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Student Athletes Create Memories In '07

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

PLANT CITY - With another year of outstanding performances in the books, it's time to reflect on the best of those 2007 achievements.

Here's the top five stories from the year from athletes or teams at Plant City and Durant high schools.

•The Plant City football team makes the playoffs again. Newsome was supposed to make life difficult for the Raiders in District 5A-7, but a 17-0 victory over the Wolves not only swept them aside but also assured Plant City a playoff berth. With other teams not knowing their playoff fates until late in the year, the Raiders had things wrapped up with several weeks to play. However, a loss to Brandon to conclude the district schedule sent Plant City into the runner-up position.

The Raiders were stuck in the same region as the No. 1 team in the state. Kissimmee Osceola knocked out Plant City 34-17 in the first round, and the Kowboys would go on to reach the 5A state final before losing to No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas. Along the way the Kowboys ended Lakeland's three-year reign as state champs.

Plant City was led all season by a pair of strong running backs, Sirchauncey Holloway and Keith Dawson. The Raiders defense, with players such as Denzel Drone, Duran Lowe, Brent Butler, Arsenio Durant, Joseph Upthegrove, Chase Thompson and Michael Sykes leading the way, was a key to the team's success.

The Raiders wound up with a 6-5 record. Their most exciting game came in the regular season finale when Freedom overcame an early two-touchdown deficit to take a late lead. But on fourth-and-nine from its own 21-yard line, Plant City scored when quarterback Clint Stearns found Dawson for a short pass that Dawson turned into his fourth touchdown of the game.

Plant City had been to the playoffs only three times in school history until these two consecutive trips under head coach Kevin Kelley.

•Kendall Dawson signs with the University of Alabama. Plant City senior Dawson became the softball program's first to sign with a major Division I team since Meredith Seatles. Dawson hit an eye-popping .559 at the plate this season as the Raiders, along with their rival Durant, made the playoffs. Both teams lost in the first round of the postseason.

As much or more so than her hitting, Dawson's work behind the plate got her the scholarship with the Tuscaloosa school.

Durant had two players, pitcher Sara DeMuth and outfielder Kristen Jones, sign as well. Both will play softball at Augusta State in Georgia.

•Durant sends numerous individuals to state level. The Cougars had several sports where competitors made it to the final meet of the season. Most recently was cross country, with Durant freshman Grace VanDeGrif serving notice that she will be one of the top performers to watch in the sport; teammate John Mitchell reached it from the boys' side.

In wrestling, several reached the Class 3A meet in Lakeland, with senior Justin Bechtold turning in the best effort with a third-place finish.

Amy West qualified for the state golf tournament, and four-year standouts Kaylee Doback and Chris Plante had their best showings at the swimming and diving meet.

For Plant City High, Stephanie Barker had the best individual showing of any Raider at a state event, finishing sixth in swimming.

•Plant City has a close call in boys basketball. Not since 1993 have the Raiders made the postseason in boys hoops. It was agonizingly close to happening Feb. 9 when Plant City, the host for the district tournament, took the lead on two late free throws by Rod Henderson.

When Sarasota misfired at the horn in regulation, the Raiders gym went wild as fans streamed onto the court and Plant City celebrated what it thought was a playoff berth. But amid the hysteria, a lonely referee's whistle was blowing, and when things settled down a foul was called - on what then Raiders coach Gary Meyer and many of those in attendance considered a "ticky-tack" call.

Sarasota's Kyle Stinson, with no one else on the floor, sank both free throws to force overtime and then again in the extra period (but this time with a few seconds on the clock) would hit two to end the Raiders' season, 57-55.

It will go down as one of the most memorable games in Plant City history.

The Raiders had not been in a district semifinal game for 10 years, it was their first chance at a "win-and-in" scenario.

•Durant's journey to the state volleyball finals during the year. The Cougars were hoping to get a district championship this year. Sarasota Riverview had usurped the Cougars as the rulers of District 6A-8, but that changed this season with Durant claiming the crown.

But the Cougars did not stop there. They first handled Countryside in four games, then got an unexpected upset of Sickles on the road. With other results falling in their favor, the Cougars were able to host the region final, and in four tight games they came away with a victory over Orlando's Edgewater.

That ensured Durant a spot in the state semis and a trip to The Lakeland Center. Durant defeated Jupiter to make the 6A finals, where the Cougars were headed by first-time champ Gainesville Buchholz.

Adding to the drama around the team was the plight of head coach Dawn Hough, who delayed her wedding - and leaving the Bay area for Fort Lauderdale - to coach her team through the season.

Alexa Donini, the senior setter, was named Second Team All-State in 6A.

Plant City and Durant had other notable achievements, such as the Cougars flag football team making the playoffs in their first attempt. The Raiders boys soccer team is undefeated and trying to write itself into the school record books. Those and other efforts may make the 2008 list of top stories.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

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