Dean Coccia, Linganore High Girls Lacrosse Coach

After his team produced a momentous and unusual victory over arch rival Urbana last week, Linganore High girls lacrosse coach Dean Coccia is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Coccia talks with host Greg Swatek about the Lancers' 9-7 victory over Urbana, the two-time reigning Class 4A runner-up. Both Coccia and Urbana coach Ryan Hines agreed to end the game with 8 minutes and 35 seconds to play because both teams were severely short-handed due to the number of yellow cards issued in the game.

On the podcast, Coccia discusses why that decision was made, the way the game was being officiated and the gesture made by Hines in a game his team still had a chance to come back and win. How big of a victory was it for Linganore and how might the Lancers benefit from it going forward?

Now in his fourth season on the job, Coccia also talks about the growth and development of his young team, why it is having such a strong season and his overall expectations as the playoff approach. Can the Lancers contend for a state title in Class 3A?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy stops in to chat with Greg about that unusual Linganore-Urbana girls lacrosse result, the pecking order on the boys lacrosse scene in the county behind Urbana and other happenings with spring sports around Frederick County.

Steve Melewski, Longtime Baltimore Orioles Insider

Following the Frederick Keys' home opener this week and their big return to affiliated baseball, Steve Melewski, a familiar voice who has covered the Baltimore Orioles and their minor-league system for more than two decades, is the latest guest on The Final Score podcast.

Melewski chats with host Greg Swatek about the overall significance of the Keys being the High Class A minor league affiliate for the Orioles once again after a five-year separation. He talks about the home opener and the energy and excitement around it, as well as the upgrades at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium that made the return possible.

The conversation then moves to the parent club. How does he feel about the Orioles start to the season? What does he think of the new manager, Craig Albernaz? What will define a successful season for the team? And what might happen if they fail to make the playoffs or fail to win a playoff game?

Melewski also talks about his overall fondness for Frederick, enjoying his chance to come back here often to cover the Keys, and how his longtime reporting career began in this town.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the Keys home opener and important games this week on the high school sports scene in Frederick County.

JM Sienkowski, Walkersville High Boys Lacrosse Coach

During a week in which he faced his former team and his former player, Walkersville High boys lacrosse coach JM Sienkowski is the guest on The Final Score podcast.

Sienkowski chats with host Greg Swatek about facing Middletown, the Lions' arch rival and a place where he coached for many years prior to taking the Walkersville job. He talks about the awkwardness of jumping to the other side of the rivalry and how that move was received by family, friends colleagues and people on both sides of it.

He also talks about facing Middletown coach Dominic Ceresini, with whom he has a close relationship after previously coaching him.

Sienkowski talks about the good start to the season for the Walkersville boys, how he changed the direction and culture of the program and what reasonable expectations are for the Lions for the rest of this season.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss what he is working on for the news side of the company, as well as the start of the Frederick Keys' season with the home opener on the horizon Tuesday night.

Chris Jenkins, General Manager, Frederick Flying Cows

With Frederick's professional basketball team, the Frederick Flying Cows, in the early stages of its third season, the team's general manager, Chris Jenkins, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Jenkins chats with Greg Swatek about the new eight-team league the Flying Cows are playing in. After playing their first two seasons in The Basketball League and reaching the TBL semifinals last June, the Flying Cows joined the United States Basketball League, which was renamed 94x50 League through a fan vote.

He also talks about the team's intentional effort to become more local with a coach (Dan Prete) and players on the roster (Garrison Linton and Zach Thomas) who are from Frederick. Jenkins discusses how the team and the new league plan to grow, new things the team is trying this season, how it plans to dig out of its slow start this season with losses in five of their first eight games and his upcoming trip to Indianapolis for the NCAA Final Four.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about his temporary transition to a news reporter to assist that side of the newsroom and some of the different assignments he has been working on, as well as his thoughts on the upcoming Frederick Keys season, which begins Friday night in Spartanburg, South Carolina with their return to affiliated minor league baseball.

Ryker Keeney, State Champion Middletown High Wrestling

The Final Score podcast continues its state-championship series this week with sophomore standout Ryker Keeney of the Middletown High School wrestling team.

Keeney chats with host Greg Swatek about his 43-6 season, which included placing third in the Frederick County tournament at 144 pounds, winning the Class 2A-1A West regional title in that weight class and then placing fifth at the state tournament.

He talks about what it was like to be a part of such a powerhouse team at Middletown this season. The Knights capped an undefeated season by winning the Class 2A state duals championship, and they crushed nearly all of their opponents along the way. Keeney talks about what made the team so strong and how it felt after winning the state title.

There is also discussion about why he is so passionate about wrestling, leading a team despite being one of its youngest members, how he got into wrestling and what the future looks like for the Middletown High wrestling program.

Prior to this conversation, News-Post sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss spring sports around Frederick County and the players from the county playing minor-league baseball, keeping the dream alive with Opening Day on tap across Major League Baseball.

Brunswick High State Wrestling Champions Kate Virgilio and Seth Crawford

After winning championships at the state wrestling tournament in Upper Marlboro, Brunswick High's Kate Virgilio and Seth Crawford are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

With a 12-8 victory over Smithburg's Rileigh Romberger in the girls championship match at 120 pounds, Virgilio became a back-to-back state champion for Brunswick. Last season, she won the title at 115 pounds. Meanwhile, Crawford beat Francis Scott Key's Jesse Owings by an 11-2 major decision in the Class 2A-1A championship bout at 150 pounds to win his first state title and fulfill a lifelong dream.

Virgilio and Crawford chat with host Greg Swatek about their championships and their journeys to them. What was the most challenging part about them? What was the most rewarding part about them? What sort of goals do they have in the future? And how did they ever find themselves on a wrestling mat in the first place?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Hood College bowing out of the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament in the Sweet 16 in Hartford, Connecticut and look ahead to the spring sports season in Frederick County.

Linganore State Wrestling Champions Cash Wheat and Alex Tortolani and Coach Jeff Wheat

After winning state wrestling titles last Saturday in Upper Marlboro, Linganore High wrestlers Cash Wheat and Alex Tortolani, as well as their coach, Jeff Wheat, Cash's father, are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about its big weekend at the state wrestling championships at The Show Place Arena. Cash Wheat pinned Walt Whitman's Matthew Hobbs in 5 minutes and 54 seconds in the Class 4A-3A championship match at 150 pounds, while Tortolani earned a 5-3 victory over Whitman's Zach Richards in the 4A-3A final at 215 pounds, reversing a loss to him from a week earlier in the regional championships.

Wheat, who pinned over 100 opponents during his high-school career, grew up dreaming of winning a state title. Meanwhile, Tortolani didn't start wrestling until he was in high school and only recently developed the belief and the confidence that he could actually do it. How did they feel when they won their championships? And what did their coach, Jeff Wheat, think as he watched it all unfold?

Prior to this conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss state semifinal boys basketball games featuring Frederick High and Middletown and Hood College's remarkable run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament.

Masiah Martin, State Champion High Jumper, and Walkersville Coach Amy Pezenoski

After winning the Class 2A high jump at the state indoor track and field meet with a personal-best leap of 6 feet, 10 inches, Walkersville High junior Masiah Martin and his coach, Amy Pezenoski, are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Martin tells host Greg Swatek what it meant to win a state title in the high jump and how it felt to clear such a lofty standard, and Pezenoski talks about what makes Martin such a special athlete, teammate and person.

The conversation turns to how Martin prepares for meets, how he helps teammates and even rival jumpers during meets, his inner confidence and strong self-belief, how he started high jumping in the first place and, ultimately, how high he might fly during this upcoming outdoor season. What are his goals? How much higher can he raise the bar?

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports report Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the high school basketball regional finals and what's ahead for Frederick County teams in the state quarterfinals, as well as Hood College's impressive run to hosting at least one game in the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament this weekend and a banner night for Frederick County ice hockey.

State Champion Linganore High Boys Track and Field

After claiming the Class 3A boys indoor track and field team championship with just eight athletes, two of them, senior Ricky Johnson and junior Jake Brown, and the coach of the Lancers, Bill Eckard, are this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about how the Linganore boys were able to pull off such an improbable championship with such a small team. The Lancers didn't win a single event and scored only 31 points, and yet it was still good enough for a one-point win over second-place Oakdale and their first state team indoor championship since 2019.

What did the team expect going into the state indoor meet? When did the athletes start thinking that winning the team championship possible? Why is it such a close-knit team? And how does this result propel the Lancers into the outdoor season this spring?

All of these questions are answered over the course of the discussion, which also revealed some questionable dietary choices after practices and meets.

Prior to this discussion, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to share thoughts on the epic men's hockey final at the Olympics and preview the upcoming high school basketball playoffs. They also touch on Mount St. Mary's opening its first season of girls flag football this weekend and Hood College's run to the NCAA Division III Tournament in men's basketball.

J.R. Rawlins, Urbana High Girls Basketball Coach

As his team prepares for the upcoming playoffs, Urbana High girls basketball coach J.R. Rawlins is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Rawlins talks with host Greg Swatek about the very competitive and tightly packed girls basketball landscape in Frederick County and how his talented team at Urbana fits into the mix.

He talks about how he got his start in coaching and his time spent as a basketball referee in the county and the respect he has for both jobs. And he outlines the road ahead for his team at Urbana and what he expects as the Hawks head into the Class 4A West regional playoffs.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg  to discuss Middletown's state championship over the weekend in the Class 2A wrestling duals and the end of the high school basketball regular season in Frederick County.

Rob Havenstein, Linganore Grad, Now Retired L.A. Ram

After saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Linganore High graduate Rob Havenstein is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Havenstein, who has been the stalwart right tackle on the Rams' offensive line for more than a decade now, explains to host Greg Swatek why he decided to retire after making 161 starts for the Rams over the last decade-plus.

When did he know? What factors played into the decision? What was the most memorable game he played in? Who was the toughest defensive player he had to block? What will he miss the most now that he is not playing? And what are his future plans?

Havenstein addresses all of those questions and more, as he reflects on his long career.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the Frederick County Public Schools' swimming and diving championships, the Monocacy Valley Hockey League championship game and other observations about the high school basketball scene in Frederick County.

Tim Abercrombie Jr., Linganore High Boys Basketball Coach

With his resilient team finding ways to rally and win, Linganore High boys basketball coach Tim Abercrombie is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Abercrombie talks with Greg Swatek about what he appreciates most about his team of 10 players, who often lack the size and athleticism of their opponents. Linganore also has the tendency to get off to slow starts and fall behind by double digits in games. Yet the Lancers have an equal knack for finding their way back into games and ultimately prevailing in the end.

The coach explains how this is all possible, how having such a small team benefits them in many ways and whether he's had to adjust his expectations over the course of the season.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to the depth of the girls basketball scene in Frederick County, Hood College's Jevon Yarbrough, one of the leading scorers in Division III basketball for the nationally ranked Blazers, and some big games on tap on the high-school boys hoops landscape.

Korey Kauflin, County Champion, Urbana High Boys Track

After winning three individual races and anchoring a winning relay last week in the Frederick County Public Schools Indoor Track and Field Championships, Urbana High senior Korey Kauflin is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Kauflin chats with host Greg Swatek about his season and how a race two week ago in Virginia Beach changed his overall outlook on it and set the stage for him to win the 500-meter dash, the 1,600 run, the 800 run and anchor the winning 4x800 relay at the county championships.

He also talks about how and why he started running and the overall impact it has had on his life. He discusses the cross county season last fall and Urbana's dominant run to the Class 4A boys team championship, and he discusses his future in the sport and what he would like to accomplish before he graduates from high school.

Prior to this conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about how the winter weather and school closures are impacting the schedules of all Frederick County basketball, wrestling, swimming and diving and indoor track and field teams.

Zach Thomas, Oakdale High basketball legend, Newest Member of Frederick Flying Cows

After signing with the Frederick Flying Cows last weekend, former Oakdale High basketball star and Frederick County's all-time leading scorer Zach Thomas is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

The Flying Cows are Frederick's professional basketball team set to begin play in March in the United States Basketball League after two very successful seasons in The Basketball League {TBL). Last season, the won the Southeast Conference championship and reached the TBL's final four.

Thomas chats with host Greg Swatek about his decision to sign with the Cows and how the opportunity came about.

He talked about his continued desire to play after spending two years in the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant for legendary coach John Calipari at the University of Kentucky and a player-development coach for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.

Thomas also recounts his professional basketball journey since graduating in 2018 from Bucknell University, where he was the Patriot League Player of the Year as a senior. He has played professionally in Belgium, Italy, Ukraine before the Russian invasion, Poland, Finland, Sweden and Cyprus.

What were his favorite and most memorable stops? What are his goals and priorities as he begins to play for the Flying Cows?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Hood College's recent ascension into the Division III Top 25 for men's basketball, as well as the high school boys and girls basketball scenes in Frederick County and key results that have recently transpired.

Cam Dorner, Oakdale High Graduate, NFL Draft Prospect

After declaring his intention to enter the NFL Draft last week, former Oakdale High football and basketball star Cam Dorner is this week’s guest on The Final Score podcast.

Dorner chats with host Greg Swatek about his decision to declare for the draft. What led up to it? Who helped it make it? What were the deciding factors? And what was going through his head right after the announcement?

He talks about why football was more suited for him than basketball and how he feels his skills measure up on the next level.

Dorner played three seasons at nearby Division II Shepherd University and one at Division I North Texas outside of Dallas, where he helped the Mean Green earn Top 25 status and come within one victory of reaching the College Football Playoff this season.

How did his time at those schools mold him into the player he is today? And how was he able to quickly rise to the challenge of being a receiver for both?

With the North Texas pro day ahead and a possible invite to the NFL scouting combine next month, what is Dorner expecting from the pre-draft process and what has he heard in this preliminary stage about if and when he might be selected?

No Oakdale football player has even been drafted before or landed on a main NFL roster.

Earl Blake, Urbana High Wrestling Coach

For the first podcast of 2026, former three-time state champion and first-year Urbana High wrestling coach Earl Blake is this week's guest on The Final Score.

Blake, who wrestled for Linganore, chats with host Greg Swatek and FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy about his recent foray into coaching and how it feels to now be working for the arch rival school of his alma mater. 

During the discussion, he reveals the incredibly philosophical side of his personality and life that drove his wrestling career to incredible heights, 156 wins and three-state titles in high school and a full scholarship to compete at Kent State University.

He also talks about how he was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and losing that scholarship, which forced him to grapple for the first time with a life without wrestling. 

Just 25 years old, Blake talks very candidly about his struggles with depression and self-identity and reveals some seldom-shared details about his life, including being completely abandoned roadside in Idaho and his car catching fire on the return trip home.

Dave Crawmer, Urbana High Boys Basketball Coach, Top Frederick County Sports Stories of 2025

For the last Final Score podcast of 2025, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy and host Greg Swatek offer up their lists for the top 10 Frederick County sports stories in 2025. 

How similar or different are their lists? Is there any consensus on what they felt were the county's biggest stories of the past year?

Then, Urbana High boys basketball coach Dave Crawmer joins Greg to talk about his young team this season and its big win over Frederick High School on Dec. 19.

What are the keys for the Hawks this season? How does this season compare to some recent ones? And what are Crawmer's expectations for them?

Plus, Crawmer talks about his involvement with the Shoot 360 basketball training facility on Ballenger Center Drive, next to the News-Post building, and life as a golf pro at Lakewood Country Club in Rockville.

Trey Coates, Tuscarora High Wrestling Coach

After hosting a coed duals tournament and an individual girls tournament last weekend, Tuscarora High wrestling coach Trey Coates is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Coates chats with host Greg Swatek about Tuscarora's Clash at the Creek tournament, which is in its third season for the boys and its second season for the girls.

After being one of the leading champions for girls wrestling on the local scene, what was it like for Coates to see close to 300 girls wrestling in his gym at Clash at the Creek? How does he look at the progress and the impact that girls wrestling has made in recent years?

Also, what goes into hosting not just one wrestling tournament, but two in the span of a few days? And how does Coates look at the wrestling scene in Frederick County overall?

Prior to that, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss holiday plans and the high school basketball scene in the county, including a big victory for the Urbana boys over Frederick High, as well as momentous wins for the Linganore boys and girls over Oakdale.

John Keimig, Middletown High Boys Basketball Coach

With the Middletown boys looking like the county's top basketball team and poised to make a run at a potential state championship, Knights coach John Keimig is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Keimig chats with host Greg Swatek about how the Knights are handling the lofty expectations with most of their team back from a season ago when they took eventual Class 2A runner-up New Town to double overtime in the state semifinals.

What are Keimig's fondest memories from that playoff run? What does he like the most about this current team? Who are the key players? And what will it take for Middletown to win its first state title in boys basketball in March?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the boys and girls basketball scenes in Frederick County and what lies ahead during the holiday weeks.

State Champion Linganore High Football

After Linganore High football rolled to a 56-17 victory over Oakdale in the Class 3A championship game last Saturday in Annapolis to claim its seventh state championship, coach Rick Conner, senior running back Bradly Matthews and senior receiver/defensive back Chase Perry are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The guys chat with host Greg Swatek about the season, which will certainly be considered among the best in Frederick County history. The Lancers finished 13-0. They pulled out a close win at Mervo, the eventual 4A-3A state champion, in Week 1 and were hardly challenged the rest of the way. 

What made this team so special? How did it come together so well? And what is it's future after reaching the state mountaintop once again?

Matthews, Frederick County's all-time touchdown leader (80), and Perry, the team's leading receiver, discuss what playing football at Linganore meant to them, as well as their futures. Matthews will play football next year at Georgetown University, while Perry will play baseball at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. 

Prior to this conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to recap Linganore's big win over Oakdale in the second state football final between Frederick County teams and look ahead to the high school basketball season.