Sports

Harmony High wrestlers Nelson Toro, who signed this week, and Rey Ortiz, are on to the college level after singing with the University of Buffalo and Presbyterian College respectively. PHOTO/HARMONY HIGH

Harmony High wrestlers Nelson Toro, who signed this week, and Rey Ortiz, are on to the college level after singing with the University of Buffalo and Presbyterian College respectively. PHOTO/HARMONY HIGH

Toro! A bull becomes — a Bull!

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
The Spanish word for bull is Toro, so perhaps it is only fitting that Harmony’s Nelson Toro will spend his college wrestling career as a Buffalo Bull.
Seven members of the Osceola High softball team signed college scholarships this year. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Seven members of the Osceola High softball team signed college scholarships this year. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Class of 2023 signees — 90 Osceola athletes on to college

News Staff
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
The Harmony wrestling signings of Nelson Toro and Rey Ortiz brings the total number of Class of 2023 athletes signed on to compete at the college level to over 90.
Based on her stellar playing career, Osceola High alum Kenya Pereira has been named to the 2023 Florida A&M Rattlers’ Sports Hall of Fame induction class. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Based on her stellar playing career, Osceola High alum Kenya Pereira has been named to the 2023 Florida A&M Rattlers’ Sports Hall of Fame induction class. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Osceola High alum Kenya Pereira named to FAMU Hall of Fame

Ken Jackson
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Osceola High School alum Kenya Pereira, who starred in the pitching circle for the Kowboys softball teams before moving on to an accomplished career at Florida A&M University, has been named to this year’s induction class to the FAMU Rattlers’ Sports Hall of Fame.
St. Cloud golf coach Jim Endicott (far left) is stepping down after both Bulldog boys and girls golf teams qualified for the state tournament last year and won a combined 10 Orange Belt Conference championships in six years. PHOTO/DAN PEARSON

St. Cloud golf coach Jim Endicott (far left) is stepping down after both Bulldog boys and girls golf teams qualified for the state tournament last year and won a combined 10 Orange Belt Conference championships in six years. PHOTO/DAN PEARSON

Coaching changes coming for county schools — see who, where

J. Daniel Pearson
Thursday, July 13, 2023
As is usually the case, there will be plenty of new faces patrolling the sidelines of our local high schools’ athletic fields, courts, and pools as the 2023-24 school year begins in a few short weeks.
Drea Thompson won OBC, district and regional high jump titles before placing in the FHSAA State Championships. She was an all-county selection in flag football and standout on the volleyball court for Harmony – earning News-Gazette Girls Athlete of the Year honors for the 2022-23. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Drea Thompson won OBC, district and regional high jump titles before placing in the FHSAA State Championships. She was an all-county selection in flag football and standout on the volleyball court for Harmony – earning News-Gazette Girls Athlete of the Year honors for the 2022-23. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

OSCEOLA COUNTY FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR -- Longhorns’ Thompson a ‘generational talent’

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
In a year where she earned All-County recognition in two sports and excelled in a third, Harmony senior Drea Thompson is the selection for the Osceola News Gazette’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2022-23. Thompson played volleyball and excelled in track and field and flag football.
Cooper Haase signs a commemorative picture frame as his mother Shanel Davidson-Haase looks on at the Orange Belt Conference awards ceremony in May. Haase, a four-time state wrestling champion at Osceola High, was also the OBC’s Male Athlete of the Year. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Cooper Haase signs a commemorative picture frame as his mother Shanel Davidson-Haase looks on at the Orange Belt Conference awards ceremony in May. Haase, a four-time state wrestling champion at Osceola High, was also the OBC’s Male Athlete of the Year. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

OSCEOLA COUNTY BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Haase capped magical career with 4th state title

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Osceola’s Cooper Haase capped off his high school wrestling career in style in March’s Class 3A state championship.
Dylan Murphy, an NBA assistant coach in Orlando, has been named the first Osceola Magic coach. LINKEDIN

Dylan Murphy, an NBA assistant coach in Orlando, has been named the first Osceola Magic coach. LINKEDIN

Osceola Magic names Dylan Murphy head coach

Staff Report
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Submitted by the Orlando Magic The Osceola Magic, the developmental ,NBA G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic, have named the coach they’ll have going into this summer.
Osceola’s Shannon Levy won three individual events and ran a leg on a winning relay team at the 2023 OBC Championships and qualified for two events at the state championships. PHOTO/ERIC PINELLAS

Osceola’s Shannon Levy won three individual events and ran a leg on a winning relay team at the 2023 OBC Championships and qualified for two events at the state championships. PHOTO/ERIC PINELLAS

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS TRACK — OBC champ, state sprint qualifier Levy was tops

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Osceola High School senior Shannon Levy, who won Orange Belt Conference titles in the 100 and 200 meters, long jump and ran a leg on the winning 4x100 relay team is the Osceola News-Gazette’s Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year for 2023.
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