Prep football: Former Manatee RB Mike Blakely leaving Auburn

photo by Grant Jefferies

Mike Blakely is on the move.
Again.
Manatee's former standout running back is no longer enrolled at Auburn, according to the Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus, Ga.
The paper was told of Blakely's departure Wednesday night by Kirk Sampson, Auburn's associate athletic director.
Blakely ran for 153 yards on 33 carries for the Tigers, but in November, tweeted "up bored spending my last days in AU wisely! change is coming in my life", according to the Ledger-Enquirer. Blakely  said he was referring to getting a break from school, but was never again made available to reporters.
Blakely was a four-year starter for the Hurricanes and rushed for 1,323 yards and 16 touchdowns while helping Manatee reach the Class 5A state title game in 2009. He committed to Florida in the fall of 2010, graduated early from Manatee was enrolled and taking classes in Gainesville by January 2011.
But Blakely decided to transfer to Auburn in May of that year. Auburn was the only school Blakely visited officially during the recruiting process.
While it is unclear where Blakely will wind up, he did visit USF before deciding on Auburn.
The Bulls are coached by former Manatee standout Willie Taggart.

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/01/30/2364410/running-back-mike-blakely-leaves.html#storylink=cpy

Prep basketball: Boys district pairings

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Antonio Blakeney and the Cardinal Mooney Cougars are the only team to take a No.1 seed into next week's boys district basketball tournaments.
Listed below are the area pairings, with each team's seed in parentheses.
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 12
MONDAY, FEB. 4 - Quarterfinals
(5) Lakewood Ranch at (4) St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6 - Semifinals
(3) Palmetto at (2) Seminole Osceola, 7 p.m.
Lakewood Ranch/Dixie Hollins at (1) Largo, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 8 - Championship
7 p.m. at highest remaining seed

CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 11
MONDAY, FEB. 4 - Quarterfinals
(6) Manatee at (3) Braden River, 7 p.m.
(5) Sarasota at (4) Venice, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6 - Semifinals
Manatee/Braden River at (2) Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Sarasota/Venice at (1) Port Charlotte, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 8 - Championship
7 p.m. at highest remaining seed

CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12
TUESDAY, FEB. 5 - Quarterfinals
(5) Bayshore at (4) Southeast, 7 p.m.
(6) Dunedin at (3) St. Petersburg Lakewood, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6 - Semifinals
Bayshore/Southeast at (1) St. Petersburg Gibbs, 7 p.m.
Lakewood/Dunedin at (2) Gulfport Boca Ciega, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 8 - Championship
7 p.m. at Pinellas County school unless both finalists are from Manatee County

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10 at SAINT STEPHEN'S
TUESDAY, FEB. 5 - Semifinals
(4) Saint Stephen's vs. (1) Cardinal Mooney, 5 p.m.
(3) Out-of-Door Academy vs. (2) Bradenton Christian, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 8 - Championship
7 p.m.

Prep football: Manatee's Thor Miller added to list of commitments

photo by Grant Jefferies

Manatee offensive lineman Thor Miller, above, has committed to McNeese State University, a Louisiana school that competes in the Football Championship Subdivision, previously known as Division I-AA.
Hurricanes assistant coach Chris Conboy said Miller committed to the school over the weekend.
Miller was a two-year starter for Manatee and was the only senior lineman this year. He was selected to the FACA All-Star game.
Listed below is a list of area football players who have made their college choices heading into National Signing Day, scheduled for Feb. 6.
If you know of any other commits, feel free to email me at jlembo @bradenton.com.

MANATEE
Derrick Calloway, DL, USF
Blake Keller, DL, UCF
Anthony Lauro, WR/RB, Akron
Thor Miller, OL, McNeese State
Cord Sandberg, QB, Mississippi State
Willie Smith, DB, FIU

PALMETTO
Cory Crawford, WR/RB, Temple
Shaq Harris, WR, University of Massachusettes

SOUTHEAST
Eric Thompson, DB, Youngstown State

Boys soccer: Regional pairings

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Ian Nolan's Lakewood Ranch Mustangs and Carlos Reyes' Manatee Hurricanes will be in action Wednesday when the regional boys soccer playoffs get underway.
Listed below are the pairings for area teams.
Games are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted, and winners advance to Saturday's semifinal round.

CLASS 4A-REGION 3
Naples Gulf Coast at Lakewood Ranch
Manatee at Naples Barron Collier
CLASS 3A-REGION 3
Tampa King at Palmetto
CLASS 1A-REGION 2
Largo Indian Rocks Christian at Saint Stephen's, 3:30 p.m.

Prep wrestling: Manatee wins county tourmanent

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Jesse Fulk and the Manatee Hurricanes are again county wrestling champions.
Thanks to a tense 25-23 win over Palmetto, the Canes clinched their third straight title and 16th in 17 years.
Listed below are the county champions in each weight class.
Check out Friday's edition of The Bradenton Herald to read more about it.

106 pounds — Anthony Slack, Bayshore; Justin Robertson, Manatee
113 — Caleb Rudisill, Manatee
120 — Robert Collier, Lakewood Ranch
126 — Ben Cocroft, Bayshore
132 — Chase Washington, Palmetto
138 — Jared Dipsiner, Lakewood Ranch
145 — Jesse Fulk, Manatee
152 — Nathan Callihan, Palmetto
160 — Tyler Williford, Palmetto
172 — John Baldwin, Manatee
182 — Daniel Hauser, Palmetto
195 — Robert McLachlan, Palmetto
220 — Petro Marin, Bayshore
285 — Tylor Cosby, Bayshore

Mike Kelly Most Outstanding Wrestler — Caleb Rudisill, Manatee

Prep football: Manatee's season awards

photo by Grant Jefferies

Listed below were the awards handed out at Manatee's football banquet:


CHARLES BROWN SR. 110% EFFORT AWARD - John McElfresh
LU FILES 12TH MAN AWARD - Jon Carter
BIG PLAY AWARD, OFFENSE - Ja Juan Pollock
BIG PLAY AWARD, DEFENSE - Willie Smith
MOST IMPROVED - Malik Brooks
COMEBACK PLAYER - Kyle Mauk
HAMMER AWARD - Darrian Mabrey
IRON CANE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AWARD - Brodrick Yancy
COACHES AWARD, OFFENSE - Michael Galati
COACHES AWARD, DEFENSE - Blake Keller
CO-OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS - Jonathan Hernandez, Gregory Moss
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE BACK - Trevon Walters
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE BACK - Darin Ardis
OUTSTANDING RECEIVER - Marquel Hines
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN - Thor Miller
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE LINEMAN - Derrick Calloway
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, OFFENSE - Cord Sandberg
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, DEFENSE - Marquis Dawsey

Girls basketball: District pairings





photo by Paul Videla

Breanna Nice and the Southeast Seminoles earned a first-round bye and the No.2 seed for the Class 5A-District 12 district tournament, which gets underway next week.
Listed below are the tournaments involving area schools. Seeds are in parentheses.


CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 11
MONDAY, JAN. 28 - QUARTERFINALS
(6) Manatee at (3) Braden River, 7 p.m.
(5) Venice at (4) Charlotte, 7 p.m.
(1) Sarasota, bye
(2) Port Charlotte, bye
WEDNESDAY, JAN 30 - SEMIFINALS
Manatee/Braden River at Port Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Venice/Charlotte at Sarasota, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 1 - CHAMPIONSHIP
7 p.m. at highest remaining seed

CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 12
MONDAY, JAN. 28 - QUARTERFINAL
(5) Largo at (4) Palmetto, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 - SEMIFINAL
Palmetto/Largo at (1) Seminole Osceola, 7 p.m.
(3) St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins at (2) Lakewood Ranch, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 1 - CHAMPIONSHIP
7 p.m. at highest remaining seed

CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12
TUESDAY, JAN. 29 - QUARTERFINALS
(5) St. Petersburg Gibbs at (4) Bayshore, 7 p.m.
(6) Dunedin at (3) Gulfport Boca Ciega, 7 p.m.
(1) St. Petersburg Lakewood, bye
(2) Southeast, bye
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 - SEMIFINALS
Gibbs/Bayshore at St. Petersburg Lakewood, 7 p.m.
Boca Ciega/Dunedin at Southeast, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 1 - CHAMPIONSHIP
7 p.m. at Manatee County school unless both teams are from Pinellas

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10 AT OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY
TUESDAY, JAN. 29 - SEMIFINALS
(4) Saint Stephen's vs. (1) Cardinal Mooney, 5 p.m.
(3) Out-of-Door Academy vs. (2) Bradenton Christian, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 1 - CHAMPIONSHIP
7 p.m. at Out-of-Door Academy

Prep football: Southeast's Thompson commits to Youngstown State

Southeast cornerback Eric Thompson plans on being a Penguin.
Thompson committed to Youngstown State on Tuesday, according to Seminoles coach Paul Maechtle.
Thompson also had an offer from Western Kentucky, according to Rivals.
The Penguins compete in the Football Championship Subdivision, previously known as Division I-AA.
Maechtle also said wide receiver Jacob Sannon and defensive back/punt Jordan Grabski visited Division I Idaho over the weekend.
National Signing Day is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Prep football: Manatee's Calloway commits to USF

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

It appears that Willie Taggart has pulled of his first big coup as USF's head coach.
Manatee lineman Derrick Calloway has reversed his course and committed to the Bulls, a decision that was reported by several outlets on Twitter and was confirmed Sunday night by Steve Gulash, the Hurricanes' defensive line coach.
Calloway committed to Louisville days before the Cardinals shocked Florida in the Sugar Bowl. He visited USF during the first weekend in January and has now given his commitment to the Bulls, who hired Taggart, a former Manatee quarterback, in December to replace Skip Holtz.
It's a big get for Taggart and the Bulls, as Calloway was a two-year starter for the Hurricanes and ranked the nation's 18th-best tackle by Rivals.
Calloway still has time to change his mind: National Signing Day isn't until Feb.6.

Girls soccer: Regional pairings

photo by Tom Hubbard

Lakewood Ranch's girls soccer team was the area's only district champion. Consequently, the Mustangs will open the regional playoffs Wednesday at home.
Listed below are the regional pairings involving area teams. All games are at 7 p.m.
Winners advance to Saturday's regional semifinals.

CLASS 4A-REGION 3
Cape Coral Ida Baker at Lakewood Ranch
CLASS 3A-REGION 3
Palmetto at Tampa Robinson
CLASS 2A-REGION 3
Cardinal Mooney at Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin
CLASS 1A-REGION 2
Saint Stephen's at Tampa Prep

Prep football: Palmetto's Varnadore named new coach at Crystal River

Palmetto assistant Nate Varnadore has been named the new head coach at Crystal River.
"It's going to be a change," he said Friday. "But a good change."
Varnadore graduated from Palmetto in 2003 and has worked on the staff since '.06. He spent the last three seasons serving under Dave Marino as assistant head coach, defensive line coach and defensive coordinator.
For more on this story, check out Saturday's edition of The Bradenton Herald.

Prep girls soccer: Tonight's district finals

photo by Paul Videla

Listed below are tonight's district championship games involving area teams. All finalists reached the Region 3 tournament, which begins Wednesday. The champion out of each district will host in the first round and the runner-up will be on the road.
All games are at 7 p.m.

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 11
Venice at Lakewood Ranch
CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10
Seminole Osceola at Palmetto
CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 11
Fort Myers Bishop Verot at Cardinal Mooney
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8 AT OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY
St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep vs. Saint Stephen's

Prep boys soccer: District pairings

photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Ronaldo Marcelo and the Palmetto Tigers are seeded No.1 in the  Class 3A-District 11 tournament, which gets underway Tuesday.
Listed below are the brackets involving area teams. Seeds are in parentheses, and all games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

 CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 11
 TUESDAY, JAN. 22 - Quarterfinals
 (7) Venice at (2) Manatee
 (6) Charlotte at (3) Port Charlotte
 (5) Sarasota at (4) Braden River
 (1) Lakewood Ranch, bye
 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 - Semifinals
 Venice/Manatee vs. Charlotte/Port Charlotte
 Sarasota/Braden River at (1) Lakewood Ranch
 FRIDAY, JAN. 25 - Championship
 Hosted by highest remaining seed

 CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10
 TUESDAY, JAN. 22 - Quarterfinals
 (8) St. Petersburg Gibbs at (1) Palmetto
 (5) Southeast at (4) Dunedin
 (7) Gulfport Boca Ciega at (2) St. Petersburg Lakewood
 (6) Bayshore at (3) Seminole Osceola
 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 - Semifinals
 Palmetto/Gibbs vs. Southeast/Dunedin
 Boca Ciega/Lakewood vs. Bayshore/Seminole Osceola
 FRIDAY, JAN 25 - Championship
 Hosted by a Pinellas County school unless both teams are from Manatee County.

CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 11
TUESDAY, JAN. 22 - Quarterfinals
(7) Fort Myers Dunbar at (2) LaBelle
(6) Booker at (3) Clewiston
(5) Fort Myers Gateway Charter at (4) Cardinal Mooney
(1) Fort Myers Bishop Verot, bye
THURSDAY, JAN. 24 - Semifinals
Gateway/Mooney at Fort Myers Bishop Verot
Booker/Clewiston vs. Dunbar/LaBelle
FRIDAY, JAN. 25 - Championship
At Clewiston

CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8 AT ST. PETERSBURG SHORECREST PREP
TUESDAY, JAN. 22 - Quarterfinals
(9) Bradenton Christian vs. (8) St. Petersburg Keswick Christian, 5 p.m.
(5) St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut vs. (4) St. Petersburg Northside Christian, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 - Quarterfinals
(3) Out-of-Door Academy vs. (6) Sarasota Christian, 3 p.m.
(2) St. Petersburg Northside Christian vs. (7) St. Petersburg Canterbury, 5 p.m.
(1) Saint Stephen's, bye.
FRIDAY, JAN. 25 - Semifinals
Saint Stephen's vs. Admiral Farragut/Northside Christian, 5 p.m.
Northside Christian/Canterbury vs. Out-of-Door Academy/Sarasta Christian, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 26 - Championship
7 p.m. 

Prep girls soccer: District tournaments get underway Friday

photo by Grant Jefferies

The winter postseason has arrived: The district soccer tournaments get underway Friday.
Listed below are the tournaments involving area teams, with the seeds in parentheses.

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 11
MONDAY, JAN. 14 - Quarterfinals
(7) Sarasota at (2) Venice, 7 p.m.
(6) Port Charlotte at (3) Manatee, 7 p.m.
(5) Charlotte at (4) Braden River, 7 p.m.
(1) Lakewood Ranch, bye.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16 - Semifinals
Sarasota/Venice vs. Port Charlotte/Manatee, 7 p.m.
Braden River/Charlotte at Lakewood Ranch, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, JAN. 18 - Championship
Game played at highest remaining seed, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 10
FRIDAY, JAN. 11 - Quarterfinals
(8) St. Petersburg Gibbs at (1) Palmetto, 7 p.m.
(5) St. Petersburg Lakewood at (4) Gulfport Boca Ciega, 7 p.m.
(7) Bayshore at (2) Seminole Osceola, 7 p.m.
(6) Southeast at (3) Dunedin, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, JAN. 17 - Semifinals
Gibbs/Palmetto vs. Lakewood/Boca Ciega, 7 p.m.
Bayshore/Seminole Osceola vs. Southeast/Dunedin, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, JAN. 18 - Championship
Game played at Manatee County school unless both finalists are from Pinellas, 7 p.m.

CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 11
MONDAY, JAN. 14 - Quarterfinals
(5) Clewiston at (4) Fort Myers Gateway Charter, 7 p.m.
(6) Booker at (3) LaBelle, 7 p.m.
(7) Dunbar at (2) Fort Myers Bishop Verot, 7 p.m.
(1) Cardinal Mooney, bye.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16 - Semifinals
Clewiston/Gateway Charter at Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m.
Booker/LaBelle vs. Dunbar/Fort Myers Gateway Charter, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, JAN. 18 - Championship
7 p.m. at Cardinal Mooney

CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8 at Out-of-Door Academy
TUESDAY, JAN. 15 - Quarterfinals
(5) St. Petersburg Northside Christian vs. (4) Sarasota Christian, 1 p.m.
(8) St. Petersburg Keswick Christian vs. (1) Saint Stephen's, 3 p.m.
(7) Bradenton Christian vs. (2) St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep, 5 p.m.
(6) St. Petersburg Canterbury vs. (3) Out-of-Door Academy, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, JAN. 17 - Semifinals*
Northside Christian/Sarasota Christian vs. Keswick Christian/Saint Stephen's, 5 p.m.
Bradenton Christian/Shorecrest Prep vs. Canterbury/ODA, 7 p.m.
*host plays later game, and times could switch if ODA loses first-round game
FRIDAY, JAN. 18 - Championship

7 p.m.

Prep weightlifting: Girls qualifier Wednesday at Palmetto

Palmetto hosts the girls weightlifting qualifier Wednesday for the local teams in District 8.
The meet begins 11 a.m. and features the host Tigers along with Bayshore, Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Manatee and Southeast.
Charlotte, LaBelle, Port Charlotte and Sarasota also hosts District 8 meets this week.
The top three finishers in each class from each of the 10 districts qualify for the state meet, scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

Prep football: Southeast's Allen a First-Team all-state pick

Southeast running back Courtney Allen was a first-team pick for the Class 5A all-state team, which was released Friday.
A junior, Allen rushed for 1,334 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging close to 6 yards per carry for the District 12 champions.
He also had 14 receptions and returned 12 kickoffs for 239 yards.
Seminoles receiver Jacob Sannon was a third-team pick and Palmetto receiver Shaquille Harris made the team as an honorable mention.

Prep wrestling: Southeast, Lakewood Ranch hosting tournaments this weekend

photo by Grant Jefferies
Blake Riley-Hawkins' Mustangs host a dual tournament Saturday

Plenty of Manatee and Sarasota County wrestling teams will be in action this weekend when Lakewood Ranch and Southeast host tournaments.
The 3rd Annual Kiwanis Classic Mustang Duals at The Ranch gets underway 9:30 a.m. Saturday with the finals scheduled for around 4 or 5 p.m.
The Mustangs and Braden River will be joined by Seminole, Pasco, Riverview, Tampa Prep, North Marion and Rockledge.
The Southeast Duals is a two-day event beginning 10:30 a.m and wrapping at 5 p.m. Friday, before resuming 9:30 a.m. Saturday and ending at around 2.
Joining the Seminoles will be Palmetto, Venice, Booker, Sarasota, Englewood Lemon Bay, Tampa Jesuit, Tampa Berkeley Prep, Clearwater Central Catholic and Palm Bay.
Manatee and Palmetto will be hosting tournaments next weekend.

Prep football: Four locals make Class 2A all-state team

photo by Tim Wolfum

Three players from Out-of-Door Academy and one from Saint Stephen's made the Class 2A all-state football team, which was unveiled Wednesday. The team is chosen by newspaper editors and reporters throughout Florida.
Thunder punter Brian Kirsche was picked for the first team, and kicker Sean Kirsche and quarterback Evan Wilson were second-team picks.
Saint Stephen's running back Herman Israelsson made honorable mention.
The other classifications will be released later in the week.