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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 23, 2002
WESLEY CHAPEL -- Wesley Chapel's first major meet went well -- with the exception of the driving rain and plummeting temperatures.
"Not bad for a swim meet," Zephyrhills boys coach Troy Hochstetler said.
But not even the weather could derail a young and raw Ridgewood girls squad from the Wildcat Invitational title Friday night at Wildcat Stadium. The Rams took home the trophy with 131.5 points.
That was just 35.5 points ahead of runner-up Citrus, the first time in years Ridgewood hasn't won a meet by more than 100 points.
The boys trophy also went to Ridgewood, which edged runner-up Citrus 122 to 83.
Some coaches believed the conditions were the worst in years -- conditions that kept some teams away from a meet already missing the area's top athletes due to winter sports. Even the pole vault was canceled.
Ridgewood's Jen Hayes and Robby Coghlan earned MVP awards.
Hayes won the 100-meter high hurdles in 17.05 seconds and the high jump with a leap of 5 feet. She was second in the 4x400 and fifth in the triple jump to score 26 points. Coghlan won the 100 in 11.33, the 200 in 23.26, was second in the 400 and seventh in the discus to score 31.
Pasco's Keymo Pearson won all the jumps: the high (6-2), the long (20-21/2) and the triple (40-51/4).
Ridgewood's Chris Vergnaud won the 110 high hurdles (16.45) and the 300 intermediate hurdles (42.79), and teammate Adamm Oliver the shot put (49-3).
Mitchell's Jeff Masterson won a tight 3,200 (9:57) and the Mustangs took the 4x800 relay (8:43.73) as well. Citrus' C.J. Bryant won the 800 (2:08) and the 1,600 (4:42).
River Ridge's Emily Olliver won the discus (1021/4) and the shot put (32-13/8), Samantha Jacobsen won the 3,200 (12:35), Danielle Coyle the 1,600 (5:39) and the 4x800 relay (10:36.03) won, too.
Citrus' Moesha Hollis won the triple jump (32-4) and Denise Jay won the 800 (2:40.77). Pasco's LaShawn Vaughns won the 100 (12.87) and Central's Tiffany Mobley won the 200 (26.31).