02/23/18 - Playoff Basketball Preview, Linganore Indoor Track & Field State Champions

On this week’s episode, three members of Linganore’s state championship boys indoor track team chat with host Greg Swatek about their season and their triumph. Assistant coach Andres Wright, pole vault champion Carter Holsinger and 3,200-meter run champion Michael Belmaggio talk about what makes this Linganore team so strong. In the fall, the Lancers won their first state team title in boys cross country since 1996, and now they added their first team title in boys indoor track and field in 1995. How is their success being received at a school that has won five state team titles (football, boys cross country, girls soccer, cheerleading and boys indoor track) during this school year?

Plus, with the high school basketball playoffs getting underway, Kyle McFadden, the editor of marylandsportsaccess.com, stops by to offer some insight. What stand out about the top teams in the Frederick County, the Oakdale and Thomas Johnson boys and the Frederick and Middletown girls? How far might they go? What teams stand in their way?

The Final Score podcast is presented by Players Fitness and Performance (PFP). 

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

02/13/18 - Chuck Nichols, Urbana Girls Soccer Coach

Over the course of his 38-year coaching career, Urbana girls soccer coach Chuck Nichols has constantly had to adapt.

From learning how to better connect with his players, to finding new ways of communicating after a bout with cancer altered his voice, to adjusting his style to better accommodate girls instead of boys, Nichols’ willingness and ability to change is part of the reason why he has been so successful.

On this special joint edition of The Final Score and Frederick Uncut podcasts, Nichols chats with hosts Greg Swatek and Colin McGuire about his early life as a soccer player, his transition into coaching, all of the people who have helped him be so successful and his recent decision to step away from coaching.

Why did he decide to retire now? How much will he miss doing the job?

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

02/09/18 - Justin Krop, Urbana wrestling coach; State Duals preview

With his team heading to the state duals this weekend, Urbana wrestling coach Justin Krop is this week’s guest on the podcast.

Krop chats with host Greg Swatek about why he has so much confidence in his team, what coaching wrestling has taught him and his family’s history in the sport.

The also discuss Urbana’s sensational female wrestler, Anya Knappenberger, the inroads girls have made in the sport, and why Frederick County wrestling has risen to such prominence on the state level.

Plus, Greg runs down some of the big local storylines from this week’s National Signing Day for college recruits.

The Final Score is presented by Players Fitness and Performance (PFP).

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

01/30/18 - Dr. Terry Alban, Superintendent of Fred. Co. Public Schools

In light of a recent incident with racial overtones between the Frederick High and Linganore girls basketball teams, Frederick County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Terry Alban is this week’s guest to discuss the incident.

Dr. Alban talks with host Greg Swatek about the difficulties and frustrations of getting to the bottom of what actually happened, given the lack of video evidence and the disparity in the eye-witness accounts. She provides an update on the FCPS investigations into the matter and whether any disciplinary action may be forthcoming. She also addresses some of the concerns the incident has raised for both schools and what can be done to prevent something like it from happening again.

The Final Score is presented by Players Fitness and Performance (PFP).

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

01/26/18 - Ben Arneson, Linganore Wrestling coach

Ben Arneson, a longtime fixture on the Frederick County wrestling season, is in his second season as the head coach at Linganore High School after a long and successful tenure at Urbana. On this week’s episode of The Final Score, Arneson chats with host Greg Swatek about his team, the changes in the formats to the state wrestling tournaments, the lessons of his own wrestling career at Linganore and why Frederick County has become such a hotbed for high-level wrestling.

Also, FNP sports editor Josh Smith drops by to talk about the amazing longevity of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and tennis champion Roger Federer at the highest levels of their sports? What sort of examples are they setting for the rest of us?

The Final Score is presented by Players Fitness and Performance (PFP). 

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

01/18/18 - Brunswick Indoor Track & Field coaches Lee and Ann Zumbach, plus an update on the county girls basketball

With the Frederick County Public Schools Indoor Track and Field Championships set for this weekend, longtime Brunswick coaches Lee and Anne Zumbach stop by to chat with host Greg Swatek about the meet, as well as their teams and coaching careers.

How did they get their coaching jobs at Brunswick? And why do they still get so much enjoyment out of them all these years later?

Plus, FNP sports writer John Cannon drops in to discuss the girls basketball scene in Frederick County, as well as the wild football finishes involving the Ravens and the Vikings-Saints.

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

01/12/18 - Middletown Girls Basketball Coach Amy Poffenbarger & FNP sports reporter Joe Ferraro

The last remaining unbeaten high school basketball team in Frederick County is the Middletown girls. On this week episode of The Final Score, the Knights’ coach, Amy Poffenbarger, chats with host Greg Swatek about her team, the season and overall and the joys and challenges of raising a very competitive family of seven.

The two discuss Poffenbarger’s background as a player and a coach, as well as the young playing career of her daughter, Saylor, a talented freshman on the Middletown team who is already a highly coveted college recruit.

Also, FNP sports writer Joe Ferraro stops by to share his thoughts and insights on the high school basketball scene in Frederick County.

The Final Score is presented by Players Fitness and Performance.

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

01/04/18 - Dan McLane, Brunswick boys basketball coach

On the first episode of the new year, longtime Brunswick boys basketball coach Dan McLane joins host Greg Swatek to discuss his career and the Railroaders’ team this season.

They talk about McLane’s nickname “Duck” and its origins, which he prefers to keep under wraps. They also talk about some of the memorable moments in McLane’s tenure at Brunswick and a few of the notable players that have worn the Railroaders uniform. They also discuss the past and present landscape of high school basketball in Frederick County.

The Final Score is presented by Players Fitness & Performance.

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

12/30/17 - Bill Swaney, Oakdale Wrestling Co-Coach

On the final episode of 2017, Oakdale wrestling coach Bill Swaney stops by to chat with host Greg Swatek about the current season and the changes made to the state duals tournament.

Swaney also talks about his background in the sport, how he became a wrestling coach and why he and T.J. Salb make much such an effective coaching duo.

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

12/28/17 - "The Fun Police" Finale

In their final episode of the year and final episode as part of the Final Score podcast, The Fun Police (Greg Swatek, Josh Smith and Colin McGuire) take a look at the most memorable sports stories of 2017 and offer personal resolutions for 2018.

They begin, however, with their weekly views on the NFL and NBA are mixed in and Greg has an extensive session at Cinema School.

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

12/23/17 - Johnny Holliday

He has one of the more distinguished voices in all of broadcasting. On this week’s episode of The Final Score podcast, Johnny Holliday sits down with host Greg Swatek to talk about his fascinating life and career.

Holliday is the longtime play-by-play man for University of Maryland football and men’s basketball. Plus, he serves as the pregame and postgame host for the Washington Nationals on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. So, he and Greg discuss another disappointing finish for the Nationals and the current state of Maryland football and basketball.

Then, they dive into Holliday’s broadcasting career, which started as a local Top 40 disc jockey and led him to New York City and San Francisco, where he co-hosted the last official concert by the Beatles in 1966. He has called championship boxing fights and numerous Olympic Games for ABC Radio. He’s also served as the television announcer for ABC’s This Week with David Brinkley, Sam Donaldson, and Cokie Roberts.

Holliday has an endless supply of stories to tell and almost all of them are interesting.

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Google Play

12/21/17 - "The Fun Police"

It was an interesting weekend in the NFL, particularly when it came to the officiating. On this week’s episode, the Fun Police (Greg Swatek, Josh Smith and Colin McGuire) dive into the ending of the Steelers-Patriots game, measuring for first downs with an index card, who poses the biggest threat to the Patriots and the plight of the Redskins.

Plus, Colin talks about his experience at the Wizards-Cavaliers game, the injury to Orioles closer Zach Britton is discussed and the guys talk about their affinity for or disenchantment with Christmas.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Subscribe on Google Play

12/14/17 - State Champion Linganore Girls Soccer

After 100 scoreless minutes, Linganore High School claimed its first state title in girls soccer with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Huntington in the Class 3A championship game at Loyola.

This week on The Final Score podcast, coach Howie Putterman and goalkeeper Maddie Cunningham chat with host Greg Swatek about the significance of the victory and how they handled the pressure of the moment. They also talk about the cohesive nature of the team and how low-expectations from the outside fueled their run to the championship.

12/12/17 - "The Fun Police"

In their latest episode, the Fun Police (Greg Swatek, Josh Smith and Colin McGuire) discuss a non-quarterback NFL MVP, the impact of Carson Wentz’s injury on the NFL playoff chase, the upcoming Steelers-Patriots showdown and the Yankees trade for slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Plus, Greg heads back to cinema school with a review of Gran Torino.

12/09/17 - Linganore Football's State Championship

Host Greg Swatek is joined by Lancers coach Rick Conner and players Ryan Leyh and Davon Butler to break down the team's win over Milford Mill in the Maryland Class 3A Championship.

12/05/17 - "The Fun Police"

In this week’s episode, The Fun Police (Greg Swatek, Josh Smith and Colin McGuire) ponder a time the NFL might cease to exist due to something potentially catastrophic happening on the field. The discussion was prompted by the violent outbursts by New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and in the Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals Monday Night game.

The guys also discuss whether the right four teams wound up in the college football playoff and the recent emotional outbursts by Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors. Plus, Greg goes back to cinema school with his review of Good Fellas. 

11/30/17 - "The Fun Police"

Between fights on the field, woozy players being allowed to play and a coach being denied employment at a state university due to outrage on social media, the Fun Police certainly had a lot to dissect this week.

On this episode, sports reporter Greg Swatek, sports editor Josh Smith and features editor/events manager Colin McGuire dive into the fight between Aqib Talib of the Denver Broncos and Michael Crabtree of the Oakland Raiders that led to both players being suspended and the University of Tennessee’s decision to rescind a job offer to coach Greg Schiano after Volunteers fans expressed their outrage on social media.

The guys also discuss if the NFL’s concussion protocol is being properly enforced, surprise teams in the league and how the college football playoff might shake out.

11/28/17 - Oakdale Volleyball, 2A State Champions

On Nov. 18, the Oakdale High School volleyball team claimed its second state championship with a 3-1 victory over La Plata at the University of Maryland’s Ritchie Coliseum.

This week on The Final Score podcast, Bears coach Jim Dorsch and senior outside hitter Megan Ray chat with host Greg Swatek about the joy of winning the championship, overcoming hurdles along the way and why this particular Oakdale team was so strong.

11/23/17 - Breakdown of Walkersville v. Damascus with Kyle McFadden

Damascus and Walkersville played arguably the Game of the Year for state high school football last Friday, one that will be remembered for its quality of play and a controversial no-call on the play that produced the game’s only touchdown.

This week on The Final Score, Kyle McFadden, editor of Maryland Sports Access website, and host Greg Swatek dive into the controversial 14-yard touchdown run by Damascus’ Gage Dickens and why two penalty flags were picked up when the Hornets had 12 players on the field. They also discuss why the game lived up to its year-long hype as a heavyweight battle between state champions and look ahead to Linganore’s state semifinal against Oxon Hill.

11/22/17 - The "Fun Police"

On the latest episode with The Fun Police, host Greg Swatek, sports editor Josh Smith and events manager Colin McGuire discuss Baker Mayfield’s outbursts, the Redskins collapse, the Celtics’ winning streak and their favorite Thanksgiving foods.

They also learn what happens when you tease the producer who edits your podcast and whom has the ability to change the pitch of one's voice.