When golfers tee off at at Bloomingdale Golfers Club’s 17th hole par-3 April 20, they won’t hear chirping birds, a gentle breeze and an occasional golf cart passing by. Instead, they will have to deal with the sounds of trumpets, clarinets and drums. The 17th hole will be the “distraction hole” at this year’s 11th […]
Continue ReadingYMCA swim team preps for third season
Although the team may be smaller than other YMCA teams in the area, the Tampa YMCA Swimming team at the Plant City YMCA makes up for it in talent. Coach Craig Hilgenberg helped resurrect the longstanding swim club at Walden Lake in 2008, before merging that team with an existing swim club at the Plant […]
Continue ReadingPlant City welcomes VSI Tampa Bay FC
It was an impressive debut for VSI Tampa Bay FC April 13, as the Flames won their first USL PRO home opener in a 3-0 win over the Rochester Rhinos. After a lease agreement was approved March 25, VisionPro Sports Institute had a short timeframe to convert Plant City Stadium into a professional soccer facility. […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ali Grimmel
Wide receiver and captain Ali Grimmel has been a leader for the Plant City High flag football team in more ways than one. The four-year starter has 33 catches on the year for 312 yards, but it is her vocal leadership that stands out. Grimmel, also a competitive cheerleader at PCHS, uses her outgoing personality […]
Continue ReadingLegislation dangerous for high school sports
Do you have or will you have a son or daughter who participates in high school athletics in Florida? You may want to pay attention. There is a piece of legislation that, if passed, could send Florida high school sports into an era of free agency. The legislation — House Bill 1279 — would allow […]
Continue ReadingDurant bests Plant City in diamond rivalry
The Durant High School softball and baseball teams picked up big wins over rival Plant City High April 11, at home. Durant’s Paige Davis gave up just one hit in a 6-0 win against the Lady Raiders, in the non-district season finale for both softball teams. Chaz Fowler also threw a one-hitter for Durant’s baseball […]
Continue ReadingVSI W-League names new head coach
VSI Tampa Bay FC is announced Wednesday that George Fotopoulos will be its 2013 W-League head coach. Fotopoulos comes to VSI with a wealth of soccer-specific knowledge and experience. The VSI W-League team will play all of its home games during the 2013 season at Plant City Stadium. “We are thrilled to have George Fotopoulos as […]
Continue ReadingStrawberry Queen, three others ink with colleges
Four Plant City High School student-athletes made their college choices official Wednesday with a signing ceremony held at the school. Kelsey Fry (West Florida, swimming), Seth Crowell (Florida Tech, football), Joe Davis (Webber, football) and Keven Long (Three Rivers College, baseball) will all play their respective sports at the next level after graduating from PCHS […]
Continue ReadingStrawberry Distance Challenge winner ran Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon participant Mike Stewart was awoken by flurry of phone calls and texts. They were from friends and loved ones, making sure he was safe. Stewart, the winner of Plant City’s 2013 Strawberry Distance Challenge 5K, finished the race almost exactly one hour before the first explosion occurred at 2:50 p.m. April 15, on […]
Continue ReadingWinning Attitude
The baseball program at Plant City High School dates back decades before Durant began its program in the mid-1990s, but the Cougars have had more success in recent years and have grown into a perennial power. That’s something new PCHS head coach Mike Fryrear, a Durant alumnus and former player, hopes to achieve with the […]
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