Beyond the Game with John Thornton

Written By Morgan Knox

Beyond the Game is a look at former athletes who’ve taken the skills, discipline, and drive from their playing days and turned them into winning careers and businesses off the field. These stories show how the hustle doesn’t stop when the game ends—it just takes on a new form.

John Thornton is a 4x Maryland State medalist and two-time state champion, including an undefeated state championship season in 1999 for C. Milton Wright High School with a record of 36-0.

As a freshman, Thornton won his first state championship wrestling for Woodberry Forest School at the 1996 Virginia Independent State Tournament. Thornton, a 3-time team captain, posted a record of 114-23 throughout his high school career, winning 61 of his final 62 matches.

Now, Thornton has created multiple companies and continues to coach in the wrestling world right here in Harford County. With over 100 career wins as Head Coach of the C. Milton Wright wrestling team, he has used what he has learned as an athlete to help him get to where he is today.

Why Are We Making Kids Choose?

One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen in youth sports is the pressure to choose. Somewhere along the way, we started asking kids to make decisions that many adults struggle to make. We tell 13, 14, and 15-year-olds that they need to pick a sport and commit to it year-round. No other teams. No other seasons.

Covering the Glory Days: Randy McRoberts on Harford Athletics

Randy McRoberts graduated from Havre de Grace High School in 1982 and went to work in printing and production for the Harford Democrat. Shortly after starting, Randy’s interest in athletics led to an opportunity to increase his value to the paper by gathering information for the sports reporters.

Homegrown Talent, National Stage: Fallston Lacrosse Club Makes History with Dual National Championship Berths

If you drove through Fallston on Thursday night, you likely heard the cheers before you saw the crowd. The community gathered for a high-energy “Pep Rally” send-off to celebrate a historic milestone for the Fallston Lacrosse Club (FLC). For the first time in the program’s history, not one, but two FLC teams are heading to the National Girls Lacrosse League (NGLL) National Championships.