Sports

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.
Harmony flag football QB Martha Edwards accounted for 34 touchdowns for the Longhorns en route to earning the county’s Offensive Player of the Year nod. FILE PHOTO

Harmony flag football QB Martha Edwards accounted for 34 touchdowns for the Longhorns en route to earning the county’s Offensive Player of the Year nod. FILE PHOTO

Thompson, Edwards lead Harmony dominant county team

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Harmony left little doubt they were the top girls flag football team in the county in 2022, going 15-3 overall and 7-0 in Orange Belt Conference play. That’s why the Longhorns dominate the All-County team for the recently completed season.
St. Cloud senior and Jacksonville University signee Hannah Nasco hit .521 this season to up her four-year Bulldog career average to .448. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL

St. Cloud senior and Jacksonville University signee Hannah Nasco hit .521 this season to up her four-year Bulldog career average to .448. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL

Nasco wraps up stellar Bulldog batting career

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
St. Cloud senior Hannah Nasco, a Division I softball signee with Jacksonville University, has been named the season’s Osceola News-Gazette Softball Player of the Year. It was a clean sweep of awards for Nasco, who earlier last month was named Orange Belt Conference Player of the Year.
Among his many 2022 highlights, Osceola’s Danny Ramirez (pictured on the mound) pitched a four-hit complete game shutout to beat Lake Nona, 5-0, in the Class 7A, District 9 championship game. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Among his many 2022 highlights, Osceola’s Danny Ramirez (pictured on the mound) pitched a four-hit complete game shutout to beat Lake Nona, 5-0, in the Class 7A, District 9 championship game. PHOTO/J. DANIEL PEARSON

Ramirez hit, pitched Kowboys to titles

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
In the 2022 season, Osceola High’s Danny Ramirez hit and pitched the Kowboys baseball team to the Orange Belt Conference and district championships and that is why he is the Osceola News-Gazette Baseball Player of the Year.
Solivita’s Erica Gonzalez is one of the country’s most accomplished pickleball players in her age group. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Solivita’s Erica Gonzalez is one of the country’s most accomplished pickleball players in her age group. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Solivita’s Gonzalez among country’s pickleball best

Ken Jackson
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
One of the nation’s best pickleball players calls our area home. Solivita’s Erica Gonzalez recently returned from the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale where she won two gold medals (women’s singles, and doubles with partner Jackie Ebner) and a bronze (mixed doubles with Eric Wilson).
Celebration’s Catalina Edwards was the only track athlete from Osceola County to earn all-state honors (Class 4A) in two individual events. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Celebration’s Catalina Edwards was the only track athlete from Osceola County to earn all-state honors (Class 4A) in two individual events. SUBMITTED PHOTO

All-County Girls Track: Celebration’s Edwards went the distance at state 4A meet

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Celebration sophomore Catalina Edwards, who won all-state honors in two different events, is the Osceola News Gazette’s Girls Track Athlete of the Year. She was also the fall’s Cross Country Girls Runner of the Year.
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