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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.

Academy at the Lakes varsity girls basketball coach Karim Nohra has stepped down from the position after six seasons. Nohra led the Wildcats to five state final four appearances during his tenure at the Academy.
“For 25 years, I’ve concentrated on coaching, teaching and guiding other people’s children. Now, it’s time that I concentrate on my own,” Nohra said, in a release. Nohra’s record at the school was 143-26; his Academy teams won six district championships, five regional titles, and made two state championship game appearances.

Nohra’s previous coaching stops include varsity teams at Cambridge Christian School, and Tampa Catholic and Wesley Chapel high schools. He’s amassed a coaching record of 534-159 in 24 seasons. “Academy is extremely grateful for the dedication Karim has given to our girls basketball team and our athletic program the last six years,” Academy athletic director Tom Haslam said. “The success of our girls program, under his guidance, has been a big reason for Academy’s athletic program’s growth as a major power in the FHSAA. Karim is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with, and he’s laid the foundation for our girls basketball program to flourish in the years to come.”
Last season, the Academy finished 26-4, falling to Florida A&M Developmental Research School 55-40 in the Class 2A state championship game, in Lakeland.

Academy at the Lakes varsity softball coach Jerry English has announced his retirement.

In five seasons as the Wildcats’ softball coach, English compiled a 64-25 record, guiding the team to four district championships, one regional title and a state championship appearance in 2013.

During his 42-year coaching career, English totaled 534 wins, and won 16 district championships and four regional championships. He was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Land O’Lakes High School Hall of Fame in 2016.

“It was an honor for Academy to have a coaching legend like Jerry English for the past five years,” athletic director Tom Haslam said, in a release. “Jerry is loved by all his players and their parents, and during his time here, he impacted many lives and took our softball program to new heights.”

The Academy softball team finished 11-6 this past season. The team returns one of the most productive players in Tampa in rising sophomore Alexis Kilfoyl. As a freshman last season, Kilfoyl batted .562 with three home runs and 20 RBIs. On the mound, the 6-foot-1 right-hander compiled a 1.36 ERA with 163 strikeouts in 103 innings.

Former Gaither High School golf standout Jimmy Stanger won the prestigious Southern Amateur golf tournament at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on July 17. Stanger, a rising senior at the University of Virginia, earned a one-stroke victory after shooting a 12-under 276 in 72 holes. Stanger is currently ranked 66 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. While at Gaither, Stanger was selected as the Hillsborough County Player of the Year from 2011 to 2013. He placed third in the Florida Boys Golf 2A state championship in 2012. (File Photo)

Freedom High School has hired Damian Goderich to lead its girls volleyball program. Goderich replaces Brittany Castelamare, who went 9-9 last season. Goderich last coached volleyball at South Dade High School in Miami. He is one of three new head varsity coaches at Freedom High in 2016, joining Floyd Graham (football) and Brett Baudendistel (baseball). (Courtesy of Freedom High School)

Members of the Sunlake High School varsity cheerleading team participated in the 15th annual Cheer Hawaii USA Summer Invitational at the University of Hawaii in June. About 100 cheerleaders from all 50 states are selected to participate in the prestigious camp each year. From left: Taylor Broderick, Lauren Gobea, Sunlake coach Pennye Garcia, Cheer Hawaii director Alan Akina, Mikiah Peeples, Maddie Frazee and Hailey Parks. (Courtesy of Pennye Garcia)

More than a dozen Pasco-Hernando State College student-athletes were awarded National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) honors for their academic achievements. Students were honored in three categories: Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence, 4.00 GPA; Superior Academic Achievement Award, 3.80-3.99 GPA; and Exemplary Academic Achievement Award, 3.60-3.79 GPA. The following 14 PHSC student athletes received the honors:

• Alexena Arnold—Volleyball II, Exemplary
• Baylee Dushane—Softball II, Pinnacle
• Danielle Christian—Volleyball II, Superior
• Nicholas Donnell—Baseball II, Superior
• Rachel Gardner—Softball II, Superior
• Grant McDaniel—Baseball II, Exemplary
• Thomas Moschner—Baseball II, Exemplary
• Corey Mumaw—Baseball II, Exemplary
• Emily Pelletier—Softball II, Exemplary
• Alexander Reynolds—Baseball II, Exemplary
• Katherine Shoulta—Softball II, Exemplary
• Marffee Simbulan—Half Marathon/Cross Country I, Superior
• Megan Taris—Volleyball II, Exemplary
• Hannah Tucker—Volleyball II, Superior

The Saint Leo University women’s soccer team’s 2016 schedule includes nine home games at Saint Leo Field.

Saint Leo opens the 2016 season with an exhibition against Webber International (Florida) University in Babson Park on Aug. 20. Following the trip to Babson Park, the Lions will travel to face Stetson University on Aug. 28.

The Lions open the home portion of their schedule with five consecutive home games starting on Sept. 1 against Valdosta (Georgia) State University. Conference play begins with a home matchup against Eckerd College on Sept. 14.

“It is a challenging schedule with 14 regional games in total, but we are excited for the upcoming season and competing in the best league in the nation,” head coach Ged O’ Connor said, in a release. “We have a great start with five home games and are looking forward to playing in front of the Lions’ fans.”

The Lions return 17 players to the team that finished 7-8-2 and 3-5 in the Sunshine State Conference last season. The Lions advanced to the postseason making the SSC tournament quarterfinals.

The 2016 Sunshine State Conference tournament will begin on Nov. 2.

Freedom High School has named Brett Baudendistel as its new varsity baseball coach. Baudendistel most recently was the junior varsity baseball coach at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill. He replaces Mason Woodside, who went 26-66 in four seasons at Freedom. The Patriots return three of their top four hitters in David Trujeque (.362), Khalil Almutasim (.344) and Hunter Kniskern (.321). Almutasim is also the team’s top returning pitcher with a 2.53 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched. The Patriots went 11-11 last season.