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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
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
During a drop-in practice, 11-year-old Cara Johnston swims at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA. Head swim coach Jack Belshe said the Hurricanes have around 35 members, as of June 18, following their May 4 launch.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 23, 2026
Lakewood Ranch YMCA takes another shot at hosting a swim team

The new competitive team, the Hurricanes, want to have success with a smaller, family-based squad.

  • East County
  • 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
Kiki Bullas will be busy over the next few weeks competing in the USATF and AAU regional track and field junior olympics, hoping to reach the national competition in both.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 22, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Kiki Bullas

The rising senior at Lakewood Ranch High is in pursuit of not one, but two track and field junior olympics.

  • East County
  • 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
Ashley Avellan-Knutson (left) will lead Braden River girls weightlifting into a new era following the departure of former coach Jordan Borges (right).
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 17, 2026
New head coach takes over the Braden River High girls weightlifting program

Former assistant Ashley Avellan-Knutson is the new head coach following the Pirates' first team state title.

  • East County
  • 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
Carter Evans (left), a rising senior forward with Riverview boys basketball, drives toward the rim. The Hoop Vibe Summer League is an opportunity for him to workshop his skills in a real-game setting.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 16, 2026
Hoop Vibe Summer League fills void for Bradenton-area high school basketball

The inaugural league, hosted at Braden River High, offers male athletes the valuable opportunity to compete in June.

  • East County
  • Sports
Jaxon Lawhun sat behind Edouard Chaput in 2025 as a junior quarterback for the Thunder. He's now poised to be ODA's starter under center in the fall.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • June 15, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Jaxon Lawhun

The quarterback has a summer full of camps before his senior season with The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Sports
Inglemoor High School rowers Krista Alyakin and Karlie Vince made a splash by winning the Women's Youth 2- class at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 14, 2026
Emotions flow on USRowing Youth Nationals' final day in Sarasota

Champions crowned at Nathan Benderson Park in an event that features approximately 4,000 competitors.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Latest News

1
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.
  • July 21, 2026
Family, friends remember longtime coach, athletic director Bob Bowling
2
Melinda Zarzycki-Harris, founder and executive director of Bring on the Ministry, and Pastor Julia Wharriff Piermont of Christ Church of Longboat Key are all smiles with their new ministry partnership.
  • July 21, 2026
Christ Church gets new charitable partner
3
Tom Bleakley's "The Preacher" follows a young Detroit lawyer who takes on the defense of a woman charged with the killing of her husband. It is co-authored by Marcia Krajewski, another Lakewood Ranch resident.
  • July 21, 2026
Lakewood Ranch author uses 50-year law career to write fiction novels
4
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
5
The playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
  • July 21, 2026
Manatee County moves forward with Mixon Farms makeover

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