Preston Wilson, Frederick Keys Manager, Former Major League All-Star, World Series Champion

In his first season as the manager of the Frederick Keys in the Major League Baseball Draft League, former Major League All-Star and World Series champion Preston Wilson is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Wilson chats with host Greg Swatek about his 10-year career in the Big Leagues, which included stops with the Mets, Marlins, Rockies, Nationals, Astros and Cardinals, with whom he won a World Series in 2006.

He also talks about being drafted out of high school in the top 10 (No. 9 overall) of the 1992 MLB Draft by the New York Mets, three spots behind Derek Jeter.

What was his best season? What was his favorite stop in his career? How did he wind up managing the Keys? And what is the one thing he would most like to impart on his players?

All of those things are discussed and more.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about news and recent developments on the Frederick County sports scene.

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Kevin Kendro, FCPS Supervisor of Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

With another school year in the books, the Final Score podcasts reviews the year that was in Frederick County sports with Kevin Kendro, the Supervisor of Athletics and Extra Curricular Activities for Frederick County Public Schools.

In his annual appearance on the podcast, Kendro addresses the participating fee increase for athletics the school system implemented at the start of the school year and what sort of impact it had on overall participation.

Kendro also talks with host Greg Swatek about some small changes that might be on tap for girls flag football on the field and a bigger one that may happen with the sport continuing to expand across Maryland and possibly being sanctioned as a varsity sport with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association.

Will the Central Maryland Conference expand? Is FCPS looking to add any new sports? If so, what?

Kendro addresses all of these topics and more, including some highlights and favorite memories from the past school year in Frederick County sports.

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State Champion Urbana High Girls Track and Field

After the Urbana High girls track and field team extended its reign of dominance with a 10th straight county title, an 11th straight regional title and a fifth state outdoor title in the last 10 years, coach C.J. Ecalono, senior sprinter/hurdler Divine Bamgboye and multi-event star Felicia Siewe are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Though they often make it look like a formality, Ecalono and the athletes tell host GregSwatek about the real adversity the Hawks had to overcome in the Class 4A state outdoor meet this spring, and how coming away with another championship was no guarantee. 

Ecalono talks about the team culture he and his assistants have established over the last decade and a half, making attracting top athletes and winning much easier. Siewe talks about her versatility and how she developed in skills in so many different events. And Bamgboye discusses why she like very challenging events, like the 300-meter hurdles, and how she learned to embrace them and become so good at them.

The girls also talk about their futures. Both will compete in track and field and Ivy League colleges, Siewe at Harvard and Bamgboye at Cornell.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the latest happenings on the Frederick County sports scene. They discuss the remarkable game experience and success of the Frederick Flying Cows professional basketball team, as well as a unique game experience for the Frederick Keys.

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State Champion Middletown High Boys Lacrosse

After the Middletown High boys lacrosse teams authored one of the most improbable comebacks in state finals history to claim its first championship, coach Dominic Ceresini, junior midfielder Ryan McLister and sophomore goalie Calvin Smith are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The guys chat with host Greg Swatek about their improbable 9-8 victory over Fallston High School in the Class 1A championship game at Stevenson University, during which they overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit and 8-1 deficit with about 15 minutes to play. 

Had they given up hope? When did they think a comeback was even possible? What were they thinking once the game ended and they had actually won?

The guys also talk about what made the team so resilient. After starting the season 0-4, the Knights didn't lose again. They won 15 straight on the way to the state championship. What turned the season around? Where did the team's resolve and never-give-up attitude come from?

Lastly, what does the team's future look like? Will they be in position to win another championship next spring?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Middletown's amazing comeback, which he covered for the paper, his recent vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and the start of the Frederick Keys season.

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State Champion Urbana High Boys Lacrosse

After winning the Class 4A state title for the second straight season, becoming the first Frederick County lacrosse program to win back to back state titles, coach Gavin Donahue, senior defender JP McEvoy and junior midfielder Jayden Sharper are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about the challenge of defending a state title. Is it harder to win the first one or to do it again? They discuss the 5-2 victory over longtime nemesis Broadneck in the state final, why the game was so low scoring and how they were able to prevail.

They guys also talked about how a pair of midseason losses and a players-only meeting completely changed the team's focus and the direction of its season. 

Lastly, they talk about the future of the program and how it plans to maintain this high level of success.

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Urbana High Girls Lacrosse

After reaching the Class 4A girls lacrosse state final for the second consecutive season, head coach Ryan Hines, senior midfielder Cora Betten and senior defender Helaina Cullum are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The Hawks are bidding to become the first state girls lacrosse champions from Frederick County. To do it, they must beat four-time reigning champion Broadneck, the team they narrowly lost to in last year's state final.

Hines, Betten and Cullum chat with host Greg Swatek about what it will take to knock off Broadneck and what it would mean to them to make history as Frederick County's first girls lacrosse state champs. They also talk about the journey back to another state final and the things that make this particular team unique.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about all of the action in the state playoffs, including Middletown's improbable comeback to win the Class 1A boys lacrosse state championship, Urbana baseball's wild 13-inning win in the state semifinals and Catoctin softball trying to send star pitcher Taylor Smith out with a state title. 

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Slater Fuchs, Frederick Keys General Manager

With the Frederick Keys' season approaching and the $39 million stadium renovation project designed to attract an affiliated team underway, the team's general manager, Slater Fuchs, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Fuchs talks with host Greg Swatek about where the process stands with bringing an affiliated minor league team back to Frederick. How far along is the process? Have any candidates been identified? How soon might an affiliated team be playing again in Frederick?

There is also a lengthy discussion about the stadium renovation project. What is happening? What will it look like? Will it interfere with the Keys' home schedule in 2025?

Plus, Fuchs talks about his background and growing up as the God son of George Steinbrenner and the front row seat that provided him growing up with the New York Yankees.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the spring sports playoffs involving Frederick County teams. How will all of the bad weather impact teams that are still playing?

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Muhammad Halim, Assistant Coach, Urbana High Girls Track and Field

As the Urbana High girls track and field team prepared to extend its dominance at this week's county meet, the team's sprints and jumps coach Muhammad Halim is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Halim chats with host Greg Swatek about how he became involved with the program and what makes it so successful. The Hawks were bidding for their 10th consecutive team championship in the girls county meet.

The two discuss what makes Urbana seniors Divine Bamgboye and Felicia Siewe so remarkable as athletes and people. Both rank among the top athletes in the county in multiple events and both will compete in college at Ivy League Schools, Bamgboye at Cornell and Siewe at Harvard.

And Halim talks about his own remarkable background as a track athlete, which includes competing in the triple jump for his native Virgin Islands at the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. What was it like competing on the Olympic stage? What was it like staying in the Olympic Village? Who did he see?

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to preview the spring playoffs for high school sports, as they get underway across Frederick County.

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Collin Schlee, Oakdale High grad, NFL Prospect

As he prepares to participate in rookie minicamps with both the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders over the two weekends, former Oakdale High quarterback Collin Schlee is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Schlee chats with host Greg Swatek about his unique opportunity. Most undrafted prospects don't get the chance to participate in multiple minicamps with multiple teams. Schlee talks about how these opportunities came about and what he expects going forward.

He also talks extensively about the road that led him to this point, playing for three different colleges (Kent State, UCLA and Virginia Tech) over a six-year period and how that experience shaped him both as a player and a person. 

Prior that that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg for some Frederick County spring sports power rankings for baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse and to set the stage for the upcoming playoffs, including the Central Maryland Conference championship games for those sports.

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Chris Doll, Catoctin High Boys Lacrosse Coach

With his team enjoying a winning season, Catoctin High boys lacrosse coach Chris Doll is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Doll chats with host Greg Swatek about what life was like growing up right across the street from Catoctin High and attending school and playing sports there.

He talks about how he got into coaching lacrosse and the challenge of taking over a winless program in 2021, as well as all of the progress the program has made over the last four years. And he talks about why this season's team, which features some of the top scorers in Frederick County, has been so successful. Last week, the Cougars earned a momentous overtime win over Walkersville.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Trey Lipscomb's status with the Washington Nationals and how the Urbana High graduate might fit into the team's long-term plans, if at all. The guys also talk about the top teams separating themselves from the pack in the various spring sports across Frederick County.

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John Schmidt, Oakdale High Baseball Coach

In his first season of coaching the Oakdale High baseball team, John Schmidt is this week's guest on the Final Score Podcast.

Schmidt chats with host Greg Swatek about the recent no-hitter thrown by his senior ace JP Shultz against arguably the top offensive team in Frederick County, Urbana. He talks about what makes Shultz such an effective pitcher despite not having over-powering stuff, what that moment was like for him and the team once the final out of the no-hitter was recorded and what sort of future potential he has as Shultz heads off to play in college next year at the University of Charleston (West Virginia).

The coach also discusses how he got the job at Oakdale and why it was such a desirable position for him. And he also talks about his background as a player, donning the uniform for Catholic University, his close relationship with his brother and how and why he got into coaching. Prior to arriving at Oakdale, Schmidt coached for 15 years and established credibility with the program at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. 

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about what Frederick County teams are state-title contenders in baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse.

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Ed Corporal, Head Coach, Frederick Flying Cows

With his Frederick Flying Cows team off to another great start in its second season of play in The Basketball League (TBL), coach Ed Corporal is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Corporal shares stories from his incredible life in basketball with host Greg Swatek. His step brother, Otis Birdsong, was the second overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft by the Kansas City Kings (who now play in Sacramento) and quickly became an All-Star player with the Kings and then later the New Jersey Nets (1984).

Corporal served as a teenage ballboy for the Kings and was assigned to making sure the visiting teams had everything they need. So, he shares stories of interacting with Magic Johnson, Pat Riley and Larry Bird and what he learned from them by just watching them work. He talks about how the game has changed and why he isn't so enamored with today's NBA game.

He also talks about how his sheer stubbornness, competitiveness and love for the game and helping people pushed him and guided him during his recovery from two massive strokes in 2013. 

And he talks about his unusual path to becoming the head coach of the Flying Cows and why the team has been so good right from its inception.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the ongoing spring sports season in Frederick County, including remarkable no-hitters in both baseball and softball.

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Brady Ridenour, New Catoctin High Football Coach

Almost two months into his new job as Catoctin High School's varsity football coach, former Cougar Brady Ridenour is this week's guest  on The Final Score podcast.

Ridenour tells host Greg Swatek how he got the job at his alma mater. Why did he want the job? What was the interview process like? Did he think he would get the job?

He talks about being a lifelong member of the Thurmont community and what makes that place so special, as well as playing for former Catoctin football coach Doug Williams and the impact he had on his life. 

Ridenour discusses winning a state title as a player at Catoctin in 2009 and his fondest memories of that experience. And he shares his feelings about the program he would like to build for the school and the style of play he would like to implement. Plus, he discusses what life is like being a new father.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss his weekend in Boston at the world figure skating championships and all of the star power on the Frederick County softball scene.

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Donny Lind, Arlandus Keyes Mount St. Mary's Basketball

After making a thrilling run to the NCAA Tournament and winning a First Four game, Mount St. Mary's men's basketball coach Donny Lind and junior guard Arlandus Keyes are this week's guests on The FInal Score podcast.

Lind and Keyes reflect on their terrific run to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament championship and through their first two games of the NCAA Tournament, which included a victory over American in the First Four and a loss to top-seeded Duke in first round game last week in Raleigh, North Carolina.

They tell host Greg Swatek why the team was able to play its best basketball at the most critical time of the season and what they will remember the most about the journey. They also talk about their futures with the Mount program and where the teams goes from here. Who will be back next season? And who has already decided to enter the transfer portal?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about one of the best times on the sports calendar with March Madness in full swing and opening day for the Major League Basketball season, as well as the start of high spring sports in Frederick County.

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Josh Arthur, State Champion Wrestler, Linganore High School

After achieving his life-long dream of winning a state title, senior wrestler Josh Arthur of Linganore High School is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Arthur chats with host Greg Swatek about his 9-3 double-overtime victory over Seneca Valley's Isaiah Brewster in the Class 4A-3A state final at 113 pounds. What were his nerves like going into that match? After beating Brewster a week earlier in a regional final, how much did that match help him going into the state final? And what were his emotions like after the final buzzer sounded in double overtime with him ahead by six points?

Growing up in a wrestling family, Arthur talks about why he was so instantly drawn to the sport. He discusses Linganore's team season and how close the Lancers came to winning three consecutive 3A duals titles in a row. And he talks about his future and how wrestling might fit into that.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to chat about March Madness and the latest runs to the NCAA Tournament by Mount St. Mary's and Maryland. They also discuss the start of spring sports in Frederick County and some storylines to follow and whether Urbana High graduate Trey Lipscomb will be on the Washington Nationals' Opening Day roster.

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Kate Virgilio, State Champion Wrestler, Brunswick High School

After winning the girls 115-pound weight class last weekend at the state wrestling tournament, Brunswick High freshman Kate Virgilio is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Virgilio chats with host Greg Swatek about her championship victory — she pinned Liberty's Aubrey Ohler in 5 minutes, 55 seconds after being pinned by Ohler earlier in the season — and the road that led up to it.

She talks about how she got her start in wrestling and what it's been like wrestling and beating boys for most of her young career to this point. She chats about the difference when it comes to wrestling girls. And she talks about the legacy she'd like the leave and the opportunity she hopes to create for other girls in wrestling across the county.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the end of the winter sports season after the Middletown boys and the Oakdale girls lost in the state basketball semifinals. They talk about the Knights' loss to New Town and the Bears setback against South River and how both teams acquitted themselves well against high-powered opponents.

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Zach Shoemaker, New Urbana High Football Coach

After accepting his first head coaching job in early February, new Urbana High School varsity football coach Zach Shoemaker is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Shoemaker tells host Greg Swatek why high school football has always been such a big part of his life. He talks about witnessing the birth of the Urbana football dynasty in 1998 at Byrd Stadium. He was 10 years old at the time, alongside his father, Roy, a football coach himself. He talks about why the Urbana program always appealed to him so much.

He also chats about playing quarterback and safety for Boonsboro High School and later safety for Shepherd University. He talks about why defense and playing physical football is such a big part of his philosophy. And he discusses being deployed in Afghanistan in 2012 as part of the U.S. Marine Corps and how that shaped him both as a person and a coach.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy stops in to discuss the state basketball quarterfinals, featuring the Frederick and Middletown boys and the Oakdale girls, as well as Oakdale's second straight championship Maryland Student Hockey League championship.

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Nick Rhodes, New Brunswick High Football Coach

After accepting his first head-coaching job last month, new Brunswick High School football coach Nick Rhodes is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Rhodes, 28, chats with host Greg Swatek about why he wanted the Brunswick job after serving as an assistant for the last five years at his alma mater, Boonsboro High School. He served as the Warriors' defensive coordinator last season. 

He talks about meeting the players for the first time and laying out his expectations for them and what his first month on the job has been like so far.

Rhodes also discusses how he got into coaching, who influenced his coaching style and the type of program he expects to lead at Brunswick.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to chat about the Central Maryland Conference championship games for boys as girls basketball and what's ahead for these teams in the regional playoffs. They also talk about the Maryland Student Hockey League semifinals, which feature three Frederick County teams, Oakdale, Urbana and Middletown Valley.

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Vince Ahearn, New Thomas Johnson High Football Coach

As he steps back into a head coaching job on familiar terrain, new Thomas Johnson High football coach Vince Ahearn is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Ahearn was hired back in late January to take over the Patriots' program, which has fallen on hard times over the last decade. Previously, he was the longtime football coach at rival Frederick High, but had not had a head-coaching position since he left Smithsburg High School in 2021.

He tells host Greg Swatek why he decided to be a head coach again and why the TJ job was such a good fit for him. 

What are some of the biggest challenges he faces? What is the state of TJ's feeder program, which folded and is in the process of being restored? What is he most excited about?

Ahearn answers all of these questions and more over the course of the conversation.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about another buzzer beater,  the upcoming high school boys and girls basketball playoffs, the state indoor track meet and the state wrestling duals.

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Mike Franklin, Former Catoctin Baseball Coach

After recently stepping down as Catoctin High's baseball coach, stunning many around the Frederick County sports community, Mike Franklin is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Franklin reflects on his 28 years as a baseball coach at Catoctin, including 25 spent as a head coach, with host Greg Swatek. He talks about why he made his decision, the difficulty that was involved in making it and what reaction he has gotten from others across the county since making it.

He also talks about why he loved coaching at Catoctin so much and stayed with the school for so long, even when he had opportunities to go elsewhere.

Franklin discusses the impact his family had on his decision and some of his initial plans for the next phase of his life. Can he see himself getting back into coaching one day?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to review the Frederick County Public Schools swimming and diving championships from last weekend and the Monocacy Valley Hockey League championship game between Middletown Valley and Oakdale.

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