The Florida High School Athletic Association invites all schools to participate in the 2023-24 Sunshine State Spirit Showdown Competition. This is a competition designed to promote good sportsmanship and school spirit.
Entries will begin Wednesday, Nov. 15, and the deadline to submit applications is Feb. 1, 2024.
Schools must submit a video that is 90 seconds to 3 minutes in length, with a 30-second part on why your student body is the best cheering section in the state. Content must be appropriate and uploaded onto FHSAA’s YouTube Channel.
More information can be found by going to https://fhsaa.com/sports/2020/3/18/SunshineSpiritShowdown.aspx.
In January, as an extension to the High School Showcase, high schools will host their own Rising Ninth Grade events. This will be a great time for eighth-graders and their parents to meet the faculty and administration while experiencing the campus of their new school.
High-school opportunities and programs will be highlighted during these rising events.
The dates and times for these programs will be posted in this column in December.
It’s time for those students wishing to go into the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge/AICE and Career Academy programs to turn in an application. Students need to see their guidance counselors for information.
The deadline for these applications to be submitted is Jan. 24, 2024.
Volusia County Schools is now hiring in the following positions: teachers, counselors, psychologists and social workers, speech/language clinicians, custodians, office specialists, paraprofessionals, bus drivers and School Way Cafe employees. Apply at https://tinyurl.com/vcsapplynow.
Individuals can contact the school system at vcscareers@volusia.k12.fl.us about applying.
The school system offers comprehensive benefits packages, access to FRS, advanced-degree supplements and opportunities for professional growth.
There is no school Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Veterans Day. The Thanksgiving Holiday begins Monday, Nov. 20, and classes resume Monday, Nov. 27.
The early-release Wednesdays in November are the 1st, 8th, 15th and 29th.
West Volusia high-school football
On Oct. 20, DeLand defeated previously undefeated Orange City University, 14-3, while Bishop Moore topped Deltona, 59-0, and Halifax Academy closed out Deltona Trinity Christian, 40-0.
Friday, Nov. 3, marks the last regular-season games for all Florida football teams. The DeLand team travels to Bunnell to face Flagler Palm Coast, Deltona greets Orange City University, Atlantic visits Deltona Pine Ridge, and Pierson Taylor welcomes Father Lopez. All games are at 7 p.m.
West Volusia high-school volleyball
All the West Volusia high-school volleyball programs ended FHSAA district play during the week of Oct. 16. DeLand and Pine Ridge won their divisional district titles.
DeLand and Orange City University played in the 7A-District 2 Tournament, with University bowing out in the first round to Lake Mary, 3-0, while DeLand entered play in the second round.
The Lady Bulldogs downed Seminole, 3-0, and topped Spruce Creek for the crown, 3-0, with the match scores being 25-17, 25-10, 25-20. They were slated to face Lake Brantley in the first round of regional play.
In the 5A-District 7 tournament, Deltona and Pine Ridge competed for the title. Deltona was edged out by Leesburg, 3-2, while Pine Ridge entered the tournament in the second round facing Leesburg, which the Lady Panthers defeated, 3-0.
Pine Ridge then faced Tavares for the district championship, which the Lady Panthers won, 3-0, with match scores being 27-25, 25-16, 25-20. Pine Ridge was to face River Ridge in the first round of regional action.
Pierson Taylor competed in the 3A-District 4 tourney, where the Lady Wildcats defeated Circle Christian, 3-1, but then were topped by Winter Park Trinity Prep, 3-0. Trinity Prep lost the championship game to Ocala Trinity Catholic, 3-0.
The Deltona Trinity Christian team played its district competition in the 2A-District 5 tourney. The Lady Eagles downed Calvary Christian in the first round, 3-1, and were stopped by St. John Lutheran, 3-0, who went on to win the championship over Redeemer Christian, 3-0.
DeLand High School
The next meeting of the School Advisory Council at DeLand High School will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, in the media center.
Deltona High School
The next meeting of the School Advisory Council at Deltona High School will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the Learning Commons.
Volusia/Flagler Freshman/Sophomore Cross-Country
The annual Volusia/Flagler Freshman/Sophomore Cross-Country Championships took place at Matanzas High School. The DeLand Bulldog boys ran away with the title, as did the Matanzas Pirate girls.
The Bulldog boy runners scored 28 points, while Seabreeze was second with 62. Deltona was third with 84 points.
The DeLand boys squad was led by race-champion Connor York, who covered the 5K course in a time of 17:06.67. Michael Mandell took fifth, Solomon Lorenzo was sixth, William Murray was ninth, and Darrien Isaac took 11th to complete the DeLand scoring.
The other top boy runners from West Volusia schools included Lowell Cummings of Deltona, with a time of 18:13.19, William McDonough of Orange City University at 20:19.16, and Nehemiah Peraza of Pine Ridge at 23:54.63.
The best showing from the West Volusia girls was turned in by DeLand’s Kadence Bell at 24:13.74, with Orange City University’s front-runner being Elizabeth MacDonald at 26:32.52, and Deltona’s front-runner was Ariella Andre at 27:28.27.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School Lady Bulldog girls golf team went undefeated in match play this past season, while taking first in two 18-hole tournaments. Their next challenge is FHSAA district play to qualify toward the state crown.
The bowling team at DeLand High had the boys squad downing Orange City University and Spruce Creek, 7-0, in both matches, while the Lady Bulldogs lost both matches. They move to district matches next.
The Bulldog boys golf team took third place in the Five Star Tournament, which was won by Spruce Creek with a 307 score. DeLand just missed second place, which was claimed by New Smyrna Beach with a 346, while DeLand had a 347. Orange City University was fifth.
Isak Coveney was the top golfer for DeLand, as he tied for seventh with an 82, while Logan Levon was tied for ninth with an 86.
The Bullpup JV football team topped Orange City University, 12-7, but lost to New Smyrna Beach, 7-6.
All the regular-season matches for the fall sports calendar have been completed. The only action now is elimination matches toward the FHSAA championships. If you win, you keep playing, but if you lose, your season is over.
Winter sports now begin to move into the scene with girls weightlifting, boys and girls basketball, girls and boys soccer and wrestling becoming the highlight sports.
On Monday, Nov. 6, the Lady Bulldog soccer team plays at Orange City University at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the early time being for JV action.
Both the boys and girls soccer teams play Tuesday, Nov. 7, as the ladies go to Deltona at 5 p.m. followed by the boys playing at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 8, has the Lady Bulldog weightlifters traveling to Flagler Palm Coast for a 4:15 p.m. match.
Thursday, Nov. 9, has both soccer teams traveling, with the girls going to Lake Buena Vista for 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. matches, while the boys head to Spruce Creek to play at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Academy. Recruiting and college coaching responsibilities were a major area of his talk. With Candeto, on the left, is club member Russell Kelton and club Capt. Jim Carlson.
PHOTO COURTESY TONY TUSSING
Stetson University
Stetson University has won the 2023 INSIGHT Into Diversity’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. It’s a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. This is the fourth consecutive year that Stetson College of Law has won the award, while the DeLand campus received the award for the first time.
Six special awards were presented during Stetson’s Homecoming. DeLand City Manager Michael Pleus was one of two to win the Dist inguished Alumni Award, while the other was John Mills. The Doyle E. Carlton Award was presented to Robert E. Bugg. The George and Mary Hood Award went to Brian Ray. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Ranell Tinsley Mason, while the Outstanding Young Alumni Award was given to Viviana Vasiu.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Lady Hatter basketball schedule has been released. The Lady Hats will travel to Tulane, South Florida, High Point, Florida Atlantic, Indiana and the University of Denver. At home, they will face Iona, Weber, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, Valparaiso and Flagler, prior to entering the ASUN competition. They also will play Xavier and Tennessee Tech in the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.
They open the 2023-24 season with a road trip to Tulane Monday, Nov. 6, followed by a trip to Tampa to face USF Friday, Nov. 10. Their first home appearance will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, against Iona.
Hatter basketball player Jalen Blackmon has been named to the preseason All ASUN Team. The Hatter basket-ball team was selected to finish third in the ASUN by the Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, and sixth by the Media Poll.
Khamya McNeal has been named to a spot on the ASUN Women’s Preseason Basketball All-ASUN Team. The Lady Hatters were selected to finish sixth in the Coaches Poll and seventh in the Media Poll.
The Stetson men’s soccer team knotted the score of 1-1 against Central Arkansas, with Luis Lara getting the goal. The team then lost to USF, 3-2, with Lara and Andres Mata scoring.
The Lady Hatter volleyball team defeated Austin Peay, 3-1, with Amaris Carter accounting for 15 kills, six blocks and one ace. The team also lost to Eastern Kentucky, 3-1.
The women’s soccer team defeated Bellarmine, 3-2, with Kelly Gende, Jillian Therrien and Annika Seem scoring the goals.
The Lady Hatter golf team placed ninth out of 12 at the Pat Bradley Invite played in South Florida. Wendy Hsiao was the top Stetson player, as she tied for 12th with a 3 over 218 with rounds of 69, 76 and 73.
The Hatter football team lost to St. Thomas of Minnesota, 38-6, for Homecoming. The remaining games for the football season have them hosting Davidson at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, going to Valparaiso Saturday, Nov. 11, and hosting San Diego Saturday, Nov. 18.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, the volleyball team greets Kennesaw State at 6 p.m.
On Friday, Nov. 10, the cross-country team competes in the NCAA Southeast Regional on the University of Florida golf course at 8 a.m. The volleyball team plays at Jacksonville University at 7 p.m., and closes out their regular season at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at North Florida.
On Monday, Nov. 6, the men’s basketball team greets Trinity Baptist College at 7 p.m., while Saturday, Nov. 11, the team is at UNLV in Las Vegas, followed by a game with the University of Houston in Texas Monday, Nov. 13.
On Friday, Nov. 10, the Lady Hatter basketball players go to USF, followed by a trip to High Point Tuesday, Nov. 14.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.
