Home to some of the most accomplished athletes in the nation, including 2022 Super Bowl Champion Jake Funk (Damascus HS) and soccer star Gedion Zelalem (Walter Johnson HS), MCPS has a history of athletic excellence. Many MCPS athletes this year have made athletic commitments to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Hear what some of these athletes have to say from one-on-one conversations with each of them.
Shawn Flynn – Salisbury University Football Commit
Background: Flynn played all four years of high school football at Walter Johnson High School. A standout in the classroom and on the field, Flynn always worked hard and led by example. To conclude senior season, he was named Second Team All-County.
Question #1: What was your favorite part of playing high school football in Montgomery County?
Shawn Flynn: My favorite part would definitely be my team. I feel like I was brothers with every player, especially the other lineman.
Question #2: What part of going to Salisbury next year excites you the most?
Flynn: I am obviously nervous about leaving this amazing team and program at WJ, but I am excited to move on to Salisbury and hopefully do the one thing I wasn’t able to accomplish in highschool, finally get a ring.
Question #3: What advice would you give to other student-athletes that want to bring their game to the next level?
Flynn: I would tell them the same thing I said to my team, which is never take anything for granted. All the little things, the details that the coaches and your parents and your teammates tell you will help you greatly and improve your game.
Frederick Ryan – Knox College Men’s Soccer Commit
Background: A talented player at the club level and varsity level, Frederick Ryan will be graduating from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School this year. During his senior year of high school, he helped BCC to a regional title.
Question 1: What was your favorite memory of B-CC soccer?
Frederick Ryan: My favorite memory from BCC soccer is kinda two different things. As a team, it would be beating WJ in the regional finals game. And for me personally, it was my playoff performance against Whitman at home.
Question 2: When looking at Knox College, which parts of the school and soccer program did you like the most? How did they appeal to you?
Ryan: What I really liked about Knox College was how nice the coaches and teachers were and it’s just a completely different culture than here. The soccer program appealed to me because it is a winning program and has similar aspirations to me wanting to win the NCAA Tournament.
Question 3: Next year, what do you think your biggest challenges will be as a first-year college athlete? How do you plan to overcome the potential adversity?
Ryan: I think the biggest challenge next year for me will be balancing soccer and school. To overcome this, I need to get way more organized and learn how to spend my time better. Also I will reach out for support when needed and not try and do everything myself.
Question 4: Which soccer player do you consider to be the Greatest of All Time (GOAT)?
Ryan: I think Messi is the goat of soccer. But I appreciate the work ethic of Cristiano Ronaldo and I look up to him more than Messi. But nobody can do what Messi does with the ball, it’s like art and even none-soccer players appreciate what he does.
Sammy Polott – Lycoming College Baseball Commit
Background: Sammy Polott is a member of Walter Johnson High School’s baseball team. He played for the DMV Prospects, a summer travel team, from 15U through 17U. With great baseball IQ, a strong work ethic, along with great size and anticipation, Polott is an extremely talented player which earned him a varsity spot by his sophomore season. However, with COVID-19 lockdowns during his sophomore year and herniated discs in his lower spine during his junior year, Polott has yet to experience a full varsity season yet.
Question 1: You talked to many coaches and got accepted into almost every school you applied to. With that said, why did you choose Lycoming?
Sam Polott: I think the reason I chose Lycoming is because I really enjoyed my visit to the school and the interactions I had with the coach were really good. I really like the coach and the atmosphere around the college. There was only one other school that was a little interested in me, so there weren’t many options. But I did get into just about every school I applied to.
Question 2: What was the most challenging part of being recruited for you?
Polott: I think the most challenging part was getting attention from coaches, keeping in contact with them, finding time to talk with them, and attending the showcases.
Question 3: Very briefly, describe what it’s like playing baseball in this DMV area?
Polott: Playing baseball here, in the DMV, is like having a second family.
Article by Darius Kamrad of Walter Johnson High School
Photo courtesy of Unsplash