with Michael Betteridge History Doesn’t Repeat Itself… Sports Columnists Do High school fall sports in November means playoffs, and the playoff structure is always a moving target.  The governing body of high school sports, the MPSSAA (Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association), determines which schools are in the four divisions: 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A.…

Alisha Yocum On a warm autumn day at Eyler Park in Thurmont, as Catoctin Youth Association (CYA) football players and cheerleaders take the field, spectators settle in for a thrilling game. The air hums with energetic play-by-play commentary from the loudspeakers—phrases like “That’s enough for a Catoctin first down!” and “There’s laundry on the field!”…

with Michael Betteridge What Happened To Mountainball? High school sports opened the fall season officially on Tuesday, September 3, with golf, soccer, and volleyball. The following day, girls flag football and field hockey kicked off. The opening fall season sports week continued on Friday, September 6, with football, and then cross-country track on Saturday, September…

Thurmont’s Potter Pirates Play for Coach at Cooperstown Alisha Yocum In 1996, Louis “Coach” Presutti, along with his father and son, visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. During the visit, Presutti’s father expressed a wish that every child in America should have the opportunity to play baseball in Cooperstown. This idea…

with Michael Betteridge If Rodeo Was Easy, They’d Call It FootballMy 21-year-old granddaughter, Maida, lives on a farm up in Ortanna, Pennsylvania. She is an accomplished barrel racer, competing often at the Chambersburg Saddle Club. For many years, I coached her brother, Stephen, in Fairfield youth football. My daughter, Corinne, their mother, and her family…

Alisha Yocum Each year, Thurmont Little League (TLL) selects some of its top players to represent the league in All-Star Tournaments. This time of year typically showcases some of the best youth baseball in the area, and this year was no exception. All tournaments follow a double-elimination format. The 8-10 All-Star Team played in the…

with Michael Betteridge For the second year in a row, I had the honor of broadcasting the Thurmont Little League All-Stars Maryland District 2 tournament. It was amazing to watch this special group of community leaders, parents, and young boys. The time, dedication, and organization that goes into making these tournaments a reality is commendable.…

James Rada, Jr. Despite the popularity of youth soccer in the north county area, it can be difficult at times to get children to practices outside of the Emmitsburg area, particularly if the parent is returning home from work in Frederick, Hagerstown, or some other distant location. Although Catoctin Youth Association Club practices in Thurmont,…

Catoctin Youth Association Soccer Club (CYASC) ended its spring season at the URSL tournament on June 8 and 9. There were a record number of players for the spring season. The season kicked off with a “scrimmagefest” at FSK to have games before the season started. The club’s U10, U12, and U14 teams participated in…

with Michael Betteridge High school sports fans, now that the high school sports season has ended, let’s put a ribbon on the 2023-24 high school sports season with a few highlights, our local athletes of the year, and a personal July reflection. 2023-24 Season Highlights Football Best Cougars football game of the year: September 22,…

Catoctin High School’s Inaugural Community 5K Raises $5,000 for Special Olympics Alisha Yocum It was a great turnout for Catoctin High School’s (CHS) first Catoctin Community 5K and Fun Run on June 1. The school’s Student Government Association and Unified Generation Club joined forces to plan the event, which benefited the Special Olympics of Maryland.…

Alisha Yocum The Thurmont Little League (TLL) season is winding down, and the playoff and In-House all-star games did not leave us disappointed. Some great youth baseball was played by all our players. In the Minor League Division, the Minor Eagles, coached by Justus Yocum, faced off against the Minors Red Sox, led by Jacob…

Alisha Yocum Catoctin High School’s (CHS) Boys Track and Field team showcased their exceptional talent and dedication at the recent Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) 1A West Region Championships, with several standout performances. Deacon McIlvain made history by securing the all-time best shot-put throw for Catoctin, launching an impressive 51 feet, 2.75 inches…

Alisha Yocum If you live in the area, there is a good chance you were asked by a Thurmont Little Leaguer to support their most recent fundraiser: the Hit-A-Thon. This is Thurmont Little League’s (TLL) biggest and most critical fundraiser for the year. The way it works is the players ask for donations. For every…

with Michael Betteridge Catoctin High School spring sports began with some pretty big news. With the retirement of Athletic Director Keith Bruck, who moved up north to take over at Fairfield, Catoctin began the search process for a new athletic director.  Since WTHU arrived on the sports scene in 2008, Catoctin High School has had…

Jeremy Johnson, CYA Football & Cheer President The world of youth sports continues to be a foundation for our community and the future of our next generation. Over the years, there have been both good and not-so-good things that have occurred in youth sports. With that being said, the thing that stands out the most…

Catoctin Youth Association (CYA) Lacrosse is on an incredible upswing this season! Despite the formidable challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, the program is coming back stronger than ever, thanks to the steadfast dedication of new board members. Their selfless commitment ensures that young boys and girls have the opportunity to engage in this exhilarating…

with Michael Betteridge Memo to Catoctin Athletics: Do NOT schedule any baseball or softball games at Boonsboro next year! Last year, two remarkable Catoctin teams—baseball and softball—rode the bus all the way down to the tiny little town founded by Daniel Boone’s cousin, William Boone. That little Washington County town of Boonsboro was the scene…

Ryan Tokar, CYA Basketball Dwight Baumgardner, Head Coach, Catoctin Middle School Girls Varsity The 2023-2024 CYA Basketball season came to a thrilling end in early March. After months of rigorous practices and intense games, it was time for our players to showcase their skills in the end-of-season tournaments for their respective leagues. Our K-2 Instructional…

Sports Talks with Michael Betterridge Every year, at the beginning of every sports season—fall, winter, and spring—I find that I always have a pre-conceived narrative developed in my head about how the season will turn out before it even starts. And I am certain that the narrative will come to fruition simply because I love…