Manatee High junior Ace Sanders placed eighth in the long jump during today's Class 3A state track and field championships at Showalter Field in Winter Park.
Sanders' jump of 21 feet, 4 inches, earned him a medal, awarded to the top eight finishers in each event.
Sanders' teammate, Brion Carnes, was 15th in the discus with a throw of 117 feet.
On the girls side, Lakewood Ranch's Shanavia Jones was 12th in the high jump (five feet), and the the Mustangs' 3,200-meter relay team of Kelsey Gramaldi, Tracy Spronatti, Devon McDermott and Megan Reuss was 12th (10:00.51).
The preliminaries just wrapped here in Showalter Field with the finals scheduled for 7 p.m.
Stay tuned to Prep Rally for up-to-the minute results.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Area alums make good
Four area baseball players now at Manatee Community College were named to the Suncoast Conference's all-conference baseball team.
Lakewood Ranch's Gus Schlosser was named the conference's pitcher of the year and player of the year, and fellow former Mustang Jonathan Griffin made the first team as an infielder.
Cardinal Mooney graduate and Bradenton resident Hunter Ovens (outfield) and Manatee alum Derek Luciano (infield) earned second-team honors.
The Lancers open the JUCO state baseball tournament 7 p.m. Friday at Chain of Lakes Park against Chipola.
Lakewood Ranch's Gus Schlosser was named the conference's pitcher of the year and player of the year, and fellow former Mustang Jonathan Griffin made the first team as an infielder.
Cardinal Mooney graduate and Bradenton resident Hunter Ovens (outfield) and Manatee alum Derek Luciano (infield) earned second-team honors.
The Lancers open the JUCO state baseball tournament 7 p.m. Friday at Chain of Lakes Park against Chipola.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Swine flu forces FHSAA to schedule make-up meet
Athletes not permitted to compete in this weekend’s Class 3A and 4A state track and field championships because of fear of swine flu will be allowed to participate later.
The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Monday a make-up meet has been scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at Showalter Field in Winter Park. The news comes after the Hillsborough County School district closed Tampa Freedom High, as well as two middle schools, because students in those schools are included in the county’s five suspected cases of swine flu. None of those cases have been confirmed, according to The Associated Press.
Athletes competing in the make-up meet will be going against times and distances set during this weekend’s meets. The Class 3A is scheduled for Friday and the Class 4A champions are slated for Saturday.
They will take place at Showalter Field, as well.
Schools that are closed are not permitted to take part in FHSAA state series events, said Cristina Alvarez, the association’s director of media relations and marketing. That goes from track and field, as well as softball and baseball, which are also in the midst of their state tournaments.
The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Monday a make-up meet has been scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at Showalter Field in Winter Park. The news comes after the Hillsborough County School district closed Tampa Freedom High, as well as two middle schools, because students in those schools are included in the county’s five suspected cases of swine flu. None of those cases have been confirmed, according to The Associated Press.
Athletes competing in the make-up meet will be going against times and distances set during this weekend’s meets. The Class 3A is scheduled for Friday and the Class 4A champions are slated for Saturday.
They will take place at Showalter Field, as well.
Schools that are closed are not permitted to take part in FHSAA state series events, said Cristina Alvarez, the association’s director of media relations and marketing. That goes from track and field, as well as softball and baseball, which are also in the midst of their state tournaments.
Jensen's peronifies the best of Manatee County's prep atheletes.
I had a chance to speak with Austin Jensen on Monday during Manatee's spring football practice. Set to enter his junior season at Florida Atlantic, Jensen returned to his old stomping grounds to sneak a peak at the Hurricanes, who are two practices into the spring football season.
Jensen, who is wearing a cast after injuring his wrist during FAU's spring game, was always one of my favorite prep athletes, and not just because he was a dynamo between the hashmarks. He's a good a kid who is evolving into a good person, and our chat today only reaffirmed that fact.
Jensen would love to play his way into the NFL. And who wouldn't? But first, he wants to get his education, which is his top priority.
A kid putting education in front of athletics? It was nice to hear. And in my dealings with Jensen, he always came across as very sincere. He wouldn't say if it he didn't mean it.
Jensen is a good ambassador for Manatee County sports, and he's far from the only one. I have had the pleasure of talking to many great kids in my three-plus years covering high school sports down here, whether they were football players, sprinters or softball players.
They are enough to make a cynical guy like me feel a tad optimistic about the future. Hopefully, the up-and-comers follow their lead.
Jensen, who is wearing a cast after injuring his wrist during FAU's spring game, was always one of my favorite prep athletes, and not just because he was a dynamo between the hashmarks. He's a good a kid who is evolving into a good person, and our chat today only reaffirmed that fact.
Jensen would love to play his way into the NFL. And who wouldn't? But first, he wants to get his education, which is his top priority.
A kid putting education in front of athletics? It was nice to hear. And in my dealings with Jensen, he always came across as very sincere. He wouldn't say if it he didn't mean it.
Jensen is a good ambassador for Manatee County sports, and he's far from the only one. I have had the pleasure of talking to many great kids in my three-plus years covering high school sports down here, whether they were football players, sprinters or softball players.
They are enough to make a cynical guy like me feel a tad optimistic about the future. Hopefully, the up-and-comers follow their lead.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Bennett a permament part of county tradition
Robby Bennett is a state champion.
A senior at Bradenton Christian, Bennett won the 110-meter hurdles during Friday's Class 1A state track and field championships at Showalter Field in Winter Park.
Manatee County, as well as BCS, has crowned its share of state champions in a plethora of sports. Bennett's case, however, is special.
He missed out on a state berth last year when he tripped while competing at the Region 3 meet. Bennett was third at the time. Top four in each event qualify for state.
So consider 2009 his redemption. And now, when you walk into Bradenton Christian's cozy gymnasium, you'll see Bennett's name on the wall, tacked alongside state champions of the past, as well as the future.
It's a testament to Bennett's fortitude, as well as the depth of athletic talent coursing through Manatee County. Yes, football here is king, and when you think tradition, you think about Manatee's four state football titles, Southeast's two state football titles and Palmetto's state football title in 1975 that went ahead and started it all.
But consider this - spring isn't over, and we've crowned a state track champion and a state weightlifting champion (Braden River's Tevin Bryant.) Let's not forget Friday's Class 3A meet featuring Palmetto's Alexis Love, fresh off winning three events at Thursday's Region 3 meet in Punta Gorda.
Love wants to be a state champion before taking her speed to Murray State University on a track scholarship.
Bennett is a state champion.
He wasn't Manatee County's first.
And he sure won't be its last.
A senior at Bradenton Christian, Bennett won the 110-meter hurdles during Friday's Class 1A state track and field championships at Showalter Field in Winter Park.
Manatee County, as well as BCS, has crowned its share of state champions in a plethora of sports. Bennett's case, however, is special.
He missed out on a state berth last year when he tripped while competing at the Region 3 meet. Bennett was third at the time. Top four in each event qualify for state.
So consider 2009 his redemption. And now, when you walk into Bradenton Christian's cozy gymnasium, you'll see Bennett's name on the wall, tacked alongside state champions of the past, as well as the future.
It's a testament to Bennett's fortitude, as well as the depth of athletic talent coursing through Manatee County. Yes, football here is king, and when you think tradition, you think about Manatee's four state football titles, Southeast's two state football titles and Palmetto's state football title in 1975 that went ahead and started it all.
But consider this - spring isn't over, and we've crowned a state track champion and a state weightlifting champion (Braden River's Tevin Bryant.) Let's not forget Friday's Class 3A meet featuring Palmetto's Alexis Love, fresh off winning three events at Thursday's Region 3 meet in Punta Gorda.
Love wants to be a state champion before taking her speed to Murray State University on a track scholarship.
Bennett is a state champion.
He wasn't Manatee County's first.
And he sure won't be its last.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Regional baseball pairings
Manatee High's softball team bowed out of the regional semifinals Friday, leaving baseball as the lone team sport remaining in the 2008-09 prep season.
Braden River, Out-of-Door Academy and Saint Stephen's won district championships and will open regional play Tuesday. That same day, runners-up Cardinal Mooney, Manatee HEAT and Manatee will hit the road.
Here are the regional pairings.
Class 5A-Region 3 - Manatee at Seminole Osceola, 7 p.m.
Class 4A-Region 3 - Lake Wales at Braden River, 7 p.m.
Class 3A-Region 3 - Cardinal Mooney at Tampa Catholic, 4 p.m.
Class 2A-Region 3 - Naples St. John Neumann at Saint Stephen's, 4 p.m.
Class 1A-Region 3 - Oldsmar Christian at Out-of-Door Academy, 4 p.m.; Manatee HEAT at St. Petersburg Canterbury, 5 p.m.
Winners advance to Friday's regional semifinal. The other teams head home for good.
Braden River, Out-of-Door Academy and Saint Stephen's won district championships and will open regional play Tuesday. That same day, runners-up Cardinal Mooney, Manatee HEAT and Manatee will hit the road.
Here are the regional pairings.
Class 5A-Region 3 - Manatee at Seminole Osceola, 7 p.m.
Class 4A-Region 3 - Lake Wales at Braden River, 7 p.m.
Class 3A-Region 3 - Cardinal Mooney at Tampa Catholic, 4 p.m.
Class 2A-Region 3 - Naples St. John Neumann at Saint Stephen's, 4 p.m.
Class 1A-Region 3 - Oldsmar Christian at Out-of-Door Academy, 4 p.m.; Manatee HEAT at St. Petersburg Canterbury, 5 p.m.
Winners advance to Friday's regional semifinal. The other teams head home for good.
Falcons soar
Coaches and programs never priortitize championships, because each one is its own accomplishment, and each championship team had to overcome its own share of obstacles and challenges.
Chances are, however, Rob Viera and the rest of Saint Stephen's baseball coaches won't forget the 2009 title any time soon. Viera steered the Falcons to the Class 2A-District 12 title Thursday when they defeated St. Petersburg Northside Christian.
It's the Falcons' six district title and fourth since 2003 - but a special won for Viera, who took over the program from longtime coach Mike LaValliere.
The Falcons host a regional quarterfinal Tuesday.
Chances are, however, Rob Viera and the rest of Saint Stephen's baseball coaches won't forget the 2009 title any time soon. Viera steered the Falcons to the Class 2A-District 12 title Thursday when they defeated St. Petersburg Northside Christian.
It's the Falcons' six district title and fourth since 2003 - but a special won for Viera, who took over the program from longtime coach Mike LaValliere.
The Falcons host a regional quarterfinal Tuesday.
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