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The Wharton boys and girls track and field teams fared well at the Western Conference National Division meet on March 23 at Armwood High. The girls won the meet with 194 points, while the boys took second with 127. Both teams competed against eight other schools in Hillsborough County (Freedom, King, Tampa Bay Tech, Middleton, Hillsborough, Chamberlain, Armwood and Strawberry Crest).

The boys scored individual event victories in the following:

• 1-mile by sophomore Noah Damjanovic in 4:39.83
• 2-mile by Damjanovic in 10:19.42
• Pole vault by senior James Santana by clearing 10-feet, 6-inches

The girls scored individual event wins in the following:

• Pole vault by senior Gabby Paul by clearing 9-feet, 6-inches
• 1-mile by junior Bryanna Rivers in 5:29.13
• 400-meters by junior Searra Woods in 57.71 seconds
• 800-meters by junior Rivers in 2:23.45
• 4×400-meter relay in 4:16.81
• 4×800-meter relay in 10:43.75

The Pasco-Hernando State College cheer team placed fourth in the Cheer Ltd. Nationals at CANAM in the small coed collegiate division on March 18 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The team also placed first in an all-girl stunt group division that included flyer Amanda Kahn with backspot Ashley Morris, and bases Elizabeth Stowers, Damari Sanchez and Stephanie Gause. The cheer team is coached by Sophia Haddad.

Dave Panno, left, and Ken Willis caught five fish for a total weight of 22.54 pounds to win the South Pasco Bassmasters March tournament on Lake Istokpoga. They also won the tourney’s ‘Big Bass’ award after reeling in an 8.62-pound bass using a spinner bait.

The Sunlake girls weightlifting program was recently awarded the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) championship for the 2015-2016 season. Senior Brianna Anderson, right, was named Lifter of the Year, while Denise Garcia was named Coach of the Year. Anderson won a state championship in the 183-pound division on Feb. 6, recording a 165-pound bench press and a 220-pound clean-and-jerk. She plans to enter the Navy after she graduates.

The Western Conference boys and girls soccer teams are selected by the head coaches of public schools in Hillsborough County.

All-Western Conference Boys Soccer
American Division
First Team
Coach of the Year: Trevor Scott, Gaither
Mikey Connell, Steinbrenner
Jason Fishman, Steinbrenner
Jason Ortiz, Gaither
John Lopez, Gaither
Tony Scaglione, Steinbrenner

Second Team
Alberto Rivera, Gaither
Sebastian Rodriguez, Gaither
Dovydas Sakays, Steinbrenner

National Division
First Team
Grayson Hartenstein, Freedom
Donovan Quigley, Wharton

Second Team
Colin Castro, Wharton

All- Western Conference Girls Soccer
American Division
First Team
Taylor Jones, Steinbrenner
Kirsten Russell, Steinbrenner
Karinna Williams, Steinbrenner

Second Team
Mia Brantley, Steinbrenner
Claire Morrison, Steinbrenner
Erika Peitersen, Steinbrenner
Macie Rodriguez, Gaither

National Division
First Team
Caroline DeLisle, Wharton
Taylor Hubbard, Wharton
Jordan Vitale, Wharton
Rachel Diioia, Freedom

Second Team
Emily Dabrowski, Freedom
Alisha Deschenes, Wharton
Natalie Ferrin, Wharton

Published March 30, 2016

Steinbrenner baseball coach John Crumbley won his 700th career game on March 18 at the 36th annual Saladino Tournament after the Warriors defeated Alonso 6-4 in the championship game. Crumbley, a longtime area coach, has been at Steinbrenner since the school’s opening in 2009. Crumbley, 55, previously led Jesuit to three state titles in 22 years. The Warriors stand at 13-3, and are currently on a nine-game winning streak.

Land O’ Lakes senior ace Shannon Saile leads all pitchers in Pasco County with a 0.79 ERA and 139 strikeouts. The right-hander also has 10-2 W-L mark in 15 appearances, and has compiled at least 10 strikeouts in four of her last five games. Saile is a Florida International University (FIU) softball commit. Land O’ Lakes stands at 15-2-1 as of March 18.

Sunlake senior Gianna Basilone leads all softball hitters in the Tampa area region with seven home runs. She also has 25 RBIs to go along with a .418 batting average. Last season, Basilone hit six home runs and had 23 RBIs. She holds a scholarship offer from Oklahoma State University. The Seahawks currently stand at 11-7, with a 6-3 mark in district play.

Land O’ Lakes senior Tori Cannata set two meet records after winning both the high jump and the triple jump at the Kiwanis Invitational in Brooksville on March 8. Cannata cleared 5-foot-6-inches in the high jump, shattering the previous mark of 5-foot-2-inches. She went 35-feet-8.5-inches in the triple jump, setting a new meet record. Cannata also anchored the Land O’ Lakes’ winning 4×100-meter relay (51.83), which included Sydny Nasello, Lexi Fotopolous and Madison Lordsmith. Cannata has signed to play Division I soccer at the University of Arkansas.

Jeffrey Powell carries the Olympic torch flame during the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Special Olympics Summer Games, at Wesley Chapel High School on Feb. 26. Powell is accompanied by Bonnie Norman, left, and Lori Jaros. Athletes from schools throughout Pasco County competed in several events, including bocce, cycling, running, soccer and tennis ball throwing.