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Shaheed Salmon, a former Land O’ Lakes High School linebacker, notched 18 tackles (1.5 tackles for loss) in Samford (Alabama) University’s 35-29 road win over Central Arkansas University on Sept. 10. The 6-foot-1, 226-pound junior played in 11 games last season for Samford, totaling 24 tackles and one sack. In 2013, Salmon led the Land O’ Lakes Gators in tackles (117), tackles for loss (21.5) and sacks (8.5). Interestingly, Salmon was once verbally committed to Central Arkansas, before ultimately signing with Samford.

The Steinbrenner High softball team — along with the assistance of Steinbrenner head coach Brenda Leach — hosted an instruction clinic for the Lutz Leaguerettes recreational softball league on Sept. 9. The Leaguerettes are currently in their inaugural fast pitch season for girls from ages 5 to 18.

A pair of Saint Leo cross-country runners recently earned Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Runner of the Week honors.

Saint Leo men’s cross-country runner Ron Chesarek, and women’s runner Colett Rampf, were each awarded for their performances for the week ending Sept. 11.

Chesarek, a freshman from Kitale, Kenya, clocked a 25:08.27 to win the Florida Tech Invitational Men’s 8K on Sept. 10 in Melbourne.

Rampf, a junior from Premnitz, Germany, posted a time of 17:59.52 to win the women’s 5K race in Melbourne.

The women’s SSC Runner of the Week award is the ninth for Rampf in her three-year career at Saint Leo. She captured the honor four times during both her 2014 rookie season and her 2015 sophomore campaign.

Both the men’s and women’s teams return to competition on Sept. 24, when they travel to Gainesville to race in the Florida Mountain Dew Invitational.

The United States Soccer Association will be offering an Entry Level Referee Class on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 at the Learning Gate Community School, 16215 Hanna Road in Lutz. Completion of the course will allow new officials to work at other clubs and tournaments throughout the state. Prospective referees must be able to run a 40-yard sprint as fast as the players, and be able to stand for up to 40 minutes at a time. Class size is limited. For more information, visit FSR-INC.com and click on “Become a Referee.”

Former Pasco High football standout Josh Johnson has made the Jacksonville Jaguars 53-man roster, where he is expected to play as a nickleback and contribute on special teams. Johnson, a 5-foot-9, 200-pound cornerback, graduated from Pasco High in 2009, and played college football at Purdue University, where he went undrafted in 2013. From 2014-2015, Johnson played for the BC (British Columbia) Lions in the Canadian Football League. The Jaguars signed him on Feb. 12.

• Janarion Grant, a former Pasco High School two-way player, was one of the few bright spots in Rutgers (New Jersey) University’s 48-13 loss to the University of Washington on Sept. 3. Grant, a senior, totaled 160 all-purpose yards (28 rushing, 56 receiving, 76 return). He also had a game-high in receptions (9).

  

• Shane Bucenell, a former Wiregrass Ranch High School quarterback, led Charleston Southern to a 57-7 victory over Kentucky State on Sept. 3. The redshirt freshman scored two touchdowns, throwing for 99 yards and rushing for 21.
• Taylor Bleistein, a former Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver, made an impact in his first career game at Hanover (Indiana) University, a Division III school. The true freshman caught five passes for 24 yards, and totaled 76 kickoff return yards.
• Shaheed Salmon, a former Land O’ Lakes High School linebacker, recorded six tackles in Samford (Alabama) University’s 77-7 victory over Mars Hill (North Carolina) University on Sept 1. Salmon, a junior, played in 11 games last season for Samford, totaling 24 tackles and one sack. In 2013, Salmon led the Land O’ Lakes Gators in tackles (117), tackles for loss (21.5) and sacks (8.5).
• Devin Brockington, a former Zephyrhills High School cornerback, totaled four tackles in his first start for Indiana State University on Sept 3. Brockington (5-11, 170 pounds) previously played junior college football at Ellsworth (Kansas) Community College.
• Jaylen Pickett, a former Zephyrhills High linebacker, notched five tackles in Eastern Michigan’s 61-14 win over Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 3. Pickett (6-foot, 210 pounds) played in all 12 games for Eastern Michigan last season, finishing with 6 tackles. He was rated as a two-star recruit coming out of high school.

Saint Leo University volleyball libero Jamee Townsend was named the Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Aug. 29 through Sept. 4.

The senior defensive specialist wrapped up the week with a conference-leading 5.57 digs per set, helping to anchor the Lions’ back line in their 4-0 start to the season. Townsend also dished out 11 assists, and made only one service error during weekend play.

The honor marks Townsend’s first career weekly award, and the first weekly award a Saint Leo player has won since Oct. 13, 2014.

The Saint Leo men’s soccer team jumped to No. 10 in the first National Soccer Coaches Association of America Coaches’ poll, announced on Sept. 6.

The Lions opened their season up with a 3-2 win over Young Harris (Georgia) College, who was previously ranked No. 9 in the NSCAA preseason poll.

Outside of the national rankings, the Lions are second in the unofficial South Region Poll, behind Sunshine State Conference foe Lynn University.

Saint Leo’s next game is Sept. 14 at Eckerd College. Start time is 7 p.m.

The 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Track & Field Championships are returning to IMG Academy in Bradenton this spring.

The annual state meet will take place on May 5 and May 6 at IMG Academy Stadium.

“We are thrilled to be returning to IMG Academy for a second straight year,” FHSAA executive director Dr. Roger Dearing said, in a release. “Thanks to the state-of-the-art facility, as well as the great hospitality shown to all participants this past May, we did not think twice about going back to Bradenton.”

Roughly 11,000 people attended the 2016 state championships.

Officials say enhancements to IMG Academy’s West Campus will allow for additional parking and increased capacity for entering and leaving the facility.