DP players have motivating medallions
Instead of hiding from the high school football state championship failure from a season ago, Dr. Phillips players have embraced the memories of that heartache in an unusual way.
Every Friday for four weeks the Panthers have worn their secondplace medals from 2016 to school.
The Panthers (12-2), who lost last year’s Class 8A final 14-10 to Miami Southridge, return to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on Saturday at 8 p.m. for a shot at redemption against Delray Beach Atlantic (12-1).
Players will again dress in game jerseys and have those state runnerup medals dangling from their necks at school on Friday.
On Saturday, they will wear the medals en route to the stadium, where they were bestowed the consolation prizes after failing to hold onto a fourth-quarter lead a year ago.
“We all still feel that loss,” said senior wide receiver “So [we decided] every Friday from here on out ... that we’d all wear our medals just to show that that’s something we need to finish on this year.”
The accessory prompted questions from some and nods of approval from others in the hallways.
“Some people ask, ‘Why are you guys wearing that? You guys lost; you got second place,’ and some people are saying ‘Good luck,’ and they see it the same way we’re looking at it,” said senior wideout Davarius Bargnare. “It’s something to help us overcome what happened last year.” will honor revered coach
and its overachieving 1983 state championship boys basketball team tonight at halftime of a 7:30 home game vs. Lake Nona.
It’s been 35 years since the underdog Braves beat Jacksonville Jackson 51-47 in Lakeland to capture the crown. Boone began that postseason as the third seed in a tough Orange County district.
“Looks like almost the entire team is coming,” said Braves coach
“Flying in from all over.” Rickman also led Boone to a 1977 state championship. Boone
Lake Highland Prep’s wrestling team heads to Ohio this weekend with a chance to prove it is better than its No. 8 national ranking.
The Highlanders will compete in the prestigious Walsh Jesuit Ironman tournament, which features seven of the top nine teams in the country and 21 of the top 50.
“We have the ability to prove the rankings wrong and start climbing up," coach said. “I can't wait to get there and get going.”
Highlanders senior is ranked No. 1 nationally in the 132-pound weight class, which is one of the tourney’s toughest brackets.
Area rushing leader of Lake Minneola scored on two runs, one from 36 yards out, and was named MVP of Wednesday night’s Central Florida All-Star Football Game at Lake Howell. He helped the West beat the East 34-14.
Lake Brantley’s scored on a long TD run for the East and was MVP for his team.
is retired from coaching, but the Hoops with a Heart boys basketball event he built to benefit former Bishop Moore coach
continues under the watch of new Oviedo coach
The 13th edition tips off at noon Saturday with six games at Oviedo. Admission is $10, with proceeds going to a foundation for Graham.
Vallery and Graham played against each other as high schoolers and were district rivals when Vallery coached at Lake Highland Prep.
“Rob and I have been connected for a long time,” Vallery noted. “He was as tough as they come, a fierce competitor. I'm really happy to continue the tradition coach Kershner established of supporting him.”
Graham suffered cardiac arrest at age 34 in a 2005 district championship game in Tavares.