- April 27, 2024
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A pair of senior standouts announced their college intentions earlier this week.
Cardinal Mooney volleyball player Keri McMahon will continue her career at Eckerd College, in St. Petersburg. McMahon becomes the third member of her family to land an athletic scholarship, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Hanna, a beach volleyball player for Jacksonville University, and brother, Ryan, a basketball player for Louisville.
Keri McMahon, who is in the midst of her club season with Wave Volleyball Alliance’s 18 Pro team, helped lead the Cougars to three-consecutive regional tournament appearances and the Class 3A-District 10 title as a junior.
After missing the entire 2015-16 season with a torn ACL, Booker’s leading scorer Yamaris Guevarez still was able to land a basketball scholarship to Jacksonville University.
As a junior, Guevarez scored her 1,000th career point and was named the Class 4A Player of the Year for District 16.
“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” former coach Hollie Nelson said. “She is probably one of the hardest working kids I have seen and have had the privilege of coaching. She has a great knowledge of the game and an amazing work ethic. I know she will make an impact at JU. I can’t wait to see her play.”
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On the heels of its best season in recent memory, the Booker High girls basketball team is now without a head coach.
Hollie Nelson announced earlier this week she would be stepping away from coaching — at least for now.
Nelson, who teaches physical fitness at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, plans to pursue a Master’s degree. After hours of consideration, Nelson made the difficult decision to leave the program after two seasons at the helm.
In her second season, Nelson guided the Tornadoes to a Class 5A-District 10 championship and a berth in the regional finals.
“I have put every ounce of myself into building this program and knowing I wouldn't be able to give 110% time and effort, as I asked the girls to do, I have opted to step down,” Nelson said. “I will definitely miss the girls. And I wish them the best for the future. They are very talented players and I know they will do just fine.”
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In a sport where sprinting events tend to garner the most attention, the area’s top distance runners have gotten off to a record-setting start this season.
Riverview cross-country standout Warran Grajalez set a new personal best time in the 1,600-meter run at the Booker Invitational March 4, finishing second in 4 minutes, 29.34 seconds. It was the third fastest time in the event in the school’s history.
Grajalez returned to the track later that night, breaking the 10-minute mark to win the 3,200 in 9:56.24.
Sarasota senior Adam Bradtmueller, who won the Class 3A state cross-country title, ran away with the 800, crossing the finish line in 2:00.56. Bradtmueller already holds the fastest time in the state in the mile this season after posting a new personal record of 4:17.86 at the Wharton Wildcat Invitational Feb. 27.
On the girls side, Sarasota junior Sage Lyons, the Sailors top cross-country runner, won the 3200 in 12:37.51 at the Booker Invitational and finished second in the 800 in 2:31.34.
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