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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
When she isn't overseas, Sky Commissar spends most of her time with Southwest Florida Premier FC at the club level. With them, she competes in the girls' regional league of the Elite Clubs National League.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 14, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High soccer player gets international exposure

Sky Commissar made the Mustangs' varsity as a freshman and also has competed in international competitions twice.

  • East County
  • Sports
Brooklyn Cullen's golf career began at Hawaii's Princeville Makai Golf Club when she was 6 years old. It continues now in Florida, where she moved before beginning sixth grade at The Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 13, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Brooklyn Cullen

The rising golfer secured a national title before her junior season with The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • 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
Avery Banfill (left) and Phoenix Scanlan (right) grew up on the same junior golf circuit. Their respective journeys converged at Parrish Community High and will converge once again at Memphis next fall.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 8, 2026
Stars align for local golfers who are headed for the University of Memphis

Avery Banfill and Phoenix Scanlan of Lakewood Ranch will play for Memphis women's golf after their senior years with Parrish Community High.

  • East County
  • 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
Wyatt Wittman, ranked a four-star punter by Kohl's Professional Camps, will contribute both kicking and punting for Braden River football this fall under first-year coach Rick Farmer.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 6, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Wyatt Wittman

The rising junior kicker/punter for Braden River High has embraced his switch from soccer to football.

  • East County
  • 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
Julia Hill, an 11-year-old utility, was one of 12 players for Manatee Softball 12U All-Stars. The newly-minted Manatee Softball Little League will continue giving players like Hill an opportunity to compete beyond state lines.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 1, 2026
Manatee Softball 12U All-Stars make first Little League tournament run

An organizational switch from Miss Florida Softball to Little League Softball set the stage for the team to pursue the Little League World Series.

  • East County
  • 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
Sarasota Tsunami head coach Ira Klein described Jaxon Griffin (above) as a "developing swimmer" six months ago. Now, Griffin is on the rise, qualifying for national-level meets left and right.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 29, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Jaxon Griffin

The rising junior at Lakewood Ranch High qualified for both the Speedo Summer and Winter Junior National Championships last month.

  • East County
  • Sports
Mia Busser's recruitment opened June 15 following the USA Gymnastics Women's Development Program National Championships. There, she placed fourth in the all-around, second on floor and fourth on vault.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 24, 2026
Lakewood Ranch gymnast soars to career-best success

Mia Busser, a 16-year-old Level 10 gymnast, has her eyes on college following a podium-worthy performance on the national stage.

  • East County
  • Sports
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest News

1
Kristen Little plays with Jubilee.
  • July 15, 2026
Sarasota County Animal Services seeks adoptions as it nears capacity
2
Logan Shaw, Wolfe Shaw, Michael Garey and Calvin Shaw, the team behind the new M & W Sweet Spot frozen treat shop on Longboat Key, showcase a variety of their offerings, including frozen custard sandwiches and drinks.
  • July 15, 2026
From frozen custard to soft serve, Longboat's treats help locals stay cool
3
Utility lines are strung along rear yards on some streets on Lido Key.
  • July 15, 2026
Burying power lines on barrier islands tops City Commission agenda
4
A firefighter sprays the roof of a Dock on the Bay condo building Wednesday morning, July 15.
  • July 15, 2026
Fire engulfs Dock on the Bay condo units
5
At 15 stories, the Islands West condominium building constructed in 1972 is one of the tallest buildings on Longboat Key. Driving north on the island, it’s the last taller condo building, as the north end features more single family homes and shorter hotel buildings like Four Winds Beach Resort pictured to the right.
  • July 15, 2026
The great freeze of 1985 still impacts Longboat Key today

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