Governor honors Plant's football, cross country teams

TAMPA — After a 15-year-old, internationally acclaimed ballerina, a contestant on the upcoming Survivor, and a drug-busting dog named Tebow were introduced and recognized for their accomplishments, it was time for Plant’s football and cross country teams to receive their praise in the governor's cabinet meeting Thursday at the Florida State Fairgrounds. And a few light-hearted jabs.

 “These two athletic teams have had an exceptional year,” Governor Rick Scott stated before ticking off their accomplishments.

 For football:
• 14 wins and one loss in 2011

• Team GPA of 3.134, highest in Hillsborough County for the third consecutive year

• District, regional and Class 8A state champions

• A four-year record of 53-6 (“You were just nice those days?” Scott ad-libbed about the losses)

• Four trips to the state finals and three state championships

“Gosh, congratulations,” Scott said.

For cross country
• A 25-year streak of competing in the state meet

• A top-5 finish in 21 of those years

• 10 state championships (“That’s a little greedy; you ought to share a little bit.”)

• Team GPA of 3.828, the highest in Hillsborough County

• A 2011 state title

Football captains James Few, Antonio Crawford, Patrick Wright, Daniel Casselli, Tate Rogers and Jonathan Haney were mentioned by name before posing for a photo with Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi (a family friend of the Fews),  CFO Jeff Atwater and  Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. Seven members of the girls' cross country team took a picture with the cabinet as well.

While not recognized by the governor, Armwood football and Berkeley Prep’s volleyball team were the other Hillsborough County schools to win state championships this past fall.

Teams in post

• Plant High School