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2002: The Year in Review
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 26, 2002
McKethan dies at age 93
Alfred A. McKethan, "Mr. Hernando County," was not only a benefactor of athletics for his alma mater, the University of Florida -- donating $3-million for the baseball complex that bears his name -- but was a powerful force in his home community. Among the local sports and recreational projects he helped spearhead was the park on Pine Island.
Brooksville insurance agent Dianne K. Waldron tops the owners earnings list for Arabian horses in consecutive seasons. Through Dec. 2, her $340,897 in earnings over 57 starts led the nation. Her sprinter Bonuz and 3-year-old colt Stellarr also led their divisions. Bill and Cathy Waldron, also of Brooksville, were fourth with $165,816 in 68 starts.
Longtime girls basketball standout Bernice Mosby took Hernando High to within a game of the state semifinals, then committed to UConn, Louisiana State, Florida and the Lithuanian Olympic team (kidding) before settling on the Gators. Through 10 games, she leads Florida in points per game (15), points (150), rebounds (86), field goals made (61) and free-throw attempts (44).
The founder of Springstead High's wrestling program, one of the most successful in Tampa Bay, turned the team over to Roy Reyes after 23 seasons. Levija's teams were a combined 318-30-1 and won 14 conference, 17 district and six region titles and produced seven individual state champions.
Former Hernando High two-sport standout Dee Brown was named the Atlantic Sun Conference's Freshman of the Year in baseball after leading Central Florida in hits (85), RBIs (56) and total bases (111), and finishing second in batting average (.397). UCF (41-22) captured its conference tournament title but was eliminated from the NCAA Division I regional in Tallahassee after losses to Florida State and South Florida.
Brooksville's Laura DeWitt, 41, qualified for the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii in the women's 40-to-45 age group but was unable to compete because she struck a car -- breaking her collarbone -- during a training bike ride in Kona.
The Eagles softball team beat Land O'Lakes for its first playoff victory. Springstead's volleyball team went 0-24, stretching its losing streak to 42 straight over two seasons.
The Central senior running back rushed for more than 1,000 yards for consecutive seasons, leading the North Suncoast with 1,351 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns. Gaynor, who was productive despite playing for a 3-6 team, is being recruited by Eastern Kentucky and South Florida.
Hernando High sophomores Jason Lewis and Zak Lukas, both 16-year-old members of the Leopards boys soccer team, were found dead in the Gulf of Mexico in early December after their personal watercraft became disabled in the Gulf of Mexico. Former Springstead player Kristen Bernhardt died in a one-car accident in April at age 21.
Phil Mickelson, the second player to top $20-million in earnings, shot a 3-under 68, beating one-time PGA Championship-winner David Toms by a stroke in a made-for-television Shell's Wonderful World of Golf event at the course north of Brooksville. A throng of about 3,000 enthusiastic fans followed two of the world's top golfers as they plied the Pine Barrens course.
-- Information from Times archives contributed to this report.