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East County | Sports

ODA's Zach Fox (11) and Oliver Giraud (22) double-team Sarasota Christian's Jayven Szewczyk in the post.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 9, 2023
Gritty defense key to more wins for ODA boys basketball

As the second half of the season begins, the Thunder has already matched its win total from a season ago.

  • East County
  • Sports
Byeong Hun An won the 2022 LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 4, 2023
Keep an eye on these Lakewood Ranch-area sports events in 2023

From rowing races to football rivalries to attempted three-peats, 2023 looks like another exciting year.

  • East County
  • Sports
Clayton Dees (5) will enter his second year as a starting quarterback as a senior for Lakewood Ranch in 2023.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 2, 2023
Top 10 East County athletes to watch in 2023

These athletes combine experience and talent to find success in their respective sports.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High softball captured its second-straight state title on May 28.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 28, 2022
The top 10 East County sports moments of 2022

Once again, teams and individuals from the area brought home plenty of hardware over the last 12 months.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch junior quarterback Clayton Dees scored 16 total touchdowns in his first year at the high school level.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 26, 2022
Our columnist's favorite East County sports moments of 2022

From back-to-back state championships to quirky golf collections, there was a diverse set of sports stories to be told in 2022.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River junior Marcus Schade shoots over Lakewood Ranch senior Trey Holweger (24) during the 2022-23 season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 22, 2022
Braden River boys basketball team makes statement with early play

The Pirates are 6-2 as of Dec. 15 and beat local rival Lakewood Ranch High for the first time since 2014.

  • East County
  • Sports
Former Braden River High star O'Mariah Gordon chats with former Florida State Coach Sue Semrau during her freshman season.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 21, 2022
East County winter sports alumni excel at next level

These Lakewood Ranch area athletes have made the area proud with their play.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch junior Rylee O'Shea
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 20, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Rylee O'Shea

The Lakewood Ranch High junior had a goal and four assists in the girls soccer team's 6-1 win over Venice High on Dec. 15.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River's Isaac Heaven.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 13, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Isaac Heaven

The Braden River boys basketball junior had three-straight games of 10 or more points and three or more rebounds last week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Fahd Khair, David Simonov and Jack Goehring play for the Lakewood Ranch Chargers U9 team.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 8, 2022
Lakewood Ranch soccer community says sport's popularity on the rise

As the 2022 FIFA World Cup rolls along, members of the community talk about how the sport's popularity has grown and where it could go from here.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 6, 2022
Athlete of the Week: Olivia Davis

The Cardinal Mooney girls basketball senior, who lives in Lakewood Ranch, leads the Cougars with 19.3 points per game.

  • East County
  • Sports
Paolo Marconi comes ashore after the final lap of the Last Paddler Standing event at Nathan Benderson Park. Marconi said he learned a lot about what he is capable of while sleep deprived and that every participant in the race should be proud for attempting it at all.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • December 5, 2022
Last Paddler Standing event showcases endurance at Benderson Park

The event, which had 30 participants, saw Paolo Marconi paddle approximately 48 hours straight to win the competition, with only short breaks in between laps of the park's lake.

  • East County
  • Sports
The bunkers at Heritage Harbour now have collars of thick grass that adds to the beauty of the course.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 1, 2022
Heritage Harbour of Bradenton has high expectations for lower scores

The Heritage Harbour Golf Course in East County reopened in November after a $2 million renovation.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch wrestler Nate Smith had his junior season ended in the regional tournament stage because of a finger injury.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 30, 2022
Lakewood Ranch wrestler hopes for state medal after falling short last year

Lakewood Ranch High's Nate Smith, a junior, reached the state tournament in his first-ever season, wrestling at 285 pounds. Smith spent the offseason working on his technical skills.

  • East County
  • Sports
Santiago Valencia, 21, is headed to Qatar to report live from the 2022 FIFA World Cup for MTC Radio.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • November 28, 2022
Manatee Technical College student earns World Cup reporting opportunity

Santiago Valencia, 21, has overcome physical and environmental challenges in the pursuit of his sports reporting dreams.

  • East County
  • Sports
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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

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