Hagerstown, MD, July 24, 2025
News Summary
The Herald-Mail has unveiled a prestigious ranking of the top 30 high school athletes from Washington County over the past 25 years. This list honors exceptional local athletes who have made significant contributions across various sports. An additional five athletes were included in this year’s ranking due to their extraordinary achievements, reflecting the intense competition among over 1,000 athletes with all-county first-team honors. The list celebrates the best in local high school sports while inviting public participation to vote for standout athletes.
Top 30 Washington County High School Athletes Revealed
Hagerstown, MD – The Herald-Mail has unveiled its highly anticipated list of the top 30 high school athletes from Washington County over the past 25 years. This ranking celebrates local legends who have excelled across various sports categories, acknowledging the significant contributions made by these outstanding athletes.
Four years ago, The Herald-Mail sports department published a list ranking the top 25 male and female athletes of the 21st century. In the new list, an additional five athletes were included due to the remarkable accomplishments seen within the community, highlighting the challenging task the judges faced, as over 1,000 athletes have received all-county first-team honors. The judges evaluated achievements across multiple sports and notably considered collegiate and professional accomplishments as well.
Highlighted Athletes
The list comprises noteworthy achievers across a variety of sports:
- Brooks: Recognized as Maryland’s greatest wrestler, he has an impressive record of 163 wins to just 2 losses, securing four state titles during his high school career.
- Miner: Celebrated as the top three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball.
- Adenhart: A pitching prodigy who was honored as Maryland’s Gatorade Player of the Year before ascending to play in Major League Baseball.
- Robinson: Another Gatorade Player of the Year, he went on to have a successful career in the NBA after a remarkable high school performance.
- Smith: Garnered accolades by setting records for career rushing yards and touchdowns in football, while also standing out in track and field.
- Liao: Became the first player to win four state singles tennis titles, finishing his high school career undefeated.
- Halling: Achieved a stellar record of 179-2 in wrestling and was a four-time state champion.
- Winter: Set numerous records on the football field while also excelling in track events.
- Conway: Acknowledged in both football and baseball, receiving all-area honors for his performance in both sports.
- Owens: Gained recognition in football and lacrosse, leading his teams to historic championships.
- Glazer: Stood out in both baseball and basketball, collecting top honors in each sport.
- Metchie: Known for his remarkable career receiving yards and touchdown records, he advanced to play at Alabama.
- Merritt: First runner from Washington County to qualify for the prestigious Foot Locker Nationals.
- Gibson: The BCL player of the year, he was instrumental in guiding his basketball team to a league championship.
- Ewing: Earned all-county honors in lacrosse and football, making significant contributions to regional title wins.
- Blakney: Made a lasting impact in basketball with high scoring and extensive recognition.
- Wilmore: Achieved all-county honors in both football and basketball, amplifying his impact in both sports.
- Brown: Became the all-time hits leader in baseball while also showcasing talent as a standout soccer player.
- Lazich: Excelled in soccer, baseball, and basketball while overcoming injuries to make significant contributions.
- Russ: Excelled in both basketball and football, setting county records for passing yards along the way.
- Wilson: Recorded an undefeated cross-country season while also excelling in track.
- Moore: Earned state championships in track and field and received commendations in football.
- Lowery: Dominated as a football player while also excelling in track and field.
- Lobley: Set multiple soccer records before furthering his education at Harvard.
- Trobaugh: A two-time pitcher of the year, he played a crucial role in his baseball team’s success.
- Yates: An emerging talent recognized in both basketball and football with high expectations for continued development.
- Geben: Assisted in elevating the Goretti basketball program, continuing his athletic career at Notre Dame.
- Oyster: Made her mark in both wrestling and football, establishing herself as a dual-sport standout.
Public Participation
The Herald-Mail has opened the voting process for the public to select the top athlete from both the boys and girls categories among the candidates. Voting will remain active until July 28 for female athletes and July 29 for male athletes, providing fans with the opportunity to recognize their favorite athletes from the impressive list.
Conclusion
This ranking serves not only as a celebration of athletic success in Washington County but also encourages community engagement as fans reminisce about legendary performances and outlook on the future of these exceptional athletes.
FAQ
What criteria were used to select the top 30 athletes?
The selection criteria considered achievements in multiple sports, closed comparisons with excellence in single sports, and included some collegiate and professional accomplishments.
How can the public participate in recognizing these athletes?
The public can vote for their favorite athletes from the list. Voting is open until July 28 for girls and July 29 for boys.
How did the new list expand from 25 athletes to 30?
The expansion occurred due to the difficulty in ranking achievements, as numerous outstanding athletes warranted recognition.
Key Features Chart
| Athlete | Sport | Key Achievement |
| Brooks | Wrestling | 4-time state champion, 163-2 record |
| Miner | Football/Basketball/Baseball | Greatest three-sport athlete |
| Adenhart | Baseball | Gatorade Player of the Year, MLB prospect |
| Robinson | Basketball | Gatorade Player of the Year, NBA player |
| Smith | Football/Track | Career rushing records |
| Liao | Tennis | First to win 4 state singles titles, undefeated |
| Halling | Wrestling | 4-time state champ, 179-2 record |
| Trobaugh | Baseball | Two-time pitcher of the year |
| Lobley | Soccer | Multiple records, Harvard athlete |
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