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Montgomery County High School Athlete of the Week

Courtesy of Quince Orchard Athletics

Quince Orchard High School girl’s soccer midfielder Annie Faraone provides talent that isn’t easy to find.

Following a 16-goal senior season, Faraone earned All-State Honors for the third straight year. Those who’ve coached or played with her don’t boast about her on-field talent. Instead, they’ll tell you how selfless she is.

“She’s always been an extremely talented player,” head coach Peg Keiller said. “She’s evolved into someone who is always thinking about others.”

Faraone, who recently committed to play collegiately at Columbia, is this week’s Montgomery County High School Athlete of the Week.

Each week throughout the school year, the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with Montgomery Community Media to honor an Athlete of the Week from the county’s more than 40 public and private high schools.

Faraone’s sister, Kate, graduated in 2020 and was also a four-year varsity starter in the same position. From 2016-2023, Keiller never went a season without a Faraone.

“It’s going to be kind of strange next year,” Keiller said. “They’ve always had such large impacts on the team and everyone around the program.”

Before Faraone’s junior season in 2022, Keiller said she wanted the team to participate in some form of community service throughout the season. At the time, Keiller had just completed her treatment for stage four colon cancer.

This prompted Faraone’s idea to start the “Make Cancer Flinch First” (MCFF) game — a home game dedicated to raising money and awareness towards colon cancer.

Quince Orchard rallied around Keiller in that season and made it to the state final before falling to Whitman.

In 2023, the Cougars were met with another internal battle.

Senior player Olivia Maytin’s mother, Debbie Maytin, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Once again, Faraone and the team knew how to help. For the second straight year, they held the MCFF game. This time, the fundraiser dedicated all its proceeds to pancreatic and colon cancer.

Faraone created the team’s hashtag “DOITFORDEB,” which they used as a means of awareness and motivation.

Additionally, the team helped create wristbands, which were sold for fundraising.

 

 

“Annie [Faraone] revealed her leadership through this,” Keiller said. “She spearheaded the efforts, and the team rallied around that.”

Faraone and the team played with a chip on their shoulders, completing an undefeated regular season en route to a county championship win. It wasn’t until the regional final that the Cougars fell, as the powerhouse Whitman Vikings defeated them.

Just a day after Quince Orchard’s season ended, Maytin’s mother passed away.

“I’m so proud of these girls,” Keiller said. “They played the whole season with heavy hearts.”

Although they fell short of their championship goal, Faraone and the Cougars have always understood there are things bigger than the sport they’re playing.

“Annie [Faraone] was so supportive of Olivia,” Keiller said. “She knew how to always see the best in others.”

 

Photo courtesy Quince Orchard Athletics

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