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Plant Girls Lacrosse Growing

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY nmurray@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 18, 2009

TAMPA - With the success of the boys program in recent years, it's understandable that Plant's girls lacrosse program has been overlooked. But this season, the Panthers are ranked No. 2 in the West Florida Lacrosse League according to Laxpower.com, their most recent win an 18-15 victory against FishHawk.

Panthers coach Heather Werry said she has been amazed by the team's progress this season.

"For such a new sport in Tampa, and these girls have playing, some of them just one or two years, we have a lot of brand new girls, and they are coming along so quickly," Werry said. "They're focused at practice, they're listening to us, we're putting together set offenses and they're running the drills, it's been absolutely brilliant."

Girls lacrosse still lags behind boys in its development, with only eight teams from as far away as Ocala comprising the WFLL's girls division. By contrast, the boys division has 11 teams in its first division, and another nine in a second tier. Werry said she hopes more schools that have boys programs will look to add girls teams in the future.

Werry adds that the Panthers boys and girls teams have been working more closely this season, with the girls holding an exhibition scrimmage on Thursday before the boys defeated rival Jesuit 11-6.

"In years past they kept the boys and girls a little more separate," Werry said. "But we're trying really hard this year specifically to bring the two teams together, to bring out more numbers in support for the girls.

"We need more support for girls team in other schools, because that's how we're going to get the district to sanction us. The girls teams have to be there first, then the guys teams can follow and we can get a district together, and this won't be a club anymore, which is what we're hoping for."

Werry said the growth of middle school programs is another key to the growth of the sport, allowing players to learn the sports basic skills at a younger age.

"The middle school program is definitely growing as a feeder for the high schools," Werry said. "We've got a long, long way to go, but I'm here to say I want to start it. I want to get this out."

Locals Prepared For State Championships

BRANDON - After winning its first Hillsborough High School Hockey League title last month, the Newsome Wolves have their sights set on a bigger prize this weekend at the pure division state champoinships in Lake Worth.

The Wolves capped a series of scrimmages off last week with a 2-1 win against Gaither/Sickles, and captain Scotty Vargas said he thinks the team is ready for the challenge.

"I think we have a chance to win this year," Vargas said. "We just have to make sure we play our best game, come out 100 percent. We've got to give it our all."

Wolves coach Dan Rondeau said he thought his team didn't play its best game against Gaither/Sickles, but that may have been the result of there being little at stake in the scrimmage. He expects the Wolves will give a good account of themselves when they return to action.

"They've got a really good chance," Rondeau said. "When they've played as a team, when the whole team is here, we'll do OK."

Gaither/Sickles will also compete in the combined division tournament, which will be held at the Forum on Friday and in Ellenton on Saturday and Sunday. Gaither/Sickles won back-to-back combined state titles in 2006-07, and Coach Dan Bubley said he thought anything can happen now they're back again.

"I like our chances," Bubley said. "I think if we can dump it in, keep the puck deep, we're going to get some opportunities."

Gaither/Sickles has been drawn with Springstead, South Pinellas and the Tigers in pool play, with River Ridge, Lakeland Jenkins, Bloomingdale and Manatee in the other pool.

"We're real excited," Bubley said. "I think we have as good if not a better opportunity than many of the other teams we're going to be competing against."

As for Newsome, Rondeau is hoping his Wolves can go one better than he did when he was a high school player in Rhode Island.

"I told the boys when I was in high school, 25 years ago, my high school team in Rhode Island lost the state championship in the third game in double-overtime," Rondeau said. "So I asked the team to not let history repeat itself, and lets bring back a trophy for Newsome High School."

Terrapins' Quartet Earns Opening Victory

Tampa Prep's girls lightweight 4 got off to a strong start to its spring season as it took victory at the Orlando Area Rowing Society Regatta at Turkey Lake on Saturday.

The quartet of Bree Beirl, Jessica Mine, Rachel Krausman, Katie Dorsey and cox Kiffy Balchon, earned its first victory at the meet, defeating Space Coast and Sarasota Crew, two teams that had defeated the Terrapins at the state championships last year.. Terrapins coach Justin Smith said the result was an excellent starting point for the crew.

"It's a huge win to start the season," Smith said. "They're a team that's looking to go back to nationals and make a difference this year, and this is just the measuring stick for what they want to do and set the tone for how they're going to compete the rest of the season."

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243. Keyword: Youth Sports, for more news, notes and game stories.

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