Clay High baserunner Allison Byrd stands on second base late in the Blue Devils 3-0 loss against county-rival Oakleaf as Knights pitcher Kelsey Sweatt sets to pitch. Byrd got to third base but was unable to score.
Clay High coach Matt Lewis, right, points out field regulations to Oakleaf High coach Christine Thompson before Knights 3-0 win Friday night. Thompson was a player for Lewis on Clay’s 2001 state championship team.
Orange Park pitcher Madelyn Irwin struck out 11 batters in Raiders’ 3-2 win over Middleburg on February 11.
Staff photos by Randy Lefko
Oakleaf High baserunner Destiny Pacetti makes run-scoring slide into home plate in Knights’ 3-0 win over Clay High School on Fri., Feb. 12. Pacetti scored on two-run single from Mika Garcia in seventh inning with game scoreless.
Clay signees
Clay High running back Bilal Ally, left, smiles with offensive lineman Jacob Conrad as coach Joshua Hoekstra introduces the pair at the February 3 National Signing Day ceremonies at Clay High School. Clay signed seven scholarships with Ally heading to the University of Massachusetts and Conrad going to Furman University.
Clay signees
Clay High running back Bilal Ally, left, smiles with offensive lineman Jacob Conrad as coach Joshua Hoekstra introduces the pair at the February 3 National Signing Day ceremonies at Clay High School. Clay signed seven scholarships with Ally heading to the University of Massachusetts and Conrad going to Furman University.
Oakleaf signees
Oakleaf High School football signee Javonte Ferguson, left, gives a thumbs up from a text congratulating him for signing to play football at Purdue University while wide receiver Desmon George smiles with his Coffeyville Community College cap showing off some Ravens’ support. George heads to Coffeyville in Kansas.
Oakleaf signee
Oakleaf High linebacker Deandre Steelman is all smiles while putting on his Lenoir-Rhyne Universit cap after signing to play football there in the fall.
Correspondent photo by Donna J. Conversano
Spartans scholarship signees
St. Johns Country Day School had five college sports scholarships signed off on Fri., Feb. 12 with, left to right, Avery Wasdin signing to play volleyball at the University of Mobile, Madeline Schultz signing to play soccer at the United States Air Force Academy, Matthew McMullen signing to play baseball at Illinois Institute of Technology, Elizabeth Hazlip signing to play soccer at Nova Southeastern University and Zhanee Anderson signing to play soccer at Valdosta State University.
Clay signees
Left to right: Bilal Ally (U of Massachusetts), Jacob Conrad (Furman), Mike Adams (Bethel), Jeremy Beaulieu (Bethel), Roland Samec (Iowa Western), John Walker (Friends U), Lane Delapp (Heidelberg)
Oakleaf signee
Oakleaf High linebacker Deandre Steelman is all smiles while putting on his Lenoir-Rhyne Universit cap after signing to play football there in the fall.
Clay signee
Clay High lineman John Walker gets a hug from mom after signing to play football at Friends University.
Fleming Island signees
Fleming Island High signed off two football scholarships with Ryan Birge, left, signing to play defensive end at University of West Florida and J.T. Broyles signing to play offensive line at Princeton University in the Ivy League.
Track Medalists
Tracksters from the First Coast Track Team earned medals at the Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track Invitational at the University of Florida on February 6 with, left to right, Maddison Wade, an Oakleaf Junior High student, earning silver medals in the mile and 800 with times of 5:48 ad 2:39; Mei Chiang, a sixth grader at W.C. Cherry Elementary School, who won the 12-Under mile in 5:41 and the 800 in 2:39; Ana Chieng, a nine year old at W.C.Cherry, earning bronze in the 9-Under mile, and Harrison Robinson, a sixth grader at Dr. Inlet Elementary, who won silver medals in the 55-meter hurdles and a silver medalist in the long jump at 16 feet, 3.5 inches. Also competing but not pictured were Kavon Miller, a Dr. Inlet student, who won silver in the 400 in 1:03.63 and silver in the 800 in 2:39. Middleburg High freshman Marcus Floyd, a multiple champion while at Lakeside Junior High, was in fast company in the sprints with bronze medals in the 200 in 23 seconds, 400 in 52.92 and 55 meter sprint in 6.54.
Special to Clay Today
State champions
Clay High School’s competitive cheerleading squad came back with the gold medal and a state title after winning the Class 1A Small Co-ed state championship on January 30 in Orlando. Clay won with 84.65 points ahead of Choctawatchee’s 74.15 and Hudson’s 72.5. Other area squads that competed were, in Large Co-ed Class 2A, Fleming Island got second; in Large Class 1A Ridgeview finished second with 78.43 and Orange Park finished third with 61.75 to winner Sebrings 78.6 points. Oakleaf finished fifth in the Class 2A Extra Large division. Middleburg High School took fourth in the Class 1A Small Co-Ed division ahead of Walton.
Clay also finished sixth at the UCA nationals.
National champions
Fleming Island High School won the Medium Coed Division national championship at the UCA National High School Cheerleading championship held Feb. 12-14 at the University of Tampa. Fleming Island has placed third in 2014 and second last year. Fleming Island finished ahead of Davie County (NC), Archbishop Rummel (LA) and New Oxford (MS). At the FHSAA state cheerleading championships, Fleming Island took second to Bartow in the Class 2A Large Co-ed Division.
Pictured rom left, Kayla Schleiger, Alyssa Musa, Alyssa McFarland, Sarah Stockton, Brooke Bassler and Jackie Edelenbos. Second row from left, Taylor Franz, Lexi Pulmano, Milan Amar, Allison Van Hook, Kamryn Reimer, Morgan Briscoe and Samantha Zima. Third row form left, Alijah Ramirez, Franco Bello, Ryan Birge, Cory Duhon, Bryce Marshal and Luke Snider.
The Golden Eagles are coached by Janae O’Dell and Ryan Andrews
Staff photo by Randy Lefko
Fleming Island defender Devon Marquis eyeballs Tallahassee Maclay player in final moments of Golden Eagles 6-3 loss Monday morning at Jacksonville University’s Moe’s Classic.
Correspondent photos by Ray DiMonda
Former U.S. Naval Academy lacrosse ace John Hawley, now a retired Navy surgeon, has taken over head coach duties at Fleming Island High School. Hawley replaces Jeff LaVangie.
Fleming Island striker Jack Hawley slams goal in Golden Eagles 6-3 loss to top-ranked Tallahassee Maclay in Moe’s Classic at Jacksonville University on February 15.
Oakleaf guard Andrew Harper tried for a charge foul, but was unsuccessful to give Atlantic Coast a free throw to tie the game.
Oakleaf High coach Jason Price has three trips to the region playoffs in the last three years (two in 6A) with no wins.
Oakleaf High forward Jonathan Bryant, who scored 30 points in Knights district final win over Creekside a week ago, was held to just 14 points by Atlantic Coast High School.
Oakleaf High’s Nassir Little stretches for rebound with Jonathan Bryant in first quarter action in Knights overtime region loss to Atlantic Coast High School.
Oakleaf High forward Nassir Little is in defensive traffic in Knights 51-46 overtime loss to Atlantic Coast in region quarterfinals.
Fleming Island’s John Goetze tees off at hole five at Hurricane’s Junior Golf Event at Eagle Harbor Golf Course. Goetze finished eighth.
Fleming Island golfer Drew Neilen tees off on 15th hole in 72 third round effort at Eagle Harbor Golf Club.
Fleming Island High golfer Sarah May sets up to putt on hole four at Eagle Harbor Golf Club during second round action at Hurricane Junior Golf Tour event held Feb. 12-14. May was top area finisher finishing fourth in 14-18 girls division.
Fleming Island High golfer Lauren Waidner blasts out of sand bunker on fourth hole at Eagle Harbor Golf Course. Waidner finished eighth in girls 14-18 division.
Correspondent photo by Ray DiMonda
Fleming Island High pitcher Billy Schopp rears up to pitch while Middleburg High baserunner Hunter Thomas takes off in steal attempt in Golden Eagles 14-4 win.
Clay batter Tyler Spence blasted a grand slam home run to fuel Blue Devils 9-6 win over 8A-Oakleaf.
Staff photo by Randy Lefko
Ridgeview High pitcher Hunter Morris lets go with pitch against St. Johns Country Day School in Panthers 23-5 win. Morris pitched a one-hitter on Monday against Stanton Prep with nine strikeouts in Panthers win. Ridgeview is now 4-0.