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Sports in Maryland

Maryland has a number of major and minor professional sports franchises. Two National Football League teams play in Maryland, the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and the Washington Commanders in Prince George's County. The Baltimore Orioles compete as Major League Baseball franchise in Baltimore.

Other professional sports franchises in the state include five affiliated minor league baseball teams, one independent league baseball team, the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, two indoor football teams, two low-level Basketball teams, and three low-level outdoor soccer teams.

The Congressional Country Club has hosted several professional golf tournaments, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, Senior PGA Championship, Kemper Open and Quicken Loans National.

Maryland has had famous athletes including baseball's Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers, Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. and George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, who played for the old Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and especially won fame with the New York Yankees. Plus Olympic swimming medalists Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Chase Kalisz, and Katie Hoff.Since 1962, the official state sport of Maryland is jousting. Lacrosse was named the official team sport in 2004, and Sports Illustrated wrote the sport "has always been the showcase for the flower of Maryland manhood." In 2008, intending to promote physical fitness for all ages, Maryland declared walking the official state exercise and became the first state with an official state exercise.

Major professional teams

Maryland has major professional sports teams in the city of Baltimore and in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. Two major league teams play in Baltimore — the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and MLB's Baltimore Orioles. Additionally, the NFL's Baltimore Colts played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983 before moving to Indianapolis.

The Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins) play in Landover, Maryland. The NHL's Washington Capitals and the NBA's Washington Wizards (formerly the Baltimore Bullets, then Washington Bullets) used to play in Maryland before moving in 1997 to a newly constructed Verizon Center arena in downtown Washington in the District of Columbia.

Other current professional and semi-pro teams

Baseball

Basketball

Football

Hockey

Horse Racing

Lacrosse

Rugby

Soccer

Former professional and semi-pro teams

Baseball

The following table details baseball teams which were located in Maryland. For minor league teams that changed affiliations, each affiliation is listed as a separate team.

Basketball

Football

Hockey

Inline Hockey

Lacrosse

Soccer

Other sports

Collegiate sports

NCAA Division I

Coppin State University

The Coppin State University sports teams participate in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for most sports, with baseball competing in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Its teams are called the Eagles.

Johns Hopkins University

The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse team, founded in 1883, is the school's most prominent sports team, which has won 44 national titles. The Blue Jays play at Homewood Field (pictured right). Lacrosse is the only sport in which Hopkins participates as an NCAA Division I member; both the men's and women's lacrosse teams compete at that level in the Big Ten Conference. All other Hopkins sports compete in NCAA Division III, in which athletic scholarships are not allowed. Hopkins is one of a small number of Division III schools authorized by the NCAA to continue awarding scholarships in their Division I sports.

Loyola University Maryland

Loyola fields 17 varsity teams and 22 club teams. The varsity teams, known as the Greyhounds, participate in the NCAA's Division I. All Loyola varsity teams compete in the Patriot League in the following sports:

Morgan State University

The Morgan State University athletic teams are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Bears and compete in the following sports:

  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Bowling – Women's
  • Cheer – Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Football – Men's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field – Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

Mount St. Mary's University

Mount St. Mary's University was one of the founding members of the Northeast Conference, but moved in 2022 to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Mountaineers and compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Lacrosse – Men's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Soccer – Men's & women's
  • Swimming – Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
  • Water Polo – Men's & Women

Towson University

The athletics teams of Towson University participate in the NCAA's Division I and are members of the Colonial Athletic Association, as well as CAA Football, the technically separate football league operated by that conference. Some sports compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Tigers, and the mascot of the University is named Doc.

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy participates in NCAA Division I in 30 varsity sports. It also fields teams in 12 club sports. The Academy is a non-football member of the Patriot League, a football-only member of the American Athletic Conference, and a member of the Collegiate Sprint Football League (men), Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (men), Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges, Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League (men), and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. Navy is also one of approximately 300 members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Although the teams have no official name, they are usually referred to as "Navy", "Midshipmen", or "Mids". The Academy competes in the following sports:

Varsity sports
  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's and women's
  • Crew (heavyweight) – Men's and women's
  • Crew (lightweight) – Men's and women's
  • Cross Country – Men's and women's
  • Football – Men's
  • Golf – Men's
  • Gymnastics – Men's
  • Lacrosse – Men's and women's
  • Rifle – Coeducational
  • Sailing (intercollegiate) – Coeducational
  • Sailing (offshore) – Coeducational
  • Soccer – Men's and women's
  • Sprint Football – Men's
  • Squash – Men's
  • Swimming & diving – Men's and women's
  • Tennis – Men's and women's
  • Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's and women's
  • Volleyball – Women's
  • Water Polo – Men's
  • Wrestling – Men's
Club sports
  • Boxing – Men's
  • Cycling – Coeducational
  • Hockey (ice) – Men's
  • Karate – Coeducational
  • Marathon – Coeducational
  • Pistol – Coeducational
  • Powerlifting – Coeducational
  • Rugby – Men's and women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Triathlon – Coeducational
  • Volleyball – Men's

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County sports teams participate in the NCAA's Division I, and is member of the America East Conference. The school's sports teams are called the Retrievers, and the mascot of the University is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever which has been referred to as both True Grit and Fever.

University of Maryland, College Park

The University of Maryland, College Park sports teams participate in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Prior to 2014, the school participated in Division I as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member. Its teams are called the Terrapins, and its mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo.

NCAA Division II

Bowie State University

The Bowie State University athletic teams are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Their teams are called the Bulldogs and compete in the following sports:

  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Bowling – Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Football – Men's
  • Softbal – Women's
  • Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

Frostburg State University

The Frostburg State Bobcats began a transition from Division III to Division II in July 2019, joining the Mountain East Conference. The Bobcats will be eligible for Division II national championships in the 2022–23 school year. The following sports are sponsored:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Football – Men's
  • Lacrosse – Women's (plays in the East Coast Conference because the Mountain East sponsors lacrosse only for men)
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

NCAA Division III

Goucher College

Goucher College athletic teams are members of the Landmark Conference. Their teams are called the Gophers and compete in the following sports:

  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Equestrian – Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Lacrosse – Men's
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

Johns Hopkins University

Except for the men's and women's lacrosse teams, Johns Hopkins athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference and compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Crew – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Fencing – Men's & Women's
  • Field Hockey – Men's
  • Football – Men's
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's
  • Water Polo – Men's & Women's
  • Wrestling – Men's

Hood College

Hood College's athletic teams are members of the Middle Atlantic Conferences. Their teams are called the Blazers and compete in the following sports:

  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Golf – Men's & Women's
  • Lacrosse – Men's & Women's
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

McDaniel College

McDaniel College athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference. Their teams are called the Green Terror and compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Football – Men's
  • Golf – Men's and Women's
  • Lacrosse - Men's and Women's
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor) – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's
  • Wrestling – Men's

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Notre Dame athletic teams are members of the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Their teams are called the Gators and compete in the following sports:

  • Basketball – Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Lacrosse – Women's
  • Soccer – Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Swimming – Women's
  • Tennis – Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's College athletic teams are members of the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference, but will move to the North Eastern Athletic Conference after the 2020–21 school year. Their teams are called the Seahawks and compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Lacrosse – Men's
  • Sailing – Men's & Women's
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Volleyball – Men's & Women's

Salisbury University

Salisbury University athletic teams are members of the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference except for the football team, which plays in the Empire 8. Their teams are called the Seagulls and compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Football – Men's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Lacrosse – Men's
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Track & Field – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

Stevenson University

Stevenson University athletic teams are members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference as well as the Middle Atlantic Conferences. Their teams are called the Mustangs and compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Cheer – Men's & Women's
  • Cross Country – Men's & Women's
  • Dance – Women's
  • Golf – Men's & Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Football – Men's
  • Ice Hockey – Men's (2016–17) and Women's
  • Lacrosse – Men's
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Volleyball – Men's & Women's

Washington College

Washington College athletic teams are members of the Centennial Conference, except for the sailing team which competes in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. Their teams are called the Shoremen/Shorewomen and compete in the following sports:

  • Baseball – Men's
  • Basketball – Men's & Women's
  • Field Hockey – Women's
  • Lacrosse – Men's & Women's
  • Rowing – Men's & Women's
  • Sailing – CoEd
  • Soccer – Men's & Women's
  • Softball – Women's
  • Swimming – Men's & Women's
  • Tennis – Men's & Women's
  • Volleyball – Women's

Collegiate Summer Baseball

Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League

The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Of the eight teams in the league, five play home games in Maryland.

MLB Draft League

The MLB Draft League is a collegiate summer baseball league that began play in 2021. Created by Major League Baseball (MLB) and Prep Baseball Report, the league serves as a showcase for top draft-eligible prospects leading up to each summer's MLB draft. The league's initial six teams were formerly members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League, Eastern League, and Carolina League before MLB's reorganization of the minors for 2021.

High school

Baltimore Catholic League

The Baltimore Catholic League (BCL), is a competitive basketball association composed of private Catholic high schools in the Baltimore, Maryland geographic area.

Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland

The Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (or IAAM), established 1993, is a girls’ sports conference for parochial / private / independent high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore.

Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association

The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (or MIAA) established 1993, is a boys' sports conference for parochial / private / independent high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore.

Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) oversees public high school sporting contests in the state of Maryland.

Member High schools

Allegany County
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Calvert County
Caroline County
Carroll County
Cecil County
Charles County
Dorchester County
  • Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, Cambridge
  • North Dorchester High School, Hurlock
Frederick County
Garrett County
  • Northern Garrett High School, Accident
  • Southern Garrett High School, Oakland
Harford County
Howard County
Kent County
Montgomery County
Prince George's County
Queen Anne's County
St. Mary's County
Somerset County
Talbot County
Washington County
Wicomico County
Worcester County

Washington Catholic Athletic Conference

The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference or WCAC is a high school athletic league for boys, girls, and co-ed Catholic high schools located around and in Washington, D.C., United States.

Maryland Interscholastic Sailing Association League

High School sailing in the state of Maryland is regulated and run independently of all other sports in the state. Rather than any of the aforementioned conferences or leagues, sailing is instead regulated under its own body called the Maryland Interscholastic Sailing Association. This body is a part of the wider High School-age Interscholastic Sailing Association, which regulates High School Sailing in the United States. Sailing is unique amongst High School sports in Maryland in that it does not split private and public schools into different leagues, is entirely co-ed, and allows middle schoolers to participate in limited competitions. Schools which participated in the Fall 2024 Season are shown below.

Horse racing

Horse racing has a very long history in Maryland going back to colonial days. The Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel in the Triple Crown, is run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Presently, Maryland has three Thoroughbred tracks and two Harness Tracks.

See also

References

External links