The holiday break provides a welcome respite for students and teachers, allowing time for relaxation and rejuvenation before the new year. This usually dedicated space for Boys Basketball updates offers an opportunity to highlight the successes of other fall sports. The Sumner Stingrays continue their tradition of athletic excellence, a testament to the hard work and dedication of both coaches and athletes.
Varsity girls basketball, under Head Coach Marika Starks, is enjoying another successful season. Since the program’s inception in 2020, the Stingrays have dominated their South Shore opponents, boasting an 8-2 record. Their season highlights include a 69-14 victory over Spoto, close losses to Sickles (56-48), and impressive wins against Gaither (51-5) and Brandon (70-27). Senior Briana Gill-Guyette leads the team with 15.6 points per game, followed by junior Mariah Farmer at 12.7 points per game, and Camryn Jeter contributing 8.9 rebounds per game. The team will continue their season at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational tournament from December 27th to 30th.
Girls soccer, coached by Zoe Sanchez and ranked #39 in Florida (top seed in the Federal Division, Western Conference), has started strong with an 8-1 record. Currently 2-1 in their district, they are tied for first place with Durant and Newsome and will play in the Western Conference Semis on January 16th. Their season included an 11-0 victory over Spoto and strong performances against other rivals. Sophomore Kynedi Richardson leads in goals with 11, followed by Ashlynn Knighten with seven. Goalkeepers Katie Bulso and Lauren Williams have allowed only 14 goals in eight games.
Boys soccer, led by Jake Van Der Luit, holds a 7-2 record (3-0 in district play, securing first place). Their season opened with a 5-1 win over Spoto, with losses coming against Riverview (4-2) and Bloomingdale (1-0). Senior Alexander Rodriguez leads the team with 16 goals, while goalkeeping duties are shared between Carlos Villarreal (20 saves, 2.9 shots to goals ratio) and Aidan Wheeler (15 saves, 2.1 S/G).
Both soccer teams will resume play on January 7th against Tampa Bay Tech and January 10th at Robinson, concluding the regular season at home against Plant. For additional South Shore high school game coverage, see Stephen Jackson’s report.
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