By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Harmony won the boys Orange Belt Conference and Osceola took the girls title a year ago, but graduation should change the landscape of the county, especially the Longhorns’ hammer-lock on the title after taking three in a row.

George Coffey coaches the Kowboys, who have a favorite for the OBC individual title in senior Steven Fowler. Six other players return: sophomore Blake Sorenson, seniors Drew Heifner and Dylan Dillard, and juniors Brandon Woodard, Wade Ridings and Travis Richardson.

Juniors Mark Clarke and Max Hoffman, sophomores Alex Heifner, Carson Wells and Aaron Clevenger, and freshman Angelo Chiarelli will also be in the mix for a playing spot.

Coach Ray Lackey’s Kowgirls return three starters from 2009: senior Allyson Clancy and sophomore Charlie Muzeka and Sydney Mason. Kierra Koroimatudu also returns after a wrist injury shortened her freshman season.

Juniors Karen Handlan and Kristie Brewer could compete for playing time immediately. Senior Amanda Odle, juniors Elizabeth Marrero, Robin Hight and freshmen Courtney Ausherman and Meg Clancy round out the team.

Lackey said Osceola will have its hands full in both county and district competition.

“I think Celebration will try to take us all down. A new coach and losing the OBC title by default last year will likely spur them forward,” he said. “District 2A-16 is one of the toughest in the state with Viera and Merritt Island.”

St. Cloud

Matt Milton has three returning players. Sophomore Caleb Sibley is the early-season No. 1, but he is getting pushed hard by seniors Patrick Gaines and Jeff Weretka.

“All three had a tremendous summer by getting on the course daily and playing tournaments on the weekends,” Milton said.

Junior Adam Conell and sophomore Hayden Glasscock also competed last year and are in a battle for one of the last playing spots with freshmen Josh Chambers and Brennen Merritt.

Three of girls coach Jesse Lawrence’s top players – junior Shelby Kessler and sophomores Erica Dukes and Lacey Makinson – return. They are joined by sophomore Kelly Johnson.

“There is going to be good competition this year,” Lawrence said.

Gateway

Panthers Coach Larry Souther said his team is rebuilding after losing three senior starters. Juniors Christian Stewart and Sean Turner return. Freshman Shawn Fisher and juniors Andrew Woolcomb-Clarke and Jake Kohuth are also in the mix. Gateway will have the home-course advantage of hosting the OBC tournament at Kissimmee Bay Oct. 13.

Kissimmee Bay professional Ross LeDuc coaches the Panthers’ girls team and has three players, seniors Sara Wu and Amy Lamb and sophomore Cynthia Grim.

Poinciana

Coach Chris Pryor returns all-OBC player Clarke Feeney along with Jeremy Gopaul, Daniel Salas and Steven Holt.

“We just want to go out and compete on a daily basis, work hard and learn from our mistakes,” Pryor said. “We are looking forward to a great season.”

Hunter Cason is the top player on Coach Jay Lunce’s girls team.

Harmony

Jerry Piester takes over a program that lost Brian Berzanskis and Stuart Hills, four-year players, to graduation. If that makes the county’s other programs shine their clubs in anticipation of taking the OBC title away from the three-time champions, they should keep in mind the team returns four other players with match experience. They are Tyler Howes, Blaine Janke, Bryce Pace and Chad Williams. R.J. Hussey also will be in the lineup.

The Lady Longhorns, coached by Ron Hainlen, return senior Kayla O’Donnell and sophomore Lauren Bishop. Three newcomers to the team are junior Madison Touchstone, sophomore Rachel Cowart and freshman Meredith Hendren.

“Kayla has developed a very consistent swing and will be our solid lead golfer. Lauren spent the summer on her swing and we expect her to produce as our co-captain,” Hainlen said.

Harmony will host the district tournament.

Celebration

Coach Mike Pagano might have the deepest returning group in the county, with seniors Ryan Pearson and Michael Shaw and sophomores Noah Perez and Evan Wagoner.

Sophomores Max Weber and Tyler Young and freshman Jacob Glodde are newcomers.

Coach Robert Mouchet’s girls team also has veterans at the top of the lineup in seniors Ashley Nelson, Lauren Adhav and Taylor Stone and junior Natalie Benetti.

Freshmen Sarah Stellwag and Maranda Obenauer also are working to get in the lineup.

“We have set a team goal of scoring below 200 in every match this year,” Mouchet said, noting the Storm shot 195 and 196 in the season’s first two matches. “If we improve on a consistent basis we should contend for the OBC crown. It will be a battle when it comes tournament time.”

Liberty

Tim Burdette and Erin Yerkey coach the Chargers and Lady Chargers teams. Both teams’ rosters run deep.

The boys team features seniors Christopher Bell, Cody Marquis, Joseph Smith and Jesse Sviridoff, juniors Kevin Gomez, Adewale King and Brice Padgett, sophomore Tyler Haase and freshman Daiquan Daniels.

The girls team has seniors Stephanie Docsol, Gelissa Dos Santos, Kristalyn Fernandez, Yasmean Nunez, Monika Reyes, Ketia Volcy and Lenora Wooten and juniors Katie Dana and Stephanie Ortiz.