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East Hillsborough winter sports preview
By BRYAN BURNS, Times Correspondent
Published October 5, 2007
The football season's at the halfway point for most area teams, so let's take a look ahead to the winter sports scene.
Soccer and wrestling practices start soon, and season openers are just around the corner. Here's a guide to the east Hillsborough teams and players we can expect to hear more about soon.
GIRLS SOCCER
Preseason top three
1. Newsome: A program just five years in the making, Newsome is looking for its fifth straight appearance in the regional finals and third trip in four years to the state semifinals.
2. East Bay: Just two seniors graduated from an Indians team that went 15-2-2 last season.
3. Bloomingdale: A perennial power, the Bulls will miss the services of two-time St. Petersburg Times player of the year Marissa Kazbour. She's now a freshman midfielder for Florida State this season.
Five to follow
Jordan Johnson, midfielder, Bloomingdale, sophomore: An emerging youngster to help ease the loss of Kazbour.
Julie Rolfe,forward, East Bay, senior: Reached double digits in scoring to lead the Indians.
Rachel Sandora, sweeper, East Bay, senior: Anchored an Indians defense that yielded just 13 goals all season.
Ana Cate, midfielder/forward, Newsome, junior: Another in the line of young Newsome players who can find the back of the net.
Megan Foley, forward, Newsome, senior: 12 goals and 12 assists for state semifinalist Wolves last season.
Team on the rise
East Bay:After qualifying for the regional tournament and winning its district for the first time since 1991, East Bay has bigger goals this year - including winning a regional playoff game.
BOYS SOCCER
Preseason top three
1. Durant:The Cougars are looking for back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
2. Bloomingdale: Since 1990, the Bulls have missed the playoffs just four times. Two of those misses, however, have come in the past two seasons.
3. Brandon:The Eagles' biggest obstacle is their schedule. With teams such as Wharton and Freedom, Class 5A, District 8 is one of the toughest in the area.
Five to follow
Cameron Powell, midfielder, Brandon, senior: The versatile player was Brandon's main scoring threat last season.
Cecil Clarke, forward, Durant, junior: The leading scorer last season for the runnerups from Class 6A, District 8.
Jarrett Williams, forward, Durant, junior: Teams up with Clarke to form a solid 1-2 punch up front for the Cougars.
Jeff Schlandt, midfielder/forward, Newsome, senior: Will take over scoring duties from the graduated Chris Sellecchia.
Tyler McClure, midfielder, Riverview, junior: Will look to break a long playoff drought for the Sharks. They've been absent from the postseason since 2001.
Team on the rise
Newsome: The Wolves have yet to make a playoff appearance but are getting closer each season.
WRESTLING
Preseason top three
1. Brandon: Quite possibly the most storied high school wrestling program in the nation.
2. Bloomingdale: Three of the Bulls four state qualifiers - George Conner (103 pounds), Austin Figari (125) and Chris Figari (135) - return from a team that finished 10th in Class 3A.
3. Newsome:Newsome returns three state qualifiers in Daniel Wood (135), Mike Colonna (140) and Sam Johnson (189).
Five to follow
Chris Figari, 135 pounds, Bloomingdale, junior: Turned some heads after placing third at the Class 3A state finals as a sophomore.
Eric Grajales, 112 pounds, Brandon, junior: Could join an elite group of wrestlers at Brandon - a list that includes his brother Cesar, David Craig and Sean Joyce - to win four state titles by the time he's done.
Joey Cozart, 125 pounds Brandon, sophomore: The son of legendary Brandon coach Russ Cozart, Joey is also making a case for four state titles with his first last season as a freshman.
Kevin Timothy,130 pounds, Brandon, junior: Just missed becoming Brandon's fifth individual state champion last year after a narrow loss in the finals.
Sam Johnson, 189 pounds, Newsome, senior: Went 4-2 at Class A state finals to finish fourth overall. Both losses were by one-point decisions.
Team on the rise
Newsome: Beware the Wolves. Newsome had just four state qualifiers total until last year, when they doubled that number.
[Last modified October 5, 2007, 15:17:32]
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