Sarasota: Top 5 Moments of 2015

State Champ 

With an individual state championship on the line, Sarasota High senior Adam Bradtmueller could finally breathe a sigh of relief. 

Bradtmueller crossed the finish line in 15 minutes, 44.83 seconds, finishing nearly six seconds faster than Flagler Palm Coast’s Justin Pacifico, to capture a gold medal at the Class 4A Cross-Country State Championship Nov. 7, in Tallahassee. 

Bradtmueller, who was hindered by a stress fracture in his leg last season, became the first cross-country runner in school history to win an individual state championship while leading the Sailors to a seventh-place overall finish. 

Following the race, Bradtmueller received his medal and the shell casing from the starting gun shot of the race. 

On Dec. 9, Bradtmueller announced he would continue his running career next year at East Tennessee State University alongside former Sarasota teammate Zack Summerall. 

World Debut 

A pair of Sarasota Sharks swimmers had spent the past year imagining what it would be like to make the world junior championships in swimming. 

For Austin Katz and Keanan Dols, the thought of representing your country against the fastest 18 and under swimmers in the world powered them through a rigorous long course season and landed them each a spot in the elite swim meet. 

Katz represented the United States while Dols, who has dual citizenship, represented Jamaica at the 2015 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships Aug. 25 through Aug. 30, in Singapore. 

Katz won a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke. He also anchored the United States’ 800 freestyle relay and swam the backstroke leg of the 400 mixed medley relay. Meanwhile, Dols competed in four events, including the 100 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke where he set several personal best times. 

Sailor Slugfest 

The Sarasota High softball team had become accustomed to pressure situations. It’s what the players had been focusing on every day in practice. 

So when the Sailors found themselves trailing by two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of the Class 7A-District 10 championship versus Braden River April 16, the girls had one message for coach Amy Nye: “We got this.” 

After flying out to start the inning, Lexi Johns drew a walk. Avery Miller hit an infield single; and Halie Roberson walked to load the bases. Alyssa Price hit a grounder to first base, but the ensuing throw to home plate was wide. 

Trailing 13-12, SarahBeth Wengerd, who hit a solo home run earlier in the game, stepped into the batter’s box and sliced a single to left center field, scoring Miller and Roberson and giving Sarasota a 14-13 victory. 

National Recognition 

More than 50 Sarasota Crew and Sarasota Scullers rowers hit the water for the 2015 USRowing Youth National Championships June 12 through June 14, at Nathan Benderson Park, in Sarasota. 

The USRowing Youth National Championships is the United States’ premiere youth rowing event. Roughly 1,500 athletes representing 160 teams from across the country participated in the regatta, vying for national titles in 18 different boat classifications. 

This year marked the first time the USRowing Youth National Championships had been held locally. 

The Crew sent six boats to the USRowing Youth National Championships, including the men’s and women’s 8+, men’s and women’s lightweight 8+ and men’s and women’s 4x. The team entered the 2015 USRowing Youth National Championships having won its fifth-consecutive state championship April 25 and the overall points trophy at the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships May 9. 

In addition to the Crew, the Scullers qualified both its men’s and women’s 4x boats for the championships after finishing third at the USRowing Southeast Youth Championship. 

Region Bound 

After posting a 19-1 regular season record, the Riverview High volleyball team cruised into the Class 8A-District 6 championship Oct. 22 and earned a berth in the regional tournament for the first time since 2006. 

As the district runner-up, Riverview traveled to Orlando for its Class 8A-Region 2 quarterfinal match Oct. 28. 

Riverview swept Olympia 25-14, 26-24, 25-19. 

Kenzie Walker powered the Rams with 12 kills and a .750 hitting percentage. Margo Schnapf added 11 kills and 10 digs. Sarah Neill and Courtney Searless both contributed five kills and two blocks apiece. Allie Allmer added 11 perfect passes, six digs and four aces.

With the win, Riverview advanced to the regional semifinals Oct. 31 where it faced Manatee for a third time. The Hurricanes went on to win the match 3-1.