compiled by Lauren Salinero
Windermere residents and sophomores Pablo Delgado of Windermere Preparatory School and Mitchell Harding of Olympia High School joined their Pennsylvania friends’ baseball team to compete in the Cal Ripken Tournament in Aberdeen, Maryland. The boys won the tournament, just as they did when they were 12 years old, competing in the weeklong Cal Ripken Tournament in Myrtle Beach.Windermere residents and sophomores Pablo Delgado of Windermere Preparatory School and Mitchell Harding of Olympia High School joined their Pennsylvania friends’ baseball team to compete in the Cal Ripken Tournament in Aberdeen, Maryland. The boys won the tournament, just as they did when they were 12 years old, competing in the weeklong Cal Ripken Tournament in Myrtle Beach.
David Tenney joins the Orlando Magic as the high performance director.
Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced David Tenney as the high performance director. One of Major League Soccer’s most respected and progressive minds in sports science, Tenney joins the Magic after spending nine years with the Seattle Sounders FC. He served as high performance director for the 2017 season after previous seasons as sports science and performance manager (2015-16) and head fitness coach (2009-14). While with Seattle, the Sounders were MLS Cup Champions in 2016, won the U.S. Open Cup for four consecutive years, and made the playoffs eight consecutive years. Prior to joining the Sounders, Tenney served as both a fitness and goalkeeper coach with Sporting Kansas City for two seasons.
Dr. Phillips High School’s women’s golf team scored a runner-up finish at the Metro West Conference Championship. Jennifer Jung had the low round of the match for the Panthers at 1-over-par-73. Skai Guity finished at 5-over-par-77, and Emma Hallson shot a 7-over-par-79. Windermere High School won the championship with a team score of 309. DPHS scored 330. Olympia High School came in third with 367.
Two soccer coaches — Joe “Coach Joe” Gitto and Scott Green — are making a huge impact on the Winter Garden community. Gitto was a coach for the city of Winter Garden’s Parks and Recreation Department for several years, coaching both fall and spring seasons. The children who played on his teams grew up together, playing season after season until they “outgrew” the city’s soccer league. The city league only admits players under age 13.
After the city declined coach Joe’s plea to add a U-15 league, he decided to build a new nonprofit league on his own. Coach Joe recruited enough players to form, not one, but four U-15 soccer teams. He is assisted by coach Scott, who coached alongside coach Joe in the city league for more than four seasons. The two men secured a playing and practice field, referees and additional coaches for the league’s first season. The players are also equipped with uniforms and a new team logo and will receive trophies at the end of the season.
“Joe Gitto and Scott Green are two of the most caring, selfless men I have ever met,” said Bonnie Dooley, whose son plays in the new league. “They truly, genuinely care about our children and our community. These men are a blessing to our youth and an asset to our community. The world needs more people like them.”
The Orange County women’s tennis team wins the United State Tennis Association Florida 40 & Over 3.5/4.5+ League Section Championships.
Windermere residents Marci Funk and Rebecca Wilson were part of the Orlando women’s tennis team that won the United States Tennis Association Florida 40 & Over 3.5/4.5+ League Section Championships this summer at the USTA National Campus. As a result of the win, the Orange County team will travel to Mobile, Alabama, for the USTA League 40 & Over 4.5+ National Championships from Oct. 20-22 and to Fort Lauderdale for the USTA League 40 & Over 3.5 National Championships from Oct. 27-29.
The section championships drew the top 40-and-over USTA teams from throughout Florida, representing various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations that finished at the top of their local leagues. Teams consisting of two singles and three doubles lines competed in a nonelimination round-robin format, with flight winners advancing into a single-elimination semifinal followed by the final. It was the second sectionals title for Orange County. They are based out of Orlando Tennis Center.
Special Olympics Florida held its Champions’ Gala at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World. The event celebrated the organization’s 45th anniversary with a special performance by Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame band Cheap Trick’s lead vocalist, Robin Zander, alongside elite guests from the organization’s community partners. The event provided an opportunity for Special Olympics Florida to recognize its most incredible athletes, coaches, volunteers and community partners from across the state while raising awareness and funds for its programs that serve 41,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Guests also met and learned more about athletes from Florida who will be competing in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle next summer.
“Special Olympics Florida is the collective work of so many individuals and groups across the entire state,” said Sherry Wheelock, president and CEO of Special Olympics Florida. “The gala gives us the opportunity to recognize our champions and reflect on all that is possible with their time, efforts and support, all amongst an elegant evening of live entertainment, inspiring awards, delicious food and the beautiful setting of the Four Seasons.”
Dr. Phillips High School’s women’s cross country team competed against 16 teams at the NTC Invitational in Clermont. Senior Isabela Bartczak placed second among 155 runners with a time of 19:07. Alison Walker was 11th at 21:44, Sarah Zamot was 13th at 21:47, and Roxanne Deisseroth placed 17th at 21:59. The Panthers had two more runners in the top 40 — Sabrina Bahr, 23:01, and Geraldine Valencia, 23:34.
The men’s cross country team finished fifth in the 31-team NTC Invitational. Senior Luis Ortiz finished ninth in a field of 229 runners with a time of 17:13. Junior Josh Matzner was also in the top 20 at 17:34. Senior Bo Ivey came in three seconds later at 17:37. Junior Anthony Venturini crossed the line at 18:12, followed by sophomore Damon Perez, 18:46; sophomore Kervenster Azor, 18:46; and freshman Adam Berriz, 19:21.
At the Florida Runners Invitational in Lakeland, the women’s cross country team placed 14th out of 22 teams in the Race of Champions. Isabela Bartczak shaved seven seconds off her best time of the year, coming in at 18:46. She placed sixth among 195 runners. Also in the top 100 were Alison Walker, 21:50, and Hannah Waddell, 21:56. Rounding out DPHS’s scoring five were Sarah Zamot, 22:33, and Sydney Kaufman, 23:12.
The men’s cross country team finished 14th in the Race of Champions at the Florida Runners Invitational. Ortiz ran a personal best of 16:45 and placed 19th in a field of 197 runners. Other Panthers who made the top 100 were Bo Ivey, 17:31; Josh Matzner, 18:07; and Anthony Venturini, 18:31. Adam Berriz closed out the Panthers’ top five with a time of 18:54.
Although we try to ensure that all information presented above is the most current, correct and dependable available, we do rely on others for the source of our news. Therefore, the Southwest Orlando Bulletin and Cornerstone Publishing & Multi-Media LLC cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information presented here, nor does mentioning it constitute an endorsement. Sports information is welcome and may be mailed to P.O. Box 851, Windermere, FL 34786; or emailed to Lauren@kearneypublishing.com. ♥