Ethan Ahrens is the FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year.

Ethan Ahrens is the FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year.

The goal of high school wrestlers is to peak at the end of the season, to stand on the medal stand at the state tournament and bend slightly forward to receive a medal around the neck.

A senior, Ethan Ahrens of Astronaut High was on track to experience it, just as older brother Travis had done before him. Then, hours before he was to wrestle at the regional competition where his state qualification was on the line, Ahrens’ grandfather died in the very gymnasium where the meet would take place.

“Honestly, I don’t really remember a lot. It was a surreal moment,” Ahrens recalled Thursday. “It didn’t even feel real at the time, but how much he wanted to watch me wrestle and to see me succeed was motivation.”

Ahrens placed second there at 145 pounds, losing to Lake Highland Prep’s Jake Brindley, a two-time state champion. It was a rare defeat in a 66-6 season that pushed him to the top of the War Eagles career victory list at 173.

Ahrens’ nine-year wresting tour coming to an end

The regional runner-up finish also earned a state berth, and Ahrens went on to place third in Class 1A at 145 pounds. Now he adds FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year to his accomplishments, something else he shares with brother Travis, who received the honor in 2014.

Included among Ethan’s biggest wins was one that went overtime in the Cape Coast Conference finals. He defeated Palm Bay’s Bryce Poppell there, 9-7. Poppell went on to win a fourth-place state medal in 2A.

Ahrens’ coach, Ethan Walker, remembered that his senior trailed late in the match.

“He had to score a takedown to put it into overtime,” Walker said. “It was probably one of his more impressive wins.”

It was also a favorite of Ahrens.

“That was definitely a good one. When it was over, I basically crawled off the mat because I was worn out.”

But he wasn’t finished.

To that conference title he added first at District 8-1A and, eventually, stood on the podium, family on hand, at the state tournament in Kissimmee.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

MORE: Travis Ahrens is 2014 FLORIDA TODAY Wrestler of the Year

MORE: Six Brevard County wrestlers win state medals in 2016

All-Space Coast Wrestling

First team

Timothy Tran, 106 pounds, Junior, Bayside

Casey Jackson, 113 pounds, Junior, Merritt Island

Justin Baxter, 120 pounds, Senior, Bayside

Connor Kirk, 126 pounds, Junior, Astronaut

Joey Fletcher, 132 pounds, Senior, Melbourne

Shane Stewart, 138 pounds, Junior, Palm Bay

Ethan Ahrens, 145 pounds, Senior, Astronaut

Dylan Perrow, 152 pounds, Junior, Palm Bay

Matt Cates, 160 pounds, Junior, Palm Bay

Joe Fields, 170 pounds, Sophomore, Melbourne

Chris Ralston, 182 pounds, Senior, Satellite

Caden Norris, 195 pounds, Junior, Merritt Island

Spencer Beard, 220 pounds, Senior, Rockledge

Joe Lopez, Heavyweight, Junior, Heritage

Sean Ballard, Coach, Palm Bay

Second team

Carson Kirk, 106, Fr., Astronaut

Louis Cortez, 113, Soph., Astronaut

Seth Adeclat, 120, Jr., Heritage

Darius Darr, 126, Sr., Viera

Jason Amato, 132, Fr., Space Coast

Paul Hirsch, 138, Sr., Eau Gallie

Bryce Poppell, 145, Jr., Palm Bay

Brock Grant, 152, Sr., Satellite

Rene Capo, 160, Sr., Merritt Island

Johnathan Pankow, 170, Soph., Space Coast

Zac Viers, 182, Jr., Space Coast

Jorge Altenor, 195, Soph., Palm Bay

Isaiah Rivera, 220, Jr., Space Coast

Javohn Maravolo, Hvy, Jr., Astronaut

Honorable mention

Reggie Bradley, Soph., Space Coast; Alex Bucy, Sr., Heritage; Owen Cavanaugh, Jr., Bayside; Arlen Dean, Jr., Palm Bay; Gabe Etienne, Soph., Melbourne; Owen Graham, Jr., Melbourne; Darren Higgins, Soph., Merritt Island; Gavin Johnson, Sr., Viera; E.J. Krajewski, Jr., Rockledge; Austin Lashure, Sr., Rockledge; Nick Lebeau, Sr., Astronaut; Chris Patterson, Soph., Palm Bay; Beau Pickard, Sr., Bayside; Sam Voor, Sr., Astronaut

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Coaches named six Melbourne Central Catholic players to the first team for All-District 22 boys lacrosse for 2016.

Keegan Stinnett of MCC congratulates teammate Garrett Arnold after he scored during a game against Satellite.

That included three of the four players named to the team as midfielders. Quinn Lowdermilk, Garrett Arnold and Jakob Meehan of MCC were joined by Melbourne’s Noah Murphy. Keegan Stinnett of MCC was a first-team attacker.

Other Hustlers on the first team were Josh Walts and John Adler.

Joining Adler as defenders were Lev Freeman of West Shore, Colin Combs of Melbourne and Dan Ramos of Sebastian River.

Two Holy Trinity players were chosen: Josh Moisand and Matt Starkey. Tom Sherry of Melbourne was also named to the first team.

Brevard schools among FHSAA leaders in GPA

Heritage player signs

Tre Reid of Heritage High signed recently to attend and play football for Mt. Union. Reid has been an All-Space Coast defender for the Panthers. Mount Union has won 12 Division III championships.

MCC holding summer camps

A co-ed basketball camp at Melbourne Central Catholic will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from June 20 to 23. Contact coach Rob Terry at terryr@melbournecc.org.

The MCC baseball camp will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 6-10. Contact coach Tom Dooley at dooleyt@melbournecc.org.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Holy Trinity’s Campanini voted Male Athlete of the Year

All-District 22 lacrosse

First team

Holy Trinity — Josh Moisand, Matt Starkey; Melbourne — Tom Sherry, Noah Murphy, Colin Combs; MCC — Keegan Stinnett, Quinn Lowdermilk, Garrett Arnold, Jakob Meehan; Josh Walts, John Adler; Seb. Riv. — Dan Ramos; WS — Lev Freeman.

Second team

HT — Ethan Leary, Brian Baumann, Brian Putnam; Melbourne — Aiden Jaecklein, Kyler Boswell, Giovanni Ottomanelli, Dylan Silverman, Laim Osborne; MCC — Peter Balsitis; Andrew Deese, Bryce Fielding; SR — Joel Vacchiano.

Honorable mention

EG — Seth Meehan, Deonte Williams, Brandon Hansen; HT — Jack Ganiban, Justin Ganiban; MCC — Kyle Johnson, Zach Krebs, Jake Reilly; SR — Justice Bragg; WS — Travis Hoibraten, Will Lestrom.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Brevard County high school products have played in the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals and the World Series. This week, Eau Gallie’s Alex Powers is playing for Florida State in the Women’s College World Series as the Seminoles softball team faces UCLA on Saturday at noon.

Alex Powers and the Florida State softball team face UCLA at noon Saturday in the Women’s College World Series. Photo by Ross Obley.

Florida State, now 53-9, lost its opening game Thursday to Georgia, 5-4, but Powers offered some late-game heroics. The Noles trailed before her 2-run homer in the bottom of the sixth tied it at 4.

Among those watching at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City were two other Eau Gallie High grads who have watched the current FSU first baseman grow up: dad Kevin Powers and Commodores volleyball coach Barbara Berry, who coached Powers in her second sport.

“Amazing,” Berry said of watching Thursday’s game from behind the third-base dugout. “To watch a kid work so hard all her life and then watch her dreams come true is amazing.”

Powers, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, was one of three Seminoles to earn all-America recognition from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association this week. She made the second team at first base.

Entering the World Series, she was hitting .383 with 59 RBIs and 14 home runs. She hit .431 in ACC games.

Brevard schools among FHSAA leaders in GPA

After Thursday’s game, Kevin reflected on watching his daughter grow up, from the first time he saw “this beautiful kid,” through injuries at FSU and now at the top of her sport.

“Words won’t describe the feelings,” he said. “To see her work through adversity and see her success in and out of the classroom, I couldn’t be more proud.”

The Powers family booked a hotel about 15 minutes from the team hotel so as not to interfere with Alex’s focus, but they’ll be back in the stands on Saturday.

Alex and her teammates will be looking for a smoother performance. On Thursday, the Seminoles built an early two-run lead but committed seven errors on the way to the loss.

“I think that next time we can do a little more trying to get more people on base and doing more situational hitting, which is what we’re good at,” Alex Powers said, “but, I mean, overall I think that we did a decent job at sticking to our plans and knowing what we were going to get.”

Saturday’s loser will be eliminated, but Powers has experience with championship tournaments. She led Eau Gallie to the Class 4A state title in 2011. She was FLORIDA TODAY’s Softball Player of the Year in that, her junior season, and again as a senior.

“She was a major impact player for sure,” said Commodores softball coach Russ Reese, who has followed the tournament from Brevard. “She could change the game in one plate appearance.”

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Astronaut’s Ahrens persevered to state medal

Saturday’s game

Women’s College World Series, Oklahoma City

Florida State vs. UCLA

Noon, ESPN

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Brevard high school girls lacrosse coaches have named their all-district teams for 2016 and one local school had more first-team choices than any other.

Lacrosse

Rockledge players filled seven of 12 first-team spots on the All-District 12 girls lacrosse list announced this week.

Raiders attacker Janey Johnson and Cassie Williams joined midfielders Aleena McCoy, Robin Hall and Anja Sticher in representing the school. Rockledge defenders on the list were Sierra Parks and Camesha Ross.

Satellite was represented by attacker Courtney McBride along with mdifielders Jasmine Rogell and Anne Kelly.

Other honorees were Merritt Island attacker Katie Kunz and defender Sarah Rivaud of Cocoa Beach.

MORE: Eau Gallie’s Alex Powers playing in softball world series

In District 21, Melbourne, MCC and Eau Gallie each had two on the first team, which was led by six from Sebastian River.

For the Bulldogs, they were midfielder Bethany Mullins and goalie Krystal Phillips. Eau Gallie’s Emily Carney made the list as an attacker, and Kaylee Ringrose as a defender.

MCC attacker Amanda Dalton and midfielder Julia Stein were named. They were joined by Holy Trinity goalie Megan Mikuen and West Shore attacker Megan Dennis.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Rockledge athlete signs for basketball

Rhianne Green of Rockledge High signed on Friday to play basketball and attend Snead State Community College in Boaz, Ala. Green and the Raiders won the District 14-5A championship this past season.

Rockledge’s Rhianne Green signed a letter of intent Friday. She will be attending Snead State Community College in Boaz, Ala. With her are her mother Rhonda Bennett and father Tony Green.

Soccer team seeking funding

The under-17 boys team of the Brevard Soccer Alliance has asked for contributions to make a trip to play in the U.S. Youth Region III tournament in Greenville, S.C., beginning June 24. From there, the team could advance to the national tournament in Texas in July.

The group earned the right to play at the regional level by winning its state championship. It has a goal of $4,000 to cover travel and equipment expenses. Those interested can make a contribution at www.gofundme.com/bsau17.

Brevard schools among FHSAA leaders in GPA

All-District 12 Girls Lacrosse

First team

Attack – Janey Johnson, R; Katie Kunz, MI; Courtney McBride, S; Midfield – Jasmine Rogell, S; Aleena McCoy, R; Anne Kelly, S; Robin Hall, R; Anja Sticher, R; Defender – Camesha Ross, R; Sarah Rivaud, CB; Sierra Parks, R; Goalkeeper – Cassie Williams, R.

Second team

Att. – Bella Pennington, MI; Meg Meldrum, MI; Sage Hicks-Fredenburg, R; MF – Peyton Turinetti, S; Caity Deckers, MI; Hannah Lyons, CB; Keeley Hernesman, R; Maggie Johnson, R; Def. – Jessica Knight, S; Jade Parr, R; Ali Clemente, R; GK – Kate Struble, MI.

All-District 21 Girls Lacrosse

First team

Attack – Casey Arlotta, Seb. Riv.; Giana Arlotta, SR; Emily Carney, EG; Megan Dennis, WS; Amanda Dalton, MCC; Midfield – Julia Stein, MCC; Bethany Mullins, M; Hanna Knudsen, SR; Defender – Kaylee Ringrose, EG; Brittany Evans, SR; Micaiah Vacchiano, SR; Goalkeeper – Krystal Phillips, M; Megan Mikuen, HT.

Second team

Att. – Karly Mindnich, M; Katie Voepel, HT; MF – Monica Mason, M; Cassidy Thimmer, SR; Andrea Infante, MCC; Brittany Clerc, M; Caitlin Hall, M; Kaley Schaefer, WS; Def – Emma Pena, MCC; Katie Acuna, MCC; Amy Santos, EG; GK – Taylor Canavan, WS; Sabrina Beigel, SR.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Rockledge High’s Drew Parrish has been named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 6A Baseball Player of the Year and Steven Cross of Merritt Island the Class 3A Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, awards chosen by statewide votes of coaches and media.

Steven Cross of Merritt Island (left) and Drew Parrish of Rockledge are Florida Dairy Farmer athletes of the year in their classes and sports.

Both will be Florida State freshmen in the fall.

On the mound, Parrish went 10-1 and posted a 0.71 earned run average for the Raiders. He struck out 107 batters in 59 1/3 innings while walking just nine. He batted .459 and drove in 24 runs. Parrish doubled 10 times and hit four triples. His 11 stolen bases led the Rockledge team.

He and the Raiders won the District 13-6A championship and advanced to the regional final round.

Cross won 3A championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the FHSAA state meet in May. His 3,200-meter time of 9:14.71 was the fastest in all classifications.

Cross was the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Cross Country in the fall after winning the 3A title with a 15:30.63 over 5,000 meters. That was the state’s fastest winning time by 14 seconds. He earned his second berth to the Foot Locker National Championship, the only Brevard County high school boy to qualify twice.

Rockledge tops girls all-district lacrosse

Two Vipers sign to continue careers

Two Space Coast Jr./Sr. High football players signed letters of intent on Saturday to continue their playing careers.

Nathan Camick signed with Johns Hopkins University. The Baltimore school plays in Division III. Vipers offensive lineman T.J. Jackson signed with Savannah State of Georgia. The FCS program competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Nathan Camick (left) and T.J. Jackson sign letters of intent.

Palm Bay offers wrestling opportunity

Palm Bay High’s wrestling camp will run Monday through Thursday at the school on Pirate Lane. The cost is $75, and on-site registration begins at 8 a.m. on Monday.

Camp activities will run from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Instructors will include some current Brevard County high school head coaches as well as past and current Palm Bay wrestlers.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Of the eight playoff teams in Region 4 of Florida Class 5A football last season, three finished the year with losing records.

Space Coast just missed beating Merritt Island last football season and just missed the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Space Coast Vipers of Port St. John, at 5-4, were the winningest Region 4 team to miss the postseason.

Space Coast sat home because the Vipers didn’t finish in the top two in District 14, made up of six teams from Brevard County. The other five members are Merritt Island, Palm Bay, Rockledge, Titusville and Satellite. In the current FHSAA playoff system, the top two teams in each district advance to the postseason.

That may change in 2017. A proposal before the FHSAA would change the way the playoff bracket for each classification is filled.

“My biggest concern is that we are a team that, every year, is right on the cusp,” Vipers coach Jake Owens said, adding that one team on the 5A postseason bracket last fall had won just one game but finished second in a three-team district. “For me, we have to do it a different way. If going to a point system does it, I’m all for it.”

FHSAA football administrator Frank Beasley presented a plan on Tuesday to the FHSAA Board of Directors that uses both district champions and other teams based on points accumulated based on winning percentage and strength of schedule.

The proposal was forwarded to the Athletic Directors Advisory Committee for a September review, and it could be approved by the FHSAA in the fall.

New contact rules hit in high school football in fall

Teams would be awarded points for each game based on winning or losing and based on the opponent’s winning percentage. Bonus points would be awarded for playing games against a team from a higher classification, but the proposal doesn’t include a penalty for playing a team from a lower classification.

For example, a win over a team that finishes its season at 9-1 would be worth 50 points, a loss to the same team worth 35. The lowest points possible for a single game would be 20, for a loss to a team with three or fewer wins based on a 10-game schedule.

Titusville coach Wayne Lawrence first said he opposed the proposal based on claims from some coaches that it would favor teams from the state’s most populated areas, where there are, theoretically, more available winning teams for scheduling, but he said he needed to study it further.

“That’s how I understand it, that they’re trying to turn this thing into a BCS-type system: the number of wins you had and who did you beat,” he said. “I do think we have one of the tougher districts, so I guess it could go both ways. I’m going to do a little more due diligence on it.”

Teams would not be penalized for playing fewer than 10 games, but a minimum of eight games would be required to be eligible for the playoffs. Games postponed by weather would have to be made up by the last Tuesday of the regular season, although there would be exceptions allowed as determined by the FHSAA.

At the end of the season, each program’s total number of points would be added and divided by the number of games. The district champions in each region from Classes 8A through 5A would make the playoffs, and the 32-team bracket then would be filled by the programs with the highest power rating based on the points formula, regardless of district placing.

In Classes 4A through 1A, where the playoff bracket takes only 16 teams, four teams would be chosen by region without regard to district alignment. Without districts, teams in those classes would have to fill their own 10-game schedules each year.

“That doesn’t bother me,” Holy Trinity coach Nate Hooks said. “I kind of like that. I had to do it anyway last year and this year, because we only had two district games. I had to find nine games, including the kickoff classic.”

Rockledge’s Parrish, Mustangs’ Cross win state awards

As part of Beasley’s presentation, the power ratings for each Class 3A team from last season was calculated. Holy Trinity, which made the playoffs as District 6 runner-up, still made the postseason, but Melbourne Central Catholic, which won five games but did not qualify as the third-place finisher, would have been in the 2015 field based on the power-points formula.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Playoff proposal highlights

• The 32-team playoff brackets in Classes 5A through 8A would include 16 district champions and 16 remaining teams with the highest power point average, four from each region. The 16-team brackets for 1A through 4A would consist of the top four teams in each region based on power point average.

• Teams would earn points for each win or loss based on the opponent’s winning percentage at the end of the season. Points could range from 50 for a win over a nine-win team down to 20 points for a loss to a one-win team.

• Teams would earn up to four points per game for each higher level of classification it played against, capped at four points. For example, .a 3A team would earn 2 bonus points for playing a 5A team. No penalty for playing down.

• At the end of the season, the total points accumulated would be divided by the number of games played, resulting in a power point average.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Hannah Lyons, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High, FHSAA 2016 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

She was the valedictorian and president of the National Honor Society at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High. Now, Hannah Lyons is the 2016 FHSAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Lyons received her honor last week in Gainesville at the 22nd annual FHSAA Academic All-State Awards Banquet. She was a multi-sport athlete and maintained a 4.0 grade point average.

The Cocoa Beach graduate was one of 12 girls from across Florida named to the FHSAA Academic All-State team in April, but she emerged from that group to take the overall award. Added to her original $1,350 scholarship was $3,800 for the overall honor.

Melbourne Central Catholic’s Max Diaz was also at the banquet. He was one of 12 boys named to the FHSAA Academic All-State team.

Lyons participated in cross country, soccer and lacrosse for the Minutemen. She accumulated more than 700 hours of volunteer work, served as treasurer for Cocoa Beach student government and was an A.P. Scholar with Distinction. Lyons was also a member of the robotics team and several other clubs.

She will attend the University of Florida with pre-med plans.

Diaz, also a 4.0 student, participated in cross country and track and field. He also plans to attend Florida.

MORE: Lyons, Diaz on making academic team

MORE: Lyons makes all-district lacrosse

Pirates excel at EFSC camp

The Palm Bay High School boys basketball team finished the Eastern Florida State College Team Camp with a perfect 3-0 at the Titan Field House.

Palm Bay was the only undefeated team of the eight participating in the camp, which had teams from Melbourne, Melbourne Central Catholic, Bayside, Satellite, Titusville, Rockledge and Clearwater.

The Pirates were led by point guard Marquis Dotson, who was one of the top players in the camp. Other top performers were Joe Russell of Titusville and Nick Alves of MCC.

FHSAA football playoff system may change

Vani nears Olympic Trials pole vault height

Merritt Island graduate Mike Vani clearned 17 feet, 9 inches in the pole vault on June 9 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, at the Bell Athletics facility.

That brought Vani to within nine inches of the automatic qualifying mark for the Olympic Trials, to be held July 1-10 in Eugene, Oregon. In addition to automatic qualifiers, enough vaulters with the next best marks will fill the remainder of the 24-man field.

Vani won the 2009 FHSAA boys championship for Class 3A at 16 feet, 8 inches, which is still the association’s meet record.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Aisha Patrick and Daryl Graham have been hired to take over head coaching positions at Cocoa High.

Aisha Patrick (left) and Daryl Graham fill two head coaching positions at Cocoa High.

Patrick, who will coach girls basketball, was the 2008 FLORIDA TODAY Girls Basketball Player of the Year as a member of the Rockledge High program. While playing for UCF, she was first-team All-Conference USA in 2012. When she completed her playing career, she had reached the Knights’ top five in steals, assists, rebounds and double-doubles. She was in the top 10 in points, field goals made and free throws made.

Patrick coached as a graduate assistant at the University of Kansas and then coached at Tallahassee Community College and Florida High.

Lyons wins top FHSAA academic award

Graham will coach baseball. He has been an assistant coach with the baseball program since 2014, coming from Mound City, Kan., after serving as head coch at Jayhawk-Linn High from 2011 through 2013. He earned a bachelors degree from Southeast Missouri State — where he completed his own baseball career — in 2007 and a masters at Pittsburg (Kan.) State in 2010.

Graham, a civics teacher at Cocoa, played at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kan., 2004-05.

Brevard girls qualify for national softball tournament

A team consisting almost entirely of Brevard County high school girls softball players has qualified for the ASA Fast Pitch Girls’ A 18-Under Nationals in Bloomington, Ind., beginning Aug. 1.

Several Brevard County high school girls softball players are among the members of an ASA team headed to a national tournament.

The team, which earned one of three qualifying spots from East Coast Nationals, includes five Cocoa Beach players: Lina Shaver, Keri Allen, Summer Johnson, Kristan Fisher and Megan Foster.

More area members of the team are Aly Loyd and Haley Hinz of Viera High, Delaney Eaton and Bianca Cruz of Space Coast, Ashe-Leigh Wells and Gabby Lopresti of Melbourne and Mackenzie Feeney of Merritt Island. They are coached by Mike Romero, John Clarson and Walter Wells.

Those interested in contributing to travel costs for the team should visit www.gofundme.com/tampamustangsmike.

Rockledge’s Parrish, Mustangs’ Cross win state awards

Tennis camp offered for high school players

Eastern Florida State College coach Jerry Thor will direct a camp for high school and middle school tennis players from July 11-13 at the school.

The cost is $97, and advance registration is required. A waiver form must be completed by the first day of camp, which will run daily from 9 a.m. until noon. It will focus on technical, tactical and mental facets of the game.

For more information or to sign up, contact Thor at thorj@easternflorida.edu.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Almost a year ago, Merritt Island Christian athletic director Micah Rockwell received an inquiry about his the possibility of his school’s football program rejoining the hunt for FHSAA state championships if changes were made to the current system.

Heritage and Bolles met last season in a game featuring two FHSAA playoff contenders.

The Cougars never left membership of the association but became independent in the sport, as did several other small private schools across the state, when they determined playing for their own conference honors was more realistic than competing for district and state football titles.

FHSAA football administrator Frank Beasley has presented a possible change to the playoff system that has been given a preliminary thumbs up by the association’s board and sent to athletic directors for their consideration. It would replace the current system that awards playoff spots to the top two finishers in each district regardless of overall record. Instead, power points earned based on season record and opponents’ winning percentage would determine postseason participation by schools the size of MIC.

FHSAA football playoff system may change

“I appreciate the fact that he reached out to schools like us to see what we think about it,” Rockwell said. “I think they’re heading in the right direction. At least they’re trying to accommodate schools like us.”

Under the proposed FHSAA system, there would be no district play for schools from Class 1A through 4A. Four schools from each region, based on power points, would qualify for the playoffs. In larger classes, 16 district champions would be automatic qualifiers and the 16 other schools with the most power points would fill out the 5A through 8A brackets.

Rockwell and MIC haven’t made any decisions. Their membership in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference gives them a chance each November at playing two playoff games with the league title on the line.

“The conference works great for us right now,” he said, “but I can see some things that are positive with the FHSAA. There would be more flexibility with scheduling.”

As it stands now, the Cougars play eight scheduled games, and last year seven were against conference opponents. An additional two games are determined based on their finish in the SSAC standings.

If a return to the FHSAA and more flexible scheduling would be welcome at that school, it might not be at some others. While Cocoa High coach and athletic director John Wilkinson has appreciated having enough flexibility to schedule non-district games against a variety of quality opposition — even outside the state — having to find 10 opponents might be too much.

“My concern is whether I’m going to be able to get 10 games,” Wilkinson said. “At least when I have a district, I have four games.”

Cocoa has made a habit of playing a game outside Florida each season, and those trips have resulted in some teams from other states now coming to Brevard County. The Tigers will play a game in Las Vegas in early September, and Kansas City Rockhurst will visit Cocoa Stadium on Sept. 30.

The Tigers coach isn’t the only one who has had trouble at times finding opponents since his team became a state contender.

Heritage coach Mark Ainsley also had misgivings about early versions of the FHSAA playoff proposal that eliminated district play for all classes. Both he and Wilkinson prefer having a district champion qualify for the postseason.

Cocoa names Patrick, Graham to coaching jobs

Ainsley is more optimistic about the current plan that includes district winners in 5A through 8A playoffs, but he knows filling a 10-game schedule could be tough.

Games the Panthers have scheduled in recent years against Jacksonville Bolles and Kissimmee Osceola, both perennial playoff teams, came about because all involved struggled to find willing opponents.

“Some teams just aren’t going to play you,” he said.”Those were really good teams looking for games also. They would struggle to find 10 games.”

But the advantage that has won him over is the unlikelihood that district runners-up with just two or three wins will advance to the postseason in the proposed system.

“That’s not going to happen any more,” Ainsley said, adding that upsets similar to those in the NCAA basketball playoffs could result from a more balanced bracket. “I think that’s a more exciting tournament than we’ve had.”

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Merritt Island and Rockledge each contributed four players to the 13-member All-District 21 boys lacrosse first team selected by the head coaches in the district.

Merritt Island player Austin Howe (35) is pursued by Asa Anderson of Viera during Wednesday’s game.

Steven Nowak and Hunter Privette made the team as defenders. Those two Mustangs were joined by midfielder Bryce Galeano and faceoff specialist Austin Howe.

Rockledge midfielders Lucas Mergen and Austin Snyder joined them, as did teammates Kyle Forbes at goalkeeper and attacker Daniel Kuhblank.

Viera’s first-teamers were attackers Rob Rider and Layne Miller, who made along with defender Jaxon Lenk. Satellite’s two first-teamers were attacker Daniel McLamb and Chris Rockwood, long stick midfielder.

MCC leads boys all-district lacrosse team

Local rowers compete at national event

Members of Space Coast Crew competed in the U.S. Rowing Youth National meet at Mercer Lake, New Jersey, this month, and two boats placed among the top 20 in their respective categories.

The men’s youth quad, a sculling boat, placed 10 out of 27, and the team consisted of rowers Noah Jayne, who is home schooled, Weston Hall of Florida Virtual School, Drew Poloski of Bayside and Jack Baney of West Shore.

Members of two Space Coast Crew rowing teams placed at a national tournament this month. Photo by Lorinda de Zayas.

The women’s lightweight 4 was 17th of 24. Team members were home schooler Mary Grimm, Sydney Novak of Viera, Emily Eastwood of West Shore and Edgewood’s Tiffany de Zayas.

There were 411 entries from 178 clubs at the competition. Teams qualified by placing among the top three at regional meets.

Cocoa wins 7-on-7 event

Cocoa High football players won the Orlando Strike 7-on-7 tournament a week ago, winning all five games they played. Cocoa defeated Sebastian River in the semifinal round and then beat Victory Christian in the final, 10-9.

Coaches eye scheduling impact of FHSAA playoff changes

Melbourne seeking one coach

Melbourne High needs a junior varsity girls volleyball coach for the upcoming season with responsibilities beginning Aug. 1. Those interested should contact athletic director Fred Keeney at keeney.fred@brevardschools.org.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

All-District 21 Boys Lacrosse

First team

Attack — Rob Ryder, V; Layne Miller, V; Daniel McLamb, S; Daniel Kuhblank, R; Midfield — Lucas Mergen, R; Austin Snyder, R; Bryce Galeano, MI; Defense — Jaxon Lenk, V; Steven Nowak, MI; Hunter Privette, MI; LSM – Chris Rockwood, S; Faceoff — Austin Howe, MI; GK — Kyle Forbes, R.

Second team

Att. — Julian Rodriguez, V; Joseph Vanderlaan, E; MF/A — Zach Switzer, S; MF — Harrison Kennedy, S; Quentin Ashley, MI; Andrew Preston, E; Def — Cole Prospero, S; Conner McGowan, E; Ian Worthheimer, MI; FS — Tommy Saunders, V; GK — Ryan Morgan, V.

Honorable mention

CB: Matt Ayres, Ryan Tsarnas, Zac Tsarnas, Joey Scales, Kevin Tezel, Jonah Fogle, Steven Walker; E: Taylor Watkins.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Alex Iervasi and Noah Mumme help set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Alex Iervasi helps set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Patrick Blair helps set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Cameron Saydo helps set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Alex Iervasi and Noah Mumme help set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Noah Mumme helps set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags to town residents Thursday morning. The flags are part of a fundraiser for the school.

Alex Iervasi helps set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Kobe Thompson helps set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Noah Mumme planted his first flag at 9:22 a.m. in a yard on West Arlington Street in South Patrick Shores.

Then, seeing that it was hidden by vegetation, he picked it up and put it next to the mailbox.

“That one’s like a jungle,” he said.

American flags line the streets so Satellite Beach Thursday morning. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags to town residents as part of a fundraiser for the school.

Mumme, his Satellite High School football teammates and members of the school’s JROTC program met early Thursday to plant American flags in the yards of every home in the school’s zone. It was the third time the football program took part in the summer project, and the JROTC joined this year for additional manpower.

About 90 people participated, counting students, coaches and parents.

FHSAA football playoff system may change

“It’s something we like to do for the community, and it looks great,” Scorpions head coach Mark Carstens said. “It’s quite the endeavor.”

Lourdes Duren, a JROTC member who will be a senior, explained how the morning was organized to make sure every yard got one of the approximately 8,700 flags.

“It gets a little complex, but we made a mapping system and we have coordinated drivers and a set of cadets or athletes for each driver,” she said. “So, that way, we’re not trampling all over each other.”

Volunteers divided into small groups assigned to various neighborhoods between the Pineda Causeway to the north and the Eau Gallie Causeway to the south. Mumme rode in the jeep of offensive coordinator Ted Kimmey with three other players and set out with a handful of flags attached to envelopes with a card explaining the project to homeowners.

Lyons wins top FHSAA academic award

Alex Iervasi and Noah Mumme help set out American flags Thursday morning in Satellite Beach. Students from Satellite High’s football and ROTC squads help distribute American flags as part of a fundraiser for the school.

An envelope addressed back to the Satellite High School Touchdown Club was provided for anyone wanting to make a tax deductible donation. Those funds will be used by the JROTC for leadership development and by the football program for equipment.

It was the second year distributing flags for Tanner Gamin, a 10th-grader on the football team.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “We saw a lot of people. Most people would come out and greet you, but it just felt good putting them all around the community.”

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Former Palm Bay High football player Ray Herring will be memorialized Tuesday when a conference room is named in his honor at the Space Coast Center for Independent Living in Rockledge.

Ray Herring is pictured in a photo from 2004.

Herring was paralyzed while playing high school football in 1977. He died this spring. The naming ceremony will be part of an open house at 571 Haverty Court, Suite W.

“He was very active here,” SCCIL office manager Cathy Dooley said. “He was employed here and had a big impact on our community.”

His son, also Ray, played high school football for Holy Trinity and then college football for Notre Dame. He now works with Florida Tech athletics.

The open house is intended to inform potential clients of what is available at the center, from transportation to medical appointments via handicapped-accessible vans to phones for the hard of hearing. The center also offers support groups, classes on independent living and a mobility equipment loan program.

Satellite football, ROTC spread patriotism

Golf camp offered at EFSC

Eastern Florida State College men’s golf coach Jamie Howell will hold a summer camp at the Fred Gay Golf Academy on SR 524 in Cocoa, Aug. 1-4.

The camp is open to boys and girls who are members of high school golf teams. It will run from 1 until 3 p.m. each day. The cost is $150 per person.

Only 16 spots are available. Contact Howell for information or to register at howellj@easternflorida.edu.

Basketball camp coming next week

Boys and girls entering grades 4 through 9 are invited to the Astronaut Basketball Camp, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The cost is $115 per person and includes a t-shirt and basketball. For $140, lunch is included. Visit register.astronauthoops.com.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

The best athletes are sometimes known for their egos, and perhaps self-assuredness is indeed a factor in competing successfully.

Kaira Simmons of Rockledge wins her heat in the 200m during last month’s District 13-2A meet at Astronaut High School.

On the other hand, humility can drive athletes to continually seek improvement despite success already achieved, and that was apparently a key to the outdoor track and field season completed by Rockledge High’s Kaira Simmons this spring. Though she was already one of the top performers in the state in her jumping and sprinting events, she approached her coaches in September asking what she needed to do to get better.

“She started the school year off determined to stay focused,” Raiders coach Beth Scarborough said. “She wanted to be certain of getting that full ride.”

It wasn’t that there weren’t going to be offers. Simmons won three state medals as a junior, including a third in Class 2A with a best-in-Brevard long jump of 18 feet, 2 1/2 inches. Her 25-second 200 meters placed fifth in 2A, and she was part of a third-place 4×100 relay team.

Herring honored by local facility

She improved in every area in 2016.

In May, Sanders won the state long jump title in 2A at 20 feet, 2 1/4 inches, during a stretch when offers began to flow in from even more colleges than had already shown interest. Among other things, that mark satisfied her goal of maximizing her potential. It also boosted her toward her eventual repeat as FLORIDA TODAY Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Also in Bradenton, Simmons ran a 24.28 to finish as the Class 2A runner-up in the 200. Her 4×100 relay squad got faster and faster all year, also finishing second at the state meet with a time of 47.18. Her final state medal came in the triple jump (36-4 1/4), long enough for fourth.

“I wanted to be able to make the most of what I could achieve,” she said. “I definitely thought I did everything I set out to do.”

While her 20-foot long jump was the one that brought home the gold medal and particularly turned the heads of college coaches, Simmons was most pleased with her sprinting. In part aided by a significant amount of 400-meter work during the year, she set a personal best in the 200 early in the season and established a new Rockledge High record at the end, 23.7 seconds.

“Going into my senior year, my focus was really long jump,” she said, but her eventual 23.7 beat the previous Raiders best by a half a second. “It just completely shocked me.”

She assured that college scholarship, too. In a month, Simmons will head to Oxford, Miss., and the University of Mississippi.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698

or bmccallum@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @brian_mccallum

Facebook: /fltoday.brianmccallum

Satellite football, ROTC spread patriotism

First team

Amanda Beach, Distance, Junior, Melbourne CC

Natalie Bress, Distance, Sophomore, Melbourne

Alyssa Carrillo, Field, Senior, Titusville

Julianna Chaput, Field, Senior, Merritt Island

Destiny Charles, Sprints, Freshman, Cocoa

Kylee Cobbs-Marcus, Sprints, Senior, Rockledge

Samantha Folio, Distance, Junior, Holy Trinity

Giana Gayles, Hurdles, Junior, Holy Trinity

Kaitlyn Jensen, Field, Junior, Viera

MORE: Jensen dominated in two sports

Macie Monborne, Hurdles, Junior, Merritt Island

Keosha Sanders, Sprints, Senior, Rockledge

Kaira Simmons, Field, Senior, Rockledge

Terriana Smith, Sprints, Freshman, Rockledge

Skye Zeller, Distance, Senior, Space Coast

Beth Scarborough, Coach, Rockledge

Second team

Jakia Alphonse, Soph., Heritage; Ashleigh Asplund, Jr., Heritage; Elizabeth Bacon, Jr., Holy Trinity; Jada Barton, Jr., Astronaut; Taya Britten, Sr., Holy Trinity; Kiara Cadore, Jr., Astronaut; Antionette Flowers, Fr., Palm Bay; Shawnt’a Hoo, Jr., Melbourne CC; Sterling Jenkins, Soph., Rockledge; Olivia Simmons, Jr., Rockledge; Miracle Simon, Sr., Viera; Shelby Smith, Sr., Holy Trinity; Sydney Smith, Sr., Holy Trinity; Sara Towers, Soph., Satellite.

Honorable mention

Macoyah Barry, Fr., Heritage; Dominique Coriell, Jr., Rockledge; Aysia Dobbs, Sr., Cocoa; Ahmariah Edgecombe, Fr., Cocoa; Jaime Farls, Sr., Merritt Island; Hannah Flemming, Jr., Astronaut; Lauryn Gayles, 8th, Holy Trinity; Marie Groppel, Fr., Satellite; Danice Loney, Jr., Viera; Sadie McLaughlin, Soph., Rockledge; Jonelle Plahuta, 8th, West Shore; Alisha Pound, Sr., Holy Trinity; Perrisha Robinson, Sr., Rockledge; Jaeda Stewart, 8th, Holy Trinity; Paris Vergara, Fr., Holy Trinity.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

It is rare that a state championship team returning many of its key players would face long odds to even return to the final game, but that was the scenario for the Viera Hawks as they entered the Class 4A playoffs early this year.

Viera’s Jordan Walsh (5) and Brooke Walsh celebrate a first half goal during the 2016 Class 4A state soccer final.

Viera had not only lost last year’s top player on the Space Coast, Hope Leonard, but the Hawks faced some powerful opposition on the road to a state tournament that would be played across town on the field of their rivals, the Melbourne Bulldogs.

Yet, somebody stepped into the void for the Hawks, building on the tradition the program had already begun.

Jordan Walsh scored 30 goals and assisted on 16 more in 2016, her senior season. She led the Hawks to the Class 4A state championship, which was a repeat of the school’s first title of the year before.

Walsh, who will begin her college career at the University of Central Florida in the fall, is FLORIDA TODAY’s Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Rockledge’s Simmons sought constant improvement

She was there for the Hawks in the big moments, culminating with the winning goal in a 2-1 defeat of Niceville for the state crown. Walsh, on the bench with an injury to her leg in that last high school outing, came back into play in the final minutes to assure the repeat.

Walsh assisted sister Brookelyn Walsh for the winning goal in their 2-0 regional final win over Mitchell. She had scored twice in the regional quarterfinal round.

Hawks coach Courtney Baines Lundy summed up her leading player’s season: “Jordan has always been a phenomenal player, but this year she was almost magical.”

And her performance played a key role in what became a second magical season for the team. Along the way, Viera eliminated three teams that had been previously unbeaten.

“I don’t look at stats. I look at leadership,” Lundy said. “Any team she would have been on would have been successful.”

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

MORE: Walsh wins fan vote for top female athlete

MORE: Viera girls repeat as state soccer champs

2016 All-Space Coast Girls Soccer

First team

Sydney Lau, Goalkeeper, Sophomore, Viera

Synclair Baker, Defender, Senior, Melbourne

Jamie Farls, Defender, Senior, Merritt Island

Shannon Gosule, Defender, Junior, Viera

Keli Lindquist, Defender, Junior, Merritt Island

Francesca Espinoza, Midfielder, Freshman, Edgewood

Rachel Lewis, Midfielder, Senior, Cocoa Beach

Jordan Walsh, Midfielder, Senior, Viera

Karly Denaburg, Midfielder, Senior, Merritt Island

Rocio Sanders, Forward, Junior, Cocoa Beach

Kellie Krygier, Forward, Senior, Merritt Island

Courtney Baines Lundy, Coach, Viera

Second team

Elena Barr, Soph., West Shore; Jessica Clanton, Fr., Rockledge; Brittany Etrick, Sr., West Shore; Alex Hahn, Sr., Satellite; Macy Hedelund, Jr., Melbourne; Alexis Henriquez, Sr., Rockledge; Hollyn Knight, Jr., Viera; Caroline Larsen, Jr, Satellite; Emily Plotz, Sr., Merritt Island; Kayley Verpaele, Jr., Merritt Island; Brookelyn Walsh, Soph., Viera.

Honorable mention

Madison Bordeaux, Jr., Space Coast; Shannon Carmody, Sr., Eau Gallie; Madison Deninny, Sr., Cocoa Beach; Chandler Gandolfi, Soph., Melbourne Central Catholic; Layne Greenfield, Soph., Edgewood; Savanna Henriquez, Sr., Rockledge; Cheyenna Hoffman, Sr., Heritage; Taylor Lawless, Sr., Heritage; Kendell Mindnich, Jr., Melbourne; Emily Morgan, Sr., Holy Trinity; Kiana Zanganeh, Sr., Melbourne Central Catholic.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Steven Cross set a specific goal for himself with just one spring season remaining in his high school distance running career.

He had already been dominant in the fall cross country season for two years, arguably the top runner among Florida high school boys at 5,000 meters. Still, he had not been as successful on the track for shorter distances in the spring.

He made a conscious decision to change that, and unlike many young athletes who set big goals, he saw them through.

Steven Cross (left) of Merritt Island is FLORIDA TODAY’s Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year for 2016.

But he still wanted more.

“I’m not as satisfied with it as a lot of people would think,” he said last week, already enrolled at Florida State, where he will compete as a freshman scholarship athlete in the fall. “I never really reached the times I wanted.”

But he finished his high school career with the hardware. To the two state championship cross country medals Cross already owned, he added a sweep of the long-distance events in Class 3A at the 2016 FHSAA meet.

He won the 1,600 meters in a time of 4:22.33 in Class 3A, and his winning time of 9:14.71 in the 3,200 meters would have won any classification. He has added to that the title of FLORIDA TODAY Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

MORE: Cross wins statewide outdoor track award

MORE: Cross named Mr. Cross Country

While Cross would have liked better times, Merritt Island coach Pat Campbell told him that wasn’t the focus of his spring.

“I told him all season, you’re working for first place. Don’t worry about time.”

When Cross got to the state meet with bronchitis, Campbell was worried if those first-place goals would be met.

“I was all nervous,” Campbell said, “and before the race, he put his hand on my chest and said, ‘Watch this.’ “

Rockledge’s Simmons sought constant improvement

Cross’ added strength through resistance training likely aided in his ability to overcome sickness for the one-mile and two-mile wins. It was something he had dedicated himself to like never before.

“He wasn’t even looking at just now,” Campbell said. “He was looking for the future.”

In a month, his future will become now, as Cross looks to add to his career with the Seminoles.

“I was probably just being hard on myself,” he said. “I’ve always pictured myself as a longer distance kind of guy. Hopefully I’ll thrive in college.”

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

All Space Coast boys track

First team

Jimmy Batch, Hurdles, Junior, Merritt Island

Merritt Island’s Batch using talent as means to an end

Jay Boyd, Field, Senior, Viera

John Cacciatore, Distance, Junior, Satellite

Jaariq Charles, Sprints, Sophomore, Cocoa

Steven Cross, Distance, Senior, Merritt Island

Tommy Heideman, Field, Senior, Satellite

Mason Jones, Distance, Junior, Titusville

Jeremy Lawson, Field, Senior, Cocoa

Noah Mumme, Field, Sophomore, Satellite

Joshua Ramirez, Hurdles, Junior, Heritage

Austin Rodeghier, Distance, Senior, Space Coast

Tristan Schultheis, Field, Senior, Astronaut

Schultheis keeps hitting new heights

Jordan Taylor, Sprints, Senior, Astronaut

Lavonte Valentine, Sprints, Sophomore, Melbourne CC

Anthony Williams, Coach, Cocoa

Second team

Juwan Armstrong, Jr., Cocoa; Nick Bandos, Jr., Viera; Nicholas Barber, Jr., Heritage; J.P. Caglione, Sr., Viera; Jashaun Corbin, Soph., Holy Trinity; Malek Folston, Sr., Viera; Antoine Green, Soph., Rockledge; Egan Kattenberg, Jr., Satellite; Trevor Kattenberg, Jr., Satellite; Tyrese Lyons, Fr., Palm Bay; Jalen Olomu-Brown, Sr., Holy Trinity; Marquees Parker, Jr., Cocoa; Ian Reesh, Sr., Melbourne; Christian Walker, Sr., West Shore.

Honorable mention

George Allen, Jr., Space Coast; Alex Cabrera, Sr., Viera; Austin Camps, Jr., West Shore; Jared Hayes, Soph., West Shore; Tajavious Jackson, Sr,, Space Coast; Josh Dean, Jr., Viera; Tre Nixon, Sr., Viera; Lino Odenat, Fr., Palm Bay; Jacob Payne, Sr., Satellite; Tre Reid, Sr., Heritage; Tyler Roberts, Sr., Melbourne; Gavin Sutton, Sr., Rockledge; Terrell Watkins, Jr., Astronaut; Dominique Wyly, Sr., Titusville.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Jim Baglin, one of the winningest public school basketball coaches in New Jersey history, has been hired to coach the Merritt Island boys program.

Daily Record file photo Mendham coach Jim Baglin salutes the fans as he leaves the gym after attaining his 600th career victory in 2009.

Baglin has coached basketball on the college and high school level. In 33 years as the head coach at West Morris Mendham High in New Jersey, he won 685 games. That ranks third among the state’s public high school coaches. He also won two state championships, six sectional championships and 16 conference titles.

Though he continued in the role of athletic director he held since 1982, Baglin left the head basketball coaching job to become an assistant for the team following the 2012 season. He resigned from the A.D. job in March.

The Mustangs have yet to win a boys basketball regional playoff game in seven appearances. The team last made the playoffs in 2012.

Merritt Island’s Cross brought winning ways outdoors

Football camp to emphasize community relations

A camp at Merritt Island High on Saturday morning will combine football teaching with unity in the community.

Keep it Together Brevard will begin at 8 a.m. on the Mustangs practice field and run until noon, free to children ages 5 through 17. Brevard County sheriff Wayne Ivey will be in attendance, along with Brevard deputies, and he will address the group. Following that, campers will participate in football-related competitions including the 40-yard dash.

Camp leaders will include current and former coaches as well as some former NFL and college players.

Melbourne basketball camp begins Aug. 1

Melbourne High will be the site for a boys basketball camp hosted by Bulldogs coach Michael Soliven as well as past and present players and coaches from the program.

Boys and girls players of all skill levels from grades 2 through 9 are invited. The cost is $110 per person for a full day or $65 for half days. The camp runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. through Aug. 4, and the gym will be supervised for a half hour before and after the regular camp schedule.

Soliven can be reached at soliven.michael@brevardschools.org or 321-952-5880, extension 3805.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

About a week before the high school girls basketball playoffs started this past season, Alexis Gordon said she would be disappointed if her Covenant Christian team didn’t make it to the state tournament.

Alexis Gordon of Covenant Christian is FLORIDA TODAY’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Mission accomplished.

Gordon and the Lions breezed through the regional playoffs, outscoring their quarterfinal and semifinal opponents,141-46. She then led them on the road to defeat Sarasota Christian by 25 points in a regional final.

That led to the first state semifinal appearance in CCS history.

Gordon has already headed south and is at Florida International, where she will study and play basketball for the university. Because of her performance as a high school senior, including her 21-point scoring average, she is the FLORIDA TODAY Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Rockledge’s Simmons sought constant improvement

Although her on-court game play set her apart from most girls basketball players in Brevard County, it was what she did without the ball that most caught the eye of her coach, E.J. Murray.

“More than the points and the winning, I was really impressed with the way she led this young team,”  he said. “She didn’t make it all about her.”

There was a bit of sacrifice in that. At the same time Gordon was attempting to lead CCS to places it had never been before, she was trying to earn scholarship offers from college recruiters. Yet, she chose the team’s success over her own stats.

“I can’t win a basketball game by myself,” she said. “I don’t like being that type of player, and I don’t want people to see me like that.”

While playing basketball was always a fun thing for her as a young child, by the time she reached eighth grade she began to see it as something she’d like to do as long as possible.

“To be honest, I always knew college basketball was what I was going to do,” she said, herself the daughter of a scholarship college basketball player. “It’s always been a drive for me.”

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Viera repeated with Walsh in lead

2016 All-Space Coast Girls Basketball

First team

Alexis Gordon, Senior, Covenant Christian

Dee Lampkin, Sophomore, Heritage

​Alyssa Laudato, Senior, Palm Bay

Kayla Shepperd, Sophomore, Melbourne CC

Lapresha Stanley, Junior, Rockledge

E.J. Murray, Coach, Covenant Christian

Second team

Mariah Batz, Sr., Astronaut

Shenelle Bailey, Sr., Titusville

Mya Jackson, Sr., Melbourne

Jayla Johnson, Fr., Covenant Christian

Sammy Streeter, Jr., Eau Gallie

Honorable mention

Kiara Cadore, Jr., Astronaut

Alisha Campbell, Sr., Melbourne

A’leah Davis, Sr., Titusville

Nicoiya Smith, Sr., Cocoa

Alaisha Spivey, Soph., Melbourne

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

For the third consecutive season, Logan Folsom was an integral player for a Melbourne High boys basketball team that won at least 20 games.

Logan Folsom of Melbourne (11) is FLORIDA TODAY’S 2016 Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Folsom was one of four seniors on the Melbourne team that earned its second trip in three years to the state tournament. He averaged 16 points and shot 71 percent from the free throw line.

He was one of four Brevard County high school boys basketball players named to all-state teams chosen by coaches, the only one named to a first team. In the Class 7A state semifinal, he scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Folsom is FLORIDA TODAY’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

“Logan was the leader of the team, and, to me, he is the very definition of a Bulldog,” Melbourne head coach Michael Soliven said.

Jim Baglin takes over Merritt Island boys basketball

He and fellow senior Noah Horchler were both among the county’s most productive. The two played major and complementary roles in Melbourne’s success in 2016.

“We have a playing style that we just feed off each other,” Folsom said, “It’s like a brotherhood. That’s how I think of it.”

Folsom became a starter as a 10th-grader, and it was in the state final four in Lakeland that he signaled what kind of leader he would become. He led the Bulldogs with 16 points in their semifinal game against Bartow, one of the winningest postseason teams in FHSAA history.

In Folsom’s mind, the biggest difference between the player who began his sophomore season and the one who recently finished as a senior was confidence.

MORE: Folsom one of four named all-state

MORE: Melbourne seniors lead team to big season

And he said the biggest improvement he made after his junior season came in the weight room.

“I didn’t believe in getting stronger at first,” he said, “but coaches told me I needed to. I definitely noticed a difference in games.”

His career will continue locally, as Folsom and Horchler signed to play for Eastern Florida State College.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum and facebook.com.FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Merritt Island’s Cross brought winning ways outdoors

2016 All-Space Coast Boys Basketball

First team

Shevelle Bailey, Senior, Titusville

Logan Folsom, Senior, Melbourne

Noah Horchler, Senior, Melbourne

Josh Porteus, Senior, Holy Trinity

Joe Russell, Junior, Titusville

Steve Henderson, Coach, Holy Trinity

Second team

Cade Green, Sr., Satellite

Cory Kaplan, Jr., Holy Trinity

Jaquez Lyons, Sr., Rockledge

Dejuon Small, Soph., Florida Prep

Latrell Talley, Sr., Palm Bay

Honorable mention

Romeo Crouch, Jr., Titusville

Dorian Nesmith, Sr., Melbourne

Anthony Santiago, Sr., Eau Gallie

Fred Yana, Sr., Melbourne CC

Antonio Youngblood, Jr., Cocoa

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

Brevard County’s 17 high school football teams open practice Monday, less than four weeks from the start of the 2016 regular season.

Astronaut High players run drills on the first day of 2015 high school football practice.

Most local teams will hold afternoon practices during the week, but a handful will hit the field in the morning, beginning with Cocoa Beach at 7:30. Astronaut, Cocoa and Merritt Island Christian are other schools practicing before noon.

MIC is one of two with a new head coach. Jamie Bopp has taken on that role after one season under Brian Power. The Cougars compete as an FHSAA independent, meaning they are not a member of a district. Melbourne Central Catholic’s Stacy Sizemore is the other new head coach.

If proposed legislation involving the football postseason passes the FHSAA board of directors later this calendar year, more teams could be without districts. The proposal would strip district membership from schools in Class 4A and smaller. Those teams would compete only for regional championships. That means this could be the last year the state’s smaller schools compete for district trophies.

Folsom was key for talented Melbourne boys basketball

“I guess we’ll go at it this time for a last hurrah,” Holy Trinity coach Nate Hooks said recently. “I think we’ve got a shot.”

The Tigers were District 6-3A runners-up last year but lost in the regional quarterfinal round. Six other teams also made the postseason: Viera, Heritage, Merritt Island, Palm Bay, Cocoa and Astronaut. The Hawks of Viera advanced to their first state championship appearance in 7A, while the Cocoa Tigers, members of 4A, played in their ninth consecutive state semifinal game.

Merritt Island brings its own streak into the 2016 season. The Mustangs have not lost a district game since 2010.

For now, players and coaches will give more attention to FHSAA preseason rules than to rules about postseason qualification. No contact is allowed until the sixth practice. Teams will focus on conditioning and technique until then. For most teams in Brevard, that means no hitting until the second week, although teams practicing Saturday could hit with pads.

Preseason games will begin Aug. 18. That night, Palm Bay will host Santaluces, while most area teams will play the next night.

Astronaut hires boys soccer coach

Luke Fox, new Astronaut High boys soccer coach

Former assistant Luke Fox has been named head boys soccer coach for Astronaut High, where he graduated in 2000.

The Pennsylvania native was a two-year starter for the War Eagles, and was named MVP of the Brevard County all-star game following his senior season. He later coached in the Astronaut program before moving to Georgia, where he was an assistant coach with middle and high school programs.

War Eagles girls coach sought

Astronaut is seeking a head coach for its girls soccer program. Applicants can use the BEACON system or send a resume to athletic director Cheryl Shivel at shivel.cheryl@brevardschools.org.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

Follow our coverage

FLORIDA TODAY will visit all 17 Brevard County high school football programs this week to cover the opening of practice. Read practice stories, watch video and check out our photo galleries at http://www.floridatoday.com all week.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/

When Kyle Haderle got home from Eau Gallie High football practice on Monday, he already had a plan: an ice bath.

It’s become a habit after practices and games for the Commodores lineman to fill up a bathtub with enough ice to lower the water temperature to 45 degrees for a 10-minute recovery session.

Water Break. Monday was the first day of practice for the new prep football season at Astronaut High.

“That’s the only way I can keep my body going,” he said. “I’ve been doing it since my freshman year.”

He and the rest of the high school football players in Brevard County took the field in 90-degree weather on Monday, the first official day of practice for the 2016 season.

The Commodores, like most teams in the area, practiced in the late afternoon. Four teams practiced before lunch, but one thing they all had in common was that heat.

Haderle works on extra hydration as official practices — typically about two hours outside — approach. He drinks a gallon of water throughout the day along with orange juice and sports drinks. He also increases his intake of fruit.

Photos: Astronaut High School Football Practice

As a defensive end and right tackle, Haderle plays every play during the season. When he misses an ice bath after a game, he feels it the next day.

“That next morning, I am sore,” he said. “I got kneed in the calf today, so I’m going to take an ice bath now.”

Merritt Island Christian was one of those teams practicing early. Once finished, players made their way from the field to the locker room, many filling water bottles from coolers outside the locker room.

The Cougars started their day at 8, watching an FHSAA concussion education video and talking about hydration. Then it was out to the field for a practice that lasted just a bit less than two hours before new head coach Jamie Bopp gave his team another talk about drinking water, this time stressing recovery for the next practice..

“You’re a football player 24-7,” he said. “What are you doing when you walk away from practice? Football practice should not be the only time you’re drinking water.”

First day of football practice at AHS

Bopp had his team take a handful of five-minute breaks, and those water coolers were available at the end of the field throughout the morning. Off-season conditioning that went on throughout the summer made the adjustment a bit easier for the Cougars, but Bopp said he cut things a bit short when he thought his players needed it.

“You always want to err on the side of player safety,” he said. “Football is not as important as life.”

Cocoa Beach players were scheduled for the earliest practice: 7:30 a.m. Astronaut started at 8:30 and Cocoa at 10.

Teams will practice for three weeks leading to preseason games starting Aug. 18. The regular season will open the following week.

Contact McCallum at 321-242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @Brian_McCallum on Twitter and facebook.com/FLtoday.brianmccallum.

High school sports | floridatoday.com/sports/high-school-sports/