Ema Djordjevic

Volleyball
Richard Montgomery High School

Annie Faraone

Soccer
Quince Orchard High School

Quince Orchard High School girl’s soccer midfielder Annie Faraone provides talent that isn’t easy to find.

Olivia Cong

Golf
Poolesville High School

David Avit

Football
Churchill High School

Chase Robertson

Football
Landon School

Taylor Wilson

Soccer
Northwest High School

Sierra Evans

Volleyball
Kennedy High School

At the Magruder Invitational, Evans — in her fourth year on the varsity team — was voted to the all-tournament team after multiple dominant performances including sparking a comeback against Paint Branch.

Nyanya Touray

Soccer
Northwood High School

The early part of the season has been a challenge for Northwood High School girl’s soccer. Through the first six games, the Gladiators sit 2-4, with a negative nine-goal differential.

However, forward Nyanya Touray stands out as a talent. And for her impressive resume, she’s earned an invite to try out for the United States Women’s Youth National Team.

Touray will compete with 23 other women born in 2008 for a spot on the team. The training camp is ongoing in West Palm Beach, FL, and will run through Oct. 3.

Should Touray earn a spot, she’d play for a team attempting to qualify for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Touray’s special opportunity isn’t her only current achievement. She’s also this week’s Montgomery County High School Athlete of the Week.

Each week throughout the school year, the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with Montgomery Community Media to honor an Athlete of the Week from the county’s more than 40 public and private high schools.

Touray, with two goals iso far this season, is one of the top players at Northwood, but she also shines for Bethesda Soccer Club. Playing for Bethesda provides Touray competition against some of the best female soccer players in the entire country.

Bethesda competes in the Elite Club National League (ECNL), and Touray was one of 11 Maryland players selected to ECNL’s All-Conference team.

Photo courtesy Northwood High School (Nyanya Touray in white uniform)

Nino Marzullo

Football
Quince Orchard High School

With under two minutes to play, Virginia’s Stone Bridge put Quince Orchard on the brink of its first loss since Nov. 29, 2019. The 2021 3A Virginia State Champions’ late touchdown put the Bulldogs up 22-21, and in position to take bragging rights back to Ashburn.

Quince Orchard senior quarterback Nino Marzullo and his offense weren’t accustomed to playing in close games. But in the final drive, Marzullo delivered the biggest throw of his life.

Quince Orchard only needed a field goal, but the lefty quarterback’s 39-yard touchdown strike to Tavahri Groves with 17 seconds to go became an all-time moment for the Cougars’ signal caller.

Marzullo’s game-winning pass sent Quince Orchard to its 33rd-straight victory, a 29-22 instant classic over the highly reputable program from Ashburn.

“When [Groves] caught that ball I just couldn’t even believe it,” Marzullo said. “It’s definitely a top-three moment in my career playing sports.”

Marzullo’s heroic moment earned him the Montgomery County High School Athlete of the Week award.

“It feels really good to receive this honor,” Marzullo said. “A lot of athletes had great weeks, so it’s great that I performed as well as some great competition.”

Marzullo finished the game with two touchdowns — one of them an eight-yard rush, which ended in the quarterback leaping over a diving defender.

Quince Orchard’s offense sparked through its running game in the first half, but an efficient Marzullo completed 12 of 17 passes and came through on the final drive.

Junior running back Iverson Howard’s domination on the ground takes loads of pressure off Marzullo. In three games, Howard’s accumulated 322 yards and 6 touchdowns on only 33 carries.

Still, Marzullo is throwing an admirable 332 yards while completing 60 percent of his passes. Marzullo currently holds offers from University of Maryland and Alabama A&M.

“My coaches push me hard in practice every day to get better,” Marzullo said. “They’ve put me in a position to succeed and improve.”

Marzullo transferred to Quince Orchard as a sophomore after spending the Covid season with Good Counsel. The path to the starting position didn’t come easy for Marzullo, as he spent time learning from the Cougars’ former quarterback, Savon Briggs.

Briggs led Quince Orchard to two straight state undefeated state championship seasons. Marzullo spent some time on the field when rotated in, but didn’t become the starter until Briggs’ graduation.

“It was good to learn from Briggs,” Marzullo said. “I just watched what he did and tried to perfect it.”

The pressure for Marzullo remains high following his heroic moment. With two titles in the rearview mirror, Quince Orchard has its eyes on a third. It’s for that reason that head coach John Kelley scheduled two top-of-the-line opponents from Virginia.

Marzullo said playing schools such as Stone Bridge and South County made him and his teammates better, and in the long run, prepared the Cougars for November football.

Maya Gutierrez-Flores

Field Hockey
Einstein High School

Albert Einstein High School junior field hockey player Maya Gutierrez-Flores is a glowing figure in the program.

With speculation of a potential Division 1 collegiate career, Flores serves as Einstein’s leader. On Sept. 7, Gutierrez-Flores knocked in two goals and added an assist in the Titans’ 7-0 victory over over Northwest.

Gutierrez-Flores’ performance earned her the Montgomery County High School Athlete of the Week award.

Each week throughout the school year, the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with Montgomery Community Media to honor an Athlete of the Week from the county’s more than 40 public and private high schools.

Gutierrez-Flores plays for the U19 (under 19) Washington Wolves Field Hockey Club and was named second-team all-County in 2022.

Einstein moved to 2-0 with the win – outscoring its opponents 11-1 to start the year.

Photo courtesy Jermaine Howell

Gideon Ituka

Football
Gaithersburg High School

Expectations rocketed this off-season for Gaithersburg running back Gideon Ituka.

Following a dominant 2022 season which ended in a 4A Offensive Player of the Year award, the three-star recruit committed to Wisconsin. Week one of Ituka’s senior season saw results that probably aren’t a surprise to those who’ve watched him over the years.

Ituka rushed for 234 yards and five touchdowns in Gaithersburg’s 32-12 win over Clarksburg. The 5’9″ back put up big numbers while only taking 13 carries.

After dismantling the Coyotes’ defense on their home field, Ituka earned the Montgomery County High School Athlete of the Week.

Each week throughout the school year, the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with Montgomery Community Media to honor an Athlete of the Week from the county’s more than 40 public and private high schools.

Ituka isn’t the first from his family to star in athletics at Gaithersburg. His brother, Jao, led the Trojans to a regional championship in basketball in 2018 and was also named Montgomery County Player of the Year. Jao Ituka currently plays basketball at Wake Forest.

Gaithersburg football made its way to the playoffs last fall thanks to Ituka’s power from the backfield. Ituka rushed for 1,217 yards and 16 touchdowns in 10 games.

Photo courtesy Coach TBierly X

Noah Lewis

Tennis
Quince Orchard High School

Quince Orchard senior Noah Lewis wasn’t threatened much throughout the spring high school tennis season, but he made sure to stay focused and finish strong.

Lewis, who completed the season 20-0, breezed through the Maryland 4A boys singles championships, dropping just five games in six sets, beating Jerry Song of Blair, 6-1, 6-0, in the final.

“For some players, [staying focused] probably would be an issue, but not for him,” Quince Orchard Coach Matt Marsden said. “He is a hyper-focused player. He keeps a notebook with him at all times and writes down what worked and what didn’t. He never looks past anybody or doesn’t feel challenged enough.”

For his efforts, Lewis was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Lewis, who plans to play next year at Middlebury College, finished third in the Maryland 4A boys singles tournament last year, but was determined to improve. He did not lose a set the entire season. The notebook, which he keeps in his tennis bag, likely includes plenty of reminders of what worked this season.

“He’s very consistent and can add power when he needs to,” Marsden said. “He’s very polished and very refined. He makes very few errors.”

Ben Berger

Baseball
Sherwood High School

Sherwood High senior baseball player Ben Berger has been splendid throughout the spring and the lefthander delivered yet another gem to lead the Warriors back to the Maryland 4A quarterfinals.

Berger pitched a complete game three-hitter, striking out 13 batters without a walk as the two-time defending state champions beat Blake, 5-0, in the Maryland 4A North Region final.

“He’s a strike thrower, his walk to strikeout ratio is awesome,” Sherwood Coach Sean Davis said. “He throws two breaking balls and a slider. He’s really tough. He has a great move to first base and shuts down the running game. You’ve got to hit your way around the bases.”

For his efforts, Berger was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Berger, who was named the Montgomery 4A East Division Pitcher of the Year, is 6-0 this season with a 0.35 earned run average. He has struck out a whopping 59 batters with only six walks in 40 innings, holding opponents to a .179 batting average. Berger, who will play at Frostburg State University next year, usually plays first base or outfield when he doesn’t pitch.

Sherwood (20-3) advanced to host Saturday’s Maryland 4A quarterfinal against Perry Hall, now three wins away from becoming the second team in Maryland high school baseball history to win three consecutive state championships. Brunswick of Frederick County accomplished the feat, winning the Maryland 1A title in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

“Pressure is a privilege,” Davis said. “I told the team, ‘You have the stresses of trying to win a third state championship in a row, not a lot of people have felt that. At this point, you’ve won the region, enjoy the ride, play good baseball and see what happens.’ ”

Avery Moffitt

Gymnastics
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

Avery Moffitt posted strong scores throughout the high school gymnastics season. In the Montgomery County championship meet, though, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High freshman put forth some of her finest performances this spring to run away with the all-around title.

Moffitt finished first in the uneven bars and balance beam and finished with an all-around score of 38.25 to finish first by more than 1.5 points.

Moffitt’s scores included a 9.9 on the uneven bars, 9.825 on the balance beam, 9.65 on the floor exercise (which placed second) and 8.9 on vault (sixth).

“She had gotten a 9.8 on the bars during the season so it was not totally unexpected that she got a 9.9,” B-CC Coach Diane Miranda said. “She performed to her potential, but it takes a lot to put it together for a big meet.”

For her efforts, Moffitt was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Moffitt practices four days a week at Hill’s Gymnastics in Gaithersburg. She was only able to make one B-CC practice each week, but that did not hamper her ability to bond with teammates, including her older sister, Riley, a senior.

“She was so supportive of the girls, just a great teammate,” Miranda said. “She just has a genuine joy for gymnastics. I really enjoyed watching her get after it. She’s fun and lighthearted and then takes care of business.”

Tanner Sanderoff

Baseball
Blake High School

With every passing game, it seems, Blake High senior Tanner Sanderoff just keeps taking things to another level. The lefthanded pitcher and outfielder, coming off a terrific junior year, has turned in one strong performance after another.

There was the game against neighborhood rival Sherwood, where Sanderoff doubled and scored in the first inning, later added a three-run home run and came on in relief to get the save as the Bengals earned a 7-6 victory, their first over Sherwood in 11 years.

This past week, Sanderoff scored the game-winning run in a 2-1 win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase and went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and earned the win on the mound as Blake beat Damascus, 9-6.

“We try to push all the kids everyday, he really responds to it,” Blake co-coach Lucas Lichtenberg said. “He wants to be great. He wants to be in those big moments. He doesn’t take any moment for granted. Game in and game out, he gives it everything he can. Just a great kid really.”

For his efforts, Sanderoff was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Sanderoff, who will play next year at Hofstra University, has been one of the county’s best players throughout this spring. In his third season on the Blake varsity, he is batting .548 with eight doubles and five homers, having scored 27 runs and driven in 27 more runs. He also has stolen 11 bases. On the mound, he is 4-0 with two saves and a 1.95 earned run average, having struck out 50 batters in 28 2/3 innings.

“He’s been well known, but now he is starting to get the attention he deserves, honestly,” Lichtenberg said.

Carys Volley

Lacrosse
Good Counsel High School

The Good Counsel High School girls lacrosse team has had its share of standouts and sophomore Carys Volley might be next in line at the Olney school. Volley, who plays midfield and attack, scored five goals, had one assist, controlled three draws and caused three turnovers as the Falcons wrapped up the top seed in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament with a 14-11 win over St. John’s this past Tuesday.

“She’s an all-around player,” Good Counsel Coach Michael Haight said. “She was great defensively. She was a stud offensively. She’s got a great stick and a great attitude. Just a fun-loving kid.”

For her efforts, Volley was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Volley is one of the county’s most well-rounded athletes. She played on the Good Counsel tennis team in the fall and the girls basketball team in the winter. The spring is her time to shine on the lacrosse field. She started for the Falcons as a freshman and has continued to progress this season, with 53 goals and 30 assists even though she often plays sparingly in lopsided games. The Falcons have not lost a WCAC game since 2019.

“She’s been going up as the year has gone on and she’s gotten more confident,” Haight said. “She’s had a great year, but now she is starting to be the cream of the crop. She is a tremendous athlete.”

Maggie King

Softball
Churchill High School

Pull up to any high school baseball or softball game and the routine is standard: Before every pitch, a coach signals from the dugout to the catcher, telling the pitcher what to throw next. It is rare for a coach to deviate from the system and rarer yet for the coach to trust a sophomore with the responsibility of calling her own pitches.

Churchill High sophomore Maggie King, a righty, is not your typical pitcher.

King plays travel softball year-round – her current club is based in New Jersey. Bulldogs Coach Andrew Sonnabend took the unusual step of naming her a team captain this spring, another testament to her maturity and ability on the diamond.

So far, King has demonstrated why she is so well regarded. This past Saturday, King struck out 15 batters and did not allow an earned run in a 5-4 win over Richard Montgomery. She followed that by setting a school record with 20 strikeouts and allowed just one earned run as Churchill edged Walter Johnson and its standout pitcher, Sami Rosenberg, 7-6 in eight innings.

“Maggie is on fire right now,” Sonnabend said.

For her efforts, King was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

King enjoyed a strong freshman season and has elevated her performance so far this spring. She has started each of Churchill’s first seven games, posting a 5-2 record with 84 strikeouts in 41 innings – more than two batters per inning – and holding opponents to a .182 batting average.

“What makes her a good pitcher is that she is really smart,” Sonnabend said. “She throws mid-60s with five pitches: curveball, fastball, changeup, rise and screwball. Her dream is to play Division I softball and I don’t see why she won’t be a Division I pitcher. We are the Churchill Bulldogs and she is a bulldog in the circle.”

Photo by Ashleigh O’Brien

Ben Bradford

Basketball
Gaithersburg High School

There wasn’t a lot of mystery surrounding the Gaithersburg High boys’ basketball team this past season. Senior guard Ben Bradford was going to have the ball in his hands often. Good luck trying to stop him.

“He faced a box-and-one defense most nights,” Trojans Coach Jeff Holda said.

Bradford, who is 6 feet 3 and plays both guard positions, still found ways to carve up opponents. Whether it was shooting from three-point range or slashing to the basket, he kept on scoring, averaging a remarkable 27 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists as Gaithersburg finished 15-7 and advanced to the Maryland 4A semifinals.

For his efforts, Bradford was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Bradford’s sophomore season was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so he only played two seasons on the Gaithersburg varsity. But Bradford was a prolific scorer throughout, totaling 1,109 points in two seasons.

“That’s pretty unique, we don’t get a lot of 1,000-point scorers in Montgomery County,” Holda said. “He was the Montgomery County Player of the Year and first-team All-Met in The Washington Post. He’s had a special year”

Bradford became the first Montgomery County Public Schools player to make the All-Met boys basketball first team since Austin Cooley of Bethesda-Chevy Chase in 2008.

“He’s a scorer, flat out,” Bradford said. “He’s a bigger guard and shoots the ball very well. He’s kind of undeniable on the offensive end. He gets to his spots and does all the things good offensive players do. And he probably has the best basketball IQ I’ve ever been around as a coach.”

Riley Peake

Lacrosse
Holy Child

The secret to Holy Child senior Riley Peake’s success on the lacrosse field is pretty simple: Lots and lots of hard work and dedication.

So far, the three-sport athlete is making the most of her last high school season. This past Tuesday, despite being face-guarded the entire game, Peake scored five goals, had two assists and controlled seven face offs as the Tigers beat Bullis, 17-10. It was the fourth time in five games that Peake has scored at least five goals.

“She just doesn’t give up, it takes a lot of hustle and grit,” Holy Child lacrosse coach Shelby Samperton said. “And she doesn’t have an off day. She is constantly working on her game. Being at the level she is doesn’t come by luck. She is truly a student of the game, whether it is on the field, watching training videos, watching our film or watching college film.”

For her efforts, Peake was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Peake also is a four-year varsity member of the Holy Child soccer and basketball teams. In lacrosse, she plays attack, is a team co-captain and has scored 24 goals in five games this season.

Samperton said that Peake continually demonstrates her leadership, always arriving early to practice and working with the younger players to improve their games. Peake plans to attend Tulane University next year.

“She is truly one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” Samperton said. “She’s not flashy and she’s pretty humble, but she is confident. She’s smart on the field and fearless, one of the toughest competitors I’ve worked with. Nothing gets in her way and she always finds a way to make it work. She is back at it over and over again until she gets the results she is looking for.”

Photo by Kathy Flannery/Courtesy Holy Child lacrosse

Sami Rosenberg

Softball
Walther Johnson High School

One week into the high school softball season and it might be difficult to determine where Sami Rosenberg’s impact has been greatest for the Walter Johnson Wildcats.

Rosenberg, a junior, bats leadoff. In two games, she has reached base safely in seven of eight plate appearances, drawing six walks, scoring three runs and driving in another run. For the third year in a row, Rosenberg also is Walter Johnson’s No. 1 pitcher. In 10 innings, she has allowed four hits and one earned run, striking out 17 batters and holding opponents to a .108 batting average as the Wildcats started the season 2-0.

“She’s a really good leadoff hitter – she takes a lot of pitches and scores a lot of runs,” Walter Johnson Coach Rich Carter said. “She probably throws in the mid-50s [as a pitcher] which is above average for the county, but she also is very deceptive. She has movement and can hit spots and she also plays to the weakness of the hitter.”

For her efforts, Rosenberg was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Rosenberg is trying to lead the Wildcats’ softball team to the same success she enjoyed as a wing on the Bethesda school’s ice hockey team this winter, when Walter Johnson won the Maryland Student Hockey League championship. That pursuit, though, will take a brief break this week, as Rosenberg travels to California with her club team for a national tournament.

Knowing she will miss the softball team’s next two games, Rosenberg spent part of practice this week working with the junior varsity pitchers to smooth out their pitching motions and increase velocity. In the meantime, Carter looks forward to her return after spring break.

“And next year, too,” he said. “I still have another year with her.”

Photo by Sanir Byanjankar/Courtesy WJ Softball

Lilia Atanda

Diving
Sherwood High School

Throughout all of her success on the diving board, Sherwood High senior Lilia Atanda continued trying to redirect attention to her teammates.

“She wants to highlight everyone else, but it’s hard when she is so good at what she does and outperforms the field,” Sherwood swimming and diving coach Ryan Burnsky said.

Atanda capped her high school athletic career by becoming the first diver in Maryland history to win three consecutive state championships, posting a score of 429.70 to easily best second-place finisher Ruby Borzekowski of Blair. (Maryland added diving to its high school state championships in 2012.)

For her efforts, Atanda was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Burnsky said he first met Atanda when she was in elementary school and was a standout swimmer in the summers at the Olney Mill Swim Club. Fast forward a few years later, when Atanda – whose mother swam at the University of Maine, while her father played soccer at the University of Virginia and older brother plays soccer at Brown University — reached high school and she was a star off the diving board.

Atanda was the state high school title as a freshman, but there was no meet her sophomore year because of the Covid-19 pandemic – the only thing standing in Atanda’s way of being a four-time state champion. She also won the 2022 championship as a junior. Atanda finished second at the prestigious Metros meet last month leading up to her third state title. She will continue her diving career next year at the University of Chicago.

“At Metros she started to hit some pretty awesome dives and hit them clean,” Burnsky said. “She was locked in from then on. We said that if she does the same stuff at states, she’s going to raise some eyebrows and make some history.”

Photo courtesy Sherwood Athletics

Nebi Tsarni and Jabea Ewane

Wrestling
Watkins Mill High School

Asking Watkins Mill Athletic Director Lisa Magness to choose between the Gaithersburg school’s two state champion girls wrestlers and nominate one for the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week just wasn’t going to happen. 

“Can’t do it,” Magness said. “They’re both two-time state champions.” 

So for the first time this school year, there are two Athletes of the Week. Watkins Mill junior Nebi Tsarni pinned all four of her opponents to win the state title at 155 pounds, while sophomore Jabea Ewane pinned three of her four opponents at 190 pounds, with her semifinal match called after her opponent ran out of injury time. Both Tsarni and Ewane also won state titles in 2022. 

In wrestling, girls and boys usually compete together during the regular season. The girls then must choose whether to continue wrestling in co-ed competition in the postseason or wrestle only against other girls. Tsarni competed in the Montgomery County boys’ tournament, while Ewane competed in the girls bracket and won that title. Both competed in the girls’ regional tournament, winning their respective titles. 

Tsarni finished the year 29-6, while Ewane, who missed much of the season with an injury, finished 8-6. 

Photo courtesy Watkins Mill Athletics

Yassine Idrissa

Basketball
Wootton High School

As the high school basketball season winds toward the most important games, Wootton High junior Yassine Idrissa has stepped up his game. The 6-foot-6 post player – who has a 7-2 wingspan – scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Thursday night as the Patriots avenged a 16-point regular season loss and beat Churchill, 68-63, in the Maryland 4A West Region I final.

Wootton advanced to play at Meade on Saturday in a Maryland 4A quarterfinal. A victory there would put the Patriots in the state semifinals for the first time since 1985.

During Wootton’s push down the stretch and into the playoffs, Idrissa has averaged 20.4 points, nine rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2 assists over the past eight games.

For his efforts, Idrissa was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Idrissa played a lot last season as a sophomore, Wootton Coach Erick Graves said, but has taken things to another level this season, especially over the past month.

“He has really taken a leadership role on the floor,” Graves said “Against Churchill, he really set the tone for us inside and he’s got a pretty good outside touch. He elevates and with his length, that really is starting to get interest from the next level. He’s been doing a great job offensively and on defense he is just so active.”

Photo courtesy Tim Ho

Micah McKenzie

Track and Field
Blair High School

Blair High School senior Micah McKenzie missed all of the outdoor track season last spring and the soccer season this past fall after undergoing ankle surgery.

“It took a lot of time to recover,” Blair track and field coach Terry Johnson said. “He wasn’t cleared until just a few weeks before [indoor track] tryouts. Then it took a while to get back in shape, mentally and physically.”

McKenzie geared up during the winter, winning county and regional titles and after coming in second in the 500-meter race at the Maryland 4A indoor championships as a junior, he finished the season in style. At Wednesday’s Maryland 4A championships at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex, McKenzie won the 500 and helped Blair finish second in the 4×400 relay and third in the 4×200 relay.

For his efforts, McKenzie was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

After McKenzie won the 500, he returned to the track to run the anchor leg in the 4×200 and the first leg of the 4×400 – finishes that helped the Blazers finish second in the tram competition. But it was his remarkable finish in the 500 that left an indelible mark.

“He literally had to dive across the line to win it,” Johnson said. “That was big for him. He’s had a heck of a season.”

Photo Courtesy Terry Johnson/Blair Track and Field

Erin Gemmell

Swimming
Stone Ridge School

It was a decade ago that Erin Gemmell dressed up as Katie Ledecky for Halloween. Now, the Stone Ridge School senior is following in the footsteps – or rather, the swimming lanes – of one of Montgomery County’s most famous athletes.

Gemmell, who has accepted a scholarship offer to swim at the University of Texas, capped her high school career by winning two individual events and helping the Gators win two relays – setting three meet records – at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships.

For her efforts, Gemmell was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

“She’s a special one,” Stone Ridge Director of Aquatics Bob Walker said. “She got to swim on the American team in Australia in December. She got fast last summer. She was always fast, but all of a sudden, she got world-class fast.”

Stone Ridge is known for its swimming program, sending Ledecky and Phoebe Bacon to the Olympic Games. It’s possible that Gemmell could be the next one up. She is plenty familiar with what it takes to succeed to that level; her older brother, Andrew, competed in the 2012 London Olympics. Her father, Bruce, was Ledecky’s coach.

Andrew Gemmell specialized in long-course freestyle events. Walker said that Erin Gemmell’s best event in the 200-meter long-course. With high schools competing in short-course events, Gemmell won the 100- and 200-yard freestyle races at Metros and swam legs in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.

The secret to Gemmell’s success?

“A lot of hard work,” Walker said. “That’s the only answer I have. When you are at a certain level, I don’t want to say that you commit yourself more, but you take practice, sleep, nutrition more seriously and don’t cut any corners. That chocolate chip cookie, or whatever dessert she fancies, looks good, but you save it for a special occasion.”

Photo by Bob Walker/Stone Ridge Swimming

Joyce Wu

Swimming
Holton-Arms School

Joyce Wu is often easy to spot during swim meets. The Holton-Arms School senior is usually finishing first in her races. And until this year, Wu also was easy to hear – she is the unofficial carrier of the plastic blue horn that has been passed down by members of the Panthers’ swim team.

The Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swim Dive League banned the use of noisemakers prior to the school year, so Wu might be a little more inconspicuous, but she continues to raise her profile with her success in the pool.

This past weekend, at the WMPSSDL championships, Wu finished first in the 200 individual medley (2 minutes 7.47 seconds and 100 breaststroke (1:04.17) and swam the breaststroke leg of Holton’s winning 200 medley relay as the Panthers repeated as the girls’ champions.

“The horn has made a few appearances this year,” Holton Coach Malena Lair Ferrari said. “Maybe in the locker room at the end of a meet or other times like that.”

For her efforts, Wu was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Wu swims year-round for the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club and she will swim next year at Northeastern University. She is a versatile swimmer, able to compete in a variety of events, but her specialty is the breaststroke – a discipline normally associated with recreational swimmers.

“It is considered one of the harder strokes to perform at a high speed and it is a really technical stroke, very specific in the way each part of the stroke needs to perform,” Lair Ferrari said. “You say breaststroke and people think about grandmas and grandpas staying afloat, but to swim breaststroke is not an easy feat and she does it with elegance.”

Lair Ferrari attributed Wu’s success not only to her hard work at practice, but also to her spirit on the pool deck during meets. While other swimmers might prefer to block out any distractions and focus on their preparations, Wu is almost always found rooting on her teammates.

“She allows herself to be carried by her teammates and the atmosphere on the pool deck,” Lair Ferrari said. “Joyce is super supportive and you can always find her cheering behind her teammates’ lanes. She thrives on the success of her teammates, allowing herself to perform well in her swim, knowing she has performed well in practice.”

Photo by Cory Royster

Tyler Perkins

Basketball
Landon School

Landon School senior basketball player Tyler Perkins scored a career-high 43 points with 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals to lead the Bears to a thrilling 72-63 win over St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes as the Bears celebrated Senior Night.

Four nights later, Perkins – who has accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of Pennsylvania – somehow managed to top that by scoring 47 points as Landon beat Episcopal, 76-66.

“He really took the game over against St. Stephen’s and then he turned around and did even more against Episcopal,” Landon Coach Hajj Malik Turner said. “It was amazing. Everybody thinks he exploded last summer, but he’s been brewing for a while. If you know his story, you know how hard he works.”

For his efforts, Perkins was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Having earned first-team all-league honors last year – even more of an accomplishment given Landon’s 2-8 record in the Interstate Athletic Conference, Turner noted – the 6-foot-4 Perkins certainly was on opponent’s radar entering the season. But his versatility and ability to impact the game in many different ways makes it difficult for opponents to stop him, no matter how hard they try, Turner said.

Perkins is averaging 23 points and eight rebounds per game this season.

“You asked what position he plays and I was joking, but not really – he plays everything,” Turner said. “He’s hard to guard because he scores all different ways. Some guys score off transition or shoot threes, but he doesn’t need plays run for him. He’s going to get an offensive rebound and score or he will help force a steal and get a dunk in transition. I’ve coached against guys like that and it’s frustrating because you spend the whole practice preparing for them and you might take one thing away, but he scores in so many different ways it’s hard to tie him down.”

Photo by Cory Royster/Courtesy Landon School

Riley Nelson

Basketball
Clarksburg High School

Riley Nelson had accepted a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Maryland before last season and then led the Clarksburg High girls basketball team to the 2022 Maryland 4A championship game.

This year, she took on a new challenge, transferring to the Bullis School and taking on some of the top teams in the Washington area.

The adjustment has been mostly seamless and Nelson continued her success this week, leading the Bulldogs to another victory and being named a McDonald’s All-American.

For her efforts, Nelson was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Nelson, a senior forward, has shined throughout the season and helped the Bulldogs win eight of their past nine games entering Thursday’s game against Holy Child. In Tuesday’s 69-43 win over Stone Ridge, Nelson scored 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out four assists, made three steals and blocked three shots. For the season, she is averaging a team-leading 16.5 points (shooting 76 percent from the field), 11.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists. She also is shooting 61 percent from three-point range.

“And she has helped other kids get better and succeed and build confidence,” Bullis Coach Justin Leith said. “It takes a rare kid to be able to do that and she’s done it effortlessly. She has a dynamic personality and relates to each of the kids on our team in a different way. She is happy and fun to be around.”

Colin Abrams

Cross Country
Magruder High School

It isn’t a secret why Colin Abrams performs so well in cross country races or track meets. The Magruder High sophomore not only possesses great speed and athletic ability, he also has a strong work ethic that helps him run faster and push toward the front of the pack.

“He is extremely dedicated and has a very high athletic IQ,” Magruder indoor track and field coach Sarah Wassner Flynn said. “He’s smart in general and he studies a lot of professional athletes and races. He studies the best of the best and figures out how they got that way.”

So far that has proven to be a winning combination.

Abrams finished 16th in the Maryland 3A Cross Country Championships this past fall. But he is best suited for middle distance running. At a smaller meet this winter, he ran the 500-meter race for the first time and set a new school record.

At this past weekend’s Montgomery Invitational, with nearly 90 teams competing at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center, Abrams broke his own school record and won the 800-meter race in 1 minute 58.82 seconds. He also teamed with Andie Kollie, Ryan Moriarty and Josh Lopez to win the sprint medley relay in school record time, qualifying for the New Balance National Track and Field Championships in Boston in March.

For his efforts, Abrams was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Abrams started making his mark in Montgomery County and Maryland as a freshman, including finishing third in the 800 and fourth in the 400 at the Maryland 3A outdoor championships. He also traveled to the Nike Outdoor Nationals last year, competing in the Emerging Elite races and finishing the 800 in the sixth-fastest time (1:52.6) ever by an American freshman.

Next month, Abrams will compete at the Millrose Games in New York City on February 11, where he will compete in the 600-meter race.

“He’s the kind of athlete that he just knows how to figure things out,” Wassner Flynn said. “He knows how to win and he knows how to run fast.”

Photo by Sarah Wassner Flynn

Jace Munoz

Wrestling
Sherwood High School

Jace Munoz is on a mission this winter. The Sherwood High senior was on the path to a state title last school year when, during a victory in the Maryland 4A/3A regional semifinals, Munoz injured his wrist. He went on to win the regional title with his wrist taped, but subsequent swelling revealed the worst-case scenario: a broken bone that prevented him from competing in the state tournament.

“I thought he was going to win states,” Sherwood Coach Pete Siarkis said. “He was peaking at the right time and looking great. The kid who won, Jace beat up pretty good earlier in the year.”

Munoz finished the season 29-1, the only loss coming in overtime when he wrestled up a weight class.

His wrist healed, Munoz has his sights set on finishing the job this wrestling season. The 126-pound senior won nine matches and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Rockville Rumble this past weekend, improving to 22-0 with 17 pins and two technical falls this season.

For his efforts, Munoz was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Also a two-year starter at cornerback for the Sherwood football team, Munoz is closing in on 100 wins for his high school career, despite not having a sophomore season because the Covid-19 pandemic cancelled all sports that school year. This year’s state tournament is March 2 to 4 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, and Munoz plans to be there.

“He’s got a goal,” Siarkas said. “He feels like he got robbed last year. He’s challenging himself this year. He wants to be ready.”

Photo courtesy of Sherwood wrestling

Kevin Glaser

Handball
Wootton High School

Kevin Glaser could have scored more goals this fall for the Wootton High team handball squad, but with the Patriots often winning by lopsided margins, the senior understood the importance of getting others involved.

Team handball is one of three varsity interscholastic corollary sports offered by Montgomery County Public Schools, with the goal of increasing athletics participation opportunities for all students, in particular students with disabilities. The other corollary sports are bocce in the winter and allied softball in the spring.

In Montgomery County play, team handball requires teams to have at least two girls on the court at all times. In team handball and other corollary sports, varsity athletes in other sports are not eligible to participate, keeping in line with the theme of increasing athletic participation.

Glaser initially became interested in team handball during the fall of 2020, when Coach Steve McMahon Jr. held weekly virtual meetings with interested players because the sports season was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regular play resumed in 2021 and Glaser began to dominate. He then took his play to another level in the Montgomery County playoffs this fall. Glaser scored 15 of Wootton’s 28 goals in its semifinal win and then netted 12 goals as the Patriots beat Blair, 25-24, in the county championship game to finish the season undefeated.

For his efforts, Glaser was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Glaser finished the season with 62 goals in six games. McMahon said that Glaser was the team’s best ball handler, taking control like a point guard in basketball.

“Defensively, we don’t keep stats, but he plays the middle and is responsible for all of our defensive calls – whether we switch on screens and defensive shifts based on overloads or strong shooters,” McMahon said. “There may be one or two players in Montgomery County that score more goals, he is undoubtedly the best player in the county on the best team in the county.”

Iverson Howard

Football
Quince Orchard High School

It is safe to say that Iverson Howard is not your average 16-year-old.

As a freshman, he led the Quince Orchard High football team in rushing, helping the Cougars win the 2021 Maryland 4A championship.

Now a 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore, Howard followed up with a strong encore. He rushed for 1,545 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. And he was at his best when it mattered most, rushing 27 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns as the Cougars beat C.H. Flowers, 32-7, this past Thursday night to win their second consecutive Maryland 4A title.

“He just gets better as the game goes on,” Quince Orchard Coach John Kelley said. “The more carries he gets, the better he gets. He played his best football in the playoffs. From Week 1 to Week 14, how much better he got was crazy.”

For his efforts, Howard was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Kelley said that Howard’s ability showed the first time he stepped on the field for preseason tryouts. The other players were older and physically more mature, but Howard was able to hang with them. In the time since, he has matured on and off the field.

“Going back, from last year to now, you can see a ton of growth,” Kelley said. “Sometimes when you are always around older guys, it rubs off. He carries himself well, too. You can see his maturity too. Going back l year to now you can see a ton of growth, on and off the field. He was our leading rusher as a freshman, but this year he just took over.”

The future is bright for Howard. While he has two more seasons of high school football still to play, he already holds several scholarship offers, including from Maryland, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Syracuse and more.

Photo by Daryl Schultz

Dillon Dunathan

Football
Damascus High School

As 6-foot, 225-pound running back Dillon Dunathan has continued running around, over and through opponents, Damascus High football coach Josh Klotz discovered his star player’s attitude is infectious.

“I’ve always been impressed by Dillon and what he does, but I’ve also been impressed with our offensive line and how much fun they have blocking for him,” Klotz said. “The passion and violence that Dillon plays with rubs off on them. At 225 pounds, he’s a handful to tackle. He practices hard, he prepares hard and he plays hard.”

All that hard work has led Damascus back to the state championships for the fifth time in nine years. Dunathan has led the way, rushing for 702 yards and 10 touchdowns in three playoff games, including 245 yards and four touchdowns as the Swarmin’ Hornets beat River Hill of Howard County, 42-7, in a Maryland 3A semifinal this past Friday.

For his efforts, Dunathan was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

A four-year member of the Damascus varsity football team, Dunathan entered the season with high expectations. Although his offseason was hampered by mononucleosis, he knew the importance of being prepared for a high workload at the season’s most critical time. While he might have been limited to a handful of carries in some regular season blowouts, Dunathan has shined in the season’s biggest games. He also has made 58 tackles on defense, with 21 tackles for loss and six sacks.

“At we got into the playoffs, we were going to rely on our best players,” Klotz said. “Dillon really worked on his body in the offseason to be ready for this situation and he’s answered the call.”

Photo by Damian Brant

Sheridan Snow

Soccer
Whitman High School

Sheridan Snow debuted on the Whitman High girls soccer team as a role player last season. Graduation and injuries left an opportunity for Snow to shine and she made the most of it, delivering in several clutch moments.

With the pressure to perform peaking after another teammate was injured prior to the Maryland 4A championship game this past Saturday, the junior again came through and helped the Vikings capture their second consecutive state title.

Seven minutes into the second half, Snow headed in a cross for the game’s first goal and Whitman went on for a 2-0 victory over Quince Orchard in an all-Montgomery County championship game.

For her efforts, Snow was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

“Sheridan is a very strong player on the ball physically,” Whitman Coach Greg Herbert said. “She’s also very calm and probably has the strongest shot on the team. She is able the hit the ball hard and accurately. And she is active and excels heading the ball into the back of the net as well.”

Snow led the Vikings with 12 goals this season. She also assisted on one of the team’s biggest goals, flicking a header to teammate Gemma Davitian for the overtime winner in a 2-1 victory over Walter Johnson in the regional final.

Davitian, though, suffered a serious knee injury in a club soccer match just days before the state final. Already without Riley DeMartino, who broke her collarbone and missed the season, and already needing to replace last season’s All-Met Player of the Year Delaney DeMartino (now playing at Loyola University in Baltimore), Whitman needed someone to step up.

“There was even more pressure for Sheridan to perform,” Herbert said. “And she came through in a clutch situation for us.”

Photo by Norma Beasley

Hailey Yentis

Field Hockey
Churchill High School

Hailey Yentis made sure her only season as a player of the Churchill High varsity field hockey team was memorable.

In the fall of 2020, the high school sports fall season was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last fall, Yentis served as a field hockey team manager while recovering from a serious knee injury sustained the previous spring while playing lacrosse.

Yentis, though, made up for missed time this fall. The senior forward scored 10 goals, including five game-winners and both of the Bulldogs’ goals in their 2-0 victory over Dulaney of Baltimore County in the Maryland 4A semifinals. For her efforts, Yentis was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

“Hailey is an amazing athlete,” Churchill Coach Cay Miller said. “She hustles to everything. That’s a huge part of it. And she has a really good sense of the field. She also is super coachable and asks lots of questions. Anytime she’s not sure, she asks a coach and persists until she knows what she needs to know.”

Churchill’s quest for an undefeated season came to an end in the Maryland 4A championship game with a 2-0 loss to Broadneck of Annapolis. But Yentis had more than made her mark.

“She could play anywhere,” Miller said. “Need her to go play defense? Sure. Go play midfield? Okay. She’s just a terrific player.”

(Photo by Judi Lapidus)

Christian Traylor

Football
Springbrook High School

In his third season as a member of the Springbrook High varsity football team and second as a team captain, Christian Traylor has filled a variety of roles. He was an all-county tight end last season. Blue Devils Coach Dustin Jeter thinks his standout player might make his biggest impact as a linebacker. He also has played some safety. Traylor hopes to play wide receiver in college.

But this past Friday night, as Blue Devils earned their second playoff win since 1994, Traylor’s impact was definitely at running back.

Traylor rushed 28 times for a career-high 214 yards and two touchdowns, leading Springbrook to a 36-6 win over Kennedy in a Maryland 4A/3A West Region first-round game.

For his efforts, Traylor was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

Each week throughout the school year, the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with Montgomery Community Media to honor an Athlete of the Week from the county’s more than 40 public and private high schools.

“He pretty much does everything for us,” Jeter said. “Just an all-around athlete and a leader. He’s a quiet kid on the field, but on the field he does a great job leading by example.”

Traylor might seem busy on the field, but that’s just how he is throughout the school year. He also wrestles and plays lacrosse at the Silver Spring school.

For the season, he has rushed 131 times for 665 yards and six touchdowns, with 16 catches for 157 yards and one touchdown. While he has found success on offense, Jeter remains most impressed with his ability on defense.

“He has a nose to get to the football,” Jeter said. “He’s probably better at defense, but he’s known for his offense.”

Springbrook (3-7) faces a tough task Friday as it travels to Sherwood.

(Photo courtesy Dustin Jeter/Springbrook football)

Lauren Smith

Volleyball
Wootton High School

Lauren Smith might not fit the profile of a standout outside hitter on the volleyball court.

She isn’t the tallest, standing 5 feet 7. And her

team plays an untraditional system – Coach Mary Malinauskas says that every player needs to be able to hit from every position.

“Which is a little unusual,” Malinauskas said.

What is unmistakable, however, is the impact that Smith makes for the Wootton High School volleyball team. It was evident once again this past Tuesday as Smith, a junior, tallied 18 kills, five digs, two blocks and one ace as the undefeated Patriots beat previously undefeated Magruder, 24-26, 25-21, 25-1, 25-23, in the Montgomery County championship game.

For her efforts, Smith was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

What is the key to Smith’s success?

“Well, she can jump,” Wootton Coach Mary Malinauskas said. “And she’s very smart and very steady. The girls trust her, so she gets a lot of attempts. I wish I could take credit for it, but she just knows what to do.

“She is one of the rare athletes who can adjust herself without being coached,” Malinauskas said. “She pays attention to what she is doing and figures out how to be more successful. She is completely aware of what she is doing.”

It has been a special season for Wootton (15-0), which Monday will host either Bethesda-Chevy Chase or Richard Montgomery in a Maryland 4A West Region semifinal. The Patriots won the regional title last season and advanced to the Maryland 4A semifinals for the first time since 2007. Wootton’s seven state titles are the most of any Montgomery County school, won in seven consecutive seasons from 1983 to 1989.

“That’s been a goal of ours,” Malinauskas said. “We’re working on it. We haven’t broken through at the state level yet.”

(Photo by Erik Kleinbussink)

Randy Mendoza Bernal

Soccer
Quince Orchard High School

Randy Mendoza Bernal spent the past two seasons on the Quince Orchard High School junior varsity boys soccer team. Mendoza Bernal’s

chance to shine for the Cougars finally arrived this season and the junior has not disappointed.

This past Monday, Mendoza Bernal made 11 saves in regulation and overtime to post his seventh shutout of the season as Quince Orchard prevailed, 1-0 over Churchill in penalty kicks, in the Montgomery County championship game.

“This year he has been phenomenal,” Quince Orchard Coach Bruno Tejo said. “He really put in the work to get the starting position and it’s been a great year.”

It has been a special season for the Cougars (11-1-1), who are ranked among the Washington area’s top teams as they chase the program’s first-ever regional title and state tournament appearance. Mendoza Bernal has played a large role in the team’s success. On Monday night, his saves including a big one in the second overtime as he reached high and backwards to snag a shot heading for the net.

“That saved us,” Tejo said. “He’s been working hard with his club team, the Laurel Lions, and working with me during practice on different skills. He really has developed a vision for the game and worked on moving the ball and being focused.”

Quince Orchard is the top seed in the Maryland 4A West Region II playoffs and Saturday at 2 p.m. will host either Clarksburg or Gaithersburg in a regional semifinal.

(Photo by Lance Polcyn)

Talia Bradley

Field Hockey
Magruder High School

Talia Bradley leads the Magruder High field hockey team is scoring this season and the senior center midfielder was in the right place at the right time again earlier this week. 

Locked in a scoreless tie late in regulation, Bradley scored on a rebound off a penalty corner, lifting the Colonels to a 1-0 victory over Blake. For her performance, Bradley was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week. 

“She is a natural athlete, with basketball being her main sport,” Magruder field hockey coach Kerri Wallis said. “And she jumped right into field hockey.” 

Bradley had never played field hockey before high school. She played junior varsity as a freshman and is now in her third season as a starter. She has scored eight goals this season, constantly creating offensive opportunities in transition. Bradley plays basketball in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. 

Bradley also is a leader at the Derwood school, where she is the senior class vice president. 

“She is the definition of a leader – she is positive, welcoming and really hard working,” Wallis said, noting that during preseason conditioning that Bradley would finish her assigned running and then circle back to run with teammates who had yet to finish. “She always goes the extra mile to show she cares and she supports her teammates.” 

The Colonels (7-5) conclude the regular season Thursday at Blair. 

(Photo by Riley Sausser – Talia pictured in center)

Maya Gottesman

Cross Country
Wootton High School

Senior Maya Gottesman has enjoyed a strong fall on the cross country course. She has been Wootton High’s top runner five times in six meets and, most importantly says Coach Kellie Redmond, has been a leader helping the Patriots to the state’s No. 1 ranking as the postseason looms.

This past weekend, competing in the Maryland XC Invitational at Shawan Downs in Cockeysville outside Baltimore, Gottesman took 10^th place, leading a pack of Wootton runners as the Patriots won the team title in the elite Black & Gold Varsity Division.

For her performance, Gottesman was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

“She has had a great season this whole year,” Redmond said. “Our girls team is undefeated in everything – invitationals and regular meets, winning our division. Maya has set the standard and been a great team player.”

Wootton has never won a team state championship in girls cross country; its best result was finishing second at the Maryland 4A championships in 2016. (Jessie Rubin won the Maryland 4A individual title in 2009.) But this could be the year for the Patriots. With Gottesman leading the way, their top runners have run together in meets throughout the season. At the Maryland XC Invitational, Charlotte Chang, Victoria Ketzler and Meilani Rogers were the next three finishers after Gottesman, crossing the finish line within 13 seconds of Gottesman. (Richard Montgomery’s Grace Finnegan won the race.)

“You have to run well as a team if you want to do well as a team,” said Redmond, whose team will next compete in the county championships on Oct. 22. “You can’t have huge gaps between runners. We try to keep our pack together and she’s a big part of that, always encouraging her teammates to get up with her and stay with her. She’s been a strong leader.

“She demands from her teammates and she has expectations for them and that has made us better.”

In addition to running cross country and outdoor track, Gottesman broadcasts Wootton’s home football games and plans to do a full slate of basketball games this winter. She also is a member of the Montgomery County Student-Athlete Leadership Council, which meets monthly to discuss issues in athletics throughout the county.

“You just wish you had 100 of her,” Redmond said. “She is someone that you can completely count on.”

(Photo by Jim Eppard)

Macky Langsam

Football
Rockville High School

Macky Langsam never played football before high school. Actually, he didn’t even join the Rockville High football team until a few weeks into his freshman year.

He was in an advisory period being administered by Rams football coach Jason Lomax and bragged that he could do a full backflip. Lomax shook his head in disbelief, looking at Langsam and figuring the teenager was all talk – until, in between the tables in the science lab, Langsam easily nailed the acrobatic feat.

“It was amazing,” Lomax said. “I couldn’t believe he had that much explosion in his legs. So I introduced him to our JV football coach.”

And that’s how Macky Langsam became a football player.

Langsam’s sophomore season was mostly lost to Covid-19 – MCPS teams played just two games that spring. But when he returned as a junior, Langsam was a different player, helped by a relentless attitude in the weight room and running. He became a team captain and a second-team all-county linebacker. He injured his knee in the season’s next-to-last game, but worked hard to be ready this fall.

And while he missed the season’s first game after testing positive for Covid-19, Langsam has been on a roll ever since. This past Friday, Langsam rushed 31 times for 305 yards and four touchdowns as Rockville rallied to beat Springbrook, 28-21.

For his performance, Langsam was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

“He’s a leader and does everything I ask of him,” Lomax said. “He worked so hard all offseason to rehab his knee, knowing this was his chance to be the guy. He’s one of the hardest-working kids I know.”

Langsam scored all of Rockville’s touchdowns Friday, the last one on a 20-yard run with three minutes left to cap the comeback. The triumph didn’t come without a scare: Early in the third quarter, trailing 21-7, Langsam took a hit to his surgically-repaired knee and left the game.

Lomax worried that the Rams’ prospects for a successful season might have taken a big hit, but a few minutes later he was stunned to learn Langsam was ready to go back in the game.

“He went in and was running like a rampaging monster,” Lomax said. “I didn’t call another pass play, just said give the ball to Macky and get out of the way.”

Rockville (3-2) faces a tough challenge this week when it visits undefeated Blair, which has outscored opponents 184 to 51 this season.

(Photo by Jen Lomax)

Mame Diop

Soccer
Blake High School

Senior Mame Diop has made her mark at Blake High School.

She was named the Montgomery 4A North Division Defensive Player of the Year in basketball last winter, helping the Bengals win a regional title and advance to the state tournament. In the spring, as a track and field rookie, she set a school record in the triple jump, finishing second the Maryland 4A championship to go along with a fourth-place finish in the long jump.

Her fellow students voted Diop the school’s Student Government Association for this school year. And this fall, Diop is cementing her place in the Blake soccer record books. She scored five goals in last week’s 7-3 victory over Paint Branch to become the Colesville school’s career scoring leader. For her performance, Diop was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

With 13 goals (and two assists) this season, Diop now has 34 career goals, helping the Bengals to a 4-3 start this season. “Mame is a very competitive athlete and person and has very high standards for herself,” Blake girls soccer coach Jenna Essenmacher said. “She wants to best out of herself always and strives for excellence in everything. She has a wonderful personality: She is optimistic, works hard and is a great communicator with both adults and her peers.”

Diop’s ability to lead stood out to Essenmacher last year. Watching Diop take control at preseason workouts and practice, Essenmacher took the unusual step to name the then-junior captain for the entire program, junior varsity and varsity.

“I had never done that before,” Essenmacher said. “She was getting all 40-plus girls together and instructing them in a positive way, leading all the players in the program. Which she still does. She is outstanding leader. On the field, along with that leadership, she has a great ability for winning a through ball, beating a player 1-on-1 and putting the ball in the back of the net.”

(Photo by Tim Ho)

Cruiz Paul-Umstead

Football
Einstein High School

Cruiz Paul-Umstead usually plays wide receiver and cornerback for the Einstein High football team. He also returns punts and kickoffs. But with the Titans starting quarterback injured, Coach Sean Loftus has had to be resourceful. This past week, that meant that Paul-Umstead often lined up at quarterback on offense.

While Einstein struggled after Paul-Umstead returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, Paul-Umstead came through in the second half. He finished with 195 yards rushing and rushed for three touchdowns, all after halftime, as Einstein rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Whitman, 28-26, for its first victory this season.

Paul-Umstead, who never attempted a pass on offense, also intercepted a pass on defense to seal the victory. For his efforts, Paul-Umstead was named the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week.

“He started at wide receiver last year, but he’s starting at everything this year, [his position] varies week to week,” Loftus said. “Our starting quarterback (Liam Oaks) broke his thumb on the second play of our opening game. We have a freshman playing quarterback, so we are using Cruiz in the wildcat to give spurts to our offense and not rely too much on the young guy. We want to get the ball in our best athletes’ hands and the easiest way is to snap it to him.”

Against Whitman, Paul-Umstead had touchdown runs of 65, 2 and 55 yards, the last one coming with three minutes left and putting Einstein ahead 28-26 after the two-point conversion.

The Vikings had driven across midfield when Paul-Umstead intercepted a pass at his own 35-yard line with one minute left, sealing the victory.

“Cruiz is just a phenomenal kid,” Loftus said. “He does everything we ask. We move him around a lot and he never complains. He just keeps making plays for us.”

(Photo by Cedric Leon/Courtesy Einstein football)

Leah Stephens

Cross Country
Good Counsel

The Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame has named Good Counsel Cross Country star Leah Stephens as its first MCSHF High School Athlete of the Week!

Stephens finished first in the Hood Invitational, the opening meet of the season. With a time of 17:50, she not only placed first in the 5k race, but also set a course record, and broke her own Good Counsel record. The time was also good enough to rank her first in the state of Maryland.

“She is truly focused and driven,” Good Counsel Athletic Director Steve Howes said. “Leah’s work ethic in practice is one that you can tell she does not take moments off. And to watch her in competition, the way she blows away the competition at times, it’s just amazing the level at which she is able to
perform.”

The Washington Post named Stephens a first-team All-Met in cross-country and outdoor track last season as she began rewriting the Good Counsel record book. In cross-country, she won four individual championships, including the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and Maryland Private Schools titles. Stephens also won three races at the WCAC outdoor track championships and was named the meet’s MVP.

(Photo by Joe Cabigas)