At this time a year ago, Navy was picked 11th in the American Conference preseason poll. That was the result of the Midshipmen suffering four straight losing seasons.

Now Navy is considered one of the top contenders in the recently rebranded American Conference by most national publications. Lindy’s College Football Magazine predicts that Navy will capture the conference championship. Meanwhile, Athlon Sports has the Midshipmen placing second behind Tulane in its preseason publication.

Navy changed the perception of its program by posting a 10-3 record, capturing the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and upsetting Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl during the 2024 season.

“There has been a little bit of a paradigm shift in our program as far as what our expectations are. There is a different level of confidence based off what we did last year,” coach Brian Newberry said. “There is a different level of confidence with our team right now. It’s not arrogance or overconfidence, but it’s a little bit of a different feeling. There is a higher expectation within our program right now.”

For the first time in its history, the American Conference did not release its own preseason poll during the annual football media event, which this year was held Thursday and Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

During remarks to kick off the American Conference “media day,” commissioner Tim Pernetti said tat it has become increasingly difficult to produce accurate preseason polls amid the current landscape of college football. Pernetti pointed out that in the transfer portal era, most programs undergo significant roster turnover from one season to the next.

Nonetheless, recognition that Navy is among the preseason favorites came when Newberry sat for an interview with the ESPN broadcasting crew. Host Maria Trivelpiece asked the third-year coach about the “hype” surrounding the program.

When Navy was picked to place 11th in the conference last year, Newberry used that perceived slight as a way to motivate the players. With the Mids now rated at the top of the American, Newberry wants his troops to not pay attention to such praise.

“We talk about drowning out the noise all the time — whether good, bad or indifferent,” said Newberry, adding that he has never put much stock in preseason polls. “Obviously, I’m excited about what we did last season and how we finished. That was great momentum going into the offseason. At the same time, our guys understand that last year’s team has very little to do with this year’s team.”

Quarterback Blake Horvath and nose guard Landon Robinson, the team captains, represented Navy at the American Conference football media event. While welcoming the higher expectations placed on the Midshipmen, they said players don’t care what outsiders think of the program.

“The only opinions that matter are the ones that are in the room, the people that are making it happen. The noise is just distracting. It can create turmoil, create egos. We just have to block all that out,” Horvath said.

Robinson said the Navy players have adopted Newberry’s mantra to not “choke on the sugar” and are “making sure to stay humble and hungry.”

Navy returns seven starters on offense, including every one of the skill positions. That total does not include right guard Hoke Smith II, who started the last three games a year ago. The Midshipmen bring back five starters on defense along with several experienced backups.

Newberry believes the four straight losing seasons from 2020 to 2023 left a psychological impact on the program. Based on that recent history, there was uncertainty about whether the Midshipmen could turn things around.

“Last year at this time we were a wishful and hopeful football team that did all the right things, but wasn’t sure who we were going to be,” Newberry said. “Now we’re a team that expects to win and it’s not based on hope, but on concrete accomplishments. After having success last season, we are hungry to keep it going.”

Newberry based that assessment on what he saw during offseason strength and conditioning workouts. He liked the way the Midshipmen attacked the winter workouts known as “fourth quarters” and how they got after it during spring camp. Navy football players spent most of the summer on campus working hard with the strength and conditioning staff.

During remarks delivered from the podium during Friday’s media event, Newberry said that he felt good about this 2025 Navy football team, and not just because there is so much returning production.

“It’s because of the identity of this football team and the chemistry we have developed. Our guys genuinely love and care about each other. Close teams are powerful teams,” Newberry said. “I’m excited about the work that’s been put in since January. We talk about deserving success and our guys have shown up every day and worked at a very high level on a consistent basis.”

Navy opened the 2024 campaign on a roll by winning six straight games and was ranked 24th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll entering a late October showdown with Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish routed the Midshipmen, 51-14, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Navy was upset by Rice (24-10) the following Saturday and routed by Tulane (35-0) two weeks later, but rebounded for three straight wins to close out the season. That stretch was highlighted by a 31-13 beatdown of archrival Army and a 21-20 come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma.

“You always want to finish the season on a high note like we did. When you look at last season, we got off to a really good start then there was a little bit of a lull,” Newberry said. “To bounce back and finish the way we did against a really good Army football team then put an exclamation point by beating Oklahoma at the end was awesome.”

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

The announcement comes ahead of the American’s football media event being held this Thursday and Friday in Charlotte and represents a strategic and holistic approach, according to a press release.

“The American has built a brand that differentiates us in a crowded collegiate landscape by establishing and elevating what makes us distinctive,” commissioner Tim Pernetti said in the release. “This modernization is rooted in who we are and where we’re headed. It prioritizes clarity, momentum, and the competitive advantage driving every part of our conference forward.”

The league will now be referred to as “American Conference” on first reference and simply “American” thereafter. It has officially retired the names “American Athletic Conference” and “AAC”, while creating a new tagline: “Built to Rise.”

That taglines  ties into the league’s RISE (revenue, innovation, sports and entertainment) Ventures, a new commercial and innovation unit.

A new wordmark logo features the iconic primary angular mark “A,” which now leads the word “American.”

Also, the American introduced a mascot, Soar the Eagle, as it becomes the first collegiate conference to have a full-fledged brand ambassador. The muscular bird will be used as a community ambassador and will lead reading programs for kids, volunteer days at league campuses and charity fundraisers as part of the conference’s “Soar to Serve” initiative.

“A brand is more than a name. Over the past year, we stepped back, listened, and involved our community.” Pernetti said in the release. “That’s how real, lasting identity is built. We’re not slick, we’re strong. This brand defines who we are: service and mission-driven institutions of higher learning with highly competitive athletics and deeply committed leaders. The student-athletes and their experience will always be our north star.”

The American has been the most successful nonpower conference in the College Football Playoff’s 11-year history, earning seven New Year’s 6 bowl or CFP berths. The other Group of 5 conferences have combined for only four with no other nonpower league having more than two New Year’s 6 bowl appearances.

The American was formed in 2013 when basketball and football schools split from the Big East Conference. The seven Catholic non-football schools remained as part of the realigned Big East. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and Syracuse went to the Atlantic Coast Conference along with Notre Dame in every sport other than football.

The remaining Big East schools (Cincinnati, Connecticut, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers, South Florida and Temple) made up the original American Athletic Conference. Twelve years later, only Memphis, USF and Temple remain in the American.

Navy became a football-only member of the American in 2015, while archrival Army did so in 2024.

Initially, former commissioner Mike Aresco favored “America 12 Conference” as the league’s new name. But the university presidents rejected it because they didn’t want a number included.

In 2013 the league had 10 members, but that number has now risen to 14 for football: Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, North Texas, Rice, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, Alabama-Birmingham, South Florida and Texas-San Antonio along with football-only members Army and Navy. Wichita State is a non-football member of the American.

Spencer inked a four-year deal worth $10.5 million, according to multiple reports. Sources told the Capital Gazette that three of the years are fully guaranteed, while the fourth is a team option.

“The stability of the guaranteed deal means a lot. It is a long-term deal that shows that Memphis believes in me,” Spencer told the Capital Gazette via text message. “Nowhere I’d rather be than Memphis, playing for this organization. I’m fired up and going to go to war for the Grizzles.”

Memphis originally agreed to a two-year contract extension with Spencer, but circumstances allowed for a renegotiation between general manager Zach Kleiman and the player’s representatives with Priority Sports. After trading center Jay Huff and buying out guard Cole Anthony, the Grizzlies had more cap space and could give Spencer a lengthier deal.

“I’m super thankful. I told Zach and Coach Tuomas [Iisalo] that they’re going to get my best every single day,” Spencer said.

Detroit selected Spencer out of Connecticut in the second round (No. 53 overall pick) of the 2024 NBA draft then immediately traded him to Memphis. In 25 games last season, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound combo guard averaged 4.2 points, 1.4 assists and 1.2 rebounds. He shot 41.5% from the field and 35.8% from 3-point range.

The 25-year-old Spencer also started eight NBA G League games for the Memphis Hustle during the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season and averaged 23.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals. He played 32.2 minutes per game and shot 53.8% from the field, 49.3% from 3-point range and 76.5% from the free throw line.

Spencer went off against Birmingham in a Tip-Off Tournament contest, exploding for 51 points on 18-for-25 shooting, including 12-for-15 from beyond the arc.

“I think I proved that I’m someone who can impact winning at a high level,” said Spencer, who played on a two-way contract during his rookie season. “I showed that I can bring shooting, competitiveness and playmaking to the team while also setting a tone for a great culture in the locker room.”

Spencer has been a standout for Memphis in the NBA Summer League, totaling 17 points and four assists in a July 12 victory over Portland and 15 points in a July 11 loss to Boston. The Davidsonville resident was grateful for the work performed by his agents, Mark Bartelstein and Ross Aroyo, for getting the guaranteed deal done.

“Priority Sports has been great in this free agency process. They’ve helped guide me through all of it and their years of experience in the NBA along with their understanding of contracts really helped me secure a great long-term deal,” Spencer told Capital-Gazette.

Spencer, a Boys’ Latin product, began his college basketball career at Loyola Maryland and was a first team All-Patriot League pick as a junior. He transferred to Rutgers for one season and then to Connecticut, where he helped capture the 2024 national championship.

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

Despite being a backup, Costello was considered a leader of the unit as a senior in 2004.

“TJ was the heart and soul of the linebacker corps. He knew every single responsibility, every defensive call,” Jackson said. “TJ took his job extremely seriously and went into every game like he was going to play every single snap.”

Costello was a special teams standout during the 2004 season, during which Navy compiled a 10-2 record and captured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. The Midshipmen were also crowned as Emerald Bowl champions by beating New Mexico, 34-19. McClarin led Navy in tackles that season with 110, while Jackson was second with 108. Costello was credited with just one tackle in 2004, but had the complete respect of the two starters.

“TJ always pushed me and Lane to be better through his work ethic, intensity, dedication and commitment. He had an incredible attitude and a heart of gold,” McClarin said.

Thomas John Costello, a 2005 Naval Academy graduate and decorated Marine Corps officer, died unexpectedly last Tuesday at the age of 43. The Charlotte, North Carolina, resident suffered an apparent heart attack while on his daily lunchtime run.

For Jackson and McClarin, the news was nothing short of stunning. Their immediate reaction was to purchase plane tickets to travel to Charlotte the next day to support Costello’s wife and three children.

“My initial reaction was disbelief. I could not believe what I was hearing,” Jackson said. “I was totally devastated. TJ and I were extremely close. I loved him like a brother, so it hit really hard.”

Jackson was speaking to the Capital Gazette from Charlotte, where he had just completed cleaning out Costello’s office. Shortly after retiring from the Marine Corps, Costello went to work for Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, quickly rising to become vice president of operations.

“I came up to support the family, but I was a mental wreck myself and needed their help to come to grips with this,” Jackson said.

Costello, a Cleveland native, was a graduate of perennial private school powerhouse St. Ignatius. He brought a winning attitude to the Naval Academy Prep School, where he first met and bonded with Jackson, McClarin and another inside linebacker, Dustin Elliott.

“We all jelled immediately as brothers,” McClarin said. “For five straight years, we were inseparable. You didn’t say TJ without saying Lane, Bobby and Dustin. We were blood brothers.”

Costello, who graduated from the Naval Academy with an economics degree, served six years in the Marine Corps and retired with the rank of captain. He was trained as an infantry officer and led combat operations in Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. After leaving the military, Costello earned a master’s in business administration from Queens University before embarking on a 14-year career with Charlotte Pipe & Foundry. That was the same industry as Jackson, whose family owned U.S. Foundry for many years.

“TJ was the best person I knew. He was relentless in everything that he did and what he did and was completely selfless,” Jackson said. “His mission in life was to serve others, and nobody did so better than TJ.”

Costello is survived by his wife of 20 years, the former Julia Isabella, who was his high school sweetheart. He leaves behind three children — 18-year-old Finley, 15-year-old Harper and 13-year-old Claira.

Finley Costello was recruited to the Naval Academy as a rugby player and was in the midst of plebe summer. On Induction Day late last month, TJ Costello took a picture of his son to send to close friends such as Jackson and McClarin.

“TJ was on cloud nine because he was so happy and so proud of Finley,” said McClarin, who takes solace in the fact that Costello will live on forever in his children.

“There is nobody that exemplifies character, selflessness, love and a positive outlook on life more than TJ Costello. What brings happiness in a time of tragedy is when you see his three beautiful children embody all the traits and attributes that made TJ one of a kind.”

Costello is the third former Navy football player to die this year. Chris Wade, a 2004 graduate, died in January at age 44 following a brief battle with cancer.

Brian Ellis, a 1993 graduate, was among the 67 victims of the midair collision above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January. Ellis, 53, was aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 when it collided with an Army helicopter.

As was the case with Wade and Ellis, the Naval Football Brotherhood quickly mobilized to support the Costello family in any way possible. Ben Mathews, who was a senior starting inside linebacker when Costello, Elliott, Jackson and McClarin were sophomores, is spearheading a fundraiser to help Julia and the children withstand the loss of their breadwinner.

“The support network of the Navy Football Brotherhood has been incredible. I don’t know how I would have been able to support the family without them,” Jackson said. “Ben took charge from the outset and they’re providing things before I even have to askfor them.”

McClarin founded the Five Star Heart Project, a nonprofit organization based in his hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Five Star Heart routinely conducts youth football clinics, with all proceeds going to charity.

McClarin said the next Five Star Heart football clinic, being held in a few weeks, will donate all funds to the Navy Football Brotherhood on behalf of the Costello family. It is fitting since Costello traveled to the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania along with Jackson and Elliott to serve as counselors for a Five Star Heart camp.

“It’s crazy to realize the last time I saw TJ was on a football field right next to me helping out kids,” McClarin said.

A man of unwavering faith and deep compassion, Costello was a devoted volunteer at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Charlotte and regularly served meals to those in need. He also coached football at Trinity Middle School, sharing a love for the game along with the values of teamwork, perseverance and honor.

A funeral mass for Costello was held Monday at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, located at 507 South Tryon Street in Charlotte. Those wishing to honor Costello’s legacy should go to navyfootballbrotherhood.org/support/t-j-costello to make a donation in his memory.

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

Borland, who served as Severna Park athletic director from 1977 to 1996, was recognized during the annual MSADA conference held at the Princess Royale Resort in Ocean City. He was accompanied by wife, Katie, along with daughters, Margaret and Fran.

Severna Park athletics captured 42 state championships during Borland’s two decades as athletic director. He simultaneously served as head football coach the entire time.

Borland was introduced during the awards ceremony by Northeast athletic director Kenny Miller, who followed in the footsteps of his mentor as a teacher, coach and administrator. Miller detailed the many accomplishments of Borland, but more importantly provided the audience with insight as to why he was such a beloved figure at Severna Park.

“If you know Andy Borland, you are familiar with most of what I shared. If you do not know him and have a chance to meet him, you will never forget him. Andy has an impact on every person he meets,” said Miller, a 1990 Severna Park graduate who played football for Borland and later served a stint as his assistant coach.

Borland began teaching and coaching at Severna Park during the 1963-64 school year, initially serving as an assistant in football under George Roberts and wrestling with George Keedy as well as coaching outdoor track and field. He founded the Severna Park indoor track and field program and led it to a state championship in 1973.

Borland replaced Roberts as head football coach in 1973 and compiled a 145-108 record during a 25-year tenure. At the time of his retirement following the 1998 season, Borland ranked third all-time in career wins within Anne Arundel County behind Al Laramore (Annapolis) and Joe Papetti (Glen Burnie, South River).

Roberts, for whom Severna Park’s stadium field is named, also passed the responsibility of athletic director off to Borland, who also served a lengthy stint as chairman of the school’s physical education department.

“Andy has taught, coached and mentored thousands upon thousands of young student-athletes over the course of his amazing career,” Miller said. “The respect he has garnered from all of them as well as the entire Severna Park community is remarkable.”

Borland is a native of Durham, North Carolina, and was a varsity wrestler at Duke for three seasons before ultimately graduating from Atlantic Christian (now Barton College) with a physical education degree.

Borland was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame as recipient of the Bernie Walter Memorial Award for dedicated and distinguished service in 2022. He was inducted into the Severna Park High Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

Borland joins a distinguished list of athletic directors from Anne Arundel County to be inducted into the MSADA Hall of Fame: Mike Baker (Brooklyn Park, North County, 2024), Lee Dove (Archbishop Spalding, 2023), Ken Kazmarek (Broadneck, 2023), Wayne Mook (Severna Park, 2017), Bruce Lawton (Old Mill, 2016), Tom Albright (Southern, 2010), Fred Stauffer (Annapolis, 2009), Steve Malone (Andover), Carmine Blades (St. Mary’s, 2001), Jim Dillon (Old Mill, 2000), Fred Hewitt (Severn School, 1999), Don Gardner (St. Mary’s, 1995), Bob Grimm (Northeast, 1994), George Roberts (Severna Park, 1983), C. Mason Russell (St. Mary’s, 1983) and Steve Carroll (Arundel, 1980).

Markiewicz honored

Lifelong Anne Arundel County resident Chuck Markiewicz was presented with the prestigious John Harvill Lifetime Achievement Award by the Maryland Football Coaches Association.

Markiewicz was honored during a ceremony held inside the Gossett Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Maryland in late April. He was also recognized at halftime of the Maryland Red-White intrasquad scrimmage that caps spring football camp.

Established in 2015, the John Harville Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals that have contributed immensely to high school football in the state of Maryland over the course of a long career.

It is named after the former Gaithersburg head coach who compiled a 318-108 record during a remarkable 41-year tenure. Borland is the only other Anne Arundel County coach to receive the honor.

Markiewicz is the all-time winningest coach in Anne Arundel County history, having compiled a 243-99 (.711 winning percentage) career record over 31 seasons on the sideline. He coached at four different high schools in the county — Chesapeake, Meade, North County and Arundel.

Markiewicz is the winningest coach at both North County (79-39, 11 seasons) and Arundel (146-47, 18 seasons). He led the Knights to the 1994 Class 4A state championship and the Wildcats to the 1994 Class 4A state final.

Markiewicz was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

He is also a member of the athletic halls of fame at Arundel High and Anne Arundel Community College. He was previously inducted into the Maryland Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Garnering gold

Anne Arundel County resident Kori Edmondson was a member of the United States National Team that captured the gold medal at the inaugural Pan-American Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

Edmondson, a consensus first team All-American as a junior at Maryland this past season, was a late addition to the roster as an injury replacement for Madison Taylor. The Severn resident totaled four goals and two assists as Team USA went 5-0 to capture the Pan-American crown. The Big Ten Conference Midfielder of the Year scored a goal as the U.S. routed Canada, 21-11, in the final.

Edmondson was previously a member of the 2024 United States Under-20 national team that captured the World Lacrosse Championship in Hong Kong. Last season, the McDonogh graduate led Maryland in points (73), goals (59) and ground balls (38) while setting career-highs for draw controls (70), caused turnovers (18) and assists (14).

Football fundraiser

Annapolis High football will hold a fundraiser from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on July 31 at Maryland Hall. Coach DeWayne Hunt said all proceeds will go to the purchase of equipment, nutrition and other team needs not covered in the school’s athletic budget.

Hunt said there will be several surprise guest speakers that Annapolis High football fans and community members will not want to miss.

Tickets cost $50 and include food and beverages. For tickets, click on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/annapolis-high-football-fundraiser-tickets-1427880181059

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

The Southern standout had one last opportunity to achieve her goal of becoming a state champion.

Jonathan Burgee took over the Southern program this spring and devised a plan he thought would help his youngest sister take the final step. Jonathan began training Rebecca in the 400 to improve her speed for the purpose of getting out to an early lead in the 800.

That strategy paid double dividends as Rebecca Burgee not only captured the 2A state championship in the 800, but also in the 400. For good measure, Burgee ran a leg on Southern’s state championship 4×400 and the 4×800 relay that was runner-up.

Burgee’s superb performance at the state meet solidified her status as the Capital Gazette girls outdoor track and field Athlete of the Year.

“I was really nervous at the state meet because it was my last chance. I had to remind myself to just stay calm,” Burgee said. “Winning the 400 relieved all the stress and made running the 800 a lot easier. Winning another state championship in the relay was icing on the cake. It was just a great meet overall and an incredible cap to my [high school] career.”

Burgee breezed to victory in the 400, posting a time of 56.57 seconds that was nearly a second faster than runner-up Madisyn Bobb of Harford Tech. However, things did not go as planned in her signature event.

Burgee got boxed in by a bunch of other runners for the better part of 600 meters and was unable to get to the front as she prefers.

“The 800 unfolded in less than ideal circumstances,” Jonathan Burgee acknowledged. “I give Rebecca a lot of credit for staying calm and being patient.”

Rebecca later admitted she was growing more concerned with each turn around the track and was anxiously awaiting a chance to break into the clear.

“It was a really slow race and everyone was bunched together really tightly,” she said. “Finally, the girl on my right kicked and that gave me an opening to get out. I made my move in the last 200 meters and fortunately I was able to outkick the competition.”

Burgee won the 800 in 2:19.17, more than a second ahead of Ella Lustig from Century.

Coach Burgee believes mindset was critical to the breakthrough, noting Rebecca has been among the state’s best 800 runners for the past three years. They talked a lot about race management and strategy along with knowing how to execute at crunch time.

Being the youngest of five siblings innately instilled Burgee with a fierce competitive spirit, while the ability to focus and execute a game plan has become a strength, her brother said.

“When you get down to the top three runners in the state, everyone is good. Ultimately, the difference is mindset and how you approach the state final. In that final stretch when everyone is tired and hurting, it’s about belief, desire and finding the mental toughness to push through and finish strong,” Jonathan said.

Rebecca Burgee has long possessed the stamina and fitness to excel at the highest level in the 800. Jonathan Burgee gambled that becoming an effective 400-meter runner would set his sister apart from the competition. It was a pleasant surprise that Rebecca got so good in the 400 that she did not lose in the event during the outdoor season and ran a personal best time in capturing the county championship in 56.40. She easily claimed the Class 2A West Region championship, prompting an important decision. That’s because the finals of the 400 and 800 are contested about 90 minutes apart at the state meet.

“This season, we put a lot of focus on the 400 with the whole goal of getting Becca faster so she could get out strong in the first half of the 800,” Jonathan said. “We had a conversation about doing both at the state meet. Rebecca made the decision to go for it and try to win two state championships.”

Rebecca Burgee, who played soccer up until high school, initially joined the Southern indoor track and field program as a freshman because her sister Hannah was a senior captain.

“It was my older sister who told me to do track and field or else she wasn’t going to drive me home,” Rebbeca said with a laugh. “I really enjoyed being part of the team along with my friends, but it took some time to really like the sport.”

Rebecca initially pursued the sprints since those were the shortest races, but was encouraged by the coaching staff to follow in her sister’s footsteps by focusing on the middle distance events. She saw some success as a freshman, running a leg on the 4×800-meter relay that took third at the state meet.

“That is when I was like ‘Oh wait, I kind of like this.’ So I started putting more effort into training over the summer. I came back a lot better as a sophomore,” Burgee said.

Burgee will continue her track and field career at Maryland and is initially expected to focus on the 800. Her immediate goal is to improve upon the personal record in the event that was set at the 2023 state championship meet, saying “it’s long overdue.”

“Going to a program that has a lot more support, a lot more resources is going to help Becca considerably,” Jonathan said. “I think Becca can handle the training demands that come with competing at that level and is really going to excel at Maryland.”

Coach of the Year

Jonathan Burgee, Southern

Southern girls track and field posted its best team results in the three outdoor postseason championship events for at least two decades. The Bulldogs finished fourth at the Anne Arundel County championships, third at the Class 2A West Region championships and fourth at the Class 2A state championships.

Burgee, in his fourth season with the program and first as head coach, pushed all the right buttons to maximize the points production of a small roster consisting of 12 athletes.

Rebecca Burgee and Marley Shaw provided quality points by winning or placing high in multiple events at all three championship meets. They were also members of relay teams that scored well.

Maya Voorhees provided in the field events and was a member of multiple relays. Katherine DiPietro was another key figure as the Bulldogs won the 4×200 and 4×400 relays, finished second in the 4×800 and third in the 4×100 at the region meet.

Southern has made great strides since failing to score a single point at the outdoor state meet in 2015. Much of the credit goes to former head coach Leon Tucker, who steadily built the girls program during his decade at the helm.

Tucker increased the coaching staff from one assistant to four, which allowed for more individual and event-specific training. Southern’s had the same staff for five years now.

“What really helped with the girls was getting the right coaches in place,” said Burgee, who praised the contributions of assistants K.O. Gray (sprints), Tom Prendki (distance) and Mike Holt (field events).

Four years ago, the Bulldogs had a solid contingent of sophomores and freshmen that were led by seniors Hannah Burgee and Maria Love. Tucker believes improved leadership helped accelerate the development of younger athletes.

“We were fortunate to get a good wave of girls that were strong runners, which in turn improved the competitiveness within practices,” Tucker said. “The girls were passionate about track and field and bought into the training program. They wanted to be good and put forth the effort to be good.’

Southern set 10 school records this outdoor season, including in the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays. Last season, Southern set a new standard by placing fifth at the county and region meets then surpassed this spring.

“This is the best Southern girls team I’ve ever seen,” Tucker said. “The momentum on the girls side has been building for several years.”

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

All-County first team

Jaslyn Bangoura, Meade, junior

Bangoura was the Anne Arundel County outdoor champion in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.37 seconds. She placed third in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 100 at the Class 4A East Region meet and was fifth in the 300 at states. In indoor season, she was county champion in the 55 hurdles, then placed second at the Central Region meet and fifth at states.

Sedona Clarke, Broadneck, sophomore

Clarke got better as the year went along on, capturing the 4A East Region championship in the high jump, clearing 5 foot, 3 inches. At the state meet she cleared 5-4 and placed third. In indoor season, her jump of 4-10 won the county championship.

Alexandra Collier, Spalding, junior, sprints

Collier was the IAAM A Conference runner-up in both the 100- and 200-meter dash, posting times of 12.36 and 24.33 seconds, respectively. She also ran the anchor leg of Spalding’s runner-up 4×200 relay, which set a school record. She ran a personal-best time of 11.94 seconds in the 100 at the New Balance National Championships.

Charlotte DeForest, Crofton, senior

DeForest showed her versatility at the Anne Arundel County Outdoor Championships by placing second in the triple jump and third in both the long jump and pole vault. She was the Class 4A East Region champ in the long jump (17-8 ¾), runner-up in the pole vault (10-9) and fourth in triple jump. At states she was fifth in the triple jump and seventh in both long jump and pole vault. In the winter, she was county indoor champion in the long jump and triple jump.

Dan Doubek, Broadneck, sophomore

Doubek literally set a high bar by capturing Anne Arundel County outdoor championships in both the pole vault (11-6) and high jump (5 feet). Doubek added the Class 4A East Region championship in the pole vault (11-9) and was runner-up in the high jump (5-1). She closed out the season by placing third in the pole vault at the Class 4A state meet. In indoor season, Doubek took second in pole vault at the county and region meets and finished fifth at states.

Marissa Mock, Spalding, junior, middle distance

Mock claimed the IAAM A Conference championship in the 800 with a personal-best time of 2:17.45. She also ran the leadoff leg of Spalding’s third place entry in the 4×400 relay, which set a school record of 3:55.35.

Claire Mutekeke, Chesapeake, senior

Mutekeke swept the Anne Arundel County outdoor championships in both the shot put and discus with throws of 34-7 ¼ and 109-08, respectively. She was third in the discus and fourth in the shot put at the Class 3A East Region meet and was third in the discus at states. She was the indoor state runner-up in the shot put throwing a personal best 35-1/2.

Grace Redmond, Severna Park, freshman

Redmond captured Anne Arundel County outdoor championships in both the 1,600 and 3,200. She repeated the sweep of the distance events at the Class 3A East Region championships then finished seventh at the state meet. She also ran on the Falcons’ state runner-up 4×800 relay.

Marley Shaw, Southern, junior

Shaw captured the Anne Arundel County outdoor championship in the 300 hurdles with a time of 46.38 seconds and placed third in the 100 hurdles. She secured Class 2A West Region championships in both hurdle events and placed third in the 300 at the state meet. She was county runner-up in the indoor 55 hurdles.

Nkechi Streete, Broadneck, sophomore

Streete was the Anne Arundel County outdoor champion in both the long and triple jump at distances of 17-10 ¼ and 37-07, respectively. She also claimed the Class 3A East Region crown in the triple jump and was runner-up in the long jump. She capped a strong season by placing third in both events at the Class 4A state meet. This comes on the heels of an indoor season in which she won the county high jump title and was third in the long jump and triple jump.

Ava Zimmerman, Severna Park, senior

Zimmerman was the Anne Arundel County outdoor champion in the 800 with a time of 2:15.48. She was runner-up in the 800 at the Class 3A East Region meet with a personal record time of 2:14.45. She also placed third in the 400 at both the county and region meets. In the winter, she was the indoor county and region champion in the 800 and placed fourth at states. She was also county runner-up and Central Region champion in the 500.

All-County second team

Ce’Anna Adkins, Old Mill, freshman

Laila Carpenter, Crofton, senior

Ashtyn Coates, Broadneck, freshman

Brianna Easley, North County, senior

Alexa Holt, Severna Park, junior

Emma McCarthy, St. Mary’s, senior

Karise Manley, Spalding, junior

Siena Pegues, Severna Park, sophomore

Taylor Seymore, Spalding, sophomore

Abigail Shown, Broadneck, sophomore

Maya Voorhees, Southern, junior

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

More than half a century later, 11 of the 15 members of that team got together late last month to relive the memories of a magical run that took them across the country to California.

During the 54th reunion held at the Arnold home of Joel Sowells, the lifelong friends talked about the dramatic, walk-off victory in the regional finals and being on the cusp of becoming world champions. They remembered the deceased coaches who led the team to 11 straight wins through three tournaments, along with the overpowering pitching performances, clutch hits and sparkling defensive plays.

“We told stories for hours. We are probably all much better now than we were back then in our minds,” Sowells said with a laugh. “We were a close-knit team consisting of guys that grew up together. It was wonderful to catch up with everyone. We talked about family and life.”

The Linthicum Ferndale Youth Athletic Association was among the first organizations in Maryland to adopt Bronco (11- and 12-year-old) and PONY (13 and 14) baseball instead of Little League.

Operated by Boys Baseball Incorporated out of Washington, Pennsylvania, those leagues were designed to transition youngsters to regulation baseball both in terms of field size and rules. Bronco utilized 70-foot basepaths and wooden bats with leading off and stealing bases among the elements allowed that were not under Little League rules.

LFYAA fielded an in-house Bronco league consisting of six teams with names such as Yankees and Orioles that ran from April through mid-July. It became a tradition for LFYAA to select an all-star team to represent the organization in postseason tournaments played in late July and August.

“Baseball was life during the spring and summer. We didn’t go to Ocean City or anywhere else for vacation because we were playing baseball every day,” said Steve Stielper, starting shortstop on the LYFAA team that reached the championship game of the Bronco World Series.

In 1971, Bill Warren Sr. earned the right to manage the all-star contingent because his team, the Yankees, had captured the in-house league championship. He and assistant Tommy Thomas selected the squad, which consisted of 15 players — six of whom had played for the powerful Yankees.

“My dad and Tommy Thomas were true baseball guys. They had both been coaching a long time and really knew the game inside and out,” said Billy Warren Jr., one of two starting pitchers for the LFYAA all-stars.

Magical run

Postseason play began with the Mid-Atlantic District Tournament, which in 1971 was hosted by the Linthicum-Ferndale Youth Athletic Association at the Cromwell Field complex.

It was a major event with a pretournament banquet held at Lancer’s Restaurant that attracted such notables as Gov. Marvin Mandel, Anne Arundel County Executive Joseph Alton, and legendary sportscaster and former professional basketball coach and official Charley Eckman.

There was a parade through Linthicum and Ferndale to the Cromwell recreation complex, which featured five baseball fields.

LFYAA compiled a 4-0 record and beat a team from Chesapeake, Virginia, in the championship game. Linthicum-Ferndale trailed 6-0 but battled back to win, 7-6, in extra innings.

That advanced the club to the Eastern Regional Tournament held in Parkersburg, West Virginia. LFYAA once again went unbeaten, going 4-0 and defeating New Bedford, Massachusetts, in dramatic fashion to capture the championship.

With the score tied in the bottom of the seventh inning, catcher Dave Neall doubled down the left field line to drive in a runner from second base and give Linthicum-Ferndale a 3-2 walk-off win. That earned the Anne Arundel County contingent an automatic berth in the Bronco World Series, being held in Camarillo, California.

“I will never forget that region championship game. It was an incredible feeling knowing we were going to the World Series,” Stielper said. “We were all jumping around celebrating and singing, ‘California Here We Come.’ That became one of our theme songs.”

But there was a slight problem. The Linthicum-Ferndale Youth Athletic Association suddenly had to come up with money to fly the team to California and pay for hotels and meals for a 10-day stay.

Bill Warren Sr. worked as the Chief Plumbing Inspector for Anne Arundel County and was politically well-connected as the longtime president of the Stoney Creek Democratic Club. He reached out to Creston Tate, owner of Tate Dodge in Glen Burnie.

Tate, a well-known philanthropist in northern Anne Arundel County, agreed to sponsor the LFYAA all-star team’s trip to California. The Baltimore News-American published a photo of Alton and Tate addressing the team before practice, and the players were given Tate Dodge memorabilia to wear while in California.

Linthicum-Ferndale wound up playing five games in 10 days, making a strong statement from the outset by upsetting Puerto Rico, 2-1, in the opener. Beam doubled in both runs in the first inning and Warren pitched a complete-game two-hitter with seven strikeouts over seven innings.

That sent the defending champions into the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

LFYAA beat Mexico by an identical 2-1 score as left-handed starter Mike Lowman twirled a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts. They then knocked off tournament host Santa Susanna, 2-0, with Warren hurling a three-hitter with nine strikeouts for the shutout. Sowells had an RBI single in that game.

At that point, the Maryland entry was the only unbeaten team in the field and had already been crowned as Continental United States champions.

On days off, the 12-year-olds who were visiting the West Coast for the first time had a blast. They spent an afternoon at Magic Mountain, then a brand-new theme park. They toured the Naval Air Station Point Mugu and spent another day at a beach on the Pacific Ocean.

But their magical run on the diamond came to a crashing halt. Puerto Rico came out of the loser’s bracket and beat LFYAA, 3-1 and 8-4, in two straight games to repeat as Bronco World Series champs.

“We were in the driver’s seat and couldn’t put it away,” said Sowell, noting that LFYAA only had to win one game against Puerto Rico to be crowned champs. “We had played so well for so long and just could not finish it off.”

To this day, Warren still regrets not having his best stuff in the final game. It was originally scheduled to start at 5 p.m. but was delayed until 6. That meant that Warren warmed up twice before taking the mound.

“I threw half a game in the bullpen and my arm was tired after two innings. It’s a shame because we should have beat Puerto Rico. We were the better team,” Warren said. “I remember that one loss more than any of the wins. It was tough not being able to close it out.”

Pitching and defense were the strengths of the Linthicum-Ferndale club with the righty-lefty combination of Warren and Lowman dominating all comers through three tournaments. They notched a lot of strikeouts and relied on sound fielding whenever the ball was put in play.

Warren was a hard thrower for a 12-year-old and was able to hit his spots, while Lowman was described as a crafty left-hander who mixed pitches and changed speeds.

“Billy and Mike were outstanding pitchers. They did not give up many runs or hits up until the last couple games against Puerto Rico,” Sowells said.

In addition to Sowells at first, Stielper at short and Neall behind the plate, the Linthicum-Ferndale infield included second baseman Glen Thomas and third baseman Frank Beam. The outfield featured Nick Zabiegalski in left, Earl Cross in right and either Warren or Lowman in center.

“We were a fundamentally sound ballclub that played the game the right way. It was very rare that we ever made an error or any other sort of fielding mistake,” Stielper said. “Pitching and defense were why we won so many close, low-scoring games.”

Warren, Stielper, Sowells and Neall wound up playing baseball together at Andover. Reserve infielder Frank Peusch would become a Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection at rival Brooklyn Park High and was a member of the 1978 Anne Arundel Community College club that reached the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.

Peusch and backup pitcher John Huey were the only 11-year-olds on the LFYAA all-star team. Huey moved to Mannington, West Virginia, grew to 6-foot-5 and was selected in the 26th round of the 1978 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Stielper grew to 6-foot-8 and wound up becoming even better in basketball than he was in baseball. He was the consensus Anne Arundel County Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 33.3 points per game and leading Andover to the Class AA state championship game.

Stielper became the all-time leading scorer at James Madison and set the single-game school record by netting 51 points against Robert Morris. He was a ninth-round draft pick of the Indiana Pacers and played professionally in Australia and Spain for five years.

Sowells (Arnold) and Thomas (Severn) are the only team members who still live in Anne Arundel County. Stielper (Abingdon, Ocean City) and Cross still reside in Maryland, while Warren lives in Selbyville, Delaware.

Frank McGinn, who played baseball at Arundel High after playing on the 1971 all-star team, has died. Lowman recently suffered a heart attack and could not attend the reunion, while Huey endured a medical emergency at the airport and was therefore unable to fly to Maryland.

“It was wonderful to see everyone. We had not all been together since we got off the airplane at old Friendship Airport wearing our Tate Dodge hats,” Stielper said.

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

Forward Brady Geho (Curley, St. John’s) scored the game-winning goal in the 67th minute, and midfielder Luke Dunne added a clinching tally in the 90th as the Blues beat the Virginia Marauders, 3-1, before an announced crowd of 7,453 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Sunday night.

Midfielder Dan Klink (Loyola Blakefield, North Carolina) scored the other goal for Annapolis (7-4), which is still mathematically in contention for one of two playoff berths from the Chesapeake Division. The Blues remain in fourth place with three games remaining and would need some help to move up into second.

Defending Chesapeake Division champ Lionsbridge FC (8-1-3) is in first place, followed by Virginia Beach United (9-2-2) and Northern Virginia FC (7-1-3).

The Blues lost four games across two seasons in capturing consecutive Mid-Atlantic Division championships within the National Premier Soccer League. Annapolis moved into the second tier of the United Soccer League this season and has found the competition is tougher.

“I look at how we’ve adjusted to this schedule and I look at the commitment of the players, and I am pleased,” Annapolis coach Colin Herriot said. “You want to win every game, but I like the way we have competed.”

Klink only recently joined the Blues. The Gatorade National Player of the Year made his first start and scored his first goal in short order.

Midfielder Max Viera (Georgetown) threaded a perfect pass to the foot of Klink, who got behind his defender and buried a strong shot into the near corner past the outstretched arms of the diving goalie to give the Blues a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.

“It was a great team buildup and a great look from Max. He’s very clever and slipped that pass through and I had the easy part,” Klink said. “You couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the game.”

Viera and Klink almost connected again a few minutes later with the former delivering a crossing pass to the front of the net. However, Klink could not handle the feed and the ball bounced off his foot and out of bounds.

Herriot was impressed by Klink, who was very active and had several dangerous scoring changes. The Blues have seen six players recalled by their college teams over the past week, so the addition of Klink was timely.

“To come into this environment and play the way he did — super proud of Dan. He was really lively in certain moments,” Herriot said. “We just got confirmation that Dan will be with us for the rest of the season, so he’s been a really good bonus for us.”

Virginia midfielder Gavin Shiels scored in the 58th minute to tie the score. A throw-in followed by two good passes set up Shiels, who played the ball ahead to himself to get one-on-one with the goalie. Annapolis keeper Emigdio Tormo Lopez had come out of the net to challenge Shiels, who drove the ball past him and into the far corner.

Klink had a golden opportunity to give the lead back to the Blues a few minutes later, but his attempted header into an empty net just went wide of the post. Geho did not miss in the 67th minute as he took a perfect through pass from Rafa Machado and deftly finished into the far corner.

It was the sixth goal of the season for Geho, a Westminster resident who has been a force up front.

Dunne scored the clincher off a play created by Tyler Gabarra (Broadneck, NC State), who carried the ball into the box then chipped it into the corner to fellow defender Ricky Schissler (Curley, UMBC).

Schissler fired a pass to Geho, whose muffed shot attempt turned into a pass directly to Dunne. The Salisbury native and Boston University standout beat the fallen goalie from out front.

“We dominated the game for large parts, but did not finish some really good situations in the final third today,” Herriot said. “They get the equalizers and you’re thinking here we go. A great, great reaction from our guys and a great win.”

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.

Late last week, North Carolina announced its nonconference schedule which included a Nov. 18 matchup with Navy. It marks the first meeting between the Midshipmen and Tar Heels since the 1998 NCAA Tournament, an 88-52 win for the Tar Heels, who advanced to the Final Four that season.

Last season, North Carolina finished 23-14 after losing to Mississippi, 71-64, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina was a controversial at-large selection for the tournament and beat San Diego State in the First Four.

Seth Trimble leads a solid group of returning players for the Tar Heels, who graduated guard RJ Davis and lost two other top scorers — Ian Jackson and Elliott Cadeau — to the transfer portal.

Meanwhile, Navy returns all five starters along with numerous reserves. Senior point guard Austin Benigni, who led the Midshipmen in scoring, rebounding and assists, was a first team All-Patriot League pick.

Benigni entered the transfer portal after coach Ed DeChellis announced his retirement, but pulled out after longtime assistant Jon Perry was promoted to the top post.

“Playing against a program like North Carolina with great tradition and a history of winning, especially in a high-energy environment, helps us build chemistry under pressure,” Perry said. “We have great respect for Coach [Hubert] Davis and his team.”

North Carolina played in the 2015 Veterans Classic at Alumni Hall, beating Temple, 91-67, in the opener.

Perry said North Carolina is not the only team from a Power Four conference that will be on the 2025-26 Navy schedule, but can not reveal any other opponents until those school or schools announce the game.

“We are excited to embrace the challenge of a nationally competitive schedule because it pushes our team to grow in all areas,” Perry said. “These nonconference games prepare us for Patriot League play and help us build the edge we need to compete at the highest level.”

On Monday, Navy men’s basketball announced a home-and-home series against Air Force for 2025 and 2026. The Falcons will travel to Annapolis this season and the Midshipmen will return the favor by playing in Colorado Springs next year.

This year’s Air Force at Navy game will be played on Dec. 7 at Alumni Hall. The two service academies have not met in men’s basketball since 2005. Perry hopes to play Air Force annually and would like to see Army do so as well so there is a Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy type of competition for men’s basketball.

“We are honored to renew this rivalry with the Air Force Academy and restore a tradition that carries deep meaning for both institutions,” Perry said. “It’s an opportunity to compete with pride against a team that, like us, is committed to service and excellence. At the end of the day, we are all part of the same team that stands together in support of our country.”

Woods named captain

Navy men’s basketball recently announced that rising senior forward Mike Woods has been selected as team captain.

Woods, an Upper Marlboro native who attended Frederick Douglass High, has appeared in 79 career games with nine starts, averaging 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. The 6-foot-3, 211-pound forward, who plays much bigger than his height, was outstanding during the second half of Patriot League play last season, averaging 9.1 points and 3.6 rebounds from Feb. 12 to March 1.

“Being voted team captain is a testament to the respect Mike has earned from both his teammates and coaching staff,” Perry said. “He leads with consistent effort, humility and an unselfish commitment to others. Mike plays with pride and passion, models the standard every day and represents everything we want in our captain.”

New assistant hired

On Tuesday, Perry announced that Chase Coleman has been hired as assistant coach, filling the vacancy created when associate head coach Emmett Davis announced his retirement.

Coleman played basketball at Virginia then remained at his alma mater for two years as a graduate assistant. A former walk-on for the Cavaliers, the Norfolk, Virginia, native played in 33 career games and was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll all four seasons.

Coleman, a product of Maury High, served one season as a graduate assistant under former Virginia coach Tony Bennett and another this past season under Ron Sanchez.

“Chase is a man of integrity, known for his tireless work ethic and ability to build strong, authentic relationships,” Perry said. “Chase takes great pride in serving others and is deeply committed to helping young men reach their goals. He understands the responsibility and privilege of developing leaders here at the Naval Academy through the game of basketball and will be an outstanding addition to the staff.”

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.