All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1470169
Page 10 www.yoursun.com FINALISTS ARYANA HICKS CHARLOTTE, SENIOR A four-year starter for the Lady Tarpons, Hicks guided the team to its best four-year stretch in program history. A leader, floor general and scor- ing threat, Hicks led Charlotte to back-to-back regional championships in her junior and senior seasons. DELAINI MORRIS PORT CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR Morris helped lead Port Charlotte on a run to the regional final. She made a few game-changing plays, but none bigger than her last-second layup in the regional semifinals that helped her team advance. The guard led her team in scoring and rebounding. BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR ALEX PERRY PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR Night in and night out, Perry imposed his will on the oppo- sition. He led the area with 20 points per game and averaged 9.4 rebounds. Along the way, he collected his 1,000th point and set a school single-game record with 49 points on Senior Night. FINALISTS JOHN GAMBLE CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR Search the internet for his name and you'll see the 6-6 Gamble, is considered a guard, a small wing or a post player. That's just a taste of his versatil- ity and the recruiting frenzy is only just beginning for the rare junior to have already eclipsed the 1,000 career points plateau. DJ WOODS CHARLOTTE, SENIOR The Tarpons' shooting guard became the first player to score 30 points in a City of Palms Premiere contest. He continued to be a steady producer from beyond the arc, a wily penetra- tor when it was called for, and a deft passer whenever he saw the open man. SPRING SPORTS BOYS TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR TYLER WADSWORTH PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR Wadsworth, already a finalist for Cross Country's Athlete of the Year, finds himself a rare two-time finalist after an outstanding turn on the track. At the state meet this past Thursday, Wadsworth snagged a pair of fifth-place finishes in the 800 and 1600 runs. He also advanced to state in the 3200 run, making him the only area athlete – boys or girls – to reach state in three events. FINALISTS JAYSHON PLATT VENICE, SENIOR The Indians senior finished 12th at the Class 4A state meet on Saturday night after a strong showing at regionals when he turned in the eighth-best qualifying time for Gainesville. He was also a member of Venice's elite 400-meter relay team, which finished second at state with a school-record time of 41.35. ELLIOT WASHINGTON II VENICE, JUNIOR Washington II joined Platt on Venice's epic 400-meter relay team, which set three consecu- tive school records in the event beginning with districts and continuing through regionals. Individually, Washington II arrived at the state meet with the 10th-best qualifying time in the 100 meters, then shocked the field with a blazing 10.69 eort on Saturday night, good for third in the state. GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR PRESLEY ENGELAUF LEMON BAY, JUNIOR Another multisport star at Lemon Bay, Engelauf advanced to the state meet in two events, qualifying fifth overall in the high jump and ninth in javelin. At the Class 2A meet on Thursday, she made it to the podium in the high jump, finishing seventh with a leap of 1.52 meters (4-11 ¾ feet). She finished 12th in the javelin. FINALISTS NATALEE BROWN LEMON BAY, JUNIOR Brown tied Engelauf at re- gionals with a high jump of 1.57 meters, the fifth-best qualifying number for the Class 2A state meet. She also advanced to state in the triple jump. Once in Gainesville, she finished 12th in the high jump and 17th in the triple jump. ALYSON FRANCOLINI VENICE, JUNIOR Francolini is poised to be among the favorites for the pole vault state title next season af- ter qualifying fourth overall for the Class 4A state meet. Once in Gainesville, she cleared 3.15 meters, which was good enough to get on the podium with an eighth-place medal. ATHLETES FROM PAGE 9A SEE ATHLETES, 11A SUN PHOTO BY VINNIE PORTELL DeSoto County's stirring run to a state seminal was one of the year's best stories. At the heart of the team was a group known as "Caballo's Kids": TFrom left: Jonathan Gutierrez, Auselio Gutierrez, Sam Etiene, Andri Vargas, Joan Games, Jelien Augustine, Juan Beunrostro, Carlos Diaz and Adan Villagomez.