• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County | Sports

Lakewood Ranch High junior girls swimmer Payton Griffin.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 7, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Payton Griffin

The Lakewood Ranch High junior girls swimmer wants to reach the podium at the state meet this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Senior Frankie Clark, senior Carson Fisher, junior Allen Clark and senior Marvin Palominos are expected to be major contributors for ODA football in 2024.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 6, 2024
ODA football chases another state title

The Thunder have made changes during the offseason, but the program's ethos remains the same.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High boys golfer Parker Severs finished second individually at the Class 3A state tournament in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 5, 2024
East County's nonfootball fall high school sports outlook

The area should have at least one state title-contending program.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High senior Nicholas Desouza says besides using summer workouts to better his soccer game, he tries to make sure he gets the proper rest while concentrating on his nutrition.
  • By Dani Hernandez
  • July 31, 2024
Do high school athletes make the most of their summer?

Lakewood Ranch-area coaches say summer workouts key to improved performance.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High rising junior running back Colton Dempsey.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 30, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Colton Dempsey

The Lakewood Ranch High running back transferred from Bradenton Christian this offseason.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics' EmmaGrace Kelly, Natalie Thomas and Alyssa Orgen are headed to West Chester University, George Washington University and the University of Kentucky respectfully.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 29, 2024
3 Lakewood Ranch gymnasts earn their shots at competing on collegiate level

Alyssa Orgen, Natalie Thomas and EmmaGrace Kelly put in mental and physical work to reach this point.

  • East County
  • Sports
Former Lakewood Ranch High catcher Mike Ohlman made his MLB debut for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 24, 2024
MLB players from East County are an exclusive group

Former Braden River High star Ryan Waldschmidt could be the next one on the list.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ryan Neuzil hits the bench press at Athletic Edge as part of a final offseason workout. Neuzil, a member of the Atlanta Falcons, reports to training camp July 24.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 23, 2024
Former Pirates star Ryan Neuzil preps for Atlanta Falcons training camp

Neuzil spends time at Lakewood Ranch's Athletic Edge Sports Performance Training Center each offseason.

  • East County
  • Sports
Christian Garzia pushes off defenders during a Sarasota Surge rugby match. Garzia is an advocate of his brother, Rocco, who has Prater-Willi syndrome.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 18, 2024
Sports mean more than on-field results to these local athletes

Leadership and self-confidence are skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

  • East County
  • Schools
Artem Kopmar, a captain of the Braden River Soccer Club U16 boys team, dribbles around Davi Pereira at a team practice.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 16, 2024
Braden River Soccer Club will earn national exposure at Denver tournament

The U16 boys soccer team won the Florida State Cup in May to qualify for the US Club National Cup.

  • East County
  • Sports
Cardinal Mooney High rising senior Kali Barrett committed to the University of Cincinnati on July 7.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 15, 2024
East County girls basketball star commits to Cincinnati

Kali Barrett, a rising senior at Cardinal Mooney High, said she values her relationships with Bearcats coaches.

  • East County
  • Sports
Neathan Gibson is the director of coaching for the new Premier Soccer FC SWFL in East County.
  • By Dani Hernandez
  • July 10, 2024
Soccer leagues merge to strengthen opportunities

League officials say unified goals will help the Lakewood Ranch area's youth soccer players.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River High rising senior quarterback Lucas Despot received his first offer from Shorter University on June 25.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 9, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Lucas Despot

The Braden River High quarterback received his first offer from Shorter University on June 25.

  • East County
  • Sports
Former Braden River High baseball player Ryan Waldschmidt had a breakout junior season at the University of Kentucky, earning All-American Third Team honors from Baseball America.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 8, 2024
Former Pirates baseball star makes national waves at Kentucky

After an All-American season, Ryan Waldschmidt hopes to be a first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA will lose its top lineman, Marvin Palominos (middle), who will graduate in 2025.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 2, 2024
East County Athlete of the Week: Marvin Palominos

The ODA offensive guard is hitting the college recruiting trail this summer.

  • East County
  • Sports
« 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in East County

1
Rev. Phil Woods stands in the newly renovated 10,000-square-foot sanctuary.
  • March 2, 2026
Lakewood Ranch church wraps up $7.7 million expansion
2
Cooper Pote has already been a shortstop, center fielder, third baseman and pitcher this season for the Thunder. At the plate, his contributions have been second-to-none among his teammates.
  • March 2, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Cooper Pote
3
Suncoast Stars Community's Jenny Audet, Julie Audet and Laurel Audet are grateful for the program that provides a wide array of activities including dance, music, fitness and nutrition, knitting, Bible study, crafts, and more.
  • March 1, 2026
Suncoast Stars Community shines bright during fundraising event
4
University Park's Marilyn Kern reacts after making the winning bid during the live auction for a Hawaiian vacation at Sisterhood for Good's Tropical Escape Feb. 27 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
  • February 28, 2026
Sisterhood for Good of Lakewood Ranch hosts Tropical Escape fundraiser
5
Woman, two children identified in Lakewood Ranch death investigation
  • February 27, 2026
Woman, two children identified in Lakewood Ranch death investigation

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now