Covering high school sports doesn't often give you a chance to cover a story that resonates on the national level. Unless you cover girls lacrosse in Baltimore.
In the spring, McDonogh became the second area team in little more than a decade to break the national record for consecutive girls lacrosse victories. The Eagles won 112 in a row, surpassing Mount Hebron's record of 104 set in 2003.
To keep their streak rolling for five years, the Eagles have had to win several times in dramatic fashion, especially in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference playoffs. While the Eagles have taken on some of the best competition in the country, none has been tougher than the top of the A Conference.
The streak came close to ending twice in last spring's IAAM tournament. Severn had a two-goal lead with less than six minutes left in the semifinal. Roland Park had a three-goal lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the championship game.
Both times, All-Metro Player of the Year Megan Whittle scored the game winner.
The 16-13 win over Roland Park set off a raucous Eagles celebration of just about the best high school sports season anyone could hope for: keeping the streak alive and polishing off a sixth straight championship in the nation's toughest conference, a fifth straight undefeated season and a fifth straight national No. 1 ranking.