A True Maverick: Emma Penczek Latest Manchester Valley (Md.) Star

Emma Penczek’s signature is on a scrap of paper on the bulletin board in Shelly Brezicki’s Manchester Valley (Md.) High School office.

“In joking, I make them sign a little paper in my office that says they’re not leaving,” said Brezicki, coach of the Maverick girls’ lacrosse team.

Penczek and a Manchester Valley staff member signed the faux agreement June 5, 2023, just two weeks after the do-everything midfielder scored a record-tying nine goals for the Mavericks in a 15-7 win over Middletown for the 2A state championship to cap an unbeaten season.

Penczek was only a sophomore then, but already on the radar nationally.

“It was a play contract,” Penczek said. “It was just something fun.”

But Penczek’s decision to remain at Manchester Valley instead of going to a private school has been a huge boon to the Mavericks. The 2023 state title was their first since 2016. Last year, they repeated as Carroll County champions and won the 2A West Region I title.

“I did have people reach out and ask whether or not I was going to go private or public with the option of both,” Penczek said. “But ultimately what I really wanted was just to stay with my friends that I have grown up with since elementary school and with the friendships that developed in middle school. I love going to Manchester Valley. I’ve developed even more friendships there.”

It hasn’t hurt her development or recruiting. Inside Lacrosse’s No. 2-ranked recruit in the Class of 2025 is headed to Clemson next year. She is the two-time Baltimore Sun Carroll County Player of the Year and was the All-Metro Player of the Year in 2023. Penczek hopes to add another state title to cap her career at Manchester Valley.

“I have thought, ‘I wonder what it would have been like if I hadn't gone here,’” Penczek said. “But then I always think back to myself that I'm here for a reason. These people have gotten me where I am today.”

Nine of the top 15 players from Inside Lacrosse’s Class of 2025 rankings attend public schools, including the top three. No. 1 recruit Alexa Spallina, who will join Penczek at Clemson, is an attacker out of Mount Sinai (N.Y.), and third-ranked Ceci Patterson, a goalie headed to Notre Dame, plays for New Canaan (Conn.).