Down in the final seconds of the game up one goal, No. 2-seed Maryland women’s lacrosse was in danger of fumbling a three-goal lead and sending the game to overtime. But as its defense collapsed and left No. 7-seed Ohio State’s Zoe Coleman wide open in front of the goal, JJ Suriano made the most important save of her career.
Maryland
Clarksburg Flag Football Player Aysia Jones-Robinson is Attempting to Revolutionize the Sport
Recently, girls flag football has become a major high school sport in the U.S. For Clarksburg High School in Maryland, junior Aysia Jones-Robinson has been looking to revolutionize flag football.
Jones-Robinson, who plays both quarterback on offense and cornerback on defense, led Clarksburg to Maryland’s first high school girls flag football state championship in 2024.
“It’s a blessing,” said Jones-Robinson. “A lot of schools have it now, and not a lot of people make it. For us to be one of those teams that do, it feels amazing.”
For 2025, the Coyotes finished the regular season as the top girls flag football team in Montgomery County with a perfect 10-0 record. They went on to crush Paint Branch 42-8 in the County Championship.
The 2025 Maryland girls flag football playoffs began in late October, with Clarksburg being the top seed in the 4A-3A West Region. They shut out Oakdale 41-0 in the second round on Nov. 1, with Jones-Robinson throwing four touchdown passes and rushing for a score.
“First, to do it the first time, nobody did it,” said Jones-Robinson. “The second time, we’re more connected than we were last year. We have a great team chemistry, great team bond. I think we have the potential to go back, and I think it fully.”
Last year, Montgomery, the largest public school system in Maryland, launched girls flag football as a pilot program along with Baltimore City and Washington County. This resulted in the Coyotes’ program coming into play.
“I saw that it was a new sport at the school,” said Jones-Robinson. “I told my friends, ‘Let’s do it.’ We got good at it, and we just never stopped from there.”
Clarksburg girls flag football head coach Kyle Landefeld has done a remarkable job with Jones-Robinson and the team in general. He also happens to be a social studies teacher at the school.
“I’ll tell you what, you just never know what’s going to happen,” said Landefeld. “But you know it’s always going to be good. As a coach, you just sit there and smile and go, ‘This life’s good.’ So I love it.”
“Landy’s a great coach,” said Jones-Robinson. “We have a great coaching staff, great supported staff. It’s just a great program, great energy around everybody. Nobody thinks they’re better than somebody else. It’s great energy.”
Jones-Robinson was born on July 6th, 2009 at Holy Cross Medical Center in Silver Spring, Md. Her mother Angelica Jones, her father Willie Robinson IV, and her brother Willie Robinson V are also athletes in their own way.
Angelica played basketball and softball, and still plays flag football, while Willie IV played tackle football and basketball. Willie V currently plays tackle football and basketball for Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg.
While she may go to Clarksburg, Jones-Robinson lives in Germantown with her family. “For me to transition to a new school with people I didn’t know was very different,” she said.
Jones-Robinson first got into sports when she was just two years old, showing mainly an interest in basketball.
“I was playing basketball since I was two,” said Jones-Robinson. “For me to take on another sport, I felt like the challenge would have been difficult. But it wasn’t, and i got good at it. It was just up from there.”
The Clarksburg junior happens to be a two-sport athlete with flag football and basketball at the school. She has shown her remarkable athleticism in both sports.
“We have a great basketball program,” said Jones-Robinson. “We also have a great flag program. For us to transition over, it was a big step, but we got it done.”
Jones-Robinson’s sports idols include NFL quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and WNBA star Angel Reese. However, most people have compared her style of play to that of Jackson.
“I feel like it’s a huge comparison,” Jones-Robinson stated about the Ravens quarterback. “Especially since he’s one of the people I admire the most, and take after his game a lot.”
Throughout the 2025 season, High School on SI has conducted weekly Maryland high school girls flag football Player of the Week polls. Jones-Robinson has been nominated multiple times for her incredible performances.
“It feels good,” said Jones-Robinson. “Because not a lot of people get it. For me to get it multiple times, it feels really good.”
Whether she passes for four or five touchdowns, or over 150 or 200 yards, Jones-Robinson feels proud to be representing the state of Maryland for high school girls flag football.
“It’s a big, big blessing,” said Jones-Robinson. “It’s a big opportunity. I can’t thank nobody else but God, and putting me in this predicament. I thank my parents for also putting me in this predicament as well.”
As for her athletics future, Jones-Robinson hasn’t thought much about it as she is only a junior in high school. For now, basketball seems to be in the cards for her eventual college decision.
“I haven’t thought about it yet,” said Jones-Robinson. “But I would like to go to a college where i could get a scholarship for basketball and flag as well.”
Coach Landefeld feels very confident about Jones-Robinson’s future, as she will most likely get to play one more season when she is a senior in 2026.
“She’s a gifted athlete,” said Landefeld. “She’s just got to make some decisions on where she wants to go with this. The sky’s the limit.”
With the way girls flag football has been growing in high schools across the U.S., it’s only a matter of time before more American colleges add it as an official sport.
“It would give more women opportunities to play more sports in college,” said Jones-Robinson. “It would boost their confidence, I think. A lot of people would come out and try out for the sport.”
Breweries across Virginia and Pennsylvania combined for seven golds, with Maryland also landing on the medal podium.
Starbucks closes, new apartments coming to Wilmington Riverfront
Starbucks closed its Riverfront location after 11 years in business on Justison Street.
Virginia and Pennsylvania breweries dominated the 2025 World Beer Cup, combining for seven gold medals, while breweries in Maryland also earned medals across multiple categories at one of the beer industry’s most prestigious competition.
Organized by the Brewers Association, the World Beer Cup (WBC), now in its third decade, is one of the beer industry’s most competitive contests, with this year’s contest drawing thousands of entries from breweries around the world. The rigorous judging process places beers in style-specific categories, evaluated by an international panel of experts.
The results highlight the Mid-Atlantic’s growing strength in craft brewing, with Virginia and Pennsylvania producers earning gold in categories spanning traditional European styles and American classics, and Maryland breweries also landing on the medal podium in highly competitive fields.
Below is a breakdown of the World Beer Cup medal‑winning breweries from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, highlighting some of the region’s standout performances at this year’s competition.
World Beer Cup winners
Breweries from Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania earned multiple medals at the World Beer Cup (WBC) 2026, as judges recognized standout beers across multiple styles at one of the beer industry’s most competitive international competitions.
This year’s competition, held in Philadelphia, drew thousands of beers and ciders across more than 100 style categories, according to the Brewers Association.
A full list of World Beer Cup categories and results is available on the competition’s website.
Virginia breweries win multiple World Beer Cup medals
Virginia breweries delivered one of the strongest performances at the 2026 World Beer Cup, earning four gold medals with additional bronze across multiple categories, from sour beers and saisons to brown ales and seasonal specialties.
Virginia gold medal winners included:
- Aloha State of Mind, Cova Brewing Co. (Norfolk) — Gold, Gose
- Foxfield Saison, Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows (Roseland) — Gold, Specialty Saison
- Boxcar Brown, Caboose Brewing Co. (Vienna) — Gold, American‑Style Brown Ale
- Pumpkin Ale, 2 Silos Brewing Co. (Manassas) — Gold, Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer
Virginia breweries also earned bronze medals, including:
- Irish Prenup, Barley Naked Brewing Co. (Stafford) — Bronze, Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
- Smokehaus Lager, Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows (Roseland) — Bronze, Smoke Beer
Maryland breweries earn World Beer Cup medals
Maryland breweries earned multiple medals at the 2026 World Beer Cup, with silver finishes in highly competitive categories that drew large international fields.
Maryland silver medal winners included:
- Scent of a Lesser Stag, BabyCat Brewery (Kensington) — Silver, Fruit Wheat Beer
- Free Drift, Eden Town Brewing Co. (Denton) — Silver, Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
Pennsylvania breweries earn World Beer Cup medals
Pennsylvania breweries came out strong with another standout performance at the 2026 World Beer Cup, earning three gold medals along with multiple bronze finishes across a diverse mix of traditional and special beer styles:
Pennsylvania gold medal winners included:
- Common Nightjar, Attic Brewing Co. (Philadelphia) — Gold, International Dark Lager
- Just Like Himmel, New Ridge Brewing Co. (Philadelphia) — Gold, American‑Style Amber Lager
- Archive: Allegheny Altbier, Cinderlands Beer Co. (Pittsburgh) — Gold, German‑Style Altbier
Pennsylvania breweries also earned bronze medals, including:
- London Porter, New Ridge Brewing Co. (Philadelphia) — Bronze, Brown Porter
- Isle of Pitt, Hazel Grove Brewing (Pittsburgh) — Bronze, Scottish‑Style Ale
- Barrel Aged Double Zombies, New Trail Brewing Co. (Williamsport) — Bronze, Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer
What’s next after the World Beer Cup
With the 2026 World Beer Cup results now finalized, attention in the brewing world turns to the next major competitions on the calendar, including the Great American Beer Festival, where many of this year’s medal-winning breweries are expected to compete again later this year.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based news reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network’s Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
Maryland
No. 2-seed Maryland women’s lacrosse ekes out 10-9 win over No. 7-seed Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals
The goalkeeper stretched her stick to meet the point-blank shot, snagging the ball with just 27 seconds left on the clock to secure the quarterfinal victory.
“That was the first time our team’s really been tested like that this season,” head coach Cathy Reese said. “Our backs were against the wall … So that was a big deal and a huge stop for our team.”
The Terps took full advantage of Big Ten physicality Wednesday afternoon, capitalizing on man-up opportunities and free positions in a gritty 10-9 win over the Buckeyes.
Unforced errors were the name of the game early on, as the scoreboard remained clean for the first eight minutes. After turnovers on both sides of the field and an Ohio State shot clock violation, Kori Edmondson netted the first goal of the day — and her first in nearly two weeks — on a free position.
But Coleman snuck a shot past Suriano less than two minutes later, before Kate Tyack and Lauren LaPointe traded scores to keep the bout knotted at two goals apiece. After a foul call on Audrey Schoemer with less than a minute to go in the frame, Kayla Gilmore netted an eight-meter to give the Terps the lead.
Despite getting benched three times in the last four contests, Gilmore settled back into her top form. After earning a spot on the All-Big Ten first team, the sophomore’s eight draw controls decimated Ohio State, coupled with a pair of goals.
All three of Maryland’s first quarter snipes came on free position opportunities, as it went 5-for-6 for the day on eight-meters. Free positions have been a point of emphasis for the Terps all season long, only connecting on 44.9% of those opportunities heading into Wednesday.
“Free positions win games at the end of the day, and I think that showed today,” Edmondson said. “We were put on the eight a lot, and we executed.”
After letting in two goals to open the second quarter, Maryland seemed at risk of total collapse. The Terps faltered on defense, leaving lanes wide open and causing sloppy fouls. But as the backline tightened and forced a second shot clock violation, the offense began to shine.
A man-up goal from Edmondson brought the game to a stalemate before Kristen Shanahan notched her first score of the contest. Then, a misguided check placed Edmondson on the arc for another free position, which she buried to achieve her hat trick.
The duel in goal showed a tale of two keepers, with Suriano coming out on top. The junior failed to best her Division 1-leading 52% save percentage Wednesday, but still made nine saves on 18 shots on goals. Buckeye Jocelyn Torres was less successful, only recording a 44% save percentage on the afternoon.
LaPointe redefended an Ohio State clear and took the ground ball with nine seconds left in the half, chucking the ball into enemy territory. Gilmore corralled the ball in the fan and shuttled it to Jordyn Lipkin, who nailed her shot to double Maryland’s lead.
Despite efficiently putting away leading scorers all season long, the Terps simply couldn’t deny Kate Tyack. The Buckeye scored a hat trick against Maryland on Saturday and pierced its shell again Wednesday with seven total points on 11 shots.
Tyack produced Ohio State’s lone third-frame score, while Lipkin netted her second in a row to match the Buckeye. That score aided Lipkin to her second second hat trick in a row — she has scored 30% of her goals this season in the last two matches.
The Buckeyes charged back in the fourth quarter, scoring back-to-back goals before Gilmore and Abby Boyle exchanged blows to set the deficit at a single score.
But with Suriano’s final save, the Terps were able to escape the first round of the conference Tournament.
1. Capitalizing on errors. Maryland was far better at taking advantage of its opponents mistakes on Wednesday, a skill it has struggled with all season long. Scoring on 83.3% of their free-position opportunities and netting three man-up goals, the Terps will need to maintain their opportunistic nature in future physical games.
“Obviously, I wanna be 100% on man-up [opportunities], but it’s something that when it happens, we need to be able to capitalize,” Reese said.
2. Keeping it clean. Throughout the battle, Maryland’s defenders maintained composure on the back foot. The Terps only had three cards drawn on them to Ohio State’s six, with the Buckeyes being awarded four yellow cards.
3. Moving ahead. The Terps will now move on to the Big Ten semifinals, where they will rematch either Rutgers or Johns Hopkins. Maryland beat Michigan, 13-10, in last season’s semifinals on the way to a one-goal loss to Northwestern in the finals.
Maryland
U.S. Air Force reverses course on retiring A-10 Thunderbolt planes, making way for potential Maryland return
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. — It was March of 2025 when Maryland’s Air National Guard gave up their treasured A-10 Thunderbolt planes.
The U.S. Air Force planned to retire the planes, 21 of which were stationed at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport.
Warfield was ordered to transition from flying missions to offensive and defensive cyber operations.
Air Force to retire Maryland National Guard’s A-10 planes in leadup to Cyber transition
On Wednesday Maryland Congressman Andy Harris said the Air Force decided to preserve the A-10 Thunderbolt II program through 2030, giving Warfield some hope they could get the planes back.
Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink made the decision amid an ongoing war in Iran, in an attempt to preserve the U.S. military’s combat power as aircraft production ramps up.
“We are pleased that the A-10 program is now being extended,” said Harris. “The Maryland Guard has extensive experience to bring to the table, and we are in contact with the Office of the Air Force Secretary to urge them to bring A-10s back to Maryland so our airmen can help defend the nation.”
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