Defending OBC champions Liberty, Harmony will be challenged by county rivals

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Liberty won the boys Orange Belt Conference track championship last season and appears to have the talent and depth to repeat.

Harmony claimed the girls OBC title. The Lady Longhorns will have to contend with strong teams from Liberty, St. Cloud and Osceola to retain that crown.

Liberty

Coaches Robert Pauley and Ray Hines have developed a juggernaut at the Pleasant Hill Road school that last year captured the boys OBC championship just three years after its inception.

Hines said a no-nonsense policy and demanding standards cause many athletes to leave the program, but many more have prospered. The coaches said most of the 160 athletes who turned out for practice are still with the team.

“Pauley and I will not sacrifice integrity for performance or acclamation,” Hines said. “Whether you’re the best athlete or the worst, we don’t care. Everyone has the same level of expectations.”

The boys team will be among the conference favorites again with a deep squad that includes two-time state qualifier Robbie Johnroe (4:28 at 1,600 meters), Tyler Haase and Germine Amaidas in the middle and long distance events.

Jalen Benn (11.17 at 100 meters) is one of the county’s top sprinters, and he joins Dario Bennett, Demetrius Taylor and Diavanti Bedford on a promising 4 x 100 relay, Hines said. Markel Brown is one of the team’s best at 400 meters.

Hurdlers Bedford (15.0 at 110 meters) and Joey Graham (42.0 at 300 meters) are solid, and Stephen Morales should score points in the throws.

Guelmi Salgado (12-6) and Graham (11-0) are pole vaulters.

The Lady Chargers will challenge for their first conference title. They are deep in the jumping events, Hines said, with regional qualifier Kyanna Armstrong returning in the triple jump. Kelila Naules and Danyell Kates are capable of reaching the state meet in one or more of the jumps, Hines said. Kadijah Brown has cleared 5-0 in the high jump.

Kates also is strong in the hurdles (15.2 at 100 meters) and has state meet potential, the coaches said.

All of the jumpers will double on the sprint teams along with Jazmyn Duarte. The 4 x 100 set the school record (48.0) at the Lake Brantley Invitational two weeks ago.

“We have a thousand-piece puzzle, that on the outside of the box it says, ‘OBC champions,’ now we have a couple of weeks to put it together,” Pauley said.

Osceola

After three seasons of Orange Belt Conference domination from 2007-09, the Osceola Kowgirls slipped to third place last year.

Look for OHS to challenge strongly to regain its place at the top of the conference this season.

Osceola has two of the state’s premiere sprinters in four-time state champion Tynia Gaither, a senior, and junior Atarah Clark, who transferred from Orlando Evans. Gaither won the 100 meters and 200 meters Class 4A championships last year. Clark placed fifth at 100 meters and seventh at 200 meters at the state meet.

Adding Gaither and Clark with returning senior standout Jameshia Gant and sophomore Jodiann Crooks, OHS is a good bet to win another 4 x 100 state championship, as it did in 2009, OHS Coach Eric Pinellas said.

Pinellas believes the pieces are in place for Osceola to be a big player in both the conference and the post-season meets.

“If you’re picking up firsts and seconds, or even firsts and thirds, like we should in the sprint events, plus getting the points we should from Jameisha in the hurdles, plus the 4 x 100 relay, you should be looking at 40 or 50 points at the state meet right there,” Pinellas said.

Gaither won state championships in the 100 meters and 200 meters last year. She also won at 100 meters and with the 4 x 100 team in 2009. She has competed internationally with the Bahamas Youth Olympics team and recently signed a scholarship to Georgia.

Pinellas believes Clark has state meet medal potential in the long jump.

“There are a few things we need to work on with her technique, but she’s bigger and faster than (2008 OHS long jump state champ) Ariel (Cavazos) was,” Pinellas said.

Middle distance runners Chelsea Thomas, Jasmine Ramos and Allyah Barnes may form another strong 4 x 800 relay, Pinellas said.

Vallerie Norgaisse competes in the hurdles and Madison McGehee will high jump.

State weightlifting champion Zanquina Ellison will throw the shot put.

Gaither, Clark and Gant all have posted elite-level times this season.

Mike Clemens, the school’s cross country coach, takes over the boys program after David Andrews took a college job.

Senior Defario Phillips is a contender for the Class 5A state championship in the sprints. He recently signed a track grant to Florida A&M. Oscar McGee also runs sprints.

“Defario has been winning the 100 at most events and either winning or placing among the top 3 in the 200,” Clemens said. “Oscar has shown great growth from last year and also is doing well in the 100 and 200.”

Josh Farrington, Tyler McCurtain, James Tanner and Henry Morris have formed a solid 4 x 800 relay, Clemens said, and Frank Thomas has placed in the long jump at early-season meets.

Jared Mullins also shows promise in the jumps, Clemens said. Marquis Hegwood is consistently placing in the hurdles, and the 4 x 400 team, which includes Morris, also is off to a good start.

St. Cloud

Coach Ettie Singleton, the Gateway coach for the past decade, said her first season working with the Lady Bulldogs should be a good one.

“I am excited about this year. We have a solid group and I hope to make a run at OBC and hopefully advance girls to regionals and state,” she said.

Many of the long distance runners from St. Cloud’s OBC cross country champion are on the track team, like juniors Ashlyn Stadtlander, Katelyn Stadtlander and Anaya Reid. Sophomores Kristen Detroyer and Taylor Swanson and freshman Karissa Salazar will also compete in the distance events.

Singleton has a large group of sprinters and hurdlers.

Seniors Ishanay Pacheco, Cierra Adams and Bianca Harris will compete along with juniors Yazmelis Santos, Janice Velez and Jennifer Fullwood. Sophomores Prisca Charles and Venique Wilson and freshmen Kirsten Chambers and Samantha Toledo will also contribute, Singleton said.

The Lady Bulldogs won the Kowboy Invitational Saturday.

Boys Coach Kevin Harkema has many of the distance runners that won the OBC cross country championship like Bailey Morgan, Matt Cole, Antonio Montalvo, Eric Ratliff, Sean Wood and Brandon Richmond.

“Our strongest events will be distance,” Harkema said.

The team has depth with throwers Aaron Hoffman and Brandon Marty.

The Bulldogs have a strong roster of sprinters like Wedley Charles, Melvin Manning, Jordan Reus, Daylon Robertson, Chase Butner and McKendy Atubel.

The middle distance unit is strong as well with Calixto Bravo, Shayne Cole and Ralphy Hernandez.

Cole Harvey is strong in the field events, Harkema said.

“The OBC is wide open for the boys side, and we should be pretty competitive,” Harkema said. “We are trying to put it all together and be successful when it counts.”

Poinciana

Eagles Coach Rusty Gould has some sizzle in his lineup with retuning sprinter Joey Decomo, a regional qualifier last year who saw his season end prematurely due to a hamstring injury.

“Hopefully, we can avoid the injuries this year,” Gould said.

Decomo clocked 10.97 in the 100 and 22.16 in the 200 last season.

Also back is regional qualifier Evan Ticknor, who ran 2:05 at 800 meters last season.

Decomo and Ticknor will be joined by Hember Sanabria, Bryan Gonzalez, Michael Santiago, Kevin Ruiz and Christian Ramos in potentially good 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 relay teams, Gould said.

Miguel Ortiz is the team’s top hurdler. Pedro O’Ferrel has gone 21-7 in the long jump.

“We should be OK. We’ve got a lot of young guys in the program, so we’ll see how that works out,” Gould said.

Girls Coach Bryan McLoughlin thinks he may have one of his best teams of recent years, deep in middle distance runners.

“This team is filled with potential,” he said. “Last year’s team was very strong in the field events, and this year’s team’s strength is the track.”

Returning is triple jump and 100 meters state qualifier Kenina Bonner.

McLoughlin expects her to move to the 400 meters this season and join the 4 x 400 relay squad.

High jumper Majjdah Barnett is capable of leaping 5-4, McLoughlin said, which could see her advance to the Class 2A state meet.

Junior Andrea Bentacur returns in the middle distance runs, and newcomer Gabriella Rodriguez displays skills similar to those of former Eagle runner Edda Santiago, who earned a Division I scholarship several years ago.

Nephtali Duronville (sprints) and Deandra Wilson (relays, hurdles) also will be key performers, the coach said.

Others competing are Lilian Carpartiero, Maria Comas, Tamires Desouza, Brianna Eafford, Estelle Experence, Jaynna Garner, Yarixsa Lopez, Nelisa Lopez, Kencia Maccelon, Britney Mckenna, Ange Noel, Ginelle Noel, Natacha Percival, Diamond Pitts, Ashley Otero, Timnesha Spiels, Shanecia Thomas, Gabriele Volcy, Zhane Wilson, Deandra Winston and Alexandra Zayas.

Harmony

Boys Coach Jacob Grantham, taking over for Debra Schweiger, who stepped down, said the Longhorns have plenty of spots to fill after graduation hit the team hard.

Among those graduating were state discus champion Chris Bolinger.

But, the Longhorns have another talented thrower in Carson Sherrod, who specializes in the shot put.

The team also has another potential state qualifier, Grantham said, in Matt Henning at 3,200, 1,600 and 800 meters.

The Lady Longhorns will defend their conference championship under Coach Jerrad Butler with a good group of distance runners that includes seniors Brittany and Chelsea Connor, who helped the Harmony cross country team reach the state meet.

Kendall Pollock and Alicia Palm will compete in the throwing events, and Kari Dewey is one of the team’s best jumpers.

The sprinters include Anna Blanchard, Peyton Leffew and Sage Leffew.

Harmony will host the regional meet.

Celebration

Girls Coach Corey Green welcomes back one of the state’s top pole vaulters in junior Jessica Harter, who placed fifth in Class 3A last season and holds the county record at 11-7.

“Jessica looks strong and has been training all summer,” Green said.

Also back are middle distance standouts Jill Strogis and Christina Ricci, Green said.

Newcomers include sprinters Geradar Victor, Kerem Alvarez and Jackie Wilson. Victor and Alvarez will run the 100- and 200-meters springs and long jump. Wilson will run the 200 and the hurdles.

“I am proud of the efforts the ladies have shown so far,” Green said.

The boys team, coached by Joel Fox, has potential state champions in distance runner Quincy O’Connor and quarter-miler Tyler Osorio.

O’Connor qualified for the state cross country meet last season and won both the 1,600 and 3,200 runs at the Harmony Invitational against a strong field. Osorio was a state track meet qualifier last season.

Zach Dyer should be one of the county’s best in the discus, and jumper Brandon Archambeau should contend for the OBC long jump title. Skyler Lerner is one of the county’s top pole vaulters.

Gateway

Coach Scott Sisson said his team is young and shows promise.

“Our second meet looked a lot better than our first,” he said. “The field events look better than they have in the past.”

Carlos Espinal returns in the distance events, and Bryan Rosa was one of the county’s best pole vaulters last season.

Devonte Dobson competes in the sprints, while Theo Belhomme, Joseph Kimber and Joshua Rivera will jump.

Adeeb Zaman runs the hurdles and Bryan Cudjoe competes in the middle distance events, Sisson said.

Coach Derek Knappins takes over the girls program this season. He said Unike Fermin (400, 4 x 400) is developing into a team leader. Akilah Chander and Queneicesha Scott-Torres, Trisha Davis and Ariel Hermitt are the teams leading sprinters, he said.

Davis is freshman. “She looks like she will have a bright future,” Knappins said.

Charnelle Michel throws the shot. Shayna Rios competes in the hurdles. Middle distance runners include Naomi Castin, Katherine Ramirez, Amber Jackson and Eliana Armas.

New Dimensions

Cathy Esposito begins her first season as the Tigers coach with a large roster.

Seniors are Brendon Bernard, Cory Watson, Monendrick Belande, Marcellous Fletcher and Aristides Serrano.

The juniors include Gabryl Martinez, Devon Bucey, Padro Bobea, Ashley Rivera, Karen Holquin, Oscar Giron and James Fuchs.

Competing as sophomores are Christopher Martinez, Devon Pritter, Karvic Martinez, Cassidy Koehler, Asma Rashid, Brittney Chapman, Thalia Rodriguez, Dakota Boyd, Junau Francois and Brandon Giron.

The freshmen are Jennelle Isaacs, Giovanti Rosario, Arilyn Morales, Aaron Donlow, Paige Griffin, Angel Rendon, Josephina Vega, Kayla Weis, Jaime Jorge, Eric Mojica and Omar Hernandez.