Sports

Celebration’s Jared Falchook, pictured with Coach Cliff Branch, closed out his Storm career with a fifth-place finished at the Class 4A state meet, and played a key role in getting the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams through to the state championships. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Celebration’s Jared Falchook, pictured with Coach Cliff Branch, closed out his Storm career with a fifth-place finished at the Class 4A state meet, and played a key role in getting the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams through to the state championships. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Falchook edges Descartes for ONG Athlete of the Year

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
In a year where several outstanding Osceola County athletes competed for state championships, Celebration’s Jared Falchook edged out Tohopekaliga’s Orlando Descartes as the Osceola News-Gazette Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
Ireland Wright was this year’s Florida champion for ages 10-11 at the Elks Hoop Shoot. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Ireland Wright was this year’s Florida champion for ages 10-11 at the Elks Hoop Shoot. SUBMITTED PHOTO

St. Cloud’s Wright Elks Hoops Shoot state champ

Ken Jackson
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
One of the area’s top basketball shooters is heading into middle school. Ireland Wright, 11, brought home “the big trophy” from the annual Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot state contest in April.
Zoe Haley hits the ice with such drive and passion to be the best. PHOTO/JESSIE HALEY

Zoe Haley hits the ice with such drive and passion to be the best. PHOTO/JESSIE HALEY

Hockey player Zoe Haley breaking cultural and gender stigmas

Chris Miller
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
There is no doubt sports has cultural and gender misrepresentation. In our community, Zoe Haley is shining light on the issue during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
St. Cloud's Julian Sykes is the 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers “Mr. Weightlifter”. He's the third Bulldog to win the award.

St. Cloud's Julian Sykes is the 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers “Mr. Weightlifter”. He's the third Bulldog to win the award.

St. Cloud's Sykes is Florida's high school "Mr. Weightlifter"

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Julian Sykes, the St. Cloud senior who won a pair of gold medals at last month’s FHSAA Class 3A state boys weightifting championships in the 154-pound class, has been named recipient of the 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers “Mr. Weightlifter” award.
Poinciana’s Earnest Nunn runs for a gain in last week’s spring game against Gateway. The Eagles won, 20-6. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Poinciana’s Earnest Nunn runs for a gain in last week’s spring game against Gateway. The Eagles won, 20-6. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Spring wins for Longhorns, Eagles, Kowboys, Bulldogs, Chargers

J. Daniel Pearson
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
A recap of last week’s spring football games, played Thursday to beat Friday’s inclement weather: Harmony dominated Clermont East Ridge 31-0. “We played about as complete a football game as we have in a long time,” Coach Don Simon said.
Surrounded by member of Coach Mike Fields’ Family, Cory Aun (3rd from left) accepted the Mike Fields Distinguished Leadership Award. PHOTO/DAN PEARSON

Surrounded by member of Coach Mike Fields’ Family, Cory Aun (3rd from left) accepted the Mike Fields Distinguished Leadership Award. PHOTO/DAN PEARSON

Harmony takes another All-Sports trophy, Athletes of the Year honored

J. Daniel Pearson
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Celebration state champion swimmer Felipe Costa and Gateway multi-sport star Paige Alise were honored as The Osceola County School District Athletes of the Year, while St. Cloud weightlifting coach Cory Aun was named recipient of the prestigious Mike Fields Distinguished Leadership Award and Storm...
OHS running back Taevion Swint, shown here in a 2021 game, had 69 yards on 13 carries Thursday — but came up big on the game-winning drive.

OHS running back Taevion Swint, shown here in a 2021 game, had 69 yards on 13 carries Thursday — but came up big on the game-winning drive.

New and familiar Kowboy faces shine in spring game win

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, May 20, 2022
Thursday night’s 26-22 spring game win by Osceola over Central Florida power Edgewater on Thursday night featured a little bit of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The Good came in the form of first-year starting quarterback Gunner Holland.
St. Cloud’s Julian Sykes (left) and Harmony’s Isaac Balado (right) with their hardware from the Class 3A state weightlifting meet, are the county's Boys Weighlifters of the Year. PHOTO/CORY AUN, ST. CLOUD H.S.

St. Cloud’s Julian Sykes (left) and Harmony’s Isaac Balado (right) with their hardware from the Class 3A state weightlifting meet, are the county's Boys Weighlifters of the Year. PHOTO/CORY AUN, ST. CLOUD H.S.

All County Boys Weightlifting — Sykes, Balado were the class of the state

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Two different athletes that competed in two different weight classes both produced the same dominating results. Harmony’s Isaac Balado and St. Cloud’s Julian Sykes share the Osceola News Gazette’s Boys Weightlifter of the Year honor.
Lani Huyke, track – Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Lani Huyke, track – Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

A Storm surge — Celebration athletes moving on to college!

News Staff
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
A double-digit number of Celebration High athletes have signed college scholarships to continue their athletic careers at the next level. Thus far, athletes in four sports have signed. Check back in the coming weeks for athletes from other Osceola County schools and their signing photos.
Celebration distance runners Jared Falchook and Catalina Edwards show off their medals for top-5 finishes at last weekend’s FHSAA Class 4A state track meet. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH

Celebration distance runners Jared Falchook and Catalina Edwards show off their medals for top-5 finishes at last weekend’s FHSAA Class 4A state track meet. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH

Storm’s Edwards medals twice at state track

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Catalina Edwards, the Osceola News Gazette’s Cross County Athlete of the Year, made her bid to also earn Track Athlete of the Year this past weekend as she took double All-State honors at the Class 4A state track meet Saturday in Gainesville.
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