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Mustangs tighten their grip

Mitchell's athletics program finishes on top for the third consecutive year, with conference titles in five sports.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published August 12, 2005

TRINITY - When Mitchell opened its doors to students five years ago, coaches and administrators hoped to see athletics success by the end of the school's fourth year.

They never guessed it would happen the first year and blossom to county-wide dominance by the fourth.

Now, Pasco County's youngest public high school enters its sixth season on the heels of a third straight Sunshine Athletic Conference All-Sports Award.

Mitchell compiled 143.5 points during the 2004-05 season, 21.5 more than second-place Wesley Chapel (122). River Ridge was third with 121.5.

"That's a matter of coaches being successful in their programs, kids buying into their programs and everybody working toward that winning attitude," athletic director Ian Mooney said, "and I think it's caught up across the board in most of our sports."

Mitchell won conference championships in football, boys cross country, girls swimming, girls golf and boys basketball. The Mustangs were second in boys golf, girls soccer and girls tennis.

Though the football team made the playoffs for the third time, its conference championship and winning record (7-2) were school firsts.

"I know Scott Schmitz has worked hard in many, many years and that was his first conference (title), and that was huge," Mooney said. "That was a very significant title to hold."

One of Mitchell's biggest accomplishments had nothing to do with wins and losses. The Mustangs earned the Florida High School Athletic Association's sportsmanship award for the second time in three seasons. The Mustangs were the only 5A school honored.

"That was a big accomplishment," Mooney said. "I give that to the coaches and the players to doing it the right way, and success came along with it. Not only did they have good sportsmanship, they were very successful in the same way."

Mitchell and Land O'Lakes, which won a conference championship in boys swimming, tied for the boys title with 73 points. River Ridge, behind SAC-winning volleyball, softball and tennis teams, earned the girls title with 74.5. Mitchell was second at 70.5.

The all-sports award is based on the nine county public high schools' standings in 22 sports.

Mitchell won the overall and boys awards last year. The Mustangs earned the overall award in 2002-03 despite not winning the boys or girls categories.

"It means we keep setting the bar higher and higher every year," Mooney said. "It's not easy to achieve that award year after year after year. It definitely puts the pressure on the upcoming classes to continue that success and continue that legacy of winning. I think we will continue to see that, because we do have strong coaches and kids who are willing to buy into those programs, so I think we should continue to see that same success, hopefully, down the road."

[Last modified August 12, 2005, 00:47:15]