Athletes of the Week archive

November 18, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Maura Linde, Century, cross country

Last year's All-Metro Runner of the Year won her second straight Class 2A state title to lead the No. 3 Knights to the team championship Saturday at Hereford. The standout junior came across in 20 minutes, 07 seconds for a 40-second victory as the Knights dominated the Class 2A race, finishing with 39 points to runner-up Bel Air's 91. Linde is a two-time, first-team All-Metro selection in outdoor track. As a freshman, she captured state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 races.

November 18, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // David Arnold, Mount St. Joseph, soccer

The leading scorer for the No.1 Gaels, the senior moved to the goal and preserved a second-straight shootout victory, this time over then-No. 1 McDonogh in the MIAA A Conference championship game. The teams went scoreless through double overtime, but Arnold made three saves against five penalty kicks to give the Gaels a 3-1 edge. Arnold, who plays club soccer, scored 18 goals and had eight assists for the Gaels this fall. A Junior Olympian in volleyball and 2-handicap golfer, Arnold said he hopes to play college soccer and possibly golf, likely at Princeton, Columbia, Navy or Johns Hopkins. Interested in engineering, he has a 4.36 weighted GPA.

November 11, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Francisca Okoko Arundel, soccer

The senior forward, hindered by injuries for most of the season, played her first full game in Friday's Class 4A East regional semifinal against Severna Park, scoring twice to lead the No. 4 Wildcats to a 2-1 overtime win. Okoko, a first-team All-Metro player last year, has six goals in limited time as she has had to overcome a severe ankle sprain and a pulled hamstring. Against the Falcons, who were ranked No. 2 at the time, she gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the second half and scored the game-winner with four minutes left in the first overtime. Okoko has a full scholarship to play at St. John's.

November 11, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Darius Jennings Gilman, football

A quarterback known for his slippery moves, Jennings rushed for 252 yards and three touchdowns and had an interception to spark then-No. 5 Gilman to a 34-27 upset over then-No. 2 McDonogh on Saturday for the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference football title. The No. 3 Greyhounds finished 8-3 as the 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior ran 215 times for 2,028 yards and completed 35 of 79 passes for 733 yards. He scored 35 touchdowns: 24 rushing, one returning a kickoff and 10 passing. Jennings also plays basketball and runs track while holding an 87 percent average.

November 4, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Thomas Erdman, River Hill, football

The senior lineman helped the No. 3 Hawks (9-0) to a big game on both sides of the ball in Friday's 35-14 win over then-No. 14 and previously unbeaten Atholton to clinch the Howard County title. At defensive end, Erdman had eight tackles - three for a loss - and three sacks, as well as a forced fumble. At offensive guard, he was a key to allowing the Hawks to gain 350 yards. For the season, Erdman has 59 tackles - 15 for a loss - and seven sacks. He has forced three fumbles and run one of them in for a touchdown. He is getting looks from a few college programs, including James Madison.

November 4, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Hillary Lee, South River, cross country

Despite having competed in just one race since Sept. 18 because of a shin injury, the All-Metro senior won the Anne Arundel County championship on her home course Thursday, coming across in 20 minutes, 18 seconds to win by 13 seconds and lead the Seahawks to a second-place finish. It was the third straight county championship for Lee, who also claimed the Class 4A East regional title last year before placing 13th at states. Lee, who maintains a 3.0 grade-point average, also has excelled in outdoor track, earning All-Metro second-team honors last spring.

October 28, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Jocelyn McCoy, Archbishop Spalding, soccer

The junior goalkeeper led the No. 1 Cavaliers to three wins last week, recording two shutouts and allowing just one goal in 240 minutes of play. A two-year starter, McCoy has helped the Cavaliers to a 17-0-1 record this season. She has 14 shutouts and has surrendered just two goals in going 10-0 in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference. McCoy has 63 saves with a .955 save percentage.

October 28, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Rudy Johnson, McDonogh, football

The senior quarterback threw for three touchdowns in the final five minutes to rally the No. 2 Eagles from 19 points down to a 27-26 victory over Georgetown Prep in a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference game Friday. Johnson, who has committed to Buffalo, hit Gabe Macis for the game-tying 34-yard strike with 22 seconds left, and Sam Eby provided the winning point after. With his fourth touchdown pass of the game, Johnson was 23-for-35 for 335 yards. He has season totals of 1,501 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and 350 rushing yards with five touchdowns. Johnson, who has a 3.0 grade-point average, also runs track.

October 21, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Yasmine Faieq, Carver A&T, golf

In windy conditions last Wednesday, Faieq fired a 95 to capture the District 6 golf championship at Diamond Ridge Golf Course in Windsor Mill. It was the second straight week in which she enjoyed a big win at the course, having captured her first Baltimore County championship Oct. 6. Last week, Faieq had to overcome not only a talented field, but also the poor conditions to win her first district title. Despite the win, she did not qualify for this week's state championship because of the pre-determined cut of 93. Faieq qualified for states the previous two years, finishing 19th last year.

October 21, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Pete Caringi, Calvert Hall, soccer

The senior forward scored the decisive goals last week in two victories that moved the No. 9 Cardinals into second place in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference after they missed the six-team playoff field a year ago. Caringi, who has 10 goals and four assists this season, scored in the 1-0 win over then-No. 1 McDonogh and added a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over No. 14 Gilman. A club player with the Casa Mia Bays and the son of former Calvert Hall All-American Pete Caringi, the younger Caringi is considering UMBC, where his dad is head coach, Providence, North Carolina State and other colleges. He has a 3.4 grade-point average.

October 14, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Paige Hanson, Bryn Mawr, field hockey

The senior forward totaled four goals and four assists in leading the No. 6 Mawrtians to three Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference victories last week. Hanson opened the week with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over No. 14 Archbishop Spalding on Monday. In a 4-0 win over Severn on Wednesday, she scored three goals and added an assist before closing out the week with two assists in a 5-0 win over St. Paul's. Hanson has 13 goals and five assists in helping Bryn Mawr to a 13-2-1 mark. Last year, Hanson was named the Baltimore City Player of the Year. She was a first-team All-Metro selection after finishing with eight goals and six assists.

October 14, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Steven St. Clair, John Carroll, football

In a rare two-game week, St. Clair scored six touchdowns, made 17 tackles and intercepted four passes to lead the Patriots (4-2) to wins over Cardinal Gibbons, 29-28, in overtime on Monday and St. Frances, 28-0, on Friday. Against Gibbons, the senior quarterback-strong safety ran 7 yards for the touchdown that tied the score at 28, and then scored the game-winning conversion on a keeper. He also had a 57-yard punt against St. Frances. A second-team All-Metro selection last season, St. Clair has 16 touchdowns in six games. Also a rugby player and a wrestler, he has a 3.8 grade-point average and is being recruited by several NCAA Football Championship Subdivision programs.

October 7, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Elizabeth Tauber John Carroll, cross country

The junior standout captured Bel Air's Bobcat Invitational on Saturday, covering the 3.1-mile course at Jerusalem Mill in 18 minutes, 22 seconds to defeat Century's Maura Linde, who finished second with a time of 18:35. Tauber, a first-team All-Metro selection last year, has won two of three races this season against Linde, who was last season's All-Metro Runner of the Year. In four invitational races this season, Tauber has won two and finished second in the other two, also winning two Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference races. The defending IAAM A Conference individual champion went undefeated against league competition last year.

October 7, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Geaton Caltabiano Mount St. Joseph, soccer

The senior All-Metro center midfielder is more often the Gaels' playmaker, but he scored both goals in last week's 2-1 upset of then-No. 1 McDonogh, which had won 38 straight IAAM A Conference games and was ranked No. 1 in the nation in both the NSCAA/Adidas and ESPN Rise polls. He has six goals and seven assists this season. A club player with the Casa Mia Bays, who won national titles in 2007 and 2008, Caltabiano has a 3.5 grade-point average and has narrowed his college choices to Wake Forest, St. John's, Towson, UMBC and Loyola.

September 30, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Katy Buck, Mount de Sales, volleyball

The senior outside hitter led the Sailors (5-0) to the top of the Baltimore Sun rankings with a dominating performance at the prestigious Bulldog Invitational at North Caroline on Saturday. Buck, a first-team All-Metro selection and captain, opened with 20 kills, five digs and three aces as the Sailors defeated then-No. 1 Centennial in the quarterfinals. She had five kills, nine digs and three aces in a semifinal win over then-No. 2 Broadneck before wrapping up the tournament with 16 kills, 14 digs and three aces in Mount de Sales' win over then-No. 4 River Hill for the championship. Buck maintains a 4.2 grade-point average and is set to play at Towson University next year.

September 30, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Brandon Bayer, North Harford, football

The junior running back carried the ball 31 times for 220 yards and two touchdowns as the Hawks (3-1) pulled out a 38-30 win over Aberdeen on Friday. Bayer also had five tackles at strong safety and ran for a pair of two-point conversions. In four games, he has scored 52 points, rushing 76 times for 493 yards and eight touchdowns. Bayer, who has a 3.85 grade-point average, also plays basketball and baseball for North Harford.

September 23, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Lillie Happel, Covenant Community School, volleyball

The senior outside hitter led No. 14 Covenant to two wins last week to improve its record to 6-0. In a 3-1 upset over then-No. 8 Archbishop Spalding, Happel finished with 28 kills, eight aces and 19 digs. She followed that performance with 13 kills, three aces and seven digs in a 3-0 win over Chapelgate. After starting her high school career as a setter in her freshman season, Happel made the switch to hitter and has thrived, totaling 801 kills, 824 assists, 820 digs and 70 blocks in her career. Happel has accepted a full volleyball scholarship to Liberty in Lynchburg, Va.

September 23, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Wade Korvin, Archbishop Spalding, football

It's not often a punter gets to be the star of the game, but Korvin called a fake punt and threw a 36-yard pass for a first down that set up the game-winning touchdown Friday night, giving the Cavaliers a 27-24 win over Cardinal Gibbons in a key Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference game. He averaged 39 yards on eight punts in the game. On one play, the ball was snapped over his head to inside the 5-yard line, but he recovered to kick it to the Gibbons 25. Korvin, a junior who also plays lacrosse, doubles as a cornerback.

September 16, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week: Kaitlin Maloy, South River, field hockey

The senior left wing led the No. 6 Seahawks (3-0) to three wins last week with four goals and an assist.

September 16, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week: Jeremy Kirkwood, McDonogh, soccer

The senior forward scored two game-winning goals and assisted on one as the No. 1 Eagles won three games last week, including two over top 5 opponents.

September 9, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week: Joseph Blackwell, Arundel, football

In his first game as a Wildcat, Blackwell gained 257 yards and scored four touchdowns as No. 3 Arundel defeated Anne Arundel County foe and No. 6 Old Mill, 34-27. Blackwell, a running back who transferred last winter from Archbishop Spalding, carried the ball 28 times for 174 yards and one touchdown and caught five passes for 83 yards and three touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior, who hopes to play Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football, has a 3.8 grade-point average and is considering a pre-med major.

September 9, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week: Kirsten Frank, Archbishop Spalding, soccer

The senior sweeper, a four-year starter and first-team All-Metro selection, was the defensive catalyst in leading the No. 1 Cavaliers to two shutout wins in last weekend's Pioneer Shootout at Anne Arundel Community College. The defending Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference champions opened their season with a 3-0 win over No. 8 Severna Park on Friday and then defeated No. 6 South River, 1-0, in overtime Saturday. Frank disrupted both teams' offenses with tenacity, smarts and poise. Frank is set to play at Ohio University next year.

May 27, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week: Kourtney Salvarola, Broadneck, softball

The junior pitcher led the No. 1 Bruins to their first Class 4A state championship, getting a 5-2 win over North Carroll in Saturday's title game, to complete a 20-0 season. Salvarola allowed one run and four hits while hitting a triple and scoring one run in the championship game. For the season, Salvarola went 12-0 with a 0.90 ERA , also batting .619 at the plate. She finished with seven home runs, six triples, 28 RBIs and 30 runs. Salvarola has made a commitment to play softball at South Florida.

May 27, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week: Erick Zarzecki, Pikesville, lacrosse

Erick Zarzecki

Pikesville, lacrosse

Zarzecki, a second-year starting goalie, anchored the Panthers' run to the Class 2A-1A state title with 12 saves in an 8-7 win over two-time defending state champ Glenelg in the state semifinal and followed it up with 17 saves in a 6-5 win over Queen Anne's. Zarzecki will attend Cabrini College in Pennsylvania next year to play lacrosse and study business and marketing.

May 20, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Harry Slade, Loyola, baseball

A senior, Slade anchored the Dons in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs during the past week. He went 7-for-11 (.636), with four walks. Among his hits were a double, two triples and a home run. He drove in six runs and scored six. Normally a center fielder, he started at pitcher against Cardinal Gibbons, a game Loyola won, 8-5. Although Slade did not get the win, coach Paul Schiminger said, "He had a quality effort over five innings that allowed us to pull out the win in the seventh." Slade, who has a 3.5 grade-point average, will attend North Carolina-Greensboro next year.

May 20, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Ali Brennan, McDonogh, lacrosse

All season, the senior midfielder has brought athleticism, speed and fine two-way play to help control the middle for the No. 1 Eagles. In Saturday's 13-10 win over Notre Dame Prep to capture the program's first Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship, Brennan also brought big goals. She finished with a game-high five. Brennan completed the season with 27 goals and eight assists as McDonogh (19-1) went wire-to-wire as the metro area's top-ranked team. Brennan is set to play soccer at Miami in the fall.

May 13, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week: Rudy Lee Daniels, Woodlawn, track and field

The senior won four events - two individual and two relays - Saturday to help the Warriors capture the Baltimore County championship. Daniels took part in 40 of his team's 91 points. He won the 100 meters (11.07) and the 200 meters (22.25) before running the anchor leg of the 800 relay. In the 1600 relay, Daniels ran the leadoff leg in 49 seconds, a time that was 1.33 seconds better than the winning time in the 400-meter individual race. "He's a super kid," Woodlawn coach Gerald Russell said. " A good student, Daniels has signed a letter of intent to attend Old Dominion next year on a football scholarship.

May 13, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week: Alina Jong, Roland Park, golf

The sophomore captured the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference individual title in last week's championship at Longview Golf Course in Timonium and led the Reds to their third straight team title. Jong, who began golfing three years ago, shot an opening-round 40 on May 5 and followed that with a 39 to finish with a 79. She was the only golfer to finish under 80 in the two-day event. "Alina peaked at the right time and had a great tournament. She has great fundamentals and was able to keep it together," Roland Park coach Tara Kramer said.

May 6, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Andrew Parker Cardinal Gibbons, baseball

Parker, a varsity player for 3 1/2 seasons, went 7-for-10 last week, hitting two home runs, including a grand slam, and two doubles, and driving in 10 runs. He helped lead the Crusaders to wins over No. 12 Archbishop Spalding, Archbishop Curley and John Carroll. Parker, the team's starting catcher, has a .628 batting average. "He works very hard on his grades and on baseball," coach Lee Swartzenberg said. "He has a 1.8-second throw down from home plate to second base, and he is the rare high school catcher who calls the pitches." Parker has a 3.8 grade-point average and has signed with Towson University.

May 6, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Ashley Bruns Mount Hebron, lacrosse

The senior attack started the week with a record-setting offensive performance and closed it with a game-saving defensive play. In a 21-14 win over River Hill on Tuesday, Bruns scored 12 goals and added seven assists, breaking two program records (goals and points) and tying a third for assists. On Thursday, in a 16-4 win over Glenelg to clinch the Howard County championship, Bruns scored five goals and added four assists. Bruns, a Florida commitment, closed out the week with eight goals in a 12-11 overtime win against Moorestown (N.J.) – breaking up a pass in the closing seconds of overtime to secure the victory.

April 29, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Stephanie Speierman, Hammond, softball

The senior pitcher, a three-time first-team All-Metro selection, tossed two no-hitters at separate locations in a span of four hours Saturday. In 6-0 and 1-0 wins over Mount Hebron and Centennial, respectively, Speierman totaled 34 strikeouts in 14 innings, allowing two walks and hitting one batter. Speierman, who is set to play at Michigan next year, is 9-2 with six no-hitters and is batting .429 this season. As a sophomore, she led the Golden Bears to the program's first state title, tossing a perfect game in the championship win over North East from Cecil County.

April 29, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // John 'Squeaky' Thomas, City, lacrosse

The sophomore attackman recorded 18 goals and six assists in three Knights victories - two of them over previously undefeated Walbrook and Edmondson. In a 12-3 win over Northwestern, Thomas had four goals and one assist; against Walbrook in a 12-5 win, he had eight goals and three assists; and against Edmondson in an 11-1 win, he had six goals and two assists. City coach Anthony "Merk" Ryan credits Thomas as a major factor in extending the Knights' unbeaten league mark to 27 games (9-0 this season). Thomas has 42 goals and 19 assists this season. He carries a B average.

April 22, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Pat Mull, Fallston, lacrosse

With eight assists in Fallston's 17-2 win over Patterson Mill on Friday, Mull, a senior, set a school record, reaching 197 for his career. For the season, he has eight goals and 43 assists and is a key element in his team's 8-2 record. Mull broke the record set by his older brother Steve, who reached 191 assists during the 2002 season. "He puts up solid numbers, no matter who we play," Fallston coach Ryan Arist said. "He's the quarterback with incredible vision." Mull has committed to play lacrosse next year at St. Mary's College.

April 22, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Katie Schwarzmann, Century, lacrosse

The senior midfielder led the No. 12 Knights (7-0) to three wins last week with a combined 25 goals and nine assists. Schwarzmann, the Carroll County Player of the Year and a first-team All-Metro selection last year, had seven goals and two assists against Roland Park, added eight goals and two assists against South Carroll, and finished with 10 goals and five assists against Francis Scott Key. She has 226 goals and 102 assists in her four-year career. Also a soccer and basketball standout, Schwarzmann will play lacrosse at Maryland.

April 15, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Ashley Thomas, Broadneck, softball

With a fine pitching performance and one big swing of the bat, the junior pitcher led the No. 1 Bruins to a 3-0 win over Anne Arundel County rival and two-time defending Class 4A state champ Chesapeake on Thursday.

April 15, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Christian Walsh, Boys' Latin, lacrosse

Walsh was virtually unstoppable in leading No. 4 Boys' Latin to a 16-15 victory in overtime over No. 5 St. Paul's on Thursday. He scored nine goals, including the one that brought the Lakers to within 15-14 with a little more than two minutes left and the tying goal with 51 seconds left in regulation.

April 8, 2009

Boys athlete of the week // Blake Geiger, Calvert Hall, baseball

Blake Geiger Calvert Hall, baseball

In anchoring a 10-0 victory over then-No. 5 Archbishop Spalding last week, the senior pitcher was two outs away from a no-hitter. This came on the heels of an 8-0 win over St. Paul's, in which he was two outs away from a perfect game. "To pitch back-to-back one-hit games is unheard of," coach Lou Eckerl said. This season, Geiger is 3-0 with an 0.78 ERA, striking out 31 of 64 batters in 18 innings. Opposing teams' batting average against him is .103. He has committed to the University of Richmond.

April 8, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Erin Laschinger, Notre Dame Prep, lacrosse

Erin Laschinger Notre Dame Prep, lacrosse

The senior midfielder scored 13 goals and had two assists last week in leading the No. 3 Blazers (4-0) to wins over a pair of top-10 teams. She had six goals and an assist in a 12-11 win over No. 8 St. Mary's and seven goals and an assist in a 16-13 win over No. 6 Archbishop Spalding. An All-Metro first-team selection a year ago, she has 22 goals and four assists this season. Laschinger, who plays club lacrosse for TLC and has a 4.0 grade-point average, is headed to Virginia.

April 1, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Megan Hyson, Seton Keough, softball

The sophomore pitcher led the Gators (5-0) to three wins that moved them to No. 2 in this week's Top 15 poll. She opened the week Monday with a 2-0 win over the previous No. 1, Chesapeake-AA, tossing a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts and driving in the winning run with a first-inning double. On Wednesday, she pitched the last two innings of a 5-1 win over the Institute of Notre Dame, striking out all six batters she faced. And on Friday, she allowed three hits while striking out 13 in a 1-0 win over No. 4 Archbishop Spalding.

April 1, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Ronnie Zeberlein, C. Milton Wright, baseball

The senior second baseman went 6-for-9 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs this week in helping lead his Mustangs to three wins, one a 4-1 victory over then-No. 1 Calvert Hall. He drove in three of his team's four runs against the Cardinals and knocked in the winning run in the last inning of the Mustangs' 5-4 victory over North Harford. His coach, Tony Blackburn, says Zeberlein is "a tireless worker. He would take ground balls all day if we let him." Zeberlein also has a 3.7 grade-point average.

March 25, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Curtis Holmes, McDonogh, lacrosse

Curtis Holmes McDonogh, lacrosse

The senior anchored the Eagles' 4-0 start to the season."Curtis is a two-way midfielder for us, playing both offense and defense," coach Andy Hilgartner said. "And his strength is facing off. ... I think the toughness he brings from football and the balance he uses in wrestling are qualities that really contribute to his success on the lacrosse field." Holmes was an All-Metro pick in football and wrestling. He will attend Maryland in the fall on a lacrosse scholarship.

March 25, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Lauren Gibson, Chesapeake-AA, softball

Lauren Gibson Chesapeake-AA, softball

The senior pitcher picked up where she left off last year for the two-time defending Class 4A state champion and No.1 Cougars, tossing a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts and not allowing an earned run in a 5-1 season-opening win over No.14 Glenelg. Gibson, a two-time Metro Player of the Year, also went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored. Headed to Tennessee, Gibson went 17-2 with a 1.23 ERA last season, striking out 165 in 120 innings. She also hit .500 with 29 RBIs and 34 runs scored.

March 18, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Will Barton, Lake Clifton, basketball

The versatile 6-foot-6 junior forward closed out a stellar season leading the No. 1 Lakers to the Class 3A state title and a 28-0 record.

March 18, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Breaira Barksdale, City, basketball

The senior guard provided a spark and a calming influence in leading the No. 3 Knights to their first state championship. Barksdale had 21 points, including six in overtime, as well as three assists and five steals in the 59-51 title victory over previously unbeaten River Hill. She also had 15 points, six rebounds and two steals in the 59-39 semifinal win over North Hagerstown. Orally committed to UNC-Asheville, Barksdale averaged 9.3 points and 4.4 assists heading into states. She has a 3.0 grade-point average and played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for Team Melo.

March 11, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week: Nathan Kraisser, Centennial, wrestling

Freshman Nathan Kraisser did what no one else did in Class4A-3A at the state tournament, pinning his competition in the first three rounds - in 0:48, 4:00 and 2:36, respectively - and then winning the 103-pound title with a 12-0 major-decision shutout. Kraisser is ranked ninth nationally in the 103 class among freshmen and sophomores and 11th overall. His season record is 36-1, and his grade-point average is 3.71.

March 11, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week: Keirah Hicks, Western, basketball

Keirah Hicks, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, scored all of her 16 points in the second half to help the No. 3 Doves to a 56-40 win over No.8 Catonsville and a berth in the state Class 3A final four. She finished the week with 66 points, 12 assists and 13 steals in regional playoff wins over Milford Mill, Dundalk and Catonsville. This is her second trip to the state tournament as a Dove, and Hicks, who averages 12.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.6 steals, played in the state Class 1A final as a freshman at Southside before transferring to Western as a junior. She has a "B" average and plans to play basketball in college.

February 25, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Craig Morgan, River Hill, indoor track

Morgan, a senior, set state and school records at last weekend's indoor track state championships and propelled the Hawks to a fourth-place finish overall. Morgan scored 20 of his team's 26points by winning the 1,600 meters in a state Class 2A record time of 4 minutes, 21.96 seconds and then won the 3,200 meters in a school-record 9:44.05. Besides excelling at indoor track, Morgan was a state cross country champion in the fall and carries a 3.67 grade-point average, 4.2 weighted.

February 25, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Jen Cimino, Hereford, indoor track

The senior won two individual events and helped in two strong relay finishes as the Bulls took second in the state Class 3A indoor track championships. Cimino won the 1,600 and 800-meter runs. She also ran on the second-place 3,200-meter relay and the fifth-place 1,600-meter relay. She had a hand in 30 of her team's 51points. Cimino also plays soccer and has a 3.0 grade-point average.

February 11, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Caitlin Bach, North Carroll, basketball

In addition to scoring her 1,000th career point and grabbing her 700th career rebound last week, the junior holds the school record for scoring, becoming the first girl or boy in the 52-year history of the Carroll County school to reach the 1,000-point mark.

February 11, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Giles Smith, McDonogh, swimming

The senior broke an 18-year-old national private schools record for the 50-yard freestyle at Saturday's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championships. Smith's winning time was 19.74 seconds, which eclipsed the mark of 20.01 set by Joe Hudepohl of St. Xavier (Ohio) in 1991.

February 4, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Pat Downey, Loch Raven, wrestling

Downey, a sophomore, is undefeated in the 160-pound weight class this season. He pinned his Eastern Tech opponent in a minute Thursday and then pinned three more competitors on his way to the final of the Overlea Invitational Tournament last weekend. Those three pins were achieved in 16 seconds, 47 seconds and one minute, respectively. He then defeated previously unbeaten Daniel Johnson of Carver, 25-9. Downey, 16, is a transfer from Mount St. Joseph. In explaining his wrestling ability, he said: "It's my sport, my best sport. I've been doing it since I was 6." Downey was named Outstanding Wrestler in the upper weight classes at the Overlea tournament. He has a 3.0 grade-point average.

February 4, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Nyree Williams, Howard, basketball

The North Carolina-bound senior averaged 20 points and 21 rebounds in two critical Howard County league games last week. A 6-foot-1 forward, Williams scored 25 points and had 21 rebounds in a 71-60 win over Reservoir and 15 points and 21 rebounds in a 59-56 win over Mount Hebron. The wins gave the No. 14 Lions sole possession of second place in the county behind No. 6 River Hill. Williams, who also plays volleyball for the Lions and plays Amateur Athletic Union basketball for Team Unique, averages 17.2 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks for the Lions. She has a 3.5 grade-point average.

January 28, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Nicole Ruane, Century, basketball

Nicole Ruane Century, basketball

The 5-foot-8 senior guard led the No. 15 Knights to two two-point wins last week and scored the game-winning basket in a 59-57 win over North Carroll. In that game, she stole an inbound pass and hit a layup with four seconds left. She finished with 13 points, five steals and four assists. In a 57-55 win over Frederick, she had 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Ruane averages 13 points, six steals and five assists. A veteran of the Maryland Hurricanes Amateur Athletic Union team, she plans to play basketball in college and has a 3.2 grade-point average.

January 28, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Terrell Vinson, St. Frances, basketball

Terrell Vinson St. Frances, basketball

The 6-foot-7 senior forward led No. 2 St. Frances to three victories last week, including two over ranked teams. Vinson, a transfer from Montrose Christian, scored 34 points and had 14 rebounds in the Panthers' 83-76 double-overtime win against No. 5 Mount St. Joseph; 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 68-49 victory over No. 14 John Carroll; and 22 points and eight rebounds in a 96-38 win against St. Maria Goretti. Vinson has a 3.0 grade-point average and averages 27 points, eight rebounds and 3.3 blocks.

January 21, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Asia Logan, Digital Harbor, basketball

The 6-foot junior forward led the No.8 Rams to three victories last week, including two at the Basketball Academy at Morgan State.

January 21, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week: Shane Milam, McDonogh, wrestling

In the biggest, most competitive wrestling tournament in Maryland, Milam, a senior, won his 171-pound weight class at Mount Mat Madness on Saturday. He won five bouts - two by decision, two by major decision and one by pin. His closest match of the tournament was a pressure-filled final against St. Mark's Ty Snook. St. Mark's was McDonogh's primary challenger for second place at the event, and when Milam held on for a 3-2 victory, it clinched second for the Eagles. "I knew the significance of it," Milam said. "But I put it out of my mind. Thinking about it wouldn't make me wrestle any better." Milam is 29-3 this season and 156-30 for his career. He carries a 3.2 grade-point average and will attend the University of Pennsylvania.

January 14, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // Sean Roddy, Loyola, swimming

Roddy became an instant All-American in two events, earned possible qualification in a third and along the way broke a 21-year-old Loyola record during a meet Saturday against Mercersburg Academy at Loyola. Roddy won the 200individual medley in an All-America automatic time of 1minute, 53.81 seconds, won the 100breaststroke in an All-America automatic time of 57.41 and then anchored the 400freestyle relay in an All-America consideration time of 3:12.84. If the 400 FS time is among the 40 best in the country at the end of the year, Roddy will be an All-American in all three events. The senior has a 3.7 grade-point average and will attend LSU on athletic and academic scholarships next year.

January 14, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Zoey Whittington, Catonsville, track and field

In her first season of indoor track, the sophomore finished second in two races at the Hispanic Games at the New York Armory in Manhattan with times that rank among the best in the nation this winter. She ran the 200meters in 24.51seconds and finished the 400meters in 55.83seconds. Whittington, who played basketball last season, set a meet record of 57.74seconds in the 400meters at last month's Howard County Winter Track Festival. A four-time Junior Olympian with eight medals including three gold, she has a 3.5 grade-point average.

January 7, 2009

Girls Athlete of the Week // Katie Harman River Hill, indoor track

The senior set two meet records at the Southern Maryland Mega Meet last week while leading the Hawks to a second-place finish in a field of 46 teams.

January 7, 2009

Boys Athlete of the Week // George Chambers, Archbishop Curley, indoor track

The junior won three races at short and long distances last week.

December 31, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week // Jess Harlee Fallston, basketball

For the third straight year, Harlee earned Most Valuable Player honors in leading the Cougars to victory at the North Carroll Holiday Hoops Tournament, where the junior forward-guard, 5 feet 9, scored more than half of her team's points. She began with 30 points, 20 rebounds and five steals in a 49-43 win over Notre Dame Prep. Then she had 20 points, 20 rebounds and nine steals in the 47-37 title-game win over North Carroll. A two-time Harford County Player of the Year, Harlee is averaging 17.2 points, 13.6rebounds and eight steals. She is drawing a lot of attention from college coaches and has a 3.98 grade-point average.

December 31, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week // Auraum Nuiriankh, Arundel, basketball

The senior forward was named Most Valuable Player of Glen Burnie's J.T. Bogle Invitational after scoring 22 points in Saturday's title game, an 86-72 win over the host Gophers. Nuiriankh, a three-year varsity player and the only starter back from last season's team, is averaging 18.1 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots to help the Wildcats get off to a 9-0 start. In the tournament, the Wildcats opened with an 82-63 win over Dulaney on Friday, as Nuiriankh totaled 31 points, 12 rebounds, six steals and five assists. In the title game against Glen Burnie, Arundel took a 60-56 lead into the fourth quarter, when Nuiriankh took over a key stretch. He hit a three-pointer and had a dunk in a 7-2 run that opened up a 67-58 lead the Wildcats didn't relinquish.

December 24, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Shantrel Oliver, River Hill, basketball

A transfer from Wilde Lake, Oliver made an immediate impact on the No. 6 Hawks, leading them in scoring with an average 17.2 points in their first six games, all wins. Oliver, a quick, versatile 5-foot-6 point guard, led the Hawks to two victories last week, including a 20-point effort in a 67-41 win over No. 11 Howard that left the Hawks the only unbeaten girls basketball team in Howard County. She also had three rebounds, four assists and four steals in that game. Oliver contributed 15 points, three steals and two assists to a 52-43 win over Oakland Mills.

December 24, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Avi Friedman, Owings Mills, wrestling

The 112-pound senior a Class 2A-1A state champion at 103 last year, moved up to win the 119-pound class at Saturday's Big 20 Invitational at Perry Hall.

December 16, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Roscoe Smith, Walbrook, basketball

Roscoe Smith

Walbrook, basketball

The junior shooting guard-small forward - who isn't so small anymore at 6feet8, 189 pounds - led No. 5 Walbrook to three straight wins last week with a combined 90 points, 18 assists, 41rebounds and 14blocked shots. Ranked No.8 nationally in the ESPN 2010 ratings, Smith is averaging 29 points, 12 rebounds and 4.5 blocks.

December 16, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Shatyra Hawkes, St. Frances, basketball

Shatyra Hawkes

St. Frances, basketball

The 5-foot-3 junior guard led the No.1 Panthers (6-0) to four victories last week, including wins over No.2 Arundel, 56-45, and then-No.4 Western, 54-42. A pesky defensive player who also runs much of the Panthers' offense, Hawkes had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists against Arundel and eight points, seven rebounds and two assists against Western. She also scored 27 points in a 67-38 win over the Institute of Notre Dame and 19 in a 54-40 win over No.13 Mercy. A first-team All-Metro selection last season, Hawkes averages 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.7 steals.

December 9, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Cassie Cooke, Winters Mill, basketball

The senior came within one assist of a triple double in leading the No. 9 Falcons to a season-opening win last week against Carroll County rival North Carroll, 52-35. Cooke, a 5-foot-8 guard, finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and six steals. Last season's Carroll County Player of the Year and an All-Metro first-team selection, Cooke signed early to play basketball for Rhode Island. Last season, she averaged 13.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.2 steals in leading the Falcons to the Class 2A state final and a 25-1 record. Cooke, also the 2007 county player of the year in soccer, scored 20 goals this fall for the Falcons and was named first-team All-State.

December 9, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Jonathan Perry, Dunbar, football

The senior quarterback orchestrated a game-winning 89-yard drive in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to help lead the Poets to their third straight Class 1A state title with a 20-19 win over Fort Hill on Saturday.

December 2, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Tavon Austin Dunbar, football

The senior running back ran for 213 yards and four touchdowns as the Poets, two-time defending Class1A state champions, advanced to the championship game with a 48-12 win over Catoctin in Saturday's semifinal.

December 2, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Erica Page, Archbishop Spalding, soccer

The forward closed out a stellar four-year varsity career by leading the No.1 Cavaliers to their second Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship in three years, defeating McDonogh, 2-0, in the title game Nov.2.

November 25, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Samantha Brostrom, Centennial, volleyball

The 5-foot-10 sophomore outside hitter was the go-to player all season for the No. 1 Eagles, and she helped them finish off an unbeaten season Nov. 17 with the Class 3A state championship.

November 25, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Nick DePaola, Hereford, football

The senior running back carried the ball 18 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bulls to a 41-14 win over Milford Mill in the Class 3A North regional title game Friday.

November 18, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Semret Seyoum, River Hill, soccer

The senior midfielder rallied the now-No. 3 Hawks from two goals down in regulation to a 4-2 shootout victory over now -No. 5 Eastern Tech for their third straight state Class 2A girls soccer crown. Seyoum scored two goals and then made the game-winning penalty kick.

November 18, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Mamadou Kansaye, McDonogh, soccer

The center-midfielder was the dominant player in the No. 1 Eagles' 6-1 win over Mount St. Joseph in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association AConference championship game Nov. 10, scoring two goals and adding two assists.

November 11, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Graham Bazell, Atholton, cross country

In capturing the Class 3A individual state championship at Hereford High on Saturday, the senior standout led the Raiders to their first team title in 19 years. Bazell, a first-team All-Metro selection last year, ran the 3.1-mile course in a time of 16minutes, 29 seconds, with teammate Michael Lynch taking second (16:50), as the Raiders placed all five scoring runners in the top 30. At Hereford's Bull Run Invitational on Oct. 11, Bazell set a meet record (15:51) with his win in the Elite Division. He also earned first-team All-Metro status in track and field last year, capturing a state title in the 3,200 meters in the 3A race.

November 11, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Maura Linde, Century, cross country

The sophomore won the state Class 2A cross country state championship, beating a pair of formidable opponents and posting the fastest time of any local runner Saturday on the hilly Hereford course.

October 28, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Rachel Pillion, Towson, cross country

In cruising to the Baltimore County cross country championship Saturday, not only did the senior win by more than 58 seconds, but she also set a course record in wet conditions.

October 28, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Josh Eure, South River, golf

The senior standout captured his second boys individual state golf championship Thursday, finishing with a two-round score of 147 at Potomac Ridge in Waldorf.

October 21, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Albadee Edwards, Kenwood, football

The senior quarterback-defensive back was a major factor in leading the Bluebirds (4-3) to a 21-17 upset win over then-No. 11 Perry Hall on Friday.

October 14, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: De-Vohn Gilmore, Pikesville, football

The junior, who plays wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner, accounted for 312 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in Friday's 26-22 victory over New Town and grabbed a deflected 88-yard Hail Mary pass for the game-winning score. He also finished with 10 tackles and a forced fumble.

October 14, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Becky Yep, Mount Hebron, cross country

After two years of struggling with stress fractures in both tibias, the junior is enjoying a terrific fall season, including Saturday's victory in the girls elite race at the Bull Run Invitational. Yep ran the fastest girls time of the day on the hilly 3.1-mile Hereford course, finishing in 19minutes, 54seconds, nearly a minute better than her third-place time at last season's state Class2A championships.

October 7, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Billy Cosh, Arundel, football

The senior quarterback led the Wildcats to a 46-25 come-from-behind victory at Anne Arundel County opponent Meade on Friday, overcoming a shaky first half to throw for 364 yards and six touchdowns.

October 7, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Lillie Happel, Covenant Community School, volleyball

A 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter, Happel helped the Bravehearts win the Model Classic Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at Galludet University in Washington. She was named Most Valuable Player, with 44 kills, 12 aces, 15 digs, two blocks and four assists, in the tournament, which the Bravehearts polished off with a 25-14, 25-16 title-match victory over Washington's PiusVI.

September 30, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Bailey Webster, St. Paul's School for Girls, volleyball

The senior had 34 kills in a five-game victory over then-No.2 Mount de Sales last week - an outstanding 6.8 kills a game. The 6-foot-3 outside hitter also had two blocks and five digs and was 9-for-10 serving. She has a season hitting average of .612 and averages 6.7 kills in leading the Gators to a 7-0 start and the No.2 ranking this week in The Baltimore Sun. Recently named the No.1 recruit in the Class of 2009 by PrepVolleyball.com, Webster is in the process of visiting her top four choices: Alabama, Florida, Stanford and Texas. Last season's All-Metro Player of the Year and Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year after leading St. Paul's to the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland AConference championship, Webster played for the junior national team over the summer. She helped the U.S. win the gold medal at the NORCECA World Championship in Mexico in July.

September 23, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Lindsey Puckett, Fallston, field hockey

The senior forward usually shines in the big games, and she did in Friday's upset of then-No.1 Garrison Forest. Puckett had two goals and an assist in the 3-1 win on the road, which helped boost the Cougars to the No.2-ranking. A two-time first-team All-Metro selection, Puckett also scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Patterson Mill last week to bring her season total to five goals and five assists. The daughter of Fallston coach Alice Puckett is a longtime field hockey player and a three-time Junior Olympian. She was recently selected for the U.S. Field Hockey Association's Futures Elite program for the second straight year. Last season's Harford County Player of the Year, she led the Cougars to the 2007 state Class3A championship. Puckett, who has a 3.3 gradepoint average and also runs track, has made an oral commitment to play field hockey for Maryland.

September 23, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Julian Griggs, McDonogh, soccer

The sophomore forward led the No.2 Eagles (6-1) to three wins over ranked Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association AConference opponents last week, scoring a total of four goals and adding an assist. On Tuesday, with the team coming off its only loss of the season, he had two goals in a 3-0 win over previously undefeated and then-No.2 Mount St.Joseph. On Thursday, he scored once in a 2-1 win over then-No.9 Loyola and closed out the week with the game's first goal, coming in the second half, in a 4-0 win over then-No.7 Calvert Hall. For the season, Griggs leads the team with 10goals and fourassists. During the summer, Griggs led the Baltimore Bays Casa Mia Under-15 club team to a national championship and earned the Golden Boot Award as the age group's leading scorer in the tournament. At McDonogh, he's on the dean's list with a 4.2 gradepoint average.

September 16, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Michael Campanaro, River Hill, football

The senior All-Metro running back made the most of his limited touches in the No.1 Hawks' 54-8 victory over Hammond on Friday. Campanaro accounted for 274all-purpose yards, scoring touchdowns seven of the 11 times he touched the ball. On the ground, he carried the ball eight times for 144 yards and fivescores. On special teams, he returned three punts for 130 yards, including touchdowns of 47 and 53 yards. The seven touchdowns were one short of tying the public schools state record.

September 9, 2008

Boys Athlete of the Week: Hakeem Hines, Havre de Grace, football

The senior tailback-outside linebacker made an impact in all three phases of the game to lead Havre de Grace to a 26-20 win Friday over Fallston. Hines, 5 feet 9, 185 pounds, had 307 yards of total offense, rushing 27 times for 272 yards, scoring two TDs and catching three passes for 55 yards. On defense, Hines had eight tackles. After Fallston tied the score in the fourth quarter, Hines blocked the extra point, then scored the winning touchdown on an 8-yard run. He opened Havre de Grace's scoring with a 65-yard TD run. A three-year starter, Hines ran for 1,100 yards as a sophomore and 1,600 last year. He also runs on the track and field team.

September 9, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Gigi Mangione, McDonogh, girls soccer

A member of one of Baltimore's most prominent soccer families, Mangione led the No. 1 Eagles to a 2-0 opening weekend with three goals and three assists. She had two goals and an assist in a 4-0 victory over Episcopal, Pa., and a goal and two assists in a 5-1 victory over Sacred Heart, Ky., at the McDonogh Tournament. An All-Metro first-team pick last season, the senior attacking midfielder was named All-State and All-South Region. Mangione, who has committed to Loyola College, helped her Laurel Wildcats club team win two straight State Cup titles, the most recent at Under-17. She has a 3.8 grade point average and plans a career in medicine.

May 14, 2008

Girls Athlete of the Week: Elaine Nescio, Archbishop Spalding, softball

The junior, in her first season as the Cavaliers' ace, closed out a fine season with near-flawless play last week that led Spalding to the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship. In Sunday's 6-0 championship win over Institute of Notre Dame, she was in complete control, striking out 11 in a one-hitter. She also executed a squeeze bunt to drive in the game's last run. In Thursday's 5-0 semifinal win over defending conference champ Seton Keough, Nescio retired the first 14 batters and finished with a one-hitter.

January 16, 2008

James Ways, Winters Mill, indoor track

A week after leading the Falcons to their first Carroll County title in four years, Ways won two individual events and ran the last leg on relay teams that finished first and second, respectively, in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League Piedmont Conference meet. In leading the Falcons to a second-place finish in the meet, the junior sprinter won the 300-meter run in 37.6 seconds and the 500 meters in 1:11. It was his fifth win in the 500 this season. Ways also ran the last leg on the Falcons' winning 1,600 relay and the runner-up 3,200 relay for co-coaches Shelly Katcef and Becki Ridgway. Ways, who has a 3.5 grade point average, also plays soccer and baseball at Winters Mill.