- September 10, 2024
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Football always takes center stage.
There are reasons for that. It's the most popular sport in the area from a fan perspective, and there are lots of kids on a team, which engages them and their families. The Observer began its football team previews this week, and will continue them in the leadup to the Florida High School Athletic Association regular season.
But there is more to the high school fall sports season than football — and in Sarasota's case, those other sports are where two of the most impressive feats I can remember seeing lie.
The Riverview High girls swimming team is currently a three-time defending state champion in Class 4A. Three years in a row, with talented swimmers graduating after each win, the Rams have had the depth and individual talent to make up for any losses.
The 2023 victory was arguably the Rams' most impressive, as they beat second-place Windermere High by 138 points. The Rams were led by Florida Dairy Farmers' Miss Swimming 2023, then-senior Gracie Weyant, who won the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.64) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.41).
Weyant, the sister of Olympic medalist Emma Weyant, also helped the Rams to a win in the 200-yard medley relay (1:40.81) alongside Taylor Schwenk, Addison Sauickie and Angelina Lista; and to a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:20.20) alongside Sauickie, Brynn Lavigueur and Brianna Deierlein.
It is a remarkable feat. And yet, it is not even the most remarkable feat achieved by a local swim team. That's because the Sarasota High boys swim team is one year ahead of the Rams' schedule: The Sailors have won four-straight team titles, ensuring that some Sailors went an entire high school cycle knowing nothing but state championships.
In 2023, the Sailors won by 20 points over Braddock Senior High, and were led by then-senior Aidan Siers, who won the 200-yard individual medley (1:48.33) and was third in the 500-meter freestyle (4:25.58). He also helped the Sailors to a first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay (1:33.28) alongside Elias Corn, Bogdan Zverev and Victor Izquierdo.
Both programs will have to answer questions, again, in 2024.
Riverview has graduated important swimmers like Weyant, who is University of Florida bound, and Sauickie, who will now swim for the University of Stanford. The Rams will need swimmers like juniors Taylor Schwenk and Brynn Lavigueur, who finished first (25.92) and second (26.32) respectively in the 100-yard backstroke last year among other events, to keep improving.
The Sailors will lose Siers, an Auburn University signee, and several others that provided the team with unmatched depth. The team will need multiple younger swimmers to emerge this season and take their place.
Neither team's challenge will be easy. But until someone beats them at states, they are the champs, and they hope to stay that way.
While the title defenses are the biggest non-football storyline of fall, it is hardly the only one. Here's a look at the other fall sports and notes on what, and who, to watch when the fall season officially begins Aug. 19.
The Cardinal Mooney High volleyball program has a new coach in Allan Knight, but don't expect that to slow down the Cougars. Knight has won FHSAA state titles with Bishop Moore Catholic (2015) and Timber Creek High (2008) and annually has his teams in contention. That, combined with Mooney's innate talent, is a promising combination for Cougars fans.
Cougars senior Riley Greene is a Long Island University commit and a premiere middle blocker. Greene had 284 kills (3.6 kills per set), 55 serving aces and 77 blocks, all of which led the team. Greene will be helped by, among others, senior Izzy Russell (173 kills), senior Katie Powers (397 digs) and junior Layla Larrick (384 assists).
Riverview High, Sarasota High and Booker High have been on a downswing in recent seasons. Can any of them take hold of the second-place mantle and challenge Cardinal Mooney for the city crown?
No Sarasota-area teams qualified for the FHSAA golf state tournament in 2023, but two players did make it as individuals: Cardinal Mooney's Nico Bencomo and Jolie Pastorick.
Bencomo finished tied for third overall (73-73—146) in the boys division at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills. He is now a senior at Mooney, and he will have one more shot at a state title before he graduates and heads to play for the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Pastorick finished tied for 20th overall (74-74—148) in the girls division. She will be a sophomore this fall, so she has plenty of time to climb the leaderboard — though the 2024 season is as good a time as any.
Can any teams qualify this fall? That is a wait-and-see question, but keep an eye on Sarasota High, where former PGA Tour golfer Barry Cheesman, also the director of instruction at Longboat Key Club, now coaches the boys team.
Last season, Cardinal Mooney High girls runner Addison Dempsey finished third (18:01.9) at the Class 2A state meet. Dempsey is now running for the University of Miami.
Based on previous results, It is unlikely that any individual returnee will be able to match Dempsey's finish this year, but if anyone can, it is Sarasota High junior Aubri Antczak, who finished 19th in Class 4A (19:16.8) in 2023.
The boys list of contenders for top area finish include Riverview High senior Ben Skaggs, who finished 61st in Class 4A (16:38.6); Sarasota High senior Austin Biller, who finished 68th in Class 4A (16:41.1); and Mooney senior Paul Svilokos, who finished 65th in Class 2A (17:26.0).
