By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
The sudden resignation of University of Tennessee head football coach Phil Fulmer has at least one Bay area recruit re-thinking his verbal commitment.
Tampa Gaither standout running back Jarvis Giles said this week he was surprised by the turn of events in Knoxville.
Giles, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound speedster, said he would still consider Tennessee, who he verbally committed to earlier this year, but in the meantime would take official visits to South Carolina and Mississippi.
Despite missing the first two games of the season with a leg injury, Giles has rushed for more than 700 yards this season with 10 touchdowns. He is averaging six yards a carry.
Swimming: District Foes Look Forward to Cooke’s Graduation
Gregg Cooke’s high school swimming career is coming to an end soon and swimmers in Class 3A, District 5 couldn’t be happier.
A senior at Tampa Sickles, Cooke swam to first place titles in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle for the third straight season. Cooke won the state title last season in the 50 free.
Also a standout baseball player who will play that sport in college at the University of Central Florida, Cooke helped lead the Sickles boys team to a fourth-place team finish. Teammate Conor Swanson helped, winning the 100-meter breaststroke and 200 individual medley.
Palm Harbor University’s boys and girls took first place in the district while Clearwater Countryside’s boys and girls placed second in both meets.
In Class 2A, District 9, Seminole’s boys won their first district championship since 1998. The Warhawks got an outstanding performance from the first-place winning 200 freestyle relay team of Jordan Hawkins, Cameron Hawkins, Erik Gottschling and Zach Metka.
St. Petersburg Northeast’s Cameron Chambers was the top individual, winning the 200 IM and 50 freestyle and swimming a leg on the winning 200 medley relay team.
The Clearwater girls won their second straight district title, led by Megan Rossi’s 500-freestyle title. Northeast Megan Romano swam to individual titles in the 200-freestyle and the 100-meter backstroke.
Tampa Plant’s boys and girls dominated the Class 2A-8 district swim meet.
The Panthers’ boys are trying to defend their region championship from last season. Meanwhile, Plant’s girls were led by all-state performer Meg Anderson (50 free, 100 free winner) and Hillary Hahmann won the 200- and 500-free events.
Meanwhile, Land O’ Lakes boys’ won their fifth straight Class 2A, District 5 crown while St. Petersburg Shorecrest won its fourth straight girls and boys Class A, District 8 swimming titles.
The Shorecrest girls were led by Hope Andrews’ performance. She won the 200 IM and the 500 free. Other multiple first-place finishes were turned in by St. Petersburg Catholic’s Kelsey Krauss (50 free, 100 fly) and St. Petersburg Northside Christian’s Jaki St. Louis (200 IM, 100 breaststroke).
Volleyball: Defending Champs Look Right at Home
For the two-time defending Class 5A state champion Tampa Plant, the start of the playoffs looks a lot like the regular season.
Plant, using a mix of regular starters and reserves, dominated the Class 5A, District 10 tournament, winning the event with ease.
“We’re doing the things we need to do,” Plant coach Leanna Taylor said. “We’ve been working on our communication and it could be seen during the match. Our hustle was there and we were focused.”
Plant (24-3) topped Tampa Blake, Tampa Hillsborough and Tampa Leto to win the district crown.
With the district championship, Plant has won nine straight matches and 15 of its last 16. In fact, the Panthers have not dropped a match since a loss to Louisville (Ky.) Sacred Heart in the Nike Challenge Tournament in Illinois almost a month ago.
Junior outside hitter Maddie Martin, senior setter Ariel Ley, junior outside hitter Danielle Erb and junior libero Ali McCurdy all were standouts during the district tournament.
Plant begins this week’s region tournament by hosting Tarpon Springs East Lake.
Other top region openers include unbeaten Clearwater Countryside taking on Plant City Durant in Class 6A. Durant topped Countryside (26-0) in the postseason a year ago.
Meanwhile in Class 5A, Palm Harbor University (23-3) hosts Leto (11-5), Brandon (22-1) entertains New Port Richey Ridgewood (14-9), Lithia Newsome (12-4) plays at New Port Richey River Ridge (23-4) and St. Petersburg Lakewood (21-4) hosts Bradenton Manatee (26-2).
Also, Tampa Berkeley Prep (24-2) opens Class 3A regional play without junior outside hitter Chelsea Parker, who is recovering from a broken nose suffered last week in practice. The Buccaneers begin region play at home against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (19-9). And the winner of the Clearwater Central Catholic (18-8)-Fort Myers Bishop Verot (21-0) meeting will face the Berkeley Prep-Cardinal Mooney winner in the next round.
And in Class A, Tampa Prep (12-13) plays host to Fort Meade (13-10), Tampa Cambridge (16-8) plays at St. Petersburg Canterbury (16-8) and defending Class A champion Tampa Bayshore Christian (16-11) opens region play at home against Clearwater Lakeside Christian (10-11).
