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Sports

Wyatt Wittman, ranked a four-star punter by Kohl's Professional Camps, will contribute both kicking and punting for Braden River football this fall under first-year coach Rick Farmer.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 6, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Wyatt Wittman

The rising junior kicker/punter for Braden River High has embraced his switch from soccer to football.

  • East County
  • Sports
Henry D'Hondt, catcher for the Sarasota Little League 12U American All-Stars, gets out of his stance for a throw. He was one of several players impacted by the October 2025 report of over $200,000 lost from the league's treasury.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 2, 2026
Sarasota Little League builds back from disaster

The league based at Twin Lakes Park lost hundreds of thousands of dollars last fall and, ever since, has been working to recover.

  • Sarasota
  • 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
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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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