Harford Tech

Harford Tech sophomore Dana Smothers wanted to become a sprinter but was told by his coach, Mike Griffith, and assistant principal, Larry Dunlap, that he had the perfect build for a middle distance runner. Smothers, 5 feet 6 and 135 pounds, already has established a Harford Tech record in the 400-meter run (51.5 seconds) while winning the Susquehanna Division of the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference. Smothers also took the 800 in the Susquehanna Division with a personal best of 2:04.

C. Milton Wright and Harford Tech nearly brought home two state baseball championships for Harford County last weekend, but both suffered heartbreaking losses. The Mustangs held a one-run lead in the seventh inning but couldn't hang on and suffered a 7-6 loss to Sherwood from Montgomery County in eight innings in the Class 4A state title game. Harford Tech's loss in the Class 1A title game to St. Michael's might have been more painful. The Cobras were just one out away from the championship but couldn't finish the job, and St. Michael's scored two runs to pull out a 4-3 victory.

When asked how it felt to win his first individual state title while his Harford Tech squad captured its initial state crown, senior Mike Long just laughed. "It can't be any sweeter than that, can it?" Long asked. Long captured the 130-pound state championship after losing for two straight years in the finals, and Harford Tech finally made it over the top after coming close three times. The Cobras edged Hammond, 114-112.5, to take the Class 2A-1A championship last weekend in College Park.

The Harford Tech baseball team has spent most of this season dealing with adversity off the field. Players said illnesses to two of their coaches ultimately brought them closer together. Yesterday in the Class 1A state final, however, that unity couldn't quite overcome St. Michaels. Staked to a one-run lead entering the seventh, Harford Tech, hurt by a throwing error at second, allowed two runs, the final one coming on a game-winning infield single by Kevin Gowe with the bases loaded and two outs that resulted in a deflating 4-3 loss at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.

Jennifer L. Cook, a 16-year-old junior at Harford Technical High School, has been elected by the General Assembly of the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils as student representative-elect to the Board of Education of Harford County. She carries a 4.2 grade point average in the computer-assisted design program and is president of the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a two-sport varsity athlete. She is an active member of the Harford Tech and county student government associations.

Harford Technical High School routinely turns away more than half of its applicants, and this year, 580 eighth-graders are vying for 275 freshman spots. The county Board of Education members, who have expressed concerns that many students are getting shut out of the opportunities at Harford Tech, are seeking to expand career and technical programs to reach more students. One suggestion is to turn Harford Tech, which offers technical and academic classes, into a technical center where students would go to take specialty classes, such as carpentry, health occupation and cosmetology.

Harford Tech's wrestling team has reached another milestone, a hint that this season could surpass the Cobras' breakthrough campaign of 1998-99, when they captured their first Harford County title. The ninth-ranked Cobras (6-1), under 13th-year coach Gary Siler, have achieved their highest area ranking in school history, overcoming traditional stalwarts such as defending 4A-3A state tournament champ Chesapeake of Anne Arundel County, Eastern Tech and Boys' Latin. The Cobras bounced county rival Fallston earlier this month, handing the Cougars (10-2)

Life has changed rather quickly for the Harford Tech girls soccer team. The Cobras struggled from 2003 through 2006, losing an average of nine games per season and allowing an average of 36 goals per season. Six talented freshmen have helped Harford Tech turn things around, however, and the Cobras can clinch an Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference division title with a win tomorrow against Edgewood. Freshmen Erica Coley, Desirae Diamond, Taylor Melton, Jessica Raab, Raven Stokeling and Kayla Watson have helped the Cobras go 7-1-1 through Wednesday.

Akeil Johns is the best-kept secret in Harford County basketball.A 6-2 senior at Harford Tech, Johns doesn't draw much attention outside Harford County, even though he's averaging 32.8 points a game.That's higher than anyone else in the Baltimore metro area. The next highest average is held by Teon Carter of North County High in Anne Arundel County, with 27.3 points. Fallston's Steve Chaires is nextwith a 25-point average.Last year, Johns averaged 31 points to lead the Baltimore metro area.

Distance runner Gabriel Lincoln-DeCusatis helped the Harford Tech outdoor track and field program grow rapidly in the past few seasons. But there's a lot more in the senior's life than track and field. Lincoln-DeCusatis likes politics and is interested in running for president one day. He just finished serving in the state's legislative page program in Annapolis during the session that recently ended. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society and the school's student government.