Adrienne McLean showed her volleyball teammates the definition of toughness last week playing with a sprained foot throughout Middleton High School's 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay Tech. Head volleyball coach Robert Dodson was hesitant to play the senior but says she insisted on playing. After the game, he applauded her effort and the grit she showed in playing through the pain. "She knew we needed her in the middle to block the type of players that Tampa Bay Tech has," Dodson said. "You can't ask more from a player than for them to give you everything they have and she certainly showed that she has …

Jeremiah Green does need many opportunities to make opponents pay. With just four touches of the football, Hillsborough High School's Green put 18 points on the board for the Terriers aiding them to a 43-0 destruction of Strawberry Crest last Friday. Green, who last year played only defense, scored two touchdowns on the ground and one threw the air proving he can be just as dangerous as primary tailback Anthony Brown. "Brown and Green is the one two punch," Green said. "I'm just trying to play my best and do what I can do for the team. We're going to carry this team as far as we can. We make …

Star Steele is dangerous in front of a volleyball net. The 5-foot-10 inch senior at Tampa Catholic High School is the leading assist getter and leading blocker for the school's largely successful volleyball team, but her stats aren't what she feels is most important about what she brings to the game. "I think it's the intensity that I have when I'm out there that is most effective," Steele said. "I'm relentless with my team and I'm always telling them that it doesn't matter that we're not the tallest team, we can be the fastest. With enough hard work and execution we should be able to pull …

Jordan Rich-Rogers is not a big football player, but his size is working to his advantage this season. The junior tailback for Tampa Catholic High School stands at 5-foot-8 inches, weighing around 190 lbs. The Crusaders have set lofty goals as a team this season as they look to get back into the playoffs for a third consecutive season and in his first year as a full time tailback Rich-Rogers has set personal goals to the same standard as he lines up behind an offensive line that boasts multiple 300 pound blockers. "We're looking to win games and be a lot better than we were last season," Rich…

Dedication and skill are taking Kaylee Hickman to new heights on the volleyball court. The Hillsborough High School senior is only in her second year as a volleyball player, but she is already starting and playing throughout every game while competing against players who have been in the sport for much longer. "She's a solid player all around," coach Yolanda Whitehead said. "She never lets her emotions get to her, she always one of the most level headed girls on the floor. She's been very valuable for us because of her versatility and committment." Going into high school, Hickman was a strong…

Hillsborough High School's Anthony Brown is versatile to say the least. The senior has already committed to Purdue University thanks to his exploits on the defensive side of the ball, but this season he is showing off what he can do on offense. "I felt like I could if I would have been given the ball last year I could have done the same thing but I'm glad to be getting it now," Brown said. "It felt good to get in the endzone the other night. At the end of the day, I don't care how many times I get the ball as long as we get the win." Hillsborough took on Plant City last Friday where Brown put…

Male Athlete of the Week: Jeremiah Green Qualifying for both the long jump and triple jump, Jeremiah Green has spent the last week working on his take off and run up to the jump. This season, the Hillsborough High athlete has proven himself with victories in the George Steinbrenner Invitational, Hillsborough's district tournament and the recent Regional tournament that put him in the state contest. He is anxiously awaiting the opportunity to compete in the state tournament where he can show that his top rankings in both events are well deserved. "I've had some rough days but the coaches have …

Female Athlete of the Week: Kaitlynn Diaz Kaitlynn Diaz played her final game as the Chamberlain High School Lady Chiefs second baseman on Tuesday as her team lost to Venice by a score of 4-3 in the first round of regional play.  For the season, Diaz averaged .327 at the plate with 10 RBI and 10 runs scored. The combination of her experience and her skill made her a key contributor to the Lady Chiefs undefeated (12-0) record against district opponents. For the season, the team was 20-8 and went undefeated at home. “It's a really bad way to end the season. The chemistry just wasn’t there,” …

Female Athlete of the Week: Bernadette Leone The Tampa Catholic High Schooll girls lacrosse team made it to the final of the state playoffs thanks to the efforts of captain and leading scorer Leone. The Lady Crusaders would lose in the final but it was an incredible run for a team that had only a handful of seniors.  Leone led the team in scoring with 45 goals and 17 asssists heading into the state tournament. She is the pulse of the Lady Crusaders attack and an experienced leader. "She is really something," Tampa Catholic lacrosse coach Tim McGroff said. "She was amazing for us this year. We…

Male Athlete of the Week: Taylor Byrd Middleton High School's junior outfielder Byrd has cemented his place in coach Vernon Slayter's lineup thanks to some big performances this season. Batting .474, driving in 11 runs and scoring 13 himself, Byrd has been a big weapon at the plate, but his defensive game is equally strong. Byrd has yet to make an error this season. Female Athlete of the Week: Raven Sepulveda As Tampa Catholic High School's team captain and catcher, Sepulveda has made her presence felt in every Lady Crusaders game this year. Recently, the senior fought through a mild …

Female athlete of the week: Veronica Cartaya The freshman attacker helped her Tampa Catholic High School lacrosse team win the district championship over Wesley Chapel this week by scoring five goals and assisting on two other goals. The Crusaders rallied from two goals down at halftime with 13 unanswered goals in the second half. Castaya contributed significantly to the recovery. The Crusaders are 12-0 this season. "I just wanted to do it for our defenders," Cartaya said. "They really picked up their game in the second half so I was inspired to do the same." Male athlete of the week: Eric …

Female Athlete of the week: Shaniqua Hill Shaniqua Hill is a strong competitor in the 100 and 3o0 meter hurdles. She ranked 30th overall at largest meet of the year, the Steinbrenner Invitational at USF, in the 100 meter hurdles running a 18.80 in the prelims where she finished second. That time was two seconds longer than her usual 100 meter hurdle time (around 16 seconds) due to a fall after hitting a hurdle. Last week, she competed again at the Manuel Griffin Relays at Hillsborough where Middleton's girls finished 22nd as a team. In all, Hill runs five events, her favorite being the 300 …

Male Athlete of the Week: Anthony Brown The junior track star and football player at Hillsborough High School is running away from opponents with ease this season. Brown decided to run track in order to stay in shape and have something to do during the football offseason.This is his first season running for coach Joseph Sipp. He has been a crucial part of the team's victories at the Steinbrenner Invitational, as well as the Charles Johnson and Nash Higgins meets thanks to his speed in the 100 and 200 meter races. He currently ranks third in the state in the 100 meters. "Everybody is shocked…

Male Athlete of the Week: Paulie Russo The Tampa Catholic Crusaders trailed Berkeley Prep in the final inning of Tuesday's game when the freshman was called upon to pinch hit. He would save the team in dramatic fashion with the first home run of his high school career. For the season, Russo is batting .625 with 8 RBI. He has crossed the plate himself four times this season. “The other kids on the team voted him on the team because they know he can play,” coach Pat Russo said. “He lives for the big moments like that.” Female Athlete of the Week: Ashley Avary The Hillsborough High School  …

Female athlete of the week: Kai Jones The 5-foot, 10-inch junior forward  has been essential piece of coach Nancy Kroll's system this season. She is averaging 12 points per game to go along with her team leading 10 rebounds.  In the team's victory over Fort Meade on Tuesday, Jones matched her averages with 12 points and 10 boards. She has shot 49 percent from the free throw line this season. "She's an important player for us because she does a lot of really important little things," Kroll said. "She has a real presence inside as a rebounder and is a solid defensive player. She's been crucial …

Male athlete of the week: Travis Lyons The junior guard scored 26 points in Hillsborough's final game of the season, a 63-58 loss against King high school in the district 5A-9 basketball tournament. For the season, Lyons has been a key player for the Terriers as their leading scorer averaging 10 points per game. Coach Stephanie Crawford says that her son played up to expectations, most importantly his own. "My son came to me the night before the game and said that he had to have a good game," Crawford said. "He actually looked at me and said, 'Mom, I have to have a good game for the team.' "…

Female athlete of the week: Blaire Davis Davis wasn't the starting point guard for the Chiefs girls basketball team when the year began, but by the time it ended she was playing starter minutes. In her first year since transferring to Chamberlain, the junior guard has impressed coach Stevonia Allen with her ball handling ability and leadership skills. "She's a leader on and off the court," Allen said. "She played great throughout the year and kept everyone grounded which is what a point guard needs to do." Male athlete of the week: Lashawn Harrison The senior point guard has steered the …

Male athlete of the week: Gamar Rosado The junior Middleton wrestler went 4-0 against opponents at the first wrestling tournament held in Middleton High School’s gym in a few years. Last Saturday, he beat wrestlers from Spoto, Plant Freedom and King to win a medal in the 152 pound weight class. “I’m always confident I can win — that’s my standard,” Rosado said. Female athlete of the week: Meghan Keough Tampa Catholic’s senior point guard has been the driving force behind the Crusaders’ 18-4 record throughout the season. For the year, she is averaging 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5…