University High School in Orange City looked quickly inside its current staff to fill the head football coach position after Justin Roberts stepped down from a very successful tenure. The Titans have selected Matt Trumbly as the new head football coach.
Trumbly, a Deltona High graduate, has a total of 14 years of experience as a football coach, covering both offensive and defensive positions. He has spent the past 11 at University High, and is only the fourth head coach in the school’s history. He has also been a teacher at University High for the past seven years.
The school also added Erin Boone to the roster as a new assistant principal.
Registration for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program opens Monday, March 3, for the 2025-26 school year. Parents can register their children by contacting the school registrar at the zoned or preferred school.
The program is play-based learning, state-approved, and has an inclusion model. Volusia County Schools offers three VPK hours and/or a tuition-based full-school-day program. Families may be eligible for tuition assistance if attending a Title 1 school.
For eligibility to the program, contact the Early Leaning Coalition. Visit VCS Early Learning website for site locations.
Volusia County is offering a Spring Break Camp for children ages 7-12, where they can learn about katydids, caterpillars and other amazing insects at Lyonia Environmental Center. The four-day camp will be 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, March 18-21. The LEC is at 2150 Eustace Ave. in Deltona.
In addition to lessons on bugs, metamorphosis and camouflage, campers will take part in nature hikes, arts and crafts, and live animal demonstrations.
The fee is $100 for four days or $25 per day. Advanced registration is required. Contact Shari Smith at 386-789-7207, ext. 21026, or at ssmith@volusia.org.
George Marks Elementary School
The first graders at George Marks Elementary School in DeLand will be putting on a musical performance at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The program is titled “How Does Your Garden Groove?”
Ivy Hawn Charter School
Ivy Hawn Charter School of the Arts in Lake Helen found the students writing in more than 600 handmade Valentine’s Day cards for residents of local care facilities. Hollie Darrow, PAC president at Ivy Hawn, launched the effort called “The Love in Every Letter Project.” Students from 14 different classrooms participated.
The track-and-field program of the school participated in the Mount Dora Christian Academy middle-school track meet. Rafael Fernandez won the triple jump with a 34-foot-4.5-inch leap.
Tyler Dalquest won the javelin throw at 100 feet, 2.5 inches, and Brison Horaine won the shot put at 29 feet, 6.5 inches. Kyleigh Morales earned a second, while thirds were gathered by Fernandez and Dalquest in other events.
Deltona High School
National signing day took place earlier this month, and Deltona High School signed five to continue their education and athletic careers. Those signing were Zoe Cleveland in softball to the State College of Florida, Tessa Guenette in softball to East Stroudsburg University, Jaylene Mieres in softball to Miami Dade College, Jayden Lochiatto in baseball to Union Commonwealth University, and Jay Albizu in baseball to Middlesex College.
Pine Ridge High School
Pine Ridge High School in Deltona had four ink scholarships to advance their education and athletic endeavors: Isaiah Hager-Mitchell in football to Warner University, Karina Crespo in volleyball to Daytona State College, Kenny Capria in baseball to Davis and Elkins University, and Thalia Rios-Diaz in cheerleading to Coastal Alabama University.
Weightlifting
Girls weightlifting has moved to the FHSAA State Championship, while the boys are just two weeks into their season. At the state championship in Lakeland for the girls, Pierson Taylor Middle-High was the only team to score points, while DeLand and Orange City University were shut out at the championship meet. Taylor’s traditional team placed 18th in state, while the Olympic team was 17th.
In the Olympic Division, Taylor found Claire Lovenbury placing fourth in her weight class, Jacalyn Garcia was sixth, Taylor Lane seventh and Amya Ramos eighth. In the Traditional Division, Lane was second, Garcia sixth, Ramos and Lovenbury seventh and Ann Vaccaro eighth.
The lone competitor placing in the top 10 but not scoring points from Orange City University was Daviana Delgado.
The DeLand boys moved to 2-1 in regular-season competition, with wins over Deltona and Father Lopez. In the Olympic Division, DeLand won with 62 points, followed by Deltona with 29 and Father Lopez with 16, while in the Traditional Division, DeLand scored 62 points, followed by Deltona with 33 points and Father Lopez with 12 points.
Those DeLand Bulldogs winning in their weight divisions were Johan Rodriguez, Jaxson Van Horn (2), Xavier Caraballo (2), Wyatt Dunne (2), Ryan Hurd (2), Erik Copeland, Luke Patterson (2), Mo Knio and Aidan Keeley. Taking seconds were Noah Isaacson (2), Keeley, Noah Hatcher, Tyler Boyer, Jonathan Baker, Lukas Gibbs (2), Knio, Rodriguez, Jordan Ferrell, Jayson Galindo and Fard Williams.
HEADING TO COLLEGE — Eleven students at University High School in Orange City recently signed letters of intent and received scholarships to continue their athletic endeavors, as well as their education, at college. In no particular order are Santiago “JJ” Adame, who will play baseball for Daytona State College; Isaiah Baker, who will play football at Stetson University, as will Devin Carson; Daviana “Bella” Delgado, who will play softball at Seminole State College; Mia Fisher, who will play softball at Flagler College; Jermane Hayes, who will play football at the University of Southern Mississippi; Jaylen Hill, who will play football at St. Thomas University; Brylee Kamm, who will play flag football at Webber International University; Bryson Maynard, who will play baseball at Polk State College; and Rosie Tagg, who will play soccer at Greensboro College. Not in the photo is Cimber Jenkins, who will play volleyball at St. Andrews University.
DeLand High School Athletics
Kylie Neira, who won the Florida high-school girls pole-vault event with record heights, has also been nominated for consideration as the Florida MileSplit Girl Track Athlete of the Month. She cleared 13 feet, 1.5 inches, at the indoor meet, the all-time indoor mark in Florida and the third-best ever in the state of Florida outdoors. There were five others under consideration for the honor.
The Lady Bulldog basketball team, the only West Volusia team to advance in the state playoffs, lost to Timber Creek in the regional quarterfinals, 59-49, ending their season.
The DeLand High baseball team opened its 2025 season with a 4-3 loss to Viera, but bounced back with a 4-1 victory over Bishop Kenny.
The Bulldog track teams opened up at the Lake Mary Opening Classic. Connor York won the shot-put event with a 45-foot-3.75-inch shove. He also took second in the 800 and fourth in the 1,600.
Other DeLand tracksters placing were Xavier Caraballo, with a third in the long jump, and Sierra West in the girls shot put. Others scoring points were Hiram Cook (two events), Michael Mandell, James Johnson (2), Keylani Cates, Madilyn Russell and Owen Smith.
The sports calendar for Bulldog athletics has the track team playing host to the annual Big D Relays at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 1.
Monday, March 3, sends the flag-football team to Taylor at 6 p.m., the JV boy weightlifters at the Five Star JV Championships at 4:30 p.m. in the Bulldog gym, and the JV baseball team at Winter Springs at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4, sends the softball team to Taylor at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the flag-football team at New Smyrna Beach at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, March 5, the varsity boy weightlifters will host the Five Star Championships at 5 p.m. The baseball team will play at Cardinal Newman at 6 p.m., and the JV baseball players will be at Deltona at 5 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday, March 5-7, has the tennis team competing in the Five Star Tournament at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach on LPGA Boulevard.
Thursday, March 6, has the softball team at Ocala Forest at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The flag football team hosts Pine Ridge at 6 p.m. The baseball team hosts Winter Springs on Conrad Field at 6 p.m., and the JV baseball team is at University at 4 p.m.
Stetson University
On Feb. 24, the Soul of Stetson Alumni Steering Committee had a groundbreaking for Hulley Tower.
Stetson is also working on Phase II of the renovation of the Edmunds Center. Phase II brings a mediazation of the lobby, the creation of a first-floor VIP lounge, an expansive outdoor plaza and Champions Courtyard, and the installation of an elevator.
Stetson University basketball
The Stetson University Lady Hatters topped Jacksonville, 68-63, with Cameron Thomas scoring 23 points, Mary McMillan dropping 16 points with seven assists, and Diawna Carter-Hartley making 14 points with five rebounds. They then were topped by FGCU, 65-43, with Thomas scoring 17 points.
The Hatter men lost to Lipscomb, 93-60, with Treyton Thompson scoring 15 points with five rebounds and one blocked shot, while Mehki Ellison added 13 points. The men then lost to Austin Peay, 76-63, with Jamie Phillips Jr. scoring 26 points while Jordan Wood dropped 12 points.
Today, Thursday, Feb. 27, has the women hosting North Florida at 7 p.m. in a game sponsored by AdventHealth. On Saturday, March 1, the Lady Hatters greet FGCU at 2 p.m. The Lady Hatters have qualified to participate in the ASUN Tournament.
Stetson University baseball/softball
The Stetson University softball team scored four in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs to defeat Chattanooga, 5-4, with Addison Foster hitting a double. The Lady Hats were then shut out by No. 2 University of Florida, 11-0, and by Wofford, 3-0, before bouncing back to stop Fairfield, 6-4, with Amber Chumley and Emily Santana homering. Stetson then picked up a 1-0 win over Wofford in the bottom of the ninth inning, but returned to get stopped by Bethune-Cookman, 6-3.
The Hatter baseball team opened the 2025 season in Puerto Rico with two wins in the first of four games. The Hats defeated UConn, 10-6, with Jayden Hylton hitting a home run, making him the first D-1 player to do so in the 2025 season. Yohann Dessureault and Evan Griffis hit doubles.
The team then stopped Penn State, 8-4, with Lorenzo Meola hitting a homer, with Jordan Taylor having two four-baggers while Hylton doubled.
Shortstop Meola has been selected for the All-ASUN Preseason Team, and was unanimously selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. Also being selected were Isaiah Barkett, Dessureault and Zane Coppersmith, who has also been named as one of the D1Baseball.com top 50 pitchers.
Friday, Feb. 28, has the baseball team hosting Indiana at 1 p.m., while the softball team goes to Georgia to face Ohio State at 10:30 a.m. and Georgia at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, March 1, the baseball team meets Mount St. Mary at 5 p.m., with the softball team still in Georgia playing UMBC at 10:30 a.m. and Georgia at 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 2, has the baseball team facing Mount St. Mary at 2 p.m., with the softball team facing UMBC again at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday-Friday, March 5-7, has the baseball team at BYU, with starting times to be announced. On March 7, the softball team greets Bryant at 3 p.m.
Stetson University spring minor sports
Stetson University tennis player Christian Kuehne has been named the ASUN Men’s Tennis Player of the Week.
The women’s tennis team lost to UCF, 4-0.
The Lady Hatter lacrosse team defeated Butler, 18-9, with Kaitlin Pani getting four goals, while Kathleen Nichols and Miya Scanlan each had three. They lost to Oregon, 17-7, with Pani and Nichols each getting two goals.
Friday, Feb. 28, sends the lacrosse team to St. Bonaventure at 6 p.m., while the beach-volleyball team faces Grand Canyon in Tucson at noon and Arizona State at 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 1, has the beach-volleyball team still out West to face Arizona at 1 p.m. and Oregon at 3 p.m.
Monday, March 3, has the women’s tennis team facing Howard at 10 a.m., while the men’s golf team plays host at the Stetson Invite at LPGA.
The lacrosse team goes to Longwood at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 5.
Thursday, March 6, has the men’s tennis team hosting St. Bonaventure at 10:30 a.m. and Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m., while the lacrosse team plays at Liberty at 1 p.m.
College honors
Andrew Korkus, of DeBary, Class of 2026, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Denmarys Guzman, of Orange City, and Taylor Lieberman, of DeLand, have been named to the fall 2024 President’s List at Flagler College in St. Augustine.
William J. Penney, of DeBary, a member of the University of North Georgia Corps of Cadets, has graduated from the U.S. Army’s Air Assault School at the Warrior Training Center at Fort Moore, Georgia.
