Winter sports’ vigorous debut

Gina Lin
CHS Class of 2024

(1/2023) Winter sports are well past transition from the fall season. FCPS officially commenced the winter athletic season on November 15th, although competitions didn’t start until December. After much training, in anticipation for the eminent season, the Cougars are showing off their athletic prowess on the courts, tracks, and pools. Several Catoctin sports teams have lived up to their expectations, such as girls’ basketball, the track team, the swim team, and unified bocce.

Girls’ basketball overwhelmed the courts during their first game of the season, on December 6th. Both JV and varsity teams played Francis Scott Key High School, and prevailed. Freshman Kelsey Troxell led the team with 13 points. Freshman Harley Fitzpatrick contributed 12 points, and freshman Kasssiy Kreitz scored 10 points, for the Cougars. The final score was 58-30 for the JV Lady Cougars. While the JV girls easily dominated FSK, the girls' varsity team won by a narrow margin, with the final score being forty eight to forty seven. Junior Grace Williams led the team with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Sophomore Taylor Smith secured 11 points, and freshman Brooke Williams added 12 rebounds.

Additionally, Smith hit two foul shots at the conclusion of the game, giving the varsity Lady Cougars their hard-earned victory. Girls’ basketball at Oakdale High School on December 9th. Taylor Smith, who played a double-double, led the Cougars with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Kylie Perhach scored 13 points and sophomore Kayden Glotfelty contributed four assists. Freshman Brooke Williams dished out 10 rebounds, followed by Grace Williams with 8 rebounds. The JV girls’ team lost to their opponent. The Lady Cougars continued their formidable campaign on December 14th, against Middletown High School. JV girls’ basketball swept the Knights in a thirty nine to twenty nine victory. Kelsey Troxell ran the show with 13 points, six steals, and seven blocks. Harley Fitzpatrick followed, with 12 points. Varsity girls’ basketball narrowly defeated the Knights in their forty six to forty three win. Taylor Smith scored 15 points and 7 steals. Brooke Williams contributed 12 rebounds. Williams blocked the game with time expiring, as well.

Catoctin High’s track program continues their top-notch performance– setting local, state, and even national records! The indoor track team had their first meet of the season at Hagerstown Community College, on December 9th. Starting with the girls, junior Ava Thompson carried the ninth fastest time in the 55-meter dash, of 8.15 seconds, in the 1A division. A novice runner, sophomore Karlie Hood, finished the 500-meter run with 1:41.5 minutes; this is impressive considering that it was her first meet. Junior Paula Cofrades pulled off 10.03 seconds in the 55-meter hurdle. Cofrades’s score placed her in first for best time in 1A west and second in the state. Freshman Olivia Baker competed in the 800-meter dash. Baker ran a time of 2:53.20, and placed third in 1A west.

Overall, the girls placed fourteenth at the Terry Baker Invitational. The boys’ track team also attended the Terry Baker Invitational and placed nineteenth overall. The Cougars took fifth place in the 4x800 relay, with runners Dennise Lease (sophomore), Chris Sanchez (senior), Gab Riling (junior), and RJ Etzler (junior). The team completed the relay with a time of 9:43.39 minutes. The boy’s track team also participated at the Ed Bowie Invite, which was held at the Prince George’s County Sports Complex. Although they placed eighth out of 31 teams, notable individual performances from the boys that should be highlighted. Junior Furious Trammel competed in the 300 and 500 meter dashes, and placed second in both–becoming the fastest 1A runner in those events. Senior Alex Contreras became the fastest 1A miler runner, and placed fourth in the competition. In the 55-meter event, senior Brody Buffington placed second. Additionally, Buffington took first in the long jump, with an incredible distance of 23 feet and 5 ¾ inches.

The Catoctin High School wrestling team has started off the season strongly. They faced the Walkersville High School Lions on December 14th. Cougars captured the match with a final score of forty two to thirty three. Lions prevailed in the 113, 120, 126, 132, 145, and 170 weight class. Cougars dominated seven weight classes. Senior Braden Bell won in the 138-pound weight class. Thanks to Bell’s tilts, he was able to pin Lion Rhys Ferguson in five minutes and 28 seconds. In the 152-pound weight class, junior Evan Burd pinned his opponent at the 2:53 mark. Senior Nathan Kovalcik won by forfeit in the 182-pound class. Freshman Ethan Williams (195-pound weight class), senior Grant Kelly (220), and junior Braden Bagent (285) also won by forfeit.

The Catoctin swim team opened the season against Brunswick High School Railroaders on December 8th. Both boys and girls swim teams set personal best times in the seasons’ first meet. The girls team was led by senior Molly Parsons and junior Kay Burhman. Burhman set the school record for the 200-yard freestyle and won the 300- yard freestyle. Parsons won both of her individual events. The final score resulted in a narrow defeat for the Cougars of seventy eight to sixty three. The boys’ team swam hard and managed a 65-55 win over the Railroaders. Freshman Jack Fordham won the 100-fly individual. Wayne Ferson and Thomas Bower both won the 200 yard- freestyle.

The Catoctin Unified Bocce team has also begun the season off strong. Their first game was played against Middletown High School. Key players of the first team included: Lucas Phelan, senior Siddah Robbins, senior Hailey Sier, and sophomore Chad Zimmerman. Robins led the team by scoring two goals, and Sier and Zimmerman each contributed a goal. Team one won five to three, in both the first and second matches. Team two was led by Ashton Merritt, who scored three goals. Senior Jazmyne Howard made one goal, and junior Shay Johnson added another. The Cougars secured the second game with a score of five to four. Afterwards, a tie-breaking game was played. The Knights only scored in the first frame, and the match would be decided on overall team points. Combined scores handed the Cougars their victory against Middletown with eighteen to sixteen.

Unified Bocce played Urbana Hawks and held their senior night on December 15th. They honored seniors Alex Flohr, Jazmyne Howard, Siddah Robbins, and Hailey Sier. The Hawks carried the game at first, but Cougars team one recovered. The score tied at three during the fourth frame. After the fifth frame, Cougars triumphed by securing two more points than the Hawks. Robbins led the second match with repeated signature bank shots. Flohr and Johnny Waslter contributed to the Cougar victory in the second match of four to two. All players scored during the final match, leading to a decisive win for Catoctin with a score of seven to zero. Phelan ushered in court two with a score. Additionally, Zimmerman and Merrit added two points. Howard gave the Cougars another point during the fourth frame. The first court two match sided with Catoctin, six to three. The Hawks pulled themselves together and secured the two final matches. Overall, the Cougars prevailed by winning four out of the six matches.

The Catoctin athletic program has much potential, and fans are eager to see the remainder of the winter season play out!