Sidelines

+ Cougars advance to regional finals
The Cardinal Mooney football team held on to beat Clearwater Calvary Christian 17-14 in the Class 3A-Region 3 semifinals Nov. 14.

The Cougars scored all 17 of their points in the second quarter. Bryce Williams and Reese Vita both scored touchdowns on runs of 4 and 2 yards, respectively, for Cardinal Mooney. Robby Howard added a 27-yard field goal.

With the win, Cardinal Mooney captured its first playoff victory since 2006. The Cougars will host Clearwater Central Catholic in the regional finals Nov. 21. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

+ Sailors, Rams close out seasons at state meet
The Sarasota and Riverview boys and girls cross-country teams closed out their seasons at the Class 3A and Class 4A Cross-Country State Finals Nov. 15, in Tallahassee.

Angelina Grebe finished eighth overall in 18 minutes, 51.30 seconds to lead Sarasota to a fourth-place finish.

Allison Wright was 24th in 19:26.10, followed by Sage Lyons (25th, 19:29.20), Mackenzie Brown (53rd, 20:06.00) and Aubrey Kilduff (65th, 20:14.40).

On the boys side, Zack Summerall finished 10th in 15:52.20, and Adam Bradtmueller finished 11th in 15:52.70 to lead the Sailors to an eighth-place finish.

In Class 4A, Blake Riley finished 17th in 16:13.50 to lead the Riverview boys to an 18th-place finish. Jessica Lonas finished 43rd in 20:00.20 to propel the girls team to an 11th place finish.

+ ODA blanks Bradenton Christian in opener
The Out-of-Door Academy boys soccer team opened its season with an 8-0 victory over Bradenton Christian Nov. 11.

Jimmy Kuebler scored four goals and an assist to lead the way for the Thunder. Francisco Marcano-Santos scored a pair of goals and an assist. Filip Svoboda and Mark Sulumirski each added a goal. Carson Jungers, Will Harwell and Ben Ham were all credited with an assist.

+ Lady Thunder earn draw
The Out-of-Door Academy girls soccer team tied Bradenton Christian 2-2 in district action Nov. 11.
Abby LaGasse scored both goals for the Lady Thunder (1-1-1). Lexi Murphy and Mika Siefert each had an assist. Abby Bannar recorded eight saves.

+ Lady Rams edge past the Lady Cougars
The Riverview High girls soccer team held on to beat Cardinal Mooney 2-1 in non-district action Nov. 12.
Claire Mobley and Jordan Evans each scored a goal for the Lady Rams.

Katrina Winkler scored Cardinal Mooney’s lone goal off an assist from Alex Byers.

+ Cougars post shutout
The Cardinal Mooney boys soccer team blanked Sarasota 5-0 in non-district action Nov. 11.

Nick Rigas and Alex Turner each scored a pair of goals for the Cougars. Ryan Blechta also had a goal. Joey Firek had two assists, and Max Yull had an assist. Cardinal Mooney goalkeeper Michael Staikos recorded five saves.

KUDOS
+ Cardinal Mooney boys swimming
Cardinal Mooney sophomore Austin Katz captured a pair of individual state titles while helping lead the Cougars to a second-place finish at the Class 1A Swimming & Diving Championships Nov. 15, in Stuart.
Katz won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 38.20 seconds. He then went on to win the 100 backstroke in 48.82. His two times also earned him All-American status.

Katz then teamed up with Matthew Nutter, Matthew Garcia and Emanuele Rossi for a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:06.73). The 200-yard medley relay team of Vinny Lijoi, Rossi, Katz and Garcia also finished second (1:35.92).

Garcia finished third in the 100 backstroke (49.79), while Rossi was seventh in the 100 freestyle.