Sports Notebook: GC8 announces fall all-conference selections

With the fall sports season in the rearview mirror, all that remains are the postseason accolades. Last week, the Gulf Coast 8 conference released its all-conference selections for all fall sports. In football, Springstead’s Jadon Jaimes earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after the senior linebacker recorded 145 tackles and six sacks. His head coach, Mike Garofano, was named Coach of the Year having led the Eagles to an 8-3 season with a playoff appearance.

Running back Connor McCazzio and offensive lineman Andrew Clarkson were also selected to the all-conference team from Springstead.

Nature Coast selections included quarterback Jackson Hoyt, wide receiver Jacorrion Owens, offensive lineman Joey Nunez, defensive linemen Grant Lanning and Trey Wilson, linebacker Zaihron McCullough, defensive back Aveion Jackson and utility pick Jasir Harvin.

Hernando was represented by offensive lineman Noah Brown, defensive linemen Keaundre Gavin and David Collins, linebacker Sam Jackson and defensive back Gabe Sansone. Weeki Wachee picks were running back Leelan Wright, offensive lineman Daniel Young, defensive lineman Tyler Ciccio and linebacker Brock Rosario.

Honorable mention selections included: Talon Poole and Jacory Graham from Central, Wiley Blair and Kamoni Dotson from Hernando, Tim Gaynor and Trent Montgomery from Nature Coast, Dalton Williams and Chadiell Echavarria from Springstead, and Eryk Marciccuo and Alex Wilson from Weeki Wachee.
For other sports, here is the list of selections from Hernando County schools:

Girls golf – Rylie Csont (Weeki Wachee), Anna Talbot (Springstead) and Katelyn Carlsen (Hernando). Honorable mention – Vianna Casiano (Central), Avery Britton and Jordyn Snure (Hernando), McKenzie Gambrel (Nature Coast), Keeley Fedorow and Elisa Whitehead Rios (Springstead), and Atene Antanaviciute and Shelby Brors (Weeki Wachee).

Boys golf – Jacob McGeehan (Weeki Wachee), Mason Morgan and Palmer Looper (Hernando). Honorable mention – Luke Redmile and Dylan Stone (Central), Cotton Jackson and Rhett Williams (Hernando), Dylan McNerney and Bryce Brown (Nature Coast), David Williams and Hugh Huddleston (Springstead), Gavin Agudelo and Elliot Northrup (Weeki Wachee).

Volleyball – Player of the Year Kaiya Ward, Coach of the Year Robin Bailey, setter Brooke Hart and libero Carlie Grant (Hernando); outside hitter/middle hitter/right side Marlee Schumacher and middle blocker Jadyn Aponte (Weeki Wachee); outside hitter Addison Carpenter (Nature Coast); Rylynn Lanziero (Springstead). Honorable mention – Jaylene Sanchez and Emily Helvie (Central), Katie Charlow and Cordelia Blevins (Hernando), Amanda Tirado and Jalena Hathorn (Nature Coast), Katerina Schrade and Mackenna Chambers (Springstead), and Isabel Shelby and Reese Halter (Weeki Wachee).

Girls cross country – Player of the Year Lainee Mercer, Coach of the Year Tyson Graham and Olivia Allen (Springstead). Honorable mention – Jimica Paul (Central), Jaxin Helton (Hernando), Xianni Smith and Sarah Reak (Nature Coast), Alyssa Hoyt and Kylee Redmond (Springstead), Isabelle Geraghty and Chloe Bisaillon (Weeki Wachee).

Boys cross country – Player of the Year Noah Carpenter (Nature Coast); Collin Mindt, Avery Smith and Theodore Toler (Springstead); Aaron Wingfield (Hernando); Tyler Boucher and Bakari Hodge-Mauldin (Weeki Wachee). Honorable mention – Owen Jablonski and Gabriel Fogarty (Central), Reilly Bruns (Hernando), Gianni Rodriguez-Garcia and John Blair (Springstead), and Jean Citron and Vindell Bridger (Weeki Wachee).

Girls swimming – Ellagrace Galioto (200-yard freestyle, Nature Coast); Elisa Bethke (50 free, Nature Coast), Lindsey Horn (100 breaststroke, Hernando) and Grace Appleton (utility, Springstead). Honorable mention – Alyssa Chadwick (Hernando), Brianna Aviles and Madison Kranz (Nature Coast), Isabel Huddleston and Karissa LaCorte (Springstead), and Morgan Danna and Eleanor Kies (Weeki Wachee).

Boys swimming – Levy Andrasyshn (200 IM, Weeki Wachee) and Nick Chany (500 free, Weeki Wachee). Honorable mention – Chase Shamblin (Hernando), Dominick Strawcutter and Sal Leone (Nature Coast), Hunter Yoder and Parker Moore (Springstead), and Jase Kelly and Daniel Moynihan (Weeki Wachee).

As for the current winter sports, Springstead’s Zion McKenzie scored 30 points to go along with six rebounds and six steals in a 70-24 win over Weeki Wachee in boys basketball action on Dec. 3.

The Springstead girls have won six straight to improve to 6-1 on the season. Freshman Ariana Willoughby had a pair of solid all-around games in two wins last week, with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 49-42 victory over Weeki Wachee on Dec. 3, and nine points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 42-37 win on Friday over Lecanto.

Springstead’s boys soccer team moved to 8-0 with three wins, 6-1 over Central on Dec. 3, 2-1 against The Villages on Dec. 5 and 3-1 over East Lake on Friday.

The Nature Coast girls defeated Weeki Wachee 9-0 on Dec. 3 to boost their record to 7-1 on the season. The Sharks won their seventh in a row with Giada Chechile totaling three goals and three assists, and Peyton Cheze adding three goals and two assists. Sydney Gilbert scored two goals. Kennedy Rasmussen has permitted just one goal across the winning streak.