Challenging Challenger

The Challenger K-8 Navigators are the defending county champions and went a flawless 6-0 during the regular season, only once winning by less than double digits.

So the question heading into today's Hernando County Middle School Athletic Conference Tournament, teeing off at noon at Heather Golf and Country Club, is obviously: can anyone realistically challenge Challenger?

"Looking at my depth against theirs, I went up to the course to scout a little bit. I figure the winning team will score between 156-162," said Powell Head Coach Paul Duncan. "The four guys I'll have playing are capable of putting that together."

The 'Gators haven't lost a regular-season match in three years, but the Panthers upset them in the county tournament two years ago and finished 5-1 this season.

Powell lost to Challenger to open the season, 179-193. However it was J.D. Floyd that only lost by six strokes, 181-187, to the 'Gators two weeks ago.

The Dolphins were 4-2, also falling 191-196 to Powell earlier in the year. Floyd eighth-grader Ryan Nicoll figures to tangle with Challenger's Megan Berube for the top spot. Berube edged Nicoll by one last year, 39-40.

Despite coming in as the clear favorite, Challenger Head Coach Richard Gomez doesn't think his team is taking anything for granted.

"I'm trying to prepare them to deal with the unexpected or the occasional bad shot, and not let one shot ruin their entire score," Gomez said. "Basically I'm teaching them to rebound from a bad shot and keep their mental focus, a positive attitude and remember to have fun.

"We've never been overconfident. We respect each player out there and we know anything can happen on a given day."

AT A GLANCE
WHAT: 2008 Hernando County Middle School Athletic Conference Tournament
WHO: Challenger, Explorer, Fox Chapel, J.D. Floyd, Parrott, Powell and West Hernando.
WHEN: Today at noon.
WHERE: Heather Golf and Country Club.
FORMAT: Four players from each team, all counting toward the team score.