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Sarasota | Sports

Natalia Lesniewska raked in a meet-high 11 medals — 10 gold, one bronze — among all girls at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 21, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Natalia Lesniewska

Before starting high school at Cardinal Mooney, the Sarasota Sharks swimmer dominated the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
This past season was Jordan Guerrero's first as the Out-of-Door Academy baseball coach. Guerrero, who pitched in the San Diego Padres organization from 2015-23, guided the Thunder to an 8-12 record.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 16, 2026
Retired pros bring unique experience to high school coaching

The path from playing professionally to high school coaching is well-trodden, but how does that experience translate?

  • East County
  • Sports
The Sarasota Lions, playing by FIBA rules in the Sunbelt Basketball Association, offer competitive opportunities to players like Willie Jackson (right).
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 16, 2026
Sarasota Lions hit the hardwood

The minor professional basketball team encompasses a group of hoopers hoping to jumpstart or continue their respective careers.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Mark Sobolewski enters his second season as the Riverview High baseball coach in 2027. If any freshmen or first-time players hope to join his program, they'll have to complete an electrocardiogram screening first.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 15, 2026
Second Chance Act takes effect in Sarasota

Local high schools have worked to follow Florida Senate Bill 1070, which, as of July 1, requires ECG screening for new athletes.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Elijah George had the second-most yards of any running back for Sarasota Christian last season. The Blazers finished 5-6 and reached the first round of the SSAA Class 3A state tournament.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 14, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Elijah George

The rising senior will be a key returner for Sarasota Christian football this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Meadows Golf Club off of Longmeadow Road in Sarasota has been with Arnold Palmer Golf Management since March 9. The company restored its 18-hole Meadows Course and is working to restore its 18-hole Groves Course.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 9, 2026
Meadows Golf Club hunts a hole-in-one

The private-turned-public club filed for bankruptcy in July 2025 but now, under new management, eyes a different outcome.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Evan Poznanski has spent his summer with Bay Area Pro travel ball after leading Sarasota Christian in batting average, on-base percentage, RBIs and hits — among other statistical categories — as a junior.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 8, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Evan Poznanski

The rising senior third baseman/shortstop for Sarasota Christian baseball flashed his speed at a local showcase late last month.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Crew's U16 Women's Eight races to a title at the 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships hosted by Nathan Benderson Park. The Crew had 16 entries at this year's championships, but did not bring home a title.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 7, 2026
Sarasota rowing programs have rough waters to navigate before being considered elite

The region's rowing programs have performed well at the regional level, but they have yet to catch the traditional powerhouses.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Henry D'Hondt, catcher for the Sarasota Little League 12U American All-Stars, gets out of his stance for a throw. He was one of several players impacted by the October 2025 report of over $200,000 lost from the league's treasury.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 2, 2026
Sarasota Little League builds back from disaster

The league based at Twin Lakes Park lost hundreds of thousands of dollars last fall and, ever since, has been working to recover.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lucas Seng is a rising sophomore at Suncoast Polytechnical High. He competes for Booker High during the FHSAA swimming and diving season since Suncoast does not field varsity athletics.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 1, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Lucas Seng

The Sarasota Tsunami swimmer dominated his age group at the Gulf Coast Swim Team Mark McCaw Summer Invitational.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Andres Parra has served as The Out-of-Door Academy athletic director since July 2022. He's been through his fair share of busy summers over the years.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 30, 2026
For high school athletic directors, summer is no day at the beach

Athletics are out of season, but the work doesn't stop for these behind-the-scenes operators.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Dan Konczak got into volleyball because of his daughters, Nariah and Sydney Konczak. He's now a first-time head coach for a high school girls volleyball program — eight years after beginning to learn.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 24, 2026
Difficult decision for Cardinal Mooney's new girls volleyball coach

Dan Konczak pursues a dream by taking over the Cougars, but in doing so, will coach against family for the first time.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
CJ Obaseki flexed his skills as a running back for Miami on June 17. Coach Mario Cristobal and his staff evidently loved what they saw.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 22, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: CJ Obaseki

The rising sophomore at Riverview High earned his first college football offer, and from no small program.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Rising sophomore defensive back/wide receiver Amarian McRae holds NCAA Division I FBS offers from UCLA, Notre Dame, Georgia, Florida, Toledo, Maryland, North Carolina, East Carolina, Louisville and Wake Forest, as of June 15.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 18, 2026
Guided by father-coach, young talent rises with Cardinal Mooney football

Earning several Power Four offers, Amarian McRae has begun to enjoy the fruits of his years-long labor alongside Aaron McRae.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Elliott Mathes grew up watching his older brother, Will Mathes, compete for Sarasota Crew at the USRowing Youth National Championships. From June 11-14, he himself rowed with a junior national title on the line.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 16, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Elliott Mathes

Sitting in the sixth seat, Mathes helped Sarasota Crew's U16 Men's Eight to bronze on the national stage.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Sarasota

1
Natalia Lesniewska raked in a meet-high 11 medals — 10 gold, one bronze — among all girls at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.
  • July 21, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Natalia Lesniewska
2
Gunfire reported at youth football event in Sarasota
  • July 20, 2026
Gunfire reported at youth football event in Sarasota
3
A conceptual rendering of Swing in the courtyard at Payne Park Tennis Center.
  • July 20, 2026
Payne Park public art reveal set for July 30
4
A rendering of the planned Shore restaurant, boutique, cafe and residential space as viewed from Boulevard of the Presidents on St. Armands Circle.
  • July 19, 2026
Planning staff questions new Shore restaurant design on St. Armands
5
Toby reaches up to greet a new helping of foam.
  • July 18, 2026
Dog Bar Sarasota celebrates one-year anniversary

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