Catoctin transitions from fall to spring sports

Mia Ferraro
CHS Class of 2022

(4/2021) This past April, Catoctin High School completed the short but eventful season of fall sports and made the transition into the promising new athletic season of spring. Having officially begun on February 13th, fall sports began competitions on March 5th and concluded on April 17th. CHS fall sports teams countered the complications and delays in the season with constant improvement and winning streaks, while the spring teams have returned prepared and motivated after the cancellation of the season last year. Proud representation of these teams are the CHS varsity volleyball (fall) and varsity baseball (spring) teams.

The Cougars’ varsity volleyball team made a strong impression this past fall season. The team carried into April with two losses and four consecutive victories upon winning their match of 3-0 against Governor Thomas Johnson High School on March 30th. Their next two victories were followed by one loss, finishing up the regular season on April 13th and finalizing the team’s overall score of 6-3. They then went on to a play-off match at Tuscarora High School on April 15th. Each set resulted in a close score, with a win of 26-24, loss of 21-25, win of 25-23, loss of 23-25, then loss of 12-15. Despite the overall loss, the match was nevertheless deemed the "best match of the season" by CHS varsity volleyball coach Wesley Fream. Setters Mee Rae Harding and Paige Smith each had 24 assists, and middle hitters Chayney Barnhart and Paige Romeril each had 20 kills.

As the team was unable to attend an annual volleyball banquet due to COVID restrictions, Coach Fream announced the awards typically given at the end of the season by email. The MVP award went to Barnhart, a senior. "In the eight seasons that I coached at Catoctin, Chayney was the best offensive volleyball Cougar during that time," Fream praised. "Each year she improved a part of her game and in her 4th season, she put all of these hard earned tools out on display." Barnhart finished the season with 128 kills, the most kills on the team, accumulated in only 9 matches.

The award for Most Improved was achieved by Harding, another senior. "She gained strength with outside sets and became a virtual machine at setting middle," Fream described. "Her backsets to the right side were also much improved. She worked very hard to get to this level and it paid off." Harding finished the season with 158 assists in only 9 matches. "Mee Rae found the perfect groove between herself and Chayney," Fream said. "It’s what all hitters dream of having between them and their setter. Chayney looked like she was hitting some of those sets off of a tee!" He credits the two seniors for their admirable teamwork and cooperation with one another during matches. "It was so exciting to watch the chemistry formed on the court with these two."

Lastly, the Cougar Spirit award was earned by Romeril, a junior. "No need to point out the energy that she brings to the team. The spectators can see it and hear it!" Fream praised. "She picks up the team when they are down. She gets them in gear when they are being lazy. She fires them up when they are nervous. The list goes on." Romeril is second on the team in kills after Barnhart. She has been on the varsity team since freshman year, and will be returning again for her senior year. "She is the epitome of the perfect teammate," Fream said. "We are lucky to have her for another year!"

Immediately following the end of the fall season, practices for spring sports began on April 17th. Competitions begin May 7th, with six competitive weeks lasting until June 19th. This season, CHS athletics welcome back many familiar names to the coaching staff: Michael Franklin--baseball, Neil Metzgar--boys lacrosse, Miriah Stone--girls lacrosse, Jess Valentine--softball, David Gadra--girls tennis, David Lillard--boys track and field, Lois Strickland--girls track and field, and Charmane Nesbitt--unified track and field. CHS also welcomes one new name, Robert Merki, coaching the boys tennis team.

The CHS varsity baseball team is scheduled to compete at their first game on May 7th against Governor Thomas Johnson High School, but the team has been active since before practices began. The athletes and coaches attended an event outside of Thurmont Middle School on April 15th, two days prior to their first practice, to distribute food to members of the community. "We were blessed to help that day," CHS varsity baseball coach Michael Franklin expressed. "Our players were excited to serve our community in that way. It provided great perspective and brought us together as a team." Another early opportunity offered to the athletes were Open Field Workouts. The baseball-specific workouts were held for a month leading up to the official start of spring sports to prepare athletes for the season.

The CHS baseball coaching staff refrained from cutting any players off of the team this year, with the intention of offering more inclusion for the athletes that did not have the opportunity to play last year. There are 25 players on the junior varsity team and 20 on the varsity team. Dustin Isanogle, Bryson Caballero, Dylan Click, JJ Zirkle, Ayden Shadle, Aiden Mayne, and Dylan Cevario are a few notable seniors returning to varsity after playing their sophomore year. Despite the great amount of time spent away from the field, Franklin is impressed with the team’s progress. According to Franklin, the team’s pitching has excellent potential and he believes they will be "fundamentally sound" on defense. "Our goal is to get better each day," Franklin stated. The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) has been meeting and discussing the possibility of holding a State Tournament for baseball this year, providing the team with another motivation to improve and prepare every day, in anticipation of the association’s decision.

Coach Franklin observed that the baseball team has put an immense amount of effort into preparation, and they appear to be adjusting to practices nicely after the cancellation of FCPS spring sports in 2020. "There’s nothing normal about this and I’m going into this season with the mentality that we are just fortunate to be playing," he explained. Franklin commends CHS Athletic Director Keith Bruck for his hard work he does to ensure that this season will be safe and enjoyable. "Most people don’t see the stress and hard work that these athletic directors are dealing with every day," Franklin expressed. "You can imagine how many challenges they are seeing that are new and many do not have a good answer. I’m just thankful for the job he does everyday so our kids can have a season." Franklin also offers his gratitude to Assistant Athletic Director Kim Flabbi who is recovering from surgery. "She has given her soul to this building for decades," he praised. "We are so lucky to have them both."