Stetson University has announced that Mike Jasper will be the next head football coach for the Hatters. He has spent the past six seasons as the head football coach of Bethel University in Tennessee, and has led Bethel to two consecutive 11-win seasons in 2022 and 2023. Bethel, an NAIA team, went 7-3 this season.
Jasper spent time as a pro player for the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
There will be two School Choice Fairs for Volusia County Schools elementary and middle schools in January. The School Choice Fair is an opportunity for students and parents to learn about the many academic and extracurricular activities that each school offers. Families who attend a School Choice Fair will receive priority placement based on capacity for the 2025-26 school year.
The first fair will be 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Daytona State College’s New-Journal Center, while the second will be 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at The Center at Deltona. The first fair is aimed at those who attend schools on the east side of the county, while the second is for those attending west-side schools.
The James T. “Tom” Russell Memorial Scholarship application is available through FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools. The scholarship criteria are as follows: GPA of 2.5 minimum; must be a senior at one of the 10 Volusia County public high schools; student must plan to enter the field of education to become a teacher, and must provide an essay explaining why they want to become a teacher.
The amount awarded is $500-$1,000, with up to four being scholarships presented yearly. Funds will be delivered to the college/university that the student will be attending to benefit the student services account.
Apply to FUTURES by Saturday, Feb. 15, either electronically or mailed. For additional information, call FUTURES Foundation at 386-255-6475, ext. 50730, or email FuturesFoundation@volusia.k12.fl.us.
Florida Senior Games
A DeLand couple came away from the Florida Senior Games, sponsored by the Florida Sports Foundation, with medals for placing in the numerous age divisions in track and field at Wesley Chapel. Cheryl and Will Hagins qualified for national competition by placing in the top four in their events. Cheryl Hagins placed third in the 50 meters, while Will was fourth in the 50 and 100 meters.
Highbanks Learning Center
Doughnut Ask, Donut Tell has been a supporter of Highbanks Learning Center in DeBary. Their support includes their student-led Donut Drive and events that teach students career skills while building community connections. Jay Strother is the principal of the center.
Deltona High School
A note for the senior class at Deltona High School is that the panoramic senior-class picture will be taken Thursday, Jan. 16. Seniors are asked to wear their Class of 2025 T-shirt.
FHSAA football
Lake Mary, which ended DeLand’s run for the 7A state title, defeated Dr. Phillips, 24-13, to move on to the finals, where they were defeated by Venice, 52-18. Venice was the team that in 2023 ended DeLand’s run for the state title. Madison County, which defeated DeLand early in the season, also won a state title, defeating Hawthorne, 24-14.
Gus Gibbs Memorial Tournament
The annual Gus Gibbs Memorial Boys Basketball Tournament recently took place, with DeLand returning to the finals for the first time since 2018. DeLand lost the game, 66-65, with a free throw taken by The Master’s Academy with 0.9 second left on the clock.
DeLand first defeated Tavares, 57-37, with Justin Suarez scoring 23 points with five steals. They then downed Oakleaf with a last-second shot to break the 67-67 tie to win, 70-67, with Suarez scoring 32 points.
In the championship game, Daniel Rodriguez scored 23 points for DeLand, with Suarez adding 17 points. Suarez and Kyle Camco made the All-Tournament team.
Oakleaf earned third place in the tournament by beating McKeel, while Port Orange Atlantic took fifth over Vero Beach and Leesburg defeated Tavares for seventh place.
DeLand High School Athletics
During the week prior to the Winter Holiday, the DeLand High School Lady Bulldog basketball team defeated Edgewater, 48-45, Flagler Palm Coast, 55-25, and Rockledge, 60-21. The Bulldog boys topped University, 84-51.
The DeLand girls soccer team lost to New Smyrna Beach, 5-1, with Brianne Yocum scoring the lone Bulldog goal.
The team then topped Crescent City, 6-0, with Savanna Bruno getting the hat trick, Yocum scoring two goals, and Ellie Rodriguez making a single goal.
The boys squad was stopped by Oviedo, 3-2, while the same school shut out the DeLand girls, 8-0.
The DeLand High girls weightlifting team placed sixth in Olympic-style lifting and traditional-style lifting during the Five Star Conference Championships.
Addison Ruocco finished first in both divisions for her weight classification, while Elena Cruz finished second in Olympic and third in traditional in a different weight division.
Sarah Lamay finished fifth in traditional and sixth in Olympic lifting, while Julia Valbuena finished fifth in traditional, Katie Hulsman fourth in Olympic and fifth in traditional, and Ashantiana Gilbert sixth in Olympic.
Tuesday, Jan. 7, Wednesday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 10, has the Bulldog soccer team competing for the boys title in the Five Star Tournament.
On Jan. 7, the girls basketball team plays at Oak Ridge at 7 p.m., and the Bulldog basketball team greets Father Lopez at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Jan. 8 has the girls weightlifting team at Atlantic at 5 p.m., with the girls soccer team hosting Mainland at 5:30 p.m., with the Lady Bulldog basketball players at Deltona at 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 sends the girls soccer team to Matanzas to compete at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the boys basketball team competing at Atlantic at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Stetson University basketball
The Stetson University women’s basketball team split in the Hatter Holiday Tournament by losing to South Alabama, 87-79, and defeating Bradley, 66-58.
In the loss to South Alabama, Cameron Thomas scored 30 points with six rebounds, while Mary McMillan scored 17 points and Jorah Eppley scored 12 points.
In their victory over Bradley, Thomas scored 24 points with five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Shelby Calhoun added 10 points, with six rebounds and one block.
All four teams in the tournament picked up a win and a loss, as Bradley defeated Bethune-Cookman, 71-36, and Bethune-Cookman downed South Alabama, 67-62.
The Stetson men traveled to the Mississippi River, where they faced LSU, losing, 98-53, with Mehki Ellison leading the Hats with 23 points and one block, while Jordan Wood scored 10 points.
Saturday, Jan. 4, has the men at West Georgia at 2 p.m., with the Lady Hatters at home against Queens at 2 p.m.
On Thursday, Jan. 9, the men host Central Arkansas at 7 p.m., while the women are at JU at 6:30 p.m.
