Ryker Keeney, State Champion Middletown High Wrestling

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.