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Rodney Page - Preps Reporter
Rodney Page

Preps Reporter

I was born in Iowa City, Iowa but moved to Florida when I was three, which technically makes me a Floridian. I grew up in Pinellas Park and Clearwater and attended Pinellas Park High School. The son of a physical education teacher and avid sports fan, I tried just about everything as a kid. I played golf, racquetball, tennis, fished, water skied and even played middle school football until I got hit trying to make a catch. That doesn’t happen in baseball, so I took that up full time. After graduating from Florida State and working in North Carolina for three years, I ended up back in St. Petersburg and started working part-time for the Times. I've been there ever since. I've worked as an editorial assistant, covered preps, written local feature stories, covered golf (and helped create a local golf website), outdoors, soccer, tennis and helped when needed with our local professional teams. In short, I've tried to be the utility infielder on a very talented team. I'm also the father of two kids who ended up playing soccer, but I’m still not sure what offsides is.

  1. Two girls basketball shootouts on tap in Tampa Bay this weekend
    Jan. 17• HomeTeam
    You'll find Chimera Iloanya and Seffner Christian at the Lakewood MLK Holiday Classic this weekend.
    Looking for some stellar hoops matchups this holiday weekend? Hosts Lakewood and Chamberlain have you covered.
  2. St. Petersburg girls soccer ready to make another run at state
    Jan. 15• HomeTeam
    University of Florida commit Alexa Goldberg is a veteran presence for a St. Petesrburg team that hopes to return to the state final four.
    The Green Devils’ roster may not be the same, but there is still that mix of youth and experience that served them well a year ago.
  3. Six Tampa Bay basketball players who are ball hogs in the best way
    Jan. 14• HomeTeam
    Tampa Prep's Kailyn Gilbert (2), center, charges past Wesley Chapel's Ameria Christopher (5) during a game earlier this season.
    When it comes to scoring and rebounding, these three girls and guys are among tops in the state. And word to the wise: Stay out of Kailyn Gilbert’s way.
  4. High school girls basketball rankings for Tampa Bay
    Jan. 13• HomeTeam
    Brooks DeBartolo first-year coach Ellie Wilbur is leading the Phoenix through the second half of the 2019-20 season.
    Not much change in this week’s rankings as the top teams keep on winning.
  5. U.S. women’s soccer team begins quest for Olympic gold in Tampa
    Jan. 10• Sports
    In this Oct. 3 file photo, forward Megan Rapinoe (15) works the ball down the sideline during the U.S. Women's National Team's victory tour match between the USA and the South Korea at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
    The national team hopes to follow World Cup supremacy by also conquering the Tokyo Games.
  6. USF turns attention toward Armwood defensive back, Chamberlain lineman
    Jan. 9• HomeTeam
    Chamberlain offensive lineman Cesar Reyes lost some recruiting ground after an injury in his junior year, but is still expected to sign with a Division I-A program in February.
    Ahead of national signing day on Feb. 5, Jalil Core and Cesar Reyes have increased interest from the Bulls.
  7. Mets standout Pete Alonso visits middle school stomping grounds at Holy Names
    Jan. 9• Rays
    Pete Alonso, right, of the New York Mets, high-fives seventh-grader Samantha Emerson,12, along with other students after his Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Academy of Holy Names.
    The school inducts the reigning National League Rookie of the Year into its Hall of Fame.
  8. Tampa Bay Tech girls get back on track after holiday slump
    Jan. 8• HomeTeam
    Tampa Bay Tech's Janiah Barker, seen here at an earlier game, scores 18 points vs. Armwood as the Titans return to their winning ways.
    The Titans snap a two-game losing streak with a decisive win over Armwood.
  9. High school girls basketball rankings for Tampa Bay
    Jan. 6• HomeTeam
    Tampa Bay Tech and sophomore Janiah Barker ran into a bit of trouble against tough competition over the break.
    Prior to winter break, five area teams were unbeaten. Now there is just one. Here are the first rankings of 2020.
  10. Ten Tampa Bay basketball players who starred in holiday tournaments
    Jan. 6• HomeTeam
    East Lake basketball guard Dionte Blanch (1) works to make a play while taking on Wildwood during the Sun Bash boys basketball tournament at Calvary Christian on Jan. 2.
    Winter break isn’t much of a respite for area high school teams, and these five girls and five boys ruled the court.