2021 SUN Preps All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1466350
Page 8 www.yoursun.com COURAGE AWARD: Schyck, Roche overcome injury, loss SUN PREPS ALLAREA COURAGE AWARDS By PATRICK OBLEY SPORTS WRITER Lance Schyck Lemon Bay wrestling When you are born into a wrestling family, endurance and fortitude are branded in DNA. Blood flows in bruises. Scar tissue is sinew. Lance Schyck tore an anterior cruciate ligament prior to the start of his junior year at Lemon Bay, but a funny thing happened on the way to a lost season: He just kept winning. The brawler became a technician. Schyck no longer relied on brute force to overpower opponents. Instead, he became a much more well-rounded grappler, learning new ways to subdue his foes while protecting the injured knee. Schyck roared through the regular season undefeated, mauled his oppo- nents at the district and regional levels, then dug deep at the Class 1A state championships to stand atop the podium as a 39-0 champion. He joined his father, Lemon Bay wrestling coach Mike Schyck, as a Manta Ray state champion. By battling his way to the top through an injury that not only ends the season of some wrestlers, but their careers as well, Schyck set a standard for fortitude and courage in the face of a towering obstacle. By PATRICK OBLEY SPORTS WRITER TAYLOR ROCHE North Port softball Shortly after the Sun Preps All-Area Awards banquet on June 8 at CoolToday Park, Taylor Roche stood alone in a crowd with her Courage Award clutched close. The recent North Port graduate was on the verge of tears, for she had earned the honor by somehow perse- vering through the worst day of her life. On Feb. 25, Tom Roche passed away at the too-young age of 47. A child whose father had been present for every practice and game since she first strode on a diamond was suddenly without her most ardent and uncondi- tional fan. Roche, a pitcher, returned to the mound after missing three games and, without her father sitting in his usual spot in the stands behind home plate, she delivered a record-shattering performance, striking out 17 Port Charlotte batters. She broke that record two more times, concluding with a 19-strikeout performance against Mariner. By digging deep, playing better than ever and breaking records along the way, Roche found a way to honor her father and begin the healing process for herself. SUN PHOTOS BY CHRIS BLAKE Lance Schyck overcame a devastating injury to post a perfect season, with the support of his coach and father, Mike. SUN PHOTOS BY CHRIS BLAKE North Port's Taylor Roche set school records amid personal loss.