Sarasota: Top 5 Teams of 2015

Riverview Swimming 

Winning championships has become commonplace for the Riverview High boys and girls swim teams, and 2015 proved to be no different. 

Led by junior Austin Katz, who won four gold medals, the Riverview boys won another district title at the Class 4A-District 6 Swimming and Diving Championships Oct. 31, at the Selby Aquatic Center, in Sarasota. 

The Rams scored 544 points to finish well ahead of district runner-up Clearwater Countryside (335). 

Riverview’s girls team also won a district championship, scoring 528.5 points to finish ahead of Palm Harbor University (468). 

Riverview returned to the pool the following week, sweeping both the boys and girls team titles at the Class 4A-Region 2 Swimming and Diving Championships Nov. 7, at the Long Center, in Clearwater. 

As the regional champion, the Rams qualified for the Class 4A State Championship Nov. 14, in Stuart. 

Coming off a regional meet in which he won three gold medals, Katz once again powered Riverview’s boys team, winning four gold medals to lead the Rams to their second-consecutive state championship. The Rams scored 324 points to finish well ahead of state runner-up Countryside (138). 

Across the pool, the girls swim team posted a second-place finish, besting last season’s third-place finish, which ended Riverview’s streak of state championships at four. 

Sarasota Softball 

You can never count out the Sarasota High softball. 

Even with their backs against the wall, the Lady Sailors somehow find a way to get the job done. 

Sarasota coach Amy Nye knew she had a special group well before the Lady Sailors took the diamond in their season opener at Manatee Feb. 5. Nye’s opinion was only further solidified when Sarasota blasted the Hurricanes, scoring 24 runs, 18 of which came in the second inning while only allowing one. 

It was the beginning for Sarasota, which posted a 20-6 record during the regular season. The Sailors went on to beat Palmetto in the Class 7A-District 10 semifinals before rallying from two runs down in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Braden River 14-13 and capture the district championship. 

Sarasota then moved on to the regional tournament where it beat Seminole (7-3), Countryside (4-1) and Viera (4-1). 

As the regional champion, Sarasota earned a berth in the Final Four and a date with St. Thomas Aquinas, May 6, at Historic Dodgertown, in Vero Beach. 

Led by pitcher Brittany Bendel, the Lady Sailors edged past the Lady Raiders 3-1 to advance to the state championship May 7 versus Cantonment Tate. 

Bidding for the second softball title in school history and first since 1999, the Lady Sailors came up short with an 8-1 season-ending loss to Aggies. 

Sarasota Baseball

It had been eight years since the Sarasota High baseball team competed for a state title; but after a regular season filled with ups and downs, the Sailors returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2007. 

After posting a 14-11 record, having lost eight of its final 11 games heading into the Class 7A-District 11 tournament, Sarasota edged North Port and Lakewood Ranch to win the district crown. 

The Sailors advanced to the regional tournament, notching victories versus Seminole and Lakewood Ranch before posting a 4-0 nine-inning victory against Naples Gulf Coast in the regional finals May 14 to earn a berth in the Final Four. 

On May 20, Sarasota played Royal Palm Beach in the Class 7A state semifinals, at JetBlue Park, in Fort Myers. The Sailors edged past Royal Balm Beach 3-2 after catcher Carson Kyser tagged out the potential tying run at the plate. 

With the win, the Sailors advanced to the state championship May 21 to face Oviedo. Sarasota ultimately fell short of capturing the program’s ninth state title with a 9-5 loss. 

Cardinal Mooney boys basketball 

The Cardinal Mooney boys basketball team became known as the comeback kids in 2015 after winning eight games by five points or less. 

But perhaps no two comebacks were greater than the Cougars 64-61 victory over Clearwater Calvary Christian in the Class 3A-Region 3 semifinals Feb. 17 and its 67-66 double overtime victory over Naples First Baptist Academy in the regional finals 

Led by senior Ryan McMahon, who finished with 52 points and 10 assists in the Cougars last two regional tournament games, Cardinal Mooney advanced to the state tournament for the first time in school history Feb. 24. 

Cardinal Mooney came out firing, draining five 3-pointers in the first quarter, but was unable to maintain its early lead, eventually falling to Sagemont 65-52. The Cougars closed out their historic season with a 23-3 record and district and regional titles to their credit. 

Sarasota Christian boys basketball 

Coming off their first Final Four appearance in school history, the Sarasota Christian boys basketball team had high expectations heading into the 2015 season.

With a roster loaded full of talent, the Blazers opened the season with three straight victories, including an 111-90 victory over Bradenton Christian Nov. 20. 

Sarasota Christian posted a 16-8 regular season record during which the Blazers scored at least 80 points nine different times. 

After a tough 62-52 loss to Southwest Florida Christian in the Class 2A-District 9 championship Feb. 6, Sarasota Christian went on to win all three of its regional tournament games, posting victories against Marco Island Academy, Southwest Florida Christian and Atlantic Christian. 

As the regional champion, Sarasota Christian earned its second-consecutive Final Four berth. It was there, in the state semifinals Feb. 24, where the Blazers saw their season come to an end with a 95-70 loss to eventual Class 2A state champion Miami Christian.