Hit or Miss JEN BLANCO

I've been covering Lakewood Ranch's Ashley Bongart since she was a high school freshman, but this will be an entirely new look.

Bongart, a Class 3A tennis champion in both singles and doubles, is now a freshman at Tennessee. She will return to the Ranch on Nov. 13 through Nov. 15 to play in the 2015 Dick Vitale Lakewood Ranch Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic.

The event, presented by First Watch Cafe, will be held at the Lakewood Ranch Athletic Center. Whether or not you ever have picked up a racket, this is the perfect time to check out a fun event. Besides watching a local sports star, you will see some of the nation's top college teams.

And it's free.

This is the fifth year of the event, which raises funds for cancer research through the V Foundation for Cancer Research. It features 32-player men's and women's singles draws along with a 16-team doubles tournament. The No. 1-ranked Vanderbilt women's team along with No. 6 Florida top the women's side. Louisville will be one of the top men's squads.

I am anxious to see how Bongart, who grew up playing at the Lakewood Ranch Athletic Center, has adjusted to college tennis. I am sure her family and friends feel the same way.

Chris Marquez, the tennis professional at the Lakewood Ranch Athletic Center, has worked with Bongart since she was 8.

"It will be special and exciting for everyone to see Ashley," he said.

For those attending on Friday, a happy hour will offer food and drinks. 

Vitale and The Concession resident Larry Wade have been working tirelessly to collect sponsorships; and are expecting to set a new record for money collected, surpassing last year's $64,000 record. 

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Lakewood Ranch senior offensive lineman Gabriel OVermyer received a late birthday present when he opened a letter from Congressman Vern Buchanan Oct. 26. 

Overmyer automatically assumed the letter meant he wouldn't get a nomination for his appointment to West Point. At the very least he though he would need to schedule another interview. 

It wasn’t until he took a closer look that Overmyer realized Buchanan had nominated him. 

“I felt very humbled and honored that I was nominated to go to the best academy in the world, a school that has trained some of the best military minds in history,” Overmyer said. 

Overmyer interviewed with Buchanan Oct. 17, the day before his 18th birthday. Overmyer is being recruited by the Coast Guard Academy, VMI, Bucknell and Lehigh, along with Army, but it’s always been his dream to go to West Point and follow in the footsteps of some of his favorite West Point grads, including Gen. George Patton, Gen. Omar Bradley and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

After playing his final high school football game Nov. 6, Overmyer must complete a physical training test along with a physical in the hopes of fulfilling his childhood dream. 

“It would be amazing to fulfill my dream of attending West Point, not only to receive an outstanding education and play football for Army, but to also serve my country proudly as an officer,” Overmyer said. 

Congratulations to Overmyer on his nomination and best of luck as he prepares to take the next step in his career. 

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The University of Louisville men’s basketball team is only two games into its season, but Cardinals fans won’t forget freshman Ryan McMahon’s face anytime soon. 

McMahon, a 2015 graduate of Cardinal Mooney who led the Cougars to the Class 3A Final Four for the first time in school history last season, was featured on the ticket for Louisville’s season opener versus Bellarmine Nov. 1. 

McMahon made a pair of free throws in five minutes of action as Louisville beat Bellarmine 71-55. 

As a senior, McMahon averaged 26.4 points, 3.3 assists, 3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 83% from the free throw line.