CARROLLWOOD - In all sports, most coaches consider the season a success when a team finishes in the top 10 of the state championship finals. When the team finishes that high unexpectedly, it's even more of a pleasant end to a season.
Chamberlain High School entered the Class 2A boys state golf tournament with the highest (worst) qualifying score and no direction to shoot but down. With a strong effort by the entire team, the Chiefs finished a surprising sixth.
The local golfers combined their first-day scores on 18 holes for a team total of 314 and added 316 on day two for a 630-point finish. Orlando Olympia won with 585.
Sophomore ace Brad Brunner finished seventh in individual competition with a 74 opening round and a par 72 on day two, for a total of 146.
Maxwell Hutson shot 79-78-157 for 30th, Kennedy Fisher 79-85-164 for 52nd and David Hobsob 88-81-169 for 72nd to finish the scoring for the Chiefs, and fifth player Andy Stemler shot 82-91-173 for 80th.
VOLLEYBALL - Gaither High School's run for a state title made it through a win in the regional quarterfinals.
The Cowboys were beaten by River Ridge 25-11, 25-15, 19-25 and 25-15 in the semifinals.
Katie Anderson led the Cowboys' effort with 13 kills.
CROSS COUNTRY - In the Class 4A state cross country race on Nov. 8, Gaither sophomore Amanda Quick ran the fastest 3-mile time for all Hillsborough County runners in the girls competition with a time of 18 minutes, 49 seconds. Her time was seventh in the state.
Teammate Kathryn Kramer turned in a 20:27 for 49th, and Amanda's freshman sister, Katie Quick, was 72nd with 20:52.
All three Gaither runners qualified for the state meet as individuals and were not able to compete for a Cowboys team score.
