Sports

Osceola High’s Kealoni Vega (in hat on top of podium) become Osceola County’s first official FHSAA state champion when she won the 100-pound weight class in March. PHOTO/OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOL

Osceola High’s Kealoni Vega (in hat on top of podium) become Osceola County’s first official FHSAA state champion when she won the 100-pound weight class in March. PHOTO/OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOL

State champ Vega brightest among county’s best

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
In a year when the sport continued to grow in stature and record participation, no local female athlete stood out more on the wrestling mats that Osceola High senior Kealoni Vega.
Harmony culminated a 3-0 week to claim the 2023 Orange Belt Conference baseball title with a 5-4 win over defending champion Osceola. PHOTO/HARMONY HIGH SCHOOL

Harmony culminated a 3-0 week to claim the 2023 Orange Belt Conference baseball title with a 5-4 win over defending champion Osceola. PHOTO/HARMONY HIGH SCHOOL

Big hits, Scarborough's relief outing push Longhorns to OBC baseball title

J. Daniel Pearson
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Heading into Friday night’s Orange Belt Conference championship baseball game, Harmony coach Heath Williams said his team would have to play its best game of the year if his Longhorns were to have a chance to end Osceola’s dominant run of three consecutive crowns.
Harmony quarterback Martha Edwards threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, like this one in the Longhorns' 33-6 Orange Belt Conference flag football championship game. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Harmony quarterback Martha Edwards threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, like this one in the Longhorns' 33-6 Orange Belt Conference flag football championship game. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Harmony defends OBC flag football title with 33-6 win over Liberty

Ken Jackson
Friday, March 31, 2023
Harmony scored three touchdowns in the final 3:45 of the first half Friday and cruised to a 33-6 win over Liberty in the Orange Belt Conference flag football championship game.
Tohopekaliga’s Eliel Salva, a senior outside hitter, returns to lead the Tigers offense in 2023. He recorded 198 kills and 34 aces in 2022. PHOTO/TOHOPEKALIGA H.S.

Tohopekaliga’s Eliel Salva, a senior outside hitter, returns to lead the Tigers offense in 2023. He recorded 198 kills and 34 aces in 2022. PHOTO/TOHOPEKALIGA H.S.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL — Storm, Bulldogs, Tigers in tight OBC battle

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, March 31, 2023
The 2023 boys’ volleyball season got underway earlier this month, and defending champion Celebration will be among the favorites when the Orange Belt Conference Championship Tournament is contested April 10-13.
Against some of Central Florida's best track and field talent, Harmony's girls and the host Tohopekaliga's boys shined. PHOTO/METRO

Against some of Central Florida's best track and field talent, Harmony's girls and the host Tohopekaliga's boys shined. PHOTO/METRO

TRACK AND FIELD — Harmony girls, Toho boys shine at Tiger Invite

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
A number of county track teams competed aside some of the top talent in Central Florida at the weekend’s the Tohopekaliga Tigers Invitational. The event featured competitors from 45 high schools throughout Central Florida, and Harmony’s girls team placed an impressive fourth place.
Orange Belt Conference boys weightlifting champions. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Orange Belt Conference boys weightlifting champions. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING — Bulldog lifters big OBC winners

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Behind gold medal efforts from sophomore Michael Ziss and senior Noah Carr, the St. Cloud Bulldogs are Orange Belt Conference champions once again as they swept both the Traditional and Olympic style team titles in boys’ weightlifting on Friday at Harmony High.
The Kissimmee Klassic softball tournament was re-named in honor of Roger Jones (in hat standing to left of banner) in 2018 prior to his passing away later that year. The showcase tournament begins Thursday at the Fortune Road softball complex. PHOTO/OSCEOLA H.S.

The Kissimmee Klassic softball tournament was re-named in honor of Roger Jones (in hat standing to left of banner) in 2018 prior to his passing away later that year. The showcase tournament begins Thursday at the Fortune Road softball complex. PHOTO/OSCEOLA H.S.

Annual Roger Jones softball tourney features top teams, players — starts Thursday

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Florida’s best softball teams and players will converge in Kissimmee starting Thursday for the 31st annual Roger Jones Classic at the Fortune Road Softball Complex.
Logan King steps in to bat for St. Cloud in the second inning, His RBI single cut scored the Bulldogs first run, but the Dogs eventually lost to Tohopekaliga, 3-2, Monday. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Logan King steps in to bat for St. Cloud in the second inning, His RBI single cut scored the Bulldogs first run, but the Dogs eventually lost to Tohopekaliga, 3-2, Monday. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

3-2 win on wild pitch keeps Toho Tigers banner baseball season going

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Austin Montalvo raced home from third on a two-out wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Tohopekaliga Tigers a 3-2 baseball victory over St. Cloud Monday night. The win lifted the Tigers to 7-1 on the season, by far its best season start yet.
Osceola's Cooper Haase won four state high school wrestling championships — at four different weight classes. PHOTO/COREY HAASE

Osceola's Cooper Haase won four state high school wrestling championships — at four different weight classes. PHOTO/COREY HAASE

ALL-COUNTY WRESTLING — 4-time champ Haase leaves a legacy

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Although several wrestlers were worthy of consideration, including state-champions Anderson Heap and Nelson Toro, Osceola High’s Cooper Haase is the Osceola News-Gazette Wrestler of the Year for a second straight season.
Harmony quarterback Martha Edwards took the OBC by storm as a freshman, leading the Longhorns to a conference and district title. She returns as a sophomore for more. The OBC tournament is later this month. FILE PHOTO

Harmony quarterback Martha Edwards took the OBC by storm as a freshman, leading the Longhorns to a conference and district title. She returns as a sophomore for more. The OBC tournament is later this month. FILE PHOTO

FLAG FOOTBALL PREVIEW — Longhorns looking for three-peat; St. Cloud to challenge

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
After dominating the Osceola County flag football scene for the last two years, Harmony will be looking for its third straight Orange Belt Conference Championship in 2023, but look for cross-town rival St. Cloud to challenge them.
Subscribe to