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Sports

Defender Declan Watters (left) is one of several Sarasota Paradise players learning from lead assistant Trevor Sinclair (right). The Paradise are 5-10-3 in USL League One and 6-13-3 overall, as of July 16.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 22, 2026
Assistant coach brings wealth of experience to Sarasota Paradise

Trevor Sinclair, a pro for 19 years, hopes to help the first year professional team move up in USL League One.

  • East County
  • Sports
Hamlet Perez was a senior left-hander for Sarasota High baseball in 2026. It was the Sailors' first season under coach Sterling Pell, who hopes to help develop future pros in seasons to come.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 22, 2026
Sarasota can strengthen its pipeline to professional baseball

This area needs to build from the bottom-up if it hopes to be the home of future big-leaguers.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Bob Bowling (left) chews out his son, Matt Bowling (right), while coaching football at Palmetto High. Before Braden River, he worked at Palmetto from 1993-2004.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 21, 2026
Family, friends remember longtime coach, athletic director Bob Bowling

Bowling, who died at the age of 78 on July 4, was the first athletic director at Braden River High School.

  • East County
  • 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
Swimming is a sport Izzy DiPasquale got into because of her older sister, Ava DiPasquale. She's now assembling a career of her own.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 20, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Izzy DiPasquale

The rising seventh grader and Mill Creek resident made multiple trips to the podium at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.

  • East County
  • 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
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
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1
Sarasota Military Academy is at 801 N. Orange Ave. in Sarasota.
  • August 5, 2026
Sarasota Military Academy's downtown campus listed for sale
2
Country Club East's Mark Allen Baker shows off his newest book, "Willian A. Brady — The Life of a Boxing and Broadway Impresario."
  • August 5, 2026
Classroom assignment can launch a career
3
The $2.6 million tax refund to the School District of Manatee County was voted by the county commissioners on July 28.
  • August 5, 2026
County sends $2.6 million back to Manatee schools
4
The Hermitage Artist Retreat programming includes free sunset concerts on the beach at its Manasota Key campus.
  • August 5, 2026
Arts incubator receives $450,000 in grants
5
Kids arrive by bus at Southside Elementary. School begins Monday in Sarasota County.
  • August 5, 2026
School zones will be active as kids return to school on Monday

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