Sidelines

KUDOS
+ Lakewood Ranch Varsity Cheerleading
The Lakewood Ranch High varsity cheerleading squad won first place in the extra large varsity division of the Region 3 meet Jan. 25 at Freedom High in Tampa.

The Mustangs topped rival Braden River (second), Riverview (third) and Manatee (fourth).

Lakewood will close out its competition season at the FHSAA Finals Jan. 30 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

+ Pirates to hold athletic fundraiser
Braden River High School will hold its inaugural For the Love of the Game Dinner and Auction Feb. 15 at the South Florida Museum Spanish courtyard.

Cost for the semiformal event, which will be held from 6:30 to 11 p.m., is $50 per person and includes dinner, drinks, live music, door prizes and a silent auction.

Silent-auction items include a Tampa Bay Rays versus New York Yankees weekend in New York City, four one-day park-hopper passes to Walt Disney World, a three-night stay at Lido Beach Resort and a charter fishing trip for four, among others.

Former Major League Baseball player and current commentator Harold Reynolds will serve as the keynote speaker.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the school’s athletic department.

To purchase tickets and view available auction items, visit fortheloveofthegamebrhs.com.

+ Lady Cougars advance to semifinals
The Cardinal Mooney High girls soccer team blanked Cape Coral Oasis 5-0 in a Class 2A-Region 3 quarterfinal match Jan. 23.

Rose Amato, Anna Brusco, Jill Polk, Lauren Ravazzoli and Alex Byers all scored for the Lady Cougars.
Goalkeeper Lexi Barbour recorded the shutout.

With the win, Cardinal Mooney played host to Bishop Verot in a regional semifinal match Jan. 28.

+ Mustang grapplers finish third at meet
The Lakewood Ranch High varsity wrestling team finished third at the Manatee County Varsity Wrestling Championships Jan. 22, at Braden River High.

The Mustangs beat Southeast, Bayshore and Braden River before falling to Palmetto and Manatee.

Hunter Reed (106 pounds), Dylan Cameron (120) and Jared Dipsiner (138) each won individual county titles. Tim Dywer (132), Juan Torres (145), Ty McLeod (170) and Kyle Mathis (heavyweight) all finished second. Josh Last (113) finished third.

+ River Dawgs open season with win
The 10U Manatee River Dawgs travel baseball team opened its spring season with a victory at the Fridge-ed Ball-er Tournament Jan. 18 and Jan. 19.

The River Dawgs defeated Southwest Florida 11-3 in the championship game. Six players combined for 12 hits, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored.

Championship players include: Logan Tribble, Huston Wynne, Ryan Combs, Jaden Stockton, Luke Jackson, Andrew Nordland, Logan Waldsmidt, Connor Shine, Athan Liaros, Aidan Marino and Josh Pollard.

GAME TO WATCH
Boys Soccer
Jan. 30
Lakewood Ranch vs. Fort Myers (7 p.m. regional quarterfinal)

STANDOUT PLAYER
Martin Martinez
Boys Soccer
Lakewood Ranch High

2 - The number of goals Martinez scored in the Class 4A-District 11 tournament.

10 - The number of wins Martinez has helped lead the Mustangs to so far this season.

11 - The number of minutes left when Martinez scored to propel Lakewood to a 3-2 victory over North Port in the Class 4A-District 11 championship Jan. 23.