By:  J. Daniel Pearson

A few days after Hurricane Milton reeked havoc across the state of Florida – including canceling school and athletic contests – student athletes and coaches attempt a return to normalcy this week as events return to campuses in Osceola County.

Here is a look around Osceola in sports:

FOOTBALL

Seven county games scheduled for last week, were postponed because of Milton.  Three of those contests (Lake Nona at Harmony, Osceola at Viera and Olympia at Celebration) were district games and will have to be made up.  All three are tentatively scheduled to be played on Tuesday. Oct. 14.  That will make for a short week for all three, as three were also scheduled to play on Friday.  Harmony and Celebration will have an extra day to prepare as that kickoff has been pushed to 11 a.m. Saturday morning.  Osceola was hoping to change its Friday night game to Saturday with Apopka, but that request was denied and that game is still on for Friday night.  

“We tried to get it moved and Apopka wants to keep it on Friday,” Osceola coach Eric Pinellas said.  “If that’s the case, we’ll get ready to play.  It’s not like we haven’t played twice in four days of three games in 10 before, it comes with the territory.”

For the Kowboys (4-2, 1-0), the Tuesday make-up game with Viera (3-4, 0-0) is paramount.  A win will clinch Osceola’s third straight district championship and punch their ticket to the FHSAA Playoffs for a 15th consecutive year.  It would also give Osceola 54 district wins in their last 55 contests.

After a Week 7 bye, Osceola has not played a game since Sept. 27 but Pinellas is not concerned about the long layoff or the lost practice time last week. “The bye week came at a great time for us,” Pinellas said.  “The break gave us a chance to get some nicked up players healthy.”

Viera is a “run-first” team and if that continues, it should play right into the strength of the Kowboys defense.  Only one of the six Osceola opponents have gained more than 40 yards rushing this season and that team (Lake Mary) was still held to under 100 yards.  Conversely, Viera has had trouble stopping the run this year; while the running game has been the strength of the Kowboys offense.  “We need to go over there and play fundamentally sound football and we should be okay,” Pinellas added.

After losing to Tohopekaliga on Sept. 27, the Lake Nona vs. Harmony game Tuesday night is a “must-win” game for the Longhorns (1-5, 0-1) if they want to stay in the 7A, District 10 race.  While state power Dr. Phillips (6-0, 1-0) is the clear favorite to win the 7A, District 9 title, Celebration coach Chris Blanton says his team’s Tuesday night makeup with Olympia is still vitally important for his young team that comes in 2-4 with a 0-1 district record.  “Being able to win a district game is part of the process to building a successful program,” Blanton said.  “It builds confidence and can give a young team confidence that they belong.”

Non-district games wiped out last week included Liberty at East River, Lake Placid at Gateway, Poinciana at Auburndale, and Master’s Academy at Tohopekaliga.  As of press time, the Master’s Academy game at Tohopekliga has been cancelled; while the Liberty at East River game will be played on Monday, Oct. 21; and Gateway was in talks with Lake Placid to also possibly playing on that date.

Tohopekaliga (4-2, 1-0) has a huge district game with St. Cloud (3-4, 0-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.  Other non-district games scheduled for Friday include Osceola at Apoka, and Gateway at Poinciana. Because both teams are playing on Tuesday, Friday’s Harmony at Celebration contest is being moved to 11 a.m. Saturday by mutual consent.  Liberty hits their bye week.

This Week’s Football Schedule     

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Lake Nona at Harmony, 7 p.m.

Osceola at Viera, 7 p.m.

Olympia at Celebration, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 18

Osceola at Apopka, 7 p.m.

Tohopekaliga at St. Cloud, 7 p.m.

Gateway at Poinciana, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Harmony at Celebration, 11 a.m.

Monday, Oct. 21

Liberty at East River, 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Hurricane Milton essentially wiped out the final week of the regular season for the county’s volleyball teams and District play begins this week as scheduled.

Five of the county teams (Osceola, Tohopekaliga, Harmony, St. Cloud and Celebration) will participate in the Class 7A, District 7 Tournament, slated for Oct. 15-17).  Osceola and Harmony are the two top seeds and will receive first round byes, as will third-seeded Tohopekaliga.  That sets the schedule up as follows:  Fifth-seeded Celebration (7-9) will play at fourth seeded St. Cloud (10-9) at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.  

As top seed, Osceola is hosting semifinal games on Wednesday with Tohopekaliga (10-12) meeting Harmony (12-6) at 5 p.m. and the St. Cloud/Celebration winner playing the Lady Kowboys (19-4) at 7 p.m.  The championship game is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday.

Osceola will be the heavy favorites to win the district and advance.  They are 8-0 this year against county opposition and have not dropped a set (24-0).

Gateway (7-10) will host Auburndale (10-12) in a #4 vs. #5 quarterfinal game on Monday night.  A win would send the Panthers to top-seeded Lake Wales (17-2) the following night.  

Liberty is slated to play in the 4A, District 9 Tournament, where none of the five district teams recorded a winning record this season.  The Chargers (2-8) are the second seed and will play #3 Hardee (3-15) at home on Tuesday, Oct. 15.  A win would put the Chargers in the District finals against the winner of the #1 seed Desoto (8-11) vs. Teneroc (4-19) vs. Mulberry (5-14) winner.

This Week’s Volleyball Schedule

Monday, Oct. 14

Auburndale at Gateway, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Auburndale/Gateway Winner at Lake Wales, 7 p.m.

Celebration at St. Cloud, 7 p.m.

Hardee at Liberty, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Tohopekaliga vs. Harmony (at Osceola),  5 p.m.

Celebration/St. Cloud Winner at Osceola, 7 p.m. 

 Hardee/Liberty Winner at Lake Wales, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 17

7A District 7 Championship at Osceola, 7 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY

Teams will use this week to train for the 2024 Orange Belt Conference Cross Country Championships next Wednesday (Oct. 24) at Austin Tindall Park.  Tohopekaliga will be the host school.  The Tigers will be going for their fourth consecutive boys’ championship; while Celebration will be looking to win their third straight girls’ title.  Still, it most likely will be a four team affair in both the boys and girls races, with St. Cloud and Harmony expected to challenge for the team title in both races.

GOLF

Two weeks remain in the regular season, with the Orange Belt Conference Championships slated for Oct. 21 (Girls) and Oct. 22 (Boys) at Royal St. Cloud Golf Club.  Tee-off on both days is 8 a.m.  The Lady Bulldogs, led by junior Karolyna Adams, sophomore Maddie Burda, and freshman Abigail Murphy, will be strong favorites to win their 8th straight OBC crown.  The Bulldogs boys’ team, led by Junior Espn Pool, freshman Arnold Pouncy, and junior Ethan Parish, will be the favorites to reclaim the boys title from Celebration.  If successful, it would be St. Cloud’s fifth title in the last six years.

SWIMMING 

The regular season wraps this week and five of the county teams (Tohopekaliga, Osceola, Celebration, St. Cloud and Harmony) will participate in the 4A, District 5 Meet on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the North County Aquatic Center in Jupiter.  Harmony is the host school for the district competition.  Gateway will participate in the 3A, District 4 meet at Rosen Aquatic Center in Orlando on Oct. 25; while Liberty will be at the Class 2A, District 7 meet at Hardee High School on Oct. 28.

The top two finishers in each district advance to regionals, as well as the next eight best times across the region also advance.  Celebration won both the boys and girls OBC championships on Oct. 3; while Harmony was second in both.