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Articles by Nick Nahas
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Durant High School, 2026
The Cougars have dominated district competition, going undefeated four straight seasons. They are seeking their fifth straight title in the 2026 campaign in a brand-new district. Durant had an impressive showing in week one against King, winning 49-7. They hope to carry the momentum into district play. Durant has made the playoffs in every season since Clayton Varnum took over the program in February 2021. The six-year head man wants his team to maintain the standard set forth by the previous teams.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Sumner High School, 2026
Sumner had their best season in school history in 2025. They finished with an overall record of 10-3 and won two playoff games, reaching the regional final. The team has made it to the regional final two out of the last three years. The Stingrays have the coaching and talent to make it even further in 2026. The Stingrays have made the playoffs for five straight seasons and have had winning seasons every year since the program’s inception in 2020.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Durant High School 2026
The Cougars have dominated district competition, going undefeated four straight seasons. They are seeking their fifth straight title in the 2026 campaign in a brand new district. Durant had an impressive showing in week one against King, winning 49–7. They hope to carry the momentum into district play. Durant has made the playoffs in every season since Clayton Varnum took over the program in February 2021. The six–year head man wants his team to maintain the standard set forth by the previous teams.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Strawberry Crest High School, 2026
Strawberry Crest has had one particular goal in mind the last several seasons — make the playoffs. The last two seasons they came up one game short of reaching that goal. The Chargers have been very consistent under eight-year Head Coach Phillip Prior, finishing at or above .500. The one thing the team hasn’t done during his tenure is make the playoffs. They won six games the previous two seasons but will have to win one more to get over the hump this season.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Riverview High School, 2026
The Sharks are off to a great start in their 2026 campaign, beating Spoto 20-19 in their Kickoff Classic. Senior safety Dominic Persaud was the deciding factor in the game, returning his forced fumble for a go-ahead touchdown late in the game. He recorded eight tackles and had an interception that sealed the game. Riverview has another young roster this year. Head Coach Tony Rodriguez has done a great job developing talent within the program in his five years at the helm.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Lennard High School, 2026
Lennard has become one of the elite programs in Hillsborough County under fourth-year Head Coach K.B. Belton. The Longhorns had an outstanding season in 2025, winning their first seven games by at least double digits and making the playoffs. The roster is chock-full of talent this season, and the team is poised to win its district and make a deep playoff run. Belton is happy with his team’s progress in the offseason.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: East Bay High School, 2026
The Indians are poised to take the next steps under second-year Head Coach DeAndra’ Simmons. Simmons said that his team focused on its discipline and also built a lot of camaraderie in the offseason, attending a seven-on-seven camp at Florida State University. They beat Robinson 20-12 in their Kickoff Classic. Simmons was impressed with his team’s resilience in the second half. They trailed 12-0 at halftime and shut their opponent out in the second half.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Bloomingdale High School, 2026
Michael Latimer took over as head of the football program in December after three-year former Head Coach Patrick Murphy resigned after the 2025 season. The program has been in flux, with five straight losing seasons after a record-setting 2020, in which they won 12 games and went to the state semifinal. They have won a total of eight games in the last three seasons combined. “I care about these kids and I care about Bloomingdale High School, and I know where my heart is,” said Latimer.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Seffner Christian Academy, 2026
Seffner Christian Academy (SCA) Head Coach Travis Puelo has built a highly successful football program over his last 14 seasons at the helm. He, along with his coaching staff, have cultivated a family atmosphere built on team chemistry and leadership. Puelo took 19 players and coaches on their yearly mission trip to Tennessee to help build team chemistry. A week later, they took the whole team to a three-day, two-night camp where they continued to practice and bond.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Newsome High School, 2026
The Newsome Wolves are in a new district and have a young but talented roster that they hope to make noise within 2026. Third-year Head Coach Jeff Turner is happy with his team’s progress so far, with a productive off-season under their belt. The team went to the Webber International team camp, where they worked on fundamentals and gained some more team chemistry in the process.
Voice Of Bloomingdale Sports Recognized With Service Award
David McCollum was awarded for his years of service to multiple sporting events, including soccer, football, flag football and basketball. (Photo courtesy of David McCollum.) David McCullum has been volunteering for over 12 years at Bloomingdale High School as a public address announcer. He was dubbed the ‘Voice of Bloomingdale Athletics’ by Sara Bogue, former assistant principal of Athletics at the school and now Hillsborough County director of athletics for middle and high schools.
Fans Invited To ‘Check Into’ Hotel California At RP Funding Concert
Fans of the Eagles will have an opportunity to relive some of the most beloved songs in classic rock history when Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles performs at the RP Funding Center’s YouKey Theatre in Lakeland on Saturday, July 18, at 8 p.m. Widely regarded as one of the premier Eagles tribute acts in the country, Hotel California has built a reputation for faithfully recreating the music and harmonies that made the Eagles one of America’s most successful bands.
Lennard Flag Football Wins School’s First State Championship
(Photo courtesy of SamanthaNikolePhoto.) Lennard High School girls flag football captured the Class 4A State Championship, defeating Park Vista High School 12-6 to secure the school’s first-ever state title in Tampa on May 16. “It means everything to me to help bring the first state championship to Lennard High School,” said running back Willow Rager.
County Spring Academic Champs: Compton Wins 4A State Title
(Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Public Schools.) Hillsborough County recognized several individual athletes and teams for academic and athletic success during this past spring season. Lennard High School won the girls flag football Class 4A State Championship, defeating Park Vista 12-6 to claim the school’s first-ever state championship. “It means everything to me to help bring the first state championship to Lennard High School,” said running back Willow Rager.
Tennis Player Signs With Converse University On Signing Day
Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Public Schools. Bloomingdale High School senior tennis player Laila Clark signed with Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Spring National Signing Day, April 15. “When I signed my letter of intent, the biggest thing going through my mind was gratitude,” said Clark. “I was thinking about my parents and everything they’ve sacrificed to give me this opportunity, and my coaches who have pushed me to become a better player and person.
Pro Athletes Lead Tampa Dynamo Youth Soccer Camp In Riverview
The Tampa Dynamo FC organization, along with Shrader Athletics, is hosting a soccer camp from Monday through Friday, June 22-26, at Summerfield Soccer Park, located at 11948 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview. The camp is headlined by Spencer Shrader, Indianapolis Colts kicker, and Korbin Shrader, women’s pro soccer player for Lyon.
Bloomingdale And Newsome Host Summer Basketball Camps
Coach Bower will also be hosting a joint camp with Newsome girls basketball Head Coach David Cassreino. Bloomingdale High School is hosting basketball camps for boys and girls of all skill levels from fourth to ninth grade this summer. Week one will be held from Monday through Thursday, June 8-11, and week two is from Monday through Thursday, June 15-18.
Bloomingdale Claims Back-to-back Saladino Tournament Championships
Photo courtesy of Eva McDonald. The Bloomingdale High School Bulls dominated opponents, outscoring them 41-3 in five games en route to a second straight Saladino Tournament victory against Tampa Catholic High School at the University of Tampa Baseball Field in March. It’s the second time that the program has accomplished this, going back-to-back in 1994 and 1995. They also won in 2013. The Bulls have won five overall Saladino championships.
League Provides Disabled Athletes A Chance To Compete
David Ramos, CEO and commissioner of A League of Their Own (ALOTO), has helped expand the Tampa organization to the Riverview area, providing a place where adults with unique abilities come together to enjoy the game of baseball. The inaugural season starts on Saturday, April 11. ALOTO was founded by Stephenie Coonrod and Dennis Mueller, both of whom were inspired by their children with Down syndrome.
Strawberry Crest Basketball’s Quick Two-year Turnaround
The Strawberry Crest High School basketball team has flourished under second-year Head Coach Patrick Horn. Horn took over a 4-22 team and made a quick turnaround. The Chargers won 17 games this season and are 30-22 overall in his two seasons. The 17 wins this season are the third-most in the school’s 17-year history. This iteration averaged the most points per game (70) in the program’s history. Senior captain Max Von Ancken was a big reason for the team’s success.
ESPN2 To Air Big Boy Soap Hockey’s Riverview Tournament
The Big Boy Soap Hockey League returns for its second tournament in two years in the Tampa area. The tournament takes place at the Showmen’s Club, located at 6915 Riverview Dr. in Riverview, on Saturday, May 16, from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and will air on ESPN2 in August. The first tournament was held in Brandon last year at the J.C. Handly Sports Complex and made its TV debut on ESPN2 in August 2025. Reruns on ESPNews are shown frequently throughout the year.
Sara Bogue Named First Female Director Of Athletics In Hillsborough County’s History
Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County. On February 26, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) announced that Sara Bogue was named director of athletics, making her the first woman to serve in that role in district history. “It is an extraordinary honor and responsibility,” said Bogue. “I am proud to represent women in athletic leadership and hopeful that this milestone reflects the continued progress and opportunities available to women in sports.
County Honors Standout Fall Sports Student Athletes In Awards Ceremony
Newsome High School star swimmer Tyler Stargardt earned the Henry Hicks Memorial Award for Outstanding Swimmer. (Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County.) Hillsborough County Public Schools honored fall sports student athletes for individual awards and team GPA awards at its Fall Sports Awards in January.
Bloomingdale Cheerleading Claims Back-to-back National Championships
Photo courtesy of the Bloomingdale cheerleading program. The Bloomingdale High School cheerleading squad won their second straight national title at the 2026 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) in February in Orlando. “My reaction when we won nationals was just pure joy,” said senior captain Peyton Ostendorf.
Campo Family YMCA Offers Year-round Adult Sports Leagues
Pickleball participants currently range in age from 12-68. (Photo courtesy of the Campo Family YMCA.) The Campo Family YMCA encourages adults of all ages to stay active and socialize through its AAA Adult Sports League programs. It offers sports such as volleyball, pickleball and basketball. The basketball and volleyball leagues are open year-round and are available to adults 18 and older as well as 35 and older. Registration through the website for the winter season started on January 16.
Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2025: Para-athlete Hayden Compton Wins 4A State Championship In 800m Race
(Photo credit: Hayden Compton.) Year in Review Update Hayden Compton competed in the Hartford Nationals from July 12-14, 2025. “I did very well at nationals and set personal records in three events: the 100, 200 and 400,” said Compton. “It was a great experience to meet and compete against adaptive athletes from all over the United States and face strong competition.
Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2025: Hillsborough County Seeks To Improve FishHawk Sports Complex
The complex originally featured 12 fields, eight dedicated to baseball and softball and four multipurpose fields for soccer, cheerleading, football and lacrosse. (Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation.) Year in Review Update According to Chris Kiddy, CYSA, athletics manager of the Parks and Recreation Department, Hillsborough County and its partners have made meaningful progress at the FishHawk Sports Complex.
Year In Review - Updates On The Top Stories From 2025: Former Newsome Athlete Makes NFL Debut, Kicks Game-winning Field Goal
Spencer Shrader lines up to make a kick against the Buffalo Bills. Year in Review Update Spencer Shrader signed with the Indianapolis Colts for the 2025 season. He was the starting kicker until he suffered a season-ending injury during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders in October. He tore two ligaments in his right knee — the ACL and MCL. Shrader is still on the Colts team, but he has not played since the injury. “I’m just disappointed for him,” Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen said.
Bell Shoals Volleyball Team Achieves Perfection, Wins TBCAL Championship
The Bell Shoals Academy Panthers accomplished a rare feat, going undefeated and winning a Tampa Bay Catholic Athletic League championship this season. It’s the first time in school history that they’ve accomplished that. “It meant a lot because we have been working together for a very long time,” said co-captain Madison Rego. “We worked hard every year but have come up one match short.
FishHawk 12U Baseball Team Hopes To Raise Funds For Cooperstown Tournament Next Summer
FishHawk Youth Baseball holds tryouts and chooses 12 boys who will represent the organization in the Little League World Series in Cooperstown, New York. They are set to compete in the weeklong tournament, starting July 18, 2026. The FishHawk Youth Baseball League Cooperstown team needs to raise funds in order to attend the tournament. The group of boys have mostly played baseball together their whole lives.
Newsome Swimming And Diving Has Best Season In School History
The Newsome High School swimming and diving program has been dominant in Hillsborough County, but now they have accomplished something they have never done before. The girls and boys both won the county championship this season. The girls have won three in a row, and four of the last five. The girls finished 11-0 and are Federal Division champions, and the boys finished 10-1 and are Federal Division champions as well. They had a combined 21-1 record, the best season in the school’s history.
Two Athletes Inducted Into Bloomingdale Hall Of Fame
Two former Bloomingdale High School standout athletes were inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame on September 26. A.J. Romano (class of 1993) and Logan Crouse (class 2015) were recognized in front of the homecoming crowd before the football game. The inductees were selected by a panel of coaches, athletic boosters and administration. Romano is considered one of the best Bloomingdale soccer players of all time, helping the school win its first and only soccer state championship in 1993.
Saladino Legacy Encapsulates Baseball, Community & Family
The Tampa area lost a baseball icon in Tony Saladino, 89, on August 19. The founder of the Saladino Tournament and the Saladino Award leaves behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten. Saladino was encouraged by his late wife, Bertha Saladino, to honor his late father, Tony Saladino I, after his sudden passing in 1961. They started the Saladino Award in 1971, given to the top senior in Hillsborough County. In 1981, they started the Saladino Tournament.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Brandon High School, 2025
The Brandon Eagles have turned to a familiar face in former Head Coach John Lima to rebuild the football program. He was previously the head man from 2006-12 and took the team to the playoffs in four of those six seasons. He took over the program in May and is a teacher at the school. The team is off to a great start under Lima, beating archrival King for the second straight season, winning 14-7 in overtime. The program has struggled since Lima moved on in 2012.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Strawberry Crest High School, 2025
The Chargers have won their first five games in two of the last three seasons. They started 5-0 last season, before losing four out of their next five and coming up one game short of the playoffs. Strawberry Crest is off to another quick start in 2025, winning their first two games while dominating their opponents along the way. Crest beat East Bay 26-6 in their opener and routed Middleton 34-14 in the second week.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Durant High School, 2025
The Cougars have won their district for three straight seasons. They have gone undefeated against district opponents in the last three seasons, winning each matchup by at least three touchdowns in 2024. They are poised to win it again this year. Durant has won at least eight games and gone to the playoffs in every season since Clayton Varnum took over the program in February 2021. It will have a young team this year, having graduated 25 seniors last year.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Seffner Christian Academy, 2025
Head Coach Travis Puelo and his Crusader program have cultivated a family environment with his players and fans. The 13-year coach hosted his and his program’s first home campus football game last season. They now play all of their home games on the school’s campus. Puelo said that the night home game atmosphere is electric and unlike anything that he’s been a part of in his 17 combined seasons as head coach at Seffner Christian and Cambridge Christian.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Sumner High School, 2025
The Sumner Stingrays play in a tough district with Newsome and Plant City and have one of the hardest schedules overall. The program has the talent, experience and leadership to make noise in Hillsborough County. The team has made the playoffs for four straight seasons and has had winning seasons every year since the program’s inception. Head Coach George Selvie, the University of South Florida all-time sack leader, took over as the head man in July 2024.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: East Bay High School, 2025
The East Bay football program hired a new head coach in DeAndra’ Simmons in February. He replaces longtime coach Mike Gottman, who retired after a successful career. Simmons, a Memphis, Tennessee, native, played offensive guard for the University of Memphis Tigers. He moved to the area in 2021 and was the offensive coordinator at Palmetto High School and Braden River High School prior. Simmons inherits a program that has had success over recent years.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Riverview High School, 2025
The Sharks have one of the toughest schedules in Hillsborough County. They will play against eight playoff teams from last year, including three teams outside of the county. They are off to a great start, beating Pinellas Park 19-0 in preseason. They lost to the same team last year 49-7. Riverview’s schedule got tougher when Head Coach Tony Rodriguez turned the program around after a couple of seasons, making the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2019.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Newsome High School, 2025
The Newsome Wolves are off to a great start under second-year Head Coach Jeff Turner. The team went 8-4 and made the playoffs last year for the first time in three years, winning a playoff game against district rival Sumner 34-27. Turner was happy with his team’s buy-in last season. He was able to change the culture in terms of discipline and accountability with the players. ‘Tough People Win’ (TPW) has been the rallying cry for the program.
High School Varsity Football Touchdown Preview: Bloomingdale High School, 2025
Bloomingdale is expected to make a big jump in Head Coach Patrick Murphy’s third season at the helm, with veterans returning on both sides of the ball, including the whole offensive line. Murphy and the Bulls went back to basics last season with a young and inexperienced team. They bring back key starters from last year who have bought into the system. The Bulls were one of the younger teams in Hillsborough County last season, starting with eight sophomores.
Hillsborough’s Active Life Games Encourages Physical Mental Fitness For Ages 50-plus
Registration for Active Life Games began on July 10. The event is organized by Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation to help promote physical and mental fitness through an Olympics-style competition for athletes ages 50 and older.
Para-athlete Hayden Compton Wins 4A State Championship In 800m Race
Durant High School (DHS) athlete Hayden Compton won the 4A state championship in the 800m and took second place in the 100m, 200m and 400m. “I’m very proud of my performance. I worked all season to earn a personal record, and I went all season without a PR, and I finally did it at states,” said Compton. “Hayden has exemplified what it means to be a champion,” said Head Coach Frank Lane. “In only his first year at DHS, he has helped create a culture of hard work, dedication and pride.
Asylum Made Track Team Trains Apollo Beach Athletes
Antjuan Randall found joy in training his young kids in the sport that he grew up participating in. That joy later turned into a successful club team named the Asylum Made Track Team. Randall, who founded the program back in 2018, was inspired by his love of a fictional character, the Joker, naming the team after the infamous Arkham Asylum in the Batman comic books. The name represents the ‘crazy’ mindset his team has in training and competing for their goals.
Big Boy Soap Hockey League Slides Into Brandon With Influencers
The Big Boy Soap Hockey League, created by former Brandon resident Nick Pletcher, hosted a tournament in June at the J.C. Handly Sports Complex. The former Bloomingdale High School student had an idea that took shape nearly four years ago, and it has finally come to fruition. He is a video producer and founder of Glass Eye Creative, a video production company located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Three Miss Tampa Bay Softball FishHawk Teams Qualify For State Tournament
Three Miss Tampa Bay Softball (MTBS) FishHawk teams qualified for the state tournament in Lake City at the end of June. The T-ball, 12U and 16U MTBS All-Star teams won first place in the Florida Babe Ruth District 10 Tournament in Madeira Beach at the beginning of June. The T-ball team also won the Miss Florida Softball tournament. They all qualify to go to Lake City at the state level.
Bloomingdale Softball Reaches States For Second Straight Year; Head Coach Pemberton Steps Down
The Bloomingdale High School softball team reached the final four for a second straight season, something the program had never done before. Head Coach Leah Pemberton called it a career after the season, stepping away from the program. The Lady Bulls won their second regional title in the last two seasons when they defeated Bartow High School 6-2 on May 15. They came up a little bit short in the state semifinal against Doral Academy, losing 5-4 in extra innings.
Blue Wave Swimming Program Celebrates Season During Banquet
The Blue Wave Swimming program, an affiliate of High 5 Inc., recently held a banquet to commemorate their season. They gave out several awards based on performance, character, improvement, potential and many other categories. The program celebrated five seniors who are graduating, including Camryn Brown, Michelle Meidt, Annelise Meidt, Lucas Purcell and Nicholas Pfister. Brown will move on to the next level at Northern Arizona University.
From 0-26 To Super Bowl Glory: Bucs Celebrate 50 Years In Tampa
This year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization celebrates its 50th season since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1976. The team had a tumultuous start, losing every game that first season and a record 26 straight games to start the franchise. They had 14 straight losing seasons from 1983-96, the most in NFL history. The Buccaneers have the worst winning percentage in NFL history at 41 percent.
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