High School Sports
Flag football picking up steam at high schools on the Suncoast
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – Flag football season is underway on the Suncoast. One of the teams participating is Manatee High School and this is specifically sanctioned football for girls. It’s been a sanctioned sport in Florida since 2003, and it’s been growing throughout high schools on the Suncoast throughout the past decade. The head coach […]
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – Flag football season is underway on the Suncoast. One of the teams participating is Manatee High School and this is specifically sanctioned football for girls.
It’s been a sanctioned sport in Florida since 2003, and it’s been growing throughout high schools on the Suncoast throughout the past decade. The head coach of the Lady Hurricanes, John Johnson, says their program hasn’t really had an issue when it comes to recruitment.
“You have some young ladies that come out and it’s a rude awakening,” Johnson said. “At the same time, they see those guys on Friday nights (in the fall) go out and bust their butts. The girls feel like they can do the same thing. I believe the same too.”
However, this product is not the same thing that you normally see on Friday nights in the fall. This game has different rules, but are some similarities too.
There’s still a coin toss before the game to decide who gets the ball first. Points are still known as touchdowns.
Some of the key differences are that players don’t wear helmets and there is no tackling. There’s a different football used compared to what is used for football in the Fall of each school year. Another key difference is the length of the field for gameplay on each possession.
“The biggest difference is our field. Our field isn’t 53 and plus yards wide,” Johnson said. “It’s only 40 yards wide and it’s only 80 yards long. Another difference is that it’s noncontact, but it is contact. You can’t physically put you hands on someone to block. To block, you have to shuffle your feet.”
Playoffs for high schools flag football teams on the Suncoast will start up soon and we’ll keep you updated on how teams perform.
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High School Sports
Pierce County School Board Highlights
(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, May 1 and their regular monthly meeting has been delayed until Monday, May 5.) Budget: The school board approved a tentative $44.1 million budget for fiscal year 2026 and set public hearings to receive input on the […]
(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, May 1 and their regular monthly meeting has been delayed until Monday, May 5.)
Budget: The school board approved a tentative $44.1 million budget for fiscal year 2026 and set public hearings to receive input on the budget. (See related story.)
Closed session and personnel: The board adjourned into a 24 minute closed session Thursday morning to discuss personnel. After the closed session, the board voted to hire Jaidyn Lowe as a paraprofessional at Blackshear Elementary, Mary Wall as attendance clerk at the middle school and Christine Rowell as a school nutrition food assistant. The board also approved the resignations of Sabrina Ranee Lynn, custodian at Midway Elementary, Christine Rowell as custodian at the middle school, Thad Williams as a teacher at the high school and Randy Ard as a bus driver in the transportation department. The board also approved the retirements of Raymond Pate as a custodian at the high school and Molly Sue Tatum as a school nutrition assistant.
The board also approved all coaching recommendations for the high school and middle school. The board adjourned into a three minute closed session Monday night to discuss personnel. After Monday’s closed session, the board voted to accept the resignations of Christine Blackmon, teacher at Patterson Elementary, Elizabeth Yarbrough, paraprofessional at Midway Elementary and Shelly Hyers, special education paraprofessional. The board also voted to accept the resignation of James Cox and Rebecca Insalaco, community wrestling coaches at the high school.
Middle school and Patterson Elementary additions: The board approved asking its architect, SP Design Group of Macon, to prepare architectural plans for additional classrooms and conference space at Patterson Elementary and the additional classrooms and bathrooms at the middle school. Board chairman Duward Boatright said the request is part of the system’s five year plan and does not mean that construction will begin in the
near future.
Blackshear Elementary gifted teacher: The board approved adding a full-time gifted teacher to Blackshear Elementary beginning next school year.
Middle School classroom to be divided:
Bids are being sought for dividing a technology classroom at the middle school into two regular size class rooms. Estimated cost of the project will be $50,000. A public notice is included in this week’s edition.
Midway Elementary pre-k playground: The board approved paying half the cost of a pre-k playground at Midway Elementary. The board’s share is $11,544.50 of the $23,089 total cost of the playground.
Metal buildings: The board approved seeking bids for metal storage buildings for Blackshear and Midway Elementary Schools. Superintendent Dara Bennett said the buildings are needed for storage space at both campuses.
Recognition: The board recognized system retirees, young authors for the school and the Okefenokee Regional Education Services Agency (RESA) and Midway Elementary as a national distinguished model school.
Consent agenda: Several items were approved under the consent agenda. They include:
• the approval of a new athletic booster club to support the Pierce County High School Wrestling Team. (See related story.)
• approval of the annual contract with the Okefenokee RESA. The contract will be for $32,248, the same amount as last year. The school system receives instruction, training and bulk buying discounts as part of the contract.
• approval of 23 nonresident applications including two kindergarten and one first grade student at Blackshear Elementary, one student each in the first, third and fourth grades at Midway, two fifth grade students at Patterson, three sixth, two seventh and one eighth grader at the middle school and four freshmen, four juniors and one senior at the high school.
• approval of a field trip request for eighth graders at PCMS to go to Universal Studios in Orlando, FL May 9. All out-of-state field trips require board approval.
Reports: Finance Director Melanie Helms gave the system’s financial report. The school system reported revenue of $36.5 million and expenses of $31.8 million through March. The system had almost $20 million in reserves. She noted the reserve will start falling now that local tax revenues have reached their max.
Helms reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $254,424 in March up $20,000 from February. She also reviewed school activity account reports.
The board approved the financial reports as presented. Facilities director Harbin Farr progress at the high school’s new indoor sports complex, formerly known as the “new, old gym” at PCHS. (See related story.) Farr also told members maintenance will be securing and installing cypress mulch on the playground at Blackshear Elementary. Public participation:
There was no public participation.
Minutes: The board approved minutes for April’s meetings.
Information:
Superintendent Bennett reminded board members graduation will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Bear Stadium. Last day of school and early release day will be Tuesday, May 20.
Post planning will take place May 21-23 and will be completed before the Memorial Day holiday May 26.
The central office and all school campuses will be closed May 26 for Memorial Day and June 19 for Juneteenth.
Next meetings: The June work session will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 5. The June regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 9. All meetings will be at the BOE central office 0n Main Street.
College Sports
Prime Video Unveils Teaser Trailer for "We Were Liars" Adaptation
Prime Video Unveils Teaser Trailer for “We Were Liars” Adaptation All Eight Episodes of the Mystery Thriller Will Debut June 18, exclusively on Prime Video [embedded content] CULVER CITY, California – May 6, 2025 – Today, Prime Video released the teaser trailer from the mystery thriller based on the best-selling novel by E. Lockhart, We […]
Prime Video Unveils Teaser Trailer for “We Were Liars” Adaptation
All Eight Episodes of the Mystery Thriller Will Debut June 18, exclusively on Prime Video
CULVER CITY, California – May 6, 2025 – Today, Prime Video released the teaser trailer from the mystery thriller based on the best-selling novel by E. Lockhart, We Were Liars. All eight episodes will be available on June 18, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed the Liars, during their summer escapades on her grandfather’s New England private island. The Sinclairs are American royalty – known for their good looks, old money, and enviable bond – but after a mysterious accident changes Cadence’s life forever, everyone, including her beloved Liars, seems to have something to hide.
Starring “the Liars”: Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence Sinclair Eastman, Shubham Maheshwari as Gat Patil, Esther McGregor as Mirren Sinclair Sheffield, Joseph Zada as Johnny Sinclair Dennis; alongside Caitlin FitzGerald as Penny Sinclair, Mamie Gummer as Carrie Sinclair, Candice King as Bess Sinclair, Rahul Kohli as Ed Patil, and David Morse as Harris Sinclair.
The series is written and executive produced by co-showrunners Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries, Legacies) and Carina Adly MacKenzie (Roswell, New Mexico, The Originals). Also executive producing are Emily Cummins (The Endgame, Vampire Academy) for My So-Called Company, Brett Matthews (Legacies), Pascal Verschooris (The Vampire Diaries), and the novel’s author, E. Lockhart. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Amazon MGM Studios are behind the project. The novel is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.
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About Prime Video
Prime Video is a first-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one app available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can customize their viewing experience and find their favorite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports – including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Red One, Road House, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, The Boys, Cross, and The Idea of You; licensed fan favorites; Prime member exclusive access to coverage of live sports including Thursday Night Football, WNBA, and NWSL, and acclaimed sports documentaries including Bye Bye Barry and Kelce; and programming from Apple TV+, Max, Crunchyroll and MGM+ via Prime Video add-on subscriptions, as well as more than 500 free ad-supported (FAST) Channels. Prime members in the U.S. can share a variety of benefits, including Prime Video, by using Amazon Household. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of the Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles via the Prime Video Store, and can enjoy even more content for free with ads. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favorite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access. For more info visit www.amazon.com/primevideo.
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
Instagram: @wewereliarsonprime, @PrimeVideo, @AmazonMGMStudios
X: @PrimeVideo, @AmazonMGMStudio
TikTok: @wewereliarsonprime, @PrimeVideo
Facebook: @PrimeVideo
High School Sports
Jefferson High School bowling team wins championship, highlights value of all students
Stacked in individual lanes, a bowling alley is the perfect example of a friendly competition. Everyone takes turns, trying to knock down every pin before the person after them does. Bowling is typically an independent sport, but at Lafayette Jefferson High School, it is all about team collaboration, working together to get the highest scores […]
Stacked in individual lanes, a bowling alley is the perfect example of a friendly competition. Everyone takes turns, trying to knock down every pin before the person after them does.
Bowling is typically an independent sport, but at Lafayette Jefferson High School, it is all about team collaboration, working together to get the highest scores and including everybody in the process.
JHS is one of seven ‘Unified Champions Schools’ in Indiana. To receive this national banner recognition, the school is expected to be dedicated to creating an inclusive and integrative environment.
Specifically, the school implements sports and club activities called ‘Special Olympic Unified Sports’, where individuals with and without disabilities work together and compete as a team.
At JHS, students can participate in unified sports, like bowling, through a partnership with the student-run Best Buddies Program, which fosters inclusion by pairing students with and without disabilities in these sports.
Last year was the team’s first time bowling in the state finals. To the team and coach Kristen Van Laere’s surprise, they “landed third place in the championship,”
Members of the Jefferson High School bowling team take a photo together at a competition.
Van Laere said this year they had the same attitude towards the sport, which was to have fun and do their best.
“I’ll never forget what it was like, going into the last set and the guy (from Unified Sports) said 54. I don’t know what that means” Van Laere said. “He says (in that moment) you’re 54 pins up, (which is) first place out of all of the schools. It was hysterical, but now (I knew) we are playing to win.”
“You know, (it’s) kind of like the (Purdue) basketball tournament that just got done. You knew going in, (that) Purdue was going to win certain games and they were expected to.,” Van Laere said. “I never had an expectation (about) this – I think that’s what makes it fun.”
