Harmony dominated spring sports to deny defending champ OHS

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

In one of the tightest races in Orange Belt Conference All-Sports Championship history, Harmony nipped Osceola, 119.5-117.5, for the 2011-12 title.

It was Harmony’s fourth win in five years after OHS claimed the title last year.

“It’s a credit to the kids, the coaches and the administrators we have at Harmony,” Athletic Director Chuck Hitt said. “We try to set things up so that our coaches can be successful, but in the end, it’s up to them, and the kids, to make it happen.”

The female athletic teams at Harmony have been phenomenal for the past several years, and this one was no exception. The Lady Longhorns won OBC championships in volleyball, basketball (tie with Osceola), soccer, flag football, softball and tennis. The only female sport to finish worse than third place in the conference was cheerleading, which was fifth.

The boys also came through with conference crowns in golf, swimming and diving, and weightlifting.

Osceola won conference titles in football, girls golf, girls swimming and diving, competitive cheerleading, wrestling and girls basketball.

OHS seemed to have the all-sports title in hand entering the spring season, holding an 8.5-point lead over Harmony, but OHS failed to win a conference title in any spring sport and placed third or worse in six of eight sports, while Harmony won four spring championships (flag football, softball, girls tennis, boys weightlifting).

“I really didn’t think we had much of a chance to win it after the winter season, but the kids really came through,” Hitt said. “It benefits us to have a program like Osceola’s out there to keep pushing us. Competition makes everyone better.”

St. Cloud, the winner seven straight years before Harmony won its first title in 2007-08, finished third (110) in the standings for the fifth consecutive season.

The Bulldogs won conference titles in girls cross country, girls weightlifting and girls track.

Gateway (91.5) enjoyed one of its best years of OBC competition and placed fourth, with boys basketball, boys soccer and baseball all winning conference crowns.

Celebration (78), with boys tennis winning the OBC title, topped Liberty (68.5) for fifth place. The Chargers won conference titles in boys cross country and boys track. Liberty does not field a swimming program.

Poinciana (47) finished seventh, handicapped by no representation in six sports. The Eagles boys basketball team tied for second.

Here are the all-OBC teams for the spring season:

Baseball: Osceola: Jorge Pantoja, Travis Richardson, Edwin Rios. Liberty: Yariel Alvarez, Oscar Galagarza, Tim Tapia. Gateway: Randy Batista, Bryan Ojeda, Aaron Rosso, Randall Toribio. St. Cloud: J.P. Del Valle, Abel Del Valle, Alessio Pena. Harmony: A.J. Stevens.

Honorable mention: Gateway: Lio Morales, Carlos Villamil, Miguel Beltre. Harmony: Wyatt Dering, P.J. Musselman, Nathan Thomen, Josh Corredor. Liberty: Kevin Quinones, Ezra Domingues, Luis Rivera, Hector Perez. Osceola: Mark Clarke, Bryce Burton, Edwin Bonilla. Poinciana: Ariel Vargas. St. Cloud: Angel Otero. Celebration: Daniel Collins.

Coach of the Year: Rob Hammond (GHS).

Softball: Osceola: Jessica Callahan, Noemi Chavez, Morgan Crapo, Chantal Crockett, Kali Jones, Kenya Pereira. Harmony: Lauren Harris, Brianna Kimura, Lily Mann, Dakota McCoy, Madison Nichols, Aleshia Ocasio. St. Cloud: KaDiesha McCowen, Audrey Wentzell. Celebration: Madison White.

Honorable mention: St. Cloud: Shina Hunsicker, Aerla Del Valle, Emily Blackmore, Lisa Poon, Brianna Benge. Osceola: Patricia Ortiz, Kaley Brosious. Gateway: JoJo Martinez. Celebration: Sarah Stellwag, Kylie Jansing. Liberty: Dalia Villafane. Harmony: Brooke Harris, Breann Vanderzyl, Emily Fiorelli, Molly Baker.

Coach of the Year: George Coffey (OHS).

Girls tennis: Harmony: Lauren Grego, Addison Hickey, Antonella Scarpatti, Brianna Stacey. Osceola: Kristen Ackley. St. Cloud: Haylee Glasscock. Gateway: Amy Lamb. Poinciana: Jacqueline Renteria.

Honorable mention: St. Cloud: Jessica Barney, Poppy Waranthorn. Harmony: Adrianne Roberts, Olivia Porter. Osceola: Kristina Alvarez, Savanna Escobar. Poinciana: Alyssa Maldonado.

Coach of the Year: Jerry Piester (HHS).

Boys tennis: St. Cloud: Ryan Bender, Trevor Foshey. Celebration: Richard Cruz. Liberty: Kevin Gomez. Osceola: Paul Gursky. Harmony: Broderick Hicks. Gateway: Tony Oringer.

Honorable Mention: Harmony: Tanner Maybury. Osceola:

Eduardo Colon. Gateway: Jerry Satayarekha.

Coach of the Year: Dallas Kelsey (SCHS).

Flag football: Harmony: Taylor Ashcraft, Stephanie Baur, Stormi Justesen, Sage Leffew, Marie Gilbert. Gateway: Tiffany Charneco, Christy Folk, Jaleisha Peterman, Queneicesha Scott-Torres. Poinciana: Nickita Forbes, Kenya Fritas, Deriyan Woodson. Osceola: Gabby Goeins, Robin Hight. St. Cloud: Terryn O’Donnell.

Honorable mention: St. Cloud: Anaya Reid, Lynnsey Glunt. Osceola: Keira Koroitamudu, Kendall Kranich, Jhosinnory Diaz, Taylor Murphy. Harmony: Julia Ingler, Paige Starcher, Kaley Page. Poinciana: Brittany Campbell, Sha’tell Ward. Gateway: Ashley Collazo, Kahlia Williams.

Coaches of the Year: Paul Strauch (HHS), Steve Robertson (GHS).

Weightlifting: Poinciana: Tim Williams. Harmony: Jacob Purcell, Hunter Perkins, Justin Kennedy, Riley Nicholson, Terry Akers. St. Cloud: Chase Butner, Hans Schroeder, Austin Ocasio. Liberty: Caleb Lucien.

Coach of the Year: John Wallauer.

Boys track: St. Cloud: Ian McKenzie, Cole Harvey, Austyn Jandrew, Bailey Morgan, Matt Cole, Antonio Montalvo, Ralphy Hernandez, Eric Pfeifer, Travon Williams, Jordan Reus. Liberty: Joshua Wilson, Markel Brown, Kyle Sharman. Harmony: Jared Payne, Daniel Foshee. Poinciana: Ronald Decomo. Celebration: Quincy O’Connor. Gateway: Zach Smith, Brian Vaughan, Julian Johnlewis, Luis Hernandez.

Coach of the Year: Robert Pauley.

Girls track: Liberty: Kelila Naules. St. Cloud: Astaja Tyghter,  Ashlyn Stadtlander, Katelyn Stadtlander, Octavia Gonzalez, Kirsten Chambers Harmony: Kendall Pollock, Yanese Arevalo. Celebration: Jessica Harter. Osceola: Jodiann Crooks, Kimani Francis, Charlie Muzeka, Janel Brown, Vallerie Norgaisse, Chelsea Thomas.

Coach of the Year: Ettie Singleton.