Saunderson

Pat Saunderson will replace Don Van Deusen as Atholton's athletic director.Saunderson, 27, who coaches track and teaches social studies at Atholton, was one of six candidates."

Watch that team spirit, River Hill. Students have been warned that they will be turned away from athletic events if they decide to substitute body paint for shirts. Principal William Ryan's rule has upset some students at the high school. Ryan clarified last week that body paint is not banned at school sporting events. "You [just] have to have clothes on [when you wear body paint]," Ryan said. "You can paint your body, hair and toenails if you want, but you have to be fully clothed."

River Hill girls basketball coach Karen Saunderson hasresigned.An eighth-grade science teacher at Mount View Middle, Saunderson said she wanted to "focus on my son right now because it's important."Saunderson, whose husband is Atholton athletic director Pat Saunderson, gave birth to the couple's first child, Kyle Scott Saunderson, on Nov. 7 last year at St. Agnes Hospital.River Hill finished 9-16 overall and 4-14 in the county in its inaugural 1996-97 campaign. This season, the Hawks were 10-12 overall and 9-9 in the league.

In less than five months, Howard County's 12th high school will open -- ushering in a new beginning not only for freshmen but also for sophomores who were redistricted. The man in charge of the endeavor is Patrick Saunderson, 36, who took over the reins as principal of Marriotts Ridge High School when Linda Wise was promoted to assistant superintendent for administration last month. Saunderson, a graduate of Atholton High School in Columbia, started his career as a track coach at his alma mater in 1990, while studying at the University of Maryland, College Park.

A young, boyish-looking man stood outside the cafeteria at Mount View Middle School on Wednesday night, greeting more than a dozen parents and students. Next to him was Linda Wise, the former principal of Marriotts Ridge High School, who was promoted this week to be the county school system's assistant superintendent of school administration. "This is our new principal, Pat Saunderson," Wise told parents and students. They had come to the middle school for a meeting on the opening of the county's 12th high school in August, but parents and students also got a chance to meet Saunderson for the first time since his appointment to replace Wise.

In less than five months, Howard County's 12th high school will open -- ushering in a new beginning not only for freshmen but also for sophomores who were redistricted. The man in charge of the endeavor is Patrick Saunderson, 36, who took over the reins as principal of Marriotts Ridge High School when Linda Wise was promoted to assistant superintendent for administration last month. Saunderson, a graduate of Atholton High School in Columbia, started his career as a track coach at his alma mater in 1990, while studying at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Teresa Waters, who guided Oakland Mills' girls basketball team to the Class 1A state basketball championship in March, resigned Wednesday and will take over coaching duties at River Hill.Waters replaces Karen Saunderson, who resigned in March after two seasons.Waters was offered the coaching position at River Hill before the school opened in 1996 but remained at Oakland Mills for a number of reasons. When Saunderson resigned, Waters, who has taught business/computer science at River Hill since it opened, again was offered the position.

Atholton's Bryan Townsend is a spy -- and a good one at that.When racing someone in either cross country or track, Townsend scopes opponents' running characteristics and strategies. This affords him an advantage the next time they compete, for he knows who possesses a fast start, a fast finish or a strong kick.In all, Townsend's keen sense is a primary reason he's one of the Baltimore area's best long-distance runners. In current indoor-track times, the senior is first in the 1,600 (4:37.

Watch that team spirit, River Hill. Students have been warned that they will be turned away from athletic events if they decide to substitute body paint for shirts. Principal William Ryan's rule has upset some students at the high school. Ryan clarified last week that body paint is not banned at school sporting events. "You [just] have to have clothes on [when you wear body paint]," Ryan said. "You can paint your body, hair and toenails if you want, but you have to be fully clothed."

Zach Tropf is a two-time state indoor mile champion. But he especially remembers that first title in 1995.The day before that state meet he was driving to school on icy roads and his 1995 Saturn slid off the road and flipped over twice."

A young, boyish-looking man stood outside the cafeteria at Mount View Middle School on Wednesday night, greeting more than a dozen parents and students. Next to him was Linda Wise, the former principal of Marriotts Ridge High School, who was promoted this week to be the county school system's assistant superintendent of school administration. "This is our new principal, Pat Saunderson," Wise told parents and students. They had come to the middle school for a meeting on the opening of the county's 12th high school in August, but parents and students also got a chance to meet Saunderson for the first time since his appointment to replace Wise.

Teresa Waters, who guided Oakland Mills' girls basketball team to the Class 1A state basketball championship in March, resigned Wednesday and will take over coaching duties at River Hill.Waters replaces Karen Saunderson, who resigned in March after two seasons.Waters was offered the coaching position at River Hill before the school opened in 1996 but remained at Oakland Mills for a number of reasons. When Saunderson resigned, Waters, who has taught business/computer science at River Hill since it opened, again was offered the position.

River Hill girls basketball coach Karen Saunderson hasresigned.An eighth-grade science teacher at Mount View Middle, Saunderson said she wanted to "focus on my son right now because it's important."Saunderson, whose husband is Atholton athletic director Pat Saunderson, gave birth to the couple's first child, Kyle Scott Saunderson, on Nov. 7 last year at St. Agnes Hospital.River Hill finished 9-16 overall and 4-14 in the county in its inaugural 1996-97 campaign. This season, the Hawks were 10-12 overall and 9-9 in the league.

Zach Tropf is a two-time state indoor mile champion. But he especially remembers that first title in 1995.The day before that state meet he was driving to school on icy roads and his 1995 Saturn slid off the road and flipped over twice."

Pat Saunderson will replace Don Van Deusen as Atholton's athletic director.Saunderson, 27, who coaches track and teaches social studies at Atholton, was one of six candidates."

Runners, take your mark.Jared Howard likes to run.Set.But he loves to race.The starter's gun sounds."It's all about you and the clock," said Howard, a senior sprinter TC on Atholton's indoor track team. "I go out strong and I go out to win."Howard is a gifted runner, one of the best in the state. In last year's county, region and state championships, he earned 10 gold medals and was named The Sun's Boys Performer of the Year in Howard County."He kind of dominates the sport right now in this county," said Atholton coach Pat Saunderson.

Runners, take your mark.Jared Howard likes to run.Set.But he loves to race.The starter's gun sounds."It's all about you and the clock," said Howard, a senior sprinter TC on Atholton's indoor track team. "I go out strong and I go out to win."Howard is a gifted runner, one of the best in the state. In last year's county, region and state championships, he earned 10 gold medals and was named The Sun's Boys Performer of the Year in Howard County."He kind of dominates the sport right now in this county," said Atholton coach Pat Saunderson.

Even before the opening of Marriotts Ridge High School in August, Howard County's 12th high school has been assigned its second principal after the promotion of its first school administrator. Linda Wise, who was appointed to head the new high school last summer, will become the school system's assistant superintendent of school administration - a promotion approved by the Board of Education yesterday. In turn, Patrick Saunderson, principal of Lime Kiln Middle School for the past three years, will take over for Wise.

Atholton's Bryan Townsend is a spy -- and a good one at that.When racing someone in either cross country or track, Townsend scopes opponents' running characteristics and strategies. This affords him an advantage the next time they compete, for he knows who possesses a fast start, a fast finish or a strong kick.In all, Townsend's keen sense is a primary reason he's one of the Baltimore area's best long-distance runners. In current indoor-track times, the senior is first in the 1,600 (4:37.