By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
In case two-time defending Class 5A state volleyball champion Tampa Plant wasn’t already loaded enough to make another run, the Panthers have added a standout transfer to their lineup.
Setter Becca Howard, who has played the last two seasons for stellar program Tampa Berkeley Prep, has transferred to Plant. Howard, who averaged eight assists a game last season, helped Berkeley Prep reach the Class 3A final four last year.
She’ll join a Plant program with two straight state title trophies and a total of five during the past 10 years.
Plant’s stockpile of talent includes senior outside hitter Danielle Erb (300 kills in ’07), senior middle blocker Jordan Dickie (6 feet tall), libero Ali McCurdy (three-year starter) and junior outside hitter Maddie Martin (all-state performer who has committed to Penn State).
If there are any setbacks for the Panthers, ranked in top ten in several national polls, it is the graduation of do-it-all setter Kellie Catanach and a nagging ankle injury to Martin that may slow her down throughout September.
Other Bay area squads that figure to make post season runs are the usuals: Berkeley Prep, Class A defending champ Tampa Bayshore Christian and 2A power Tampa Prep. Also, Brandon, Plant City Durant, St. Petersburg Northside Christian, Clearwater Countryside and St. Petersburg Lakewood look to be solid teams.
Among the top players: Countryside senior hitter Madison Truluck, Northside Christian junior hitter Kayla Walton, Lakewood freshman Berkeley Whaley, Bayshore Christian’s Gabby Fernandez (Soph. OH), Sam Johnson (Sr. Utility) and Sami Stokes (Sr. OH).
Also, Tampa Prep’s Dana Malinowski (Sr. MB), Alena Ransom (Sr. OH) and Anna Dalence (Sr. Libero); Berkeley Prep’s junior middle blocker Lindsay Young, senior libero Christina Theofilos and junior outside hitter Alex Dickerson; and Brandon’s junior outside hitter Alexandra Woodlee.
Golf set to be in full swing
Five golfers from Bay area high schools helped the North squad win the Junior Florida Cup.
The event, which pits top junior golfers from north Florida against their counterparts from south Florida in a Ryder Cup-styled format, took place at Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club in Tampa.
Tampa Plant’s Doug Letson, Riverview’s Ian McConnell, Tampa Sickles’ Alex Milan, Tampa Jesuit’s Jack Twomey and Plant City Durant’s Amy West all participated.
The players, selected to the team based on their Florida Junior Tour point standings, helped the North win 28 ½ to 11 ½.
Letson, McConnell, Milan and West were all part of the North team that won the 2007 event 29-11.
With the event completing a summer junior play, the area’s prep golfers are set to tee off the 2008 high school season this week.
Among the boys teams, Plant, Jesuit, Trinity Mitchell and Tampa Berkeley Prep are tops in the Bay area. Plant will be led by Letson, a regional runner up last season, Charlie Martin and Charles Silverfield, who placed fourth at the state meet last year as a sophomore.
Other players to watch include Mitchell’s Kenny Cavender, a region qualifier last season, Berkeley Prep’s Blake Morris, Tampa Catholic’s Trent Stoker, Jesuit’s Twomey and McConnell, who was a district and regional individual champ last season.
On the girls’ side, all eyes will be on Durant, Tampa Wharton and Tampa Berkeley Prep.
In addition to West, Durant features Heather Wengyn. Wharton, meanwhile, features two-time state medalist Shena Yang and four starters from a squad that has been to back-to-back state meets. Berkeley Prep’s lineup is anchored by twins Kim and Kyleen Carpenter, who helped the Buccaneers to a 10th place finish at last year’s meet.
Other standout players include Sickles’ Milan, a sophomore who narrowly missed out on reaching the state meet as a freshman, Trinity Mitchell junior Megan Van Etten, Tampa Prep’s Taylor Richardson and Tampa King’s Kelsey Gibson.
Chamberlain’s Turner to be honored – just not right now
Tampa Chamberlain wanted to honor longtime football coach Billy Turner by naming its field after him.
However, the Hillsborough County School Board nixed the idea, adding that Turner had to be retired before the naming could take place.
Turner, coach for the Chiefs the past 29 seasons, is Hillsborough County’s all-time wins leader with 243. Chamberlain, ranked third in the Tampa Bay-area top-ten pre-season poll, kicks off the season Friday at rival and no. 7 ranked Tampa Gaither.