By: Sam Burleigh

   As the weather gets warmer and the winter sports near the end of their season, it’s time for MRHS athletics to switch gears into the outdoors. Spring sports are upon us and approaching quickly across Howard County, and Marriotts Ridge offers several different opportunites for student athletes to compete. Some of the sports provided include baseball, softball, outdoor track and field, lacrosse, and many others. Each sport has already started practices and preparing for the upcoming season with the goal of the highest award possible, a state championship.

   The biggest topic of spring sports at MRHS is the lacrosse teams. The Girls Varsity Lacrosse team, head coached by Mrs. Brady, is starting their title defense season, where even after an 0-2 start, they rallied back and defeated Severna Park to win the state championship last year. The Boys Varsity Team also had a strong season, as head coach Mr. Richter led the team to not only an 11-6 record, but also a regional championship and a state semifinals appearance, where their run was cut short against Towson.

   Baseball is also another major sport here at Marriotts Ridge. The Varsity Baseball team, head coached by Mr. Molnar is looking to have a bounce back season. Last year, the team finished with a 10-12 record, and were bounced out early in the Regional semifinals. This season they continue to build and attempt to reach states for the first time in three years.

   Softball is also a key sport that draws a lot of attention during the spring sports season. The Varsity Softball team, led by history teacher and coach Mr. Parson will try to build on the success they had last year, where they finished with an impressive 14-5 record, as well as a regional championship over Westminster. Now this season they look to go even further and make another strong run.

   Tennis is another sport that is part of the spring season at MRHS. The team focuses on winning in both singles and doubles matches. Tennis requires a mix of skill, strategy, and consistency, as players look to improve throughout the season with each match. When the season progresses, the team will look to compete well in county matches and represent Marriotts Ridge in postseason play.

   Track and field are also a major part of the spring sports season at Marriotts Ridge. Both boys and girls teams compete in many different events such as sprints, distance races, relays, jumping events, and throwing events. Track meets also often include several schools competing at the same time, which makes the events more competitive and exciting. Many student athletes focus on improving their times and performances throughout the season while also representing Marriotts Ridge.

   Overall, the spring sports season at MRHS is shaping up to be a massive success. With several teams returning talented players and coming off strong performances and deep playoff runs from last year, expectations are high for many Mustang programs. As the season begins, students will have plenty of chances to come out and support Mustang athletics.