Four area students are stars of month

Juggling academics, athletics and community activities is not easy. Student-athletes who can have been recognized the past four years by the John Lynch Foundation Star of the Month program. This month's Pinellas winners were Amanda Miller, Katherine Tittle, Marc Sawyer and Timothy Willis.

"Each year since we started the Star of the Month program, we've gotten more and more participation from the schools," said Maggie Doran, the foundation's executive director. "This program is a wonderful way to acknowledge the student-athletes and to recognize their good work and encourage them to do more," she said.

Lynch, a Bucs Pro Bowl safety, and his wife, Linda, hope the students will continue to develop the leadership skills, focus, perseverance and responsibility they have displayed.

Miller, 13, a Keswick Christian School eighth-grader, was nominated by her cross country coach, Lance Lipham. In only her second year competing last season, Miller ran the county's fastest mile (5:49).

"Last year, a senior invited me to try out for cross country and I found I liked it," said Miller, of Largo. "Before that, I mostly swam."

As a swimmer, Miller has collected numerous first-place awards for the Bardmoor Aquatic Team. A season ago, she captured the title in the St. Anthony's Meek and Mighty Triathlon division for 11-12-year-olds.

Despite all the time consumed by training, Miller has a 3.92 GPA, volunteers at the Bay Pines Veterans Hospital and is a Girl Scouts cadet.

Tim Reynolds, Tittle's volleyball coach at Dixie Hollins High School, nominated the senior. Being a Bucs fan made the award and receiving a Lynch-autographed football even more special.

"The Foundation office called to tell me I was selected," said Tittle, 17. "I was surprised and really pleased."

In addition to playing middle blocker on the volleyball court, she is a shooting guard for the school's basketball team. Tittle is involved in a Youth Crimewatch program, and has volunteered at the Pinellas Park Boys and Girls Club. Rounding out his final year at Canterbury, Sawyer has enjoyed a stellar academic and athletic career.

Ranked second in the senior class as an honors student, Sawyer excelled in baseball by batting .400 and playing first base and pitching.

"Although I started playing tennis and baseball at around the age of 5, I decided my greatest passion was with baseball," said Sawyer, of Largo. "So now, I'm planning on playing baseball in college."

Sawyer has been a highly-ranked state tennis player and lists his greatest highlight as attending the 16th Maccabia Games last year in Israel.

"I'm on a Student-Athlete Leadership Committee, and we try to promote spirit as well as do some things to help raise money for the school," Sawyer said. Willis, in his eighth and final year at Blessed Sacrament, is determined to miss nothing before he enters high school.

"I've gone to this school since I was in kindergarten, and I want to take it all in before I leave," said the 14-year-old from Largo.

Willis plays volleyball, soccer, basketball and softball and runs track. He is the Student Council vice-president, a certified soccer referee and a volunteer at Heritage Village and the area's athletic fields.

To learn more about the Star of the Month program, call (813) 223-4447 or go online to www.John LynchFoundation.org.

GIRLS GYMNASTICS: Oldsmar's Gemini School of Gymnastics had an invitational meet that attracted 300-plus competitors. Gemini finished second in Level 6, sixth in Level 4 and eighth in Level 5. Lauren Kannard won Level 6 all-around honors, as did Emily Tongdee in Level 4. Other top-10 all-around placements for Gemini were recorded by Joette Amundaray (third), Anastasia Gendelmen (10th), Desiree Winslow (ninth) and Anna Yatskar (third), Level 4; Falon Canham (second), Jennifer Posz (sixth) and Sara Green (seventh), Level 5; and Christine Gunther (second), Arianna Segal (seventh) and Sarah Zoldos (fifth), Level 6. Carly Tidwell's personal best all-around score of 38.465 led LaFleur's of Largo to first in Level 4. Other LaFleur's all-around place-winners were Christine Miles, Level 4;Caitlin Tarr (second), Mikayla Mann (second), Tonya Narzinsky (second) and Amanda Condreay (third). Rounding out the division's top-10 list were Andrea Voynovich (fourth), Amanda Oliveira (sixth), Kaylyn Nelson (sixth), Amanda Mills (eighth), Nikki Wiseman (ninth), Layna Moehl (ninth) and Gabrielle Bunn (10th). LaFleur's defeated the Level 5 competition and was led by Kaley LaFleur, Megan Vonstetina and Taylor Sides victories. Nicole Hayden and Rachel Crouch were second, Morgan Tillia and Jessica Bunn third, Jenna Spady fourth, Cayla Collins sixth, Rebecca Roberts eighth, and Elise Moehl ninth.

FOOTBALL: Clearwater's Mighty Mite and Flyweight wins over Countryside last week kept them unbeaten in the Suncoast Youth Conference. The only other undefeated varsity teams were Dixie (Pee Wee division) and Pinellas Park (Midget). Entering today's games, the East Lake Eagles were 5-2 in the Pasco Police Athletic League Flyweights and Mighty Mites classes, 7-0 in junior varsity and 4-3 in varsity. St. Pete and Largo were neck-and-neck in the Pinellas Youth Conference Midget division. St. Pete and Gibbs were tied for first in Pee Wee. Unbeaten Gibbs had a game lead over St. Pete in Mighty Mites, and Gibbs was 7-0 in Flyweights.

BASKETBALL: With the Clearwater for Youth League nearing the end of its season, the Heatwave 10 (12-and-under division) and St. Paul's 14 (13-and-over) teams are undefeated. Tournament play begins Friday for the 13 class and Nov. 1 for 12. COMING UP: This weekend, the West Florida Lightning Aquatic swim team is having its Halloween meet at Largo's Southwest Pool.

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