County teams playoff bound?

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County teams playoff bound?

Sports

Friday, 09 March 2012 14:02

News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan

Osceola’s Logan Spurlock looks for a shot during a recent match against Timber Creek.

Gateway, OHS squads move to new district

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
With Osceola and Gateway water polo teams moving into new District 6 against Cypress Creek, Freedom and Lake Nona, there is a good chance that at least one of the four local teams (boys and girls squads from Gateway and Osceola) will advance into the playoffs.
Gateway and Osceola are the only two schools in Osceola County that participate in water polo.
Osceola

The Lady Kowboys are off to a 3-1 start under Coach Debra Adams.
Returning from last season’s 8-9 team that qualified for the district tournament is the district player of the year, senior Amber Hammock.
Also returning this season is senior Jenna Adams, a co-captain with Hammock, and senior Heather Keiser.
Returning juniors include Caitlyn Phelps, Logan Spurlock, Kristina Wendland and sophomores Courtney Ausherman and Heather Hammock, the goalies. Also back are sophomores Kendall Castillo, Meg Clancy and Rosemarie Donaldson.
Newcomers are senior Holly O’Donnell, junior Jasmine Sauners, sophomore Kelsie Estrella and freshmen Megan Gordan and Kylee Blakley.
Kristen Miller and Krystle Singleton are the assistant coaches.
Adams believe her team has the talent to win the district championship.
“This year we have a strong returning team with some new talent that will only enhance our existing team,” Adams said.
The Kowboys, under coaches Trish and Jamie Abell, started 3-1 with a roster that includes returning players Michael Pierson, Adam Lentz, Alex Adames, Casey Rains, Kevin Santos, Dannie Adams and goalie Cody Thompson.
Osceola beat Lyman (23-8), Winter Springs (22-8) and Timber Creek (24-14).
Gateway
Panthers Coach Vonnie Kochensparger watched her girls team begin the season 4-0 with wins against Seminole (9-7), University (9-3), Apopka (15-5) and Wekiva (8-2).
Co-captains Melissa Morgan (13 goals) and Janie Lowe (13 goals) led the team in scoring during the first four matches. Chris Mazzotta, Sam Arbonida and Sasha Khaibani also scored, and goalie Johanna Weiss made 29 saves.
Joining them on the roster are Ali Klar, Julie Ocana and Emilie Exilus.
“The girls are working well together,” Kochensparger said.
The boys team started 0-4.
Justin Tirado (12 goals) and Braden Robinson (10 goals) led the team in scoring after three matches, while goalie Frankie Correa had 47 saves.
Joining them on the roster are Aaron Gomez, Robert Billingslea, Noah Hendricks, Willy Weiss, Nathan Colonna, Josh Longfield and Tate Fox.
Gomez, Robinson and Tirado are the team captains.
With four freshmen on the roster, Kochensparger describes her team as, “Very young, but improving every time they get in the water.”
The local teams will meet April 3 at the Makinson Aquatic Center.