TAMPA — If you’re looking for the secret to the athletic success of Tampa Bay’s winningest high school, Rob Nelson doesn’t really have anything earth shattering to reveal. Just an extremely strong community, mixed in with a healthy dosage of school pride, a group of athletes — many of them ...
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Mon. June 17, 2013 at 6:27 p.m. | John C. Cotey
Plant rising junior cornerback Derrick Baity has received his first scholarship offer, from USF, he said Saturday. Baity’s coaches told him about the offer following the Panthers’ participation at the USF Sling 'N Shoot 7-on-7 tournament on Saturday. “It feels so good,” Baity said. “I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling yet.” The ...
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Sat. June 15, 2013 at 7:29 p.m. | Joel Anderson
Player of the Year: Christian Arroyo, Sr., Hernando If MLB draft gurus were surprised Hernando shortstop Christian Arroyo flew off the board in the first round, few in Brooksville were. • “The kid’s definitely got it all going on,” Leopards teammate and USF signee Brandon Lawson said. Arroyo was the ...
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Fri. June 14, 2013 at 10:36 a.m. | Times Staff
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Corey Salzer, Berkeley Prep Unweighted GPA: 4.0 Standardized test score: 2290 SAT (Perfect 800 on writing and math, 690 in critical reading) Sports: Basketball, lacrosse, volleyball College: Washington University in St. Louis (volleyball scholarship) Proudest academic accomplishment: An AP scholar with honor and member of no ...
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Wed. June 12, 2013 at 2:36 p.m. | Joey Knight
Pitcher of the Year: Brett Morales, Sr., King Why we picked him: Morales spent his first two seasons at King as an infielder, earning a reputation – and attention from college coaches – with his bat and glove. He transitioned to the mound as a junior, going 6-1 with a ...
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Sat. June 08, 2013 at 3:47 p.m. | Joel Anderson
It’s foresight from here, baby. For the remainder of the summer, we’ll peek at the 2013 season, project on it and pontificate about it — at length. But before that, let’s reflect once more on what we saw this past spring. (Our lists are not ranked in order of importance ...
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Fri. June 07, 2013 at 2:31 p.m. | Times Staff
Player of the Year: C Mia Fung, Jr., Strawberry Crest Why we picked her: Providing staunch defense and staggering offensive numbers, Fung led the Chargers to a 24-3 record and the four-year-old program’s first playoff triumph. Wielding a 33-inch Easton Synergy bat, the Chargers catcher hit for average and altitude: ...
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Sat. June 01, 2013 at 4:16 p.m. | Joey Knight
Former Plant High School star offensive lineman Richy Klepal, who retired from football in September after suffering a near-fatal concussion, has been cleared to start non-contact summer workouts with Florida State. “Cleared to practice everything but hitting,” Klepal said via Twitter Friday. “Its good to be back #NoleNation bout to ...
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Fri. May 31, 2013 at 8:10 p.m. | Joel Anderson
Girls Athlete of the Year: Jorian Ordway, Sr., Hillsborough Why we picked her: The daughter of two former Armwood athletes, Ordway cemented her status as the greatest 400-meter runner in local history, establishing a Hillsborough County record (54.98 seconds) at the Class 3A region championship. She topped that performance (54.19) ...
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Thu. May 30, 2013 at 5:40 p.m. | Joey Knight
Boys Player of the Year: Kiril Kirkov, Sr., King Why we picked him: The centerpiece of the Lions’ tennis renaissance, Kirkov was undefeated all season until losing a three-set match in the first round of the Class 3A team singles competition. The senior has manned King’s top position for three ...
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Tue. May 28, 2013 at 11:05 p.m. | Joel Anderson
At Plant Scores: Plant 22, Robinson 0; Jefferson 55, Leto 0 Spring game-breakers: Plant needed just one minute, 36 seconds to score on the opening drive after Colby Brown found Alexander Jackson for a 7-yard touchdown. That score was set up by a 44-yard gain on a swing pass to ...
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Thu. May 23, 2013 at 11:31 p.m. | Bryan Burns
The Lakewood track trio of Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin and Tim Holmes added Gibbs’ Trayvon Bromell to form an all-star 4x100-meter relay at the Golden South meet. The foursome ran past an impressive field to win the event in 40.29 seconds, the fastest time in the nation this year. Bromell ...
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Sat. May 18, 2013 at 9:29 p.m. | Bob Putnam
TAMPA — While big names like East Lake’s Mason Cole, Lakewood’s Isaiah Wynn and St. Petersburg Catholic’s Reilly Gibbons head up a class of offensive linemen that might be Tampa Bay’s best ever, the river of talent across the line of scrimmage this year is a deep one, running from ...
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Sat. May 11, 2013 at 3:11 p.m. | John C. Cotey
The football vernacular is loaded with names — derby, duel, controversy, quagmire — for quarterback competitions. We’re not going to affix any such label to those occurring locally. Suffice to say, some county jobs are up for grabs. Here are some more prominent vacancies, and those vying for them. Alonso ...
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Thu. May 09, 2013 at 11:14 p.m. | Times Staff
Five Plant seniors made their commitments official Wednesday, bringing the total of Panthers bound for college football programs in the fall to 15. The signees are: quarterback Kyle Groh (Ohio Wesleyan), defensive end Kareem Martin (Lindenwood University in Missouri), defensive lineman-linebacker Eliel Shines (Seton Hill in Pennsylvania), defensive lineman Gage ...
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Wed. May 08, 2013 at 11:33 p.m. | Joel Anderson