The Stetson University Athletic Department has released the 2025 Hatter football schedule. The Stetson squad will have seven home games and five road games. The home games, in order as they take place, are Saturday, Aug. 30, with Webber International coming to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, followed by Warner University coming Saturday, Sept. 6.
Saturday, Sept. 20, brings Harvard to DeLand. Saturday, Oct. 4, has Davidson in town, Saturday, Oct. 11, brings Morehead State, followed by St. Thomas on Saturday, Oct. 25, and with the final home appearance being with San Diego Saturday, Nov. 22.
The road trips start Saturday, Sept. 13, with the Hats going to Tennessee to face Chattanooga. Saturday, Sept. 27, the team goes to Ohio to meet Dayton. Saturday, Oct. 18, sends the Stetson team to South Carolina to face Presbyterian. Saturday, Nov. 8, takes the Hatters to New York to play Marist. The final road trip, on Saturday, Nov. 15, has Valparaiso welcoming Stetson in Indiana. No game times have been set at this writing.
Earlier, this column mentioned the Harold V. Lucas Jr. Foundation Inc. scholarships for graduating high-school seniors. Six $1,000 scholarships will be presented to Volusia County students. Applications are due by Monday, April 21.
For more information, visit hvlucas.org/scholarships.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach offers an engineering scholars program for high-school juniors during this upcoming summer. Those interested must be current juniors, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be currently taking precalculus to apply. Tuition and books are free.
The deadline to apply is Friday, April 18. Go to ESPER2025Application.pdf or ESPER2025FrequentlyAskedQuestion.pdf.
Volusia County Schools
Volusia County Schools honored three STEM students for their outstanding achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These students are Garrick Spencer of Deltona High, Ava Henderson of Atlantic High in Port Orange, and Caleb Lewis of New Smyrna Beach High. They will be honored by the commissioner of education and meet with Florida college and university leaders to explore higher-education opportunities.
Deltona Lakes Elementary School
A Kindergarten Roundup for those zoned for Deltona Lakes Elementary will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, on the school’s campus. Parents should bring their kindergarten students to meet with the administration and teachers, and get other valuable information. You will be taken on a campus tour and visit the kindergarten classrooms. Future students will receive goodies.
Osteen Elementary School
FOX 35 Orlando came to Osteen Elementary to honor Charles Richardson with the FOX 35 Care Force Award. Richardson teaches students with autism spectrum disorder. Four years ago, he transitioned from a career in business to a career in education after seeing a need for Exceptional Student Education teachers and providers.
Volusia Pines Elementary School
Volusia Pines Elementary in Lake Helen has been named a Danny Gainin School of Excellence by the DeLand & Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce. The principal is Julie Gordon, and it is the second time the school has received the honor. Family Health Source also presented Volusia Pines with a $500 donation for the school’s outstanding achievement.
Spirit Elementary School
This Deltona school will also have a Kindergarten Roundup at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17. This will be a time to learn about the school for those upcoming kindergarten students zoned for Spirit Elementary.
Woodward Avenue Elementary School
Woodward Avenue Elementary in DeLand will have a Kindergarten Roundup at 9 a.m. Friday, April 18, in the media center. Parents and incoming kindergarten students will meet the kindergarten team, tour the school, get free giveaways and enjoy light refreshments.
Southwestern Middle School
Southwestern in DeLand is playing basketball in the Volusia County Middle School League. On Thursday, April 10, the Tigers welcome Galaxy Middle, with the boys playing the first game at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by the girls.
On Thursday, April 17, the teams travel across U.S. Highway 17-92 to face DeLand Middle, starting at 5:30 p.m.
DeLand High School
DeLand High’s School of Government visited Tallahassee celebrating their 20th year in the program. They met with Reps. Webster Barnaby and Chase Tramont. The group also participated in a mock House and Supreme Court session.
DeLand High highlighted five teachers at the school: Bryan Carson, the IB Visual Arts teacher who has been at the school for 21 years; Cynthia Hunt, medical program director of 14 years; Heather Gleason, dance director of 21 years; Monica Leimer, band director of six years; and Jim Lowenstein, video production/CTR and head track and cross-country coach for 31 years. Lowenstein is retiring at the end of the current year.
Deltona High School
Cap-and-gown distribution will take place Monday, April 21, outside of the auditorium and cafe during lunch.
Grad Bash is Friday, April 25, at Universal and Islands of Adventure. Ticket sales closed Jan. 31. Be in the school auditorium by 5:30 p.m. or be left behind.
Pine Ridge High School
The Pine Ridge Players at the Deltona school will be presenting Grease at 7 p.m. today, Thursday, April 10, and Friday, April 11, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Tickets for the show cost $10 for students and $15 for adults.
A senior spirit event brings Jeremiah’s Ice to campus Friday, April 18. This is a fundraiser for senior-class events for the remainder of the school year.
The Prom is 7-10 p.m. Friday, April 25. The theme is “A Night Under the Stars.” Ticket sales close Wednesday, April 23.
There is a mandatory meeting about graduation Friday, April 11.
Taylor Middle-High School
Taylor Middle-High in Pierson has been awarded the Healthcare Career Explore and Excel Program grant, a three-year grant totaling $101,250 through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundation and FUTURES. This will help expand the Allied Health Academy and create new opportunities for students interested in pursuing health care careers.
District 4-3A weightlifting
FHSAA District 4-3 weightlifting competitions have been completed, with individual winners earning the right to go to regional, with some second- and third-place lifters being picked up for the competition. Spruce Creek won both the traditional and Olympic divisions, while DeLand High was fourth in Olympic and third in traditional.
Orange City University took third in Olympic and fourth in traditional. Spruce Creek lifters won 13 of the 18 weight divisions, while Flagler Palm Coast earned three victories, with DeLand and Mainland earning one each.
DeLand lifter Wyatt Dunne claimed first in the 183-pound division in traditional lifts, with a total for the two lifts at 580 pounds.
Others scoring for DeLand included Jayson Galindo, with a second, and Jaxson Van Horn and Ayden Molina each scoring a third.
Fourths were gained by Noah Isaacson (2), Galindo and Dunne. Fifth-place finishes were recorded by Noah Hatcher, Jordan Ferrell, Elijah Laureano, Molina and Luke Patterson. Sixth-place points were collected by Van Horn, Rishi Patel, Ryan Hurd, Moe Knio, Patterson and Jonathan Baker (2).
High-school track and field
DeLand High was represented at the Terry Long FSU Relays by Owen York and Kylie Neira. Neira took second in the pole vault for high-school girls with a jump of 11 feet, 11.75 inches, while York took sixth in the javelin with a heave to 177 feet.
DeLand, Orange City University and Deltona Trinity Christian competed in the Coach McPherson Invitational at Seminole High. DeLand boys and girls each took fourth in the nine-team meet, while University was seventh in both divisions, and DTC was eighth for the boys and girls.
For the Bulldog boys, Owen Smith won the discus with a throw of 133 feet, 11 inches. Michael Mandell won the 800 at 2:01.42, and Hiram Cook ran the 400 in 51.17 for the win. Logan Blades was second in the javelin, while thirds were earned by Cook, Mateo Isaac and Smith.
The Lady Bulldogs found Sierra West claiming first in the shot put with a 31-foot-11.25-inch shove, while Keylani Cates earned first in the discus with a 110-foot throw. West was second in the discus, while Addison Leonard was second in the 800, as was the 4X800 relay team. Rylie Barrow claimed the lone third place for the team.
The University girls 4X800 relay team came in third, while Aden Andrews claimed second in the long jump.
The only top-three finish recorded by DTC was in the 4X800 boys relay, with a third place.
During the week, the Deltona team hosted a meet with eight schools competing, including Pine Ridge, University and DTC. Mainland won both divisions, while Deltona was fourth in both. Pine Ridge was fifth and eighth, with University finishing sixth in both and DTC earning seventh in both.
Pine Ridge’s Cavan Alston won the long jump with a 21-inch-1.25-inch leap, while the school’s boys 4X100 relay team was third, the 4X400 relay team was second, and Marques Hans-Numa placed third in the discus. The girls 4X100 relay team came in third.
The only top-three finish for University came with a 19-foot-3.25-inch-long jump by Aden Andrews, placing him second.
The Lady Wolves of Deltona found Shania Joe winning the 200 at 26.07 and the 400 at 59.86, while the 4X400 relay team claimed victory. Kathleen Farran was second in the javelin, while thirds were earned by Alaysia Eckford in two events.
For the boys, Lowell Cummings took second in the 1600 and a third in the 800, while Renn Telles took second in the 800 and third in the 1600. Jeremiah Hancock was second in the javelin, with Bryan Martinez earning a third.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High softball team lost to Matanzas, 10-2, but beat Seabreeze, 14-1, with Payton Mathis and Laila Flemming hitting doubles. The team then beat New Smyrna Beach, 7-0, with Mathis tripling and Brianne Yocum and Emma Launer doubling. They then stopped Atlantic, 23-3, with Mathis homering and Hailey Whidden doubling.
The Bulldog baseball team beat Orangewood Christian, but lost to Fleming Island, 6-4.
The flag-football team beat Pine Ridge, 13-0, lost to Lake Howell, 18-6, and stopped Seabreeze, 6-0.
The boys tennis team lost to Seabreeze, 6-1, with Oliver Hall scoring a single, while the Lady Bulldogs lost to Seabreeze, 7-0.
Today, Thursday, April 10, has the softball team at University at 4 p.m., with the track team at Spruce Creek for the Five Star Championships, while the Lady Bulldog tennis team competes at University at 4 p.m.
Friday, April 11, has the baseball team at home against Creekside at 7 p.m. and the JV hosting University at 4 p.m.
Monday, April 14, sends the softball team to Bushnell to face South Sumter at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., while the tennis players compete in the FHSAA district tournament at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.
Stetson University baseball/softball
The Stetson University baseball team beat Jacksonville University, 11-1, with Lorenzo Meola and Landon Moran homering; Moran’s was a grand slam. Isaiah Barkett and Landon Russell tripled. The team then beat Miami in Miami, 4-2, with Barkett and Foster Apple doubling. This win is the Hatters’ fifth over a Power 5 team this year.
The team then beat West Georgia, 8-6, with Juan De La Cruz homering, Russell tripling and Barkett, Jordan Taylor and Anthony Gonzalez doubling.
The hardballers host North Florida at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, and at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 13. They then go to Florida at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, and play at Queens at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at 2 p.m. Friday, April 18, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
The Lady Hatter softball players stopped Florida Gulf Coast University, 7-3, with Kami Eppley, Riley Venn and Gia Napoli doubling. They were stopped by FSU, 5-1, and Queens, 4-2, before returning to top Queens, 8-2, with Amber Chumley, Nadia English and Emily Santana homering.
Saturday, April 12, has Stetson hosting Queens at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and again Sunday, April 13, at 1 p.m.
Friday, April 18, sends the team to FGCU for 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. games, and a 1 p.m. game Saturday, April 19.
Stetson University spring sports
The Hatter men’s tennis team has returned to ITA national rankings in 66th place. The women’s team lost to North Alabama, 4-3.
The beach-volleyball team won two matches, 5-0, over North Alabama and Austin Peay.
The men’s golf team traveled to participate in the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Invitational and placed third out of 13 competing teams. They only trailed UNCW and James Madison. Hatter Rasmus Ronnberg of Sweden tied for fifth, with rounds of 69, 69 and 71, with two eagles.
Today, Thursday, April 10, has the lacrosse team hosting Queens at 1 p.m., while Friday, April 11, has the tennis teams greeting Austin Peay, with the women at 10 a.m. and the men at 2 p.m. The beach-volleyball team plays in Atlanta at 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, April 11.
Saturday, April 12, has the men’s golf team at the UNC tournament, and the men’s and women’s rowing teams in New Jersey for the Knecht Cup at 7 a.m.
Sunday, April 13, the men’s tennis team hosts Bellarmine at 10 a.m. and the women golfers compete in the ASUN tournament in Huntsville.
The University of Florida lacrosse team welcomes Stetson at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, and on Thursday, April 17, the tennis teams compete in the ASUN tourney in Jacksonville.
College honors
Nicole Keyes, of DeLand, and Nikolaus Kline, of DeBary, have been named to the 2024 fall trimester dean’s list at the Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida Campus in Port Orange.
Hayley Garrison, of Deltona, was recently elected to membership into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
