25/26 MCPS High School Athletics thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Kennedy had a state winner in diving this year. Schools with popular magnets like Blair and Wheaton generally have pretty good swimmers and Einstein’s is “manned” with lots of decent summer and club swimmers. Swimming is weird because a few strong club swimmers/divers can make the schools season.

Where a kid swims in high school has very little impact on his/her performance or recruitability. With only one dive practice and two swim practices offered per week, there is very little development at the high school practices. Any swimmers/divers who plan to be really good or potentially participate in college are primarily training with their club teams, even during the high school season.

What may impact a swimmer/diver's high school experience is if the student cares about being on a better team. Or if the student isn't that strong of a swimmer, there isn't as much of an opportunity to participate (either on the team or in the lineup) at the better programs, but will be a valued member of the team regardless of experience/skill level at a program like Kennedy or Northwood.

[Anonymous]

Fall tryouts start tomorrow

[Anonymous]

The great problem with MCPS athletics is the private schools drawing most of the talent away from publics.

They recruit, provide financial aid, have better facilities, more “professional” coaching staffs and usually draw bigger crowds.

On our Potomac neighborhood the great majority of the better athletes end up at St John’s, Gonzaga, Bullis, Landon, Prep, St Albans and even St Andrew’s.

If Whitman High kept half of these kids it would be a MoCo sports powerhouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The great problem with MCPS athletics is the private schools drawing most of the talent away from publics.

They recruit, provide financial aid, have better facilities, more “professional” coaching staffs and usually draw bigger crowds.

On our Potomac neighborhood the great majority of the better athletes end up at St John’s, Gonzaga, Bullis, Landon, Prep, St Albans and even St Andrew’s.

If Whitman High kept half of these kids it would be a MoCo sports powerhouse.

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That is a big factor. Another has been the addition of new High schools in the last 20-25 years that have carved up the upper county programs. Seneca Valley was a powerhouse in the 90s and then Northwest and eventually Clarksburg opened and split everyone up. Will be interesting to see if Crown HS cuts into the Quince Orchard dynasty at all

[Anonymous]

WJ Flag football will apparently play at halftime during the Ravens Monday Night Football game.

That’s worth watching!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WJ Flag football will apparently play at halftime during the Ravens Monday Night Football game.

That’s worth watching!!!!

*Commanders

[Anonymous]

did Gaithersburg get enough girls to field a field hockey team? what about watkins mill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:did Gaithersburg get enough girls to field a field hockey team? what about watkins mill?

Not sure. I can find out about Gaithersburg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes MCPS, unfortunately, doesnt really care about athletics -- it wants rainbows and unicorns instead. A competitive sports program is hard to maintain, complaining parents (for all sorts of reasons), finding /keeping great coaches, as well as the facilities issues, etc. ADs would strongly prefer less complaints than more competitive teams for job security reasons. As a result, more competitive sports are drifting to private schools which are willing to make the investment as a differentiator. School spirit and pride suffers, IMO.

I think one of the big issues is the decline of youth sports here in the county. When I was growing up in the 90s every town had a thriving youth sports organization. Over the years they started folding and now it seems like most of the youth sports options are gone.

Community youth organizations are shrinking and folding due to "travel" sports starting earlier and earlier. There are still plenty of youth sports - but only in "travel" leagues.

The emphasis on travel leagues at earlier ages encourages children to specialize at an early age (giving up other sports) and also dilutes both the pool of players for youth community leagues and coaches for the rec leagues.

This is 100% true. If a HS student wants to play a team sport recreationally, there are limited community options. However, there are lots of AAU and other private options that cater to those who've played since elementary school.

At the public high school level, football & boys basketball draw the biggest crowds.

[Anonymous]

Love this thread! Did not know about Baba Oladotun and OP is not kidding, he is number #1 HS basketball player in the country. Will have to try catch a Blake game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love this thread! Did not know about Baba Oladotun and OP is not kidding, he is number #1 HS basketball player in the country. Will have to try catch a Blake game.

Technically he's now #8 since he reclassified up a year but still. If you want to see him play, your best bet is to catch a road game somewhere else in the county because home games at Blake are standing room only now.

[Anonymous]

Because of a county wide football referee shortage, a lot of schools are now playing games on Thursday Nights. As a fan of HS football I enjoy this because I can go check out like 18 different games this fall. As a parent, it means some late nights on school nights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love this thread! Did not know about Baba Oladotun and OP is not kidding, he is number #1 HS basketball player in the country. Will have to try catch a Blake game.

Technically he's now #8 since he reclassified up a year but still. If you want to see him play, your best bet is to catch a road game somewhere else in the county because home games at Blake are standing room only now.

Any dibs for MCPS staff if Blake is playing against your school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love this thread! Did not know about Baba Oladotun and OP is not kidding, he is number #1 HS basketball player in the country. Will have to try catch a Blake game.

Technically he's now #8 since he reclassified up a year but still. If you want to see him play, your best bet is to catch a road game somewhere else in the county because home games at Blake are standing room only now.

Any dibs for MCPS staff if Blake is playing against your school?

MCPS staff gets into all sporting events for free so probably. I teach at a HS in MCPS and I'm patiently waiting for basketball schedules to get released

[Anonymous]

Edge rusher Kacey Gilliam from Quince Orchard appears to be the first D1 football commit from the county. He committed to play at James Madison back in June.