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Sports

Bob Haskin returns a serve against Alan Bartlett at a recent pickleball game at Lakewood Ranch High School.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 20, 2025
Pickleball players search for home courts closer to home

Passionate pickleball players — which is to say just about all of them — are dinking and dunking for new Lakewood Ranch courts to compete on. A solution might be in play.

  • East County
  • News
Aiden Sanders, a junior at Lakewood Ranch, has turned himself into a bonafide competitor in the 120-pound weight class in 3A in just over a year.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
After long layoff, Lakewood Ranch High wrestler regains his excellence

Aiden Sanders, who had to sit out years due to concessions, has his sights set on a state tourney berth.

  • East County
  • Sports
Johnny Lackaff
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Johnny Lackaff

Sailors guard scored 30-plus in two regional playoff games.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
BJ Ivey's players said the relationships he's built with them have made it easy to buy in to his instruction.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 19, 2025
Ivey turns Sarasota boys basketball from cellar dweller to state contender

Basketball coach BJ Ivey has led the Sailors on their best run in over 50 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Avary Shirley
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 18, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Avary Shirley

Lakewood Ranch sophomore stepped up to help send Mustangs to states.

  • East County
  • Sports
Olivia Hadad, right, has led the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team to the state semifinals with 35 goals in her senior season.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • February 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch girls soccer vies for first state championship

The Mustangs will play the state's No. 4 overall team in state semifinal round

  • East County
  • Sports
Before talking to any prospective school, Cardinal Mooney senior Zoe Kirby wrote down a list of pros and cons. Despite not coming from a military background, the U.S. Air Force Academy had all pros for Kirby.
  • By Dylan Campbell
  • February 13, 2025
Cardinal Mooney volleyball star appointed to the Air Force Academy

Senior Zoe Kirby excelled in four varsity sports throughout her high school career.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Elizabeth Lawson is a junior weightlifter on the Sarasota High girls varsity weightlifting team.
  • By Dylan Campbell
  • February 12, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Elizabeth Lawson

The Sarasota High junior weightlifter punched her ticket to the state championships with a fifth place performance at regionals Feb. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Out-of-Door Academy sophomore Maggie Yull has been a dominant presence on the girls varsity soccer team this season, leading the team with 11 goals.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • February 12, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Maggie Yull

The sophomore forward has been the offensive engine for the Out-of-Door Academy girls varsity soccer team this season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota High senior Oliver Boyle drives to the basket during the Sailors 66-28 home win over the Imagine School at North Port in the district semifinal Feb. 5.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • February 12, 2025
Sarasota basketball teams compete for district titles

Recapping how Sarasota's teams fared in their respective district tournaments.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Sarasota Polo Club's Interscholastic Polo Team from left to right: Head Coach Stuart Campbell, 15-year-old Hazel Hill, 13-year-old Jayda Link, 15-year-old Ainsley Mulligan and 12-year-old Gregory Shepard.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • February 11, 2025
Youths have a shot at polo success in Lakewood Ranch

The Sarasota Polo Club team of four started in fall 2024.

  • East County
  • Sports
John Rivera Jr., now signed to the Brooks Beast Track Club, is ranked in the top 50 in the world in the 800-meter. Here he is at the 2021 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, where he placed fifth in the 800-meter (1:48.45).
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • February 9, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High alum John Rivera Jr. now runs as a professional

The 800-meter specialist signed with the Brooks Beasts Track Club in January.

  • East County
  • Sports
Cardinal Mooney's Tommy Bury wrestles in the 106-pound class at Cardinal Mooney's meet with Booker High in Booker High's auditorium on Jan. 30. Bury won the match by fall.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • February 6, 2025
Cardinal Mooney wrestling takes to the mat

The Cougars new wrestling program kicked off this year with a boys and girls team.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Junior Paisley Binswanger has been a dominant force for the Sarasota High girls varsity basketball team this season.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • February 5, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Paisley Binswanger

The junior guard led Sarasota High in scoring this season.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High junior Gabriel Lara proved to be the difference maker in the Mustangs' 6A District 11 title win over Parrish Community High Jan. 29, scoring twice in the second half.
    By
  • Dylan Campbell
  • February 5, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Gabriel Lara

The Lakewood Ranch High junior scored two goals in the Mustangs' district title win over Parrish Community High.

  • East County
  • Sports
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Katherine Ceaser, Lydia Chapdelain and Jessica Armstrong
  • March 22, 2026
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2
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Festival pours wines from around the world, all at Selby Five Points Park
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  • March 21, 2026
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  • March 21, 2026
Divas and Dogs brings together fashion and animal lovers
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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.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April

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