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Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay, a program of Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, set 14 National Records at the 2016 National Junior Disability Championships, from July 16-23 in Middleton, Wisconsin. Team members returned home with 60 medals, including 42 gold, 17 silver, and one bronze.

The team’s achievements earned them first place in the Small Team Division (team size of 2 to 5 participants). It marks the third year in a row that Paralympic Sports Tampa Bay has finished at the top of its team division.

Individual athlete achievements include:
Beecher Bruno (11 gold, 3 silver)

• 1st place in five swim events: 50, 100, 200-yard freestyle, and 50 and 100-yard backstroke
• 1st place, 4×25 and 4×50 freestyle relay team
• 1st place, shot put, discus, javelin, and long jump
• 2nd place: 100, 200, and 400-meter track events

Danielle Kanas (15 gold)
•   1st place, shot put, discus, javelin, long jump.

• 1st place, shot put, discus, javelin, long jump.
• 1st place, 25, 50, and 100-yard freestyle and 25 and 50-yard backstroke
• 1st place, 25-yard breast stroke
• 1st place, 4×25 and 4×50 freestyle relay team
• 1st place, 100, 200, and 400-meter track events

Eric Lowry (7 gold, 9 silver, 1 bronze)

• 1st place, javelin
• 1st place, shot put
• 1st place, archery — cadet division
• 1st place, weightlifting
• 1st place, 200-yard freestyle
• 1st place, 4×25 and 4×50 freestyle relay team
• 2nd place, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke
• 2nd place, discus
• 2nd place, 100, 200, 400, and 1,500-meter track events
• 3rd place, 800-meter track

Zach Woodke (4 gold, 5 silver)

• 1st place in shot put, discus, and javelin
• 1st place, 1,500-meter track
• 2nd place, long jump
• 2nd place, 100, 200, 400, and 800-meter track events

Logan Krepop (5 gold)

• 1st place shot put, discus and javelin

•   1st place 100 and 200-meter track

For the next three years, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Football State Championships will take place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, with the Central Florida Sports Commission serving as event host.

“We appreciate the Central Florida Sports Commission and the City of Orlando for giving us the flexibility to conduct the finale of our Drive to December on just one weekend, following this year,” outgoing FHSAA Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing said, in a release. “For the past nine years, they have proven to be exemplary hosts for this epic event. Their generosity helps our member schools tremendously, and we are grateful to continue our positive partnership with both groups.”

The 2016 Drive to December for Classes 1A-4A will culminate inside the 60,000-seat venue Dec. 2 and Dec. 3. Classes 5A-8A will compete Dec. 9 and Dec. 10. For the final two years of the current contract, the championships will take place on just one weekend (Dec. 7 through Dec. 9, 2017 and Dec. 6 through Dec. 8, 2018).

Since 2007, Camping World Stadium has been the last stop on the “Drive to December.” Following the end of the current contract, the stadium will have hosted the state championships more years than any venue in FHSAA history (12).

Land O’ Lakes resident Stephanie Whipple, 16, became a 2016 IKF (International Kickboxing Federation) Amateur World Classic Adult Women Champion on July 24 in Orlando. Competing in the Novice Atomweight (100-112 pounds) division, Whipple defeated Brandy Gonzalez, 28, of Houston, Texas, and Katie Hatfield, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia. She won both contests by unanimous decision. Whipple, a junior honors student at Land O’ Lakes High School, trains at Koh Muay Thai in Land O’ Lakes.

Former Pasco High football star and current Rutgers University senior receiver/return specialist Janarion Grant, was named to the national Paul Hornung Award watch list — which recognizes the most versatile player in major college football. Grant, a 2013 Pasco High graduate, finished second in the Big Ten with 1,583 all-purpose yards (984 kick returns, 352 receiving, 167 punt returns, 80 rushing) last season. The Hornung Award is named after Paul Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner who played every position in the offensive backfield during his career at the University of Notre Dame. The watch list includes 42 other Division I football players.

• Estefano Feliciano, a senior linebacker at Gaither High, has committed to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Feliciano also had scholarships offers from Coastal Carolina University, Columbia University, Florida Atlantic University, Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky University. Last season, Feliciano tallied 73 tackles and six sacks. Recruiting services list Feliciano as a consensus two-star recruit.

  

• Caroline DeLisle, a junior goalkeeper at Wharton High School, has committed to the University of Central Florida. As a sophomore, DeLisle had a 1.1 Goals Against Average, notching 136 saves in 17 games.
• Cris Galdos, a senior linebacker/receiver at Sunlake High School, received his first scholarship offer on July 25 from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The 5-foot-7, 170-pound two-way athlete logged 81 tackles and four sacks on defense, and also caught 21 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns on offense.
• Kyle Back, a senior offensive/defensive lineman, has transferred from Steinbrenner High School to Cambridge Christian School. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Back joins a Lancers team that finished 12-1 and reached the 2015 FHSAA Class 2A State Championship game.

Academy at the Lakes has hired Todd Huffman to lead the varsity girls basketball program.

Huffman, a longtime college coach, replaces Karim Nohra, who stepped down from the position after six seasons.

Huffman most recently served as the assistant men’s basketball coach at Hillsborough Community College.

Huffman previously was the head women’s basketball coach the following schools: Northern New Mexico College; the University of Dubuque (Iowa); and Eastern University – St. David’s (Pennsylvania).

“Todd will bring a wealth of high-level women’s basketball coaching experience to Academy at the Lakes,” athletic director Tom Haslam said in a release. “We feel confident that he’s the right coach to lead our highly successful program to even greater heights.”

Huffman takes the reins of a Wildcat program that finished as the 2016 FHSAA 2A state runner-up, and has advanced to five straight state final fours.

Audra Leipold, the team’s leading scorer (24.8 points per game), transferred to Seffner Christian Academy.

Published August 10, 2016

• Former Sunlake High School softball star Gianna Basilone has signed with Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. In 2016, the power-hitting catcher batted .453 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs, setting the school’s career home run record with 15. Basilone also considered an offer to play softball at Oklahoma State University.

  

• Sunlake High right-handed pitcher Tommy Mace has committed to the University of Florida. Last season, the 6-foot-7, 190-pound Mace had a 1.14 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 49 innings. Fellow senior teammate Colden Peeples, a second baseman, recently committed to the University of West Alabama in Livingston.
• Audra Leipold, a rising junior point guard, has transferred from Academy at the Lakes to Seffner Christian Academy. The announcement came shortly after Karim Nohra stepped down as Academy’s girls varsity basketball coach after six seasons. Leipold — widely regarded as one of top prep guards in all of Tampa — averaged 24.8 points per game, guiding the Academy to the Class 2A Girls Basketball State Finals last season. ESPN.com currently ranks Leipold as one of the top 60 point guards in the nation based on her dribbling and passing skills, and mid-range shooting ability.
• Zander Lemay, a rising junior defensive end, has transferred from Zephyrhills High School to Tampa Catholic High. Lemay totaled 47 tackles for the Bulldogs in 2015. His older brother, Brett Lemay, a defensive tackle, will play his senior season at Zephyrhills High.
• Wharton High School’s rising senior shortstop Drew Ehrhard has committed to the University of Tampa, a Division II school. Ehrhard led Wharton in batting average (.418), doubles (7) runs (22) and stolen bases (10) last season.
• Chris Butash, a rising sophomore quarterback, has transferred from Academy at the Lakes to Carrollwood Day School. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Butash joins the Patriots as an “athlete,” where he’ll likely play multiple positions. Carrollwood returns several top players from last year’s 7-4 team, including starting quarterback Raymond Woodie Jr., and wide receiver/defensive back Markeis Colvin.
• Devon Connors, a rising senior, has transferred from Carrollwood Day School to Steinbrenner High School. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound outside linebacker/defensive end was second on the team in sacks (10.0) last season. Connors currently has a football scholarship offer from Florida International University.

The Wesley Chapel All-Star tee-ball team finished second in the state tee-ball tournament in Bristol on July 8. On June 15, the group of 6-year-olds won the District Championship in Wildwood, Florida. The team is coached by Jeff Myers, Matt Como, Eric Piet and Brad Christensen.

Tee-ball roster:
Owen Andersen
AJ Arca
Jackson Buchanan
Wyatt Christensen
Joey Como
Joey Duvall
Jackson Frank
Tavin Groomes
Weston Jones
Jeffrey Myers
Ronan Piet
Parker Wease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six varsity and two junior varsity Sunlake High cheerleaders received individual All-American honors at the UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) Summer Camp at the University of South Florida on July 24.

The varsity team, coached by Pennye Garcia, also collected several additional awards during the camp, including overall Camp Champs for Extreme Routine and overall Game Day Champs. The team also placed second in both Game Day Sideline Dance and Game Day Band Dance.

From left: Brooke Hodge, varsity; Samantha Merola, junior varsity; Alicia Mitchell, junior varsity; Jillean Seaton, varsity; Taylor Broderick, varsity; Lauren Gobea, varsity; Mikiah Peeples, varsity; and, Mallory Mock, varsity.

Three Saint Leo University men’s golfers were recognized as Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholars on July 20. Liam Ainsworth, Ryan Gendron and Joey Savoie were among 91 Division II selections, including 14 from the Sunshine State Conference.

The trio helped the Lions capture the 2016 NCAA national championship in May in Denver, Colorado, defeating Chico State 3-2 in medal/match play. Ainsworth, Gendron and Savoie were teamed up with Hugo Bernard and Griffin Clark to capture the school’s first ever team national title. Ainsworth finished as a Division II PING Second Team All-American, and Savoie was a third team selection.

All three golfers were also named to the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll, where Gendron had the highest spring GPA (3.87), followed by Savoie (3.60) and Ainsworth (3.56).

Over the season, Ainsworth and Gendron led the team in rounds played (39), while Savoie was second on the team with 33 rounds. Savoie tallied a 71.21 stroke average on the year, which ranked 20th individually in the nation by GolfStat. Ainsworth had a 72.51 average, and Gendron recorded a 73.54.

To be eligible for Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar status, an individual golfer must be a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in 50 percent of his team’s competitive rounds, have a stroke-average under 78.0 and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2.