At CSZ, we work hard to get you the high school sports info you are looking for, faster and easier. This weekly newsletter brings the latest scores, updates, and highlights straight to your inbox. If you live it, share it so others can subscribe too. If it is not for you, feel free to unsubscribe and visit us anytime at CountySports.Zone. Most of the content below is image based, so depending on how you are viewing, you may need to download the images to see everything.

Almost one third of BCPS high schools saw at least one athlete reach the final four in this past winter season’s wrestling state championships! The county saw just one individual state champion, while over a dozen others made it to at least their semifinal matches. Click this link or scroll down to read more about Baltimore County’s best wrestlers from last season and their paths to deep state bracket runs!

Perry Hall senior Victor Marks-Jenkins was the lone BCPS athlete to win a state wrestling championship in 2025-26. As the top seed in the Boys 190-4A/3A bracket, Marks-Jenkins outscored his round of 16, quarterfinal, and semifinal opponents 24-2, shutting out four-seed Noah Mayen in the semis 8-0. In the championship match, Marks-Jenkins faced three-seed Peter Snyder, and scored eight points in a 51 second window in the second period on an escape, takedown, and nearfall. In the end, the senior ended his high school career with a 12-1 state championship victory, capping off his third consecutive undefeated season and giving him a final high school career record of 183-1. Marks-Jenkins’ wrestling career is not over, as he will continue on the mat at George Mason University next season.

Baltimore County did have another pair of state finalists in Sparrows Point’s Wyatt Rossi and Eastern Tech’s Chase Ullman. Rossi advanced to the Boys 113-2A/1A championship match as a sophomore after scoring 17 points in the quarter and semifinals. As the two-seed in the state championship, Calvert junior Ethan Valdisera earned four take downs, only surrendering three escapes as Rossi lost 13-3. Ullmann competed 31 pounds heavier in the 144 bracket for the Mavericks. The senior scored 17 points against North Caroline’s Jacob Carpenter in the quarterfinals, but surrendered 15 against top-seeded Landen Vercoe, including 12 in the second period, in a championship defeat.

Hereford’s co-ed team did not have any athletes reach the state championship, but had four make it to the semifinals. Connor Cline, Andy Burton, Adam Keever, and Julia Abel each made it one round short of the title match.

Cline competed in the Boys’ 120 bracket and outscored his two previous opponents 19-5 before falling to Dominic Esposito from Long Reach. Burton was the 12-seed in the 150 bracket, upsetting fifth-ranked Connor McGovern in the round of 16 before also winning in the quarterfinals. Keever was the three-seed in the 215 bracket and allowed just one point in his first two games. His season came to an end in a 6-4 loss against Hammond’s Xavier Nichols, whose two takedowns inside of 55 seconds put him over the edge.

Hereford’s lone athlete making the semifinal in the girls’ bracket was junior Julia Abel. Abel, who was the 18-seed in the girls’ 100 bracket, upset two-seeded Olivia Crosby 17-2 in the round of 16 and the 10-seed, Iliana Olivas, in a quarterfinal shutout. Abel was defeated in the semis 3-0 by Pashince Gregory, ending an improbable state bracket run.

Eastern Tech’s female wrestlers had success in the state bracket as well with three athletes, Hannah Hickman, Arianna King, and London Smith all reaching the semifinals. Hickman wrestled in the 155 bracket as the three-seed, defeating Tatyana Wilder and Maiah Sweet in the first two rounds. In the semifinals, seventh-seeded Iyana Graves earned three takedowns on Hickman, upsetting the three-seed 9-0 to end Hickman’s season. King was the 14-seed in the 190 bracket and pulled off a pair of three-point upsets over three-seed Emily Arboleda and 10-seeded Taylor Breckenridge. Smith pulled off a quarterfinals upset over fourth-ranked Esther Hernandez 9-5, but was upset herself in the semis by Stephen Decatur’s Amari Purnell 12-4 on the back of 11 third period points from Purnell.

Drew Eveleth and Josh Agen-Davis represented the Catonsville Comets in the semifinals. Eveleth was the overall two-seed in the 126 bracket, easily defeating Quince Orchard’s Ben Hersh 16-1 in the round of 16 with three takedowns and a pair of nearfalls. After a forfeit win in the quarters, Eveleth was upset by Whitman’s Solomon Randall, the three-seed, 18-8. Agen-Davis beat his first round opponent 12-4 in the first round before upsetting the two-seed, Quince Orchard’s Ziya Khozugov 10-9 on the back of nine second period points. After the quarterfinals upset win, Agen-Davis fell 3-0 against Stephen Decatur’s Peter Snyder, ending his high school career in the semifinals.

Dundalk, Lansdowne, and Randallstown each also had an athlete reach the final four. Dylan Holt represented the Owls in the 4A/3A 285 bracket as the three seed. After a 4-0 round of 16 win and a 10-4 quarterfinals win, Holt and Payton Green went to double overtime, where Green sealed the deal on an escape to end Holt’s season. Swiger was also the three seed, participating in the 2A/1A 175 bracket. Swiger took down his first two opponents in the state bracket 31-7, but his season was ended by Rising Sun senior Zach Garvin in a 19-4 loss before Garvin won the state title in a shutout. Lastly, Randallstown was represented by Wura Idowu who competed in the Girls 110 bracket. Idowu was also the three seed in her bracket, and she shutout each of her first two opponents. With a 6-4 lead after two periods against Oakdale sophomore Madelyn Hartman, Hartman picked up a four point nearfall with 16 seconds left to cement her spot in the state championship and end the Ram’s season.

The 988 Lifeline offers free and confidential help if you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, depression, or problems with drugs or alcohol. Click here to learn more

Baltimore County has announced that even more high schools will have for the 2026-27 school year.

As of June 29, CSZ reported that Carver Center, Loch Raven, Parkville, and Towson High Schools’ athletic directors would not be returning to their schools this coming fall. At that time, The Generals and Wildcats had both announced their replacements. Denikwa James, who coached volleyball and girls basketball at Franklin, will replace Lori Brewer at Carver while Mike McEwan, the athletic director at Loch Raven, took over the Generals’ program.

Since then, Dundalk, Loch Raven, New Town, and Parkville have found their replacement department leads. After eight years leading the Owls, Timothy Scherer will move to the middle of the county to take over for the Raiders.

Scherer is a graduate of Loyola University Maryland and started his career in BCPS teaching biology at Parkville. Under Scherer, Dundalk notably finished the 2021 season as the state runner up in a 22-13 loss to Mervo, before making it back to the final four in 2022. In 2024, the Owls’ boys basketball team won a regional title, and this past season, the lacrosse team did as well.

Taking over the Owls’ program will be Adam Capece, who already works at Dundalk. Capece was part of the school’s physical education department, teaching health, team sports, and special education programs while also coaching Dundalk’s badminton team.

Middle River Middle will lose their athletic advisor this fall as Dustin Reider is set to take over at Parkville. Reider oversaw 10 sports across the fall, winter, and spring seasons at MRMS including three allied sports (soccer, bocce, baseball). This past spring season, the Middle River Middle’s girls track and field team finished third in the county overall while the boys 4x200m relay team won gold.

Reider is set to take over for Jeff Markle, who retired after 18 years leading the Knights’ athletic department.

New Town’s football team’s defensive coordinator Garston Banks will take over as the head of the Titans’ athletics. Banks joined the school in 2022 as a health and physical education teacher and as the defensive coordinator for the Titans’ football program. This past season, Banks led the Titans to six regular season games allowing fewer than 20 points and three games holding opponents to no more than seven. He will take over for Preston Waters.

The 988 Lifeline offers free and confidential help if you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, depression, or problems with drugs or alcohol. Click here to learn more

Have a story idea? A big win, hidden gem, or athlete who deserves the spotlight? Share it with us and we may feature it in next week’s newsletter. This is your chance to put your school, your team, or your player on the map.

We’re looking for student ambassadors who love sports, media, and telling great stories. Join the CSZ team, build your portfolio, and get your work featured in this newsletter and across out platform.

Apply now to become a CSZ Ambassador!