Throughout the 2025 calendar year, which began with the latter part of last school year’s winter sports season and continued through the recent fall championships, Southern Maryland Athletic Conference teams recorded at least one state title in each of those three seasons. Their abundant sum of 11 states titles prompted the list below to be posted chronologically, with one caveat.
Westlake boys track & field team captures indoor state titles in winter and springNot only was the Westlake High School boys track team the first SMAC squad to capture a state title when it prevailed last winter for the indoor crown at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, it was also the only one to garner two state titles on the calendar when the Wolverines successfully defended their outdoor state title last spring for coach Adamo Murray’s 17th and 18th state titles, respectively. Bolstered by its talented sprinters and formidable relays, Westlake closed out the twice-delayed 3A/2A/1A indoor title by capturing the last two relays and those victories vaulted the Wolverines past Middletown for the state crown. Kelechi Anyanwu, Noah Hespedales, David Nnabuko and Christian Wilbon combined to take the 800 (1:30.32) relay then Anyanwu, James Francis, Caleb Phillips and Da’wuan Proctor capped the meet by taking the 1,600 relay (3:26.49). Then in the spring the Westlake boys’ squad attained 81 points to finish well clear of runner-up Harford Tech for its second consecutive outdoor 2A state title. Westlake junior David Nnabuko captured the state title in the 200 meter dash (20.97) and the Wolverines also collected three golds in relays. Hospedales, Nnabuko, Mekhi Prather and Christian Wilbon combined to take the 400 (41.66), Chase Francis, Hospedales, Prather and Nnabuko combined to capture the 800 (1:26.74) and Proctor, James Francis, Phillips and Chase Francis combined to take the 1,600 (3:18.57).
North Point girls basketball wins 4A state titleLast March the North Point High School girls basketball team notched its second Maryland 4A State title with a convincing 61-30 victory over Western to provide longtime coach Mike Serpone III with his 300th career victory. North Point had avenged an earlier Southern Maryland Athletic Conference league loss to Leonardtown by edging the Raiders 34-30 in the SMAC championship game.The Eagles then embarked on a stellar run through the remainder of the postseason which included a comfortable 56-39 victory over defending 4A state champion Clarksburg. In the 4A state championship game at the University of Maryland, both North Point and Western appeared nervous initially and the Eagles owned a modest 17-10 advantage at the intermission that reflected the defensive struggle that unfolded. But the Eagles dominated the second half and pulled away to a convincing 61-30 victory over the Doves behind perimeter play from Dottie Eatmon and Layla Woodward and inside presence of Mya Gant.
Leonardtown softball wins second straight 4A state titleOne year after the program recorded its first 4A state title behind a genuinely flawless performance from pitcher Claire Radford, the Leonardtown High School softball team successfully defended its crown by defeating Winston Churchill of Montgomery County 5-0 on a day when the Raiders’ senior hurler was nearly perfect again. Leonardtown (22-1) rebounded from a midseason setback against eventual 2A State champion Huntingtown to win its final 14 games, including two victories over eventual 3A state champion Chopticon. Radford fanned at least two batters in each of the seven frames and struck out the side in both the second and fifth innings to finish her senior season with over 250 strikeouts and her varsity career with over 500 strikeouts. For good measure, Radford also drove in a run with a single that scored junior Kendall Wathen. “I had complete trust in my teammates to score some runs for me and play excellent defense behind me,” said Radford, whose bid for a second consecutive perfect game in the state finals was foiled when she hit opposing pitcher Maggie King on the leg. “Once we scored early it gave me a chance to relax and get ahead of the hitters.”
Huntingtown baseball wins 2A state titleDuring a busy spring season for SMAC squads, the Huntingtown baseball team was one of five conference teams to garner a state title when it edged Parkside 1-0 to garner the 2A crown at Prince George’s Stadium. Huntingtown benefited from a stellar outing from senior pitcher Trevor Robbins who tossed the complete game shutout. One week earlier in the Hurricanes 10-2 victory over Southern of Anne Arundel County. Huntingtown and Parkside were scoreless through the first two innings, but the Hurricanes pushed across the game’s only run in the home half of the third. Jacob Cadden tripled then scored when senior Hunter Thomas grounded out to second. Huntingtown had multiple chances to score over the next three innings, but the Hurricanes were unable to add to their advantage and Robbins made that solo run stand en route to his complete game shutout to cap an 8-0 campaign en route to being named the SMAC baseball player of the year.
Huntingtown softball wins 2A state titleAfter being involved in a number of contentious contests with its Southern Maryland Athletic Conference rivals, the Huntingtown High School softball team arrived at the University of Maryland for its 2A state final game against Stephen Decatur considerably battle-tested and the Hurricanes emerged with a gritty 3-2 victory in yet another outing that underscored their resolve. Huntingtown senior pitcher Jordyn Greever and Decatur hurler Madison McGinty were hooked in a scoreless duel through three innings until the Hurricanes finally broke through. Sophomore first baseman Madalee Hunley opened the fourth inning with a double to left center then scored one batter later when senior shortstop Kayla Ripple reached on a fielding error. Decatur drew even in the bottom of the fourth, but Huntingtown regained the lead in the sixth when both Hunley and Ripple drew consecutive walks then Hunley scored on a grounder by Greever. Huntingtown added another unearned run that inning when Ripple scored on a fly ball by Ashlyn Myers that should have ended the inning. Decatur countered with a run in the seventh, but Greever retired the final Seahawks’ batter on a grounder back to the circle.
Chopticon softball wins 3A state titleSurrounded by a stellar senior cast, several of whom are planning to stay close to home and play softball for the College of Southern Maryland, Chopticon High School softball pitcher Karllie Nelson refused to be rattled in the Braves’ 5-3 victory over Sherwood in the 3A state championship game at the University of Maryland. Chopticon (21-2) had staked its youthful left-handed hurler to a 4-0 lead through the first three innings by getting two runs in first and single runs in both the second and third innings and the southpaw pitcher never relinquished the advantage. Senior leadoff hitter Lexi McAllister walked on four pitches to start the game and senior Carrie Hayden tripled and scored in each of her first two at-bats while fellow senior Brooke Colliflower tripled in each of her final two at-bats. Leading by two runs heading to the top of the seventh, Chopticon added an insurance run when Hayden drew a two-out walk then scored when Colliflower smacked her second triple of the night to cap a 3-for-4 performance. Colliflower, Hayden and senior catcher Cassie Wolfe, all of whom are headed to CSM for softball, each had two hits on the night in the Braves’ triumph.
Leonardtown boys soccer wins second 4A state title in three yearsTwo years removed from winning its first state in program history primarily with a youthful group that performed at a precocious level, the Leonardtown High School boys soccer team captured its second Maryland 4A state crown last month by upending Walt Whitman of Montgomery County 1-0 at UMBC. Leonardtown (18-0-1) had controlled much of the first half and had the better scoring opportunities in the first 25 minutes, the best of which came on a shot from senior Lincoln Bauer that caromed just off the top of the cross bar. In the early stages of the second half the Raiders again appeared the superior squad and its perseverance was finally rewarded when senior Noah Kowalko scored on a cross from fellow senior Charlie Watts. Leonardtown coach Luke Kokolios, a 2018 Leonardtown alum and former player, has now guided the Raiders to two titles in his first three seasons at the helm. His 2025 squad also took him on a roller coaster ride as the 2023 team captured the 4A State title in penalty kicks, but the 2024 team failed to garner a region title.
Leonardtown field hockey wins first 4A state title in over 30 yearsIn its quest to join the elite field hockey programs in Maryland, the heart of which are located in Anne Arundel County, the Leonardtown High School squad had stumbled against those teams in the postseason. But the 2025 team was able to put those setbacks in the rear view mirror this fall and capped a near-perfect campaign with a 3-1 victory over Severna Park last month at Stevenson University to capture the 4A state title, the program’s first in 31 years. Leonardtown arrived at the state finals courtesy of a 5-1 victory over Urbana, which had followed on the heels of a dominant 11-0 triumph over Richard Montgomery and a 5-0 tally over Broadneck, one of the Anne Arundel squads the Raiders had been unable to topple in previous years. Severna Park actually led 1-0 at the intermission and then had several chances to add to its tepid advantage in the early stages of the third quarter. But after the Raiders rebuffed the Falcons they were able to reverse the course of the contest. Senior Elijha Hella-Myers brought Leonardtown even at 1-1 then senior Lily Mitchell, a Towson University commit and three-time field hockey player of the year, gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead with a backhanded shot that caught the back of the net. Fellow senior McKaylee Loughary then gave the Raiders a 3-1 lead which lasted through the remainder of the contest.
Patuxent football wins 1A state titleWhen the Patuxent High School football team arrived at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis on Dec. 13 for its 1A state title game against perennial power and four-time reigning champions, the Panthers and Sentinels brought conflicting offensive philosophies. Fort Hill looked to rely on its ground game while the Panthers were willing to put the ball in the hands of freshman quarterback Brayden Watson in the shotgun formation, a bet that paid off handsomely for Patuxent as it eventually garnered its second straight state title. Patuxent yielded the initial advantage courtesy of several Panthers’ miscues and Fort Hill opened a commanding 28-7 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the second quarter. But that advantage was long forgotten by the midway point of the fourth quarter as the Panthers trimmed the gap to 28-14 at the intermission then scored three times in the third quarter for a 35-28 lead that would eventually stand as the final score. On the final play of the first half, Patuxent capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive with a touchdown pass from Watson to Coen Boorstein then Watson connected with Peyton Johnson on a 79-yard strike in the third quarter to trim the gap to 28-21. Evan Jones then brought the Panthers even with a 38-yard touchdown run and Patuxent claimed its first lead of the day when John Edwards strip sacked Fort Hill quarterback Noah House and Panthers’ lineman Jahkiye Dixon snared the ball in flight then returned the fumble 23 yards for the go-ahead score.
Huntingtown football captures 2A state titleOn an afternoon in which the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference would eventually depart Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis with a pair of state football titles for a second straight year, Huntingtown edged longtime conference and county foe Northern 24-21 to earn its first state title in program history. Huntingtown was making its third consecutive appearance in the 2A state title game, but the previous two contests, both against Stephen Decatur, had not gone favorably for the Hurricanes who fell to the Seahawks in very close contests. Not surprisingly, even though Huntingtown would twice own double-digit leads over Northern six weeks after the Hurricanes thumped the Patriots 35-14, those leads were not safe. Huntingtown forged an early 7-0 lead on a 55-yard touchdown run by senior Gabriel Copeland and later senior Max Hall connected on a 21-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. Northern countered with a 13-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a one-yard touchdown run from senior Dylan Allafi, but the Hurricanes responded with a long scoring drive and 12-yard run from Copeland for a 17-6 halftime lead. Northern dominated the third quarter and got two more rushing touchdowns from Allafi, the second of which gave the Patriots a 21-17 lead.
Honorable mentionsWhile nearly a dozen SMAC teams garnered state titles in 2025, several others just missed out on the celebration while advancing to their respective championship games. Chopticon baseball reached the 3A state final before falling to Sherwood of Montgomery County, Lackey football overcame an 0-4 start to reach the 2A/1A State championship game where the Chargers were upended by Dunbar 50-26 and Northern football also advanced to the 2A state championship game where it eventually suffered a tough, 24-21 setback to SMAC and county rival Huntingtown. SMAC athletes also attained individual state titles in track, both indoor and outdoor, wrestling and swimming and the fall of 2025 also marked the inaugural season of girls flag football in the conference with Northern winning the initial SMAC title game.
Going for goldWhile their teams may not have attained state titles during 2025, a number of SMAC athletes earned individual state crowns and again will be mentioned primarily in chronological order. Last winter North Point senior Cohren Corbin won a pair of state indoor titles, then three months later she captured three of them in the outdoor finals. Patuxent sophomore Ayanah Smalley captured the state title in the high jump during the outdoor seasons, while McDonough sophomore Olivia St. Vil took the high jump during the indoor season. Also last winter at a different venue La Plata seniors Clinton Cupples (50 free and 100 free) and Jaydyn Woolsey (50 free and 100 breast) earned state swimming titles in the pool at the University of Maryland. A grand sum of seven SMAC wrestlers earned state titles last winter, Northern senior Drew Montgomery, Calvert sophomore Ethan Valdisera, Huntingtown’s Will Buckler, Great Mills Tavon Barnes, Leonardtown senior A.J. Kuntz, North Point senior Austin Wood and Lackey sophomore Ethan Vayro. During the spring, Great Mills’ junior Zachary Braden captured the 3A state title in the 200 (21.26) and senior teammate Moboloji Popoola prevailed in the high jump (6-08). Leonardtown senior Hunter Mann won two 4A titles (shot put and discus) while Chopticon senior William Mandis won the 3A shot put title.
College creditsIn addition to the numerous Southern Maryland Athletic Conference high schools that earned nearly a dozen state team titles in 2025, the St. Mary’s College of Maryland athletic programs enjoyed another banner year with conference titles of their own in the winter, spring and fall. During the 2024-2025 winter season both the Seahawks’ men’s and women’s indoor track team & field teams captured the United East championship, while the women’s swim team won the Atlantic East crown. Then during the spring both the SMCM men’s and women’s lacrosse teams as well as the women’s outdoor track & field team garnered the United East title, while the women’s rowing team took the Mid-Atlantic Rowing crown. Then in the fall the SMCM field hockey, women’s cross country and volleyball teams won their United East titles, while the sailing team prevailed in the MAISA Fall Open Fleet Race Championship.
