Bill Swaney, Linganore Wrestling Coach

With his team bidding to win a third consecutive state duals championship, Linganore High wrestling coach Bill Swaney is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Swaney talks with host Greg Swatek about his long career as a wrestling coach in Frederick County that has almost spanned almost two decades. He discusses taking over the head coaching job at Linganore this season from longtime friend and colleague Ben Arneson and some of the challenges the Lancers have faced as they go after another state title.

He also talks about how the sport has changed over the years and the need to evolve with the times and adapt to what's happening now. And he talks about his beloved Washington Commanders and Capitals having terrific seasons and being squarely in a championship chase.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss a Frederick County girls flag football commitment at Mount St. Mary's, a profile he is working on about longtime Tuscarora coach Mike O'Brien and the local high school basketball scene.

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Dean Swink, Former Urbana High Football Coach

A few days after officially stepping down as the varsity football coach at Urbana High School, Dean Swink is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Swink explains in detail his decision to step down to host Greg Swatek. What were the biggest factors that drove it? How long had he been wrestling with it? And why was now the right time?

He was the head coach at Urbana for two seasons, going 10-13 overall over that span. Previously, he was the head coach at Tuscorora High School from 2009-11. Is there a future for him coaching football in some capacity, even if he is not the head coach? And what will he miss the most about the job.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the boys and girls basketball pecking order this season in Frederick County.

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Jordan Addison's Mother, Keisha Jackson

With her son having another terrific season and set to play in his first playoff game for the Minnesota Vikings, Jordan Addison's mother, Keisha Jackson, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Jackson chats with host Greg Swatek about watching her son develop into one of the best young receivers in the NFL in his second season with the Vikings. She talks about how she feels when she watches him play and the reactions she gets from fans who may or may not realize that she is Addison's mother.

She also addresses some of the off-the-field challenges her son has faced, including an excessive speeding charge and DUI, how she reacted to those incidents and how Jordan has learned and grown from them.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the local sports scene in a week plagued by weather postponements and how sports are impacted by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and the role they play as the city tries to recover.

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Linganore High Girls Basketball

After taking down reigning Class 4A state champion Clarksburg on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win the holiday tournament at Thomas Johnson High School last week, coach Rachael Easterday, senior forward Kayleigh Lake and senior guard Taylor Moran of the Linganore High girls basketball team are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about the Lancers' 6-1 start to the season despite coming into it with a largely new cast of players. The big win over Clarksburg is discussed at length, and Taylor Moran shares what it was like to make the game-winning 3 to win that game at the buzzer. Did the sequence unfold in slow motion for her and the team, like it was a movie?

Meanwhile, Kayleigh Lake talks about being the only returning starter on the team and the challenges and rewards that has presented.

The group also talks about why the Lancers have exceeded expectations so far this season and how the fast start might have changed the outlook for the rest of this season. How far do they think the team can go?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about his holiday travel and holiday-tournament basketball. What teams looked the best and have the best outlook going forward?

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Andre Jackson, Walkersville High Wrestling Coach

With his team off to its best start in more than a decade, Walkersville High School wrestling coach Andre Jackson is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

After years of futility, the Lions came into the week with a 14-1 record and thoughts of contending for the Class 2A state duals championship this season.

Jackson talks with host Greg Swatek about why his team is wrestling so well, what has fueled the turnaround and realistic expectations for a team and group of wrestlers that seems to improve by the match.

He talks about coaching wrestling for almost 40 years in Frederick County after wrestling for Frederick High. How did he come into the job? Why does he enjoy the job so much? What keeps him going? And how much longer might he do it?

Jackson discusses what coaching Frederick High to a state team championship in 1996 was like and what this season's Walkersville team must do to achieve it's ultimate goals.

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Chris Jenkins, General Manager, The Frederick Flying Cows Professional Basketball Team

As the Frederick Flying Cows prepare for their second season of professional basketball in The Basketball League (TBL), the team's general manager, Chris Jenkins, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Jenkins, a Frederick native, chats with host Greg Swatek about the remarkable amount of success the Flying Cows experienced in their first season of existence. The team went 20-6, playing before good crowds on the campus of Hood College, and was the top seed in the Atlantic Northeastern conference playoffs. 

Jenkins tells the story of how the team came to be, the sort of happenstance way of how they landed the winningest coach in TBL history, how they acquire players and the type of living they are able to make, the role it seeks to play in the Frederick County sports community and expectations for Season 2 from an operational and basketball standpoint.

For the last seven years, Jenkins has run the largest high school basketball tournament in the country, the Governor's Challenge, at this time of year in Salisbury. He talks about the rewards and logistical challenges of staging such a tournament, which will feature 144 teams this year.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the upcoming holidays and the overall basketball scene in Frederick County, including the Flying Cows and the top boys and girls high school teams.

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John Manley, Thomas Johnson Boys Basketball Coach

As a new boys basketball season begins across Frederick County, Thomas Johnson head coach John Manley is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Manley is the longest-tenured boys basketball coach in the county, having been the head coach at TJ for 17 years and on staff there for 22. He chats with host Greg Swatek about his longevity, what keeps him going in the job, how he has evolved and become a better coach over the years and how much longer he might keep doing it.

He also talks about his team at TJ this season and whether he feels it can make a run deep into the playoffs. The Patriots share the same region (Class 4A West, Section I) with the reigning state champs in 4A, Frederick High. TJ nearly ended the Cadets' quest for a state title last season. The Patriots led by 14 points early in the fourth quarter before eventually falling in a regional final, 49-45.

Plus, with the holidays approaching, how does a veteran coach handle all of interruptions of routine and habits that this time of year typically presents.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss Linganore's 35-7 loss to Arundel in the Class 3A football state final last Saturday in Annapolis and offer a bit of a winter sports preview for county teams, particularly when it comes to boys and girls basketball.

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Scott Willett and Herman King, Longtime Linganore Football Assistants

With the Linganore High football team preparing to play in another state final, assistant coaches Scott Willett and Herman King are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Willett and King chat with host Greg Swatek about their own experiences with Linganore football, but also the remarkable career of head coach Rick Conner, who is wrapping up his 23rd season as the Lancers' head coach with  yet another appearance in a state title game, his sixth in the last eight years and 15th overall as a coach.

Linganore faces Arundel High School at for the Class 3A state championship at 7 p.m. Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

What makes Conner the coach and the person that he is? How has he been able to have this much success?

Willett has been with Conner for more than 20 years at Linganore, while King has coached with him for more than 30, dating back to their time together on the coaching staff at Thomas Johnson High School.

Not only did Willett play for Linganore and win a state title in 1989, he and his wife, Susie, have raised three sons who have played football and appeared in a state final for the Lancers. What were the odds?

King, meanwhile, shares Conner's passion for football, physicality and weight lifting. Why did he decide to leave TJ to join Conner's staff at Linganore?

The Lancers are trying to snap a four-game slide in state championship games. What would it mean to Willett and King if they were able to claim a seventh state championship to extend their Frederick County record?

Prior to this conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to look at the Linganore-Arundel state final and what some of the keys to the game might be.

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Collin Delauter, Middletown High Football Coach

With his team set to play in a Class 2A-1A state semifinal, Middletown High Football coach Collin Delauter is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Delauter chats with host Greg Swatek about the Knights season so far and the formidable challenge that lies ahead. They are 10-2 and will travel to southern Maryland to unbeaten Patuxent (12-0), which knocked them out in the state quarterfinal round last season, 42-7. How is Middletown approaching this year's game, and what will it need to do to win and advance to its first state final since its 2A championship season in 2019?

This is Delauter's eighth season on the job. He previously played for and won a state title at Middletown. How has he grown both as a coach and as a person over that time period? What has he learned? And how much fun is it to still be practicing football on Thanksgiving?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Thanksgiving traditions, favorite foods and, yes, the state football semifinals featuring Linganore and Middletown this week.

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Rick Conner, Linganore High Football Coach

As his team prepares to host Bel Air in a Class 3A state quarterfinal, longtime Linganore High football coach is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Conner chats with host Greg Swatek about a season that has exceeded just about everyone's expectations around the program. The Lancers graduated more than 30 seniors from last year's team that faced Oakdale for the Class 3A state championship. The group includes Frederick County's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns, Ethan Arneson, and a Division I college quarterback, Christian Petruzzello (Bucknell). Only six starters returned out of 22 on both sides of the ball.

How have the Lancers maintained such a high level with so many new players in key positions? Who or what has been the biggest surprise? What is the team's outlook heading into Friday's state quarterfinal against Bel Air? Conner answers all of those questions and more.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Brunswick's state final in boys soccer last Saturday and to preview the Frederick County state quarterfinal football matchups, which also involve Frederick High, Middletown and Walkersville.

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State Finalist Brunswick Boys Soccer

As they prepare for their third state final in four years, Brunswick High boys soccer coach Shawn Baker and two of his top players, Chase Malone and Graham Putnam, are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The Railroaders (14-2-2) will face Liberty (15-1) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (November 16) at Loyola University in Baltimore for the Class 1A championship.  If they win, it will mark their sixth state championship and fifth since 2012. 

Baker and his players chat with host Greg Swatek about how the program has been able to create such sustained success. Putnam shares his unique perspective, as he was essentially born into the Brunswick soccer program since his father, Kenny, served as the team's coach. Malone, meanwhile, is the leading scorer in the county his season, and his older brother, Logan, scored game-winning goals for the Railroaders in overtime of the 2021 and '22 state-championship games.

The guys talk about their season, their overtime win over previously unbeaten Mountain Ridge in the state semifinals and what they expect against Liberty in Saturday's championship game.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to wrap up the end of the girls flag football and cross country seasons, including an excruciatingly close call for Frederick High girls cross country, and look ahead to the second week of the high school football playoffs.

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Chad Dickman, Hood College Men's Basketball Coach

With its team preparing to host its annual tip-off tournament this weekend, Hood College men's basketball coach Chad Dickman is this week's guest on The FInal Score podcast.

Dickman chats with host Greg Swatek about the tip-off tournament, which features Randolph-Macon, nationally ranked in Division III, and its coach Josh Merkel, a Frederick County native, as well as Salisbury and Notre Dame of Maryland.

What are Dickman's expectations for the coming season? The Blazers are coming off their second NCAA tournament appearance in three seasons and return two of their best players in Garrison Linton and Garrett Cox. Is it good enough just to get back to the tournament this season or do the Blazers need to win a game this time to feel satisfied?

Plus, what does Dickman expect from his new players, including freshman like Ivan Quejada and Gage Linton who played their high school basketball in Frederick County?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the fall sports playoffs in Frederick County, including girls flag football championships, state soccer semifinals and the first round of the traditional football playoffs.

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Antoine White, Mount St. Mary's Women's Basketball Coach

With the start of the season about a week away, Mount St. Mary's women's basketball coach Antoine White is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

White chats with host Greg Swatek about his young team. Nine of the Mountaineers 14 players are either freshmen or sophomores, an intentional move during the recruiting process that will allow the team to grow together. He also talks about the shakeup on his coaching staff and the new people advising him as he begins his fourth season as the head coach of the Mountaineers.

With so much new swirling around the team, has he had to adjust his expectations for the season? The Mount was recently picked to finish seventh in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in a preseason coaches poll. How does he think his team will fare in its third season of MAAC play?

Prior to this conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the state golf championships and the overall state of the falls sports playoffs for the Frederick County teams that are still alive.

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

With his first season as the men's basketball coach at Mount St. Mary's about to begin, Donny Lind is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Lind chats with host Greg Swatek about his expectations for the coming season. What have his first six months on the job been like? What style of basketball will the Mountaineers look to play on both ends of the floor? Who will the players to watch be? And how will the team fare in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference? 

The Mountaineers were recently picked to finish 11th out of 13 teams in the MAAC in a preseason coaches poll. Does Lind put much stock into that?

He also discusses the renovations going on at Knott Arena right now and how that might impact the team, particularly when it comes to the new court.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about Jerry Smith being removed as Brunswick High's football coach and the impact that might have on the team. They also recap Week 7 of the high school football season, look ahead to Week 8 and set the playoff scene for county teams in the other fall sports.

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Kyle Grimm, Retiring Urbana Boys Track and Field Coach

After recently announcing that he was stepping down following eight years as Urbana's boys track and field coach, Kyle Grimm is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Grimm chats with host Greg Swatek about the difficulty of the decision and why not was the right time to step away from the program. He discusses how he came into the job and why he loved it so much. And he talks about the future of the program under coach Jackie Suarez, a good friend and the Urbana boys cross country head coach who worked closely alongside him during the track and field season.

The discussion then turns to Grimm's influences growing up, his musical inclinations and how he met his wife, as they both work as music teachers. Would Grimm ever return to coaching? He entertains that question as he discusses his future.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss Brunswick's momentous victory over Walkersville in football, the tenuous status of Railroaders coach Jerry Smith and how that might affect the team and Linganore's talented girls flag football team. The guys review Week 6 of the traditional high school football season and look forward to Week 7.

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Emily Sexton, Urbana High Volleyball Coach

Coming off a couple of important matches against Linganore and North Hagerstown, Urbana High volleyball coach Emily Sexton is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Sexton chats with host Greg Swatek about her background playing volleyball at Urbana and later coaching there. How did the opportunity come about for her? What has she learned about coaching since she has taken the job?

She also discusses her team and how it fits into the great volleyball tradition that Urbana has established. Who are the players that make the team go? What sort of expectations did she have for the team?

In the last week, the Hawks have pulled out a close win over Linganore and dropped a tough one to perennial state power North Hagerstown. What does she hope her team took from those experiences?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to share his thoughts, among other things, on the Urbana volleyball team and its match with Linganore and the Hawks' out-of-state victory in girls flag football over a team from Athens, Georgia.

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Jonathan Thayil, Thomas Johnson Boys Soccer Coach

Coming off an important victory over arch rival Frederick High, Thomas Johnson boys soccer coach Jonathan Thayil is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Thayil chats with host Greg Swatek about a momentous week for the Patriots soccer program, during which they honored the man that started it 50 years ago, Fred Dayton, and then went out and pulled out a 3-2 victory over the Cadets on a late goal by junior midfielder Jordan Tema to even their record at 2-2-2 on the season.

The coach talked about why his team is so good on set pieces and how they determine playing time for two capable goalies.

Thayil also talks about how he got his starts in soccer and coaching, why he was so bad a traditional American football and how that shaped his future and the professional team overseas that he supports.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the Urbana girls flag football team's upcoming game this weekend against a team from Georgia, his thoughts on the week that was in traditional football in Frederick County and this week's county golf championships at Clustered Spires.

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Bruce Zimmerman, Retired Longtime Walkersville Coach

Now enjoying retired life after 31 years of coaching in Frederick County, former Walkersville golf and basketball coach Bruce Zimmerman is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Zimmerman chats with host Greg Swatek about his lifelong passion for sports and how he got into coaching. Zimmerman recounts how he didn't play golf and knew very little about the sport when he joined Tom Dickman's basketball staff at Thomas Johnson High School, which was contingent on him being willing to take over the Patriots' golf program.

He talks about what it was like coaching those great basketball teams at TJ under Dickman, which won state titles and had some national acclaim, and what the adjustment was like when he took over the boys basketball program at Walkersville.

Zimmerman also talks about how he's always stayed true to the local teams, the Baltimore Colts and then the Washington Redskins/Commanders after the Colts left town, the Orioles, the Capitals, the Wizards/Bullets and the University of Maryland, how much he misses coaching, if at all, and the time he spends refereeing local basketball games.

Prior to this conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg for a power-rankings session of the all the fall sports in Frederick County. Who is No. 1 in each sport? Does your team make the cut?

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Michael O'Connor, Mayor, City of Frederick

Taking time out of his busy schedule to talk sports, not politics, Michael O'Connor, the Mayor of the City of Frederick, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

O'Connor chats with Greg Swatek about his love of sports, particularly his love for the Baltimore Orioles. He talks about his favorite Orioles and his favorite Orioles teams, as well as his hatred for the New York Yankees. He also recounts his experience attending Cal Ripken's record-breaking game for consecutive games played and getting to shake Cal's hand as he made his way along the outfield wall.

The mayor also talks about his background as a radio and television journalist prior to ever getting into politics and his initial desire to be a sports reporter/broadcaster upon realizing that he was never going to be able to play sports on a high level.

The discussion then turns to the Frederick Keys and the stadium renovations the city hopes will eventually bring an affiliated minor league team back to Frederick. What will the new stadium look like? When might another affiliated team be here? And how would the mayor react if it was a Yankees affiliate?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the week that was in Frederick County sports, discuss Week 2 of the high school football season and look ahead to Week 3.

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Mitch Rubin, Urbana Athletic Director, Longtime Soccer Coach

After recently taking over the athletic director's job at Urbana High School, Mitch Rubin is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Rubin chats with host Greg Swatek about how he is adjusting to his new job. What has the transition been like from coaching to a more administrative role? He talks about why he wanted to take on this challenge at this advanced stage of his career and why Urbana was the right school for him.

He also talks about why he got into education, his passion for coaching and athletics and why he gets so little sleep on a nightly basis.

Prior this discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to recap Week 1 of the high school football season and Week 2 of the girl flag football season across Frederick County. They also preview the week ahead in football and other fall sports in the county as well.

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