By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer On the clear glass doors of the International Softball Federation headquarters, off Park Road in Plant City, is a painted depiction of the famous Olympic rings. Inside, just in front of the doors, a trophy case sits filled with medals, plaques and other Olympic memorabilia. To the left, over […]
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Hometown Olympian reflects on career
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Editor’s note: “Where Are They Now” is an occasional feature revisiting the lives of Plant City’s most successful athletes. In 1996, on a flight from Atlanta to Tampa, 16-year-old Brooke Bennett waited with the other passengers as the flight was delayed for an hour. No one was aware of […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Mud Run: A story of success
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer The fact that I’m able to write my column this week means a few things. First, I have retained all of my fingers — an essential part of my livelihood. I’m also happy to report that other than a little soreness in my quads and forearms earlier this week, […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Valeria Arroyo
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Valeria Arroyo was destined to be a volleyball player. The 15-year-old Plant City resident took up the sport several years ago and now plays both at the Plant City YMCA and the varsity team at her high school — Santa Fe Catholic in Lakeland. During the summer, Arroyo practices […]
Continue ReadingPCHS to hold fall sports meeting July 31
Plant City High School will hold its annual fall sports meeting Tuesday, July 31 at 6 p.m. in the PCHS auditorium.
Continue ReadingPrep football openers moved to Sept. 1
Tampa – The Hillsborough County Public Schools Athletics Office has announced that all high school football games originally scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1 due to the Republican National Convention in Tampa the week of Aug. 27- 30. The district announced in June that it would not hold […]
Continue ReadingSTATE CHAMPS: 10-11 All-Stars improve to 29-0
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer The Plant City Little League 10-11 Baseball All-Stars kept things rolling Monday night as they became the best team in the state, beating Cape Coral 13-2 in the finals of the Florida state tournament in Defuniak Springs. It was a case of deja vu for Plant City, as they […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: Plant City Flag Football Invitational
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer The Plant City Flag Football Invitational featured one of the deepest and most talented fields in its four-year history July 14 and 15, at Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex. This year’s tournament featured the two-time state champion Seminole Ridge, along with four former state semifinalists.
Continue ReadingNEW DIMENSION
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Many times, when a high school football team loses its star quarterback, there is a sense of uncertainty or even concern with what the future of the position has in store. That’s not the case going into the upcoming season for Durant High, where rising senior Zach Stephenson or […]
Continue ReadingCoaches evaluate teams
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Although Friday-night football won’t begin for another month, the skill players on area squads got an early chance to compete over the weekend at the Bright House Sports Network 7-on-7 Tournament July 14 and 15, at the Fishhawk Sports Complex in Lithia. All three Plant City schools were in […]
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