Sports

Cooper Haase (top) gets ready to turn Riverview’s Nikolas Hernandez in the Class 3A, 138-pound finals of the FHSAA state wrestling tournament to win his third state title. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Cooper Haase (top) gets ready to turn Riverview’s Nikolas Hernandez in the Class 3A, 138-pound finals of the FHSAA state wrestling tournament to win his third state title. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Next goal for Haase — rare wrestling four-peat

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
It was a pretty impressive year for individual achievement in high school athletics for Osceola County Athletes. Celebration’s Felipe Costa won a state championship in swimming, the first in several decades. County weightlifters Julian Sykes (St.
Celebration distance runner Catalina Edwards was the only athlete from Osceola County to earn all-state honors in two individual track and field events. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH SCHOOL

Celebration distance runner Catalina Edwards was the only athlete from Osceola County to earn all-state honors in two individual track and field events. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH SCHOOL

Edwards climbed the podium in 2 sports, 4 events

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Earning All-State honors in two different track and field events is impressive.
Star football player Oniel Senatus appears to be making the transfer from Celebration to Osceola High School this fall. FILE PHOTO

Star football player Oniel Senatus appears to be making the transfer from Celebration to Osceola High School this fall. FILE PHOTO

Record-setting Celebration running back may be Osceola-bound

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, July 22, 2022
In what appears to be a case of the rich getting richer, Oniel Senatus – the Celebration Storm’s record- setting running back – appears to be headed towards a transfer to Osceola High School.
The St. Cloud 8-10 All Stars won district and section championships, but came up just short of a state title. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The St. Cloud 8-10 All Stars won district and section championships, but came up just short of a state title. SUBMITTED PHOTO

St. Cloud All-Stars are sectional champs!

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
St. Cloud Little League Girls All-Star Softball came up just short of making the state championship title game this weekend, when the team of 8-10 year olds was eliminated in pool play this past weekend at home. St.
A full schedule of OBC team-sport tournaments will return during the 2022-23 school year sports season. FILE PHOTO

A full schedule of OBC team-sport tournaments will return during the 2022-23 school year sports season. FILE PHOTO

OBC championship tourneys to return for ’22-23

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Orange Belt Conference championship tournaments are making a comeback for most team sports for the coming school year, Osceola County Athletics Director Ryan Adams announced this week.
After spending nine years as an Osceola High coach, Celebration High's Rick Tribit is returning to be the Kowboys' Athletic Director. PHOTO/OSCEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT YOUTUBE

After spending nine years as an Osceola High coach, Celebration High's Rick Tribit is returning to be the Kowboys' Athletic Director. PHOTO/OSCEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT YOUTUBE

Rick Tribit is Osceola High’s new Athletic Director

J. Daniel Pearson
Monday, July 18, 2022
It was announced on Monday that Rick Tribit, who has served as Athletics Director at Celebration High School for the last five years, will replace Jim Bird in the same position at Osceola High.
Jim Bird (center, blue shirt) built a wrestling dynasty at Osceola High School in addition to being the school’s highly successful athletic director over the last two decades. He is stepping down to take a job in the Florida Panhandle closer to family. FILE PHOTO

Jim Bird (center, blue shirt) built a wrestling dynasty at Osceola High School in addition to being the school’s highly successful athletic director over the last two decades. He is stepping down to take a job in the Florida Panhandle closer to family. FILE PHOTO

Legendary Osceola High wrestling coach, AD, Jim Bird, stepping down

J. Daniel Pearson
Sunday, July 10, 2022
After 28 years of dedicated service to Osceola High School, many of which were spent as both head wrestling coach and athletics director, Jim Bird is leaving the school.
St. Cloud’s Julian Sykes (right) was a bronze medalist in the 160-pound class at the USA National Weightlifting Championships in Las Vegas last week.

St. Cloud’s Julian Sykes (right) was a bronze medalist in the 160-pound class at the USA National Weightlifting Championships in Las Vegas last week.

Sykes Medalist at USA Weightlifting

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Julian Sykes, who won a pair of state championships for St. Cloud High School, recently represented Team Florida at the USA National Weightlifting Championships in Las Vegas -- winning a pair of medals in his weight class.
St. Cloud will be the 3rd high school to play varsity lacrosse in high school next year. PHOTO/COLLEGE CROSSE

St. Cloud will be the 3rd high school to play varsity lacrosse in high school next year. PHOTO/COLLEGE CROSSE

St. Cloud High to add varsity lacrosse

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
St. Cloud will become the third high school in Osceola County to add lacrosse to its varsity sports roster, when they field boys and girls teams for the 2022-23 school year. The Bulldogs will join Celebration and Tohopekaliga to offer the popular and rapidly growing sport.
Celebration volleyball libero Keith Harrison, pictured in neon yellow at right, in the District 11 championship match against St. Cloud in May, is the News-Gazette’s Boys Volleyball Player of the Year. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Celebration volleyball libero Keith Harrison, pictured in neon yellow at right, in the District 11 championship match against St. Cloud in May, is the News-Gazette’s Boys Volleyball Player of the Year. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Celebration’s district champs claim county honors

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Although there were three really solid boys volleyball teams in Osceola County this past spring, Celebration came away with top honors – winning Orange Belt Conference and another district championship, while claiming both Osceola News-Gazette’s Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors.
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