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Sports

In her first year playing organized soccer at any level, Reagan Volkert has burst onto the scene with Sarasota Christian.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 20, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Reagan Volkert

The seventh grade forward has been the leading goal-scorer for Sarasota Christian girls soccer this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Dillon Rosenthal, a fourth-year entrepreneurship major at FGCU, proudly sits beside one of BounceBack Pickle's bins. His business takes old, broken pickleballs and recycles them into new ones.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 20, 2026
BounceBack Pickle succeeds at intersection of sport and sustainability

Dillon Rosenthal, a graduate from The Out-of-Door Academy, has found a niche by recycling pickleballs.

  • East County
  • Sports
Evan Rowe has distinguished himself in the 165-pound weight class this season and carries aspirations of a top-three finish in March's FHSAA individual championships.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 19, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Evan Rowe

The Braden River senior wrestler ranks No. 2 in the state for the 165-pound weight class.

  • East County
  • Sports
Kensington Kotuby has etched her name into the Kids World Records book for the longest time doing Skip-It jumps in the girls' 10-12 year old division.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 15, 2026
Local 10-year-old becomes Kids World Record holder

Kensington Kotuby accomplished an unprecedented feat with 1,154 Skip-It jumps in 15 minutes and 29 seconds.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Senior forward David Young (33) dribbles up the court with two defenders on him during a Jan. 9 game between Sarasota and Riverview. The Sailors have leaned on Young, among others, with Johnny Lackaff unavailable.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 14, 2026
Life without Lackaff: Sarasota boys basketball digs deep in star's absence

The Sailors' leading scorer has been sidelined, forcing the defending state semifinalists to adapt quickly.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Jordan Guerrero, a 29-year-old former MiLB pitcher, is the new ODA baseball coach. He takes over for Mike Matthews, who served as coach in 2021-25 and guided the Thunder to the 2021 FHSAA Class 2A state title.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 14, 2026
Former minor league player will lead The Out-of-Door Academy baseball program

Jordan Guerrero, a right-handed pitcher in the San Diego Padres' organization, brings a "contagious" energy to the Thunder.

  • East County
  • Sports
Carter Evans has hit his stride as a scorer for Riverview boys basketball with three games of 26-plus points in his last four, as of Jan. 12.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 13, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Carter Evans

The junior forward has exploded offensively as of late for Riverview boys basketball.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Ryan Neuzil started all 17 games at center for the Atlanta Falcons this season. The 2016 Braden River High graduate was ranked No. 7 out of 40 graded centers by Pro Football Focus.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 13, 2026
Ryan Neuzil's success is a case study in hard work

The Atlanta Falcons center and Braden River High graduate earned the right to be a full-time NFL starter — and proved he belongs.

  • East County
  • Sports
Danielle Dube of Lakewood Ranch girls basketball, as of Jan. 5, stood less than 50 points away from 1,000 in her high school career.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 12, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Danielle Dube

Lakewood Ranch's junior guard/forward has been one of the state's most prolific scorers this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Eva Lopes operates around the 3-point line during the Florida Suncoast League championship on Dec. 18 at the Sarasota Baptist Church gym. She powered Sarasota Suncoast Academy past Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences with a game-high 21 points.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 8, 2026
Sarasota Suncoast Academy guard completes one-of-a-kind legacy

Eighth grader Eva Lopes wrapped her middle school career as the Bulls' all-time leading scorer in basketball.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 7, 2026
Big questions for Sarasota sports in 2026

There's plenty of reasons for this area's sports enthusiasts to be intrigued about the year ahead.

  • Sarasota
  • 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
Bronwyn Leggett poses for a photo before a Jan. 5 practice at Riverview High School. She's deep into her second season as the full-time starter between the posts for the Rams.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • January 6, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Bronwyn Leggett

The junior goalkeeper has been a stalwart in net for Riverview girls soccer.

  • Sarasota
  • 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
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Latest News

1
Hospital system expands prenatal care access for expecting mothers in need
  • February 4, 2026
Hospital system expands prenatal care access for expecting mothers in need
2
Herb Methodology co-owner Tryla Brown Larson celebrates the launch of her line of locally made products at Longboat Key's Design 2000 Salon on Jan. 29.
  • February 4, 2026
Herb Methodology launches at Design 2000
3
Davin Davidson reeled in 20 offers from NCAA Division I FBS programs from Jan. 20 through 31.
  • February 4, 2026
Cardinal Mooney quarterback's recruitment takes off
4
Golf pro Stephen Arnold succeeded in his goal of playing 100 holes of golf in a single day to benefit families involved with First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
  • February 4, 2026
Golfing feat makes a difference for area families
5
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

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