Dulaney’s team had double-digit wins with ten or more points, while also winning two games by two or fewer runs, with an early 2-1 win at Catonsville, and a 4-2 road victory against Towson in early May. What was most impressive about their season was their run from the regional semifinal through the state quarterfinal, where they outscored Franklin, Catonsville, and Marriott’s Ridge 40-0, earning a regional title. In the state semifinal game at Bachman Stadium, the Lions’ season was cut short, as they fell 2-0 to the Sherwood Warriors. This season’s squad will be without just two members from last year's team, and will return four all-county athletes, including Amherst College softball commit Brynn Townsend. The Lions also added former Franklin Indian Mia Cleveland, who finished last season with a .429 batting average and a 1.578 OPS. 2. Perry Hall In 2024, the Gators went 11-3 in the regular season and reached the state semifinals before being eliminated by Eleanor Roosevelt from Prince George’s County. Last spring, Perry Hall went just 6-6-1 in a season that featured a four game win streak, immediately followed by a four-game losing streak. After wrapping up the regular season, the Gators took down Western High and Dundalk to secure their regional championship, before their second consecutive elimination at the hands of the Raiders. This spring, the Perry Hall roster looks as strong as ever. After losing just three seniors, they are set to be led by Randolph-Macon College commit Maddie Carl, and Roanoke College commit Addison Dunlap. The team will also have Savannah Carl in the lineup, who made the first all-BCPS team last spring. 3. Franklin Despite an average regular season record last spring, finishing just 7-8, the Indians had several bright spots in their schedule. Franklin opened their season on a three-game win streak, including an 18-0 home rout against Lansdowne and a 19-2 victory over Parkville. Last season’s issue was the obstacle of two separate four-game losing streaks, separated by just two games. In the regional quarterfinal game, Franklin locked down their third win of the season against Lansdowne, with a 16-1 final, before a loss against Dulaney to end their season in the semifinal match. After losing just one senior, Samantha Maldonado, this year’s team will be headed by senior Scarlett Cornwell, a pitcher who dished out 108 strikeouts last spring 4. Sparrows Point The Pointers opened their season with just one win in the first seven games. After that, the team started to turn up the heat, going 4-3-1 to end the year with an interesting 5-6-4 record. In their first game in the regional bracket, The Point avenged an early season tie and an 11-0 regular season loss, eliminating the Mavericks with a 9-5 win, followed by a 23-0 regional final win against the Bayhawks. Unfortunately, the Pointers’ season came to an end against the future 2A state champion, the Huntingtown Hurricanes, in a 19-0 state quarterfinal game. This coming season, the Pointers will be without three members of last year’s team, but will have leadership returning from senior captain and Widener University commit Allie Roberts 5. Hereford Looking at overall records from last season, the Bulls took the top spot, but in the regular season, they were number two, finishing with 13 wins. That includes a seven game win streak to open the season, including a 28-7 landslide win on the road against the Lansdowne Vikings. After scoring ten or more runs in nine separate games, including 16 and 19 run performances towards the end, the Bulls knocked out Milford Mill 15-0 in the regional championship. However, Hereford’s season came to a close at the hands of the Damascus Hornets, as the green and gold took down the maroon and yellow in the state quarterfinals. After losing six seniors, including all-county nominee Lauren Clement, who hit .420 while striking out 77 on the mound, the Bulls are set to be led by senior Morgan Hall, who mashed at the plate last season, hitting .587 with two bombs. 6. Milford Mill The Millers opened their season with a 3-4 record, that included one-point road losses to Loch Raven and Pikesville. Despite the rough start, Milford finished their season on a five game win streak, that included revenge against both teams, beating the Raiders 8-7 and the Panthers 13-12. The academy’s region has just two teams, sending them straight to the regional championship, where they fell to the Hereford Bulls. This season’s squad will look very similar for the green and black, with just two athletes, Cortai Thompson and Tomi Adenugba, graduating. Playoffs this season could look different, if New Town and Owings Mills go into the bracket, but only time will tell how far the Millers can go. 7. Carver The Wildcats could be a wildcard this spring season after a 2025 campaign that featured several highs and lows. After opening the season 0-3, Carver went on a 4-1 run, followed immediately by a 1-4 run, with their regular season ultimately ending with a 6-8 record. Despite falling short of the .500 mark, the Wildcat squad went on a tear through the regional bracket, beating ACCE by 7 in the quarterfinals, Loch Raven by 20 in the semis, and Western Tech 14-10 in a high scoring regional championship game. Unfortunately, Carver went into the state tournament as the bottom seed, forced to face the future 1A state champions, the Mardela Warriors. After losing three seniors, Carver is lucky to have Mia McGarvey back for this spring, as the all-county nominee will look to lead her squad to their third consecutive regional title. 8. Dundalk Last season, the Owls offense was one of the best that BCPS had to offer. In 11 regular season wins, Dundalk secured two wins with at least 20 runs scored, while 9 had double digits cross the plate. Their three losses included two at the hands of the Hereford Bulls and another against Catonsville. Their first playoff game was the regional semifinal match, which was their second consecutive against Kenwood. After beating the Bluebirds 10-0 to end the regular season, Dundalk took them down just 3-1, advancing them to the regional championship, where they ultimately fell to Perry Hall 6-3. Coming into this spring, the Owls are set to be led by senior Makayla Woods who will play in her fourth season with the Dundalk squad. 9. Towson The Generals opened their season with a three-game win streak that included an 18-4 road win against the Gators on opening day, followed by a 19-5 win on the road in Sparrows Point just four days later. The midseason featured a 7-1 stretch, with the one loss coming in a 15-14 affair at home against the Pointers. This would not be the only instance of home struggles for the Towson team, as they took down Eastern Tech on the road 16-3 early in the season, before losing their final game of the season 13-12 at home against the Mavericks. The squad with six seniors fell in their first playoff game, losing 7-0 at home against the then 8-7 Catonsville Comets, ending their season. 10. Chesapeake The Bayhawks’ offense opened the season incredibly well, defeating Loch Raven 24-11 at home, Milford Mill on the road 24-8, and New Town 20-4 in an away game, with those three all coming in their first four games. Despite some midseason struggles, Chesapeake ended their regular season on a four-game win streak, giving them a final record of 8-4. Their first playoff game came against SEED, where the Bayhawks took down the Sabers 26-7, before being silenced in the regional championship, falling 23-0. The reason for the low spot for Chesapeake surrounds the inconsistency of their play, but if this spring’s squad can sort that out, this team looks to be in good shape

Maryland 3A central region had their indoor track competition on 2/5/26. In the Girls 55m Finals Aubree Lilly from Towson won first place and ran a time of 7.13s. Samantha Amauwa from Franklin placed second and ran a time of 7.18s. Rozelyn Sarfo from Oakland Mills placed third and ran a time of 7.28s. Sarfo also set a personal record for herself and became the new Maryland 33rd place for this event. In the girls Girls 55mH 3A Finals Nyla Lavender from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute won first place and ran a time of 8.54. Lavender set a personal record for herself and became the new Maryland 19th place for this event. Taylor Moorer from Baltimore City College placed second and ran a time of 8.54s. Moorer set a personal record for herself and also became the new Maryland 20th place for this event. Ava Carr from Howard placed in third and ran a time of 8.55s. In the Girls 300m 3A Aubree Lilly from Towson also won first place (she also placed first in the 55m) she ran a time of 39.90s. With this run she gained three accomplishments she set a personal record for herself,became the new United States 75th place, and the new Maryland 14th place for this event.Samantha Amauwa from Franklin placed in second and ran a time of 39.95s. In the Girls 500m 3A Payton Buchanan from Oakland Mills won first place and ran a time of 1:17.37.Trinity Jordan from Franklin placed in second and ran a time of 1:18.00. Brooklynn Murrell from Baltimore City College placed in third and ran a time of 1:18.87. She also set a personal record for herself and became the new 22nd place in Maryland for this event. In the Girls 800m 3A Centennial High School in Howard County dominated the event with their runners coming in first,second, and third place.Kaylee Beal won first place and ran a time of 2:27.03.Beal also set a personal record for herself. Clara Curtis placed in second and ran a time of 2:27.61. Samantha Raker placed in third and ran a time of 2:27.68.Curtis set a personal record for herself as well. In the Girls 1600m 3A Kaylee Beal from Centennial also won first place (she also placed first in the 800m) she ran a time of 5:23.36. Aspen Yorek from Oakland Mills placed in second and ran a time of 5:26.67. Olivia Virago from Catonsville placed in third and ran a time of 5:27.62. In the Girls 3200m 3A Aspen Yorek from Oakland Mills won first place and ran a time of 12:11.20. Izabella McDonald from Guilford Park placed in second and ran a time of 12:14.47. Gabriela Nguyen from Centennial placed in third and ran a time of 12:20.59. Nguyen also set a personal record for herself. In the girls Girls 4x200m (3A) Oakland Mills’ team won first place and ran a time of 1:43.81 The team was R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, P. Buchanan, G. Osei-Bonsu. Baltimore City College’s The team placed second and ran a time of 1:46.51. The team was L. Pulley, T. Moorer, M. Hunt, A. Milligan. Franklin’s team placed third and ran a time of 1:47.48. The team was S. Amauwa, T. Jordan, K. Redd, K. Wallace. In the Girls 4x400m (3A) Oakland Mills’ team won first place and ran a time of 4:04.29. The team was R. Sarfo, J. Harriston, R. Martinez Romero, P. Buchanan. Baltimore City College’s team placed in second and ran a time of 4:10.22. The team was C. Shane, L. Pulley, B. Murrell, T. Moorer. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute ‘s team placed in third and ran a time of 4:17.23. The team was J. Newton, G. Jacobs, D. Griffin, K. Bastfield. They also became the new 37th place in Maryland. In the Girls 4x800m (3A) Guilford Park’s team won first place and ran a time of 10:21.97. The team was C. Logan, L. Eastman, J. Ortega, I. McDonald. They also became the new Maryland 29th place. Baltimore City College’s team placed second and ran a time of 10:37.89. The team was K. Hunt, C. Shane, J. Pulley, B. Murrell. They also became the new 41st place in Maryland. Franklin’s team placed third and ran a time of 10:42.03. The team was K. Wallace, N. Tromble, T. Clingan, S. Shon. They also became the new 47th place in Maryland. In the Girls High Jump 3 Ava Carr from Howard won first place and jumped 5-04.00 feet. She also became the new 7th place in Maryland. Patience Oyamo from Guilford Park placed in second and jumped 5-04.00 feet. She also became the new 4th place in Maryland. Julia Irvin from Howard placed third and jumped 5-00.00 feet. She became the new 24th place in Maryland. In the Girls Pole Vault 3A Kendall Shirey from Howard won first place and cleared 9-00.00 feet. She also became the new 22nd place in Maryland. Molly Van Valkenburg from Towson placed in second and cleared 7-06.00 feet. She also set a personal record for herself. Alisha Rao from Howard placed third and cleared 7-00.00 feet. In the Girls Shot Put 3A Natalie Bank from Centennial won first place and threw 32-02.00 feet or 9.80m. Amirah Curtis from Baltimore City College placed second and threw 30-07.25 feet or 9.33m. Imani Smith from Howard placed third and threw 30-06.75 or 9.32m.

JSpiegelman

192d ago

Last week, BCPS teams met at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Downtown Baltimore for the indoor track and field county competition. This article will highlight the top three finishers in each track event as well as the field events. As overall teams, Hereford placed first with 87 total points, followed by Dulaney with 60 and Towson with 40. Congratulations to Hereford for their county championship, but here are the top three finishers in each result from the county competition: Individual Events: 55 Meter: Towson senior Bronte Morton took home gold, finishing in 6.53 seconds, followed by Kenwood junior Myles Venable at 6.56 and Overlea senior Davon Shell at 6.58. 300 Meter: Hereford senior Ben Wheeler finished at the top of the podium in 36.83 seconds, followed by Morton in 37.3 and Venable at 37.67. 500 Meter: Wheeler also took home the top spot here, finishing in 1:08.48, followed by Parkville senior Jay Williams at 1:09.82, and Julian Prioleau from Franklin at 1:11.4. 800 Meter: Hereford sent another athlete to the top of this podium in sophomore Eli Aitken, who finished in 2:03.33, ahead of Franklin junior Zane Wehya at 2:04.87 and Towson junior Jack Dobrosielski at 2:05.72. 1600 Meter: Aitken took home his second gold medal, finishing this event in 4:41.84. Dulaney sophomore Luke Sales was just a bit behind in the silver medal spot at 4:45.69, and Catonsville sophomore Matthew Foster took home bronze in 4:47.32. 3200 Meter: Eli Aitken won his second long distance event and third overall, finishing in 10:05.47, followed by Carver senior Ian Pawluczkowycz in 10:09.29, with Dulaney junior Chris Martin in third, finishing in 10:14.22. 55 Meter Hurdles: Dundalk junior Brandon Brown took home the team's only gold medal, finishing in 8.07 seconds, closely followed by Eastern Tech's Malikai Sheriff in 8.11, and Overlea junior Isaiah Megginson at 8.37. Team Events: 4x200 Meter Relay: Milford Mill's team PR'd with a 1:36.35 finish on a team consisting of Damari Jackson, Samari Jackson, Cory Wheatley, and Amauri Patterson. Hereford came right behind with a PR of their own, set by Mykai Branch, Cameron Shinavar, Brad Chelden, and Ben Wheeler, with a time of 1:38.78. Dundalk's team brought home bronze, with Malachi Grooms, Darryl Reid, Ne'Shaun McCrae-Lee, and Mark Andrews finishing the event in 1:39.21 4x400 Meter Relay: Milford Mill won their second relay of the day, with Damari and Samari Jackson, Cory Wheatley, and Dante Brown finishing in 3:39.92, closely followed by Randallstown's team consisting of Jahlil Hopkins, Caleb Kehinde, Christopher Williams, and Jaeden Viera just six hundredths of a second behind at 3:39.98. Dulaney's Steven Ijeomah, Ethan Sappe, Michael Ijeomah, and Raymond Johnson came in third, finishing in 3:48.2 4x800 Meter Relay: This relay served as Dulaney's only team win, as their squad consisting of Jeff Ackerman, Michael and Steven Ijeomah, and Ethan Sappe finished in first in 8:41.9. Hereford's team made up of Nate Berkowitz, Kayvon Etesamypour, Matthew Lowing, and James Wyatt finished in 8:54.82, while Parkville took home bronze, as Odunayo Omolafe, Mor Fame, Jayvien Fayall, and Javon Shipley rounded out the top three in 9:03.2. Field Events: Shot Put: Mason Triplin, a senior from Dundalk, took home gold, throwing 52' 5.75" in his final indoor county competition. He was followed up by Dulaney's Jeremiah Dailey, at 49'1", and John Jachens from Catonsville, who threw 48'6" High Jump: Sparrows Point senior Sincere Noble won the event, reaching 6'2", followed by Carver's Benjamin Arneklev at 6'. Nujeeb Waheed at Overlea, Parkville's Donte Jacobs and Rommel Marquez Jr, and Milford Mill's Malik Samms, all hit 5'10", with Waheed and Jacobs tying for the bronze spot. Pole Vault: Richard Wang from Hereford took home gold, vaulting a personal best 12'3", as Loch Raven's Henry Kowal, Hereford's Corban Jones, and Dundalk's Ne'Shaun McCrae-Lee all reaching a max of 11', with Kowal and Jones taking silver and bronze.

JSpiegelman

199d ago

The second week back from winter break in Baltimore County had no shortage of high-powered teams playing high-powered teams. With thirteen BCPS teams currently sitting with winning records, and the regional playoffs just over a month away, plenty of teams are vying for home-court advantage for late February. Several close games, road wins, and upsets went down throughout the county this week, and are highlighted in the top five boys basketball games from January 12-16: Lansdowne: 60, Catonsville: 52 The Vikings came into the game 4-3 following a ten-point home win over Woodlawn, while the Comets brought in a two-game win streak, including a home victory against Randallstown and another on the road against Western Tech. Lansdowne opened the first quarter on a 10-2 scoring run, forcing a Catonsville timeout. After the short break, the Comets fought back, shrinking the lead to 16-11 by the end of the first. In the last two minutes of the first half, Catonsville had several opportunities from behind the line, shrinking the Lansdowne lead to as few as one, but Lansdowne took a 29-26 lead into half. After the break, the Vikings continued to extend their lead, increasing their advantage by another three in the third, and two in the fourth. Despite a valiant effort from the Comets at home, their two-game win streak snapped as Lansdowne took the win 60-52. Parkville: 65, Perry Hall: 57 The Gators came in holding a two-game win streak since winter break, with strong wins on the road against Loch Raven and at home against Kenwood. The Knights had won just one of their last three, with a loss to Meade over the break and two games against county teams since returning to school. Perry Hall opened the game on an 8-0 scoring run that lasted for the first four minutes of the game, but Parkville had a 7-0 run of their own at the end of the quarter, bringing the deficit to just four. The Knights took their first lead of the game midway through the second quarter by just one point, but the Gators tied the game at 27 by halftime. Both team’s offenses were just as strong in the second half, as the Knights tacked on 38 in the second half while the Gators added 30. Perry Hall’s win streak was snapped on the road, as the Knights took this one 65-57. Dulaney: 55, Milford Mill: 32 The Lions came into this game at the top of the standings and riding a five-game win streak, with their most recent loss dating back to December 12 against Carver Vo-Tech. The Millers, also a strong team in the county, won their most recent game, a 30-point victory at home against Western Tech. Dulaney won the opening tipoff, but turned the ball over after missing two shots. After a Milford turnover, the Lions scored the first points of the game on a contested shot in the paint. Throughout the first half, the Millers struggled from beyond the arc, and simultaneously, Dulaney punished the Milford Mill defense, securing no shortage of offensive rebounds. The Lions offense continued playing well throughout the rest of the game, while the defense continued to limit Milford Mill on the way to a 55-32 win. Kenwood: 45, Towson: 32 Towson hit the road to take on Kenwood holding a two-game win streak after games against Patapsco and Carver. The Bluebirds, one game above .500, took down Eastern Tech by four points five days before this game. Both teams’ offenses got off slow, with just fourteen combined points in the first quarter, with three coming on a buzzer-beater three by Kenwood. The start of the second quarter had the same story, but eight combined points were scored in the final two minutes. Towson took their first lead of the game with five minutes left in the third, leading by as much as five, but Kenwood turned up the heat in the final thirteen minutes. To end the game, Kenwood won the scoring battle 27-9, en route to their second straight win, 45-32. Freshman Adrienne Guzman led the scoring for the Bluebirds, contributing sixteen points. Sophomore A’mare Gaulden-Saddler added ten of his own. Junior Zaaire Tucker had 13 rebounds, five offensively and eight on defense. Pikesville: 49, Hereford: 44 The 3-7 Panthers traveled up I-83 to face off against the 7-2 Bulls. Pikesville dropped two close games against Marriotts Ridge and Catonsville in their last two while Hereford came in riding a four-game win streak. Both teams’ offenses opened the game very strong, scoring fifteen each in the first quarter, but the Panthers went on to take a 25-24 lead by halftime. The Panthers offense won both of the final two quarters, taking the third by the three and the fourth by one, giving them the 49-44 upset win on the road. Sophomore Kylan Artis and junior Jonah Matz both played all 32 minutes and both scored fourteen points for Pikesville, while Matz added thirteen rebounds. St. Mary’s College of Maryland commit Tanner Diehl led with 23 points while senior Kreis Metz added eight rebounds and two steals for the Bulls.

JSpiegelman

213d ago

Over winter break, Baltimore County’s athletes took very little time off, focusing on improving individual skills and their team’s performance. Some girls basketball teams held normal practices, while others traveled to face opponents seldom on their schedules. Here is how a few Baltimore County teams utilized their winter breaks: Carver: Head coach Kevin Perry explained that his team has taken the break to focus on improving fundamentals in their team practices this winter. The Wildcats opened their season with a home win against Overlea and a road win against Green Street before going 2-2 ahead of the break. The team’s focus is solely on two games in this first week back, as they will travel to Sparrows Point on Wednesday and host Towson on Friday. Catonsville: The Comets participated in the 695 Holiday Hoops tournament, winning their bracket after playing two games. The team took down the Tuscarora Titans 48-28 in their first game, followed by a 53-28 win over the Edmonson-Westside Red Storm. New Town: The Titans participated in the 695 Holiday Hoops tournament, facing off against Manchester Valley from Carroll County and Largo from Prince George’s. After dropping their first game 51-33, the team bounced back, as they defeated the Lions 55-42. In the win, senior Makiah Pollard scored 23 points in the second half, with eleven rebounds to add on. Perry Hall: The Gators participated in the Overlea holiday showdown, playing two games on Monday, December 29, and Tuesday, December 30. In game one, Perry Hall took down the Mervo Mustangs 53-23. Taylor Pollard was the Gator’s leading scorer, putting up 15 points with five steals. Denim Waters added nine and Deamya Ojo eight. In their second game, Perry Hall won again, this time against the Dunbar Poets, by a final score of 54-32. Perry Hall led by a narrow seven point margin at halftime, but Pollard’s seventeen total points and Ojo’s twelve rebounds propelled the team to the big win. Pikesville: The Panthers traveled to Salisbury to participate in the Governor’s Challenge, playing two games early last week. On day one, the team took down Queen Anne’s County High 50-27, and in the championship game on Tuesday, Pikesville triumphed against the Smyrna Eagles 55-47. Nyjae Malikali-El led the scoring for Pikesville in the championship, with nineteen points and seven steals, and also won the tournament’s skills competition. Freshman Kyndall Richardson also won the three-point challenge, bringing yet another trophy home for the five-time consecutive state champions. Towson: The Generals currently sit at the top of Baltimore County with a 5-0 record, highlighted by strong wins over Western Tech, Parkville, and Loch Raven. Eric Erhardt, the Generals’ head coach, explained that his team had practices as normal, and that the team typically does not participate in holiday tournaments. Towson will look to continue their undefeated run with away games against Patapsco and Carver this week.

JSpiegelman

213d ago

For most high school students, winter break is a week and a half at the end of the calendar year to sleep in, spend time with family, and relax outside of school. For dozens of athletes throughout the county, however, the break is spent on the court, sharpening both skills and team chemistry. BCPS teams participated in several winter break tournaments across the state, and here is a look at how many teams performed: Chesapeake: The Bayhawks participated in Overlea’s holiday tournament and played two games. On the tournament’s third day, Chesapeake played their first game, facing off against the Owings Mills Golden Eagles, but falling 65-56. On the fourth day of the tournament, Chesapeake fell to the Ben Franklin Bayhawks, from Baltimore City, 70-56. Dulaney: The Lions played in the first two days of the Overlea holiday tournament, facing off against New Hope Academy and their rivals, the Towson Generals. On the first day, the Lions came up short against the Tigers, losing 90-49, then going on to take down Towson in a 50-46 game. Eastern Tech: The Mavericks traveled to New York City to participate in a holiday tournament at Elmcor in Queens, NY. The first game was a 50-48 win against Queens High while the second was a 75-55 loss to Pope Francis Prep from Springfield, Massachusetts. Adrian Pefianco combined for 39 points across the two games while Brian James Jr. had twelve points with three steals in the game two loss. Following the tournament, Eastern Tech had the opportunity to attend a practice for the Hofstra Pride basketball team. The Mavericks now turn their focus to their first regular season game of 2026 against Parkville. Hereford: The Bulls traveled several hours into the mountains of Maryland to compete in the 36th annual Snowball Classic, hosted by Southern Garrett High School. On Friday night, Hereford took down the hosting Rams 37-35, with a buzzer-beater lay up from junior Joe Daw. In Saturday’s championship game, Hereford faced the North Hagerstown Hubs, falling 67-63. Since the end of the tournament, the team has returned to regular practices as they prepare for an away game against Woodlawn on Wednesday. Kenwood: The Bluebirds went into the break on a three-game win streak, defeating Aberdeen, Sparrows Point, and Chesapeake in the week before the break. In Kenwood’s annual Christmas Classic, the team lost to a senior-heavy Elkton Golden Elks team 65-35. Sophomore Maurice Evans and Freshman Adrienne Guzman lead the team in points per game with ten and nine, respectively. Chaze Johnson and Tyre Robinson both average 8-9 rebounds per game, also leading the second best team in BCPS Division I. Lansdowne: The Vikings participated in Overlea’s holiday tournament, playing two games against Coppin Academy and Baltimore Polytechnic. Lansdowne took down Coppin Academy 71-37, with Topaz Norris accounting for 21 points and eight rebounds while Trevor Howard had 17 points of his own. Serigne Babou had eight blocks and seven rebounds in the win. Lansdowne went on to fall to the Poly Engineers on day four of the tournament. Milford Mill: The Millers traveled to Salisbury to participate in the “Best Experience in High School Hoops”, the 42nd annual Governor’s Challenge. On Friday, December 26, the Millers could not take down Delaware’s Smyrna Eagles, with a 78-60 final score. Romeo Hart achieved a double-double in the loss, with 22 points and fifteen rebounds. On Saturday afternoon, Milford Mill avenged the previous day’s loss, as they defeated the Wagner Falcons from Staten Island. The final score in their second game was 63-60, led by Bryce Galloway who had a 36 point performance. Milford Mill then went on to face the St. Francis Panthers in a showcase. Owings Mills: The Golden Eagles were yet another BCPS team competing in the Overlea tournament, competing against the Chesapeake Bayhawks on the afternoon of day three, and the Coppin Academy Eagles on the fourth day. Their first game resulted in a nine point Owings Mills win with a final score of 65-56, but the Golden Eagles fell to the private school 54-36 on the tournament’s final day. Overlea: The Falcons expanded their annual holiday tournament, hosting 36 total teams across four days with nine games each day. The tournament also expanded to host girls basketball teams for the first time. Overlea played two games, taking down the Randallstown Rams 77-60 on December 26 and falling to New Hope Academy from Landover Hills, MD, with a final score of 81-41. Senior guard Korrie Foster Jr. accounted for 30 of the team’s 77 points in the game against Randallstown per Maxpreps. Parkville: The Knights competed in Meade High School’s Christmas tournament on December 29 and December 30. In their first game, Parkville fell to Meade 74-47, and in the second, they lost a close game to the Wildcats with a final score of 56-48. Throughout the tournament, Parkville senior Cameron Alexander served as a strong leader for the entire team. The Knights are set to host Eastern Tech in their first game of 2026, taking place on January 7. Perry Hall: The Gators played two afternoon games in Overlea’s tournament, playing on the first two days. Perry Hall dropped their day one game 55-52 against Maurice McDonough High from Charles County. The Gators went on to play Rosedale Christian, but dropped a 71-65 final score to the Panthers. Randallstown: The Rams played two night games in Overlea’s holiday tournament, as they faced off at 7:15pm on night one and 6:00pm on night two. In the team’s first game, they fell to the hosting Falcons with a final score of 77-60, then going on to drop their second game to the Archbishop Curley Friars by a smaller margin, 64-52. Towson: The Generals participated in a tournament hosted by Overlea High School, facing off against Loch Raven and Dulaney. Towson took down the Raiders and fought back from a 25-point deficit as they lost to Dulaney 50-46. The comeback came with incredible defense, as the team came back from a 22-point deficit going into the fourth quarter to only lose by a handful of points.

Peyton Parise with 25 digs, Samarra Brodbeck with 3 aces, 13 digs, 4 kills, and 1 block, Samaya Cox with 5 kills and 1 block, Jael Erickson with 4 kills and 1 ace, and Bri Tomcho with 1 ace, 7 digs, and 5 assists. -Hannah Whitmire

Goal by Landon Wheatley and shutout with Matt Rich as the goalie.

Dulaney: 6 Towson: 5

C. Milton Wright mustangs won a hard-fought match against Towson High School 1-0. Bella Enguillado scored the lone goal for the match in the first half off an assist from Sophia Hodges. The mustangs defense led by Nani Milich earned their second shutout in as many games. Half time score 1-0

JSpiegelman

324d ago

In 2024, Towson High School’s cross country team was one of the top performers from Baltimore County. Theodore Brown placed fourth in the state in the five-kilometer race, while finishing in the top 50 in a Nike Cross Nationals qualifying race. For the girls’ team, Cecelia Van Lierop finished tenth in the state in the same race, while Alexandra Lohse and Caroline Richard also placed in the top 25 in Maryland, with Lohse also placing seventeenth at the Cross Nationals Event. While the team was very solid all around, every athlete mentioned above was a senior. Head coach Gil Stange, who is entering his 34th year with Towson, acknowledged that his team will look different in the meet-by-meet standings, saying that in “the past four years… it worked out our varsity top tens were loaded with seniors… they were excellent leaders and role models.” This season, the underclassmen will have their chance to shine. In the team’s first meet of the season, the Top of the Hill Invitational at River Hill High School, the Generals had a very successful outing. With 24 total teams competing, the Generals had four finishers in the top eighty for the Girls 5,000 Meter Varsity race, and five in the top eighty for the boys. Elaina Razon-Fernandez finished second out of Towson’s athletes in the girls’ varsity race (67th overall), and explained that “being injured for the past two cross country seasons has shown me how much of a privilege it is to run and compete.” Additionally, Guadalupe Tootoo finished third in the junior varsity girls' race, while William Budlow finished ninth in the boys' race, both as freshmen. With tougher competition this fall, Coach Stange is totally locked in on having a strong 2025 campaign. “Our focus is on having fun and improving throughout the season, and I think we will be in the mix at all levels when we get to the postseason meets,” he explained. At this season’s Richard Barnhart Memorial Invitational, the Generals had three athletes, Andrew Robinson, Jack Dobrosielski, and Henry Navyac, finish in the top fifty. Dobrosielski mentioned that he is feeling tremendous going into this season, citing that his experience “running in several high-profile races has allowed us to feel comfortable in the uncomfortable.” The Generals have five races left before the postseason begins, including the Bull Run this coming Saturday. When thinking about how this season will play out, Andrew Robinson understands the importance of “giving advice to other runners on the team to help them advance and encourage them to run their best.”

JSpiegelman

331d ago

Team photo credit to John Bowers Photo, provided by Coach Kelsey Saunders Baltimore County fall sports kicked off this past Friday, and the first game of the season was a field hockey match between the Towson Generals and the Franklin Indians. At the end of last season, the Generals fell in the first round of the regional playoffs, losing 3-2 against Dulaney, while the Indians lost in the regional championship in a 3-2 game against the future 3A state runner-up, Westminster. Towson head coach Kelsey Saunders explained that her team successfully spread its offense throughout the entire game. The Generals' six goals in the contest all came from juniors. Lilyann Richard completed a hat trick, while Kate Hudson, Liene Muendel, and Josie Gister each contributed one more. For Franklin, American University commit Nora Tromble scored both of her team’s two goals. Reflecting on the win, Coach Saunders was very proud of the way her team worked together, explaining that “We controlled the pace of the game and had quick, effective passes the entire 60 minutes.” While it was a successful afternoon, she still understands that there is room to improve. In the team’s preparation for their game against Sparrows Point on Tuesday, they will be “working to come out faster and score quicker… also want to improve on our defensive end and keep attackers out of the circle.” The Indians are led by their four captains, Mady Eisenberg, Ella Green, Mae Norris, and Nora Tromble. This afternoon, Franklin is scheduled to travel to Perry Hall. The Gators graduated just three seniors following the 2024 season, meaning that Franklin will have an experienced opponent against which they look for their first win of the year.

JSpiegelman

350d ago

Baltimore County has had several state championship contenders in recent seasons, with the most recent champion being Sparrows Point in 2023, while three teams reached the final four last fall. 2025 will feature teams figuring out the best way to balance returning talent with new athletes, how they will fill holes left by last season's seniors, and their best path to return to Loyola University. Here's how Baltimore County's teams stack up heading into this fall: 1. Perry Hall (2024: 7-7) The Gators’ .500 regular season record was the most deceptive on this list, as they were one of three teams to reach the state semifinals from the County. The Gators played two regional playoff games, averaging 12.5 goals per game. As the eight seed, they went on to upset top-seeded Eleanor Roosevelt in the first round, but lost to Crofton in the state semifinals. They will be coming into the 2025 season without just two of last year’s members, Emily Rennie and DeAna Stewart, both of whom were selected to the senior showcase. Every member of the coaching staff except JV head coach Rick Townley will be returning, and with just a few departures, Perry Hall looks to have a deep playoff run brewing. 2. Sparrows Point (2024: 9-1) Last fall, the Pointers cruised to the state semifinal game, winning their first three playoff games by a combined 22-1. In the state semifinals, the top seed was surprisingly dealt a loss by C. Milton Wright, who went on to become the 2A state runner-up. While the Pointers will be without Notre Dame of Maryland University commit Olivia Messercola and York College of Pennsylvania commit Allysa Hartman, as well as five other seniors, Sparrows Point will still have one of the best cores in Baltimore County. Leading the team this fall will be all-Maryland second team selectee Allison Forsythe, all-Maryland honorable mention Ami Walters, and all-county honoree Ally Foos. The Pointers have a brutal final stretch of the season, facing Perry Hall and Towson in two out of their final three games, but the team will likely have another overall strong season in 2025. 3. Towson (2024: 10-1) Last year’s Generals made it the farthest out of any Baltimore County team, reaching the state championship, but ultimately being shut out by top-seeded Severna Park. Towson has another strong core, featuring all-county selected Madden Sysantos and Gia Celenza, both in the class of 2027. However, this season, they will be without one of Baltimore County’s top athletes, Koto Davis, an all-county, all-state, and all-American selectee who is committed to Old Dominion University. Along with Davis, the Generals will be without eight other seniors, including St. Bonaventure University commit Jolie Bull, Muhlenberg College commit Ariana Defino, and McDaniel College commit Lizzie Corvera. This year’s team will have many fantastic athletes leading Towson to another incredible season, including several that will receive the call-up from JV. 4. Eastern Tech (2024: 5-9) After losing nine seniors, junior Ineza Ross-Riedel will be the centerpiece of this year’s Mavericks team. As a sophomore during the fall of 2024 season, Ross-Riedel was not only selected to the all-county team, but also the all-state squad. Additionally, Eastern Tech will have a plethora of athletes to select from their 4-1 JV team to fill holes left by the class of 2025. Last season’s poor record does not reflect the strength of their season, which featured close losses against top teams from around Maryland, including Sparrows Point, C. Milton Wright, Perry Hall, and Towson. Their first round playoff matchup was unfortunate, coming against Sparrows Point again. Despite their record showing just 5-9, the Mavericks will have several chances at rematches in 2025, and the opportunity to continue to prove their strength. 5. Catonsville (2024: 4-6-2) Last season, the Comets sent two athletes to the all-county team – senior Kaitlyn Bachtel and junior Ella Lesniewski. 2025 will feature a significantly different team, as Catonsville will be returning without eight seniors, but they will have Lesniewski to lead the team in her senior season. Similarly to Eastern Tech, last year’s team put up very good fights against top tier talent, including C. Milton Wright, Towson, Sparrows Point, Perry Hall, and Eastern Tech. In the state quarterfinals, the Comets took down Lansdowne 9-0, but had one of the toughest regional semi-final games out of any Baltimore County team, as they took on Towson on they road. Despite such a difficult game, Catonsville conceded just one goal in the loss, and while they were eliminated very early, they still had several phenomenal games against some of the best teams in the state, and I believe that that success will transfer into this fall. 6. Hereford (2024: 6-6-1) The Bulls will be taking a huge hit this coming season, losing six total seniors, including Mercer University commit and all-state honoree Bella DeSantis, Mansfield University commit Aaliyah Stocks, Cleveland State University commit Shanti Atkins, and all-state honoree Ellis Reynolds. Excluding those two, none of Hereford’s athletes received any all-county or all-state recognition. The Bulls’ JV team finished with a respectable 5-3 record, and several of that team’s athletes will have to transition to the higher level of play. Hereford has four IAAM teams on their schedule, Concordia Prep, Gerstell, St. Paul’s, and Maryvale, while also having powerhouses such as Perry Hall, Sparrows Point, Catonsville, and Eastern Tech on their regular season schedule. The Bulls will likely have another good season, but it may be a slight step back when compared to last year’s state quarterfinal loss (which was only their second playoff game, beating Milford Mill 13-0 in their only regional game) to three-seeded Century. 7. Overlea (2024: 8-0) For the third consecutive season, the Falcons went undefeated, placing them atop Division III. In search of a fourth consecutive undefeated regular season, the Falcons will have to do it without five of last year’s athletes, but they will be bringing back 2024 captain Emma Lee. This fall, Overlea will have just one familiar opponent, Patapsco, from last season, as they are set to face off twice against Carver, Franklin, Kenwood, Parkville, and Dundalk throughout the regular season. In their first playoff game in 2024, they were defeated 8-0 by a 1-11 Dulaney team. While they may have another strong regular season coming, Overlea’s hopes for a significant playoff run don’t appear to be high. 8. Carver (2024: 5-3-1) Two of the Wildcats’ seven seniors, Advaitha Gante and Alexandra Hudacek, were selected to the all-senior showcase in 2024, but no other athlete received any honors beyond the school level. Carver had a very easy schedule last season, but in their two games against tough opponents, Perry Hall and Towson, they lost by a combined score of 13-2. This season, their first game of the regular season is at home against the Generals, and while the Gators are not on their regular season schedule, they do have two games against Overlea. After their season ended in the regional semifinals against the future 1A state champion, Liberty, the Wildcats will have to continue to prove themselves in hopes of making a deeper playoff push. 9. Dundalk (2024: 7-1) Despite having just one loss in the regular season, coming at home in a 2-1 game against Overlea, the Owls did not win a playoff game, as they were upset by Parkville at home in the regional semifinals. Excluding the two goals they allowed against the Falcons, Dundalk did not allow a single goal for the entire regular season. This fall, their ten-game regular season consists exclusively of teams that they will play twice, including Kenwood, Franklin, Parkville, Carver, and Overlea. With several tougher games incorporated into this schedule, the Owls may have more trouble during the regular season, but it could simultaneously set them up for a deeper playoff run. 10. Franklin (7-3) After dropping their regional quarterfinal game to sixth-seeded Dulaney, Franklin comes into this season with more to prove. Emerson Crossley is the big name leaving the Indians, as she will be continuing her soccer at Albright College this fall. Franklin started their 2024 campaign 7-1, with the lone loss coming against Winters Mill. Similar to last season, the Indians will travel out of the county for just one game, on the road against Winters Mill instead of at home, but every other opponent will come from Baltimore County. With how the 2024 campaign ended, Franklin will have to have a stronger regular season in hopes of making it past the first round of the playoffs.

JSpiegelman

363d ago

With the 2025 fall season just days away from kicking off, Baltimore County teams are gearing up for big seasons. This year, teams look to do what hasn’t been done in eight seasons - take home the championship. Here are my preseason power rankings for Baltimore County boys’ soccer: 1. Hereford (2024: 13-1-1) The Bulls tied for going the farthest of any team in Baltimore County, losing in the state semifinals to the future 2A champion, C. Milton Wright. Hereford sent two of their athletes, Salisbury University commit Aaron Gillian and Brayden Dull, to the all-county team, while Tyler Warfel and Stef Garefalakis received nods to the all-Maryland team. Out of those four, Dull is the only returnee for 2025. Hereford has no regular season games scheduled against Loyola Blakefield or C. Milton Wright, their two non-postseason losses from last fall. With several call-ups from their 7-4 JV team, Hereford looks to have another very strong season loading. 2. Perry Hall (2024: 9-3-1) Following a 1-0 loss against Richard Montgomery in the state semifinals, the Gators are sure to come out of the gate red-hot this fall. Despite losing Stevenson University commit Ryan Varricchio, York College of Pennsylvania commits Kader Diop and Imad Skoudarli, and seven others, Perry Hall will be a very tough team to compete with this fall. While last year’s JV team finished just 3-7, they faced one of the toughest schedules in the county, including games against Westminster, Hereford, Sparrows Point, Catonsville, Towson, and others. The record may not show it, but the Gators have plenty of talent that will be brought up to compete for the 2025 campaign. 3. Catonsville (2024: 7-7) While the record may not make you believe it, the Comets reached the state semifinals last season, losing to River Hill, who went on to take gold. Beyond having a very strong team last year, they had the second-best JV team in Baltimore County, finishing with a 7-1-3 record. Catonsville has a bunch of newcomers to the varsity squad, but they have a ton of talent that will smoothly transition onto varsity. I’m expecting a big season out of Catonsville this fall. 4. Towson (2024: 5-5-2) This is a case of a top-tier team being eliminated in the early rounds of the playoffs by a top-tier opponent. In this case, it was Catonsville that took out the Generals in the regional semifinal. Last year’s team had three total all-county nominees — seniors Joshua Villano and Zach Shrager, as well as junior Takaya Newton, who will serve as a key leader on the 2025 squad. This season, Towson will rematch Sparrows Point and Dulaney at home — both teams defeated the Generals on the road in 2024 — while not having Catonsville on their regular season schedule. 5. Sparrows Point (2024: 8-4) The Pointers had an extremely strong 2024 campaign until they were taken down by Baltimore County’s top team in their first playoff game. Unfortunately for Sparrows Point, they graduated almost their entire starting lineup. According to Sparrows Point student Laci Gorman, the team had double-digit departures. While this would normally be an issue, last year’s JV team was the best in BCPS, finishing with a 10-0-1 record. This year’s roster may experience some growing pains at the start of the season, but I’m anticipating big things during the middle to end of their season. 6. Eastern Tech (2024: 8-5-2) Last season, the Mavericks reached the state quarterfinals, losing to familiar Baltimore County foe C. Milton Wright by three goals. According to the team’s social media, they graduated eleven seniors and will go into this season with just one member who made last year’s all-county team: Jake Locklear. Eastern Tech’s JV squad went 7-6 last season, so there is plenty of upside with the many newcomers that will join the varsity squad this fall. 7. Kenwood (2024: 10-1-1) The Bluebirds lost just one game in the regular season last year — a 2-1 final when they hosted Parkville early in the season. This year, Kenwood is scheduled to travel and take on the Knights to finish their regular season. The Bluebirds have one of the easiest schedules on this list, as they don’t face any of the top five teams. Another winning season is likely ahead for Kenwood, but they will likely run into some early trouble in the playoffs, especially in a potential rematch against Perry Hall. 8. Parkville (2024: 9-2) The Knights had a very good regular season in 2024, earning solid victories against Kenwood and Pikesville, before an early playoff elimination in a 4-2 loss to Perry Hall in the regional semifinals. This strong season was led by nine seniors, but no athletes were selected to the all-county team, according to the Knights’ social media. While Parkville has a fairly easy schedule this coming fall — including games against weakened Western Tech and Pikesville squads — similarly to Kenwood, the Knights will likely have a very strong regular season but may run into a challenge in the early rounds of the playoffs. 9. Pikesville (2024: 7-4) The Panthers had plenty of talent last season, highlighted by all-Maryland honorable mention and Catholic University of America commit Hamin Oladokun, along with four other all-county selections. My concern is that all five of these athletes, along with seven other seniors — twelve total — graduated. Having a JV team that played just three games last season likely means that Pikesville will face some struggles this year, but senior Josh Kaplan and juniors Ben Rose and Jackson Liss hope to get revenge this season and reach the state playoffs. 10. Western Tech (2024: 6-3-1) Last year, two of three regular season losses — and their regional semifinal loss — came against Pikesville. This season, they have scheduled only one game against the Panthers, but the Wolverines will be playing without ten members from last year’s squad. With a vastly inexperienced JV team — considering they played just two games in 2024 — Western Tech is in for a much more difficult season this year compared to last.

🥍 🥍 ROAD TO STEVENSON 
MPSSAA 3A SEMIFINAL 
Towson vs Marriotts Ridge

Took a drive up to Gaithersburg HS, to witness the MPSSAA LAX 3A Semifinal round between the Towson Generals and the Marriotts Ridge Mustangs. This was the kind of game you see in the playoffs. Not high scoring, as these two battled it out. It was play hard or go home. BIG THANKS to GAITHERSBURG HS as gracious hospitable hosts. RIDGE, congratulations on your season. You represented Howard County well. GENERALS, SHOUTS to you and congrats on advancing to STATES, which will be a rematch of 2024 vs Severna Park. LOVE your energy, keep rocking it. Enjoy the highlights


 Final Score: GENERALS - 8 MUSTANGS - 3
 👀 MFV U📺🔗⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tNZvdTF6Xw

A few first-round games are already in the books 📚, and just like I said last week, the top spots are locked in 🔒🔥. Not too many surprises in the middle of the pack, but we do have a new team breaking into the rankings 🎉🚨 1. Manchester Valley 2. Sherwood 3. Severna Park 4. Glenelg 5. Queen Anne’s County 6. Towson 7. Quince Orchard 8. Liberty 9. Broadneck 10. South Carroll

Just before playoffs, there’s major movement at the top of our lacrosse rankings 👀🔥 Can spots 1 & 2 hold on, or are shakeups on the horizon? 1. Manchester Valley 2. Sherwood 3. Glenelg 4. Queen Anne’s County 5. Severna Park 6. Towson 7. Kent Island 8. Quince Orchard 9. Broadneck 10. Liberty

1. Manchester Valley 2. Sherwood 3. Queen Anne’s County 4. Glenelg 5. Severna Park 6. Towson 7. Long Reach 8. Broadneck 9. Quince Orchard 10. Liberty

1. Severna Park 2. South River 3. Sherwood 4. Towson 5. Whitman 6. Hereford 7. Kent Island 8. Fallston 9. Linganore 10. Urbana