DeLand High School senior Kyle Neira has done it again, breaking state records in the pole vault. During the Florida High School Indoor Championships sponsored by FLYRA, Neira cleared 4.01 meters on her second attempt, to go 13 feet, 1 3/4 inches, establishing the record. She literally dominated the event, with second place being 11 feet, 11 3/4 inches.

The meet took place at the indoor facility at Celebration Pointe in the Alachua County Sports Arena.

Neira is also the outdoor record holder for the FHSAA, claiming the title two years in a row. Her 4.01-meter jump currently places her eighth in the U.S.

During the indoor season, Neira represents the Thin Air Vault Club coached by Bill Cashman, while, during the outdoor season, she vaults for DeLand High School under the direction of Jim Lowenstein. After graduating from DHS, she will turn her talents to vaulting for the University of South Carolina.

DeLand Little League programs have already held their draft for the 2025 season. Opening day for the program will be Monday, Feb. 24, at the Chipper Jones Complex in DeLand, just north of Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.

Opening day will include drawings, prizes, food trucks, a Home Run Derby, Fastest Pitch Contest, Fastest Runner Contest and team pictures. There will be games for all divisions, which include major baseball and softball divisions, minor baseball and softball, T-ball and machine pitch.

For additional information, go to www.delandlittleleague.com.

Culver’s in DeLand is making an impact by offering “Make an Impact Decal” for $1 through Saturday. Feb. 22. Proceeds will be donated to the National FFA Organization. Several high schools in the area have local FFA chapters.

Here is something new for many of our readers: There is a Volusia County Teen Sportfishing Association in the area. The group will be sponsoring the annual Tony Strickland Memorial Bass Tournament Sunday, March 2, at the Whitehair Bridge at Ed Stone Park. The entry fee is $100 per team. Go to the website for more information.

Volusia County Schools

Volusia County Schools is one of seven school districts nationally to be selected for the “Musical Explorers” program, which is a partnership with Carnegie Hall. Through the program, Volusia elementary-school students will explore global music, connect with diverse cultures and build music skills, all while singing, dancing and having fun.

A Pre-K Blended 3-Year-Old Program will open registration for the 2025-26 school year Monday, March 3. The program will have certified teachers, a developmentally appropriate curriculum, an inclusive classroom environment and play-based learning. To register, contact the school registrar at your zoned or preferred school. Visit VCS Learning website for site locations.

Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment is here and will extend through Wednesday, April 30. Prepaid plans allow families to lock in the cost of college with fixed monthly payments. A risk-free one-year university plan starts at just $29 per month for the prepaid plan open-enrollment period. The reduced prices result in saving up to $850 per plan for a one-year university plan, and up to $3,400 in savings for four years.

Prepaid plans are made to fit growing families to use in-state or nationwide at public, private, trade and technical schools. These tax-free plans complement scholarships and financial aid, transfer to another student or can be canceled anytime. To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/4ilpwGM.

Congratulations go out to Deltona High School, Highbanks Learning Center and Friendship Elementary School in Deltona for being selected to receive TangerKids grants from Tanger Outlets – Daytona Beach. Five others were selected from the east side of Volusia County.

FUTURES Foundation has announced the date of its annual Caribbean Party, which will be Friday, April 25. Visit futuresvolusia.com for information and tickets, or call 386-734-7190, ext. 50730.

Cheerleading

At the state FHSAA competitive cheerleading competition, DeLand High took fourth in Large Co-Ed Finals, while Deltona High took fifth in the Small Co-Ed Finals. Pine Ridge High School in Deltona took sixth in the Game Day Finals.

DeLand High and Deltona High will be competing in the National High School Cheer Championships, while Pine Ridge High and Deltona High will compete in the American Cheerleading Cup Championships at Universal Studios.

Starke Elementary School

Starke Elementary School in DeLand will have its next School Advisory Council and PTA meeting at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27.

Girls weightlifting

This column informed readers that Addison Ruocco and Elena Cruz would be representing DeLand High at the FHSAA State Girls Weightlifting Championships in Lakeland. These two are not the only representatives of West Volusia high schools. To qualify for the state, you had to be a regional champion, as well as being in the top 16 in each weight division.

Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson had an outstanding showing in the regional competition. The Lady Wildcats won the Traditional Division of their regional, while taking second by only 1 point in the Olympic Division. Taylor will be represented at state by Taylor Lane, Amya Ramos, Teriauna Carruthers, Claire Lovenbury, Mia Cruz, Ann Vacarro and Laila Harris.

University High in Orange City will be represented by Daviana Delgado.

FHSAA district basketball

No one on the west side of Volusia County advanced to the FHSAA regional rounds of the state championship series, except the DeLand High School Lady Bulldogs, who were picked up and will face Timber Creek.

In the 7A-2 District, Lake Mary eliminated the University boys, 51-38, while the DeLand boys lost to Spruce Creek, 68-62, with Daniel Rodriguez scoring 24 points.

In 5A-7, the Deltona boys downed Jones, 60-58, while New Smyrna Beach defeated Deltona, 76-41, with the Pine Ridge boys stopping Seabreeze, 66-41, and Gateway, 69-56, only to lose in the championship to New Smyrna Beach, 71-60.

The 3A-5 District saw Taylor Middle-High defeating Angeline Academy of Innovation in Land-O-Lakes, 61-26, and losing to South Sumter, 82-33.

The 1A-6 District found Deltona Trinity Christian stopping Leesburg First Academy, 77-19, and Ormond Calvary Christian, 48-33, and losing to Mount Dora Christian, 61-47.

For the girls, DeLand stopped University, 62-24, and Seminole, in what was reported to be in triple overtime, 68-66, and finally were stopped by Spruce Creek, 60-41. The Deltona girls stopped Orlando Innovation, 72-47, while losing to New Smyrna Beach, 78-30. Pine Ridge lost in the first round to Jones, 49-31. Mount Dora Christian Academy eliminated Deltona Trinity Christian, 54-11.

The boys team finished the season with the following records: DeLand, 11-11; University, 10-13; Deltona, 8-17; Pine Ridge, 9-18; Deltona Trinity, 17-11; and Taylor, 15-7.

The girls closed out their 2024-25 season with season marks as follows: DeLand, 18-9; University, 11-11; Deltona, 14-10; Pine Ridge, 5-14; and Deltona Trinity Christian, 1-18.

DeLand High School Athletics

The DeLand High School Bulldog tennis teams opened their 2025 season with a loss to Father Lopez. The boys’ score was 6-1, while the girls finished at 5-2.

Freshman Zachary Sampson was the only boy winner, while sophomore Julia Yocum and junior Sydney Hoover gained points for the girls.

The DeLand boy weightlifters traveled to Spruce Creek for their second meet of the year. Taking first for the Bulldogs were Noah Isaacson (2), Noah Hatcher, Wyatt Dunne (2) and Jayson Galindo. Seconds were earned by Aidan Keeley (2), Luke Patterson and Ayden Molina. Third-place finishes were scored by Tylor Boyer, Molina, Jacob Lubell (2), Ryan Hurd (2), Erik Copeland, Jaxson Van Horn, Elijah Laureno, Mo Knio and Sam Trivett.

Friday, Feb. 21, sends the softball team to South Sumter and Trinity Catholic in tournament play at The Villages at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The track team goes to Flagler Palm Coast for the East Coast Classic at 1 p.m., and the baseball team goes to Venice for a 7 p.m. game.

The JV baseball team goes to New Smyrna Beach at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. The softball team is still in tournament play, facing The Villages and Lecanto at noon and 2:30 p.m. The baseball team plays in Venice at 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 24, sends the JV baseball team to Spruce Creek at 6 p.m. The boys tennis team competes at Pine Ridge at 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the flag-football team plays at Spruce Creek at 6 p.m. The baseball team goes to Providence at 6 p.m., and the tennis teams greet New Smyrna Beach at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, has the softball team at Space Coast in Cocoa at 7:15 p.m. The boys weightlifting team hosts Mainland for Senior Night at 4:30 p.m. The baseball team greets Orangewood Christina for Senior Night at 7 p.m. on the campus field, with the JV playing at 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 27, has the tennis teams facing Spruce Creek at home at 4 p.m.

The baseball team is going to St. Johns Country Day on Friday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m., with the JV going to New Smyrna Beach at 4 p.m.

Stetson University basketball

Stetson University Lady Hatter Cameron Thomas has been selected for the second time as ASUN Newcomer of the Week, while also being named the ASUN Player of the Week.

The Stetson women were defeated by Eastern Kentucky, 77-70, with Diawna Carter-Hartley scoring 17 points with 11 rebounds and one block. Shelby Calhoun added 13 points with seven rebounds and one block. Thomas made 11 points, as did Mary McMillan.

The Lady Hats defeated Bellarmine, 87-84, with McMillan scoring 19 points, Thomas adding 18 points with one block, Carter-Hartley dropping 14 points with nine rebounds and two blocks, and Calhoun getting 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Stetson men lost to JU, 74-65, with Josh Massey scoring 16 points with one block. Jordan Wood added 13 points, and Mehki Ellison dropped 12 points.

The men were also stopped by Eastern Kentucky, 83-58, with Ellison scoring 15 points, and Wood and Jamie Phillips Jr. each adding 11.

Saturday, Feb. 22, has the women at Queens at 2 p.m.

On Monday, Feb. 24, the men host Bellarmine at 7 p.m., followed by the men going to JU, at a time to be determined.

On Thursday, Feb. 27, the women greet North Florida at 7 p.m. for a game sponsored by AdventHealth.

Saturday, March 1, has the women hosting FGCU at 2 p.m. This marks the end of the regular season for the men and women.

Stetson University baseball and softball

Stetson University Hatter baseball infielders Lorenzo Meola, Landon Moran and Johann Dessureault have been named by D1Baseball.com to the Preseason Player Rankings Top 59 by position. Dessureault has been selected 26th for second basemen, Meola is 40th among shortstops, while Moran is 50th among first basemen.

Lady Hatter softball opened its 2025 season with four wins. The season-opener found Stetson shutting out Fairleigh Dickinson, 6-0, with Addison Foster tripling and Amber Chumley doubling, with both getting two hits. The team then stopped Binghamton, 1-0, with a run at the bottom of the fifth inning, while Nadia English got two hits.

They then stopped Fairleigh Dickinson again, 5-0, with Gia Napoli getting three hits. The fourth win was a tough-fought scoring battle, with Stetson defeating Chattanooga, 14-10, with Napoli getting three hits, a double and four RBIs.

Friday, Feb. 21, brings the Hatter baseball team home to play against University of Maryland – Baltimore County at 6:30 p.m. The softball team greets FAU and Marist at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the baseball team meets Iowa at 1:30 p.m. The softball team faces Long Island and Marist at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 23, puts the Hatter baseball team against Notre Dame at 1:30 p.m., with the softball team meeting FAU at 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, has the Stetson baseball team greeting Florida at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 28, has the Hatters facing Indiana in Conrad Park at 1 p.m., while the softball team faces Ohio State and Georgia in Georgia at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Stetson University spring sports

The Stetson University women’s tennis players stopped Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman, 5-2 and 7-0. Those winning single matches were Cheri Darley (2), Audelie Lesauvage, Clelia Lombardi, Anastasija Adeikyte (2), Katsiaryna Tuliakova, Alanna DiFrancesco and Pilar Astigarraga Harper.

The men topped Wofford, 7-0, and FAU, 4-3. Winning single matches were Eder Blanco, Christian Kuehne (2), Sami Ozzor, Ervin Haris Eminefendic (2), Xavier Sarda Marti (2) and Marc Saura.

Saturday, Feb. 22, has the men’s tennis players greeting the University of Alabama – Birmingham at 2 p.m., while the beach-volleyball team plays Stephen F. Austin and Eckerd at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The rowing team hosts Bates at 7 a.m.

Monday, Feb. 24, has the men golfers at the Arkansas State Invitational, while the Lady Hatter golfers play host to the Stetson Invitational on the DeBary Country Club course at 8:30 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 28, has the lacrosse team at home against St. Bonaventure at 6 p.m., with the beach-volleyball players facing Grand Canyon University in Tucson and Arizona State at noon and 2 p.m.

College honors

DeLandite Jovanny Chinea, a criminal justice major, has been named to the Des Moines Area Community College 2024 fall semester President’s List.