All-Met High School Sports Show
With Jon DeNunzio
Washington Post High School Sports Editor
Tuesday, June 4, 2002; 7 p.m. EDT

The Washington Post publishes the Spring All-Met section of the 2002 school year in Wednesday's paper. The section honors the top high school athletes in baseball, softball, lacrosse, golf, rowing, tennis, gymnastics, track & field and soccer.

Washington Post High School Sports Editor Jon DeNunzio was online Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. EDT, to give a preview of The Post's Spring All-Met section and take questions and comments on high school sports.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.

DeNunzio and his staff will discuss how the selection process works, what kind of athletes generally make All-Met and how the athletes are honored.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Jon DeNunzio: Hello, and welcome. I'm Jon, and I oversee The Post's coverage of high school sports. The primary topic tonight is the Spring All-Met section--it will be in tomorrow's paper, and I'll release the names of athletes who made first team as we go along tonight. Any questions about the process, the selections, our guidelines, etc. are great.

I'll also be glad to answer other questions pertaining to The Post's high school sports coverage.

Fire away!

Washington, D.C.: When you're choosing All Mets for a sport like soccer, obviously stats like goals and assists are going to come into play. But, what about the intangibles? For example -- a player can dominate a game without scoring as much, or a great player plays on a weak team and despite creating dozens of chances, can't follow through because of a lack of support. Does thatkind of stuff get taken into consideration, or is it pretty much stats only?

Jon DeNunzio: We definitely take factors like thos your mention into consideration. We get nominations from coaches and talk to many more, and we ask them about the "intangibles." Our reporters (who choose the teams) also see a lot of games and take note of those things. In soccer, it would be impossible (or at least unfair) to pick defenders on stats only--they simply don't have many stats.

MLean, Va.: Why in the spring do you make the All-Met selections before the season is completed for the public schools -- giving the advantage to the private school kids whose stats are completed, especially in lacrosse?

Jon DeNunzio: Two part answer ... 1) We make the picks early so we can get the All-Met section published by early June. Why early June? Well, we have a luncheon at the end of the school year and we invite all the first-team All-Mets and their coaches and families. We feel we have to have this luncheon before large percetages of students have left for vacation or are in graduations, etc--and since some schools do get out around Memorial Day, we have to do it soon. Make sense?

2) I'd say the publication date does not give an advantage to private school kids. Yes, sometimes they have played more games than Virginia kids when we make the picks. But we are fully aware of that and try to "pro-rate" a players' season if it's not complete, if you know what I mean ...

Jon DeNunzio: Perhaps I should release a team or two:
Boys' Gymnastics
Benjamin Carter, Herndon, Sr.
Scott Flinn, Madison, Sr.
Ray Hacker, Fairfax, Sr.
Nadov Simenauer, Herndon, Sr.
Justin Spring, Lake Braddock, Sr.:
Gymnast of the Year: Sean Doolan, Fairfax, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Eric Kim, Lake Braddock

Girls' Gymnastics
Carolyn Marckesano, Langley, Soph.
Lindsey Montana, Potomac Falls, Sr.
Britany Raymond, Broad Run, Soph.
Amber Smith, Centreville, Sr.
Rebecca-Jane Ruppert, Woodbridge, Sr.
Gymnast of the Year: Christina Ghani, Lake Braddock, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Jack Leonard, Springbrook

Alexandria, Va.: Who are the womens and mens All Met rowing teams this year?

Jon DeNunzio: They are:

Boys’ Rowing
Martin J. Gehrke, Gonzaga, Sr.
Mike Gottlieb, Thomas Jefferson, Sr.
Dave Jeffrey, St. Albans, Sr.
Nick Kapur, St. Albans, Sr.
Mario Lanzone, McLean, Sr.
Rob Maddox, Yorktown, Sr.
Alex Phillips, Washington-Lee, Sr.
Chris Richbourg, Woodbridge, Jr.
Michael Tupek, Whitman, Sr.
Tommy Velarde, Thomas Jefferson, Sr.

Girls’ Rowing
Kim Bailey, Holton-Arms, Sr.
Carla Bezold, Jefferson, Jr.
Emily Collins, McLean, Sr.
Jaime Doerr, Episcopal, Jr.
Jessica Guzik, W.T. Woodson, Jr.
Mary Higgins, T.C. Williams, Sr.
Jamie Holt, Robinson, Sr.
Ashley Jones, T.C. Williams, Jr.
Alex Owen, National Cathedral, Sr.
Janie Roden, T.C. Williams, Sr.
Coxswain: Karen Richardson, Gar-Field, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Steve Weir, T.C. Williams

Vienna, Va.: Are there ever "ties" in the All-Met voting and if so, what happens?

Jon DeNunzio: There is no voting, really. Here's what we do: we ask coaches for nominations (by sending forms to every high school in the Washington area) and use those nominations in concert with conversations with coaches and reporters' observations. For most sports, one reporter is responsible for taking all the data and opinion and turning it into an All-Met team.

While there is no voting, we do notice when certain names keep popping up on nomination forms. If a player has impressed many area coaches, he or she obviously stands a better chance of making All-Met.

Alexandria, Va.: Do the actual coaches have any say in who gets picked from their schools?

Jon DeNunzio: This was kind of answered, above. here's one thing to add: we ask coaches to nominate players from their school and from others, and the nomination form purposely has more room for players from other schools. Forms from coaches who take the time to point out the players from other schools who really deserve All-Met are the ones that carry the most weight.

McLean, Va.: What about the mens' coxswain and coach for rowing?

Jon DeNunzio: Whoops ...
Coach: Dave Foley, Gonzaga
Cox: Garrett Hanley, McLean

Sorry.

Jon DeNunzio: More teams:

Boys’ Soccer
GK Adam Jelinek, Centreville, Sr.
D Duncan McNabb, Yorktown, Sr.
D Kyle Newcomer, Woodbridge, Sr.
D Michael Yakovac, Lake Braddock, Jr.
MF Jeff Carroll, West Springfield, Sr.
MF Kyle Hansen, Centreville, Sr.
MF Tony Pittman, Osbourn, Sr.
MF Armando Romero, Yorktown, Sr.
F Thomas Kelley, Broad Run, Sr.
F William Phouminh, Lee, Jr.
F Fernando Ramos, North Stafford, Sr.
Player of the Year: Colin Eames, Jefferson, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Gizmo Cifuentes, Yorktown

Girls’ Soccer
GK Jen Deck, Oakton, Jr.
D Christina Costantino, Lake Braddock, Jr.
D Meghan Hurlbut, McLean, Jr.
D Natalie Jacobs, Centreville, Sr.
D Jen Woodie, Woodbridge, Sr.
MF Paula Faherty, Lake Braddock, Sr.
MF Ali Krieger, Forest Park, Jr.
MF Anna Pawlow, W.T. Woodson, Sr.
MF Amy Smerdzinski, Chantilly, Fr.
F Kimi Argy, Chantilly, Sr.
F Maija Garnaas, T.C. Williams, Sr.
Player of the Year: Liana Wooten, Woodbridge, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Jim Abt, W.T. Woodson

Lexinginton, Va.: What defines the Metro Area? How much of Maryland, how far south into Virginia? I watch a lot from Lexington.

Jon DeNunzio: Ok, let me take a crack at all the cities/counties we cover: D.C., of course, plus these in Md: Prince George's Charles, St. Mary's, Calvert, Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Frederick. In Va: Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Clarke, Winchester ... That's most, if not all of them ...

McLean, Va.: Would you say that the selection process is political? If so, how? And if not, why do you think many people believe that to be true?

Jon DeNunzio: Hmmm ... I don't think it is, but maybe it depends on what your definition "political" is :)
Our honest aim is to pick the athletes who have shown the best mix of talent and acheivement on the high school playing fields. If "political" means that certain coaches or schools get favortism because of the way they interact with us, I'd say it's certainly not the case.

Maybe the best thing to do is to put it to you readers out there: do you think All-Met is political? If so, why? I'm curious.

McLean, Va.: Are you willing to spill who got the All-Met boat for rowing?

Jon DeNunzio: It'll be in the paper tomorrow. Sorry.

Washington, D.C.: In rowing, how are the rowers selected for the All Met section? Is it based on who is the stroke of the boat?

Jon DeNunzio: We're lucky Kynan W. Kelly is here today (he covers rowing for us). Kynan tells me that he looks at boat performance, and coach recommendations mean A LOT. We also look at offseason performances (which is rare in All-Met, but kind of necessary when you're trying to sort out talent in a super-team-oriented sport like rowing). ... And Kynan says the stroke never really comes into it.

Herndon, Va.: Who made the All-Met Track & Field teams?

Jon DeNunzio: Boys' Track & Field
Phil Gaeta, Oakton, Sr.
Craig Gallimore, Lake Braddock, Jr.
Damon T. Hill, Gaithersburg, Sr.
Steve Huntzinger, Robinson, Jr.
James Marshall, Ballou, Sr.
Herbert Nicholls, Gwynn Park, Sr.
Tim Riley, Suitland, Sr.
Reynold L. Smith Jr., Forest Park, Jr.
Richard Smith, South Lakes, Sr.
Bryan Steele, Gaithersburg, Sr.
Shane Stroup, River Hill, Sr.
David Sullivan, Centreville, Sr.
Paul Young Jr., Oxon Hill, Sr
Athlete of the Year: Bobby Lockhart, Handley, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Sam Singleton, Oakland Mills

Girls' Track & Field
Sarah Bowman, Fauquier, Fr.
Shylan Bumbrey, James Monroe, Fr.
Keira Carlstrom, Oakton, Sr.
Denise Cruse, Elizabeth Seton, Sr.
Tiffany Evans, Gar-Field, Jr.
Jessica Lauren Graff, Urbana, Sr.
Lindsay Grigoriev, Atholton, Jr.
Bonnie Meekins, Oakton, Sr.
Nana Meriwether, Sidwell Friends, Jr.
Romona Modeste, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sr.
Junique Morris, T.C. Williams, Sr.
Tiffany Nesfield, C.H. Flowers, Soph.
Alexandra Van Heuven, Lake Braddock, Sr.
Athlete of the Year: India Ransom, Largo, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Fran Parry, Gaithersburg

Mitchellville, Md.: What realistic chance does an athlete have to make All-Met when he attends a non-powerhouse school? He may be a great player but may not have the supporting cast that would showcase his talents?

Jon DeNunzio: Good question. A top-notch athlete is a top-notch athlete, in our opinion. Theer are some cases (in some sports more than others) where a great player can lift a so-so team to greater heights, so we do give some extra consideration to players on winning teams at times. But there are always cases where we hear about a top player on a not-so-great team, and we try to evaluate them fairly.

Vienna, Va.: Why do some sports have an athlete of the year and others do not (e.g gymnastics vs. rowing)?

Jon DeNunzio: Rowing is the one sport where we do not have a player of the year. That's because of the nature of the sport--it's not the kind of thing where one person stands out like that. In fact, The Post didn't even choose individual rowers for All-Met until recently.

Potomac, Md.: When selecting the All-Met team for a sport like golf, do you look at the summer a player had, or just the high-school season? I feel you should look at the summer as well as the high-school season when choosing the team as well as the Player of the Year.

Jon DeNunzio: We really concentrate on high school performance in most every case. That's what our day-in, day-out coverage is about--high school teams. It's also a little like the Heisman Trophy (not that I would compare the prestige involved)--they pick the player who had the best college football performance, not the one who seems destined to be picked No. 1 in the NFL Draft.

Arlington, Va.: There's always a bit of politics whenever you ask coaches who the best players are, and there's really nothing wrong with that. Many have seen these kids playing over four years and feel it's time they got recognition. Maybe they didn't have their best season as a senior but they've been consistently among the best all along.
As for the opinion of reporters, they only get to see players once or twice a season, so their impressions are limited. They do the best they can and (I don't work for the Post) the Post does a great job of covering high school sports.
Imagine what would happen if fans were polled!

Jon DeNunzio: Someone has addressed politics .. awesome. There's some truth in what you say, Arlington. We like to think adding our reporters' observations and reporting into the mix limits some of the "political" stuff you mention. But, sure, you can never completely escape it. Thanks for the compliments, btw.

Somewhere, USA: Who made the All-Met baseball team?

Jon DeNunzio: Here's baseball AND softball:
Baseball
P Nate Larkin, Herndon, Sr.
P Jason Miller, Sherwood, Sr.
P Seth Overbey, McDonough, Sr.
P Andrew Wells, St. Stephen's/St. Agnes, Sr.
C Matt Foley, Madison, Jr.
1B Matthew Montgomery, Watkins Mill, Jr.
2B Danny Consuegra, Damascus, Sr.
3B Jess Stewart, Osbourn, Jr.
SS Matt Capece, DeMatha, Sr.
OF Michael Campbell, Handley, Sr.
OF Adam Heffron, Hammond, Sr.
OF Matt Lewis, Broadneck, Sr.
UT Steve Bowen, Northeast, Sr.
Player of the Year: J.J. Hollenbeck, Madison, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Keith Howell, Osbourn

Softball
P Jessica Fallica, Thomas Stone, Sr.
P Brooke Hughes, Magruder, Sr.
P Karie Morrison, Park View, Jr.
P Katie Zitnay, Atholton, Sr.
C Jessie Olownia, Broad Run, Sr.
1B Katie Lemmert, Loudoun Valley, Sr.
2B Ashley Blandford, Thomas Stone, Sr.
3B Meghan Cowan, Spalding, Sr.
SS Courtney Bures, Stonewall Jackson, Soph.
OF Kelly Brown, Gar-Field, Sr.
OF Danielle Devereux, Glenelg, Jr.
OF Heather Frye, North County, Sr.
UT Katie LaBelle, O'Connell, Sr.
Player of the Year: P Christy Anch, Broad Run, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Linda Curry, Thomas Stone

Reston, Va.: Jon, we really appreciatethe obvious effort you've made in the last two years(?) to give extended coverage to high school sports. One complaint,though is the unintended bias for Maryland golf -- which is played in the spring as opposed to Virginia golf, a fall sport. I'm disappointed that the outstanding achievement of Langley High School, in winning the Virginia state AAA championship wasn't able to earn more recognition. I assume, since we weren't notified, that none of my players received All-Met. How can we best correct this?

Jon DeNunzio: Thanks, first of all. Not sure if I agree. Maryland public school golf is played in the fall (most everywhere), just like Virginia. Private schools, on the other hand, play in the spring. Re: Langley -- winning a state championship is a team accomplishment; All-Met is about individual players. Not that there aren't great players at Langley, but the state championship does not guarantee an All-Met selection.

Largo, Md.: how do you become nominated for All Met? I heard your coach has to nominate you but I am not sure? Why don't Washington Post scouts decide instead of having the coaches nominate becuase at some school's where there are good atheletes the coaches don't nominate there players, runners, and throwers for sports?

Jon DeNunzio: Just to clear up any misconceptions -- coaches' nominations are an important part of the selection process, but players can and do make All-Met when their coaches forget to make nominations. That said, I would encourage any coach out there reading this to submit thoughtful nominations, even if you don't have an athlete who's first-team All-Met material. That kind of input is invaluable.

Arlington, Va.: When were the All-Met selections made? Was it only after the regular season or was the post-season taken into account?

Jon DeNunzio: This was touched on earlier ... we made the first-team selections by May 19. Second-team and honorable mention were finalized last week. If you're wondering why we pick so early in the spring, see my response above ...

Olney, Md.: Very surprised that Matt Avery, Landon, didn't make the first team. He was the best pitcher in the league (IAC) this season.

Jon DeNunzio: A very, very, very tough choice. In a sport like baseball, we're choosing four or five pitchers from more than 200 teams. There is very little that separates our first-team selections from second-teamers and honorable mention picks.

Jon DeNunzio: Here are the rest of the picks ...

Boys' Lacrosse
GK Travis McDonnell, DeMatha, Sr.
D Billy Staines, Severn, Sr.
D Tony Vita, Landon, Sr.
MF Tom Boylan, Georgetown Prep, Sr.
MF Kyle Dixon, Spalding, Sr.
MF Andy Gallagher, DeMatha, Sr.
MF Nate Whitaker, Jefferson, Sr.
A Mike Down, Centennial, Jr.
A Scott Falatach, St. Mary's-Annapolis, Sr.
A Mike Osborne, Severna Park, Sr.
Player of the Year: Matt Ward, Landon, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Mike DelGrande, Bullis

Girls' Lacrosse
GK Cindy Nicolaus, Mount Hebron, Sr.
D Laura Barnes, Annapolis, Sr.
D Laura Cipro, Mount Hebron, Jr.
D Julie Hauser, St. Stephen's/St. Agnes, Sr.
MF Kate Hickman, Severna Park, Sr.
MF Melissa McCarthy, Mount Hebron, Sr.
MF Brooke Richards, Broadneck, Sr.
MF Stephanie Scurachio, Mount Hebron, Sr.
A Ashley Holden, St. Stephen's/St. Agnes, Sr.
A Tyler Leachman, Holton-Arms, Sr.
A Kristen Waagbo, Mount Hebron, Jr.
Player of the Year: Kristen Zimmer, St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Karen Tengwall, Broadneck

Golf
Skip Clasper, Wootton, Jr.
Stephanie Connelly, Fr., Northeast
Thomas Feldman, Georgetown Day, Sr.
Joseph Gross Jr., McDonough, Fr.
Chris McCartin, Yorktown, Soph.
Ryan Price, Paul VI Catholic, Jr.
Joe Scheffres, Landon, Sr.
Will Shriver, Gonzaga, Jr.
Jenny Suh, Chantilly, Jr.
Player of the Year: Garrett Pike, Potomac Falls, Jr.
Coach of the Year: John Thiem Sr., McDonough

Boys' Tennis
Paul Bristow, Robinson, Sr.
Jamon W. Clayton, Oxon Hill, Sr.
Alex Hume, Episcopal, Sr.
Rohan Nabar, Mount Hebron, Jr.
Jason Pinsky, Churchill, Soph.
Rowan Reynolds, St. Albans, Sr.
Player of the Year: Treat Huey, St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes, Soph.
Coach of the Year: Wesley Rolle, DeMatha

Girls' Tennis
Marianne Baker, Glenelg, Jr.
Blakeley Griffith, Loudoun County, Jr.
Susan Johnson, Severna Park, Sr.
Lesley Price, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sr.
Jessica Vanderdys, Centreville, Sr.
Rachel Williams, Sidwell Friends, Sr.
Player of the Year: Kristen James, Centreville, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Heidi Cutler, Langley

Vienna, Va.: How important is going to the luncheon tomorrow? I made All-Met in rowing and am wondering what will happen tomorrow and how long it will go on.

Jon DeNunzio: "Important" is not the word I'd use, but I do think you'd enjoy it. You get to see all the All-Mets from every sport--maybe even talk to a few at your table--and we have a good program planned. Gary Williams, the Maryland men's basketball coach, will speak. We give annual awards to two current All-Mets, a former All-Met who has gone on to big things, and an area adult who has done good work in the community. It's fun. Hope to see you there.

Suitland, Md.: How is the coach of the year picked in various sports? Basically, what is your criteria in picking the coaches?

Jon DeNunzio: We look for coaches who have done great work helping their athletes reach their potential. There are many ways to define this, but obviouasly, guiding a team to a winning season, championship, etc. helps. But Ws and Ls are not the only factor.

Olney, Md.: How were the selections made for the All Met Golf team since public schools play in the fall while the private schools play in the spring?

Jon DeNunzio: We got nominations from fall coaches after their season and then got spring coaches' nominations last month. It's not that hard--no different than comparing Maryland football teams and Virginia football teams (which rarely play each other) ...

Laurel, Md.: Why not give E Roos girls 4 x100 All Met with honors? They ran 45.91. which is very fast for a Northeast school.

Jon DeNunzio: While we don't give first-team All-Met slots to relay teams, we do pick the best relay teams in several events on the All-Met team. Likewise, we do that in rowing.

Alexandria, Va.: Five players from Mt. Hebron -- isn't that a bit much? Do you follow your All-Mets in college -- i.e. how many All-Americans?

Jon DeNunzio: Mount Hebron is unquestionably the area's top girls' lacrosse school (well, maybe St. Stephen's/St. Agnes would have a good argument). But it happens they had some really good players ... is this what people mean by "political"? Would it be "political" not to pick a Mount Hebron player because four of her teammates were on the team? Just throwing it out there ...

Fairfax Station, Va.: Who do you think will be on the All Met team for boys lacrosse? I like a couple kids from Woodson. Also Oakton, their attack is sick.

Jon DeNunzio: You have the answer to that by now. I just wanted to let the world know that someone thinks the Oakton attack is "sick."

Bowie, Md.: How is it that for track and field that a person could do the same events the next year with the same time but either not make the team or make the team the next year when a person that did worse than them made it?

Jon DeNunzio: Not sure I follow ... but if a runner finished the same events in the same times two years in a row, but only made All-Met the first year, I'd guess that the competition got faster.

Vienna, Va.: When deciding on who is All Met, do you look at DyeStat track and field rankings or is it solely based on school recommendations?

I ask because there are two boys at Gonzaga College High School in D.C. who have the sixth and seventh fastest times in the country for the 400M (per the DyeStat Elite rankings). No one else in the metropolitan area has run as fast. With these times, these boys won the WCAC championship, and would have won the Maryland and Virginia state championships.

Their names are Robert "Tripp" McLaughlin and Douglas Dutch. Have they been given any consideration as All Met? Sean P. Flynn (of the Post) was at the meet where they shattered the record.

Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Ellen McLaughlin

Jon DeNunzio: We look at national rankings like the ones DyeStat posts. But making All-Met is a combination of things ... performance in big meets balanced with consistency over the year, etc. I know the runners you mention got consideration. Thanks for the question.

Mclean, Va.: Will the second team selections and honorable mention be listed tonight or do we have to wait until tomorrow morning in the paper?

Jon DeNunzio: Second team and HMs will be in the paper tomorrow.

Alexandria, Va.: How are crew coaches of the year picked? Based upon how their boats do? Nominated by other coaches?

Jon DeNunzio: Rowing coaches are picked like other coaches. See my response above. We admire the hard work that all the coaches do, whether their teams win or not. But I'll say that the All-Met section (and our high school coverage as a whole) is more about the students. I think most coaches, administrators and parents appreciate that.

Jon DeNunzio: Well folks, that should do it. Thanks for all the great questions, and I'm sorry if I didn't get to yours. The All-Met section will be Section J in your paper tomorrow ... enjoy!

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