By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
When the dust settled after the most anticipated girls golf match of the young season, only two strokes separated Plant City Durant and Tampa Wharton.
Led by senior Shena Yang’s nine-hole score of 39, Wharton slipped past Durant 177-179 Sept. 11 at Hunter’s Green Golf Club in Tampa. Both undefeated before the match, Wharton improved to 6-0 on the season while Durant is now 5-1.
The Wildcats also got strong performances from Brittany Bradshaw, who shot a 44. Durant was led by freshman Madison Opfer, who fired a 38, the lowest score in the match.
The two talented squads square off again on Oct. 7.
In other girls golf action, Tampa Sickles set a school record with a 165 team score Sept. 5. Led by Alex Milan’s nine-hole par score of 36, the Gryphons broke the previous team mark by six strokes. Katie Bame shot 36, followed by Sara Bair’s 42 and Shannon Ogborn’s 46.
Volleyball: Tampa Bayshore Captures Keswick Championship
Tampa Bayshore Christian swept Indian Rocks Christian to win the 25th Annual Keswick Christian Invitational volleyball tournament.
Bayshore was led by Gabby Fernandez, who had 14 kills in the 2-0 (25-22, 25-18) title game win. Fernandez while named tournament MVP.
Also, Bayshore’s Amanda Mirabella added 20 assists while Indian Rocks Christian was led by Kenzie Reynolds’ eight kills and four digs.
Swimming: Northeast, Shorecrest Prep Dominate City Championships
Two teams dominated the St. Petersburg City Championships swim meet.
St. Petersburg Northeast swam away with the boys title, winning the 200 freestyle relay, the 200 IM relay and the 400 freestyle relay to outdistance second place St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep by 142 points.
Cameron Chambers and Charles Bardin won the 200 IM and 200 medley races, respectively and Patrick Renard won both the 50 fly and 100 fly races.
On the girls side, St. Petersurg got multiple wins from Sidney Newfield and Tracy Rorer to outswim Northeast’s girls.
Newfield won the 100 fly and 100 back while Rorer won the 200 IM and 100 breast.
The Green Devils also won the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
Football: Pass Happy
Two weeks into the regular season, passing offenses have been all the rage in the prep football season. And four quarterbacks have quickly stood out.
Tampa Plant’s Aaron Murray was expected to be among the area’s top passers. But he’s be joined on the stat sheet by a few surprises.
Leading the Tampa Bay area in passing in Tampa Alonso’s C.J. Bennett, not Murray. Bennett has completed 62 of 94 passes for 542 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Murray has thrown for 438 yards, completing 29 of 57 with four touchdowns and one interception. Also, Tampa Hillsborough’s Tarean Austin has been sharp, connecting on 17 of 34 for 418 yards and four scores with no interceptions.
And Hudson’s Zack Wynn has been solid. Wynn is 34 of 54 for 442 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions.