Every year high school sports teams and individuals produce memories and championships. This year was no exception.
Hereford field hockey, cross country, volleyball and the wrestling accomplishments of Brock Turnbaugh were among the highlights for 2014.
Bulls field hockey finally garners title
The Hereford field hockey team felt the pain from losing in the state championship game to Atholton in 2012 and Century the following year.
The Bulls did something about it in the Class 2A final at Washington College in Chestertown, edging Kent Island, 2-1.
Senior attacker Maggie Guthberlet and junior Haley Jolly scored for Hereford.
Scoring had been a little bit of a problem early in the season, but the Bulls received the clutch goals they needed in the postseason.
That was especially true in the state final.
"It's always nice to be in the state championship game, but it's always nice to be on the bus ride home a winner," said first-year Hereford field hockey coach Caitlin MacKenzie, who worked as assistant during the previous four years. "It's good to finally have the win."
Hereford also won a Baltimore County championship, blanking Dulaney 4-0 in mid-October behind the two-goal performance of sophomore midfielder Emily Endres.
The title meant a lot to the Bulls, who failed to reach the game in 2013 after winning five straight county titles.
Hereford finished 17-1-1. The Bulls' defense of seniors Emma Vicchio and Emily Palumbo and sophomore Dana Meehling in front of freshman Camryn Kelbaugh only allowed five goals in front of goalie Camryn Kelbaugh.
Turnbaugh captures state wrestling title
Brock Turnbaugh's disappointing eighth-place finish as a junior at 195 pounds in the Maryland State Wrestling Tournament stuck with him as he approached the 2014 campaign.
"It was a goal of mine from the very beginning that I had to work harder than everbody else," Turnbaugh said.
It sure seemed like Turnbaugh did.
He scored an 11-6 decision over Fallston's Alex Helm to capture the Class 1A/2A state championship at 220 in College Park in early March.
"You have to make sure your moves are flawless at the state tournament," Turnbaugh explained. "That's what I did throughout it. I made sure every move I made was perfect."
Turnbaugh finished his career with a 105-15 record.
He tied the school record for victories, going 42-2 during his senior year.
Turnbaugh, now a freshman lacrosse player at John Hopkins University, also won a county championship.
"I think as a tenth and eleventh grader, he was still thinking about things on the mat," Hereford assistant wrestling coach Brett Baier said. "This year, things just clicked. You saw him react to thing without thinking. He outworked everybody at practice and all of his opponents. He got up Sunday mornings to lift weights. He ran extra steps."
Hereford girls cross country places second in state
Talking about a kick.
What a strong finish to the girls cross country season it was for Hereford.
The Bulls finished second in the Class 2A state championships in early November, placing behind Liberty and ahead of Oakdale under the guidance of veteran coach John Roemer.
Hereford had seven runners place in the top 50, including Sara Coffey (8th), Emily Causey (18th), Alicia Kozlowski (23rd), Ashley Earp (37th), Hannah Ace (41st), Meghan Anderson (42nd) and Caitlin Katchmar (46th).
Hereford volleyball returns to state semifinals
Hereford coach Dave Schreiner came into the 2014 season with a big problem.
He returned only one starter from his 2013 squad that lost in the Class 3A state semifinals to Patterson Mill.
The Bulls clearly had a different look, but all of the turnover didn't keep them from having another great seasons.
Hereford advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals in College Park in mid-November.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, they got swept by Rising Sun, of Cecil County, in three games.
Sophomore outside hitter Erin Collins (7 kills, 4 digs) and junior setter Camerson Bibaud (8 assists, 4 digs, 3 kills) had the best performances for Hereford.
"Overall, we played as well as we have this year," Schreiner said of 2014 state semifinal.
Schreiner also liked his team's effort in the Bulls' regional final sweep of Western Tech as Bibaud (6 aces, 5 kills), Collins (5 kills) and junior outside hitter Liz Tilley (5 kills) shined.