The basketball coaches were first to step to the microphone. Munro Rataeu, the boys’ coach, and Chad White, the girls’ coach, gave very similar reports. Both teams finished the regular season around the .500 mark and both teams had some success in the playoffs, but did not move deep into post-season play. In addition, both teams had one All-Jefferson district first team honoree and one second team honoree. On the boys’ side, freshman Aamir Simms made the first team, while senior Goddience (Goddy) Flannagan made the second team. For the girls’ team junior Kiana Childress was selected to the first team, while sophomore Kate Stutz made the second team.
Coaches Connie Banton and Jimmy Small reported on the girls’ and boys’ swim teams’ accomplishments. The girls’ team finished 2nd in the Conference 23 meet and 11th at the State meet. The boys’ team was 3rd at the Conference meet. Diving is obviously an area of strength for the Flucos. Anna Hurdle was State and regional champion in dive. On the boys’ side Bryce Campanelli was State champion in dive. At the conference meet, Fefe Nardone won 50 and 100 freestyle races. The girls’ 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams were conference champions. These relay teams both consisted of: Maddie Messier, Lauren Cabrara, Alyssa McIver and Fefe Nardone.
The Flucos did well this year in indoor track and field. Coaches Rose Brogan and Tom Casto reported on a significant number of accomplishments. The girls’ team won the Conference 23 championship, while the boys’ team finished third. On the boys’ side Deiondre Key was conference champion in the shot put, and the 4X800 relay team also took top honors at the conference meet. This team consisted of James Byram, Andy Guess, Austin Early, and Andrew Sherman. Byram, Sherman and Guess also made all-conference in their individual running events. The boys’ team was also strong in field events as is traditionally the case. KaShawn Anderson was all-conference in high jump and triple jump, Jesse VanDyke was all-conference in long jump and triple jump, and Matt Jonkman and Dylon Garrett were all-conference in pole vault. All-conference performers on the track included Travis Moe in the 1600 and the 3200, Matt Reilly in the 1000, Tyler Hertzog in the 500 and Kyle Jenkins in the 55m hurdles. All-region honors were garnered by Anderson in high jump, Garrett in pole vault, Key in shot put and VanDyke in long jump.
The girls’ team also had some conference champions. Nicki Douma was conference champion in both the 1600 and the 1000 and set a conference record in the 1000. Hannah Meador was champion in the pole vault and she too set a conference record. These two also went on to star in the Regional meet. Meador was regional champion in the pole vault with a regional record vault of 12’ 3”. At the regional meet Douma made all-region in the 1600 and the 1000. Two relay teams also made all-region. In addition to vaulting, Meador also ran on both these teams. Others on the teams included; Brooke Haislip, and Rachel Devore who ran on both teams, and Helen Wood who ran on the 4X400, and Tiffani Shaheen who ran on the 4X200.
In addition to the above athletes who all made all-conference, other all-conference performers included Emily Haden, Erin Blackburn, Elle Smialek, Bridget Bossong, Jasmine Courts, Hailey Geadrault, Jackie Rodriguez and Annaliese Estes.
Coach Michael Gore reported that the wrestling team had a difficult year, but established a base for the future. Raejion White was Jefferson District champion at 220 lbs. And, Craig Russo at 145, Dalton Wensel at 120, Donnie Wilson at 182 and Eric Wentz all did well enough in the conference meet to qualify for Regionals.
Coach Edgerton reported that the Fluco speech team won the Conference 23 team title. First place finishers were: Jonathan Corbin in extemporaneous speaking. Carrie Dominic in storytelling, Adele Simms in poetry, and Zach Dobrin and Jamie Hall in serious duo. These five are moving on to Regionals on March 8 at Salem High School. Also moving on to the regional event based on their performance at the conference event are Casey Johnson, Zach Hazel, Jordan Nazar, Darien Tinsley, Hannah Corbin, Julieanne Bryant, Dalton Baughn, Mary Milton, Aaron Brock, Erin Edgerton, Kara Kline, Dominique Smith, Savannah Forren, and Savannah Nelson.
