Four area teams heading to state soccer tournament; Brandon captures 35th straight district wrestling title.
By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Three Bay area girls soccer teams are heading to the state tournament.
Chelsea Klotz scored four goals to lead Tampa Prep to an 8-0 route of Bradenton St. Stephen’s in the Class 3A region finals. The win sends the Terrapins to the state tournament at Lockhart Stadium.
Klotz, who has scored 60 goals this season, will lead Tampa Prep (24-1-1) against Maitland Orangewood Christian (13-8-1).
In Class 3A, Clearwater Central Catholic (17-5-5) used a double-overtime goal from Lindsey Cooper to take a 2-1 win against Melbourne West Shore. CCC will face Orlando Lake Highland Prep in the state semifinals.
After winning their Class 5A region final match, Tarpon Springs East Lake (17-5) will play powerhouse Lakeland Jenkins (27-0-2) in the state semifinals. East Lake blanked Seminole 3-0 in the region finals. The Eagles not only didn’t allow a goal during the regions but swamped their opponents with 14 goals.
Girls Basketball District Round-Up
St. Petersburg Catholic, ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps girls basketball poll, had little trouble capturing the Class 3A, District 11 championship game. In the title game, Indiana University signee Sasha Chaplin scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Barons (25-1) defeated Tampa Academy of the Holy Names 49-33.
Meanwhile, No. 2 Tampa Bay Tech was upset 41-35 by Tampa Freedom in the Class 5A, District 8 championship. No. 3 St. Petersburg Boca Ciega took care of business, advancing to the regional tournament for the 16th straight season. Boca Ciega (23-3) defeated No. 5 St. Petersburg Lakewood 67-56.
Tampa Sickles, ranked fourth on the poll, got 13 points from senior Shawnta Snakovsky in a low-scoring 40-31 victory against St. Petersburg in the Class 6A, District 7 final.
In other finals, Wesley Chapel topped Land O’Lakes 47-39 (5A-7), Tampa Plant beat Tampa Jefferson 50-39 (5A-10), Brooksville Nature Coast defeated New Port Richey Gulf 47-36 (4A-8) and Clearwater Lakeside Christian beat Land O’Lakes Academy at the Lakes 54-40 (A-11).
Also, Clearwater’s Keona Dixon scored 24 points to lead the Tornadoes to a 66-38 win against Dunedin in the Class 5A, District 9 final. In Class 2A, District 11, St. Petersburg Keswick Christian beat St. Petersburg Northside Christian 47-35 and Indian Rocks Christian won the 2A-9 championship with a 41-34 triumph against Tampa Prep.
Brandon’s Wrestling Machine Rolls On
It may have saw its legendary winning streak come to an end, but Brandon is still a dominant wrestling program.
To that point, the Eagles won their 35th straight district championship Feb. 2, winning the Class 2A, District 7 championship by 151 points.
Brandon’s two-time defending state champion Eric Grajales was one of 11 Eagles’ wrestlers to win their weight class. Grajales (130 pounds) used his 45th pin of the season to win his match, setting a new state record for pins in the process. Overall, Grajales is 49-0 this season.
The Eagles’ streak of 459 consecutive dual match victories was broken earlier this season.
In other district meets, Tampa Chamberlain repeated as the Class 2A, District 8 champ, Spring Hill Springstead (2A-5) won its 22nd overall district crown and Tampa Jesuit captured five weight classes to win the 1A-5 tournament.
Also, Tampa Robinson advanced 13 wrestlers while winning the 1A-10 event, Plant City Durant was strong as well with four individuals winning 3A-5 district titles and New Port Richey Gulf had three wrestlers take titles while winning the 1A-6 team championship.
