- April 25, 2024
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The history continues for the Seabreeze girls and both Father Lopez cross-country teams, as all three advanced to this weekend's state meet. Also: Girls soccer is underway, and Seabreeze girls swimming wins district.
BY ANDREW O'BRIEN | SPORTS EDITOR
Lady Sandcrabs finish second in region, advance to states for first time
Talk about a matter of seconds.
The Seabreeze girls cross-country team took second place on Saturday in the Region 2-3A meet, finishing with 56 team points — just one point behind regional champion Ocala Vanguard.
Regardless, the Lady Sandcrabs made history: For the first time in school history, the Seabreeze girls cross-country team is headed to the state meet.
Kianna Bonnet finished second in the region in 18 minutes, 57 seconds. Elizabeth Murray (fifth, 19:37) and Alyssa Bayliff (seventh, 19:46) both joined Bonnet in the top 10. The rest of the team finished as follows: Lea Gray (22nd, 20:48), Forever Young (29th, 21:18), Josie Gray (49th, 22:00) and Ashley Beers (78th, 24:09).
Seabreeze’s team average was 20:05, which was about six seconds faster than Ocala Vanguard’s team average.
It’s been quite the historical season for Seabreeze.
“It was a first for everything this year,” coach Debora Diaz said. Last season, the team was ranked 35th in its class. This season, the team will contend for a state title. Also, the team is young, with only one senior, Forever Young, graduating.
“We should stay loaded next year,” Diaz said.
But before the Lady Sandcrabs look toward next year, they will try to make even more school history in the Class 3A state meet, which will be Nov. 9, at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.
Father Lopez to send both cross-country teams to states
History continues to be made at Father Lopez, as well.
Both the boys and the girls cross-county teams qualified for the Class 1A state meet. The boys team finished fourth at the Region 2-1A meet; the girls team also finished fourth.
Adam Farmer led the way, finishing 15th overall in 18:07. Connor Nyborg (22nd, 18:22) and Kevin Scheiber (25th, 18:26) both joined Farmer in the top 25. The rest of the team finished as follows: Nick Theriault (27th, 18:32), Matthew Roof (31st, 18:43), Sebatian Siliva (44th, 19:21) and Chase Massi (48th, 19:33).
Paige Ward led the girls team, finishing 11th in the region in 20:19. The rest of the team finished as follows: Adrienne Yaryan (22nd, 21:16), Valerie Villafane (23rd, 21:21), Megan Wilson(33rd, 22:21), Annie Morejon (41st, 22:40), Lauren Fox (63rd, 24:31) and Emma McAskill (65th, 24:40).
All season long, Father Lopez coach Suzanne O’Malley has preached the motto: “To get what we have never had, we must do what we have never done.”
And this season, the team did the talk and the walk — well, the run, actually.
“All of the team ran with their hearts and their feet to make our goals and dreams come true this season,” O’Malley said.
The Class 1A state meet will be Nov. 9, at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.
Seabreeze girls swimming wins district title
The Seabreeze girls swimming team cruised to the District 4-A title last week.
The girls team won all three relay events, which set the tone to win the entire meet, said coach Katie Corby.
All three relays are the top seed for the regional meet, which will be Friday, in Winter Haven.
In total, 19 swimmers (11 girls, eight boys) qualified for regionals.
Girls soccer: Mainland 1, Father Lopez 0
Courtney Lacates’ second-half goal lifted Mainland (2-0) to a 1-0 win over Father Lopez (1-1) last Wednesday.
Father Lopez out-shot Mainland, 12-5 but couldn’t put any shots in the back of the net.
Lindsey Marshall assisted the lone goal.
Mainland keeper Kady Webb had seven saves. Lopez keeper Katelyn McCathran had two saves.
Lopez knocked off Interlachen, 4-0, in its season opener. The Green Wave managed to get 28 shots on goal.
