SEBRING — Going up against the best cross-country runners in the state can be a daunting task. For Sebring sophomore Connor Bauer, it's just another step in his continuing development into an elite runner. "Connor is a gamer," said Blue Streak coach Jeff Shoemaker. "He's quiet, but he's a very competitive person, and to be as good as he is, you have to be aggressive." ...more

November 17, 2007

ESTERO –– Despite having to compete in the Class 2A-Region 3 cross-country meet while the sun was rising early Friday morning, Sebring's Connor Bauer qualified for next Saturday's state meet in Dade City. Bauer, a fleet-footed sophomore, managed to run the hilly Park Community course in a time of 17 minutes, 13 seconds, which was good for ninth place in a very competitive regional that included numerous private schools. "That's a very good showing for Connor," said Blue Streak coach Jeff Shoemaker. "It was a good course, but it was hilly and the corners were very tight, which didn't favor Connor's upright style of running. "I'm really pleased with his effort, because he stayed focused, had a strong last half-mile and made up a lot of ground on the leaders." The regional meet featured 12 teams, with the top six teams and top 15 individuals qualifying for next Saturday's state meet in Dade City. ...more

November 10, 2007

SEBRING — Hopefully, the girls on the Sebring cross-country team are early risers. They'll need to be if they want to qualify for next week's state finals, as today's Class 2A-Region 3 competition at Estero Community Park in Fort Myers begins at 7:30 a.m. "That's awfully early to run and I've never seen anything like it," said Blue Streak coach Jeff Shoemaker. "That's all right, though, because the girls have trained hard and will be ready to go." ...more

November 9, 2007

The Tennessee Titans enjoy sacking quarterbacks, especially David Carr dating to his time with their AFC South rival in Houston. ...more

November 5, 2007

Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford has no plans to deliver a motivational speech before tonight's game at No. 2-ranked Boston College. The last time FSU defeated a top-five team - a 27-22 victory against then-No. 5 Virginia Tech in the inaugural ACC Championship Game in 2005 - Weatherford showed a lot of moxie for a freshman by giving a passionate speech about the Noles proving people wrong. ...more

November 3, 2007

TAMPA — The Sebring girls cross country team showed what solidarity can do for a team, as they finished fifth at the Class 3A-District 5 district meet on Thursday at Lake Park in Tampa. Rough course conditions took its toll on the boys team, who gave a good performance but came up short, finishing in seventh place — one spot out of moving on to regionals. "The boys did what they could do," Sebring coach Jeff Shoemaker said. "I have no complaints on how they performed. It just wasn't good enough to make it this time." The top six teams advance to the Region 3 meet, which will take place on Nov. 9 at Estero Community Park in Ft. Myers. ...more

November 3, 2007

SEBRING — Time to run. The boys and girls cross country teams from the Heartland compete today and Friday in the Class 3A district meets. Avon Park and Sebring run today in the District 5 meet at Lake Park in Tampa, while Lake Placid runs on Friday at the District 6 meet in Naples. Only the top six teams advance to next Saturday's regional competition in Estero, and Avon Park's boys squad has the talent and desire to be one of those teams. ...more

November 1, 2007