Montgomery County Crowns Another Basketball State Champion! Baseball and Girls Lacrosse Power Rankings

GIRLS BASKETBALL 🏀

On Wednesday evening, the 4A girls basketball state championship took place at UMBC’s Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. The game featured the top-ranked Whitman Vikings taking on the two-seeded Richard Montgomery Rockets. Click this link for a recap produced by MFV All Sports Network to see how the game played out!

BASEBALL ⚾

MCPS Baseball is underway and Walter Johnson currently sits atop the standings with two wins. They are closely followed by eight other teams who each have one win. Click this link or scroll down to read the County Sports Zone MCPS Baseball Preseason Power Rankings!

Since the COVID pandemic, Montgomery County teams have won six baseball state titles, including at least one in each year since 2020 and two in 2025. Last spring, it was Sherwood who beat Chopticon to win the 3A title and Walter Johnson who walked Urbana off to capture the 4A championship. This team, the streak shows no early signs of slowing down, as these nine MoCo teams look to be in a good position for a deep playoff run, and maybe, the seventh title in six years:

1. Walter Johnson (2025: 19-3)

The 4A state champions from last year enter 2026 looking as good as where they left off. After shutting out Eleanor Roosevelt and Reservoir in the first to state playoff rounds, WJ took down Urbana in a 7-6 game that required a seventh-inning walkoff to secure their first state title in program history. Walter Johnson will enter this spring after losing several big names from last year’s team including Shaun Rudick (Stevenson), Andreas Johnson (Neumann), Nolan Ross (Dickinson), Connor McGee (Endicott), and two other seniors. Despite five total college athletes departing the program, this year’s team will be led by MSABC Preseason All-State Team honorees Sam Weston (Stevenson Commit) and Spencer Gilcrest (Emory Commit). Additionally, Ithaca commit Grant Matalia and uncommitted senior Ethan Pletter will have big roles for the Wildcats, who look to pounce on their second straight state championship.

2. Sherwood (2025: 20-3)

The Warriors took home their fourth title in five years last spring after defeating Arundel, Chesapeake, and Chopticon by a combined 18-4 in their three state games. Similarly to Walter Johnson, Sherwood will have several big losses from last year’s team, including five college commits: Infielder Ty Hames (Francis Marion), infielder Ryan Rey (Sacred Heart), outfielder Jacob Bagania (UMBC), right handed pitcher Bryce Sheahin (Shepherd), and right handed pitcher Jason Selis (McDaniel). Going into this season, Sherwood will certainly be led by Rutgers commit and MSABC honoree Carter Sweeney-Strawberry. Also on the Warrior roster will be Gettysburg commit Jacob Bender, Hood commit Cameron Calandro, and CCSU commit Sam Rosenwald. Despite five big losses for Sean Davis’s program, his 2026 roster will almost certainly have the talent to make it back to the state’s biggest game.

3. Blair (2025: 11-9)

After going into the 4A South I bracket as the three-seed, the Blazers took care of business against six-seed Northwood, winning 19-0, and two-seed High Point, taking the semifinal game 8-3. Unfortunately, Blair’s season ended against Reservoir in the regional championship, where the red and white fell 6-3. After being eliminated in the regional final, the Blazers’ squad will lose just four athletes. Additionally, three collegiate pitching commits will return to the roster including Owen Hauser (Bucknell), Desmond Llanes (Allegheny, PA) and Rab Sharp (Wilson, PA). This trio of arms will give an undeniable boost to the Blair squad who looks to return to the state bracket this spring.

4. Magruder (2025: 15-6)

Josh Creighton’s team earned the two-seed in the 3A West II region and took care of Rockville and Wootton, scoring double-digit runs against each en route to a regional championship. In the state bracket, the Colonels were upset by the seventh-seeded Oakdale Bears 7-2 in their first game in the state bracket. Following a strong 2025 campaign, the Colonels will head into this spring without seven members of last year’s team, including outfielder Avery Grain (Wabash Valley) and catcher Ryan Schwartzman (Stevenson). They will keep USC Union commit and MCPS Division V player of the year Terrion Pettus on the roster plus first-team all-division honoree Ethan Hyler and three members of the second-team. Magruder has the tools to have another incredible season despite losing a pair of college level athletes.

5. Wootton (2025: 10-9)

The Patriots went into the 3A West II regional bracket as the four-seed and, after shutting out Watkins Mill, upset top-seeded Damascus 6-5 in the regional semifinals. Despite the second round win, Wootton’s season came to an end against Magruder, where the red, white and blue fell 12-6 in the regional championship. After finishing just one game above .500 in 2025, they will be without Matthew Kunst (Marymount) and Jack Kerns (Frederick CC). While those two are significant losses, Gulf Coast State University commit Kai Schmelzer will anchor the team after being selected to the MSABC preseason team as Wootton looks for their first semifinals appearance in 25 years.

6. Bethesda-CC (2025: 13-6)

After taking care of Gaithersburg in the regional quarterfinals, the Barons had a terrible semifinal match, as they were forced to face the 4A state champions, Walter Johnson, where they fell by just one run. B-CC will be without nine members of last year’s team, including two-way athlete Will Adkinson who took home the division’s player of the year award. They will return starting catcher Jayson Cohen, who is committed to Marymount University for the 2027 season. After losing the majority of last year’s squad, the Barons might take a step back this spring.

7. Richard Montgomery (2025: 14-5)

The top seed in the 4A North II region breezed past Paint Branch in the regional semifinals, defeating the Panthers 18-1, then going on to beat the Wheaton Knights 1-0 to win the regional title. Unfortunately, RM went into the 4A bracket as the five-seed, and fell to the state runnerup, Urbana, 9-3 in the state quarterfinals.

8. Damascus (2025: 15-3-1)

After a regular season that saw just two losses, the Swarmin’ Hornets dropped their first playoff game, as they were upset 6-5 by fourth-seeded Wootton in the regional semifinal. This year’s roster will have 11 holes from last year’s team, including five collegiate athletes: Cam Wilberding (Shepherd), Jake Lokos (Charleston Southern), Mason Walter (Salisbury), Will Heyse (Stevenson), and Cesar Aguirre (Southern Maryland CC). Even with those significant losses, Raf Lorio was named to the MSABC all-state team, while he and Giacomo Lorio were named in the MoCo Baseball Report preseason top 10. Those two, along with three other honorable mentions, will be the faces of this program that looks to rebound despite significant departures.

9. Wheaton (2025: 12-7)

The Knights were the three-seed in the 4A North II bracket, and in their first two games, took down six-seed Springbrook and two-seed Einstein, with both games having a 10-0 final score. In the regional championship, Wheaton’s season was ended by the RM Rockets in a pitchers’ duel, with the final score being 1-0. The big losses for Wheaton include all-division player of the year Lucas Tinsley, all-division pitcher of the year Everett Forville, and Wyatt Moore, who hit .394 with a 1.034 OPS last spring. Despite losing seven total athletes, including the three above, Wheaton’s offense looks to still remain powerful after the team had five performances with at least 16 runs scored. The losses on the mound and in the batter’s box will definitely be felt, but Wheaton looks to still have a good season incoming.

GIRLS LACROSSE 🥍

Girls Lacrosse is underway in Montgomery County, and after the first weekend of play, 12 teams have already picked up their first win! This week marks the first full week of spring sports throughout the state, so stay tuned for next week for the first standings update. Click this link or scroll down to read the County Sports Zone MCPS Girls Lacrosse Preseason Power Rankings!

Since the inception of girls lacrosse in Maryland in 1990, no Montgomery County team has ever taken home the sport’s top spot. Several teams have come close, most recently with Quince Orchard losing last season’s 4A semifinal game against Broadneck, who went on to be the state champions. While girls lacrosse has never been MoCo’s top sport, there are several teams that will start this spring season in good position to make a run at the county’s first ever state title. Here are the ten teams that look to have the best odds:

1. Sherwood (2025: 15-1)

Last season, the Warriors reached the 3A South II regional championship as the top seed and advanced to the state bracket after defeating Guilford Park and Reservoir by a combined 35-4. As the overall two-seed, Sherwood took down Wootton 17-5, but fell against Marriotts Ridge in the semifinals before the Mustangs won it all. From last year’s team, Sherwood will only lose three athletes, including MCPS Player of the Year Avery Graham, who now plays D-I lacrosse at the University of South Florida. Despite this major loss, head coach Kelly Hughes still has five athletes on her roster committed to play collegiately. Libby King to Mercer, Courtney Payne to UNC-Charlotte, Emerson Phillips to Hofstra, Melanie Payne to St. Joseph’s, and Ashleyn Hambrecht to Winthrop. Each of those five are juniors on the roster, giving Sherwood two more chances at bringing home the county’s first state girls lacrosse title, and they are well-positioned to do exactly that.

2. Quince Orchard (2025: 14-2)

The Cougars also advanced out of their region, as they won both the regional semifinal game against Bethesda-CC and the regional championship against Whitman 10-9. As the top-seed in the state tournament, QO defeated North County in the quarterfinals, but lost 19-14 against Broadneck, who went on to win their fifth straight state title. Despite losing eight seniors, including first all-division team attacker Gabbie Spano, several athletes are poised for significant seasons. Juniors Amber Clark-Matta and Kelly Campbell are both committed to play collegiate lacrosse, with Clark-Matta heading to UMass Amherst and Campbell committed to Southern Connecticut State University. Aside from those two, Natalia Serrano comes back after being selected to the first all-division team as a defender while Molly Kelly, another defender, made the division’s second team.

3. Whitman (2025: 10-5)

WW was dealt a tough hand in the 4A West II bracket after entering as a three-seed. After taking down sixth-seed Gaithersburg and two-seed Walter Johnson in the first two rounds, Quince Orchard took them out in a one goal match, eliminating them from the playoffs. The Vikings will be losing 11 members of last year’s team, including Quinn Foa to Dickinson College and first all-division team honoree Kaitlyn Lowy. While these losses will certainly be felt on the field, Whitman’s 2026 roster will be anchored by two college commits, Charlotte Dorsey to Merrimack College and Corrine Armstrong to Rhodes College. Aside from those two, Ella Bundy will return after a second all-division team selection, and both Paige Delano and Mason Miller were divisional honorable mentions.

4. Wootton (2025: 9-6)

After entering the 3A West II bracket as the two-seed, the Patriots eliminated both Rockville and Magruder before losing to Sherwood in the first round of the state playoffs. As they look to bounce back and make it deeper into the state bracket, senior midfielder Maya Bellamy will look to have an impact on the field before heading to Haverford College to continue her playing career next season. Attacker Emory Scofield and defender Noelle Davis-Estrada will also return to the roster after their first all-division team selections in 2025. The roster will have more depth from five athletes selected to the second and honorable mention divisional teams.

5. Bethesda-Chevy Chase (2025: 9-5)

The Barons entered the 4A West II region as the four-seed and took down fifth-ranked Churchill in the regional quarterfinals 10-5. Unfortunately, B-CC had to face Quince Orchard in the regional semifinals, where they almost pulled off the upset, losing 10-9. From that team, they’ll lose six seniors, including McKenna Harper, an attack who was selected to the second all-division team. Luckily for the Barons, they will still have goalie Lindsay Solomon and defender Addison Foise on the roster, both of whom were selected to the first all-division team in 2025, along with four other athletes who made the second and honorable mention teams. Despite the early playoff exit last spring, Bethesda’s team could make a solid run this season.

6. Damascus (2025: 11-3)

The Swarmin’ Hornets opened their playoff run with a 19-5 win over fourth-seeded Poolesville in the 2A West II region, but they were upset by third-ranked Glenelg in the regional title game, ending their season. From that team, they are set to have several major losses, including Madison Slayton, a 2025 MCPS player of the year, to Wingate University, Marlene Nusraty to Guilford College, and Sarah Jankowski to Winthrop University to play Division One lacrosse. However, they will still have solid options remaining on the roster, including first-team all-county defender Shelby Dietrich, and six rising stars who made the honorable mention team. Damascus will certainly feel the losses of Jankowski, Nusraty, and Slayton, but they’ll have more depth behind them to have another solid season.

7. Churchill (2025: 7-6)

The Bulldogs failed to make it out of their first and only playoff game last season as they fell to Bethesda-CC 10-5 in the 4A West II regional quarterfinals, the shortest that any team on this list made last spring. However, they’ll be doing it without first all-county team honoree Summer Polhemus, all-county honorable mention Justine Gumucio, and four other athletes. With that said, the Bulldogs will return junior Lebanon Valley College commit Madison Halverson to the roster, along with first all-county selectee Julia Grabo. While there are several significant losses to the roster, they will retain the athletes to make up for it and finish with a better record and, potentially, a deeper playoff run.

8. Richard Montgomery (2025: 9-6)

The Rockets were the two-seed in the 4A North II bracket, and they only needed to play two games to advance. Those two games were both wins, coming against three-seeded Wheaton in the semifinals and four-seeded Springbrook in the regional championship. However, RM was forced to face Broadneck in the state quarterfinals, where they lost 18-4. The 2026 Rockets will be without eight members of the state quarterfinal team, including goalie Meredith Kearns who will be playing at St. Bonaventure University. Sara Mendelsohn was selected as an all-county honorable mention in 2024, but based off the team’s social media, it is unclear if she will return to the 2026 roster. If Mendelsohn is on the field, along with other developing athletes from last season, Richard Montgomery could still have a good season and a push into the postseason.

9. Magruder (2025: 10-4)

After entering the 3A West II bracket as the top team, the Colonels defeated Kennedy 16-3 in their first game before being upset by Wootton in the regional championship 12-7. Despite the ending, last year’s team had a strong season, but that will be hindered this year as they will be losing 15 members of that squad. Point Park commit Alayna Zell and first-team all-division attack Sunni Kim lead the losses. Magruder’s junior midfielder Serafina Sager, who is committed to play D-III lacrosse for the University of Rochester, will have a big role on this team who will go into this year without the majority of last season’s roster.

10. Northwest (2025: 8-5)

The Jaguars are one of just two teams on this list that didn’t win their first playoff game last season, as they were upset 13-9 against Gov. Thomas Johnson in the 4A West I regional semifinals. Northwest will lose 12 seniors from last year’s squad, including Holy Family University commit Emily Boyle for D-II lacrosse, along with two other all-county honorable mentions. They’ll be led this spring by Aurora University commit Vyara Baneva and first all-county honoree Julia Graham this fall.

SOFTBALL 🥎

MCPS Softball is underway and Sherwood leads the standings after the first weekend with two wins. Seven teams are right on the Warriors’ tail, with each having a win a piece! Stay tuned for next week for the first full length standings update!

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