Advertisement
Breaking News:

Cavs reportedly fire J.B. Bickerstaff after playoff ouster

High school sports: It's been stellar year for Lake, Sumter teams and it's not over yet

frank jolley, daily commercial
·5 min read

With the exception of softball — the state championships begin Tuesday at Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont — and The Villages baseball team playing Tuesday in Fort Myers in a Class 3A state semifinal game, the 2021-22 high school sports season has come to a close.

With four team championships so far — Leesburg boys bowling team, along with Montverde Academy taking the Class 2A boys track-and-field state title, while its boys and girls basketball teams won the GEICO High School Nationals — and multiple individual state champions from area schools, it has been a stellar year.

Even more important, this nearly completed sports season signaled a return to normalcy for the first time since the early weeks of the 2019-20 spring sports year when COVID-19 shut down the world.

High school softball: Eustis beats Bishop Moore to reach 4A-2 title game

More softball: South Lake stops River Ridge to earn berth in state semifinals

Crowds were back for high school games

Fans were back, en masse, at high school stadiums and gymnasiums in Lake and Sumter counties. For a brief moment, even the over-the-top parent — the one who always makes the right call from comfort of his or her bleacher seat and is among the first to bang on a principal’s office door when he or she doesn’t agree with a coach — was a welcomed sight.

That lasted about 10 minutes before we were reminded just how obnoxious and boorish they are.

COVID remained something of an issue. There were a handful of games around the state, particularly during the early part of football season, that were canceled or rescheduled due to COVID.

But, it seemed by midseason that we might’ve crested the summit and had gotten past the worst of the pandemic.

Still, as a friendly reminder, COVID is still out there — and indications suggest that variations of it will continue to exist for years to come — so be vigilant and safe.

OK, back on point.

There were great stories involving local program. Here are just a few, beginning with the fall.

FIVE SPRING FOOTBALL QUESTIONS: Can Leesburg continue its resurgence in 2022?

FIVE SPRING FOOTBALL QUESTIONS: Can Wildwood remain a small-school power?

FIVE SPRING FOOTBALL QUESTIONS: Can the Buffalo take the next step?

Football teams that stepped up

Leesburg's Eric Coffie (2) eyes a defender during a game against Lake Minneola in Leesburg on Nov. 5, 2021.
Leesburg's Eric Coffie (2) eyes a defender during a game against Lake Minneola in Leesburg on Nov. 5, 2021.

How about Leesburg’s football team?

The Yellow Jackets were winless in 2020. Nonetheless, coach Mark Oates never panicked and with the firm backing of Principal Michael Randolph, who made it clear he believed Oates and staff could get it done, Leesburg turned things around in 2021.

Leesburg finished with a 6-4 regular-season record and earned a playoff berth for the first time since 2013.

At the same time Leesburg’s return to gridiron respectability was taking place, Tavares was putting also together a season for the ages. Under head coach Tim Kraemer’s tutelage, the Bulldogs followed a season-opening loss with nine straight wins and their first district championship since 2004.

Other key moments for Lake and Sumter football programs included Wildwood beating South Sumter in Bushnell for the first time since 1990. The Villages advanced to the Class 4A-Region 2 championship game for the first time in school history.

FIVE SPRING FOOTBALL QUESTIONS: Tradition runs deep at South Sumter

FIVE SPRING FOOTBALL QUESTIONS: Can Umatilla build on last season's success?

FIVE SPRING FOOTBALL QUESTIONS: MDCA aims for third straight SSAC championship appearance

Umatilla fashioned its first winning season (6-4 record) and advanced to the playoffs for the first time — discounting the 2020 season when every FHSAA program earned a postseason berth — since 2014.

And Mount Dora Christian Academy advanced to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference championship game for the second straight year.

Big performances in basketball and soccer

Wildwood's Trinidy Harris (11) tries to score during the Class 1A-Region 4 championship game against Hawthorne High School in Wildwood on Feb. 11, 2022.
Wildwood's Trinidy Harris (11) tries to score during the Class 1A-Region 4 championship game against Hawthorne High School in Wildwood on Feb. 11, 2022.

Once the Friday Night Lights was turned off for the final time, it was time for basketball and soccer to step into the limelight. Both sports provided its share of highlights.

The Wildwood girls basketball team reached the Class 1A state title game, and The Villages and MDCA boys teams also turned in stellar seasons. Umatilla’s boys team continued its athletic rebirth with a second solid season under coach Pat Todd and the Leesburg boys produced another trademark winning season — they have been .500 or better every year since 2008.

Girls high school basketball: Wildwood falls to Ponce de Leon in 1A title game 39-38

All-area girls basketball: Wildwood's Kailani Lindsey is player of the year for third time

Daily Commercial all-area boys basketball: The Villages' Sam Walters is player of the year

On the soccer pitch, Lake Minneola’s girls team reached the Class 5A state semifinals for the first time in program history. Even though the Hawks fell short of a title game berth, losing to Cape Coral Mariner 1-0, it was still a season to remember.

Lake Minneola’s boys also was nothing short of outstanding, following a run that ended in the regional semifinals.

Boys soccer: Season ends for The Villages with 1-0 loss in 4A-2 finals

The Villages boys team reached the Class 4A-Region 2 championship game, before falling to eventual state runner-up Orlando Bishop Moore in a 1-0 thriller. The Buffalo’s girls team nearly matched that run, reaching the regional semifinals where they lost to Lakeland McKeel Academy.

Baseball and softball storylines

While the final pitches and swings have yet to be made on the baseball and softball diamonds, there were numerous highlights.

New coach Tanner Clark led Umatilla’s baseball team to its first winning season (12-11 record) since 2013 and rookie coach Cassie Patterson directed the softball team to its winningest season (12-13) in more than a decade.

After winning his 500th career game last season, Lake Minneola baseball coach Kerry Whetro kept the Hawks on the winning path, winning a district championship and its first regional playoff game in school history. MDCA, Tavares, Eustis, and Mount Dora were among other area baseball programs that turned in winning campaigns.

Eustis centerfielder Ciara Maple (7) makes a leaping catch to save a home run during the Class 4A-Region 2 semifinal game against Orlando Bishop Moore in Eustis on May 17, 2022.
Eustis centerfielder Ciara Maple (7) makes a leaping catch to save a home run during the Class 4A-Region 2 semifinal game against Orlando Bishop Moore in Eustis on May 17, 2022.

On the softball field, Eustis looked primed to defend its Class 4A state title — the Panthers hosted Deltona Monday night for the regional championship and a berth in Thursday’s state semifinals. Meanwhile, South Lake reached the state Final Four for the first time since 2008.

Both teams could be state champions — Eustis in Class 4A and South Lake in Class 5A — by week’s end.

And if The Villages baseball team delivers in Fort Myers, along with the other team and individual titles earned by area programs and student-athletes?

This year could end up as, arguably, the most memorable high school sports season ever.

Stay tuned.

Write to Frank Jolley at frank.jolley@dailycommercial.com. 

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: High school sports: Stellar year for Lake, Sumter programs not over yet