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, 2023: Catoctin 35 at Tuscarora 6. Logan Malachowski opens up the game with a 35-yard touchdown catch from Quarterback Haydn Matthews. Then, Hunter Bradshaw, running out of a pro power set, scores, and Jake Bell pounds in a 15-yard touchdown run to give Catoctin a 21–0 halftime lead.
In a proud historic moment for Frederick County football, Oakdale beats Linganore in the 3A State football championship. This is the first time ever that two Frederick County teams met in a State high school championship football game. Cool Oldies 1450 WTHU covered the game live on the air.
Basketball
Second year boys’ basketball Coach Zach Woodward took his team to the biggest win of the year at home against Boonsboro, where the Cougars boys basketball team had its biggest scoring output of the season for the win, 87–54. Oh yeah, and don’t forget that amazing Ben Krauss buzzer-beater at Brunswick for the win. That was spectacular! Thanks, Coach Zach, for all you did for our boys. Coach Zach has resigned. Please welcome our new head basketball coach, Coach Mike Wagner! Coach Mike is an amazing guy with tons of experience coaching all over the country and overseas. We are excited for the 2024-25 Catoctin boys basketball season.
Coach Amy Entwistle in her 20th season as the Lady Cougars basketball coach finished the season 23-4, ranking fourth in the entire 1A. What can you say about Coach Amy? She is a class act.
The Lady Cougars’ best game of the year was in the second round of the regionals at home against Surrattsville, with a domineering 55-18 win. Unfortunately, that was the same game they lost Taylor Smith to a season-ending knee injury.
Baseball
Coach Mike Franklin had an uphill task this season after graduating his two ace pitchers, Joey McMannis and Peyton Castellow, last year. Seniors Garrett Worth and Gavin Watkins took up the mantle on the pitchers mound and led their team to a first-round win in the playoffs against Boonsboro 12-2, but then in the second round, they dropped a one-run loss to eventual State 1A champion Brunswick.
To all the Cougars baseball players and coaches, you can hold your heads up high when you meet the overall state champion early in the playoffs and lose by only one run!
Softball
The Lady Cougars softball team’s biggest win of the season was against the rival Walkersville Lady Lions. The Lions would go on to eventually battle deep into the playoffs all the way to the State semis. The Lady Cougars crushed them 21-4. It was 7-0 in the first inning! Wednesday, April 24, was the day when the entire Cougars softball season came together at home in front of their new, beautiful scoreboard against the Lady Lions. A red letter day.
We Say Goodbye To Our Senior Cougars Athletes Of The Year
Football: Haydn Matthews, Logan Malachowski, Gavin Watkins, Charles Dougherty, Wayne Ferson, Brayden Bagent, and Ethan Robeson.
Boys Basketball: Haydn Matthews, Matt Offutt, Ben Krauss, Robert Ruch Jr., Peyton Cramer, and Gavin Watkins.
Girls Basketball: Grace Williams, Sam Orndorff, Peyton Davis, and Kylie Perhach.
Boys Baseball: Ethan Georgoff, Brayden Grable, Bryont Green, Hunter Long, Patrick Morlan, David Shipton Jr., Gavin Watkins, and Garrett Worth.
Girls Softball: Meghan Gray and Raegan Miller.
Catoctin Athlete Of The Year: Gavin Watkins
Gavin played football, basketball, and baseball from August to June! He lettered in three sports and showed the Catoctin work ethic and character of a real teammate and athlete. Thanks, Gavin!
A Personal July Reflection
For most people, July is a time to kick back and relax. July is a time for celebrations, family get-togethers, BBQs, and more. I recently spent some time out on the Potomac River, wading in the cool water, fishing and just enjoying the peace and quiet, camping out at my favorite spot. We all need to recharge our batteries, and I hope you can, too.
Check out our July COOL Oldies 1450 schedule below and stop by and say “Hi” at one of our many summer events!
