Few remain alive in postseason play
High schools extending their winter sports season looking for titles are well on their way.
By TERRY JONES
Published February 13, 2005
After two weeks of postseason competition, guiding all winter prep sports to their end, a few teams from north Hillsborough County are still alive and doing well. The following is a compilation of team and individual results from the past week:
GIRLS SOCCERFreedom High School is the only local team to remain alive in the hunt for a state championship. The Patriots eliminated the Class 4A defending state champions with a 2-1 win over the Spongers from Tarpon Springs High.
The Spongers had beaten Freedom in three previous meetings, including last year's regional semifinal match.
Erin Wilson scored both goals for the Patriots.
Freedom met Newsome on Friday to battle for a state final four berth.
In Class 5A, both Sickles and Gaither finished their 2005 seasons Tuesday with eliminating semifinal losses.
Sickles' Marisa Bartelt scored the only goal for the Gryphons in a 2-1 loss to Mitchell, in a semifinal match determined by penalty kicks. Sickles finished its season 20-2.
Kara Teresi and Shanna Pace each scored for Gaither in the Cowboys' 5-2 loss to the Lakeland Jenkins. The Cowboys finished their season 11-6.
BOYS SOCCERBecause of all the caution cards issued - 13 in all - Gaither and Alonso could have been mistaken for participating in a rugby match in the Class 5A, District 7 championship Feb. 4.
When the dust settled and the lights faded, the Gaither Cowboys walked away with a 2-0 district championship.
A pair of players, sophomore Ben Foerstner and junior Korry Kubly, scored the Cowboys' goals.
Unfortunately for Gaither, the Cowboys were eliminated Thursday night in a 2-0 loss to King. The Cowboys entered the match ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 5A and finished with a 20-3-2 record for the season.
Alonso had a donnybrook battle with Brandon in its regional quarterfinal, similar to its district finals with Gaither. Thirty-four fouls, 10 yellow cards and a red card were issued during the match.
The Alonso Ravens' Bobby Durham was issued the red, causing Alonso to play most of the second half down a player.
Brandon took advantage of Alonso's shortage of manpower to win 3-1, ending the Ravens' season.
As for the Freedom Patriots, Bobby Huertas scored both goals for Freedom in its 2-0 district title win over Tampa Bay Tech.
The Patriots are the only local team still alive for boys soccer. They beat Orlando Celebration 2-1 in double overtime last Thursday night to earn a berth in the semifinals next Tuesday night at Freedom's field.
Miguel Martes scored the regulation goal for the Patriots, and Juan Balcazar scored the overtime goal.
WRESTLINGIn the Hillsborough County championships, Chamberlain High's Michael White won the county title at 140 pounds with a 6-2 decision over Kyle Paladini of Bloomingdale in the championship match. Teammate Jose Fernandez (275 pounds) also won gold with a 5-minute, 4-second pin of Robinson's Justin Windley in the finals.
Two other Chamberlain Chiefs, Ricardo Topham (130) and Patrick Spano (145), placed second in their finals bouts, and both Andrew Sanchez (171) and Joseph Haddad (215) placed second.
Sickles' 215-pound Chris Cobos won a county championship in his weight class, while teammates Jake Bolnick finished second at 112 and Chris Coffey third at 130.
Alonso, Jefferson, Gaither and Wharton each had one third-place winner.
For the Ravens, Chris Allen earned his ribbon at 125 pounds, Martin Crow was third at 130 for the Cowboys, Wharton's David Cieplenski took his title at 152 and Jefferson's Adam Altuzarra placed third at 189 pounds.
Last Friday, all Class A teams were to compete in their district meet at Berkeley Prep. Freedom was the only remaining Class A school from north Hillsborough.
All other teams, including Chamberlain, Alonso, Sickles, Jefferson and Leto, were to compete Saturday night at Alonso. Also on Saturday, Wharton and Gaither were to compete in the Class 2A and 3A district tournaments.
GIRLS BASKETBALLIn the Class 5A district meet Thursday, Wharton outscored Chamberlain 22-3 in the first eight minutes of play, then went on to defeat the Chiefs 64-28 to gain a berth in the finals and assure a regional match.
Jessica Piggott was top scorer for the Wharton Lady Wildcats with 23 points.
Also, Alonso beat Sickles 76-52. Jessica James led the Ravens with 22 points.
Jefferson put up a scrap before falling 53-43 to Freedom in a Class 4A, District 11 semifinal game at Freedom. The Patriots were in control throughout, even playing the bench for much of the game.
Morgan Farrington scored 17 points and Tandra Faulkner 16 to lead the Patriots.
Jefferson forward Terrosany Ingram was the game-high scorer with 22 points.
To sum up: Wharton, Freedom and Alonso are moving on and will play in regional quarterfinal games next Thursday.