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East County | Sports

Lakewood Ranch junior goaltender James Devriendt (33) gets some postgame kudos from senior defenseman Jackson Ellis (4). Devriendt's .878 save percentage and 2.05 goals against average through 13 games are both career-best marks on a Mustangs team that has done nothing but win in 2025-26.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 7, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High boys hockey team turns heads with unbeaten streak

The Mustangs have won all their games in the Lightning High School Hockey League.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gaby Bichanich, as a freshman, entered winter break as ODA girls basketball's leading scorer.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 6, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Gaby Bichanich

The freshman guard powers The Out-of-Door Academy girls basketball team on offense.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Concession Golf Club Majority Owner Bruce Cassidy and General Manager Brian Weimann will be the key players in the club hosting the 2026, 2027 and 2028 Senior PGA Championship.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 5, 2026
Impactful moments loom for East County's sports landscape in 2026

There's plenty of reasons for local sports enthusiasts to be excited about the year ahead.

  • East County
  • Sports
Livia Zamperlini-Ramos (left), Anna Chop (center) and Bailey Loring (right) share some joy while singing "Last Christmas."
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 24, 2025
Lakewood Ranch wrestlers give back to their community through caroling

The Mustangs traded singlets for singing at Cypress Springs Gracious Retirement Living.

  • East County
  • Sports
East Manatee County high school athletes of 2025
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 23, 2025
East Manatee County high school athletes of 2025

The Observer sports columnist reflects on the area's champions, record-breakers and competitors who stood above all others.

  • East County
  • Sports
Andrew Carrillo poses for a photo on Dec. 16 at Out-of-Door Academy. He's been the go-to guy on attack for the Thunder throughout their 2025-26 season.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 22, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Andrew Carrillo

The senior midfielder/forward is the leading scorer for The Out-of-Door Academy boys soccer through nine games.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch senior forward Gabriel Lara (11) chases after the ball during a Dec. 15 game against Braden River.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 17, 2025
LRHS's boys soccer team races to an unbeaten start through 10 games

The Mustangs reached the regional finals in 2024-25 but want to go further this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High football coach Scott Paravicini looks on during an Oct. 30 game against Bayshore. Per the FHSAA's tentative classifications, the Mustangs are bound for Class 6A-District 12 after finishing the 2025 season at 4-6 in 6A-11.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 16, 2025
More reclassification won't help area football teams

Lakewood Ranch High and Braden River High might be facing an even tougher lineup of opponents in reworked districts.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kelis McGrady poses for a photo on Dec. 11 before Braden River girls basketball's home game against Manatee. The forward/guard has been the engine behind the Pirates' early-season success.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 15, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Kelis McGrady

The junior averaged a double-double through Braden River's first eight games of 2025-26.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gabriella Rawles holds a Fighting Irish tennis ball and poses for a photo at Notre Dame Stadium. The senior at ICL Academy online is headed to South Bend, Indiana, in January as an early enrollee.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 10, 2025
Notre Dame commit rekindles love for tennis after recovery from a shoulder injury

Gabriella Rawles was once unsure if she'd ever return to the sport after the injury caused her passion to fade.

  • East County
  • Sports
Four boys compete for Sarasota Scullers in the Plant High Winter Sprints on Dec. 6 at Nathan Benderson Park. The Scullers, founded in 1991, are hosting a fundraiser on Dec. 13 to build back from damages suffered during past hurricane seasons.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 9, 2025
Sarasota Scullers pursue 1 million meters

The youth rowing organization's presence exceeds its humble numbers and is hoping its upcoming fundraiser can fuel an even better future.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Francesca Bisordi poses for a photo on Dec. 4 during a Lakewood Ranch wrestling practice. Currently competing in the 155-pound weight class, she formerly wrestled at 170 in both 2024 and 2023.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 8, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Francesca Bisordi

The junior wrestler for Lakewood Ranch High is the program's first female to reach the state tourney.

  • East County
  • Sports
Roberto Burlew dribbles down the turf at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota Paradise signed the defender to their roster ahead of the team's first professional season in USL League One.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 3, 2025
Paradise defender parlays position change into a professional contract

The Sarasota Paradise team signs Roberto Burlew, a returning player from their semipro team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Anquan Polynice poses for a photo before a Dec. 1 practice at Braden River High School. Now standing at 5-foot-10, he averaged 15.0 points and 2.0 steals per game as a sophomore.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 2, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Anquan Polynice

The junior guard for Braden River boys basketball enters 2025-26 as the team's second-leading scorer from last year.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mica Sarraco (white) battles with Olivia Uchiritz (blue) during a polo match at Sarasota Polo Club.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • December 1, 2025
Sarasota Polo Club gallops forward with new women's league

Introduced for the 2026 season, the 6-8 goal league will run Fridays from Jan. 9 through Feb. 20.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest in East County

1
Rangeland High School, previously referred to as AAA High School, is being built near Premiere Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch and is set to open to freshmen and sophomores in August 2027.
  • May 1, 2026
New school in Lakewood Ranch is officially named Rangeland High School
2
Supervisor of Elections Scott Farrington stands next to one of the new voting machines.
  • April 30, 2026
Elections forge ahead with revamped Supervisor of Elections office
3
Hurricane Milton at 8:05 p.m. Oct. 9, 2024.
  • April 29, 2026
Climate Adaptation Center predicts fewer storms this hurricane season
4
Skyler Betts is the CEO of All 4 the Members, a nonprofit that serves residents, 65 and older, living in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
  • April 29, 2026
Nonprofit supports seniors and caregivers in Sarasota, Manatee counties
5
Elisa Massaro, a senior and battalion commander of the Lakewood Ranch High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, is glad to have had the support of her teachers Richard Roller and William Cassidy.
  • April 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High JROTC program loses longtime leaders

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