POCOMOKE- Budding sports dynasties continue to grow at little Pocomoke High in the south end of Worcester County with the girls’ varsity field hockey team winning its sixth straight state championship last weekend and the boys’ varsity soccer team vying for its fourth straight state title tonight.
Pound for pound, or sport for sport, Pocomoke has to have one of the best high school athletic programs in the state in terms of collecting state championship hardware. Over the years, the Warriors have won 27 state championships in various sports, including 16 alone by the varsity field hockey team, and could add number 28 tonight if the boys’ varsity soccer team completes its magical run through the state playoffs against Boonsboro on the campus of UMBC.
The small, rural school of just over 300 students continues to produce highly successful sports teams year after year. In addition to the 27 state championships, Pocomoke has reached the state title game in various sports 19 other times. The aforementioned girls’ varsity field hockey team has led the dominance with six straight state championships and 16 overall.
The Warriors beat Glenelg, 5-1, last weekend to claim their sixth straight state championship and seventh since 2001. The only season Pocomoke did not win a state title in field hockey in this century was 2002. In addition to its current six-title game-winning streak, the Warriors had a run of five straight in the 1990s, a decade during which Pocomoke won the state championship seven times overall. The Warriors also won three field hockey state championships in the 1980s.
No less impressive has been the remarkable run by the Pocomoke boys’ varsity soccer team. The Warriors won the state Class 1A-East region title last week with a 1-0 win over Glenelg and are now on the threshold of their fourth straight state championship. The Pocomoke boys won the state 1A title in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and are preparing to add 2008. The Warriors also won the state championship in 2003 and 2001, along with other titles in 1995 and 1988. Incidentally, Pocomoke’s girls’ varsity basketball team is the reigning state Class 1A championship, while the boys’ varsity basketball team has won three state titles, the most recent coming in 2002.
“We’ve been pretty consistent with what we’ve been able to do athletically and with our academics and it has shown through with what we’ve been able to accomplish over the years,” said Pocomoke Athletic Director Dave Byrd. “We’ve got great student-athletes and good coaches, which has been the winning formula.”