Sports

Receiver Julian Nasco caught 12 touchdown passes, and is one of Tohopekaliga's offensive threats set to return. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Receiver Julian Nasco caught 12 touchdown passes, and is one of Tohopekaliga's offensive threats set to return. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

SPRING FOOTBALL — New faces, big challenges in 2023

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Spring football practices have begun, and it will be a jumping off point for many Osceola County programs as new faces and new stars emerge. Spring games begin May 10, when Tohopekaliga visits Hagerty, and go through May 25, when Liberty hosts a three-team jamboree.
Jansel Nieves steps to the plate in second inning of Tuesday’s District 9 semifinal game against Celebration. Nieves would single and come around to score in a five-run inning. Osceola advanced to Thursday’s championship game with an 11-1 win. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Jansel Nieves steps to the plate in second inning of Tuesday’s District 9 semifinal game against Celebration. Nieves would single and come around to score in a five-run inning. Osceola advanced to Thursday’s championship game with an 11-1 win. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Longhorns at Kowboys Thursday for baseball, softball district titles

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Luis Vargas collected three hits, drove in two runs and scored two others and three Osceola pitchers combined on a two-hitter as the Kowboys downed Celebration, 11-1, in a Class 7A, District 9 semifinal game on Tuesday night.
Hannah Vickers won the pole vault (pictured), broke Harmony’s record in the triple jump and also qualified for regionals in the javelin as the Longhorns won the District 4A-9 girls track team championship. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Hannah Vickers won the pole vault (pictured), broke Harmony’s record in the triple jump and also qualified for regionals in the javelin as the Longhorns won the District 4A-9 girls track team championship. PHOTO/KATIE WILLIAMS

Lady Longhorns capture track district title; 100+ county athletes on to regionals

J. Daniel Pearson
Monday, May 1, 2023
Osceola County will be well represented when regional track meets begin Thursday as 11 individual district champions, three relay district champion teams and more than 100 athletes from county schools qualified through their district meets.
Drea Thompson returns an interception in Thursday's flag football District 2A-9 title game. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

Drea Thompson returns an interception in Thursday's flag football District 2A-9 title game. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

Harmony goes over the Horizon for flag football district title; regionals next

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, April 21, 2023
On paper, Thursday night’s FHSAA Class 2A, District 9 flag football final between Harmony and upstart Horizon held the promise of being a real barnburner.  The Hawks, in their second year of competition, were 14-1 and had an impressive 19-2 win over St.
Don Simon carries the Brass Bugle Trophy to his team to celebrate the 44-0 win over St. Cloud in the 2022 regular-season finale, the last of Simon’s 33 coaching wins with the Longhorns. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

Don Simon carries the Brass Bugle Trophy to his team to celebrate the 44-0 win over St. Cloud in the 2022 regular-season finale, the last of Simon’s 33 coaching wins with the Longhorns. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

Don Simon leaves Longhorn football to be Toho AD

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, April 21, 2023
In a surprise announcement, Don Simon – the second longest tenured coach of Osceola County’s eight high school football coaches – stepped down at Harmony on Thursday afternoon. He won’t sit idle long -- Simon reportedly will become Tohopekaliga High’s new Athletic Director starting on June 1.
In just two seasons, Osceola running back Taevion Swint has already posted eye-popping numbers. He verbally committed to UCF over the weekend. PHOTO/JANA STULTZ

In just two seasons, Osceola running back Taevion Swint has already posted eye-popping numbers. He verbally committed to UCF over the weekend. PHOTO/JANA STULTZ

Osceola’s Taevion Swint says he’s a Knight

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Announcing it on his Twitter account over the weekend and calling it a “100 percent commitment,” Osceola star running back Taevion Swint – a rising junior – says he will play his college football for the UCF Knights.
St. Cloud sophomore Michael Ziss proudly displays his two gold medals from the state weightlifting championships in Lakeland on Saturday. He is pictured with Coach Cory Aun, whose Bulldog team finished in third place. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL

St. Cloud sophomore Michael Ziss proudly displays his two gold medals from the state weightlifting championships in Lakeland on Saturday. He is pictured with Coach Cory Aun, whose Bulldog team finished in third place. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL

FHSAA STATE BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING — St. Cloud’s Ziss a state champion, Bulldogs 3rd

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
St. Cloud sophomore Michael Ziss won a pair of state championships, and his Bulldog teammates captured third place in the Olympic discipline at the FHSAA 2023 Class 3A State Weightlifting Championships held Saturday in Lakeland.
Baseball may be Caden Scarborough's "better" sport, but he was a leader for the Harmony Longhorns' basketball team as it won a district championship this season for the first time in school history. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

Baseball may be Caden Scarborough's "better" sport, but he was a leader for the Harmony Longhorns' basketball team as it won a district championship this season for the first time in school history. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

ALL-COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL — Within a team concept, Scarborough was MVP

J. Daniel Pearson
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Without question, Harmony coach Duke Leonardo had a deep boys basketball team in 202223. He stuck to a rotation all season of replacing his five starters with five new players and then substituting back to the original five.
Osceola topped St. Cloud, 8-3, Friday to win the OBC championship softball game Friday. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

Osceola topped St. Cloud, 8-3, Friday to win the OBC championship softball game Friday. PHOTO/KATIE WHITT WILLIAMS

Hernandez, Miranda lead Osceola to OBC softball title

J. Daniel Pearson
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Nayeli Hernandez drove in two runs and scored two others, and Alexis Miranda pitched a complete game as the Osceola Lady Kowboys upended host St. Cloud, 8-3, to capture the Orange Belt Conference championship Friday. The Kowboys (11-8) claimed their second OBC crown in three years.  St.
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