Volusia School Calendar 24-25
Class Notes: Golf tourney to support DeLand High football on April 20
The DeLand Century Club is sponsoring a DeLand High School Golf Tournament to support DeLand High football. The tournament will take place Saturday, April 20, at the Venetian Bay Golf Course, 63 Airport Road in New Smyrna Beach.
It will cost $600 for a foursome to take part in the competition. Free food, drinks and parking will be provided.
Currently, the Century Club is looking for sponsors/donations to help with the tournament. If you would like to register a foursome or offer to sponsor, you can go to DeLandfootball.org.
The DeLeon Springs Community Association Inc. is accepting applications for the 2024 DSCA Inc. Merit Scholarship. The purpose of the scholarship is to grant funds to a deserving high-school student currently attending a secondary school in the DeLeon Springs area, so they may further their postsecondary-school education. The scholarship is in the amount of $1,000.
An applicant must be a resident of DeLeon Springs and a high-school senior enrolled in a DeLeon Springs-area home, private or public high school, who has been accepted into an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational school.
The scholarship criteria and application information can be found at www.deleonspringscommunityassociation.com under the “Info” tab. The completed application must be postmarked to DSCA Inc. by Sunday, March 31.
The Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans offer affordable college savings. A family can guarantee college saving with a Florida 529 Prepaid Plan, which is flexible (for use in-state or nationwide, public, private, trade and technical schools), stress-free (purchase a plan that locks in college cost for less) and worry-free (covers the cost of tuition and most fees, with an optional dormitory plan).
The program is 100-percent risk-free and protected by the State of Florida. For more information and an application, visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com or call 1-800-552-4723. Enroll by Wednesday, Feb. 28, and get a $50 gift card.
The Volusia County Schools calendar notes that there is no school Monday, Feb. 19, so that all can observe Presidents Day.
The early-release Wednesdays this month are Feb. 14, 21 and 28.
Florida High School Athletic Association girls weightlifting
The regional tournaments to earn the right to go to state took place during the weekend of Feb. 2. The following is a list of female weightlifters who placed in the top 10 at their individual region and weight division:
For Orange City University High School in the traditional bracket, Hailey Theodore placed fourth, lifting 295 pounds; Melissa Rago placed eighth with 295 pounds; Tiffanie Clemente was ninth at 270 pounds; and Mariah Fisher was 10th, while lifting 285 pounds in the two areas of competition.
DeLand High had two girls in the top 10; both competed and placed in the two areas of lifting, traditional and Olympic.
Addison Ruocco was seventh in Olympic with a 280-pound lift and ninth in traditional by lifting 270 pounds. Katyah Ross was sixth in Olympic, with 270 pounds lifted in two areas combined; she was seventh in traditional at 300 pounds.
Both Ruocco and Ross will be competing in the FHSAA State Championships in Lakeland Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17.
Pine Ridge in Deltona had Jamila Santana competing in both areas, taking fifth in traditional with a 275-pound total and a 255 total for sixth place in Olympic competition.
Deltona High found Payton Woerner placing in both categories, with the best area showing, while taking second in the Olympic Division with a 310-pound total. She also placed eighth in the traditional division with a total of 310 pounds.
FHSAA competitive cheerleading
Competitive cheerleading is a relatively new sport in Florida. There was a recent state championship in Lakeland in numerous different levels of competition. In the 2A Division, DeLand High placed fourth in the state finals in the medium coed finals with 76.60 points. Deltona High placed 10th in the medium non-tumbling semifinals with 69.50 points.
In 1A Division competition, Pine Ridge was fifth in the small non-tumbling semifinals with 77.70 points, while Deltona Trinity Christian Academy was fifth in the medium division semifinals with 60.40 points.
University High School graduates
Jalyx Hunt played football at Orange City University and for the Houston Christian Huskies. In 2022, he was named to the Second Team All Southland Conference. In 2023, he was named as a First Team All-Conference linebacker.
Hunt recorded 19 solo tackles, 27 assists, one blocked kick, one interception for a touchdown, two pass break-ups, six-and-one-half sacks, nine tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles and recoveries.
Hunt also participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, Feb. 2. He is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s top defensive player.
Lorenzo Lingard also played football at University High, and he played his last year in the sport at Akron University. This year, he ran for 665 yards with a 4.2-average-per-carry, five touchdowns, and 55.42 rushing yards per game. He also collected 363 passing yards for 30.25 per game.
Every so often, this column will mention local athletes who played college football and how well they competed. If you know of someone and have their stats, please send them to [email protected].
DeLand High School graduates
In the Feb. 1-7 issue, this column mentioned two local grads who have done well. One of these was Chance Tressler, the son of Barry Tressler. Since the last info, he competed as part of the Embry-Riddle track-and-field team at the Celebration Pointe Classic Indoor Meet. Chance placed third in the weight throw with a 46-foot-1-inch effort, improving his earlier distance of 43 feet, 7 inches. He also placed in the shot put with a 45-foot-4.75-inch effort, an almost 12-inch improvement.
The other was Ethan Tussing, who is the throw coach at Virginia Commonwealth University. He coached Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir to the 10th-best throw in the country in the weight throw, earlier. She has now improved her earlier effort by 2 feet, 6 inches, to move into fifth place in the NCAA women’s weight competition and a spot in the NCAA National Championships in March.
Blue Lake Elementary School
Six teachers at Blue Lake Elementary School in DeLand have been presented with service pins: Sally Fogle gained a 25-year pin, while Adam West, Ronda Sylvia and Evelyn Scott earned 20-year pins, and Becky Priddy and Joanna Bobe were presented 10-year pins.
The VUE-Retired Teachers Association presented Priddy the 2023 FEA Innovative Grant.
Deltona Lakes Elementary School
The School Advisory Council at Deltona Lakes Elementary School will meet Thursday, Feb. 22. Call the school for the time of the meeting.
On Friday, March 1, third-graders will be going to SeaWorld as a field-study trip.
Friendship Elementary School
Friendship Elementary School in Deltona is hosting a roller-skating fundraiser 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at the Sk8tona Fun Center, 1680 Doyle Road in Deltona. The cost is $10, which includes skate rental. Parent spectators only are admitted for free; everyone else is charged to enter. No outside food or drinks are allowed, including water. Parking is limited, so carpooling is suggested.
Friendship third-graders will go on a field-study trip to the Kennedy Space Center Friday, Feb. 16.
Sunrise Elementary School
Sunrise Elementary School in Deltona will have class and club pictures as well as makeup pictures taken Friday, Feb. 23.
Southwestern Middle School
On Saturday, Feb. 24, Southwestern Middle School in DeLand is having a day of community camaraderie and environmental stewardship from 8 a.m. to noon. The school is asking those interested to unite for a cleaner and greener school environment.
To register to volunteer or donate supplies, call 386-822-6815, ext. 22836, or email [email protected].
Taylor Middle- High School
Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson had 12 members of Future Business Leaders of America earn honors at the Volusia County Schools FBLA District Competition, by taking first through fourth places in competition. Those earning honors were Teriauna Carruthers, Alexa Hernandez, Lexi Crane, Alexa Martinez, Jennifer Santore, Sarah Morris, Eliza Rodriguez, Valery Arenas, Leilani Albar ran, Vic tor ia Sanchez, Karina Morales- Herrera and Cl ar i e Lovenbury. The sponsors were Latrease Carruthers and Tammi Collins.
Cubs and Cats is the joint effort of the Latinos in Action group of Wildcats from the school, working with third-graders at Pierson Elementary School. The high-school Wildcats support the elementary Cubs with reading fluency each week.
DeLand High School Athletics
The following DeLand High School Lady Bulldogs took part in the regional FHSAA weightlifting competition at Flagler Palm Coast. Two of these athletes placed as noted above.
Those competing included Addison Ruocco, Katyah Ross, Hollee Brady, Alexis Berriozabal, Elena Cruz, Katherin Rodriguez, Mattie Washington and Sierra West. The group is coached by Damion Dunn.
Prior to moving in the district competition, the Lady Bulldog basketball team topped Seabreeze, 28-19, while the boys team defeated Pine Ridge, 61-43, with Beegie Gordon scoring 10 points and Julian Morales grabbing eight rebounds and handing out four assists, while they defeated Merritt Island, 72-48.
Both of the DeLand High soccer teams, boys and girls, bowed out in the first round of district play. The boys lost to Flagler Palm Coast and ended the season with a 7-9 record, while the girls lost to Sanford, and closed out the season with a 7-7-1 mark.
The only winter sport still competing on a regular schedule is wrestling. The regional tournament will be Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23 and 24, with the state Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2.
If any of the girl weightlifters earned a trip to state, they will compete in Lakeland Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17.
Everyone is now focusing on spring sports, which include boys weightlifting, tennis, flag football for girls, track and field, baseball, softball and beach volleyball.
On Friday, Feb. 16, the Bulldog track teams open at the Pinnacle Meet at Flagler Palm Coast at 1 p.m.
On Monday, Feb. 19, the baseball team greets Seabreeze at 4:30 p.m. on the DHS campus field. Tuesday, Feb. 20, finds the flag-football team hosting Spruce Creek at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the field at the Sperling Sports Complex. That same day, the junior-varsity baseball team hosts Seabreeze at 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 21, sends the Bulldog weightlifters to Spruce Creek at 4 p.m., while the softball team greets Forest at 4:30 p.m. on the campus field. The tennis teams compete at Seabreeze at 4 p.m. that day, and the junior-varsity baseball team plays at Pine Ridge at 4 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 22, places the baseball team at Pine Ridge at 4 p.m., the junior-varsity baseball team at home against Spruce Creek at 4:30 p.m., and the flag-football team greeting New Smyrna Beach at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
On Friday, Feb. 23, the softball team plays at Trinity Catholic at 5 p.m. and at East Bay at 7 p.m. That same day, the track team goes to the Lake Mary Invite at 3 p.m., the baseball team plays at Seabreeze at 7 p.m., and the junior-varsity baseball players face Seabreeze at 5 p.m.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Hatter men’s basketball team lost to North Alabama, 79-72, with Stephan Swenson scoring 19 points with five assists. Aubin Gateretse added 17 points, along with 11 rebounds and two blocks, while Jalen Blackmon made 15 points, which pushed his career scoring at Stetson to more than 1,000 points, becoming the 37th player to reach that pinnacle.
The Hatters then downed Central Arkansas in overtime, 73-62, holding the hosts to only 2 points in overtime. Blackmon scored 25 points, Gateretse made 12 points, with nine rebounds and two blocks, while Josh Smith scored 11 points, with another nine rebounds and two blocks.
The Lady Hatters were stopped by Bellarmine, 64- 52, with Khamya McNeal getting 11 points and six rebounds, while Jamiya Turner added 10 points.
The Hatter men greet Queens at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22.
On Saturday, Feb. 24, the women go to FGCU, while the men play host to Kennesaw State at 2 p.m.
The baseball season opens at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, against West Virginia. At this game, there will be an opening-night promotion having the first 1,000 attendees receive a 3X5 schedule magnet.
Saturday, Feb. 17, is the date of Jeff Altier’s retirement ceremony.
At all home games, there will be numerous in-game promotions, including Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast Stolen Base of the Game, Season Ticket Holder of the Game, Stetson Hat Shuffle, Stetson Mad Dash, Coca-Cola Chip of the Game, Jermiah’s Winning Inning, Bleacher Creatures Sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” Guess the Time of the Seventh-Inning Stretch, Page Insurance Home Run T-shirt Toss and Music Trivia.
The baseball calendar has Stetson greeting West Virginia at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16; at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17; at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18; and at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19. There will be a home game with Maine at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23.
The softball calendar, on Friday, Feb. 16, has the Lady Hats at home with Creighton at 3 p.m., and Colgate at 5:30 p.m., followed on Saturday, Feb. 17, by Stetson hosting Bethune-Cookman at 3 p.m. and Creighton at 5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Feb. 18, they host Bethune-Cookman at 12:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Stetson greets Oklahoma State at 6 p.m., and Long Island at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, followed by a game with Maryland at 5:30 p.m.
The men’s tennis team lost to Georgia State, 6-1, but stopped USF, 5-2, and Wofford, 7-0, while the Lady Hatter tennis team lost to Wofford, 4-3, but defeated Mercer, 4-2.
The home-sports calendar for the other sports has the beach volleyball team Friday, Feb. 23, playing Mercer at 8 a.m. and Eckerd at noon.
College honors
Courtney Taylor, of DeLand, graduated from The University of Tampa Dec. 15, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts.
Lauren Fantone, of DeLand, earned dean’s list honors at The University of Tampa for the fall 2023 semester. Fantone is a senior majoring in accounting.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at [email protected].
Related
