State title keeps Raiders on road to nationals

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 17, 2001

The St. Pete Raiders under-14 girls team recently made league history when it won the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup.

It's the St. Pete program's first championship.

Next week, the squad travels to Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the Southern Regionals with 12 teams from the Southeast. On the line is a berth to the national event in July.

"It was unbelievable to win at state," said Ali Caton, a Raiders co-captain with Meggie Ford. "Last year, we got so close and it was devastating to lose. We just knew we had to win this year. We really wanted it."

In a semifinal with Palm Beach United, St. Pete was unable to score until early in the second half. Then, a penalty kick by stopper Bridget Moore got the Raiders going.

"At halftime, we had a talk and made some adjustments," coach Cliff Cook said. "I felt we had a good chance at winning even though we hadn't scored. We had kept possession much of the first half, but just couldn't score.

"Bridget has been a reliable penalty kicker for us all year," he said. Leslie Dentinger put in a header to raise the score to 2-0. Emily Ann Smith broke away for a goal to cap a 3-0 victory and send St. Pete to the final against Central Florida United Phoenix-Kumba.

An off-sides call nullified a goal by Caton in a scoreless first half of the championship. With about 17 minutes remaining in the game, right wing midfielder Cassy Boivin sped past CFU goalie and scored. "We played a real smart game from that point," Cook said. "Callie (Raymond) had a real smart game in the keeper position."

St. Pete held off CFU with strong defensive performances from Alanagh Cook, Megan Allums and Andrea Hill. Tiffany Weber, Carleen Wood, Laura James, Kathleen Howe and Paulina McIntosh joined Dentinger at the midfield position. Kristen Weldon worked with Caton and Smith at forward.

Also capturing a state championship was the Countryside under-13 girls.

GYMNASTICS: Medalist All-Star's optional teams are at the Grenelefe Resort in Haines City through the weekend for the USAIGC National Championships.

Kimberly and Tina Jacob are entered in Level 9, Ryann Matthews and Jeniece Rahn in Level 8 and Tirzah Bailey, Andrea Bairam, Marissa Bragg, Amanda Crane, Claire Ferrari, Stacey Ostlund, Melissa Perkins and Briana Stiles in Level 7.

TWIRLING: Last month's Drum Majorettes of America competition in Bradenton yielded 18 first-place awards for members of the Florida Twirling Institute, along with four seconds and one third.

Three firsts were earned by Tiffany Jockers and Victoria McFadden; two by Kristin Russell, Melissa Foote and Angie Geiger; and one by Brittany Brady, Erica Cisco, Erin Figley and Amanda Tikkanen. High-point winners were Jockers and Meagan Beacom.

TENNIS: As area juniors took the courts today in Orlando in the USTA Florida Section Championships, eight seeded positions were selected based on rankings and prior match results.

Kelly Nelson received the highest seed, No. 2 in the 18-and-under class, and is joined by Jennifer Dent, No. 12. R.J. Murray is No. 4 in boys 18 and is joined by 16-year-olds Goran Dragicevic, No. 9; Marc Sawyer, No. 14; and Haley Dodson, No. 15. Other players are Christina Liles, No. 14 in girls 14; and George Navas, in boys 14.

SWIMMING: Wins recently were earned by the Clearwater Aquatic Team in the Tampa Bay Swim Classic and Countryside Country Club in the Bardmoor Invitational and the Private Club League Relay Championships.

CAT was led by top finishes from Ashley Messmore, in the senior girls division; Jose Crescimbeni, 10-and-under; and Tommy Wyher, 11-12. St. Petersburg Aquatics and Dunedin Aquatic Club were third and 12th, respectively, among 13 squads.

In the Bardmoor Invitational, West Lake Village was second to Countryside.

Top performers included Madison Truluck of Countryside, Cassandra Roy, West Lake; Jacob Azar and Josh Gordon, Bardmoor; Cameron Hawkins and Jordan Hawkins, CAT; and Tara Cromer, Mary Anne Thomas, Katie Metka, Trevor Caldwell and Luis Leon of West Florida Lightning Aquatics.

In the PCL relays, Countryside earned 748 total points and was followed by second-place Bardmoor (486), host St. Petersburg Country Club (seventh, 186) and Carlouel (10th, 60).

SKATING: Ten individuals from Southland Roller Club in Pinellas Park are in Pensacola this weekend in the Southern Regional Championships.

At stake is a berth to next month's national event.

This weekend's competitors are Jennifer Monrose, Linda Hebert and Joseph Ott, in figures; Terry Plecas, team dance; Christina Walterson, figures and team dance; Dennis Turner and Paul Abel, solo and team dance; and JoAnn Bertling and Don Capuano, team dance. Capuano also is in solo dance and figures, and Jackie Orr is in figures, loops and solo dance.

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