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After 11 seasons, Saint Leo women’s soccer head coach Ged O’Connor has resigned in order to accept a head coaching position at Troy University in Alabama.

The longtime coach most recently helped guide the Lions to the 2016 Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championship.
He posted a 123-66-12 overall record in his decade-plus of coaching, leading the Lions to seven NCAA tournament appearances during that period.
He leveraged that success into a coveted Division I coaching opportunity.
“I am very happy for Ged and his new position in collegiate soccer,” Saint Leo athletic director Francis X. Reidy said, in a statement. “He has been a tremendous coach and team member for the last 15 years at Saint Leo. He built a winning culture as evidenced by multiple Coach of the Year awards, Sunshine State Conference titles, SSC tournament titles, and NCAA post-season appearances.
“He recruited some amazing young women, and has built a great foundation for the next coach. “
A national search for a new Saint Leo head women’s soccer coach is underway.

Just two months removed from an impressive 7-2 campaign in 2016, the Wesley Chapel Wildcats (Class 5, District 8A) are already gearing up for their next season. Second-year head coach Anthony Egan has announced the team’s 2017 schedule, which includes six road games and four home games. Here’s the Wildcats’ 10-game regular season schedule:

• at Sunlake High (Aug. 25)
• vs. Wiregrass Ranch (Sept. 1)
• at Pasco High (Sept. 8)
• vs. Fivay High (Sept. 15)
• vs. Gulf High (Sept. 22)
• at Anclote High (Sept. 29)
• at Ridgewood High (Oct. 6)
• at Hudson High (Oct. 13)
• vs. Zephyrhills High (Oct. 20)
• at River Ridge High (Oct.27)

Even without quarterback Jacob Thomas and third-leading rusher Ellrie Allen, the Wildcats return a bevy of talent, including tailbacks Dexter Leverett (1,249 yards, 10 TDs) and Malik Melvin (358 yards, 7 TDs). Defensive stalwarts like linebacker Austin Wittish (93 tackles) and defensive back Isiaiah Bolden (24 tackles, 10 passes defensed, one interception) are also expected to return.

The Associated Press recently announced the Florida All-State teams across eight classifications. Several players in our coverage area received nods:

Class 8A
First-team
Kicker — Noah Ruggles (Steinbrenner High)

Class 7A
Second-Team
Linebacker— Decalon Brooks (Gaither High)

Third-Team
Defensive Back — Jordan Miner (Wiregrass Ranch High)

Honorable Mention
Offensive Line — Aaron Beardsley (Wiregrass Ranch High)
Linebacker — Ryan Scamardo (Wiregrass Ranch High)

Class 6A
Third-Team
Utility — Tyler Peretti (Sunlake High)

Class 2A
Second-Team
Defensive Back—Markeis Colvin (Carrollwood Day)

Saint Leo University softball enters the 2017 campaign as No. 17 in the nation, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

The Lions, finishing 2016 at No. 16, will begin the campaign in the top-20 after reaching the NCAA South Regional, and winning a second Sunshine State Conference (SSC) title in program history.

Coming off a 39-8 season, the Lions are the lone SSC team in the poll.

Saint Leo opens the 2017 slate with a doubleheader at Flagler at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Feb. 1.

Saint Leo will host Embry-Riddle for its home opener on Feb. 24 at University Softball Field.

Joey Koehler, of Zephyrhills, won the Big Bass category (5.31 pounds) at the South Pasco Bassmasters’ January tournament, at the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. In all, Koehler and his partner, Travis Nichols, caught five fish for a first-place weight of 16.75 pounds. They used flukes as bait.

The next tournament is Feb.18 at Lake Walk-in-Water.

For information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Several local girls will compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Weightlifting Meet Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 at Belleview High School in Belleview:

Class 1A
101 pounds
Shelby Lewis (Sunlake High)
Zeena Zayed (Freedom High)

139 pounds
Caroline Winstead (Sunlake High)

154 pounds
Tricia Clifton (Wiregrass Ranch High)

169 pounds
Josie Blew (Freedom High)
Alyssa Kremer (Land O’ Lakes High)
Veronica Salazar (Land O’ Lakes High)

183 pounds
Hailey Parks (Sunlake High)

Unlimited
Micaiah Long (Sunlake High)

Class 2A
101 pounds
Sara First (Zephyrhills High)

139 pounds
Eliahnis Lewis (Pasco High)

183 pounds
Jessica Guadarrama (Zephyrhills High

Vernon Hargreaves, a Wharton High graduate and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback, was selected to the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-Rookie Team. Hargreaves, who was drafted from the University of Florida with the No. 11 overall pick in last year’s draft, finished third among NFL rookies with 68 solo tackles. He also recorded nine passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble. Hargreaves started all 16 games and was on the field for nearly every one of the team’s defensive snaps. He graduated from Wharton in 2013.

Darin Kilfoyl, a junior right-hander for Academy at the Lakes, has committed to play baseball at St. Johns River State College in Palatka. Last season, the 6-foot-8 Kilfoyl recorded a 0.91 ERA and struck out 97 batters, in 46 innings. At the plate, Kilfoyl batted .348 with two home runs and 16 RBIs. Over the summer, Kilfoyl played for the Atlanta Blue Jays, an elite travel club for 15 to 18 year olds. Kilfoyl is noted for having a four-pitch arsenal, which includes a fastball, curveball, changeup and cutter.