Citrus Grove Elementary School in DeLand was the big winner of the Summer Home Run Reading Challenge sponsored by Volusia County Schools and the Daytona Tortugas baseball organization.
The students at Citrus Grove read 65,000 minutes during the past summer. The top individual reader also hailed from Citrus Grove, with Scott Tucker reading 5,800 minutes.
All in all, VCS students in kindergarten through eighth grade recorded reading 606,479 minutes during this past summer.
Students who read 390 minutes or more (and there were 630 of them) earned a ticket to see the Daytona Tortugas play a game Aug. 21 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.
The students also earned prizes from Dave & Buster’s, Wendy’s and Marco’s Pizza.
Open Houses for elementary schools in Volusia County will take place during the week of Sept. 20. Schools will be sending out messages about when Open Houses will take place at each school. If you do not receive a message, call the school your child attends prior to that week.
Schools always need volunteers to assist with many functions. If you are interested in helping, visit the VCS website at www.vcsedu.org and select “community’” in the top banner, which will take you to information about VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools) and to the online form you’ll need to fill out to be approved to serve as a volunteer.
School Advisory Councils are another opportunity for parents and community members to participate with their schools. SACs meet monthly either before or after school hours. Contact your school for information about when the SAC meets at your school.
The early-release days left in September are Wednesdays Sept. 15, 22 and 29. Students leave school an hour early for teacher enrichment and meetings.
West Volusia high-school football
In the first week of games, Aug. 27, Orange City University defeated Deltona, 41-6, Pierson Taylor downed Halifax Academy, 67-30, and Seven Rivers Christian
topped Deltona Trinity Christian, 41-6, while DeLand and Pine Ridge in Deltona did not play due to COVID-19.
The schedule of games this week, on Friday, Sept. 10, has DeLand hosting Clearwater International Academy, Deltona hosting Matanzas, Pine Ridge in Deltona greeting Palm Beach Christian Prep, Orange City University going to Seabreeze, and Deltona Prep playing at Orlando Faith Christian. Pierson Taylor was scheduled to play against Windermere Prep on Thursday, Sept. 9. All games are at 7 p.m.
The following Friday, Sept. 17, has DeLand hosting Oviedo, Deltona greeting Seabreeze, Pine Ridge in Deltona at Port Orange Atlantic, Orange City University at Lyman, Pierson Taylor at Bell, and Deltona Trinity hosting Keswick Christian.
DeLand High School athletics
The DeLand High School Lady Bulldogs golf team opened the season with a loss and a win. The Lady Bulldogs lost to New Smyrna Beach, 194-196, and then topped Orange City University, 210-215. Sydney Knight was the low medalist for DeLand in both matches, scoring 46 in both. The low medalist for University was McKenzie Coody, who shot a 39 for the nine-hole round.
The Bulldog boys’ golfers stopped Mainland, 189-241. Jackson Schrier was the low medalist with a nine-hole score of 40.
The DeLand cross-country team participated in the Spikes and Spurs Invitational offered by Flagler Palm Coast High School. The DeLand girls were 12th overall, while the boys were eighth.
Junior Magdalena Schricker was the top finisher for the Lady Bulldogs, covering the 5K course in 23:44.3, while junior James Gannon led the way for the DeLand boys with a clocking of 18:51.1.
The DeLand High swimmers defeated New Smyrna Beach with a 106-64 score for the girls and a 101-69 score for the boys. Anna Monette won the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke for the girls, while Isabella Brunacci won the 50 free and the 100 breaststroke, and Alana Epple won the 200 and 500 freestyle. Winning single events for the boys were Kai Vedder, Maverick Mules and Ryan Fantone.
The DeLand sports calendar for the following week has the junior-varsity volleyball team at the Lyman tournament Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10 and 11.
On Saturday, Sept. 11, the Bulldog cross-country team travels to the Astronaut Invitational in Titusville at 7:20 a.m., and the Bulldog swimmers go to the Port Orange Invitational at 7 a.m.
On Monday, Sept. 13, the boys’ golf team greets Pine Ridge at 4 p.m., while the volleyball team goes to University at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the bowling teams hosting Spruce Creek at 3:45 p.m. at the Sunshine Lanes.
The girls’ golf team participates in the Volusia/Flagler 18-Hole Tournament on the Daytona Municipal Course at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13.
Tuesday, Sept. 14, has the Lady Bulldog golfers greeting Seabreeze at 4 p.m. at Victoria Hills, with the volleyball team traveling to Lake Nona at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The DeLand swimmers host Father Lopez at 4 p.m. in the DeLand Family YMCA pool.
On Wednesday, Sept. 15, the DeLand bowlers go to Matanzas at 3:45 p.m., and the boys’ golf team plays at DeBary Golf & Country Club at 4 p.m.
On Thursday, Sept. 16, the boys’ golf team heads to Deltona at 4:30 p.m., while the volleyball teams travel to Winter Springs at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the Lady Bulldog golfers go to Mainland at 4 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 18, the cross-country team takes part in the Spruce Creek Invitational at 7:15 a.m. The Bulldog swimmers compete in the Lake Brantley Invitational at 7 a.m.
Taylor Middle-High School
Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson has announced that Gavin Mueller will be the new athletic director.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Hatter football team will host Ave Maria at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.
On Tuesday, Sept. 14, the Hatter men’s soccer team plays host to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at 7 p.m. on the campus field.
On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17 and 18, the Lady Hatter volleyball team hosts the Stetson Invitational.
On Friday at 11 a.m., New Mexico State faces South Florida; at 2:30 p.m., Bethune-Cookman University faces New Mexico State; and at 6 p.m., Stetson meets South Florida at 6 p.m.
On Saturday at 11 a.m., Stetson and New Mexico State meet; at 2:30 p.m., Bethune-Cookman meets South Florida; and then at 6 p.m., Stetson faces Bethune-Cookman.
Also on Saturday, Sept. 18, the Hatter soccer players face Liberty at 7 p.m.
College honors
Allyson Murdock, of DeBary, has been added to the summer 2021 Academic Achievement List at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia.
Jennifer Bray, of DeBary, earned her Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling, and Andrew Brown, also of DeBary, earned his Master of Arts in Christian studies, from University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email at flacoach43@hotmail.com.
