The great 2013 season wasn’t just for the football teams, however. Also turning in a spectacular season was the Mighty Mites cheerleading team, which won first place in all three of its competitions. “It feels good, and the parents are proud,” coach Lori Mull says. The Dolphins cheerleaders won the Gator Bash in Lakeland, then the […]
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Sidelines 11.28.13
+ Local athletes accept offers We love to see local athletes make the leap from high school to college sports, and this month saw a number of our area’s seniors figure out their futures. Here’s what we know from the schools’ athletic directors: For Plant City High School, Bailey Bowden (swimming) signed with Vanderbilt; Kellyanne Hurst […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND: Football, food, family and friends: Yes, please!
Today is probably my favorite federal holiday of the year. Food, friends, family and football are all things that make me happy, so, to get all four things in one day? I’m definitely good with that. Not that I can’t get all of those things together on Christmas; it’s just that I’ve gotten old enough […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Logan Whitney
If you attended the Durant-Strawberry Crest soccer game Nov. 21, you saw some great goalkeeping on the Cougars’ side. Logan Whitney, a sophomore, made eight saves and kept his team alive all night. You were making saves all over the place tonight. What were you feeling out there? I was feeling stressed — half stressed […]
Continue ReadingDurant, Strawberry Crest strong in rivalry matchup
Durant and Strawberry Crest high schools renewed their rivalry on the soccer field Nov. 21. The boys fought to a 0-0 draw, while the Lady Cougars rode a huge first-half effort to a 5-0 win. The Chargers were constantly in attack mode in the boys game, but Durant goalkeeper Logan Whitney was up for the […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: Plant City Colts Fun Day
Players, coaches and family members associated with the Plant City Colts enjoyed an afternoon of fun and friendship Nov. 23, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. The teammates enjoyed a bounce house, ball pit and plenty of friendly competition.
Continue ReadingAssist and Score
Nicole Bush was one of Aliyah Gregory’s biggest fans. “Auntie Nikki” was very close with the Strawberry Crest basketball star, right up to her tragic death in 2011. Two years later, Gregory came up with a plan to honor her late aunt. The senior is playing her final season as a Lady Charger in Bush’s […]
Continue Reading2013 football brings season of surprises
The fate of the 2013 football season wasn’t decided until the Monday night of the final week, when almost everything got turned upside down and East Bay was crowned champion for the first time in 40 years. But, that also sums up the entire season in a nutshell: Many things that were expected to happen […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND: Tone down the uniform tributes
Some of my favorite things about sports are the uniforms. A strong visual identity can really help a team’s personality stick out, and stick with us. For example: When I think of old-school, smash-mouth football, the first teams that come to mind are those old Oakland Raiders squads. The guys are just as bloody, dirty […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Hassan Bailey
When things weren’t looking good for the Plant City Raiders’ passing game Nov. 15, Hassan Bailey came up big to keep the team alive. The senior rushed for 164 yards on 23 carries and scored the Raiders’ only touchdown on an electrifying 75-yard run. You killed it out there last week. What were you feeling […]
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