Kevin Kendro, FCPS Supervisor of Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

June 13, 2024 Graham Cullen

On the heels of a Frederick County Board of Education vote that will nearly double athletic participation fees for Frederick County Public Schools, Kevin Kendro, the head of school system's sports program, makes his annual appearance this week on The Final Score podcast.

Kendro answers questions from host Greg Swatek about the fee increase. After numerous motions and amendments, why did it ultimately go up from $95 to $185 per student, per sport? What sort of impact does he think it will have on FCPS athletics, which have been steadily growing over the past five years? Does he feel fewer kids will play high school sports in the county? Does he appreciate the financial hardship the fee represents for families of FCPS athletes?

The guys move on to other topics over the course of the podcast, which is informally dubbed every year as The State of FCPS Athletics address. They talk about the overall success of the county sports teams, which included another boys state lacrosse title, more state track and field dominance, and baseball state titles in two of the four classifications.

They also talk about the inaugural season of girls flag football as a varsity sport in the county last fall and how that sport could continue to grow and evolve going forward.

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State Champion Middletown Baseball

June 10, 2024 Graham Cullen

Continuing a state-championship series on The Final Score podcast, coach Andy Baker, senior pitcher/third baseman Hunter Barnes and senior first baseman Brett Lucas from the Middletown High baseball team are this week's guests.

The Knights won the Class 2A baseball championship on May 25 with a 6-5 victory over Glenelg. It was their second state title in baseball and their first since 2017.

Host Greg Swatek talks to the guys about what made this team so close knit and why they were able to pull through in so many close games. Prior to their one-run victory in the state final, they beat Patuxent 2-1 on a suicide squeeze in a 13-inning state semifinal that ended close to midnight at McCurdy Field.

The guys talk about those memorable moments and the future of the program going forward with so many players graduating.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the baseball state titles won by Middletown and Brunswick, Frederick County players currently playing and thriving in minor league baseball and a dramatic increase to athletic fees for Frederick County Public Schools.

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State Champion Urbana Boys Lacrosse

May 31, 2024 Graham Cullen

After dethroning nemesis Broadneck to win the Class 4A state championship in boys lacrosse for the second time, Urbana coach Gavin Donahue, leading scorer TJ Harne and standout goalie Zach Thayer are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Appearing for the second time in a month, Donahue once again addresses the question from host Greg Swatek of whether this Urbana lacrosse team was the best ever from Frederick County. The Hawks finished 20-0, averaged roughly 14 goals per game and overcame the Broadneck hurdle after the Bruins had knocked them out in the state semifinals the previous two seasons.

Harne, the leading scorer in Frederick County this season by a huge margin, discusses how he developed such a pinpoint shot. And Thayer, a sophomore, talks about playing such a big role as one of the youngest players on the team and how he was able to stand so tall in such a pressure-packed moment, such as a state final.

With 28 players returning next season, the guys also talk about Urbana's chances of becoming the first lacrosse team from Frederick County to win back-to-back state titles.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer John Cannon joins Greg to talk about Middletown's state championship in baseball and near misses by the Linganore softball and Urbana girls lacrosse teams in state finals, among other topics.

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State Champion TJ Boys Track and Field

May 24, 2024 Graham Cullen

After winning the Class 4A team championship for the second consecutive year at the state outdoor meet, coach Bobby Humphries, senior sprinter Christopher Hall and junior pole vaulter Gilberto Ramos of the Thomas Johnson High boys track and field team are this week's guests on the Final Score podcast.

The Patriots scored 92 points, 24 more than second place Paint Branch, at the state meet, winning five of the 18 events, placing in the top three in nine and scoring points in 13 overall.

Humphries, Hall and Ramos talk about what made this TJ team so special, the strong bond that all of the athletes on the team share and the legacy this senior-laden team will leave behind after winning the state team title in back-to-back seasons (three straight counting their team title during the indoor state meet in February).

Hall, a Wagner college recruit, talks about how much better the sprinting scene has gotten in Frederick County over the last four years, and Ramos discusses the always deep and tight-knit vaulting scene in the county.

Prior to that, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss a wild and event-filled championship week on the county sport scene that included the Urbana boys lacrosse team winning its second state title, the Urbana girls lacrosse team falling just short against a juggernaut program in a state final and the Middletown and Brunswick baseball teams reaching the state championship game in their respective classifications in very unique fashion.

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Middletown High Regional Champion Baseball

May 17, 2024 Graham Cullen

After winning the Class 2A West Region I baseball championship on Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Century, Middletown baseball coach Andy Baker and senior outfield and leadoff hitter Joey Nicholson are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Baker and Nicholson chat with host Greg Swatek about the bond, camaraderie and depth of talent on this senior-laden Middletown team and how that has carried the Knights to a 16-5 record and a trip to the Class 2A state quarterfinals.

Nicholson talks about how his love for the sport was born out of hitting crabapples in his grandmother's yard with a stick. He discusses how he gradually got better and stepping into the leadoff role for Middletown at the start of this season.

Meanwhile, Baker talks about challenging this team to help it reach its potential and what winning another state title, the school's first in baseball since 2017, would mean to him and his players.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the state of the spring playoffs for Frederick County teams in baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse.

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Coach Gavin Donahue, Senior Aidan Casey, Urbana Boys Lacrosse

May 9, 2024 Graham Cullen

Is this Urbana boys lacrosse team the best ever from Frederick County?

Coach Gavin Donahue and senior long-stick midfielder Aidan Casey are posed that question by host Greg Swatek this week on The Final Score podcast.

Donahue talks about why this Urbana team has been such a powerhouse this season, rolling over a formidable schedule of teams on its way to a 15-0 record and Central Maryland Conference championship so far, and how it compares to some previous great teams, including the 2021 state championship team from Urbana that had five Division I college players on it.

Plus, what makes junior TJ Harne such a prolific goal scorer? How much pressure are the unbeaten Hawks feeling to finish the job and cap an unbeaten season with another state title?

Casey touches on those question, as well as his own career at Urbana and why these Hawks are such a hard-working, close-knit bunch.

Prior to this conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg for their usual discussion of the week that was in Frederick County sports. The guys discuss the CMC title games that were played over the course of the last week, including two more baseball games that ended in a tie as a result of coaching decisions. Are the CMC baseball games even necessary going forward?

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Taylor Smith, Coach Jess Valentine, Catoctin Softball

May 3, 2024 Graham Cullen

How does a team with high expectations respond to losing the best pitcher in the state to a serious injury right before the season starts?

Find out this week on The Final Score podcast when ace pitcher Taylor Smith and coach Jess Valentine join host Greg Swatek to talk about how the team has held up so well in the face of a lot of adversity.

Smith, a University of Virginia bound pitching recruit, talks about how she tore the ACL in her right knee near the end of basketball season and the immediate thoughts that went through her mind, knowing that her softball season could be in jeopardy. She talks about the rehab process, the support she has received from her family, friends and teammates and what she has learned by just watching and not being able to move as freely as normal.

Meanwhile, Valentine addresses what went through her mind as she watched Smith go down, as well as why the team has been able to hold it together so well in Smith absence on the field. Catoctin improved to 13-3 overall this week and is hitting the ball as well as any team in the county. What is Valentine the most proud of about her team?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about spring sports happenings around Frederick County, including impressive wins for Brunswick baseball, Middletown baseball and Urbana boys lacrosse.

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Donny Lind, New Mount St. Mary's Men's Basketball Coach

April 26, 2024 Graham Cullen

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After being officially introduced as the 23rd men's basketball coach at Mount St. Mary's, Donny Lind is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Lind talks with host Greg Swatek about the whirlwind 9-10 day period that led him to getting the job. A former assistant coach at the Mount, he discusses how surprised he was that the job came open and why he was so eager to return to the Mount and become a head coach for the first time.

He talks about how he got his start into coaching, his qualities that make him ideally suited for this opportunity and his memories from previously coaching at the Mount under coach Jamion Christian, in addition to the playing style he plans to employ and why he feels Mount St. Mary's can be a destination for players and not just a stepping stone to a bigger school.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss some spring sports happenings around Frederick County, including the 400th win for Brunswick baseball coach Roger Dawson, former Middletown star Saylor Poffenbarger transferring into the Maryland women's basketball program and Urbana graduate Trey Lipscomb being recalled to the major leagues by the Washington Nationals.

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Furious Trammel, Catoctin High Track and Field

April 18, 2024 Graham Cullen

As he heads down the final straightaway of his standout track and field career at Catoctin High School, senior Furious Trammel is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Trammel chats with host Greg Swatek about the origins of his unique first name and how people generally react to it. He also talks about the unlikely path that led him to track and field and how he became one of the top athletes in his events (the 400-meter dash, the long jump and the triple jump) in the state of Maryland.

How did he react to winning his first state title? What is his most memorable race? What would he like to accomplish before the end of the season? What are his ultimate goals in the sport?

Trammel answers all of these questions and more during this week's episode.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss Avery Neuman's incredible stat line for Tuscarora softball, Urbana's powerhouse boys lacrosse team, Trey Lipscomb getting sent back down to Triple-A by the Washington Nationals and other spring sports happenings around Frederick County.

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Ava Duerr, Urbana Girls Flag Football

April 12, 2024 Graham Cullen

After announcing her college decision last month and becoming the first Frederick County athlete to earn a college scholarship to play flag football in the process, Urbana High senior Ava Duerr is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Duerr explains to host Greg Swatek how she became so interested in playing flag football and why she chose to play the sport on scholarship at Kansas Wesleyan on the NAIA level.

She talks about the strong team at Urbana, which helped pioneer the sport in Frederick County for girls, and learning the nuances of her positions as a center-receiver on offense and a pass rusher on defense.

Duerr also talks about growing up in a very competitive household, her other athletic pursuits in basketball and track and field and the allergy that forces her to eat nothing but home-cooked meals.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss Duerr's overall impact for Urbana girls flag football, power rankings for Frederick County baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse teams and Urbana graduate Trey Lipscomb's continued progress playing major league baseball for the Washington Nationals.

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Mike Frownfelter, Urbana baseball coach on Trey Lipscomb's MLB Debut

April 4, 2024 Graham Cullen

Hear all about Urbana High graduate Trey Lipscomb's MLB debut with the Washington Nationals this week on The Final Score podcast, as Hawks coach Mike Frownfelter joins host Greg Swatek.

Frownfelter attended both Lipscomb's MLB debut last Saturday in Cincinnati and his home debut Monday at Nats Park. He tells Greg what it was like to witness one of his former players take a major league field and compete on the highest level of the sport. He talks about the emotions of being in the stadium and the thrill of watching Trey make his first defensive play and produce his first major league hit.

He also talks about the young and talented team he has at Urbana this season and the connection that Lipscomb still has to the program.

Prior to that, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Lipcomb's MLB debut and the opportunity he had to cover Monday's home opener and the significance it held for him.

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Geoff Arnold, Radio Voice of the Baltimore Orioles

March 27, 2024 Graham Cullen

With the Baltimore Orioles set to begin another season this week after a busy and eventful offseason, Geoff Arnold, the team's radio play-by-play voice, is this week's guest on the Final Score podcast.

Arnold chats with host Greg Swatek about his expectations for a young and talented team that won 101 games last season and finished the regular season with the best record in the American League, only to make a quick playoff exit against the eventual World Series champions, the Texas Rangers.

The guys talk about the makeup of the Opening Day roster, the decision to leave top prospect Jackson Holliday off of it and the decision to put top outfield prospect Colton Cowser on it. They discuss what former National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes will bring to the pitching staff, in addition to the sale of the team from the Angelos family to Baltimore billionaire David Rubenstein and what that might mean for the club.

Plus, Geoff reveals his favorite road cities to visit and call a game.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss former Urbana High standout Trey Lipscomb nearly making the Opening Day roster of the Washington Nationals as a 23-year-old, as well as their early impressions of the spring season for Frederick County high school sports.

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State Champion Frederick High Boys Basketball

March 22, 2024 Graham Cullen

After the Frederick High boys basketball team won its first state championship in basketball since 1982 last weekend, coach Emonte Hill Sr., senior forward Gavin Legge and sophomore guard J.J. Addison are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Hill and the players chat with host Greg Swatek about the Cadets' 73-49 victory over Walt Whitman in the Class 4A championship game last Saturday night at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center. They talk about the journey to get to that championship and all of the adversity they had to overcome, including a very challenging schedule and facing a road game in the state semifinals against Henry A. Wise.

They also talk about the overall togetherness of the team and what made it so special, being honored by the Maryland government at the State House in Annapolis this week and the next steps for the program as it heads into the offseason.

Right before this discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss his impressions of Frederick's victory in the state final and the Cadets' season overall. The guys also touch on the run the Oakdale High girls basketball team made to the 3A state final before losing to Poly last Saturday and look ahead to the spring sports season.

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Oakdale Girls Basketball State Finalists

March 16, 2024 Graham Cullen

After reaching the program's first state final since 2015, coach Rob Healy, senior guard Skai Bayless and junior guard Emma Carey are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about the team's resilience, not just in overcoming the major injuries it has had this season, but also brushing aside adverse moments, like the 10-point halftime deficit against Oxon Hill in the Class 3A state semifinals.

The group also talks about the team's defensive identity, why it aims to hold opponents under 40 points in games and the expectations for Saturday evening's 3A championship game against Baltimore Poly at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center in College Park.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the state basketball semifinals, which also featured the Frederick High and Middletown boys, as well as the Catoctin girls. The guys talk about Frederick High's huge, 61-49 victory over Henry A. Wise on its home court Wednesday in a 4A boys semifinal and look ahead to the two state finals involving the Cadets against Walt Whitman for the 4A championship at 8 p.m. Saturday and the Oakdale girls against Poly for the 3A championship at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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Tyree Spinner, New SCJP Varsity Football Coach

March 10, 2024 Graham Cullen

Upon being hired by St. John's Catholic Prep as its new varsity football coach, Tyree Spinner is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Spinner chats with host Greg Swatek about what appealed to him at the SCJP job and why his background as a coach and player made him an ideal fit for it. He talks about growing up in a competitive household where staying inside and inactivity were not options for him or his siblings. He talks about getting his start in coaching and having success at places with limited resources.

Spinner also talks about his vision for the SCJP program and how the values of the school line up with his own personal standards.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the high school regional basketball championships and take a look ahead to the state quarterfinals, which involve three boys teams and two girls teams from Frederick County.

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Trey Coates, Tuscarora High Wrestling Coach

February 29, 2024 Graham Cullen

With the state wrestling championships on tap this weekend in Upper Marlboro, Tuscarora High wrestling coach Trey Coates, one of the biggest advocates for the sport in Frederick County, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Coates chats with host Greg Swatek about the tremendous season the Titans have had, advancing all the way to the Class 3A West regional duals final, during which they gave eventual state champion Linganore a tussle, and then sending a large contingent of wrestlers to the individual state championships this weekend.

Coates also discusses in detail how he was able to get a flourishing girls wrestling program going at Tuscarora. The Titans had roughly 18 girls come out for the wrestling team this season, which was easily the most of any school in Frederick County, and will send seven wrestlers to the state girls wrestling tournament this weekend at The Show Place Arena.

How was he able to get so many girls interested in wrestling? Was he surprised by the turnout? What were the challenges associated with coaching girls as a male wrestling coach? What does he feel is the future of girls wrestling in Frederick County now that there are county titles awarded to girls?

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writers John Cannon and Alexander Dacy join Greg to discuss the basketball playoffs in Frederick County, as well as Oakdale's run to the Maryland state final in ice hockey.

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Rob Healy, Oakdale Girls Basketball Coach

February 24, 2024 Graham Cullen

As the coach of one of the hottest basketball teams in Frederick County, Oakdale High girls basketball coach Rob Healy is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Healy, the only girls basketball coach Oakdale has ever had, chats with host Greg Swatek about why the Bears are playing so well. They had won 13 in a row prior to falling to Frederick High 32-26 this week in a defensive slugfest for the Central Maryland Conference large-school championship.

He talks about the team's defensive mindset and why the 40-point mark is so significant for them. And he talks about how far the program has come over the course of its 15-year history and expectations for the rest of this season now that the playoffs are about to begin.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the CMC basketball large school championship games, both won by Frederick High. They also review the local winners from the state indoor track meet this week in Landover.

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State Champion Linganore Wrestling

February 16, 2024 Graham Cullen

After Linganore wrestling won the state title in the Class 3A duals for the second consecutive year last Saturday in Waldorf, coach Ben Arneson and junior standout Brennan Considine are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Arneson and Considine chat with host Greg Swatek about the 34-31 victory over South River in the 3A championship match and all the moments that made it momentous. South River had won the 4A duals title the previous two seasons before dropping down to 3A this season. So, Linganore was facing a formidable challenge.

The conversation also addresses the workmanlike nature of this Linganore team, the pivot to the individual portion of the wrestling season and the upcoming Frederick County tournament this weekend, which will feature a girls tournament for the first time.

What can we expect over these next two weeks of wrestling leading into states?

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to review last weekend's county swimming championships and some notable results on the Frederick County basketball scene over the last week.

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Chris Krivos, Middletown High Girls Basketball Coach

February 9, 2024 Graham Cullen

Back on the sideline after more than a decade out of coaching, Middletown High girls basketball coach Chris Krivos is this week's guest on The FInal Score podcast.

Krivos chats with host Greg Swatek about why he decided to coach again and why Middletown was the right place for him to do it. He talks about how much coaching has changed since he last coached in 2010 at Urbana and how he has had to adapt to the changes.

He also talks about his time at Oakdale, where he served as the athletic director when the school opened in 2010 and hired several coaches that are still working and thriving there. How challenging was it to build an athletic department from the ground up? And what did he learn from the experience?

Plus, championship season has officially arrived for winter sports in Frederick County. Linganore and Middletown repeated as regional duals wrestling champions and are headed to states this weekend, the Frederick County Public School diving championships took place and the county swimming championships are on tap for Saturday. Plus, red-hot Oakdale is set to meet first-place Frederick in a girls basketball showdown. FNP sports writers John Cannon and Alexander Dacy join Greg to talk about all of that.

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Tyler Thompson, New Walkersville High Football Coach

February 2, 2024 Graham Cullen

After being named the new varsity football coach at Walkersville High School, Tyler Thompson is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Thompson chats with host Greg Swatek about his new job and how the hiring process unfolded. After serving as the defensive coordinator under former coach Joe Polce for the last five years, he talks about why he was ready to take this step and the expectations he has for the program going forward.

The conversation extends back to Thompson's playing days at Linganore, where he won a state championship on arguably the best football team Frederick County has ever seen back in 2009, and how he got his start into coaching.

Where does the Walkersville football program go from here? What is he looking forward to the most? Thompson addresses those questions as well.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the Thompson hiring at Walkersville and some of the unusual storylines unfolding during this high school basketball season for both the boys and the girls.

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