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Sports

The Sarasota Surge Rugby Club gather together during halftime of its home match against the Lakeland Lancers on Jan. 18. Sarasota won 17-7.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 23, 2025
Popularity growth of rugby has attracted strong local response

The Sarasota Rugby Club is back in 2025 with a new home in Ridge Wood Heights.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Senior Ava Kozicky led the Sarasota High girls lacrosse team in scoring last season with 77 goals.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 22, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Ava Kozicky

The senior attacker is primed for another massive season for the Sarasota High girls lacrosse team.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Braden River sophomore Anquan Polynice had 13 points in the Pirates' victory over Lakewood Ranch on Jan. 21.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 22, 2025
Braden River boys basketball downs Lakewood Ranch 65-45

The Pirates avenged an early season loss to Lakewood Ranch with the victory.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River senior Matthew Ireland is all smiles before his match against George Jenkins High's Everett Smith Jan. 18. Ireland won the match by pin and went on to win the 122-pound title of the Ricky Gullet Invitational at Bayshore High.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 22, 2025
Wrestler reaches elite level by being a gym rat at Braden River High

Senior wrestler Matthew Ireland looks to be a medal contender at the 2A state tournament in Kissimmee.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota Crew Head Coach Casey Galvanek brings a gold-medal pedigree to his coaching at the youth level. Galvanek coached the U.S. men's four boat to gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 22, 2025
Casey Galvanek is more than just a high school coach

Sarasota Crew Head Coach Casey Galvanek overcame chemistry issues with his crew en route to coaching the U.S. men's four boat to a historic gold medal in the 2024 Olympic Games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Francesca Bisordi is a sophomore wrestler on the Lakewood Ranch High girls wrestling team. Last season, wrestling in the 170-pound weight class, she was named the Girls 1A District 11 Champion when she pinned Bayshore High's Alexandra Lopez in the tournament last February.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 21, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Francesca Bisordi

The Lakewood Ranch sophomore wrestler is thriving in her second year in the sport.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Lakewood Ranch High boys varsity golf team finished the season with a cumulative team GPA of 3.254. Seniors (from left to right) Luke Wilson, Henry Burbee and Parker Severs all took pride in their academics in a season that saw the Mustangs finish second in the FHSAA Class 3A state tournament in November.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 20, 2025
East County student-athletes prove that brains go hand in hand with brawn

Sports teams at Lakewood Ranch and Parrish Community high schools finish at the top of the state rankings for team academics.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Riverview High girls soccer team gathers at midfield before its home match against Lemon Bay on Jan. 10.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 16, 2025
Riverview girls soccer seeks second straight district title

After the departure of six seniors in 2024, the Rams have reloaded with a rock-solid senior class and a promising group of underclassmen.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Blake Roulund is a leader on the Cardinal Mooney wrestling team in the program's first year.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 15, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Blake Roulund

The Cardinal Mooney High junior brings a level of experience to the school's first-year wrestling program.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
From left to right: sophomores Vanessa Vegh, Jasmine France, Isla Procopio, Madison Galvan, Itzel Padilla-Chavez and Annabelle Hill are members of the Lady Sailors weightlifting program.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 15, 2025
Sarasota High girls weightlifting finds a home in the weight room

The girls weightlifting program at Sarasota High School raises the bar for everyone involved.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Olivia Hadad has elevated her game in her senior season with the Lakewood Ranch High girls varsity soccer team.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 15, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Olivia Hadad

The senior forward has been the offensive engine of the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch junior midfielders Paolo Morales (front) and Ryan Johnson have been essential in helping transform the Mustangs' offensive strategy this season.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch boys soccer charges toward the postseason

The Mustangs look to rectify last season's loss to North Port High in the district tournament later this month.

  • East County
  • Sports
Marcus Walfridson, team owner of the Sarasota Paradise, hopes that 2025 will be the team's most successful year to date in its new home at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 13, 2025
The Sarasota Paradise will call Lakewood Ranch home

The soccer team will begin playing home games at Premier Sports Campus in 2025.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bronwyn Leggett is a sophomore goalkeeper for the Riverview High girls varsity soccer team.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 9, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Bronwyn Leggett

The Riverview High sophomore goalkeeper has been a force for the Rams this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Riverview High junior Josh Harris rises up for a three pointer during practice.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • January 8, 2025
Rams charging ahead with a full combo effort

The Riverview High boys basketball team looks to find its identity under first-year head coach Jeff Harris.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
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Jennifer Rominiecki brought the living museum concept to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens when she was named president and CEO in 2015.
  • February 5, 2026
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