Austin Eldridge, 13, is a wide receiver/defensive end for the 9-0 Plant City Dolphins junior varsity team. He has played football since he was 6 years old and has been a member of four teams that advanced to the league’s Super Bowl, with two of those teams taking home a championship. Austin was also a […]
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Chris Wilson
By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor Chris Wilson does his talking on the football field and in the classroom. The 12-year-old doesn’t say much, but his play speaks loudly. Wilson has seven offensive touchdowns in his last two games with the Turkey Creek Trojans Midgets. He also had 18 tackles in those games and returned […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lexi Thompson
By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor Durant’s Lexi Thompson had a huge night Oct. 2, in the Lady Cougars 3-0 win over rival Strawberry Crest. The junior outside hitter had 27 kills on the night, bringing her season total to 148. She leads Durant in that category, as well as aces, and is in the […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ashley Murray
Strawberry Crest senior Ashley Murray keeps busy with her school work and as the captain of the girls cross country team. She recently placed eighth in the East Hillsborough Invitational, at Newsome High School, and was the top finisher for area schools. She also ran a personal record time of 21:10 and was the first […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kellyanne Hurst
By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor Last week was a big one for Plant City High School golfer Kellyanne Hurst. The junior took low-medalist honors in all three matches with scores of 37, 35 and 42 in nine-hole rounds. The 35 shot against Steinbrenner Sept. 10 was the lowest of her high school career. In […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Macie Jones
Macie Jones is a senior setter with the Durant High School volleyball team. Jones is just one of two seniors on the Lady Cougars and a captain. Through just two games this season, Jones has 70 assists and serves as a leader for a young Durant team looking to reclaim past success, including three state […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Karel Hamilton
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Strawberry Crest senior wide receiver Karel Hamilton defines what it means to be an unselfish player. After having just one catch in the Chargers’ preseason game with Freedom, the standout didn’t complain. The following week, he made a statement on the field, with three big catches against Plant City, […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Victoria Dunn
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Longtime fitness enthusiast and Plant City resident Victoria Dunn is thrilled about the new Les Mills Body Pump program at the Plant City Family YMCA. The long-running workout program made its first run at the Plant City YMCA Aug. 24, and attracted more than 100 participants over five 30-minute […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Luther Scarlett
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer At the younger age groups, most players prefer the quarterback or running back positions to the less glamorous — but no less important — line positions. However, that isn’t the case for 6-year-old Luther Scarlett, a center and defensive end for the Plant City Dolphins Mighty Mite team.
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Tate Whatley
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Stats are thrown around a lot, but the numbers Tate Whatley put up in the Little League World Series Southeast Regional Tournament last week are rare. The catcher for the Plant City 11-12 All-Stars batted .714 in four games, with 11 RBIs and seven runs scored. He also had […]
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