In memory of Marine Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, who was shot by Iraqis pretending to surrender on March 23, 2003, near Nasiriyah, the Buesing family recently set up a wrestling scholarship in his name that will be awarded each year.
David Hoke, a 2004 graduate of Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda and a member of the school's wrestling team, is the first recipient of the outstanding wrestler scholarship, worth $1,000. Hoke finished second in the state finals this year.
During his freshman year of high school, Buesing was a member of Charlotte High School's wrestling team. After graduation, he chose to delay college so he could enlist in the Marines.
While serving in Iraq, he was one of a group of Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., killed in the ambush last year. He was the first serviceman from the Tampa Bay area to be killed in the Iraq war.
Brian's parents, Diane and William Buesing III of Port Richey, and grandparents, Shirley and William Buesing Jr. of Brooksville, attended the scholarship presentation ceremony in Punta Gorda. The family also honored Sgt. Michael Woodliff, who like Brian Buesing, lost his life in Iraq and was a former member of Charlotte High School's wrestling team.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The 53rd annual Hernando County Fair and Youth Livestock Show took place April 15-25 and included several contests, shows and races.
The Miss Hernando County Fair beauty pageant was April 22. Kendalynn Tine won Infant Miss Hernando; Alexis Kraft won Baby Miss Hernando; Corinna Monages Dillon won Miniature Miss Hernando; Benjamin Chappell, Baby Mister Hernando; Dillan Hatfield, Miniature Mister Hernando; Mia Toner, Tiny Miss Hernando; Corrie Dutton, Little Miss Hernando; Brittany Barrett, Junior Miss Hernando; Stephanie Camp, Young Miss Hernando; Brittany Buckler, Teen Miss Hernando, and Tiffany Westbrook, Majestic Queen Hernando.
On April 23, the karaoke finals were held. In the children's category: Daniela Serricchio won first place ($250); Lucy Werner, second place ($75), and Samantha Pepenella, third place ($50).
In the male category: Kevin Maglia won first place ($500); Steve Stephenson, second place ($100); Jason Eadler, third place ($75), and James Virelo, fourth place ($50).
In the female category: Anita Soto won first place ($500); Beverly Lavertu, second place ($100); Brittany Buckler, third place ($75), and Tina Guarneri and Robon Stephens tied for fourth place, each receiving $25.
The arts and crafts contests were in the Henry Jackson Family Living Building. Matthew Wilcox won best of show; Amber McAndrew, reserve best of show; Aleisha Miller, honorable mention; and Amber McAndrew, Aleisha Miller and Kayla McAndrew all received first in class.
In the sewing category: Katrina McAndrew received best of show; Elizabeth Dillow, reserve best of show; Karleena Ahrens, honorable mention; and Katrina McAndrew, Elizabeth Dillow, Karleena Ahrens, Aleisha Miller, Suzanne Smith and Derrick Dennard all received first in class.
In the baked goods category: Robert Grubbs received best of show; Aleisha Miller, reserve best of show; and Robert Grubbs, Aleisha Miller and Sara Moores received first in class.
In the science category, Caleb and Joshua Smith received best of show. In the horticulture category, William Wing received best of show, and William Wing an d Delaney Ahrens both received first in class.
In the eggs category, Ahsley Mobley received best of show, and Katelyn Mobley received reserve best of show. In the high school art category, Nicole Moody of Central High School received best of show.
In livestock, in the rabbits category: Melissa Cougar received purebred grand champion; Holly Fincher, purebred reserve grand champion; Chesney Perkins, grade grand champion; Melissa Cougar, grade reserve grand champion; Holly Fincher, grand champion senior showmanship; Jodi Moores, reserve grand champion senior showmanship; Delaney Ahrens, grand champion junior showmanship, and Amanda Cooley, reserve grand champion junior showmanship. Melissa Cougar, Holly Fincher, Hernando Central FFA (Jodi Moores) and Delaney Ahrens all received first in class. Leslie Deckard and Martha Harris received best of class in the educational poster category.
In the poultry category: Joshua Smith received grand champion; Caleb Smith, reserve grand champion; Ben Zapadenko, grand champion senior showmanship; Matthew Batta, reserve grand champion senior showmanship; Caleb Smith, grand champion junior showmanship, and Joshua Smith, reserve grand champion junior showmanship. Melissa Cougar, Caleb Smith and Joshua Smith received first in class. Shelby Curley and Shayna Polsley received best of class.
In the swine category: Wendy Trieber received grand champion; Tiffany Tolbert, reserve grand champion; Karleena Ahrens, senior grand champion showmanship; Sara Moores, intermediate grand champion showmanship; Delaney Ahrens, junior grand champion showmanship; Lee Piermatteo, senior reserve grand champion showmanship; Eli Benjamin, intermediate reserve grand champion showmanship, and Ben Buttelman, junior reserve grand champion showmanship. First in class awards went to: Jodi Moores, Robert Grubbs, Wendy Trieber, Rachel Batten, Lee Piermatteo, Tiffany Tolbert, Delaney Ahrens and Casandra Martin.
The Brooksville Senior FFA Chapter received senior grand champion herdsman; Ryan Behm, intermediate grand champion herdsman, and Delaney Ahrens, junior grand champion herdsman.
Tabitha "T.J." Lewis received senior reserve grand champion herdsman; Paige Ware, intermediate reserve grand champion herdsman, and Shawn Fincher, junior reserve grand champion herdsman.
Karleena Ahrens received senior grand champion record book; Rachel Batten, intermediate grand champion record book, and Delaney Ahrens, junior grand champion record book.
Jodi Moores received senior reserve grand champion record book; Rahcel Batten and Sara Moores, intermediate reserve grand champion record book, and Ben Buttelman, junior reserve grand champion record book.
In the steer category: Tyler Hodge received grand champion and homegrown champion; Victoria Cannon, reserve grand champion and homegrown reserve champion; Brittany Huston, grand champion bottle fed, and Karri Harris, reserve grand champion bottle fed.
Britton Tafelski received senior grand champion showmanship; Jessica Bayne, intermediate grand champion showmanship; Jordan Walker, junior grand champion showmanship; Ben Rivenbark, senior reserve grand champion showmanship; Victoria Cannon, intermediate reserve grand champion showmanship, and Tyler Hodge, junior reserve grand champion showmanship.
First in class went to: Brittany Huston, Michelle Roush, Britton Tafelski, Tyler Hodge, Victoria Cannon and Jordan Walker.
Jodi Moores won senior grand champion herdsman; Justin Brand, intermediate grand champion herdsman, and Kelly Thomas, junior grand champion herdsman.
The Hernando Central FFA received senior reserve grand champion herdsman; Alan Aughe and Sara Moores, intermediate reserve grand champion herdsman, and Brittany Huston, junior reserve grand champion herdsman.
Jodi Moores won senior grand champion record book; Sara Moores, intermediate grand champion record book; Michael Walker, junior grand champion record book; Racheal Warren senior reserve grand champion record book; Danielle Timm, intermediate reserve grand champion record book, and Jordan Walker, junior reserve grand champion record book.
Danielle Timm received grand champion carcass, and Ben Rivenbark received reserve grand champion carcass.
Jodi Moores received the senior all star award; Robert Grubbs, intermediate all star, and Delaney Ahrens, junior all star.
In the club booths category: Kaleidoscope 4-H Club ( Robin McAndrew, leader) won best of show; Liberty Girls 4-H Club ( Sherry Carlson,leader) won reserve best of show, and Hernando Central FFA ( Gwen Roller, adviser) won best of show FFA.
RECREATION AND SPORTS
The competition team from Serena's Dance Palace competed in the All American Music & Dance Festival at the Hard Rock Live Concert Hall in Orlando on April 24.
It was the team's second regional competition of the year. The team entered five routines: four groups and one duet.
The team earned the following awards: one excellent medal, four superior medals, and all five entries received first-place category trophies. The team also received the best showmanship award.
For information, call 684-8004.
- Hometown Hernando welcomes reports on recreational and sports activities, both youth and adult, that do not normally run on the Sports pages. Send your news and results to: Jean Hayes, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613-6174.
