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East County | Sports

Ashley Avellan-Knutson (left) will lead Braden River girls weightlifting into a new era following the departure of former coach Jordan Borges (right).
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 17, 2026
New head coach takes over the Braden River High girls weightlifting program

Former assistant Ashley Avellan-Knutson is the new head coach following the Pirates' first team state title.

  • East County
  • 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
Jaxon Lawhun sat behind Edouard Chaput in 2025 as a junior quarterback for the Thunder. He's now poised to be ODA's starter under center in the fall.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 15, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Jaxon Lawhun

The quarterback has a summer full of camps before his senior season with The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Sports
Inglemoor High School rowers Krista Alyakin and Karlie Vince made a splash by winning the Women's Youth 2- class at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 14, 2026
Emotions flow on USRowing Youth Nationals' final day in Sarasota

Champions crowned at Nathan Benderson Park in an event that features approximately 4,000 competitors.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 11, 2026
USRowing National Championships opens in Sarasota

Sarasota Crew measures its athletes against the nation's best at Nathan Benderson Park.

  • East County
  • Sports
Madison McKay is in her second and final season with Sarasota Crew. With the club's Youth Women's Eight boat, she'll have a chance at ending her high school rowing career as a junior national champion.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 10, 2026
Joining Sarasota Crew propels local rower into the junior national championships

Lakewood Ranch High graduate Madison McKay, who joined Sarasota Crew as a junior, will compete at the USRowing Youth National Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
Evan Rowe (right), pictured here at the FHSAA Class 2A wrestling individual state championships from March 5-7, turned in an exceptional senior season for Braden River.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 9, 2026
Best of the Best: East County'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.

  • East County
  • Sports
The inaugural Under Armour Track and Field Nationals featured Daphne Quintal, and she ultimately placed sixth for pole vault among female middle schoolers.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 8, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Daphne Quintal

The rising eighth grader at The Out-of-Door Academy competed in the inaugural Under Armour Track and Field Nationals.

  • East County
  • Sports
Maddie Baehr was hesitant to join Braden River flag football as a freshman. Now, she's a member of the Ireland Flag Football Women's National Team with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics just over two years away.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 3, 2026
Braden River High graduate takes her dual athleticism overseas

Although she is headed toward Division I soccer, Maddie Baehr played in May for the Ireland Flag Football Women's National Team.

  • East County
  • Sports
The U.S. Soccer U17 Men's National Team prepares to face Brazil in the 2011 Nike International Friendlies at Premier Sports Campus. Lakewood Ranch won't play host to any games in the upcoming men's FIFA World Cup, but is home to no shortage of soccer enthusiasts.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 2, 2026
Approaching men's FIFA World Cup brings back memories in Lakewood Ranch area

The global soccer tournament, which will run from June 11 through July 19, is the first to be co-hosted by the U.S. since it hosted solo in 1994.

  • East County
  • Sports
Louisen Desinor posted an 81.8% completion rate in Braden River's jamboree May 22 against Charlotte and Sarasota.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 1, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Louisen Desinor

The rising senior quarterback guided Braden River High football to a pair of spring victories.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mason Riley is projected to start at left tackle for an offensive line which coach Rob Hollway believes might be the deepest in program history.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 26, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Mason Riley

With the rising senior offensive/defensive tackle in tow, The Out-of-Door Academy football team ended its spring on a high note.

  • East County
  • 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
Leighton Paul (right), pictured here during the FHSAA Class 5A-Region 3 final May 14 against Gulf Coast, was Braden River's leadoff hitter this season. She went 0-for-3 in the state semifinals against Niceville.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 22, 2026
Late rally not enough for Braden River High softball in state semifinals

The Pirates, who won district and regional titles this season, dropped a 2-1 decision to Niceville.

  • East County
  • Sports
Zoë Buller began pole vaulting as a sixth grader. One year later, she's a regional and district champion, ultimately placing eighth at the FHSAA Class 1A track and field state championship.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 21, 2026
These Longboat Key family members have spring in their step

ODA pole vaulter Zoe Buller looks to follow in the footsteps of her parents, who were accomplished track and field athletes.

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

1
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
2
Tony Barrett speaks at a candidate forum in April at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
  • June 18, 2026
Manatee County Commission candidate charged with domestic battery
3
Boston's Simeon John of Community Rowing celebrates his title in the USRowing Junior National Championships Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. Would Nathan Benderson Park be around if Sarasota County didn't have access to property taxes?
  • June 17, 2026
Will Sarasota, Manatee counties lose their luxury living with reduced property taxes?
4
Audubon Society members say doves aren't the smartest birds when it comes to choosing a place to build a nest.
  • June 17, 2026
Couple hatches plan to protect doves that nested in front door wreath
5
Ashley Avellan-Knutson (left) will lead Braden River girls weightlifting into a new era following the departure of former coach Jordan Borges (right).
  • June 17, 2026
New head coach takes over the Braden River High girls weightlifting program

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