Sidelines

KUDOS
+ Lakewood Ranch High Wrestling
Lakewood Ranch High will send a school record of five wrestlers to the Class 2A FHSAA Finals Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 at the Lakeland Center.

The Mustangs finished sixth out of 39 teams at the Class 2A-Region 3 meet Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 at Charlotte High. Five wrestlers finished in the top four to earn a berth in the state tournament.

Lakewood’s previous school record was three wrestlers.

Individual qualifiers include:
Hunter Reed (106 pounds, fourth place)
Dylan Cameron (120 pounds, second place)
Tim Dwyer (132 pounds, fourth place)
Jared Dipsiner (138 pounds, second place)
Ty McLeod (170 pounds, third place)

“Their commitment in the wrestling room certainly prepared them for the battles during each of their matches,” coach Pat Ancil says.

Robert Collier (126), Juan Torres (145), Ryan Oakes (182) and Jimmy Strumpf (heavyweight) also won matches to contribute to the overall team score.

+ GSJGA golfers tee off for WTS
The Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association held its second Winter Tournament Series event Feb. 9 at TPC Prestancia.

Individual winners include:
Nine-Hole Divisions
Girls 10 & Under
Ryan Carter (46)

Girls 11 and Over
Aaron Whitley (47)
Halie Keech (63)

Boys 10 and Under
Alex Huang (46)
Thomas Tyler III (48)
Oliver Warren (48)
Aaron Setiawan (48)

Boys 11 and Over
Jordan Evans (39)
Tanner Nash (45)

18-Hole Divisions
Girls 12 and Under
Reece Carter (90)
Ashlyn Einwachter (100)

Girls 13-15
Alyssa Mercado (82)
Meadow Southworth (88)

Girls 16-18
Victoria Cangero (83, won playoff)
Zhen Xie (83)

Boys 12 and Under
Matthew de Heus (85)
Joey Winter (99)

Boys 13-15
Erik Souchak (75)
Bozhou Li (79)

Boys 16-18
Andrew Hammett (75)
Jake LaMore (78)

The next GSJGA Winter Tournament Series event will be held March 16.

+ Pirates coach resigns
Braden River High girls basketball coach Carl Williams will be coaching from a different sideline next season after being named the new basketball coach at Riverview High Feb. 6.

Four days after learning Alan Hamm had stepped down at Riverview, Williams interviewed for the position, which he later received.

“It was truly one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Williams says. “It is never easy to leave a place that you have put so much into, and this is no exception. Man, what a great place!”

Williams spent five seasons at Braden River.

+ Inspiration Academy opens season undefeated
The Inspiration Academy baseball team went 2-0 in the Diamond Pre-Season Classic Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 at Jack Russell Stadium.

Inspiration Academy beat Tarpon Springs 3-0 behind Payton Jenkins’ two hit complete game shutout. Jenkins recorded eight strikeouts.

On Feb. 5, Inspiration Academy defeated Dunedin 8-4. The Lions allowed seven hits. Cesar Bernal led the team with three hits, including a double.

The Lions followed their Diamond Pre-Season Classic victories with a 4-1 victory against Admiral Farragut Feb. 7. Kevin Rieke pitched a complete game.

GAME TO WATCH
BOYS BASKETBALL
FEB. 13
Cardinal Mooney vs. Clearwater Central Catholic (7 p.m. regional quarterfinal)

STANDOUT PLAYER
LaDhazia Williams
Girls Basketball
Lakewood Ranch High

28 - The number of points Williams scored in Lakewood Ranch’s 77-47 victory against Clearwater in the Class 7A-Region 3 quarterfinals Feb. 6.

15.5 - The number of points per game Williams is averaging so far this season.

13 - The number of rebounds Williams hauled in against Clearwater.