With the completion of winter sports, the defending champion Harmony Longhorns are locked in an incredibly close battle with St. Cloud in the year-long race for the Orange Belt Conference All-Sports Award.
Winter sports wrapped up last week with the completion of the basketball, soccer, wrestling, girls weightlifting and competitive cheerleading tournaments.
The Longhorns find themselves just one point ahead of St. Cloud (97-96) as the spring sports seasons begin.
The spring sports that will decide the OBC 2024-25 All-Sports champion include baseball, softball, track (boys and girls), tennis (boys and girls), boys volleyball, girls flag football, boys weightlifting and possibly fishing if four schools field teams.
Harmony, which trailed the Bulldogs 48-46 after the fall sports, picked up 51 points in the winter to overtake St. Cloud by one. The Longhorns winter sports were led by championship in the OBC girls’ soccer tournament and second place finishes in the boys and girls wrestling tournament and girls weightlifting.
St. Cloud collected 45 school points in winter, winning the girls’ weightlifting championship and picking up second place finishes in boys’ and girls’ basketball and girls’ soccer.
Celebration remained in contention in third place with 77 points. The Storm picked up high finishes in both soccer tournaments (2nd boys and 3rd girls) and competitive cheer (2nd). Gateway accounted for the other team championships by winning boys soccer and girls basketball. Tohopekaliga was in fifth (68) with solid tournament finishes in wrestling (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls) and girls weightlifting.
Osceola made the biggest jump in its point total as it went from 21 points in the fall to 66 after the winter sports. Osceola added 32 of their 44 winter points by winning titles in boys’ basketball, boys and girls wrestling and competitive cheer.
“Without question it is going to come down to the end of the year with baseball, softball, track playing a huge role in determining the champions,” St. Cloud Athletics Director Bryan Smart said. “I am super proud of the effort our kids put in this winter, especially our weightlifting and basketball teams. But I am also equally proud of all our county schools, coaches and athletes. Each year the All-Sports Award grows in prestige and recognition because it recognizes all-around excellence.”
By a narrow 155.5-151.5 margin, Harmony edged St. Cloud to win the award for the 2023-24 school year. It was the Longhorns fourth consecutive All-Sports trophy and the 12th in the school’s 21-year history. It’s interesting to note that after the winter sports last year, Harmony had a five-point lead on St. Cloud and will take just a one-point lead into the spring sports season.
OBC Standings through winter: Harmony 97, St. Cloud 96. Celebration 77, Gateway 74, Tohopekaliga 68, Osceola 66, Poinciana 32, Liberty 20.
