Girls outlook

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 22, 2002

Gulf Buccaneers

VENUE: Des Little Stadium.

COACH: Dean Lofton (third season).

KEY RETURNEES: Melissa Dattoli, So. (1,600, 3,200); Michelle Mendoca, So. (100HH, 300IH, PV, TJ); Megan Rashid, Sr. (DC, SP); Dawn Selvidge, Sr. (100HH, 300IH); Amber Shuhart, So. (800, 1,600); Anna Szwejkowska, Sr. (100, 200); Cindy Wade, Sr. (800, 1,600, PV).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Cassidy Facemire, Fr. (LJ); Kortney Newton, So. (800, LJ).

OUTLOOK: Graduation hurts. Gone are Gulf's excellent 4x100 and 4x400 teams, along with a good deal of speed. But Lofton said the Bucs can put a good, solid athlete in every event -- there's just no depth behind them. Field events may suffer, too, especially without a high jumper.

Hudson Cobras

VENUE: Cobra Stadium.

COACH: Paul Carter (first season).

KEY RETURNEES: Samantha Abrams, Jr. (DC, SP); Tiffany Ball, Jr. (100, 4x100, 4x400); Katie Lamlin, Sr. (100, 200 4x100); Renee Vainisi, Sr. (100, 4x100, HJ, LJ).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Janine Meares, Fr. (3,200, 4x800); Lauren Stubler, So. (3,200, 4x800); Shane Ryder, Fr. (100, 200, 400, 800); Tina West, So. (1,600, 3,200).

OUTLOOK: The task of rebuilding falls on Carter, the new coach. He hopes his team is improved from last season, and vows they will be competitive. That will be hard without middle distance runners, a triple jumper and depth. But Vainisi will make it easier.

Land O'Lakes Gators

VENUE: Gator Stadium.

COACH: Rock Ridgeway (fifth season).

KEY RETURNEES: Alison Foster, So. (DC, SP); Krissandra Johnston, Sr. (400, 4x100, 4x400); Debra Mann, Sr. (1,600, 3,200); Cassie Poyssick, Jr. (LJ, TJ, 4x100, 4x400); Dani Shimer, So. (800, 1,600, 4x400); Jessica Worthington, Jr. (800, 4x800, PV); .

KEY NEWCOMERS: Ericka Cagle, So. (100, 4x100, HJ); Elsa Kurlycheck, Fr. (3,200, HJ, LJ, TJ); Jamie Myers, Fr. (800, 1,600, 4x400).

OUTLOOK: Land O'Lakes is enjoying a record turnout this season, and Ridgeway hopes it can last through the conference meet, because he's never been able to fill this many events before. The team's strengths are the middle distance races, while the hurdles and long distances are weaknesses.

Mitchell Mustangs

VENUE: Mustang Stadium.

COACH: Florie Buno (second season).

KEY RETURNEES: Brianna Dougherty, So. (3,200, 4x800); Nicole Guercio, So. (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800); Kalyn Kinnard, Jr. (100, 200, 400); Erica Sloms, So. (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Amanda Athanson, Fr. (800, 4x800, DC, SP); Bernie Boac, Fr. (100HH, 4x100); Jenn Cooper, Jr. (300IH, 400, 800); Layla Randazo, Sr. (HJ, 100); Corie Reilly, Fr. (400); Erin Sotiaux, Fr. (400, 4x00).

OUTLOOK: Another rapidly improving team, but Mitchell isn't yet ready for prime time -- a run at Ridgewood -- just yet. The sprints should be improved this season, and the field events definitely will be better, where the Mustangs barely scored any points last season.

Pasco Pirates

VENUE: W.F. Edwards Stadium.

COACH: Melinda Covel (second season).

KEY RETURNEES: Chantell Burns, Sr. (200, 4x100, LJ, TJ); Erica Hayden, Jr. (PV); Menyon Holloman, So. (100, 4x100, LJ); Jamie Nattrass, So. (800, 1,600, 3,200); Amanda Newsome, Jr. (300IH, DC, SP, PV); Candace Piotrowski, Jr. (800, 1,600); Grace Sinclair, Jr. (800, 1,600); LaShawn Vaughns, So. (100, 200, 4x100, LJ, TJ); .

KEY NEWCOMERS: Alicia Badger, So. (100, 200, 100HH, 300IH, 4x100).

OUTLOOK: Pasco boasts perhaps the county's strongest group of sprinters, thanks to the addition of Badger. Vaughns is already a future athlete-of-the-year, and the team has talent everywhere, just no depth.

Ridgewood Rams

VENUE: Ram Booster Stadium.

COACH: Sue Vien (16th season).

KEY RETURNEES: Michelle Cotharin, So. (800, 4x400, 4x800, HJ, TJ); Dawn Gryce, Sr. (100HH, 300IH, 4x400); Jen Hayes, Jr. (100HH, 4x400, HJ, LJ, TJ); Sarah Penokie, So. (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800); Tiffany Powell, So. (100, 200, 4x100); Ashley Prescott, So. (100, 200, 300IH, PV); Andrea Sablan, Sr. (DC); Lizzie Sheridan, Sr. (1,600, 3,200, 4x800).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Veronica Berrios, Fr. (100, 200); Kristina Kell, FR. (400, 8000, TJ); Ashley Krupinski, Fr. (100, 200, 400).

OUTLOOK: Is this the year the dynasty -- 14 SAC and 12 district titles -- ends? Ridgewood is no longer head and shoulders above the competition -- but is still the favorite, by virtue of superior numbers and a slight downturn in competition. The Rams have to overcome youth and inexperience, as well as the loss of a stellar crop of seniors from last season's regional champions. The biggest blow is the loss of 2000 state high jump champion Shawna Luikart, whose senior season may be over because of a broken left ankle suffered cheerleading.

River Ridge Royal Knights

VENUE: Jim Valentine Athletic Complex.

COACH: Dave Heywood (11th season).

KEY RETURNEES: Dawn Conner, Jr. (4x400, 4x800, HJ, TJ); Danielle Coyle, So., (1,600, 3,200, 4x800); Gina Fredrickson, So., (100, 200, 4x100, LJ); Samantha Jacobsen, So. (3,200, 4x800); Christine MacAvoy, Jr. (800, 4x800, 4x400); Emily Ollivier, Sr. (DC, SP).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Kelly Bruce, Fr. (100HH, 4x400, HJ, TJ,); Ashley Grant, Jr. (100, 200, 4x100).

OUTLOOK: As Heywood put it, he has to replace a "one-man team" with the graduation of all-everything Jessica Verga. But even with just two seniors River Ridge is still a top-tier team. Coyle and Jacobsen are among the best distance runners in the county and only injury can keep Ollivier from the state meet.

Wesley Chapel Wildcats

VENUE: Wildcat Stadium.

COACH: Annie McGhee (third season).

KEY RETURNEES: Emily Conklin, Sr. (800, 4x400, 4x800); Ashley Martin, Jr. (DC, SP); Angela Medvid, Jr. (100IH, 300H, 4x100, LJ, TJ); Autumn Yanchunis, Sr. (300H, 4x100, 4x400, HJ, PV).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Stephanie Amerman, Fr. (1,600, 3,200, 4x800); Jasmine Cabrera, Fr. (100, 4x100, HJ, LJ); Lindsay Lucado, So. (800, 4x800); Kendall Smith, Fr. (100, 200).

OUTLOOK: The Wildcats are better this season, and depending on tennis, weighlifiting and softball season, will boast more athletes than ever before and should be respectable.

Zephyrhills Bulldogs

VENUE: Bulldog Stadium.

COACH: Michael Stanton (first season).

KEY RETURNEES: Jessica Boza, So. (100, 4x100); Tanya Bruton, So. (DC, SP); Lindsey Davis, Sr. (SP); Sabrina Simpson, So. (SP); Tiffany Tucker, Sr. (100, 200, 4x100, HJ, LJ); Renee Yonkoff, Jr. (400).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Megan Pitts, Jr. (100HH, 300IH.

OUTLOOK: The rebuilding Bulldogs are enjoying a great turnout. Tucker anchors a good sprint squad, and Bruton leads a solid group of hurlers.

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