First Coast Varsity Weekly: Fletcher, Mandarin lead Gateway Conference soccer pack

They're state champions now at Fletcher — and Gateway Conference honors are on their way as well.

Fletcher midfielder Josey Rossignol joined the list of four-time All-Gateway Conference selections in girls soccer for the Senators, who won their second consecutive Gateway title in January on their way to their first-ever Florida High School Athletic Association title.

Joining the senior on the All-Gateway squad for Fletcher were goalkeeper Taylor Sweat, defender Bowen Phillips and forwards Sarah Christiansen and Angelina Madera.

Madera scored the game-winning goal to defeat Miami Lourdes in the Class 6A final, while Sweat shut out the top-seeded Bobcats to seal Duval County's first-ever public school soccer championship.

All-Gateway players for runner-up Mandarin were goalkeeper Miranda Lamb, defender Keagan Miller, midfielder Adrienne Trerotola and forward Taliah Brooks.

Also making the Gateway squad were Atlantic Coast defenders Bailey Brinson and Gaby Rourke and forwards Neilani Goicoechea; Englewood forward Kya Quinn; Paxon midfielder Abigail Crothers; Sandalwood midfielder Daisy Valdivia; Stanton defender Tatum Register and forward Courtney Brown; and Wolfson midfielder Audrey Howard.

Mustangs headline Gateway boys soccer

Repeat selections Antonio Mancinotti and Adis Mesic of champion Mandarin highlighted the list for the All-Gateway Conference boys soccer squad.

Striker Pedro Alarcon, defender Sasha Maric and all-around utility player Kristian Palenik also represent the Mustangs, who won their second consecutive Gateway boys soccer squad.

Runner-up Stanton also had five players chosen: Goalkeeper Sebastien Brunner, defenders Anderson Eller and Kristian Fischer, and midfielders Joseph Alberto and Preston Skinner.

Completing the selection were Atlantic Coast defender Bruno Alves; Englewood midfielders Rojeh Saadi and Thla Sang; Fletcher midfielders Kaii Carrington and Ryan Svela; Sandalwood defender Jace Munnell and midfielder Christian Schultz; and Wolfson midfielder Chan Hrin and goalkeeper Griffin Noel.

Pirates select Wright for football

Two months away from the start of spring football, Fernandina Beach has its next football coach.

The Pirates hired former Florida International and New Mexico assistant Apollo Wright as their new coach for the 2022 season.

He takes the place of Jude Swearingen, who did not return after the Pirates' 3-7 season in 2021. Swearingen compiled a 22-29 record in five seasons at Fernandina Beach, including the program's first-ever postseason victory in the 2020 playoffs.

A Pennsylvania native who played high school football at George Washington High School in Philadelphia, Wright lined up at quarterback at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania during the mid-1990s.

He has more than a decade of coaching experience in the Football Bowl Subdivision, with six years on the Florida International staff and seven years at New Mexico. Wright coached primarily running backs and special teams during his college football tenure.

He also spent six seasons as running backs coach at Villanova, where the rushers included two-time Pro Bowl tailback Brian Westbrook.

Wright has been active in Nassau County since leaving New Mexico, publishing the Amelia/Yulee Neighbors magazine and serving on the board of directors of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce.

Fernandina Beach is still seeking its first back-to-back winning seasons since 2007 and 2008 under Ed Brown.

New sport hits the beach

Sun in the sky. Sand on the ground. Volleyballs in the air.

What better place to start the newest FHSAA season than the beach?

"Three nets, windy day, sun in our eyes," said Mandarin volleyball coach Daniel Magnusson. "For me, it was amazing."

While a growing number of schools are setting up beach volleyball courts on campus, Fletcher and Mandarin opened the newest season of the state's newest sport on Tuesday afternoon directly on the sand, at the Jacksonville Beach Pier.

Duval County athletic director Tammie Talley delivered the ceremonial opening serve.

Fletcher went on to win 4-1 in the first-ever official match involving Gateway Conference schools.

"It felt like the start of something exciting," Magnusson said.

Local officials achieve first

Fletcher, Creekside and St. Johns Country Day weren't the only Northeast Florida teams making history at the FHSAA girls soccer championships.

A crew from the Jacksonville-based North Florida Soccer Officials Association achieved a notable first by taking charge of the Class 4A girls soccer final.

Alexandra Billeter, a former University of North Florida forward who has also officiated in the National Women's Soccer League, served as the referee, assisted by Joan Hyland, Dana Jones and Kaitlin Hartford.

Although officiating records aren't complete for all FHSAA finals, association officials said it's believed to be the first time on record that an all-female crew — referee, assistants and fourth official — handled a state soccer championship.

Bishop Moore won the 4A final, 4-2 against Delray Beach American Heritage.

Bears, Knights excel on track

The First Coast's high school track season is officially off to a running start.

From the Westside to Flagler County, Northeast Florida athletes began the first steps in their path toward May's state finals in Gainesville.

Among Jacksonville's top first-week meets was Saturday's Danny Brown Invitational at Bishop Snyder, where Logan Wylie won the discus and shot put to lead Bartram Trail to the boys team title. Oakleaf took home the girls title, buoyed by Sydney Brown's high jump, Arianna Eason's triple jump and hurdle victories from Kayla Havens (300 meters) and Keira Smalls (100).

A few more of the highlights from the week on the track:

• Already a state finalist as a defensive back, Kavon Miller showed off his speed in the sprints. The Bolles junior won Danny Brown Invitational titles in the 100 and 200-meter dash, in 10.92 and 21.75 seconds, respectively.

• Raines' Reshawn Latimer kept up the pace from his junior year, winning the long jump at 21 feet, 9.5 inches and the 110 hurdles in 14.75.

• At the Mustang Classic, Mandarin's Da'Moni Kelly started her season with victories in the girls discus (126 feet, 10.5 inches) and shot put (44 feet, 0.75 inches). But it wasn't enough for the Mustangs to overcome Creekside, led by Sydney Campbell's wins in the 100 and 400.

• In Palm Coast at the East Coast Classic, Nease senior Cyrus Ways started his year well with a convincing victory in the 110 hurdles in 14.52 seconds.

Weekly trivia challenge

It's time for the latest edition of the First Coast Varsity Weekly trivia section, a look back through the history of high school sports all around the area.

This week's topic: Raines Track Champions, looking back at the Vikings' track legacy under Coach James Day. Answers will appear in next week's First Coast Varsity Weekly.

1. During James Day's Raines tenure, which individual event did Raines athletes win most frequently?

2. What was the longest boys track championship race won by a Raines athlete?

3. Which Raines time set under James Day still stands as a Florida state championship record?

Answers to last week's questions

1. Separated by just 40 miles, Nease and Fernandina Beach faced off in the 2007 Class 4A boys soccer championship at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Nease won 1-0 on an A. Jay Nelson goal, backed by six saves from goalkeeper Austin Davis.

2. Bartram Trail and Nease finished first and second in the Class 2A boys golf state championship. Both finished the event with a score of 595, but the Bears emerged victorious in a tiebreaker.

3. The first 1-2 finish for Northeast Florida teams in an FHSAA championship occurred in 1930, when Lee won the boys track and field title with 39 points and Jackson placed second with 26.

Around the area

Christ's Church center Rowan Collins committed to Stetson football. ... Clay offensive lineman Martez Martin committed to Monmouth football. ... Menendez kicker Bryce Addison committed to Mercer football. ... Fleming Island safety Jaronn Saulsberry committed to Merchant Marine football. ... Atlantic Coast offensive lineman Taelyn Ransom committed to Kentucky Christian football. ... Jackson defensive tackle Dominique Jackson committed to Warner football. ... Creekside forward Joey Mueller committed to UCF men's soccer. ... Clay infielder Brady Greene committed to Berry baseball. ... Bishop Kenny wrestler Roberto Cuartero earned his 100th victory during the regional tournament. ... Creekside's Christian Miller ran 10.80 to set a Knights record in the boys 100-meter dash. ... Sasha Wallace set a St. Johns Country Day school record with a 19.22-meter discus throw at Ridgeview. ... Adrionna Coleman set a Oakleaf's girls discus record of 107 feet, 11 inches. ... Bishop Kenny sailing placed first at the North Points 6 competition in Charleston, S.C. ... Former Ponte Vedra goalie Wyatt Schupler, now at Army, was named Patriot League defensive player of the week in men's lacrosse. ... Former Bishop Kenny infielder Colby Halter was named SEC baseball player of the week after hitting three home runs. ... Flag football, the last FHSAA spring sport to kick off, begins Monday across the state.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: First Coast Varsity Weekly: Soccer champion Fletcher adds Gateway awards