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Strong desire to win fuels Lecanto
By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer The members of the Lecanto girls team are competitive, even in practice. "They hate to lose," longtime coach Freddie Bullock said. "They hate to lose to each other. We've had two mock meets, intrasquad meets, and it was fierce. That's half the battle at this level. If you're of the same caliber as your opponent, then it comes down to competitiveness and who's not afraid to compete." Apparently, the Panthers have little fear. In today's Class 3A, Region 2 meet at Titusville Astronaut, Lecanto will have 14 participants. The Panthers won last week's District 6 meet at home in convincing fashion, finishing with 219.50 points, well ahead of second-place Belleview (131). "They really did well," Bullock said. "We ran so well last Thursday. We have good kids and good times." Competing today for the Panthers are Jill Bandhauer (shot put), Kylene Colasanti (100-meter hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, pole vault, 4x400), Sibil Edghill (4x400), Nicole Gasiorek (400, 4x400), Amanda Howard (1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Santana Huggett (800, 4x800), Nicole Mailloux (3,200, 4x800), Christy Kinchen (800), Stacey Lowe (300 hurdles, 4x400), Amy Rundio (800), Annemarie Saxer (1,600), Dani Sowell (100), Kate Wheeler (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, long jump, triple jump) and Deidra Witherspoon (3,200, 4x800). The Lecanto boys will be represented by Nate Edwards (4x400), Bruce Emberley (400, 4x400), Mike Perrino (4x400), Phil Reed (shot put) and Fred Simmons (4x400). The girls were 12th at state in Class 2A last year, have won four consecutive district titles and are unbeaten. The senior class is the first to claim four district championships. The Panthers, however, have no regional crowns. Lecanto's three most prominent standouts are seniors Colasanti, Howard and Wheeler. Howard won the 1,600 and 3,200 at district. Colasanti and Wheeler had success at state in 2001 and each will attempt to qualify in five events. Wheeler, the 2001 Times All-Citrus/Hernando Athlete of the Year, competed in four state events last season. She was the district champion in the 100 hurdles, high jump and long jump. "Kate's weakness is the 300 (hurdles)," Bullock said. "But she'll be up for (the meet). I'm not worried about that." Gasiorek, a sophomore, was Lecanto's other district champion. She claimed the 400 in one minute, 2.18 seconds. "She's great," Bullock said. "If you correct her, you know she'll try to improve the next time."
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