High School Sports

Seabreeze Red and White scrimmage highlights community and camaraderie

Seabreeze football coaches and players welcomed family, friends and the community to the annual Red and White spring scrimmage on Saturday, May 17, for a fun-filled day of football, hot dogs and friendship. Head coach Mike Klein said the goal was to host a family event that would support the efforts of his players and […]

Published

2 months ago

May 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Seabreeze Red and White scrimmage highlights community and camaraderie

Head coach Mike Klein said the goal was to host a family event that would support the efforts of his players and showcase the work they have put into the program. He said it was an excellent opportunity for people to begin building a relationship with the Seabreeze family.

For us to be a great team, we have to love one another as brothers. We’re not always best friends … but we have to be able to love one another, care about one another and work with one another to reach our goals. For our program as a whole to be successful, we need our parents, our families, our community to be on that exact same page.
— MIKE KLEIN, Seabreeze football coach

“For us to be a great team, we have to love one another as brothers,” he said. “We’re not always best friends … but we have to be able to love one another, care about one another and work with one another to reach our goals. For our program as a whole to be successful, we need our parents, our families, our community to be on that exact same page.”

Gary Yeomans Ford established a partnership with Seabreeze when Tucker Harris became the principal three years ago. They have been instrumental in supporting athletic and academic programs at the high school. Prior to the game, Harris presented the Volusia Partner of the Year award to assistant football coach Nello Faulk who accepted it on behalf of the dealership where he works as a finance manager.

Klein and his coaches ran the players through position drills before the scrimmage. Quarterback Jayce Gainer, a rising senior, took turns throwing passes with last year’s JV quarterback, Michael “Bear Hog” McDonough.

“Right now I think Gainer is ahead — he is slotted as our starter,” Klein said. “We have a great, young backup coming up behind him — Michael McDonough,” Klein said. “He is showing a lot of potential. It is competitive. There are no spots that are given. There are no freebees out here. Everything is earned.”

The competition between players this year is great, Klein said.

“That’s the one thing that this year we have that I didn’t feel last year we had as much,” he said. “Across the board, offense and defense, in just about every position, we have great competition. That’s really a driving force. We say it all the time, ‘iron sharpens iron.’ That competition is making us better.”

Gainer has been a quarterback since his freshman season. He started playing football when he was 12 years old and previously played outside linebacker and safety. He said he likes that his teammates are always there to support him when he is not doing his best.

“Our team is getting a lot better — fixing a lot of mental errors, but we’re going to get there,” he said. “I’m training myself mentally to be prepared (for the spring game). I like being able to take agency and run the offense. I like my coach (Mike Klein) — he pushes me. He’s a good person and he wants all of us to do our best to succeed as men and as football players.”

Seabreeze will travel to Crescent City for a spring jamboree with University at 6 p.m. Friday, May 23.

Last season, Seabreeze had 10 seniors and 31 underclassmen. Klein said the beauty of having a young team was the players who were not quite ready to play varsity got that experience early.

“That experience means a lot,” he said. “We have a lot of guys going into this year as seniors, juniors and sophomores who have already had a lot of varsity playing experience last year. That experience is a big reason why our leadership and focus have been so great because a lot of those guys went through the fire last year. Now we’re ready for the work.”

Klein has made some additions to the staff — secondary coach Zeke Adkins, offensive line coach Bob Bodine and offensive coordinator Matt Dickman.

Bodine brings a plethora of Division I college experience. Dickman was the head coach at Harrison High School when it won the Class 6A state championship in Georgia.

“He is an offensive guru,” Klein said of his new OC. “As a man, he is the kind of man that we want here to help build our young men and help lead in this community. We have a whole new offensive system. It’s a winning, proven system.”

Off season training started in the weight room in January. Klein said the players have been extremely focused and have gotten bigger, faster and stronger.

“Just really proud of the guys,” Klein said. “We’ve had a great offseason. They are working hard together and pushing each other. Everything is very competitive. Practices are fast and fun and we’re having great improvements because of those things. As we wrap up spring, I hope the guys have a great showing in the spring jamboree when we go over to play Crescent City and University.”

High School Sports

Florida high school softball

High school softball on the First Coast has produced highlights by the hundreds throughout the 21st century. During the seasons from 2000-01 to 2024-25, Northeast Florida high school softball has crowned several state champions, produced countless future college standouts and paved the path for an Olympian to Team USA. The next question: Which of these […]

Published

6 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

High school softball on the First Coast has produced highlights by the hundreds throughout the 21st century.

During the seasons from 2000-01 to 2024-25, Northeast Florida high school softball has crowned several state champions, produced countless future college standouts and paved the path for an Olympian to Team USA.

The next question: Which of these players is the best of the quarter-century across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida?

Here’s your chance to vote for the top high school softball player in Northeast Florida from 2000-01 to 2024-25. Participants can vote once per hour. The poll will remain open until 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12.

We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote “no contest” if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

High School Sports

South Dakota Junior Golf highlights from Mitchell and Watertown

MITCHELL — Gabi Olson, who will be a junior this fall at Watertown High School, put herself in the state record book on the way to winning the South Dakota Golf Association-Sanford International Series event at the Lakeview Golf Course on Monday, July 7, 2025. Olson of Watertown fired a 3-under par 68 to win […]

Published

10 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

South Dakota Junior Golf highlights from Mitchell and Watertown

Olson of Watertown fired a 3-under par 68 to win the girls division title by five shots.

She made her mark on the back nine at Lakeview, shooting a 7-under par 28. According to SDGA officials, it’s certainly the lowest nine-hole score in South Dakota Junior Golf history and maybe in the entire history of South Dakota golf. Olson birdied the first six holes and added another birdie and two pars down the stretch.

Chloe Attema of Harrisburg took second with a 73. Aberdeen golfers Olivia Braun (tied for third at 74) and Claire Crawford (tied for fifth at 75) each added top 5 finishes in the girls division.

Asher Dannenbring of Mitchell won a one-hole playoff over Tyson Blom of Sioux Falls to win the boys division. They each shot 4-under 67s.

Jaden Solheim of Watertown and Jonathan DeBoer of Twin Brooks each tied for sixth with 69s.

The tourney inluded 28 girls and 66 boys.

Gabi Olson not only won the girls division title in the South Dakota Golf Association/Sanford International Series event at the Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell on Monday, July 7, 2025, but also carded what is certainly the lowest 9-hole score in South Dakota Junior Golf history (and maybe all of South Dakota competive golf history). Olson birdied the first six holes on the back nine at Lakeview and later added another birdie for a 7-under par 28. Olson, who will be a junior at Watertown High School this fall, finished with a 3-under 68 for 18 holes and won the girls division by five shots.

SDGA Junior Tour

WATERTOWN — Ninety-seven golfers (21 girls and 76 boys) competed on Monday, July 7, and 96 (24 girls, 72 boys) on Tuesday, July 8, in South Dakota Golf Association 2025 Junior Tour events at Watertown’s two courses.

The golfers played Monday at the Prairie Winds Golf Club and Tuesday at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in SDGA Junior Tour Northeast Division tournaments.

The 9-and-under and 10-11 divisions featured nine holes of play each day. The 12-13, 14-15 and 16-18 divisions included 18 holes each day.

The final Northeast Division event of the 2025 SDGA Junior Tour is scheduled for Monday, July 14, at the Lake Region Golf Course at Lake Poinsett. The SDGA Adult Junior Championship is slated for Sunday, July 20 and the SDGA Junior Championship Monday through Wednesday, July 21-23 at the Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell,

The SDGA Junior Tour Cup will be held Monday, Aug. 4 at the Hillsview Golf Course in Pierre. It features the top two points leaders (boys and girls) in each age group, except 9-and-under), for the Southeast, Northeast and West Divisions of the SDGA Junior Tour. Luke VanLaecken of Watertown (9-and-under boys) tees off on No. 7 during the South Dakota Golf Association Junior Tour event on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Prairie Winds Golf Club. Prairie Winds Golf Club (July 7)9-and-Under Girls — 1. Zoey Zeigler, Winner, 51 (15-over par); 2. Anna Lunzman, Watertown, 58.9-and-Under Boys — 1. Lowen Kulesa, Pierre, 43 (7-over); 2. Sean Lockner, Brandon, 45; 3. Ethan Stein, Watertown, 50; 4. Theodore Weischedel, Elk Point, 51; 5. Camdyn Phillips, Watertown, 53; 6. (Tie) Ian Hansen, Brookings, and Otto Weischedel, Elk Point, 54; 8. Andrew Stein, Watertown, 55; 9. Ryker Walder, Watertown, 56; 10. Carson Wahl, Watertown, 60; 11. Luke VanLaecken, Watertown, 63.10-11 Girls — 1. Paisley Neale, Watertown, 47 (11-over); 2. Lydia Schafer, Watertown, 53; 3. Riley Jacobson, Bryant, 56.10-11 Boys — 1. Braxton Merideth, Vermillion, 38 (2-over); 2. Nick Brown, Sioux Falls, 44; 3. Madden Stein, Watertown, 45; 4. (Tie) Luke Snyder, Aberdeen, and Logan Baszler, Brookings, 47; 6. Gunnar Lesnar, Webster, 48; 7. Lincoln Zeigler, Winner, 59; 8. Sam VanLaecken, Watertown, 53; 9. Brody Palmquist, Watertown, 54; 10. Reid Melius, Brookings, 55; 11. Sam Gulsvig, Sioux Falls, 65; 12. Brody Sternhagen, Watertown, 68; 13. Cole Neal, Aberdeen, 72.12-13 Girls — 1. Genevieve Golz, Aberdeen, 83 (11-over); 2. Carli Withers, Aberdeen 99; 3. Kinzley Ronne, Goodwin, 113; 4. Maria Enderson, Brookings, 114; 5. Reese Jacobson, Bryant, 116.12-13 Boys — 1. Jack Baszler, Brookings, 74 (2-over); 2. Logan Borns, Clark, 79; 3. Braylen Liebl, Aberdeen, 85; 4. Adam Hettick, Roscoe, 90; 5. (Tie) Ty Sylliaasen and Matthew Darling, Aberdeen, 92; 7. (Tie) Brady Baumann, Selby, and Eli Bradley, Aberdeen, 99; 9. (Tie) Oliver Steffensen, De Smet, and Cade Ritter, Sioux Falls, 100; 11. Sam Knox, Doland, 106; 12. Hudson Dunsmoor, Watertown, 108. (Holden Remmers, Sioux Falls, WD).14-15 Girls — 1. Mackenzie Wegehaupt, Aberdeen, 83 (11-over); 2. Sage Gaikowski, Waubay, 85; 3. (Tie) Taylor Bastian, Volga, and Emma Olson, Watertown, 96; 5. Ava Bain, Sioux Falls, 97; 6. Ava Crooks, Astoria, 101; 7. Sienna Boyden, Hartford, 113.14-15 Boys — 1. Seth Lesnar, Webster, 80 (8-over); 2. (Tie) Jack Johnson, Vermillion; Drew Easter Sioux Falls; and Kaden Wookey, Clark, 81; 5. Riley Randall, Watertown, 84; 6. Rigley Kulesa, Pierre, 85; 7. (Tie) Luke Nielsen, Sisseton; Brecken Jungen, Watertown; and Landon Krzmarzick, Sioux Falls, 86; 10. Atticus Eyjolfson, Hendricks, 87; 11. (Tie) Hayden Liebl, Aberdeen; Hunter Bushkofsky, Egan; and Lincoln McInerney, Brandon, 88; 14. Kooper Wookey, Clark, 90; 15. Judah Fargher, Eureka, 91; 16. Max Schumaker, Howard, 94; 17. (Tie) Jackson Ahmann, Watertown; Skylar Thielbar, Huron; Braxton Yackley, Selby; and Blake Bjorgaard, Aberdeen, 96; 21. Kroix Larson, Brandon, 97; 22. (Tie) Ridgly Wasem, Aberdeen, and Braxton Tronbak, Brookings, 102; 24. Westyn Kizer, Howard, 106; 25. Noah Hansen, Brookings, 115.16-18 Girls — 1. Olivia Knox, Doland, 96 (14-over); 2. Gracelyn Boyden, Hartford, 89; 3. Kreu Johnson, Watertown, 100; 4. Madeline Enderson, Brookings, 106.16-18 Boys — 1. (Tie) Seth Hettick, Roscoe, and Drake Mueller, Faulkton, 77 (5-over); 3. (Tie) Kalen Larson, Aberdeen, and Will Lockner, Brandon, 81; 5. Emmett Schwiesow, Clear Lake, 84; 6. Harrison Beyers, Roscoe, 85; 7. Trent Beyers, Roscoe, 90; 8. Jace Johnson, Groton, 92; 9. (Tie) Jace Byram and Wyatt Kiesz, Aberdeen, 95; 11. Jayden Schwan, Groton, 96; 12. Joshua Fargher, Eureka, 97; 13. Grayson Rehder, Aberdeen, 99; 14. Wyatt Rahm, Turton, 102. Mackenzie Wegehaupt of Aberdeen (14-15 girls) drains a putt on No. 2 during the South Dakota Golf Association Junior Tour event on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Prairie Winds Golf Club. Cattail Crossing Golf Course (July 8)9-and-Under Girls —1. Merrick Boyden, Hartford, 44 (8-over); 2. Anna Lunzman, Watertown, 48; 3. Zoey Zeigler, Winner, 54;9-and-Under Boys — 1. Brodie Winn, Marshall, MN, 44 (8-over); 2. Lowen Kulesa, Pierre, 45; 3. Sean Lockner, Brandon, 46; 4. Ian Hansen, Brookings, 47; 5. Ethan Stein, Watertown, 50; 6. Carson Wahl, Watertown, 51; 7. Andrew Stein, Watertown, 53; 8. Ryker Walder, Watertown, 58; 9. Luke VanLaecken, Watertown, 65.10-11 Girls — 1. Paisley Neale, Watertown, 49 (13-over); 2. Lydia Schafer, Watertown, 50; 3. Riley Jacobson, Bryant, 53.10-11 Boys — 1. Lincoln Zeigler, Winner, 39 (3-over); 2. Madden Stein, Watertown, 50; 3. Boedy Gatzke, Volga, 41; 4. Gunnar Lesnar, Webster, 43; 5. (Tie) Luke Snyder, Aberdeen, and Brody Palmquist, Watertown, 56; 7. Sam Gulsvig, Sioux Falls, 50; 8. Sam VanLaecken, Watertown, 51; 9. Brody Sternhagen, Watertown, 55.12-13 Girls — 1. Genevieve Golz, Aberdeen, 93 (21-over); 2. Emma Reineisch, Mitchell, 102; 3. Kinsley Ronne, Goodwin, 104; 4. Reese Jacobson, Bryant, 105.12-13 Boys — 1. Logan Borns, Clark, 78 (6-over); 2. Rigley Kulesa, Pierre, 79; 3. Braylen Liebl, Aberdeen, 82; 4. Hudson Prunty, Fort Pierre, 83; 5. Ty Sylliaasen, Sioux Falls, 87; 6. (Tie) Matthew Darlihng, Aberdeen, and Adam Hettick, Roscoe, 92; 8. (Tie) Arie Olson, Onida, and Brady Baumann, Selby, 99; 10. Parker Serr, Aberdeen, 105; 11. Sam Knox, Doland, 107; 12. Eli Bradley, Aberdeen, 109; 13. Hudson Dunsmoor, Watertown, 115; 14. Jacob Hofer, Doland, 129.14-15 Girls — 1. Mackenzie Wegehaupt, Aberdeen, 84; 2. Carley Roiger, Dell Rapids, 88; 3. Taylor Bastian, Volga, 92; 4. Emma Olson, Watertown, 93; 5. Addyson Weidenbach, Sioux Falls, 95; 6. Lauren Roerig, Sioux Falls, 106; 7. (Tie) Ava Bain, Sioux Falls, and Sienna Boyden, Hartford, 110.2025 STATE B BOYS-GIRLS GOLF: Clark-Willow Lake golf’s Brynn Roehrich repeats as Class B state champion

14-15 Boys — 1. Braxton Holland, Siou Falls, 72 (even par); 2. Jack Johnson, Vermillion, 73; 3. Seth Lesnar, Webster, 75; 4. Tate Stoeser, Fort Pierre, 76; 5. Jeran Carr, Vermillion, 77; 6. (Tie) Brecken Jungen, Watertown, and Lincoln McInerney, Brandon, 81; 8. (Tie) Hayden Liebl, Aberdeen; Riley Randall, Watertown; and Aiden Hernandez, Abrerdeen, 84; 11. Kooper Wookey, Clark, 85; 12. Matthew Gerlach, Aberdeen, 86; 13. (Tie) Jackson Ahmann, Watertown; Braxton Yackley, Selby; and Kaden Wookey, Clark, 87; 16. Ridgly Wasem, Aberdeen, 88; 17. Liam Heiberger, Brookings, 89; 18. Huntre Bushkofsky, Egan, 90; 19. Blake Bjorgaard, Aberdeen, 91; 20. (Tie) Hudson Palmquist, Watertown, and Owen Dravland, Harrisburg, 93; 22. Judah Fargher, Eureka, 97; 23. Lincoln Olson, Onida, 100; 24. Kroix Larson, Brandon, 101; 25. Noah Hansen, Brookings, 103; 26. Gus Mack, Watertown, 106.
16-18 Girls — 1. Josephine Bertrand, Brookings, 80; 2. Aryn Roering, Sioux Falls, 84; 3. Olivia Knox, Doland, 87; 4. Abbie Westra, Sioux Falls, 92; 5. Addison Kaltved, Sioux Falls, 93; 6. Carmen Bertrand, Willow Lake, 107.
16-18 Boys — 1. (Tie) Will Lockner, Brandon, and Quinton Hollan, Sioux Falls, 78 (6-over); 3. (Tie) Seth Hettick, Roscoe, and Kaiden Weinreis, Doland, 81; 5. (Tie) Easton Schelhaas, Yankton; Max Kees, De Smet; and Jesse Hernandez, Aberdeen, 82; 8. (Tie) Joshua Fargher, Eureka and Grayson Rehder, Aberdeen, 86; 10. Keegan Fossum, Marshall, MN, 87; 11. Sam Baruth, Alpena, 90; 12. Wyatt Kiesz, Aberdeen, 93; 13. Wyatt Rahm, Turton, 101; 14. Jayden Schwan, Groton, 104.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com