Annapolis

Athletes Worth Watching

Annapolis Athletes Worth Watching | March 2009

By Pat O'Malley
Photos by Larry French

ANDREW BISHOP
Southern High School
Football, Basketball & Baseball

One of the metro area’s top three-sport athletes, Bishop is hoping to play lacrosse in college. The 6’5”, 215-pound senior provided inside strength for the Bulldogs’ basketball team and was an All-County linebacker/offensive guard on the football team becoming the school’s first recipient of the Al Laramore Trophy given by the Touchdown Club of Annapolis. The Laramore Trophy goes to the county’s top lineman and Bishop, who received the award at the TD Club’s 55th banquet in February, was the overwhelming choice of the county coaches and media. But lacrosse is his first love. “It’s always been my favorite sport since I was young and I’ve dreamed of playing college lacrosse,” says Bishop, who plays attack and can play midfield. “Wheeling Jesuit and Lake Erie, both Division II schools, have shown interest in me and I got the looks from playing club lacrosse for Southern Maryland. I know it’s hard to get Division I opportunities, so I will play for whatever school likes me.” Bishop is hoping to lead the Bulldogs back to the Class 2A-1A playoffs this spring and is confident that Southern’s wealth of returning experience will produce a good season in “a really balanced county.” As for college, Bishop, who has a 3.0 grade-point-average, plans to major in business. He is the son of Frank and Linda Bishop.

CAROLINE JACOBS
Broadneck High School
Volleyball

Several years ago, Jacobs was not interested in the U.S. Naval Academy, but after the urging of her mother, Caroline decided to look into the prospect of attending the prestigious institution on the Severn River. She immediately fell in love with the academy and is headed to Naval Academy Prep School in Massachusetts for one year, before returning to the Annapolis school. She will play volleyball for the Mids. “I received a recruitment letter from Navy and we looked into it,” says the 5’11” Jacobs, a consensus All-County, SUN, and DigitalSports All-Metro hitter for the Class 4A State champion Bruins. “I saw and learned what the Naval Academy was all about.” She has had some exposure to the Mids with an older brother attending NAPS and her family being a USNA Midshipman sponsor family for the last 15 years. “I know prep school is tough and that it is quite a commitment, but I am ready for it and looking forward to the challenge,” says Jacobs, who is playing volleyball this spring with the Velocity club team, one of the state’s top 18-and-under travel teams. In addition, Jacobs, who carries a 3.9 grade-point-average and is ranked 62nd in a senior class of 497, is a member of the National Honor Society and Young Life, while doing extensive volunteer work. Jacobs volunteers for Bruins’ basketball camps, Wellness House, the Anne Arundel Medical Center, cancer fundraisers, and Sunrise Assisted Living. She is the daughter of Mark and Jenny Jacobs.

COSETTE LARASH
Archbishop Spalding High School
Volleyball & Lacrosse

Larash chose Johns Hopkins University over Notre Dame to continue her lacrosse career. An All-Metro and consensus All-County goalie, Larash charged into her senior year after posting 219 saves as a junior for the Cavaliers. “I chose Hopkins because it’s a lot closer for my family and family is a big deal in my life,” says Larash, a three-year starter for Spalding. “It’s really important for my mom and dad to come and watch me play lacrosse. I’m ecstatic about playing for the coaches at Hopkins.” Larash loves the challenge and pressure of playing in the net and says she “loves stuffing the girls more than scoring a goal.” “The intense games, like [versus] St. Mary’s, gets me pumped up and I get more excited. And I think I play better when I am more excited,” she says. The steady play of Larash, who credits her goalie coach Mike Molster for her development (“he has brought me to the next level”), led the Cavs to an overall 13-6 record under first-year coach Moira Leavitt last season. Spalding became one of the top teams in the IAAM A Conference and Larash expects more of the same this spring. A 3.85 grade-point-average student and member of the National Honor Society, Larash is going to study public health at Hopkins. “I want to pursue something in nutrition,” she says, “and maybe get into coaching. Last year as a junior, I took human anatomy and physiology and I really liked learning about the body.” Larash is he daughter of Bill and Louri Larash.

DAVE TURNER
Severna Park High School
Baseball & Ice Hockey

After an injury-riddled junior season, Turner is optimistic about his senior season and is looking to establish himself as one of the county’s top outfielders. “I broke my wrist (left) in the beginning of the year and it took me awhile to get back into it and I really didn’t get hot until the end of the year,” says Turner, who is right-handed when throwing and hitting. A 6’1” and 175-pounder, who runs the 60-yard dash in 6.9 seconds, Turner went into this season expecting big things from the Falcons, who returned nearly their entire starting lineup. “We should be very strong this year,” says Turner. “We have solid pitching and can hit. Coach [Jim] McCandless is great to play for and he has a great staff. He teaches us new things each day and gets us ready to be victorious.” Turner plans to attend West Virginia in Morgantown and hopes to make the Mountaineers as a walk-on. “I’m going to get a chance to walk on and they’ve told me things look good for me to make the team,” says Turner, who has a 3.5 grade-point-average and scored 1,610 on his SAT. “I really like West Virginia, the school itself, and from a baseball perspective they’re in a great conference and always have had a strong offense and that’s the kind of player I am. I need to work on my speed and consistency with the bat to succeed in college.” Turner wants to major in business or possibly sports therapy because he has a lot family members in business, including his parents, David and Linda Turner. He also played ice hockey for the Falcons’ club team and is a member of Leadership Institute and his church youth group.

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