Fall sports athletes honored

GULF HIGH SCHOOL, Dec. 11, 1998 - Gulf's athletes in fall sports -- cross country, swimming, volleyball, football, and cheerleading -- were honored at an awards program held during second and third periods today. Athletic Director Mr. Girardi, shown at left, opened the program.

Each athlete was given tickets to invite two friends to attend. A separate awards banquet was held the previous evening for parents.

The girls cross country team coached by Dean Lofton won the Suncoast Athletic Conference championship. Barbara Carr was conference champ and qualified for state competition, where she placed 20th. Carr, Wendy Knapp, Valerie Maile, Dawn Winterling, and Lisa West earned All Conference honors, and Megan Walker earned conference Honorable Mention.

For the boys cross country team, Eric Dieters earned All Conference honors. He placed 7th at district, 10th at regional, and qualified and ran at the state meet in Jacksonville.

In football, Mark Petryniec was named to the SAC All Conference team and Stephen Brown was given Honorable Mention.

Both the girls and boys swimming teams qualified swimmers for the state meet. The girls swim team qualified the following swimmers for state competition: Tamara Ahrens, Erika Bittiker, Rebecca Desgranges, Julie Muckler, and Annie Stewart. Stewart set school records and was District Champion in the 100 free and 100 backstroke and placed 7th at the state meet in the 100 free. Muckler set a conference record in the 100 free.

Boys swim team members Mike Rowe and Jacob Vaughn were selected to the All Conference team. Ryan Martin was given Honorable Mention. Rowe was the conference diving champ and placed fourth in district; Vaughn placed 2nd in conference, 2nd in district, and qualified to compete at the state meet where he placed 17th out of 38 divers.

In girls volleyball, Laura O'Brien was selected for SAC All Conference honors and Jordan Brown given honorable mention.