Frostproof Finishes 5th To Qualify for State

BROOKSVILLE | The Frostproof boys cross country placed fifth in the Class 2A, Region 2 finals and will now move on to the state meet next Saturday in Dade City, a feat that the team hasn't accomplished since 2005. 

"We weren't even planning on going to stat so this was a big shock to us," Frostproof coach Josh Wood said. 

The Bulldogs runners avenged a loss in the districts to Gulf High and Ridgewood. 

Of the three above schools, only Frostproof moved on. 

"We beat both of them at this meet, going to state was a plus," Wood said. 

Frostproof's top finisher was freshman Vernon Bobb who placed 25th overall with a time of 18:07.26. 

Other Frostproof finishers were: Marcelino Galarza in 37th (18:40.45), Jose Martinez in 43rd (18:48.89), Robert Aguilar in 45th (18:55.18), Edgar Saldana in 53rd (19:10.73), Estevan Rivera in 54th (19:13.95) and Fidel Perez in 75th (20:19.52). 

"I gave them the pep talk. This was a serious meet and they really wanted to go to state," Wood said. 

"They did work and ran their race. Conditions were nice and course was excellent, that Made it that much easier."

Where the boys triumphed the girls faltered. 

Out of 14 teams in the meet they missed the top-10 and had just one girl finish in the top-50 at the meet. 

That was Angelica Ramirez, an eighth grader, who placed 43rd with a time of 22:43.75. 

Estefani Galarza, also an eighth grader, placed 66th crossing the finish line in 24:47.89, 

Individually, Lake Wales' Isaac Rigel placed 23rd in the boys division in Class 2A, Region 2 with a time of 18:03.73. On the girls' side, 

Kami Richmond of Lake Wales finished in 47th place with a time of 22:49.56.

In the Class 3A, Region 2 meet on the boys side, Haines City's Jose Perez and Lakeland's Chad Kirkman advance to the state meet next Saturday at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. 

Perez ran about a minute slower off his personal best, finishing in 16:36.69.

"He was a little sluggish today for some reason but I think he always seems to run better at Everglades so he'll do better there," Haines City athletic director Michael Styles said. 

Oswaldo Zapata (18:27.70) and Brittany Stewart (21:44.75) ran personal best times for Haines City. 

The top six teams, and the top 15 individuals not on qualifying teams, move on to the state meet next Saturday at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.

For the girls, Lake Region finished fifth in the team competition and will advance to state.

Jessica Ortiz finished18th as the Thunder's top runner.

 

Class 3A, Region 2

Boys 

18. Landon Schneider (George Jenkins), 16:57.36

29. Jakub Siemaszko (Winter Haven), 17:15.95

38. John Trussell (George Jenkins), 17:26.06

48. Jonathan Hulzebos (Lakeland), 17:48.46

51 Brandon Bauer (Lake Gibson), 17:54.53 

53 Tyler Post (Lake Gibson), 17:57.45 

59 Jonathan Schrader (George Jenkins), 18:11.06

63 Ryan Codd (George Jenkins), 18:15.44 

68 Daniel Wolf (George Jenkins), 18:22.01

72 Oswaldo Zapata (Haines City), 18:27.70

73 Anthony Pirillo (Lake Gibson), 18:29.92

74 Daniel Bostron (George Jenkins), 18:37.30 

77 Connor Gilliard (George Jenkins), 18:41.34 

79 Cody Rizer (Lake Region), 18:46.40

83 Aaron Miranda (Lake Gibson), 18:58.73 

86 Daniel Torres (Lake Gibson), 19:20.96 

95 Stephen Muir (Lake Gibson), 20:06.32 

Girls 

18 Jessica Ortiz (Lake Region), 20:21.56 

26 Katie Pantoja (George Jenkins), 20:41.94 

39 Emily Nabong (Lake Region), 21:17.20 

40 Phoebe Ferguson (Lakeland), 21:19.83

45 Brittany Stewart (Haines City), 21:44.75

46 Leah Jostes (Lake Region), 21:45.79 

51 Christina Guevara (Lake Region), 21:54.70

58 Erica Ginn (George Jenkins), 22:03.50

59 Ashley Linderman (Kathleen), 22:05.40

65 Theresa Trentham (George Jenkins), 22:24.15

72 Caroline Madden (Lakeland), 22:35.96

76 Mellanie Turquia (George Jenkins), 22:48.02 77 Rickel Irvin (George Jenkins), 22:49.00

78 Sirena Madrid (Lake Region), 22:49.26 

79 Julie Shierling (Lake Region), 22:49.45 

83 Heather Meskimen (George Jenkins), 23:00.61 85 Kaitlin Jones, Kaitlin (Lake Gibson), 23:04.65

90 Rachel Trask (George Jenkins), 23:37.22 

91 Jessica Spell (Lake Region), 23:37.39