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East County | Sports

Henry Wainscott eyes first base with his throw during an around-the-horn drill at July 21 practice. He was one of 12 players who made up the 11U All-Stars — a team which finished 7-1 this summer.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Little League 11U All-Stars finish third at state tournament

The 11U team was the league's first to play at the state level since 2023.

  • East County
  • Sports
Nick Myers of Lakewood Ranch orchestrates the Sarasota Paradise supporters' group's symphony of support. He conducts not with a baton, but a megaphone.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 28, 2026
'The Helm' is heard in Paradise

The Sarasota Paradise's supporters' group is present at every home match, bringing the noise from first to final minute.

  • East County
  • Sports
Trevion Dixon has an NFL connection through his uncle, Mike Jenkins, who was drafted 25th overall in 2008 by the Dallas Cowboys.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 27, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Trevion Dixon

The rising senior will play wide receiver for Braden River this fall in his second and final season of high school football.

  • East County
  • Sports
Defender Declan Watters (left) is one of several Sarasota Paradise players learning from lead assistant Trevor Sinclair (right). The Paradise are 5-10-3 in USL League One and 6-13-3 overall, as of July 16.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 22, 2026
Assistant coach brings wealth of experience to Sarasota Paradise

Trevor Sinclair, a pro for 19 years, hopes to help the first year professional team move up in USL League One.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bob Bowling (left) chews out his son, Matt Bowling (right), while coaching football at Palmetto High. Before Braden River, he worked at Palmetto from 1993-2004.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 21, 2026
Family, friends remember longtime coach, athletic director Bob Bowling

Bowling, who died at the age of 78 on July 4, was the first athletic director at Braden River High School.

  • East County
  • Sports
Swimming is a sport Izzy DiPasquale got into because of her older sister, Ava DiPasquale. She's now assembling a career of her own.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 20, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Izzy DiPasquale

The rising seventh grader and Mill Creek resident made multiple trips to the podium at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
This past season was Jordan Guerrero's first as the Out-of-Door Academy baseball coach. Guerrero, who pitched in the San Diego Padres organization from 2015-23, guided the Thunder to an 8-12 record.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 16, 2026
Retired pros bring unique experience to high school coaching

The path from playing professionally to high school coaching is well-trodden, but how does that experience translate?

  • East County
  • Sports
When she isn't overseas, Sky Commissar spends most of her time with Southwest Florida Premier FC at the club level. With them, she competes in the girls' regional league of the Elite Clubs National League.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 14, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High soccer player gets international exposure

Sky Commissar made the Mustangs' varsity as a freshman and also has competed in international competitions twice.

  • East County
  • Sports
Brooklyn Cullen's golf career began at Hawaii's Princeville Makai Golf Club when she was 6 years old. It continues now in Florida, where she moved before beginning sixth grade at The Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 13, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Brooklyn Cullen

The rising golfer secured a national title before her junior season with The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Sports
Avery Banfill (left) and Phoenix Scanlan (right) grew up on the same junior golf circuit. Their respective journeys converged at Parrish Community High and will converge once again at Memphis next fall.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 8, 2026
Stars align for local golfers who are headed for the University of Memphis

Avery Banfill and Phoenix Scanlan of Lakewood Ranch will play for Memphis women's golf after their senior years with Parrish Community High.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota Crew's U16 Women's Eight races to a title at the 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships hosted by Nathan Benderson Park. The Crew had 16 entries at this year's championships, but did not bring home a title.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 7, 2026
Sarasota rowing programs have rough waters to navigate before being considered elite

The region's rowing programs have performed well at the regional level, but they have yet to catch the traditional powerhouses.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Wyatt Wittman, ranked a four-star punter by Kohl's Professional Camps, will contribute both kicking and punting for Braden River football this fall under first-year coach Rick Farmer.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 6, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Wyatt Wittman

The rising junior kicker/punter for Braden River High has embraced his switch from soccer to football.

  • East County
  • Sports
Julia Hill, an 11-year-old utility, was one of 12 players for Manatee Softball 12U All-Stars. The newly-minted Manatee Softball Little League will continue giving players like Hill an opportunity to compete beyond state lines.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 1, 2026
Manatee Softball 12U All-Stars make first Little League tournament run

An organizational switch from Miss Florida Softball to Little League Softball set the stage for the team to pursue the Little League World Series.

  • East County
  • Sports
Andres Parra has served as The Out-of-Door Academy athletic director since July 2022. He's been through his fair share of busy summers over the years.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 30, 2026
For high school athletic directors, summer is no day at the beach

Athletics are out of season, but the work doesn't stop for these behind-the-scenes operators.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Tsunami head coach Ira Klein described Jaxon Griffin (above) as a "developing swimmer" six months ago. Now, Griffin is on the rise, qualifying for national-level meets left and right.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 29, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Jaxon Griffin

The rising junior at Lakewood Ranch High qualified for both the Speedo Summer and Winter Junior National Championships last month.

  • East County
  • Sports
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in East County

1
Lakewood Ranch residents Kathy Flora, Laura Moninski, Nicholas Keen and Susan Solz are happy with the July 28 outcome.
  • August 2, 2026
Manatee considers sliding iceplex to a different location
2
Lakewood Ranch 11-year-old Finn Morris, who has been playing soccer for six years, likes competing at the Sarasota Paradise youth soccer camp.
  • July 31, 2026
Sarasota Paradise's 'language' brings kids together
3
Stock Custom Homes Vice President Sam Canham says that the Sophia IV's sale for $6,775,000 in April was more confirmation that there is a demand for elite homes in Lakewood Ranch.
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch remains No. 1 in sales in mid-year survey
4
Guadalupe Barajas, an ICU nurse at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, meets new CEO Jason Madsen for the first time in the new tower's ICU wing.
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center begins to plan its future with a new CEO
5
Conductor Joe Martinez leads the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble with Waterside Place in the background. Could the ensemble be playing at the new Rangeland High theater?
  • July 30, 2026
Manatee County should take a starring role with theater project

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