The spring sports season comes to the end for all Osceola public schools this week with the spring football games being held on Thursday and Friday of this week. Here’s a look around the county:
FOOTBALL
Perhaps the biggest news came off the field last week when Celebration Athletics Director Rick Tribit announced that after an exhaustive search, former long-time Storm assistant Jeremy Palmer would become the new head coach. “We had an initial pool of 40 applicants and we narrowed it down to seven outstanding candidates and then selected three to bring in for final interviews,” Tribit said. “Coach Palmer’s vision for the future of and familiarity of the program, the school’s culture and knowledge of the kids definitely shined throughout the process. We are excited to have him take over our program and look forward to continued success under his tutelage.”
Palmer joined the CHS staff in 2013 under Dennis Thomas as a Defensive Line coach, and was elevated to Defensive Coordinator under Jay Sobke for 4 years. He became the Co-Defensive Coordinator at Horizon last year during their inaugural campaign. He is a 2011 graduate of Louisiana Tech, after starting his career playing defensive line at Mississippi College. He replaces Rich Pringle, who guided the Storm to its best season in school history (7-4) but resigned after one season to become head coach at Lake Gibson.
Palmer joins Anthony Paradiso (Tohopekaliga) and Michael Short (St. Cloud) as new head football coaches in the County.
On the field, seven teams will conclude their spring drills with games. The schedule includes East Ridge at Harmony on Thursday; and Friday games of Poinciana at Gateway, Liberty at Lake Region, Edgewater at Osceola and Celebration at George Jenkins. St. Cloud will compete with Orlando Christian Prep and Freedom in a Jamboree Style game (1/2 half against each team). That contest will be held at Freedom and all games start at 7 p.m.
BASEBALL
Osceola was the last team standing in the county but saw its season come to an end with an 8-4 loss to Park Vista last week. Read about that game here: https://www.positivelyosceola.com/grand-slam-sends-osceola-kowboys-to-season-ending-8-4-loss/
SOFTBALL
Although Harmony lost in the district semifinals, the Longhorns 14-5 record was strong enough to warrant an at-large bid to the regionals. Unfortunately, Harmony was an eight seed and drew powerful top-seed Melbourne (21-2-1) in the first round. Jasmine Francik and Kylah Berry would combine to strike out 17 batters and allow just one hit in a 6-0 win over the Longhorns. Harmony should be formidable again next year, as they started just one senior in the game.
TRACK
Five individuals and two relay teams from Osceola County earned All-State honors at the 2022 FHSAA Class 4A State Track Championships at held the University of Florida on Saturday. Leading the way was Celebration’s Catalina Edwards, who placed in two events – finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the 800 and 1600 meter runs. Joining Edwards in earning team points for Celebration, Jared Falchook took fifth in the 800 meters.
Drea Thomson and Anthony White recorded a pair of 8th place finishes in the girls and boys high jump; while Orlando Descartes placed fifth in the high jump for Tohopekaliga.
Osceola High had a pair of relay teams earn all-state recognition. Shannon Levy, Quanaya Jenkins, Aaliyah Strauchen and Zanaya Bright clocked a time of 48.03 in the 4 x 100 relay to place sixth overall; while Taevion Swint, Jakeem Jackson, Henley Placide, and Bo Mascoe ran a 42.22 in the boys 4 x 100 to place eighth. All eight runners are underclassmen and will return next season.
