Donny Lind, New Mount St. Mary's Men's Basketball Coach

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After being officially introduced as the 23rd men's basketball coach at Mount St. Mary's, Donny Lind is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Lind talks with host Greg Swatek about the whirlwind 9-10 day period that led him to getting the job. A former assistant coach at the Mount, he discusses how surprised he was that the job came open and why he was so eager to return to the Mount and become a head coach for the first time.

He talks about how he got his start into coaching, his qualities that make him ideally suited for this opportunity and his memories from previously coaching at the Mount under coach Jamion Christian, in addition to the playing style he plans to employ and why he feels Mount St. Mary's can be a destination for players and not just a stepping stone to a bigger school.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss some spring sports happenings around Frederick County, including the 400th win for Brunswick baseball coach Roger Dawson, former Middletown star Saylor Poffenbarger transferring into the Maryland women's basketball program and Urbana graduate Trey Lipscomb being recalled to the major leagues by the Washington Nationals.

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Furious Trammel, Catoctin High Track and Field

As he heads down the final straightaway of his standout track and field career at Catoctin High School, senior Furious Trammel is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Trammel chats with host Greg Swatek about the origins of his unique first name and how people generally react to it. He also talks about the unlikely path that led him to track and field and how he became one of the top athletes in his events (the 400-meter dash, the long jump and the triple jump) in the state of Maryland.

How did he react to winning his first state title? What is his most memorable race? What would he like to accomplish before the end of the season? What are his ultimate goals in the sport?

Trammel answers all of these questions and more during this week's episode.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss Avery Neuman's incredible stat line for Tuscarora softball, Urbana's powerhouse boys lacrosse team, Trey Lipscomb getting sent back down to Triple-A by the Washington Nationals and other spring sports happenings around Frederick County.

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Ava Duerr, Urbana Girls Flag Football

After announcing her college decision last month and becoming the first Frederick County athlete to earn a college scholarship to play flag football in the process, Urbana High senior Ava Duerr is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Duerr explains to host Greg Swatek how she became so interested in playing flag football and why she chose to play the sport on scholarship at Kansas Wesleyan on the NAIA level.

She talks about the strong team at Urbana, which helped pioneer the sport in Frederick County for girls, and learning the nuances of her positions as a center-receiver on offense and a pass rusher on defense.

Duerr also talks about growing up in a very competitive household, her other athletic pursuits in basketball and track and field and the allergy that forces her to eat nothing but home-cooked meals.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss Duerr's overall impact for Urbana girls flag football, power rankings for Frederick County baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse teams and Urbana graduate Trey Lipscomb's continued progress playing major league baseball for the Washington Nationals.

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Mike Frownfelter, Urbana baseball coach on Trey Lipscomb's MLB Debut

Hear all about Urbana High graduate Trey Lipscomb's MLB debut with the Washington Nationals this week on The Final Score podcast, as Hawks coach Mike Frownfelter joins host Greg Swatek.

Frownfelter attended both Lipscomb's MLB debut last Saturday in Cincinnati and his home debut Monday at Nats Park. He tells Greg what it was like to witness one of his former players take a major league field and compete on the highest level of the sport. He talks about the emotions of being in the stadium and the thrill of watching Trey make his first defensive play and produce his first major league hit.

He also talks about the young and talented team he has at Urbana this season and the connection that Lipscomb still has to the program.

Prior to that, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Lipcomb's MLB debut and the opportunity he had to cover Monday's home opener and the significance it held for him.

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Geoff Arnold, Radio Voice of the Baltimore Orioles

With the Baltimore Orioles set to begin another season this week after a busy and eventful offseason, Geoff Arnold, the team's radio play-by-play voice, is this week's guest on the Final Score podcast.

Arnold chats with host Greg Swatek about his expectations for a young and talented team that won 101 games last season and finished the regular season with the best record in the American League, only to make a quick playoff exit against the eventual World Series champions, the Texas Rangers.

The guys talk about the makeup of the Opening Day roster, the decision to leave top prospect Jackson Holliday off of it and the decision to put top outfield prospect Colton Cowser on it. They discuss what former National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes will bring to the pitching staff, in addition to the sale of the team from the Angelos family to Baltimore billionaire David Rubenstein and what that might mean for the club.

Plus, Geoff reveals his favorite road cities to visit and call a game.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss former Urbana High standout Trey Lipscomb nearly making the Opening Day roster of the Washington Nationals as a 23-year-old, as well as their early impressions of the spring season for Frederick County high school sports.

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State Champion Frederick High Boys Basketball

After the Frederick High boys basketball team won its first state championship in basketball since 1982 last weekend, coach Emonte Hill Sr., senior forward Gavin Legge and sophomore guard J.J. Addison are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

 Hill and the players chat with host Greg Swatek about the Cadets' 73-49 victory over Walt Whitman in the Class 4A championship game last Saturday night at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center. They talk about the journey to get to that championship and all of the adversity they had to overcome, including a very challenging schedule and facing a road game in the state semifinals against Henry A. Wise.

 They also talk about the overall togetherness of the team and what made it so special, being honored by the Maryland government at the State House in Annapolis this week and the next steps for the program as it heads into the offseason.

 Right before this discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss his impressions of Frederick's victory in the state final and the Cadets' season overall. The guys also touch on the run the Oakdale High girls basketball team made to the 3A state final before losing to Poly last Saturday and look ahead to the spring sports season.

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Oakdale Girls Basketball State Finalists

After reaching the program's first state final since 2015, coach Rob Healy, senior guard Skai Bayless and junior guard Emma Carey are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about the team's resilience, not just in overcoming the major injuries it has had this season, but also brushing aside adverse moments, like the 10-point halftime deficit against Oxon Hill in the Class 3A state semifinals.

The group also talks about the team's defensive identity, why it aims to hold opponents under 40 points in games and the expectations for Saturday evening's 3A championship game against Baltimore Poly at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center in College Park.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the state basketball semifinals, which also featured the Frederick High and Middletown boys, as well as the Catoctin girls. The guys talk about Frederick High's huge, 61-49 victory over Henry A. Wise on its home court Wednesday in a 4A boys semifinal and look ahead to the two state finals involving the Cadets against Walt Whitman for the 4A championship at 8 p.m. Saturday and the Oakdale girls against Poly for the 3A championship at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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Tyree Spinner, New SCJP Varsity Football Coach

Upon being hired by St. John's Catholic Prep as its new varsity football coach, Tyree Spinner is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Spinner chats with host Greg Swatek about what appealed to him at the SCJP job and why his background as a coach and player made him an ideal fit for it. He talks about growing up in a competitive household where staying inside and inactivity were not options for him or his siblings. He talks about getting his start in coaching and having success at places with limited resources. 

Spinner also talks about his vision for the SCJP program and how the values of the school line up with his own personal standards.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the high school regional basketball championships and take a look ahead to the state quarterfinals, which involve three boys teams and two girls teams from Frederick County.

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Trey Coates, Tuscarora High Wrestling Coach

With the state wrestling championships on tap this weekend in Upper Marlboro, Tuscarora High wrestling coach Trey Coates, one of the biggest advocates for the sport in Frederick County, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Coates chats with host Greg Swatek about the tremendous season the Titans have had, advancing all the way to the Class 3A West regional duals final, during which they gave eventual state champion Linganore a tussle, and then sending a large contingent of wrestlers to the individual state championships this weekend.

Coates also discusses in detail how he was able to get a flourishing girls wrestling program going at Tuscarora. The Titans had roughly 18 girls come out for the wrestling team this season, which was easily the most of any school in Frederick County, and will send seven wrestlers to the state girls wrestling tournament this weekend at The Show Place Arena.

How was he able to get so many girls interested in wrestling? Was he surprised by the turnout? What were the challenges associated with coaching girls as a male wrestling coach? What does he feel is the future of girls wrestling in Frederick County now that there are county titles awarded to girls?

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writers John Cannon and Alexander Dacy join Greg to discuss the basketball playoffs in Frederick County, as well as Oakdale's run to the Maryland state final in ice hockey.

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Rob Healy, Oakdale Girls Basketball Coach

As the coach of one of the hottest basketball teams in Frederick County, Oakdale High girls basketball coach Rob Healy is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Healy, the only girls basketball coach Oakdale has ever had, chats with host Greg Swatek about why the Bears are playing so well. They had won 13 in a row prior to falling to Frederick High 32-26 this week in a defensive slugfest for the Central Maryland Conference large-school championship.

He talks about the team's defensive mindset and why the 40-point mark is so significant for them. And he talks about how far the program has come over the course of its 15-year history and expectations for the rest of this season now that the playoffs are about to begin.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the CMC basketball large school championship games, both won by Frederick High. They also review the local winners from the state indoor track meet this week in Landover.

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State Champion Linganore Wrestling

After Linganore wrestling won the state title in the Class 3A duals for the second consecutive year last Saturday in Waldorf, coach Ben Arneson and junior standout Brennan Considine are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Arneson and Considine chat with host Greg Swatek about the 34-31 victory over South River in the 3A championship match and all the moments that made it momentous. South River had won the 4A duals title the previous two seasons before dropping down to 3A this season. So, Linganore was facing a formidable challenge.

The conversation also addresses the workmanlike nature of this Linganore team, the pivot to the individual portion of the wrestling season and the upcoming Frederick County tournament this weekend, which will feature a girls tournament for the first time.

What can we expect over these next two weeks of wrestling leading into states?

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to review last weekend's county swimming championships and some notable results on the Frederick County basketball scene over the last week.

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Chris Krivos, Middletown High Girls Basketball Coach

Back on the sideline after more than a decade out of coaching, Middletown High girls basketball coach Chris Krivos is this week's guest on The FInal Score podcast.

Krivos chats with host Greg Swatek about why he decided to coach again and why Middletown was the right place for him to do it. He talks about how much coaching has changed since he last coached in 2010 at Urbana and how he has had to adapt to the changes.

He also talks about his time at Oakdale, where he served as the athletic director when the school opened in 2010 and hired several coaches that are still working and thriving there. How challenging was it to build an athletic department from the ground up? And what did he learn from the experience?

Plus, championship season has officially arrived for winter sports in Frederick County. Linganore and Middletown repeated as regional duals wrestling champions and are headed to states this weekend, the Frederick County Public School diving championships took place and the county swimming championships are on tap for Saturday. Plus, red-hot Oakdale is set to meet first-place Frederick in a girls basketball showdown. FNP sports writers John Cannon and Alexander Dacy join Greg to talk about all of that.

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Tyler Thompson, New Walkersville High Football Coach

After being named the new varsity football coach at Walkersville High School, Tyler Thompson is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Thompson chats with host Greg Swatek about his new job and how the hiring process unfolded. After serving as the defensive coordinator under former coach Joe Polce for the last five years, he talks about why he was ready to take this step and the expectations he has for the program going forward.

The conversation extends back to Thompson's playing days at Linganore, where he won a state championship on arguably the best football team Frederick County has ever seen back in 2009, and how he got his start into coaching.

Where does the Walkersville football program go from here? What is he looking forward to the most? Thompson addresses those questions as well.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the Thompson hiring at Walkersville and some of the unusual storylines unfolding during this high school basketball season for both the boys and the girls.

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Luke Freimanis, Thomas Johnson Boys Track and Field

After helping the Thomas Johnson High School boys track and field team win a second consecutive indoor team championship in the Frederick County Public Schools meet, senior Luke Freimanis is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Freimanis chats with host Greg Swatek about his success at the meet, setting a new meet record in the 55-meter hurdles and winning the high jump, and the significance of another team championship.

He also talks about the two track-and-field video games, Sky High and Track Mayhem-Decatholon, he created and are now available to play worldwide on app stores. What inspired the ideas behind them? How long did it take to create them? How challenging was the process? And how did he react when he saw friends and teammates playing the game?

Plus, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the local sports scene here in Frederick County. Is there more clarity in the Player of the Year race for boys and girls basketball?

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Rick Reeder, Catoctin High Wrestling Coach

With his team battling to win every match that it can, Catoctin High wrestling coach Rick Reeder is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Reeder chats with host Greg Swatek about his small and mighty team. The Cougars can't fill every weight class, which forces them to forfeit four to five matches per dual meet. Yet, in the matches they actually do wrestle, they often win, which keeps them competitive against just about any team.

A graduate of Frederick High School, Reeder also talks about how he got his start into wrestling and coaching, as well as the rise of girls wrestling and what it means for the sport.

He talks about his time spent as a player and head coach with the semi-pro football team, the Frederick Outlaws, and shares how he became the first head coach for the Baltimore Charm in the now defunct Lingerie Football League. Was that job really as great as some people might think?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg, as they always do, to discuss the Frederick County sports scene. This week's topics include a buzzer beater for the Catoctin High boys basketball team and a big win for the Frederick High girls.

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Joe Polce, Former Walkersville High Football Coach

Less than an week after officially stepping down from his long-time job as Walkersville High School's varsity football coach, Joe Polce is this week's guest on The Final Score poddcast.

Polce chats with host Greg Swatek about the timing and difficulty of his decision. He coached football in Frederick County for 29, including 18 at his alma mater, Walkersville and 14 as the head coach of the Lions.

They talk about some of the most memorable moments during that span, including the 2016 state championship and the 12-man-on-the-field touchdown that cost the previously unbeaten 2017 team against eventual Class 2A champion Damascus.

Polce also addresses his future and the future of the program. How much will his miss the job? How will he fill the time? Does he still have a future in coaching? Who does he think should be Walkersville's next coach?

Prior to that discusion, FNP sports writers John Cannon and Alexander Dacy join Greg to talk about Polce's retirement and some of the memorable moments in his coaching career, as well as Frederick's stunning loss to Urbana in boys basketball last week.

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John Keimig, Middletown Boys Baskeball Coach

With his team off to a hot start this season, Middletown High boys basketball coach John Keimig is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast, the first of 2024.

The Knights are 9-0 after a 40-point road win over Clear Spring earlier this week. They also have road wins over typically formidable county rivals Tuscarora and Walkersville.

Keimig explains to host Greg Swatek why the team is playing so well and what sort of potential it has as the season goes on.

He talks about how his passion for coaching started and has evolved and what it was like for him to take over the boys basketball program at a school he went to and played for.

Keimig also talks about why basketball has always been such an important part of his life and what his life might look like if he wasn't coaching the sport right now.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the high school basketball landscape in Frederick County and other winter sports.

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Darryl Whiten, FCC Men's Basketball; Sports Stories of the Year

On the final episode of 2023 for The Final Score podcast, Frederick Community College men's basketball coach Darryl Whiten is the guest.

Whiten tells host Greg Swatek about how his team was able to overcome a slow start to the season. The Cougars started the season with four straight losses and are now 4-5 as they hit their holiday break.

Now in his second season on the job, Whiten talks about how he has benefitted as a coach from his increased familiarity with his players and the day-to-day operations of the program and why its important for the team to be active and engaged with the surrounding community off the court.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Greg to discuss the top sports stories in Frederick County for 2023. What do the guys feel is the Story of the Year for Frederick County sports? And what were some of the other big moments that stood out in their minds?

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Nate Naylor, Frederick High Girls Basketball Coach

With his team off to a hot start this season, Frederick High girls basketball coach Nate Naylor is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Naylor chats with host Greg Swatek about his team this season at Frederick High and his successful track record as coach, which includes stops at South Hagerstown High as the junior varsity and varsity coach and St. James in Hagerstown.

He also talks about why he was hesitant to become a coach and why he was very measured about his approach in coming back to it after leaving the job to start a family.

How does the job suit him in his second season at Frederick High? What sort of potential does this Frederick High girls team have? Naylor answers those questions as well.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the high school basketball scene in the county and Christmas traditions and plans.

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State Champion Oakdale Football

In the wake of their 42-35 victory over Linganore in the fist state football final between Frederick County teams, Oakdale's Big Three, senior quarterback Evan Austin, senior defensive end/tight end Dom Nichols and senior receiver/defensive back Hunter Thompson, as well as coach Kurt Stein, are this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

The guys chat with host Greg Swatek about the significance of playing in the first all-county football state final and the pressure they felt to win after falling in the Class 3A championship game the previous season.

How did they manage that pressure all season, both internal and external, given that they were expected to win all of their games and the championship? How did they feel after they won, more joy or relief? And what they will remember the most about the game and the season?

The guys also address their own futures and the future of the Oakdale football program. All three will be playing Division I football in college, Nichols at Michigan, Austin at UNC-Charlotte as a receiver and Thompson at Ohio University. Nichols and Austin will be graduating early and leaving to begin their college lives at the end of December, forgoing their final basketball season at Oakdale in the process. And Stein will be tasked with trying to replace three of the finest football players to ever play in Frederick County next season at Oakdale. How does he look at that challenge?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writers Alexander Dacy and John Cannon join Gregto take a swing around the Frederick County sports landscape early in the winter season for high school sports.

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