Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

I’m fortunate to hold a lot of different titles: mom, wife, sister, sports editor and Ohio State alum, to name a few. 

But nearly 20 years ago, I earned a title that only a handful of athletes a year are fortunate enough to earn: national champion. 

It was spring break of seventh grade, and I was competing in the the U.S. Spirit Open National Cheerleading Championships, in Orlando. My teammates and I, who had won various local and state competitions over the past year, put together a spirited performance that left everyone in the stands cheering for the maroon, gold and white. 

We struggled to contain our enthusiasm, eagerly waiting for the competition to end. After what seemed like days, but was really a matter of hours, we learned our fate. For the first time in the history of our program, we were national champions. 

The Stow Bulldogs were on the map. 

Although I my cheerleading career ended the following year, I never forgot that moment. 

I hope the girls on the Sarasota Christian Middle School cheerleading squad feel the same way. After a nearly 20-year hiatus, Sarasota Christian revived its cheerleading program this year, and at the end of April, the girls won the national championship at the Florida Cheer & Dance Association Nationals.

It was an eventful year for the 11 members of the team, who began cheering at the school’s volleyball and basketball games. 

Sarasota Christian entered its first competition in January and won the middle school division. The girls participated in three more competitions throughout the spring — all of which they won, including the FCDA state championship. 

The team never received a deduction on its score card, posting perfect routines in each of its competitions. 

"The success of this team was unpredictable," coach Michelle Hough said. "Their success was so far beyond my expectations. Cheerleading is unique in that it takes every person on the team to make it work.

Congratulations to this year’s squad, which put the Sarasota Christian Blazers on the map: Crystal Schmucker, Abby Otto, Kate Larkin, Kira Mashke, Leah Winsler, Sierra Sommers, Kai Mashke, Grace Johnson, Trinity Zender, Brooke Hough and Morgan Hough. 

The school year may be coming to a close, but the girls season is just getting started. Sarasota Christian will attend the Universal Cheerleaders Association camp this summer in addition to preparing for the Blazers' volleyball and basketball seasons. 

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After five years with the Sarasota Scullers, Pine View senior Jeevesh Konuru is taking his talents to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Konuru committed to row for MIT May 26. 

During his time with the Scullers, Konuru made three appearances at the USRowing Youth Southeast Regional Championships, winning a bronze medal in the men’s lightweight 2x in 2014 and qualifying for the USRowing Youth National Championships. 

“It didn’t take long for me to get addicted and love the competitive nature of the sport, said Konuru, who plans to major in electrical engineering. 

In addition to his rowing accolades, Konuru also was named to the USRowing Scholastic Honor Roll and is a National Merit Scholarship winner. 

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Sarasota senior Adam Bradtmueller closed out his high school career on the track at the Flo Golden South Track and Field Meet May 28, at the National Training Center, in Clermont. 

Running for Sota Distance, Bradtmueller finished seventh in the mile in 4:25.01.

Bradtmueller, who will run for East Tennessee State University this fall, won the Class 4A cross-country state title this past fall and won the 3,200 and placed third in the 1,600 in track and field. 

Also representing Sarasota were Sage Lyons, who finished fourth in the 3,200 (12:08.45) and 16th in the mile (6:14.88) and Ivan Plancarte, who finished the prep mile in 4:38.88.