News Summary

Fletcher High School showcased its remarkable talent at the Gateway Conference Championships, excelling in swimming, cross country, and bowling. The boys’ swimming team clinched their third consecutive championship with 579 points, while the girls also secured their seventh title. Meanwhile, Fletcher’s cross country runners performed admirably, and the Stanton girls’ bowling team repeated their championship victory. As the competition heats up, Fletcher is set to compete at the upcoming District 2-3A meet.

Fletcher High School Steals the Show at Gateway Conference Championships

Neptune Beach is buzzing with excitement following an incredible performance by Fletcher High School at this year’s Gateway Conference Championships in swimming, diving, cross country, and bowling. This year has proven to be especially sweet for Fletcher, as they continue to build on their impressive legacy in aquatic sports, which dates back to when they brought home state trophies in 1955 and 1956.

Fletcher’s Swimming Dominance

The swim meet held at Cecil Field was nothing short of a spectacular showcase for Fletcher, where the boys secured their third consecutive Gateway Conference championship with an astounding score of 579 points. They left competitors like Wolfson and Stanton in their wake, who scored 364 and 331 points respectively.

The boys’ achievements were bolstered by standout performances from key swimmers like Merrick Vanscoy, who swam his way to victories in the 50-yard freestyle (at an impressive time of 21.31) and the 100 butterfly (with a time of 52.40). Another star swimmer, Noah Rogers, captured the top spot in the 100 freestyle with a time of 48.68. Not to be outdone, Seth Ayers clinched victory in the 100 breaststroke at 59.54, while Jasper Jackson took home the diving title. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better for Fletcher, they swept all three boys relay events!

The girls’ swim team also shone bright, scoring 523 points to secure their seventh consecutive Gateway Conference title. The diving star of the girls’ team was Leah Cox, who took the only individual victory for the girls. In addition, JK Timmerman contributed with two top-three finishes to help propel the team to victory.

Heartfelt Competing from Other Schools

Not to ignore the hard work from their competitors, both Wolfson and Stanton provided exciting races of their own. Wolfson had standout performances from Grady Wilkins, who won both the boys 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, as well as Monica DiGaetani and Moriah Ayres, who secured victories in the girls 200 free and 500 free respectively. Meanwhile, Stanton earned individual victories through Eli Little in the boys 200 and 500 free, and Sabrina Avila in both the 50 and 100 free. It was definitely a competitive atmosphere all around!

Looking Ahead

With the excitement of this event still fresh, Fletcher will now turn its focus to the upcoming District 2-3A meet scheduled for October 28 at the Northeast Pool in Gainesville, where they’ll look to continue their winning ways.

Cross Country Success

In addition to a stunning display in the water, Fletcher’s cross country runners also made their mark. The boys cross country title went to Mandarin High School, who achieved their sixth consecutive win with a score of 36 points. Their star runner, MacKenly Ritz, finished first with a time of 16:34, leading a strong team performance.

Fletcher’s Evan Kirby and Judah Vieira achieved respectable second and third places respectively, showing that Fletcher’s cross country athletes are no slouches!

Girls Cross Country Championship

In a thrilling turn of events, Wolfson clinched the girls cross country championship for the first time since 1998, scoring 37 points ahead of Stanton and Atlantic Coast. Allison Austin, a freshman from Atlantic Coast, wowed the crowd with the fastest girls race time since 2016 at 19:01!

Bowling: Stanton’s Repeat

Switching gears to the bowling arena, the Stanton girls bowling team proved their skill once again, taking the Gateway Championship for the second straight year. They finished strong ahead of competitors Sandalwood, Mandarin, and Baldwin, led by the impressive performance of Bailey Forrest, who recorded a stellar 392 series.

Stanton is gearing up for the Florida High School Athletic Association District 2 tournament, starting on October 23. Good luck to all talented athletes competing this season!

Miscellaneous News

It’s always a busy time in high school sports, and that includes the occasional blip in the system, as seen with the FHSAA announcing volleyball playoff brackets that mistakenly listed Madison County incorrectly as a qualifier instead of Union County.

Overall, it’s shaping up to be an exciting season for all these local high schools. Here’s to cheering on our talented athletes as they continue to shine amidst the competition!

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