Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Nicole Polivchak is seeing the world 18 holes at a time. 

The junior home-schooled student, who played golf for Riverview High during the fall, has traveled across three continents, including Europe and Africa for the sport. Through her adventures, Polivchak has had the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with players from across the world who share a similar passion for golf. 

Most recently, Polivchak, who competes for Poland, flew to Cape Town, South Africa to compete in the Curro South African Juniors International March 7 through March 10. It was a long a tedious journey, but it afforded Polivchak the opportunity to see a part of the world she had yet to explore. 

“The tournament in South Africa was absolutely amazing,” Polivchak said. “All of my experiences at international events have been great, but this was my best experience to date.” 

Under windy conditions, Polivchak shot a 3-over par 75 on her third round to finish ninth overall among the 42-person field with seven of the eight girls who finished ahead of her representing South Africa. 

“The field in South Africa was tough, and the wind was a huge test for my game,” Polivchak said. 

Polivchak plans to continue her world tour across Europe this summer before hopefully moving on to collegiate and professional ranks with the goal of representing Poland in the 2020 Olympics. 

“Golf is a vehicle that has opened the world to Nicole,” said Rodger Polivchak, Nicole Polivchak’s father.

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Cardinal Mooney senior Caroline Kenefick closed out the regular season on a high note, netting her 100th career goal to lead the girls lacrosse team to a 17-11 victory versus Fort Myers Bishop Verot March 22. 

Kenefick finished the game with five goals and an assist. 

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Booker senior standout Yamaris Guevarez played her first and last game of the season during the Sarasota-Manatee Girls Basketball All-Star Game March 26, in the new gymnasium on the campus of Sarasota High. 

The Tornadoes guard returned to the court for the first time after missing the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. In her debut, Guevarez, who earned a scholarship to Jacksonville University despite missing her senior season, scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Sarasota All-Stars past Manatee 72-61. 

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The last week of the softball season is here and that means the Sarasota Christian softball team is undoubtedly preparing for what could be another deep tournament run. 

The Blazers have won 10 straight after dropping a 3-2 decision to Southeast in their season opener and are ranked third in Class 2A in the latest Miracle Sports Softball poll. 

Behind the right arm of senior Cheyenne Miller, Sarasota Christian has held its opponents to three runs or less in all but one game this season. 

Most recently, Miller, who will forgo softball to play volleyball next year for Pasco-Hernando State College, tossed a one-hitter with strikeouts to lead the Blazers to a 14-1 victory versus St. Petersburg March 28. She also went 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of RBI. 

As in years past, Miller and fellow seniors McKenzie Lantz and Audra King have put Sarasota Christian in familiar territory. The Blazers, winners of back-to-back district titles, are the No. 1 seed heading into the Class 2A-District 6 tournament, which begins April 12. 

Sarasota reached the Final Four in 2014 and the regional finals in 2015. With the Blazers roster practically intact from the 2014 regional championship squad, Sarasota Christian has the necessary firepower to contend for another regional championship and, if all goes according to plan, its first state championship.