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Performances That Will Stand The Test Of Time

These Local Athletes Were At Their Very Best When It Counted The Most In 2008

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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: December 31, 2008

SAM ROBINSON was hoping for a special finish to his high school athletic career.

And once he regained his footing, the Sebring senior did just that.

"I wanted this to be a special year for me," Robinson said. "I wanted track to really put a stamp on all the hard work and dedication I've put into my sports career at Sebring."

Robinson finished with a time of 11.02 in the 100 and 22.40 in the 200-meter runs for a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Class-3A-Region 2 finals in late April.

He nearly didn't make the field for the 100-meter dash after a slip coming out of the blocks put him at a disadvantage, but the speedy senior recovered for the fourth-place finish. The mishap came after Robinson realized he was wearing the wrong spikes for the speed event.

"I'm just glad I was able to regain my footing," Robinson said "I had a goal to make it to state, and I would've kicked myself if I didn't make it because of something as trivial as the wrong spikes."

At the Class 3A state finals, Robinson finished 10th in the boys 200-meter dash with a time of 22.40 seconds, narrowly missing out on the finals.

GREG GENTRY raised his game to a level not even the wind could touch during Monday's Class 1A District 16 tournament at The Links at Greenfield Plantation in Bradenton.

The sophomore earned district medalist honors with a 74, while teammate and junior John Tracey fired a 75 to pace the field and lead the Avon Park boys golf team to a second-place finish at districts and a ticket to next week's regional tournament.

"I would've had a hard time shooting 75 out there today," said Avon Park coach and reigning Highlands County Amateur champion Bobby Barben. "The wind was screaming and the course played very hard. I can't begin to tell you how hard it played."

PAIGE GILLER had no shot at state as she jumped into the pool for her final high school swim, but the Sebring senior chased a goal until the last stroke: Giller broke a school record in the 100-breaststroke and won the consolation final with a 1:15.19, just .04 of a second faster than the previous mark held.

"I knew it was my last chance to break it," Giller said. "I'm a senior and I knew I wasn't going to state. I said, 'This is it, I've got to break it.'"

"I let it all go. I made every pull and kick count. I've been chasing that since my freshman year."

If ROCKY KHARA had a chance to avoid a playoff on Sunday, he was certainly going to take it.

After finishing second in the 2006 and 2007 Bagwell Invitationals, Khara seized on his opportunity to claim top honors when he birdied his final hole to hold off Cory Meade of Haines City and win the overall championship at the 39th annual Bagwell Junior Invitational at River Greens golf course.

"It's very satisfying," said Khara, 16, a recent qualifier for the upcoming Florida State Golf Association Amateur championships. "It's something I've always needed to do, and not come in second again."

But it didn't come easy: Khara saw his three-stroke lead with five holes to play evaporate on a makeshift leaderboard strapped to the back of one of the dozen or so golf carts following the final group.

After sinking a 20-footer on No. 16, he figured he was in good shape to hold off Meade.

"All I was thinking was par-par, and I win the tournament," Khara said. "But I found out Corey birdied 18, and I had one hole to play. I didn't want to hold anything back."

Khara crushed a 310-yard drive down the center of the par-five No. 18's fairway and reached the green in two with a towering 170-yard shot that landed 10 feet from the pin, setting up a tap-in for the win.

"It was one of those shots where you just hit it and pray," Khara said with a smile. "It helps with experience, but you shouldn't think about needing a birdie or whatever to win.

"You think about hitting the fairway, hitting the green and a two-putt."

The Highlands Today sports department can be reached at 863-386-5841 or sports@highlandstoday.com.

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