All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1470169
Page 8 www.yoursun.com middle hitter became the school's first-ever Division I signee in any sport when she put her signature on a letter-of-intent to play at Oral Roberts. That came shortly after recording her 1,000th career kill. FOOTBALL-OFFENSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR OMARI HAYES VENICE, SENIOR Hayes was used in the receiving game as a receiver, the rushing game as a wildcat quar- terback and on special teams as a kick returner. He finished with a team-high 68 receptions for 851 yards and 11 touchdowns along with 37 carries for 192 yards and eight more scores. As a returner, Hayes averaged 26 yards on five kicko returns and 6.3 yards on seven punt returns. FINALISTS RYAN BROWN VENICE, SENIOR Browne completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,636 yards and 31 touchdowns while rushing 106 times for 534 yards and eight more scores on the way to winning the 8A state final with a four-touchdown performance. AARON PASICK LEMON BAY, SENIOR The Mantas' Team MVP, Pasick was a do-it-all player who impacted the game on oense as a receiver, defense as a cornerback and on special teams as a kick returner. He was already over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns before he dislocated his elbow. Despite needing extensive rehab, Pasick fought back to play in the regional semifinals. FOOTBALL-DEFENSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR DAMON WILSON II VENICE, JUNIOR A four-star rated athlete with oers from several top college football programs, Wilson II backed up the hype this season. The junior tied the team's all-time season sack record with 14.5 in 15 games while also recording 90 total tackles (23 for loss). His dominance showed in the state final, with a pick-six, two tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. FINALISTS JEREMIAH LAGUERRE NORTH PORT, JUNIOR One of the top playmakers in the area, opposing quarter- backs soon learned to throw anywhere Laguerre wasn't. The Bobcats do-it-all player opened the season with seven intercep- tions through four games as the team's free safety while also adding on five pass breakups and 39 tackles before season's end. ELLIOT WASHINGTON II VENICE, JUNIOR A four-star recruit with oers to roughly two dozen top college football programs, Washington wasn't tested often, coming up with four intercep- tions and four pass breakups along with 58. In the regional final against top-rated receiver Jayden Gibson, Washington finished with two interceptions, including one where he ripped the ball from Gibson in the end zone. WINTER SPORTS WRESTLING WRESTLER OF THE YEAR LANCE SCHYCK LEMON BAY, SENIOR After going undefeated last season and winning a state title with a torn ACL, Schyck repeated the feat this year in Class 1A's 182-pound division. This, despite a rough recovery from two subsequent surgeries. In his final three seasons at Lemon Bay, Schyck went a stunning 118-1. FINALISTS ANDREW AUSTIN CHARLOTTE, SENIOR Austin closed out his storied Tarpon career with a 14-0 major decision in his 126-pound title match against Brandon's Darrell Tabor. He graduates with three consecutive state crowns, joining some of Charlotte's greatest wrestlers. DOMINIC JOYCE NORTH PORT, JUNIOR After losing his father in October, Joyce became just the second Bobcat in school history to win a state title, taking the crown in Class 3A's 182-pound division. It was an emotional moment for the Joyce and extended Bobcat wrestling fam- ilies and capped a 50-2 season. GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR SOPHIA CHERNIAK LEMON BAY, SENIOR Cherniak shattered the Mantas' seemingly untouchable single-season goals mark with 44 in Lemon Bay's region quarterfinals victory. The record had been set by Lauren Ragazzone just one season earlier. FINALISTS SARAH FREDDOLINO VENICE, SENIOR The Indians midfielder will be headed to Georgia Southwestern next fall after earning a spot on the Florida Dairy Farms player of the year ballot and being named to the FACA state all-star game. JACOBY MALDONADO LEMON BAY, JUNIOR Maldonado burst onto the scene her sophomore year, then stepped up this past season as Cherniak's partner-in-crime, finishing second on the team in goals and points. BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR JUAN BUENROSTRO DESOTO COUNTY, SOPHOMORE Buenrostro didn't just score in volume; he scored when it mattered most. The striker was the Bulldogs' top oensive playmaker, netting an area-best 23 goals while dishing a team- high 15 assists in just 14 games. FINALISTS DYLAN SALOMON CHARLOTTE, SENIOR Salomon brought the clutch factor in his final season with Charlotte. Of his 11 goals, five of them were game-winners for the 10-5-1 Tarpons. His goal in the district final helped his team take an early lead in an eventual 2-1 loss to Mariner. NICHOLAS ZIDANAVICIUS LEMON BAY, SENIOR One of the area's top play- makers, Zidanavicius was essential for the Mantas. The senior team captain scored 11 goals and had 13 assists, with several of those coming in key moments. He also served as one of the best defenders for a Mantas team that finished 8-6-2. ATHLETES FROM PAGE 7A SEE ATHLETES, 9A