Kristen Waagbo named to Navy’s coaching staff

By Carol Gralia
Posted: July 30, 2010

Kristen Waagbo is trading in the West Coast for the East Coast. On July 28, the Naval Academy announced that she has been hired as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Navy.
In more ways than one, the Ellicott City native is returning home.
Waagbo served as a volunteer coach at Navy during the 2008-09 seasons. She was part of Navy’s first women’s lacrosse staff, and the 2008 team set an NCAA record for the most wins (13) by a first-year program.
A graduate of Mt. Hebron High School, Waagbo left Navy for an assistant coaching position at the University of California Davis. The Aggies posted a turnaround season, going from 6-12 in 2009 to 11-6 last spring and reaching the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinals.
“We are just thrilled to have Kristen back at Navy,” said head coach Cindy Timchal in a press release. “She experienced a high level of success as the top assistant at UC Davis and did a great job for their program. We are very happy that she is now rejoining our program at Navy.”
“I am so thrilled and grateful to be returning to the Naval Academy,” said Waagbo.
Waagbo, a two-time All-American at Duke University, isn’t the only person on Navy’s women’s lacrosse staff with Howard County ties. Associate head coach Allison (Valentino) Fondale is a graduate of Atholton High School. She recruited Waagbo to Duke and coached her there.
Waagbo, a two-time Howard County Player of the Year in girls lacrosse and also in basketball, was inducted into the Howard County Women’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Comment on this entry • No responses

Wrestling: All-American Kraisser takes second at Fargo

By Andrew Conrad
Posted: July 23, 2010

Rising Centennial junior Nathan Kraisser continued to impress this week at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D.

In Greco-Roman, the two-time Maryland state champ won his pool by defeating wrestlers from Wisconsin, Iowa, New York, Colorado, Missouri and California. He won one round against his finals opponent, Val Rauser of Montana, but lost two. Still, it was an outstanding performance at the nation’s biggest tournament.

Reservoir rising senior Mark Colabucci, also a state champion, was the only other wrestler from Howard County to win more than two matches. He was 4-2 in the freestyle competition, just missing out on All-American status.

Comment on this entry • No responses