LAKELAND –– Both the Heartland's regional wrestling champions won their opening matches by pin on Thursday at the Class 1A state wrestling tournament at The Lakeland Center. Avon Park junior James Bland continued his undefeated season with a pin in the second period over Matanzas junior Shane Dennis in the 160-pound class, while Sebring senior Shanaan Spiegel needed just two periods to dispatch junior Mike Hawthorne of Robinson in the 152-pound class. Bland is now 41-0 on the season, while Spiegel is 45-1. In a hotly contested 172-pound match, Calvary Christian sophomore Dominick Pierre narrowly defeated Avon Park junior Kemosi Hatten in the final seconds of the third period, sending Hatten (39-5) to wrestlebacks. All three wrestlers will compete today. Second-round competition begins at 10 a.m., while wrestlebacks kick off at 2 p.m. ...more

February 14, 2008

Wharton senior LB/RB Josh Powell has committed to Army, Wharton coach David Mitchell said Wednesday. ...more

January 31, 2008

Hernando County's newest K-8 school principal is in town, and he's knocking the socks off of just about everybody. ...more

January 13, 2008

Joining the cacophony of causes on specialty license plates is the plight of trees. It will follow one new plate that seeks help protecting Florida's springs and another that could outsell them all: a NASCAR tag goes on sale this month. ...more

November 18, 2007

In some ways, Chris Martin's life hasn't changed much in the past decade. He is engulfed in football. Many days, he is up well before dawn to watch film, breaking down tendencies and formations, scribbling a few notes, searching for an angle that no one else has spotted. ...more

November 3, 2007

Behind Plant coach Bob Weiner, wedged between assistants, and tucked behind a sales job that keeps him on the road for 80 percent of each week, is one of the most underpaid, and, as Weiner said, "revered" members of Plant's football program. ...more

November 1, 2007

In a crucial Class 2B-District 6 matchup, Berkeley Prep couldn't hang on to the ball or their playoff hopes as Sarasota Cardinal Mooney ruined homecoming Friday night with a 45-21 victory. ...more

October 20, 2007

TAMPA - In a crucial Class 2B-District 6 matchup, Berkeley Prep couldn't hang on to the ball or their playoff hopes as Sarasota Cardinal Mooney ruined homecoming Friday night with a 45-21 victory. ...more

October 20, 2007

WHO'S HOT Chamberlain - Billy Turner's squad is rolling. Friday night's come-from-behind victory against Jefferson was the Chiefs' fourth straight. While the defense's shutout streak came to an end at 13 quarters when the Dragons scored 14 in the second quarter, the unit pitched a shutout in the second half to aid the comeback. ...more

October 13, 2007

THE DIFFERENCE: Clearwater Central Catholic's Anthony Cochran led the Marauders to an overtime victory with a 6-yard touchdown run, his second of the game. ...more

October 6, 2007