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Sarasota | Sports

Dan Konczak got into volleyball because of his daughters, Nariah and Sydney Konczak. He's now a first-time head coach for a high school girls volleyball program — eight years after beginning to learn.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 24, 2026
Difficult decision for Cardinal Mooney's new girls volleyball coach

Dan Konczak pursues a dream by taking over the Cougars, but in doing so, will coach against family for the first time.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Rising sophomore defensive back/wide receiver Amarian McRae holds NCAA Division I FBS offers from UCLA, Notre Dame, Georgia, Florida, Toledo, Maryland, North Carolina, East Carolina, Louisville and Wake Forest, as of June 15.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 18, 2026
Guided by father-coach, young talent rises with Cardinal Mooney football

Earning several Power Four offers, Amarian McRae has begun to enjoy the fruits of his years-long labor alongside Aaron McRae.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Elliott Mathes grew up watching his older brother, Will Mathes, compete for Sarasota Crew at the USRowing Youth National Championships. From June 11-14, he himself rowed with a junior national title on the line.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 16, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Elliott Mathes

Sitting in the sixth seat, Mathes helped Sarasota Crew's U16 Men's Eight to bronze on the national stage.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Carter Evans (left), a rising senior forward with Riverview boys basketball, drives toward the rim. The Hoop Vibe Summer League is an opportunity for him to workshop his skills in a real-game setting.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 16, 2026
Hoop Vibe Summer League fills void for Bradenton-area high school basketball

The inaugural league, hosted at Braden River High, offers male athletes the valuable opportunity to compete in June.

  • East County
  • Sports
Olivia Mulliner sits in the first seat of the Youth Women's Eight for Sarasota Crew — a change in position made after the boat's fourth-place finish at the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 11, 2026
Sister-turned-competitor purses a junior rowing national title

Olivia Mulliner, a rising senior at Riverview High, will row at the USRowing Youth National Championships five years after a fateful first practice alongside her sister.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Cardinal Mooney football was stocked with star athletes in 2025 en route to the FHSAA Class 2A state title. The Cougars, though, were far from the only local high school athletic program to achieve big things.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 10, 2026
Best of the Best: Sarasota's top high school athletes of 2025-26

With the academic year at an end, it's time to discuss the five athletes who impressed most.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Annabella Cilioni wrapped her sophomore season with Sarasota High by placing 16th in the 3,200-meter relay and 18th in the 3,200-meter run at the FHSAA Class 4A track and field state championships.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 9, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Annabella Cicilioni

The rising junior for Sarasota High ran steeplechase for the first time at Under Armour Track and Field Nationals.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Owen Ayers played his first two seasons of minor-league baseball exclusively with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of Single-A. So far in 2026, he's spent time with the South Bend Cubs of High-A and Knoxville Smokies of Double-A.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 4, 2026
Sarasota High baseball alumnus turns the corner with consistency

Owen Ayers focused on being himself from day to day in order to reach Double-A, his highest level yet in the minors.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The title-winning U16 Women's Eight for Sarasota Crew at the 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships. From left to right: Addison Wilson, Brooke Wilson, Gabrielle Davis, Maya Jewell, Lillian Teague, Megan Murdock, Isabella De Liz, Sydney Soboleski and Rose Ottaviano.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 3, 2026
Sarasota Crew's success started with a change in culture

The youth rowing club has become a household name nationally thanks to its focus on individual development above all else.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
As a junior last season, Jayla Griffin led the Cougars in points, rebounds and assists per game en route to the FHSAA Class 3A-Region 2 semifinals.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 2, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Jayla Griffin

With multiple Div. I offers, the rising senior guard for Cardinal Mooney girls basketball has much to consider.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Amanda Boswell has taken over a program with a historically high standard. The Cougars won the 2025 FHSAA Class 3A state championship following four consecutive state finalist finishes.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 28, 2026
First-time high-school coach gets comfortable at Cardinal Mooney

Amanda Boswell, with 17 years of coaching experience, is on a new adventure with the Cougars.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Casey Izquierdo's spring with Riverview High football is complete, and now, he looks forward to his junior season starting in the fall.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 26, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Casey Izquierdo

The rising junior cornerback for Riverview High football recently earned his first NCAA Division I offer.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Rising senior quarterback Louisen Desinor will start under center for Braden River High football in the fall. This spring was his opportunity to strengthen bonds with the playmakers around him.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 25, 2026
High school coaches defend relevancy of spring football in Florida

Although it's the only sport allowed to have two separate seasons, coaches say it is an important developmental tool.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gia DePastino was one of five seniors on the Sailors' 13-person roster in 2026. She'll play for Warner University at the NAIA level this fall.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 20, 2026
Despite regional final defeat, Sarasota High softball succeeded

The Sailors posted their most wins in over a decade and were district champions this season under a new coach.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Tyre Smith is in his second year with Sarasota Rugby Club. He switched over from football after competing with Riverview High School and Wittenberg University.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 18, 2026
Sarasota Rugby Club hits the sand

Stepping away from its grass pitch, the club held its first annual 'Siesta 7s' beach rugby tournament.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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Latest in Sarasota

1
Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
  • June 24, 2026
Roadway cameras help identify park-damaging suspect
2
Dan Konczak got into volleyball because of his daughters, Nariah and Sydney Konczak. He's now a first-time head coach for a high school girls volleyball program — eight years after beginning to learn.
  • June 24, 2026
Difficult decision for Cardinal Mooney's new girls volleyball coach
3
An affordable housing program is being administered through Sarasota County's Housing and Community Development Program.
  • June 24, 2026
Sarasota County offers funding help for low-income housing developers, buyers
4
Mercedes-driving burglary suspect jailed in Sarasota
  • June 23, 2026
Mercedes-driving burglary suspect jailed in Sarasota
5
Shanty Mann, Kaitlyn Presha, 11, Tyanna Mann, 8 and Tyrone Mann attended the event to support its organizer and Tyrone Mann's cousin Gwendalyn Fleetwood.
  • June 23, 2026
Newtown celebrates Juneteenth holiday

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