After a successful fall season with five teams making the playoffs, Watkins Mill fall sports looks to rebound next year and make it even further into the postseason.

Boys soccer finished their season with a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to the Urbana Hawks. But the boys made it further than they have since 2011. The boys finished the season 14-2. With a talented junior varsity team, look for this team to continue its fall dominance next season with many returning varsity players, as well as new JV call-ups. “Next season we expect to pick up exactly where we left off and go to states,” junior Yann Kouemi said.

The girls soccer team was only able to pick up two wins in the regular season, but was able to turn it around in the postseason, making it to the second round of the playoffs. The team was able to take down the Wheaton Knights in the first round, but fell to the Blake Bengals in a tough match in round two. The team will be graduating five seniors, but they still look to come back next season competitive and have another playoff run. Junior Megan Dakwa is looking forward to next year. “I hope to build better relationships with the new people and work as a team,” Dakwa said.

‘Rines football had a very productive fall, picking up four wins over the course of the regular season. With a new coach at the helm, the team looked to rebuild and put together a playoff run in the seniors’ last year of playing high school football. Despite the disappointing season, the future is bright for the team. With a talented JV squad and a varsity team that kept many of their key players, next year’s team will be a competitive one. Senior Brian McNeary said, “The season didn’t end the way we wanted it to but at the end of the day, our record doesn’t show how much progress we made.”

Lady ‘Rines field hockey had a competitive season as well, picking up three regular season wins. They weren’t able to make it out of the first round of the playoffs, losing in a tough match up to Linganore High School. Junior Katherine Campbell is excited for what next season may bring, adding, “I think we really improved, we would work on something in practice and then do it in the game just like that, and it showed.”

Our boys cross country team finished up a very successful season on Saturday, November 12, sending two runners from the boys team to the Maryland State Championships. Sophomore Zachary Pepperl and junior Tyrese Hibbert both represented Watkins Mill at the event. Pepperl added, “Next season I hope we can make it to states and continue to improve everybody’s time.” The girls team wasn’t able to send anyone to this event, but they made great rebuilding strides this year, and will bring everyone back next year.

The girls volleyball and tennis teams had similar seasons, both ending the seasons with three wins or less. Graduating only one senior from each team, the teams look to come back next year and put together winning seasons and longer playoff runs. Junior Yekeila Mendez said the team needs to stop “doubting [themselves],” Mendez added, “we should stay more positive.”

The ‘Rines golf team was set up with a rough year, with a new coach and only two players on the team. But the team was able to string together a productive season, learning many new things along the way. “As a team, we started off as…just two kids playing golf, but as the season went on, our scores started improving and getting better,” junior Daniel Gregory added.

The Watkins Mill handball team finished a season full of fun, learning, and team-building. The team may have not had the record they wanted, but they certainly learned a lot and really grew as a team this season. “I think it was a good season and everybody had fun, we all made friends on the team,” senior Bernadette Nwoye added.

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Jonathan trejo

Boys soccer finish season with 11-2 record