Lakewood Ranch High School shines at national, regional dance team competitions
January was a big month for Lakewood Ranch High’s Silver Stars.
The LRHS dance team went on a roll, taking third in varsity pom and fourth in jazz at the Universal Dance Association Nationals in mid-January at ESPN Wild World of Sports. Two weeks later, coach Hayley Milne’s squad captured first place in varsity pom at the Dance Team Union Regionals at Seminole High.
Led by captain Destiny Talbert and co-captain Bella Sosso, the Silver Stars are Juliana Anderson, Gretta Bonifate, Chloe Cochran, Skyler Cook, Maddie Hutchinson, Alexa Jaime, Bella Juliano, Elyse Maroney, Delaney Martin, Maddie Medford, Audrey Riegling, Madisen Russ, Zoyee Scott and Katie Welte.
Joelle Kissel is assistant coach and choreographer.
· Cheryl Frank is 39. Again.
· Joanne Gartley, too.
· Bravo to Parrish Community High’s cheerleaders, who scored a school first, taking third in the medium all-girl division at the FHSAA Competitive State Cheerleading Championships in Lakeland.
Coach Bailee French’s squad includes Lexi Barlow, Sam Bosmeny, Madison Calvary, Morgan Fellows, Natalie Fellows, Madyson Greeman, Bianca Grindo, Piper Hammett, Kloey Hester, Rylie Jackson, Laurali Lamprecht, Brittney Maroon, Hannah Mayhew, Reagan Panico, Ryann Panico, Alyse Renda, Karina Sanchez, Sydney Sergi, Kayla Sthreshley, Carson Terrell, Sierra Wilson and Rylee Vitoritt.
Kasey McGill and Josh Kosko are assistant coaches.
· A salute to Marine Private First Class Brandon Bottomlee. The Palmetto 21-year-old was selected Squad Leader and Platoon Guide in boot camp and was a Platoon Honor Graduate.
· Coach Steve Olsen is 82 years young.
· All the best to Southeast High’s national letter of intent football signees: Cecil Crawford, Culver-Stockton College (Missouri); Connor Arp-Elia, McPherson College (Kansas); My’Kell Gipson, William Penn University (Iowa). And the Noles’ Denis Jones signed with Florida Tech for swimming.
· Good luck also to LRHS football signees Evan Bolick, Ave Maria University (Florida), Cal Hengel, Kenyon College (Ohio) and Vincent Jovanovski, Concord University (West Virginia).
· Ditto to PCHS’s Lane Tomlinson with Ouachita Baptist University (Arkansas).
· And Manatee’s Elijah Perry with Warner University in Lake Wales.
· Friends of Kids Against Hunger holds another packaging event Saturday, 8 a.m. at Kendrick Auditorium, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto. Sponsored by Bradenton Kiwanis, volunteers pack 50,000 meals for Manatee organizations such as Our Daily Bread, Feeding Empty Little Tummies and church food pantries.
Contact Mark Hildebrandt at mark@kiwanisagainsthunger.com for more details.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. X (formerly Twitter): @vinmannix.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Lakewood Ranch excels at national, regional dance competitions
