For the past 12 months, the Plant City Observer has devoted its sports section to our community’s athletes, teams and coaches.
We’ve stood on the sidelines and watched amazing plays develop. We’ve met athletes who have overcome astounding odds. We’ve seen Plant City’s best use their skills to achieve amazing accomplishments.
For this special anniversary edition, we are taking a look back at the top sports story of each month for the past year.
There were plenty of stories and topics from which to choose, but we feel these 12 best exemplified Plant City sports each month.
Best of all, they were either exclusive stories or ones you read here first.
We hope you enjoy this look back, and we invite you to join us as we forge ahead into our second year. Thank you for your support, and we’ll see you at the game!
JULY 2012
Hometown Olympian
Published July 26, 2012
In the first edition of our “Where Are They Now,” series, we took a look into the life of Brooke Bennett, a Durant High School alum who, at age 16, became an Olympic gold medalist.
Bennett brought the gold medal to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World in 1996, after winning the 800-meter freestyle swim at the Summer Games, in Atlanta. She won two more golds in the 800 free and the 400 free in the 2000 Games, in Sydney, Australia, setting a Olympic record in the 800 with a time of 8:19.67.
Bennett’s push for a third Olympic appearance in 2004 fell short, when she missed qualifying by one spot after battling back from surgery on both shoulders in 2001. She retired in 2008.
Since then, she has gone on to be a sports broadcaster, personal trainer, nutritionist and motivational speaker.
But in Plant City, she always will be known as the hometown Olympian.
AUGUST 2012
Under Construction
Published Aug. 30, 2012
As the Plant City Observer’s first special section, we introduced the inaugural high school football preview.
Titled “Under Construction,” we highlighted the three area high school teams, along with local youth teams.
To go with our theme, the three starting quarterbacks from Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest — Nick Rodriguez, Trey VanDeGrift and Tristan Hyde — joined us at a construction site for the cover photo shoot, hard hats and all.
The section not only was well received by our readers but was awarded first-place in the Best Special Section category of the Local Media Association’s 2012 Editorial Contest, a national competition.
The section set the bar high for the Observer’s special sections to follow and set a precedent for future high school football previews. Look for the Plant City Observer’s 2013 High School Football Preview in late August.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Big Guys Up Front
Published Sept. 20, 2012
There are several positions on any football team that usually get little press, but the offensive line is one area most overlooked by fans and the media.
We shined the light on the Durant O-line, which came into the season after losing three senior starters.
The new group solidified quickly, leading the Cougars early-season surge as they out-scored opponents 86-7 in their first two games.
Senior Alex Wood and junior Nick Insley were the only two returning starters up front, as Cody Martin, Michael Watkins and Dalton Wilkerson stepped in and contributed immediately.
Durant ended the season 11-1 and had an offense that averaged more than 300 yards per game with 55 total touchdowns, in large part to the “big guys up front.”
OCTOBER 2012
Tomlin archers
Published Oct. 4, 2012
In October, we featured a group of Tomlin Middle School students that unwinds after a long day of classes by shooting arrows at targets in the Arthur Boring Civic Center on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds.
The group competed in the National Archery in the Schools Program World Tournament in October, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
Coach David Sweat has been involved with archery competitions for many years and said the Tomlin group has seen a steady increase in participation during the last few years.
There are a few other NASP programs in Hillsborough County, but Tomlin was the only to compete at last year’s World Tournament and one of just seven in the state. The competition included teams from across the country, Canada and South Africa.
NOVEMBER 2012
Cougar Pride
Published Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29, 2012
Last fall was a memorable one for the Durant High football team.
On Nov. 9, Durant defeated King High School to cap off its first undefeated regular season in program history.
The Cougars hosted Tampa Bay Tech the next week and defeated the Titans 34-7 in the region quarterfinals, before seeing their historic season come to an end with a 21-14 loss to Newsome Nov. 23, in the region semifinals.
The Cougars were led by their stingy defense and strong rushing attack, including standout senior fullback Jamarlon Hamilton, who rushed for 1,340 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Hamilton was featured in the Plant City Observer in early November, along with former standout back and current Durant running backs coach Matt Stwan.
DECEMBER 2012
Pigskin Party
Published Dec. 6, 2012
Last fall was another successful one for youth football teams in Plant City, but only one team can claim the title of “national champions.”
The Plant City Raiders 10-year-old unlimited team allowed just 12 total points through three games of the United Youth Football League National Championship Tournament at Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, in Plant City.
The bracket-style tournament featured talented youth football teams of varying age groups from across the country. The Raiders had the advantage of playing on a familiar field, but had to go toe-to-toe against teams from Newark (N.J.), Homewood Flossmoor (Chicago) and Oakleaf (Jacksonville).
In the championship game, the Raiders squared off against the Homewood Flossmoor (Chicago, Ill.) Jr. Vikings, who came into the game having not lost for the past two years, but the Raiders scored four times on them and held them to just one score.
Plant City plans to host the UYFL National Championships for the third year this fall.
JANUARY 2013
Cheering Chargers
Published Jan. 31, 2013
The Strawberry Crest competitive cheerleading program is still one of the youngest in Hillsborough County, but the Chargers have found plenty of success in a short amount of time.
We took an inside look at the program as it prepared for the FHSAA state meet at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. The Chargers were coming off a first-place finish out of 27 teams at the Western Conference meet Jan. 22, at Durant High School.
Strawberry Crest competed in the Class 2A Small Co-ed division at the state meet, where they qualified for the finals before finishing in fourth-place, behind Lake Howell, Bartow and state champion Fleming Island.
FEBRUARY 2013
Charity Polo Classic
Published Feb. 28, 2013
Women in floppy hats, men dressed to impress, champagne flowing and one of the world’s most fascinating sports painted the scene at the second annual Charity Polo Classic Feb. 23, at DI Polo, in Plant City.
The event raised about $150,000 for three Tampa Bay charities: the Children’s Cancer Center, Wheels for Success and Starting Right Now.
The event featured a gourmet lunch, a charity raffle and, of course, an exhibition polo match, including special guest player John Walsh, host of “America Most Wanted.”
The Golf Channel’s Lauren Thompson was one of the emcees for the event.
This was the second year the event came to Plant City.
MARCH 2013
Celtic Strongman
Published March 7, 2013
In March, we highlighted Plant City resident Eric Barber’s hobby as a Highland Games competitor.
Barber, a Plant City native and the president of the Art Lounge and Gallery in Historic Downtown Plant City, has been competing in Highland Games competitions for more than six years.
The Celtic-based games are a series of throwing competitions, including the caber toss, the most famous event, during which competitors throw a large tapered pole end over end after a running start. The throws are then measured by distance and accuracy.
Barber’s first event was the Zephyrhills Highland Games six years ago. Since then, he has competed in games all over the state, from the Panhandle to Ft. Lauderdale. In Florida, the typical season generally spans from January to April.
APRIL 2013
Welcome Home
Published April 18, 2013
After securing a lease on Plant City Stadium in March, Plant City acted as the home for a professional soccer team beginning last April, when the stadium became the home venue for VSI Tampa Bay FC PRO — a member of the United Soccer League — and three other USL teams — PDL, W-League (women) and Super 20s.
In its inaugural season home-opener April 13, VSI PRO picked up a 3-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos, in front of 1,032 fans.
Plant City Stadium has hosted dozens of matches since then, after the complex was transitioned from a softball complex to a soccer stadium.
The VSI PRO team has played especially well at Plant City Stadium, holding a 6-1-2 record. VSI’s lease on the stadium runs through August, with an option extension through September. However it is unclear what the future holds for professional soccer in Plant City. The company has identified several areas throughout Tampa Bay to construct a 30,000-seat stadium.
MAY 2013
Against the Odds
Published May 9, 2013
In May, we featured 2008 Plant City High graduate Mark Popek, who signed with the New York Jets, after a career at the University of South Florida.
The offensive lineman signed with the Jets as part of a 15-player undrafted free agent list. Popek started nine games at guard and tackle in 2012 for USF. He missed games against Syracuse, UConn and Cincinnati, because of an ankle injury. Popek earned second-team All-Big East honors.
We took a look back at Popek’s life as a “tall and lanky” tight end for the Raiders to the 6-foot-7, 300-pound build he is today. While at Plant City, he was rated the 83rd-best offensive tackle in the country, according to Scout.com and was named to the Class 5A second-team All-State as a senior.
Popek has completed rookie mini camp with the Jets in New Jersey and now will face the uphill battle of making their final roster after fall camp.
JUNE 2013
Pitching Machine
Published May 30, 2013
Really, the whole spring could be dedicated to Durant pitching standout Tyler Danish.
He helped lead his Cougars baseball team to a district title and its first region championship before leading them to the Class 8A state championship game at Jet Blue Park, in Fort Myers, where Durant finished as state runner-up.
It was the beginning of June when Danish hit legendary status, after being taken in the second round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Chicago White Sox.
The University of Florida commit decided to forgo a college playing career and begin his pro career right away, signing with the White Sox, including a $1,001,800 signing bonus.
He joined the White Sox rookie-level Appalachian League affiliate Bristol in late June, where he holds a 1.80 ERA in three appearances.
Danish won several awards as a senior for Durant, including being named Mr. Florida Baseball. Danish finished his senior season with a 0.00 ERA in nearly 100 innings pitched.