Gladiators

Nick Wynne made several big plays on offense for No. 7 Glenelg in Wednesday's Class 2A-1A West region final against Winters Mill at Western Regional Park — the biggest a goal with 2:42 left to give the Gladiators a 7-6 victory and a fifth consecutive regional championship. Glenelg (17-1) meets Queen Anne's in a state semifinal Friday at 8 at Bel Air. It's a rematch of last year's state title game, in which Queen Anne's edged the Gladiators, 7-6. The regional final began Wednesday night, but lightning halted it with 9:38 left in the first quarter.

It was like many of the backyard sessions — Nick Wynne finding his older brother, Zach, who made one quick dodge past a defender before firing a pinpoint shot to the top shelf. Only this time, the stakes were higher. This goal came in double overtime, in front of family and friends, and it proved to be the difference for the Glenelg boys lacrosse team in a big home win against Fallston last year. The Wynne brothers quickly found each other to celebrate and their teammates soon followed.

The No. 7 Glenelg boys lacrosse team got a boost of confidence going into the regional playoffs, coming from behind impressively to defeat Severna Park, 9-6, in the District V championship game at Reservoir on Tuesday. Shrugging off a 5-1 deficit to the No. 13 Falcons, the Gladiators dominated possession throughout the second half and patiently executed their attack to pull away. Nick Wynne (3 goals, 1 assist), Tyler Wassen (2 goals, 1 assist), and Mark Darden (1 goal, 2 assists)

Instead of starting their games with a tipoff, it might be more fitting for the Glenelg girls basketball team to use a starter pistol. The No. 9 Gladiators used a fast-paced offense to race out to an early lead and hold of No. 11 Meade, 56-42, in the District V championship game at Arundel Wednesday. Glenelg (22-1), which lost its only game this season in a Christmas tournament to Frederick County's Urbana, never trailed against Meade (18-5). The Gladiators — who were led by Samantha Heisig (16 points)

Glenelg won its first Howard County girls basketball title since the 1998-99 season Thursday night when the No. 9 Gladiators defeated Oakland Mills, 41-34. The game was a matchup between the top two teams in the county standings. "To win it as a senior is really special," said Glenelg's Liz Ebeling, who took three charges in the game. Those charges had a cumulative effect on Oakland Mills, making the Scorpions hesitant to drive to the basket. "We were afraid to get the charges," Oakland Mills' Jasmine Hill said.

The gymnasium was rocking at Wilde Lake High on Tuesday night as the Wildecats wrestling team hosted county rival Glenelg, but the Gladiators lived up to their No. 3 ranking and won the match, 41-18. Glenelg (11-2) built the margin on major decisions by John Milani (135 pounds) and Jack Borkowski (145) and pins by Anthony Pagnotta (152), Charles Walls (160), Ryan Fitzgibbons (215) and Nick Caffrey (130). The score, however, didn't really tell the story for either side. Both sides expected more, and despite the loss, Wilde Lake coach Azmar Hagler and his players found much to be proud of. "I feel Glenelg is a very fundamental team, not a better team," said Hagler, whose Wildecats are 8-4. "They countered our attacks very well.

The defenders for fifth-ranked Glenelg made sure they kept a close watch on Middletown's explosive forwards, Jacky Kessler and Jenna Caudle, in Saturday night's Class 2A state championship at UMBC. The duo combined for 45 goals this season, and despite the tight marking, Kessler provided a 1-0 lead early in the second half off a pass from Caudle. After the Gladiators fought back with a goal from Gretchen Gurganus, the Knights escaped with a 2-1 victory on a winner by Mackenzie Noel with eight minutes remaining.

Stephanie Asher scored the tiebreaking goal in the second half, but Christy Bishop truly saved the Glenelg field hockey team Monday night. Bishop made a number of big plays and finished with 12 saves to help No. 1 Glenelg hang on for a 2-1 victory over No. 8 Fallston in a Class 2A state semifinal at Franklin. Glenelg (18-1) advances to the state final Saturday against No. 6 Century at Washington College at 6:30 p.m. Century edged Kent Island, 1-0, in the other semifinal at Franklin.

Queen Anne's leading scorer, Cody Figiel, only got one goal Tuesday against No.10 Glenelg in the 2A-1A state title game, but he made it count. Scooping up a ground ball in front of Glenelg's net with the game tied and less than a minute left in regulation, Figiel fired home his 70th goal of the season and the deciding tally in a 7-6 Queen Anne's victory at UMBC Stadium. "I knew it was getting down to the wire. Everybody was trying to score," Figiel said. "We kept trying to [isolate]

The North Carroll softball team struggled down the stretch in the regular season and then had to battle through the West region with three one-run wins. In Tuesday's Class 2A state semifinal against No. 6 Glenelg, the No. 14 Panthers packaged one of their finest performances to date when it was needed most. Junior pitcher Samantha Stitely limited the Gladiators to four hits and the Panthers pounded out 10 of their own, breaking open a tight game with a five-run sixth inning that led to a comfortable 7-1 win at Bachman Sports Complex in Glen Burnie.