2011 sports roundup
Another year of Island sports got the buzzer, which means another top-10 sports stories for Islander readers. There’s no scientific formula used to decide which sports stories make the list, but a lot of thought does go into selecting who or what makes the list.
There have been a lot of great games and great stories sent to The Islander, including all of the regular reports from folks like Ed Havlik and Sally York, who send weekly golf updates from the links at the Key Royale Club.
One of the best this year was Rose Slomba’s return to the club after a six-month visit to see family and friends in Minnesota and New Jersey. All Slomba — mind you, she’s a youthful 91-year-old — managed to do Nov. 15 after her long absence was chip in on holes three, six and nine on the way to an 8-over-par 40.
The weekly horseshoe reports sent in by Sam Samuels and Ron Pepka also provide interest.
Another great story that didn’t make it in the top-10 was the golf tournament held by the Fish Hole fun golf attraction on Bridge Street in April. Tim Shaughnessy rather handily defeated pre-tournament favorite Danny Canniff.
Locals Toni Teasdale and Barbara Smith made the paper a few times for their winning ways in pickleball, while the Jimmie McSwain tennis tourney in March and Aces for Education tennis tournament in January also were great events.
However, two stories in the year about the successes of former Holmes Beach resident Chris Perez, who by any account, has had a great 2011, top this list. In January it was announced he had signed a $2.25 million contract to continue his role as the closer for the Cleveland Indians. As if that weren’t good enough, Perez was named by his Major League Baseball peers to the American League All-Star team in July.
Perez, along with wife Melanie, son Maxwell, and Chris’ mom, Julie, and dad, Tim, got to enjoy all of the sights and sounds of All-Star weekend in Phoenix, Ariz.
Perez gave his father Tim an extra-special Father’s Day gift as a thank you for all of the time he put in during his formative baseball years. He handed over his All-Star ring to Dad. And for that, Chris Perez is the Islander’s top sports story of the year.
No. 2. Hooke shatters running records
Former Islander and longtime Galati Marine employee Mickey Hooke made several appearances in The Islander sports section. It seemed each report had him setting another age division running record.
Most recently he appeared in the Dec. 7 issue for his third-place overall finish in the 10K Beach Running World Championships in Cocoa Beach. Hooke’s time of 37:51 established new Masters and Grand Masters records.
He also set Masters and Grand Masters records in Spring Lake in May and won the Bridge of Lions 5K run in St. Augustine in July, again setting new Masters and Grand Masters records.
Hooke’s 2011 running year brought his total records to 130, including 34 course records, 86 Masters records and 10 Grand Masters records.
No. 3. Islander top U.S. finisher in world triathlon
Nine-year Holmes Beach resident Sandy Meneley graced the pages of The Islander in October after she traveled to Beijing to compete in the International Triathlon Union event. Meneley finished in fourth place in her 60-64 age division. She competed on the course used during the 2008 Summer Olympics and was the top U.S. finisher in her age group.
Meneley, a retired sixth-grade math teacher is originally from Illinois, where she also coached high school track and cross country.
She got involved in triathlons after her move to Anna Maria Island. She became an avid runner, competing frequently in 5K races and “graduated” to marathons in 1982.
No. 4. Island grom makes waves in surfing world
Lifelong Holmes Beach resident Christian Daniels, 10, made The Islander in May for his many accomplishments on the Florida surfing scene. In his first season in the East Coast National Scholastic Surfing Association, Daniels ripped the competition and took second place overall in the southeast district.
Daniels often competed in two age divisions and finished in the top-5 in surfing contests held in St. Augustine, New Smyrna Beach, Melbourne Beach and even qualified for ESA East Coast Championships in Cape Hatteras, N.C., and the NSSA Nationals in Huntington Beach, Calif.
With a full season behind him, look for more high tournament finishes from young Daniels in 2012.
No. 5. Islander takes two gold medals
Islander Ellen Jones made the paper in March for her successful track-meet debut in the Gulf Coast Senior Games. She won gold medals in the 800- and 1,500-meter dashes in the Senior Games competition Feb. 26 at Bayshore High School in Bradenton.
Jones’ victories sent her on to the regional competition later in the year.
With no other women to compete in the 55-59 age group, Jones was thrown into a group of men and women of various ages, but her time of 4:02 in the 800-meter race ranked her eighth nationally in her age group, while her time of 8:03 ranked her seventh nationally for women age 55-59 in the 1,500-meter dash.
No. 6. Championships close out youth basketball season
It was another great basketball season at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. Champions were crowned in four age divisions in June. LaPensee Plumbing won the Premier Division with a 56-47 victory over the Sun behind Adam Bujarski’s 30 points. Walter & Associates won the Division I championship with a 41-36 victory over A Paradise Realty behind 18 points from Nehimiah Goode and 16 points from Seth Walter.
Ross Built won the Division II title, defeating Beach Bistro by a 30-24 score. Brothers Jake and Andrew Ross led the way with 12 points apiece in the victory.
But the top story of the basketball season came in Division III, where previously winless Agnelli Pool defeated Anna Maria Oyster Bar 11-10 to advance to the finals. The Cinderella story came to an end when Cortez Kat Charters rolled to an 18-0 victory behind 10 points, 12 steals and four blocked shots from Zach Fernandes.
No. 7. Agnelli, Sato earn two titles
Coed adult sports continued on a growth spirt at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. This past year, the adults had two seasons of flag football in addition to basketball and soccer, and they have an coed volleyball league starting up soon after the New Year.
Agnelli Pool & Spa and Sato Real Estate both had a good 2011. Agnelli played under the NFL Dolphins name in flag football, and though they handed the MartiniVille Saints its first loss, it wasn’t really an upset as the Dolphins put up crazy points throughout the season. They defeated the Saints 25-19 in the summer league August Super Bowl.
In November, Agnelli Pool & Spa scored an upset win over Beach to Bay Construction to take the adult coed basketball title. Aaron Duduks and Nate Coleman led the team in scoring.
In April, the Sato Real Estate Browns defeated the MartiniVille Bears 26-6. Jason Sato passed for three touchdowns, while brother Josh Sato scored twice for the Browns. Tommy Tyrell showed a nose for the end zone with a touchdown and an extra point.
The adult soccer finale in December saw Sato come from three goals down to record an exciting 4-3 victory over Ross Built. Stephen Perry, Josh Sato, Jesse Brisson and Matt Plummer scored goals for Sato,while Guy Virgilio, Chrissy Rice and Eric Howe scored for Ross Built.
No. 8. Youth soccer season winds up
It was another great season of youth soccer at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. They had more kids playing youth soccer than in any previous season and there were many great games and individual performances, all of which came to an end Nov. 19.
Gettel Toyota turned in the most impressive performance, rolling to an undefeated season thanks to a 6-0 victory over Island Pest Control in the Division III finals. Daniel Fritz led the way with four goals, showing why he was the league MVP.
LaPensee Plumbing brought home the Division II championship in an exciting 4-3 penalty-kick shootout victory over Jen Crady Massage.
Wash Family Construction captured the Division I championship thanks to a 5-2 victory over regular-season champs Autoway Ford. Neil Carper and Cortni Wash scored two goals apiece to lead the way for Wash FC.
No. 9. Youth flag football finale: Super Bowl
The Anna Maria Island Community Center’s NFL Flag Football season was again a big hit among players and fans. Teams in four age groups battled it out in a 10-game season before moving on to playoffs and the Super Bowl, played March 26. The Beach Bistro Bears rolled to a 33-16 victory over the Bassett, Vita, Vining & Herman Group Raiders. Austin Ferrer led the way, accounting for four of the five Bear touchdowns.
Ross Built brought home the 10-12 division Super Bowl by rolling past Holy Cow Colts 37-6. Andrew Ross led the way, completing 9-of-10 passes for 154 yards and four touchdowns.
Beach Bum Seahawks were the 8-9 division champions thanks to a 47-8 victory over Island Real Estate Saints. Zach Fernandes led the way with 160 passing yards, 85 rushing yards and accounted for six touchdowns. Ethan Helvey also had a big game with 105 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
10. Cool summer soccer winds up
The Center hosted its second summer of indoor soccer action in the “cool” air-conditioned gym. Island Dental Spa won the competitively balanced 6-9 division over second-place Fran Maxon Realty. Southern Greens finished in third place, while Beach Bums finished fourth.
The 10-12 division was dominated by Mr. Grout, which put together an undefeated season. They rolled past LaPensee Plumbing 16-6 in the championship game. The best of the season was the all-girls, Pink & Navy Boutique team. They finished in third place, but battled tough against male-dominated opponents in every game.