Sidelines

+ Eagles win inaugural Army vs. Navy tournament
The Sarasota Military Academy wrestling team went 2-0 to win the first Army vs. Navy tournament Dec. 4.
The Eagles defeated Admiral Farragut 48-42 and Booker 60-24.

SMA wrestlers who went undefeated in their respective weight classes include:

• Simon Ulrich (113 pounds)

• Xavier Miller (132)

• Connor Steinfeld (138)

• Billy Sadlo (145)

• Jake Walker (152)

• Logan Gow (160)

Booker heavyweight Romello Burke, who was unranked, pinned Admiral Farragut’s Noah Huntley, who was ranked sixth in the state heading into the season, to lead the way for the Tornadoes.

SMA followed up its victory with a fifth-place finish at the 13-team Dunedin Invitational Dec. 6.

Walker won the 152-pound weight class to lead the way for the Eagles. Steinfeld, Sadlo and Gow all finished second. Dalton Burton (170) and John Gow (180) finished third. Ulrich, Miller and Antonio Antonian all notched fourth-place finishes.

+ Sarasota Christian earns back-to-back wins
The Sarasota Christian girls basketball team cruised to a 59-23 victory over Braden River in non-district action Dec. 11.

Heidi Miller scored 23 points to lead the way for the Lady Blazers. McKenzie Lantz finished with 21 points.
Sarasota Christian followed up its victory with a 56-47 non-district victory over Palmetto Dec. 12.

Lantz finished with a team-high 20 points to lead the way for the Lady Blazers. Miller finished with 19 points. Marissa Stutzman added nine points.

With the win, Sarasota Christian improved to 8-3 on the season.

+ Sarasota grapplers win invitational
The Sarasota High wrestling team outscored its opponents 337-46 to easily win the 12-team Lemon Bay Invitational Dec. 6.

The Sailors beat Riverview 84-0, North Port 82-0, Northside Christian 78-6, Lemon Bay 48-16 and Indian Rocks Christian 45-24.

Sarasota wrestlers who went undefeated in their respective weight classes include:

• Zach Young (113 pounds)

• Yosbiel Garcia (120)

• Steven Mercandante (170)

• Joshua Booker (182)

• Gerald Ross (195)

• Austin Gould (220)

Chance Sharbono (132) also won the Most Outstanding Lightweight Wrestler award and earned all-tournament team honors.

+ Late goal propels Thunder soccer team to a win
Francisco Marcano-Santos scored in the final minutes of regulation to propel The Out-of-Door Academy

boys soccer team to a 4-3 victory over Sarasota in non-district action Dec. 3.

Trailing 2-0 early in the first half, Tyler Wenger and Jimmy Kuebler both scored a goal to tie the game 2-2 at halftime.

Agustin Gualtieri scored his first goal of the season five minutes into the first half, giving the Thunder its first lead of the game. Mark Sulimirski had a pair of assists, and Kuebler also had an assist.

+ Longwood Athletic Club announces Men’s Open
Longwood Athletic Club will hold its 7th annual Men’s Open event Dec. 19 through Dec. 22.

Some of the top-ranked professional and collegiate players will be competing in this year’s Best Deals Book Open tournament, which begins at 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Players will compete in both singles and doubles tournaments for the chance to win $75 to $1,250.

For more information, visit longwoodathleticclub.com or contact tournament director Travis Eckert at 323-1110 or 351-1750.