By JOSH HALLORAN
With temperatures dropping and the holiday decorations appearing on doorsteps, winter is nearing. Winter sports have had tryouts, but fall seasons are not yet complete. The end of the schedule is a key part of the seasons. There are the district games, rivalry games and metro/district tournaments which all teams work for the entire season: to become the state champions.
Regional tournament insight
Coming to the end of the season the girls varsity volleyball team finished 11-16. While it wasn’t the season they envisioned, they did earn a second place finish in Districts, behind top seed Dr. Phillips. Even though they lost, 3-1, they gave the Panthers a tough fight, playing four games (25-18, 22-25, 25-21, 26-24). Freshman Oakley Attaway had nine kills in the match against Dr.Phillips. The team will still play in the Regional tournament against Olympia High School on Nov. 2 at Olympia.
Team chases goals
Both boys and girls cross country teams have been competing at high levels. In the DeLand Invitational on Nov. 19, six of the girls placed in the top 100. Senior Heather Classe placed third in the meet with a time of 19:41, and sophomore Burkhardt Helfrich placed 16th in the meet with a time of 17:19. The boys and girls teams set goals that are soon to be reached, such as competing for the State race on Nov. 19 in Dade City.
Young team reaches expectations
Young team reaches expectations. With a hard fought season, the boys golf team placed 6th out of 12 teams in the district tournament on Oct. 17, at North Shore Country Club. “We had a lot of first year players with little experience in high school golf and we were not able to compete with the veteran teams in our district,” coach Todd Gregory said. Finishing the season 3-16, the team faced a tough loss to West Orange and Timber Creek in 18 hole matches. “This season was a re-building year and hopefully some of the returning players will be able to improve with the experience they gained this season,” Coach Gregory said.
Swim team finishes strong
The girls’ team place 3rd overall in the Metro Conference Meet, and the boys’ placed 5th overall. Chelsie Britt, junior was District champion in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. Junior, Nichole Clayton, spohomore, Julia Hester, Britt and sophomore Eleanor Clark placed 2nd in the 200 medley and 3rd in the 200 freestyle relays. For the boys, junior, Brendan Ellixson placed 5th in the 500 freestyle. If the team places in the top two, at Regionals on Nov. 3 they will compete in the state tournament on Nov. 10.
Team strikes out competition
The boys and girls teams both bowled in the District match on Nov. 1 at Boardwalk Bowl. Girls finished in 5th out of 12 teams and boys 8th out of 12 in the district tournament. Senior Ashley Cassidy qualified for states.