Sports

After knocking off the top seeds in the tournament, Celebration and Gateway, the Tohopekaliga Tigers have claimed their first OBC boys soccer championship. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

After knocking off the top seeds in the tournament, Celebration and Gateway, the Tohopekaliga Tigers have claimed their first OBC boys soccer championship. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

OBC soccer: a champion defends; a new winner emerges

While the Orange Belt Conference girls soccer championship trophy will stay where it was last week, the boys trinket will go where it's never been after a spirited "kick at the can" Friday.
Gateway sophomore Ashlynn Day is averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds a game during the Panthers’ 8-0 run to start the hoops season. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Gateway sophomore Ashlynn Day is averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds a game during the Panthers’ 8-0 run to start the hoops season. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Mix of experience, youth leads Lady Panthers hoops to 8-0 start

Gateway’s girls basketball team has been building toward something big.Three seasons ago the Panthers rolled to a regional championship and an appearance in the state tournament. They won district titles the last two seasons as well, but lacked that little edge to win in the playoffs.
Poinciana, like Gateway and Liberty, would return to district football play in the proposed alignments for the 2026-28 seasons the FHSAA released Monday. (Photo/Katie Williams)

Poinciana, like Gateway and Liberty, would return to district football play in the proposed alignments for the 2026-28 seasons the FHSAA released Monday. (Photo/Katie Williams)

Proposed FHSAA alignment puts Osceola’s 8 football teams in 5 districts

The Florida High School Athletic Association released proposed district lineups for the 2026-28 football seasons Monday.In some cases, they stayed exactly the same for Osceola County’s teams. In other cases, they changed — a lot.
Gateway, shown in February's district championship against Innovation, can defend its Orange Belt Conference championship Friday with a victory over Tohopekaliga at Osceola High on Friday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Gateway, shown in February's district championship against Innovation, can defend its Orange Belt Conference championship Friday with a victory over Tohopekaliga at Osceola High on Friday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

OBC soccer championship tourneys this week — check out the sites, favorites

Harmony’s girls and Celebration’s boys will be the top seeds when the Orange Belt Conference Championships are contested this week.Action begins Monday with the top seeded Lady Longhorns and second-seeded Storm hosting quarterfinal games.
From left, Osceola High's Jakyri Watson, Amier Clarke and Alijah Jenkins signed their college football scholarships Wednesday, as OHS Coach Eric Pinellas looked on. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

From left, Osceola High's Jakyri Watson, Amier Clarke and Alijah Jenkins signed their college football scholarships Wednesday, as OHS Coach Eric Pinellas looked on. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY — Five from county gridiron lock in college programs

Years of practice and preparation paid off for five Osceola County football players this week signed scholarship papers to play college football during the National Signing Day period.In a Wednesday ceremony at St.
Young players join the USWNT such as Olivia Moultrie who plays for Portland Thorns. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

Young players join the USWNT such as Olivia Moultrie who plays for Portland Thorns. (Photo/Mario Casamalhuapa)

U.S. Women's National Team sets up camp in ChampionsGate

The U.S. Women's National Team has arrived in Osceola County, setting up training camp in the ChampionsGate area as head coach Emma Hayes prepares her squad for a pair of friendlies against Italy that will close out the 2025 calendar year.Osceola County has long been a trusted training ground for U.