Oak Ridge rolling to Hawaii
During his 25th season on the job, Oviedo boys swimming and diving coach Charlie Rose led the Lions to their first FHSAA state championship last month.
On Thursday, the former Lyman state champion and FSU All-American swimmer was rewarded by being named the Florida Dairy Farmers boys swim coach of the year.
Rose, a veteran club and high school coach, also coached this year’s state runner-up Oviedo girls team.
Oak Ridge revs up for Hawaii trip: Undefeated Oak Ridge has moved into MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25 national boys basketball team rankings ahead of its trip to Hawaii for next week’s Iolani Classic.
The Pioneers (7-0), ranked No. 21, will join No. 1 Montverde Academy (4-0) at the 16-team Iolani event.
Before flying out, Oak Ridge plays at Dr. Phillips (4-2) on Friday night at 7:30 and then faces Orlando University (2-4) on Saturday at the Windermere Prep Hoopfest.
Hoopfest at Windermere Prep: Oak Ridge is not the only unbeaten team that will be on stage in Windermere Prep’s Hoopfest event on Saturday.
Melbourne was 5-0 going into a Thursday night game and is rated No. 1 in Class 8A by MaxPreps. The Bulldogs play West Orange (2-2) in the Hoopfest opener at 1:30.
Lakewood Ranch of Bradenton, another solid 8A program, is 2-0 and plays The First Academy in the 4:30 game.
Impact Christian of Jacksonville (8-0), last season’s state runner-up in Class 2A as a very young team, plays host Windermere Prep at 7:30.
Oviedo, off to a 5-1 start, plays a good Tampa Catholic team at 3.
The Oak Ridge-University game is at 6.
There is also another Holiday Hoops Classic on Saturday at Orlando’s Downtown Recreation Center. It’s a mix of boys and girls games, starting at 1 p.m. and running to about 9.
Friday hoops: Two top 10 area boys basketball teams match up when Apopka (5-1) plays at The Master’s Academy (5-1) on Friday night at 8. Other Friday games include Jones at Edgewater, Central Pointe Christian at Downey Christian, and the West Orange at Windermere rivalry game.
Next week’s big event in Orlando is The City Beautiful Invitational at The First Academy, Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 19-22. The 16-team tournament includes Master’s and a Daytona Beach Mainland team that has lost only to Edgewater (in overtime). Other local entries are Boone, Dr. Phillips, Downey Christian, Olympia, Orangewood Christian, West Orange, Windermere Prep and TFA.
In girls basketball on Friday, undefeated Timber Creek (9-0) plays at tough Colonial (4-3).
Wrestling rankings: Winter Springs, which is No. 2 behind reigning state champ South Dade in the Orlando Sentinel Class 3A wrestling team rankings, is the favorite in this weekend’s Bill Scott Memorial Holiday Tournament at Lyman.
Also Friday and Saturday, No. 6 ranked Hagerty hosts the Johnny Rouse Invitational.
Saturday soccer: In girls soccer on Saturday, Bishop Moore (7-1-1) hosts Lake Highland Prep (4-0-2) for an 11:30 a.m. matchup of two of the best teams in the area.