All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1503113
www.yoursun.com Page 11 STAFF REPORTS When the 2022-23 school year kicked off in late August, hopes were high throughout the Sun Preps region, but perhaps nowhere could expectations be higher than they were at Venice. The Indians' fall sports programs were loaded. Football, volleyball and swimming all had reasons to dream big. Briefly, those dreams were put on hold when Hurricane Ian ripped through the area at the end of September, leading to a three-week break in the action while schools and student-athletes recovered from the tempest. Once the fall seasons re- sumed, everyone kicked it into high gear. Ultimately, Venice would reach the mountaintop in volleyball, return to the state championship game in football and seek its swim teams post high marks at the state meet. Lemon Bay and DeSoto County found success on the links with underclassmen leading the way. North Port dominated the trails, spearhead- ing the cross country showing. Here are the Sun Preps Players of the Year in each of the 2022-23 fall sports. FOOTBALL — OFFENSE BROOKS BENTLEY VENICE Former Venice quarterback Brooks Bentley made the difference in a lot of ways for the Indians' offense during the 2022 season. Bentley — a student-athlete who had to adjust to three differ- ent programs over four years of high school — transferred to Venice during the spring and quickly grabbed hold of the starting job under center. During his only season with the Indians, Bentley went 147- of-260 for 1,835 yards, 21 touch- downs and three interceptions through the air. He added 473 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, helping to lead his team to a second consecutive state cham- pionship appearance. The 6'3", 190-pound sig- nal-caller was an efficient and savvy veteran presence for the Indians. In nine of Bentley's starts during his senior campaign, he threw for at least two touchdowns. Bentley's most impressive performance helped send the Indians to the state title. Against Buchholz in the state semifinals, Bentley tossed three touchdown passes and ran for two more in the team's 42-35 victory. As a three-star recruit, Bentley harbored some interest from Division-I programs. However, he ultimately made the decision last February to sign with Division II Wingate University. "He was an unbelievable person in the locker room, teammate and player, said head coach John Peacock about Bentley on signing day. "He really bought into what we were doing and he led us to a state championship. There were times where Brooks single-handedly put us on his back and led us to a state championship." FOOTBALL — DEFENSE DAMON WILSON II VENICE Former Venice defensive lineman Damon Wilson II com- pleted arguably the best defen- sive career in Indians football history last fall, helping lead his team to a state runner-up finish as a senior. Despite being the center of attention within opposing teams' game plans, Wilson II earned 94 total tackles (10 for loss), 10 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles during his final season with the Indians. He finished his career with a season-high 12 tackles and two sacks in the team's 21-14 loss to Lakeland in the 4S state championship game. Deemed by head coach John Peacock as "the best Venice has had" defensively, the 6'5", 240-pound edge rusher left a legacy that will last for quite some time. A three-year starter for the Indians, Wilson II registered 269 total tackles (37 for loss), 31 sacks and 36 quarterback hur- ries during his time with Venice. The fall was a feast fit for Venetians Indians dominated in three sports this past autumn SUN FILE PHOTO Venice's Keyon Sears does a backflip while running onto the field with his teammates to face the nation's No. 3-ranked football team, St. Frances Academy of Maryland, this past fall. THE FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR SEE FALL, 12A