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BRANDON - At the beginning of the football season, Armwood coach Sean Callahan was cautiously optimistic his team could be among the area's best. Today, the Hawks are considered the state's best.
Armwood was voted the state's No. 1 team in the Class 4A poll. Selected by members of the Florida Sports Writers Association, Armwood is 7-0 overall and 3-0 in 4A, District 10. The Hawks, who have won their seven games by an average of 44-5 this season, received eight first-place votes after their 49-13 win against Alonso on Oct. 16.
Armwood was helped into the top spot after Tallahassee Lincoln, the previously first-ranked team, suffered a loss.
The lofty ranking offers no guarantee of postseason success in the state playoffs. In the past 10 years, Jefferson, Chamberlain, Wharton, Hillsborough and Jesuit all reached the state finals, but only Jesuit held a No. 1 ranking. None won the state championship.
GOLF: The Class 2A, District 6 tournament tees off Monday. The Armwood, Bloomingdale, Brandon, Durant, East Bay and Riverview girls will be at Willowbrook Golf Club in Winter Haven while those schools' boys will compete at Summerfield Country Club in Riverview. Tampa Bay Tech's boys' and girls' squads will play in the 2A-7 events; the boys' tournament is at Carrollwood Golf Club and the girls' event is at Rogers Park.
VOLLEYBALL: District playoffs take center stage next week with local teams spread out among three sites. Armwood hosts the Class 4A, District 11 tournament beginning Tuesday; it includes Blake, Freedom, Jefferson and Tampa Bay Tech. The same day, Brandon and East Bay will begin play at the 5A, District 8 tournament at Plant; and Durant will host the Class 6A, District 6 tournament starting Monday. The top-seeded Cougars will compete with Bloomingdale, Riverview, Sarasota Riverview and Sarasota.
SWIMMING: The Bloomingdale, Durant and Riverview boys' and girls' teams will compete at the Class 3A, District 4 meet Friday at the Long Center in Clearwater. Hosted by Palm Harbor University High School, the meet also includes Chamberlain, Clearwater, East Lake, Gaither, Hillsborough, King, Lakeland and Plant City.