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East County | Sports

T.J. Goelz is stepping down from the Lakewood Ranch High softball program after five seasons. Goelz led the Mustangs to two state championships.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 18, 2022
Lakewood Ranch softball coach leaves behind a diamond-solid legacy

T.J. Goelz and the Mustangs won two state championships in five seasons, the first championships in program history. 

  • East County
  • Sports
High school football roundup: Week four. (File photo.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 17, 2022
High school football roundup: Week four

A key week sees six area teams come down with big wins.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Mustangs defense could not stop Braden River junior Trayvon Pinder (7), who ran for 197 yards and three touchdowns thanks to holes like this one opened by the Pirates offensive line. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 14, 2022
Braden River retains its superiority over Lakewood Ranch

Pirates running back Trayvon Pinder runs over Mustangs with 197 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High boys golf Head Coach Dave Frantz says the Lakewood Ranch Invitational on Sept. 17 is the only scramble event he's aware of on the high school calendar. (File photo)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 13, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Invitational gives prep golfers a shot at fun format

Postponed by lightning, the scramble event will be held Sept. 17 at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
Trayvon Pinder. (Photo by Ryan Kohn)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 13, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Trayvon Pinder

The Braden River junior running back had 197 yards and three touchdowns Sept. 9 in the Pirates' 33-14 win over Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Sports
T.J. Goelz has stepped down from Lakewood Ranch High softball after five seasons and two state championships. (File photo)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 12, 2022
Lakewood Ranch softball coach steps down after five seasons, two state championships

T.J. Goelz went 122-10 as the coach of the Mustangs and sent myriad players to college programs.

  • East County
  • Sports
High school football roundup: Week three
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 10, 2022
High school football roundup: Week three

A pair of local rivalry games — Sarasota at Booker and Braden River at Lakewood Ranch — highlighted the slate. One was a rout while the other came down to the final seconds.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 9, 2022
Braden River High football runs through Lakewood Ranch High

The Pirates won 33-14 to extend their winning streak in the rivalry series to seven games.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch beach volleyball player Ashley Pater said her court intelligence and communication skills are what make her an elite player. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Pater.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 7, 2022
Lakewood Ranch beach volleyball player conquers national circuit

Next up for Ashley Pater is the 2022 FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
Skyler Quigley. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 6, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Skyler Quigley

The Lakewood Ranch High freshman finished 15th out of 203 runners (22:22.10) at the Jim Ryun Invitational on Aug. 27 in Lakeland.

  • East County
  • Sports
ODA senior Griffin DeRusso breaks free from the Oasis defense. DeRusso gave credit to the team's offensive line for opening wide holes for him. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 3, 2022
Lakewood Ranch's ODA uses rushing attack to start football season 2-0

Running back Griffin DeRusso leads a punishing Thunder ground game.

  • East County
  • Sports
High school football roundup.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 3, 2022
High school football roundup: Week two

East County teams go undefeated while most Sarasota teams struggle.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 2, 2022
ODA football runs over Oasis High

The Thunder beat the Sharks 51-29 in Head Coach Rob Hollway's home debut to move to 2-0.

  • East County
  • Sports
Marissa Krone is a junior girls golfer at Parrish Community High but lives in the East County area. This season, she'll be joined on the team by her sister, freshman Maya Krone. (File photo.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 31, 2022
The East County non-football fall sports outlook

Once again, the Lakewood Ranch area has plenty of intriguing athletes to watch in golf, volleyball, swimming and cross-country in 2022.

  • East County
  • Sports
Courtney Kawcak (Photo by Ryan Kohn)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • August 30, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Courtney Kawcak

The Braden River High senior is an impact setter on the volleyball team.

  • East County
  • Sports
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