RACING
+ Aidan Keel races in Europe
Fresh off of an 11th-overall finish at last weekend’s Florida Winter Tour, Aidan Keel is taking his talents overseas. Genk, Belgium, to be exact.
He’s slated to compete in the Rotax Euro Challenge this weekend, going up against a field of 71 other young drivers. Keel recently moved up to the Junior (age 13-15) class and has been performing well. In the 50-driver Winter Tour, he pulled off a top-10 finish in four of the six races.
The European racing scene is much different — specifically, more serious — than it is in the United States, so Keel is in for one of the biggest tests of his young career.
“This is his first trip overseas and will be a great experience for him,” his father, Ryan Keel, says.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
+ Athletes compete at Area Games
Readers of last week’s big feature on Thomas Shervington know that he was gearing up for the Area Games last weekend, and he didn’t disappoint.
Shervington won first place in his division, performing well in his first-ever singles competition: He won his set, 6-1. That earned him an Area Games medal and a blue ribbon to add to his collection.
He wasn’t the only athlete from Plant City to have success, though: The Division 2 and Division 3 volleyball teams, and the Division 3 Unified soccer team also had a great day, winning first place in their divisions.
FOOTBALL
+ NextLevel athletes take on IMG tourney
The NextLevel Sports Academe boys are getting to see some game action in Bradenton.
The Nighthawks traveled south last weekend for IMG’s 7-on-7 tournament, bringing a few of their bigger names — including T.J. Chase, Austin Carswell, Quay Young and Ervin Michael.
They got off to a good start, putting up a 2-0 record by March 30 and eventually finishing 3-3 on the weekend.
According to head coach Gerold Dickens, the squad will be back in action at the IMG North Florida Championship Qualifier April 12 to 13, in Tallahassee.
BASEBALL
+ Cougars-Raiders game to be televised
Class 7A-District 7 play is about to come to an end, and Durant and Plant City high schools are going out in style.
The Raiders will host the Cougars at 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, which will be televised on the Bright House Sports Networks.
Also, according to coach Mike Fryrear, the game will have a special promotion. For “Little League Night,” any young sluggers who show up to the game wearing their uniforms will get in for free.