The first step to bulking up is to make the commitment to put in the work. That’s what a group of Strawberry Crest High School students have just done, by creating the Mr. Charger bodybuilding competition. They hope this event not only can grow in the future but also out-do Durant High School’s long-running Cougar […]
Continue ReadingSports
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? How bocce practice brightened my day
If all coaches have at least one thing in common, it’s that they enjoy helping their athletes make progress. Most importantly, there’s nothing quite like watching an athlete meet one of their goals. I got to see this for myself last weekend, when I interviewed the Shervingtons for this week’s Sports feature story. Tom Shervington […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Stephanie Dwyer
As a freshman on Strawberry Crest’s senior-loaded softball team, Stephanie Dwyer doesn’t always see a lot of playing time. So, when she saw some action in an 18-4 win over Brandon March 21, she made it count. Dwyer led the team with four hits and four RBI, and scored one run in a 4-for-5 day […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? Stories left on the cutting-room floor
There are some weeks when I wish I could fit everything from an interview into a story, and last week was definitely one of them. One of my least favorite things about a good interview is that so much is said that gets omitted from the story, if it’s even used at all — after […]
Continue ReadingSIDELINES
CHEERLEADING + SCHS team will be on TV Hot off the heels of a national competition, Strawberry Crest fans will be able to catch a replay of the action this weekend. The Chargers took a fifth-place finish in their division at the National High School Cheerleading Championship, out of a field of 32 other schools. They […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mark Moclair
In his only start of the Saladino Tournament, Strawberry Crest hurler Mark Moclair was nearly untouchable. He threw a complete-game no-hitter March 12 against Plant City with eight strikeouts, broken up only by two walks. Even before last Wednesday, he was riding high after three innings against Middleton: nine strikeouts, no walks, no hits. You’ve […]
Continue ReadingStrawberry Crest softball team crushes the competition
Many sports fans like to show up fashionably late to a game, a criticism often thrown at fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Those fans have a reputation for showing up after a few innings have passed, but they don’t always miss much. Anyone who tries that at a Strawberry Crest softball game runs the […]
Continue ReadingPlant City remembers William ‘Bill’ Roetzheim
Walden Lake residents may remember playing tennis with Bill Roetzheim sometime since 1985. Like many people, Mr. Roetzheim chose to retire in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World after a long career in teaching and coaching at the high school and college levels. Unlike many people, however, there was much more to the “Chief” […]
Continue ReadingAnglers to cast lines at Youth Fishing Derby
It wouldn’t be March without Plant City’s bi-annual Youth Fishing Derby. On March 22, kids ages 5 to 15 can load up their tackle boxes and bust out their favorite poles for a little friendly competition. As always, the event will be sponsored by Lakeland-based Landshark Charter and held behind the Randy L. Larson Softball […]
Continue ReadingSIDELINES
BASKETBALL + Tigers travel team takes title Plant City travel ball recently added another team to its ranks, the Tigers, and they got started by making an on-court statement. They won the Spring Fest Shootout last weekend, in Orlando, after entering the tournament as a the lowest seed. The Tigers lost their first two pool-play games […]
Continue Reading
