The SLHS Eagles opened district play by shutting out Wekiva this past Friday, Sept 25 scoring 34-0 at Eagle stadium. The Eagle offense had over 450 yards on the offensive side of the ball and multiple players had strong defensive performances keeping the Mustangs out of the South Lake end zone. Tre Kelly had a very strong performance rushing for 107 yards  and two touchdowns   passing for 148 yards and a touchdown. Sam Wood also had a big night rushing for two touchdowns and 126 yards. Cody Mason would score on a 60 yard touchdown pass from Kelly as well.

The Defensive line had their way most of the night with strong performances from Quoy Nelson, Anthony Johnson, Shamar Murray, and Brian Bedingfield. The Four along with Ronnie Rousse raised havoc in the Wekiva backfield all night long. Ahvioume Scott also had 7 tackles and an interception leading the Eagle secondary.

“We are halfway through the season and need to clean up our penalties. The players played hard and had a strong week of practice. We are 1-0 in the district so we took step one. We have a very talented Boca Ciega team coming in this week that we need to play well against before our next District game on 10/10 at Evans.  We want to thank our community for all of the support we are getting“

Date of Next opponent: October 2  Boca Ciega Home 7 pm

CONGRATULATIONS COACH LORD AND THE SLHS TEAM!

The post A BIG Win For The South Lake High School Eagles At Home On Sept 25 appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

One of Central Florida’s top football programs, The First Academy, traveled to Groveland on Saturday, Sept. 12, and dominated South Lake in every phase of the game en route to a 42-0 victory.

The Royals wasted little time making their presence felt. After returning the opening kickoff to the Eagles’ 15-yard line, former South Lake standout Julian White went untouched into the end zone on the ensuing play, giving The First Academy a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the first quarter.

South Lake’s offense struggled throughout the night against a relentless Royals defense. The First Academy controlled the line of scrimmage and its defensive backs effectively shut down the Eagles’ passing attack, limiting South Lake to short gains and preventing any explosive plays.

The Royals’ front four also stifled the Eagles’ ground game, holding South Lake to a season-low 45 rushing yards. Senior quarterback Tre Kelly, Sam Wood, Walker Motley, and Willie Dixon each had flashes of success offensively, but the Eagles were unable to sustain drives or reach the end zone.

Meanwhile, The First Academy consistently moved the ball on offense, threatening to score on nearly every possession.

One bright spot for South Lake came on the defensive side of the ball. Senior Ronnie Rouse recorded a strip sack, and Cornelius Van Rooyen recovered the fumble and returned it 35 yards. Van Rooyen also turned in a strong defensive performance, finishing with double-digit tackles to go along with his fumble recovery.

“Football is a collision sport. You have to play this game with physicality,” said South Lake head coach Mike Stokes. “The First Academy is a very good football team. We can’t play them soft mentally or physically and expect to compete with a team like that. We need to get a lot tougher mentally and physically this week because we’re facing another very strong team in Bishop Moore.”

South Lake will look to regroup and earn its first win of the season when the Eagles travel to face Bishop Moore on Friday, Sept. 18.

The post The First Academy Royals Overpowered The South Lake Eagles, 42-0. Leaving South Lake Season Record: 0-3 appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

East Ridge High School – 24  Vs  South Lake High School – 7
The East Ridge Knights got off to a fast start in Friday night’s cross town rivalry game. The Eagles got out of the gate slow on defense and the offense could not finish drives in the first half. East Ridge used a strong power running game to score the first two touchdowns of the game in the first half. South Lake would move the ball in the first half, but blown assignments and penalties would keep the Eagles from scoring any points in the first half. A bad snap would give the Knights great field possession at the end of the second quarter and they would capitalize on it by kicking a field goal to take a 17-0 halftime lead.

In the second half the Eagle defense would stiffen and the offense would start to move the ball. The Eagles would score in the third quarter on a Tre Kelly quarterback keeper cutting the score to 17-7 going into the fourth quarter. The Eagle defense would come up with a big stop and the offense would start to move the ball down the field. Dropped passes and two costly interceptions kept the Eagles from making any comeback in the game. The Knights would put the game away late in the fourth quarter on a reverse.

“East Ridge outplayed us in every facet of the game. We lost the turnover game, special teams game, and our offense put our defense in bad situations all night. They out-coached us as well. We were undisciplined at times and it cost us. We need to clean up a lot during the bye week so that we can compete in our next game at the Villages,” said Coach Brad Lord, Head Coach at South Lake High School. “Success is leased not owned and rent is due every day.” JJ Watt- We will go back to work on Monday.

Date of next opponent: South Lake HS Away Game at The Villages 9/4

The post South Lake High School Football Game Results (August 21) appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

This time of year brings lots of families to parkrun. Extremely hot and humid conditions, with temperatures in the 90s, don’t stop the runners from showing up. In fact, this is one of Clermont parkrun’s busiest times of the year. There are last getaway trips before the school year starts, some end-of-summer training in preparation for cross country season, and plenty of families looking for something to do together on a Saturday morning.

Lots of those families gather at Hiawatha Park each week for Clermont parkrun, and the August 15th edition was no different.

For Robert Stoneking and his son Justin, Saturday morning offered another opportunity to run together before Justin’s middle school cross country season gets underway.

“My son Justin runs in middle school up in Mount Dora. We came last week with some friends on the Tavares Red Sea team. The two of us decided we wanted to come back as we had an open weekend before his cross country season kicks off. We enjoy coming out here, as I enjoy running with Justin, so this might have been the last opportunity before the season starts.”

For Karen Owens and her family, Clermont parkrun has become something worth planning a vacation around.

“We came here last year and loved it. We had to make the trip back this year. We planned our whole trip around Clermont parkrun. We really wish we could come every week. We love Clermont parkrun.”

The Nicklin family from the UK takes family running to another level. Peter Nicklin said running together began after he completed a couple of marathons and has since turned into a family affair. All of them now belong to the same running club back home.

And the kids are fast. “Rex, the middle one, is running in the 18s for a 5K as an 11-year-old. My 10-year-old is running right at 20 minutes, and then my oldest runs a respectable 22 minutes. We like to look at ourselves as a quick family.”

Saturday’s Florida weather provided an additional challenge, but Peter saw something bigger than the finishing times.

“The conditions this morning were tough, but there is a bit more to see. It’s nice to see everyone out exercising this early in the morning. No other sport lets us compete as a family like running, and parkrun gives us that platform.”

That idea of sharing a common goal was echoed by Jonah Smith, who comes to parkrun with his dad.

“It allows me to get out here in the community. It helps me keep working on getting faster and fitness. Out here, there are people to work out with. My dad and I come out and we motivate each other to get faster. Coming out here together gives us a sense of unity. We have a common goal and we push each other.”

For Richard Halsop and Hallie, Saturday was an introduction to parkrun. They had only discovered the event a couple of days earlier.

“It is his first parkrun he has ever done. He plays soccer, but we really enjoy this as we can do it together. We came on Thursday and saw this was going on. We knew we wanted to do it together as a family.”

For some families, the motivation works both ways.

Jason Fuqua and his son Jordan are familiar faces at Clermont parkrun. Usually Jason finishes ahead of Jordan and then comes back to run the final stretch with him.

This week, the roles were reversed.

“Today Jordan got me! But that’s what makes parkrun special. Usually I come back and run the last little bit with Jordan. Today he was the one coming back for me. It is why we do it — finish what we started together!”

Jason said the encouragement starts even before they arrive at Hiawatha Park.

“We are always here to encourage each other. Sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed, but he comes and gets me and gives me that motivation.”

That may be the best way to describe the family atmosphere at Clermont parkrun.

Parents ran with their children. Children pushed their parents. Families visiting Central Florida made parkrun part of their vacation. Young runners used the morning as preparation for the upcoming cross country season. Some chased fast times while others simply enjoyed the opportunity to cover 5K together.

There was room for all of them.

Event Director Jim Pickering said that is exactly what Clermont parkrun is supposed to be.

“It is a great time for a family or individual. We have a place for everyone. If you want to run or walk or volunteer, we have a place for you. It is a great way for a family to come out and spend time together on the weekend and meet some people.”

On a hot and humid August morning in Clermont, plenty of families took him up on that opportunity.

Because while the clock records everyone’s individual finishing time, some of the best parts of parkrun aren’t measured in minutes and seconds.

Sometimes it’s simply about finishing what you started — together.

The post Families Make Memories At The Clermont parkrun Before Summer Ends appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

A new year of Montverde Academy Athletics officially gets underway this weekend as the girls volleyball team takes the court for preseason tournament action.

The Eagles will host a pair of matches Saturday, beginning at 10:30 am against DME Academy, followed by a 12 pm matchup with Vero Beach High School as part of the MVA Preseason Classic at The Nest.

The preseason tournament serves as the first competition of the 2026-27 athletics year for Montverde Academy, with the girls volleyball regular season set to officially begin Tuesday when the Eagles travel to Lakeland to face McKeel Academy of Technology.

MVA will then return to The Nest for its regular season home opener on Thursday, Aug. 20 against The First Academy. The junior varsity match begins at 4:30 pm, followed by the varsity match at 6 pm.

The Eagles enter the new season with plenty of experience and expectations following a strong 2025 campaign. MVA finished 19-6 overall and advanced to the regional championship match for the second year in a row. The program has also captured back-to-back district championships over the past two seasons.

With eight seniors on this year’s roster, the Eagles return a veteran core as they look to build on their recent success and make another deep postseason run.

Saturday’s preseason action marks the beginning of what promises to be another exciting year for MVA Athletics.

Other Season Openers

While girls volleyball will open the 2026-27 calendar for the Eagles, MVA’s other fall season will follow in short order.

The defending district champion boys golf season gets underway on Thursday, August 27 against Lake Highland Prep at 4:00 pm. at Bella Collina.

The Middle School girls volleyball Orange roster (eighth grade) is set to open its season on Monday, August 31 with a match against Lake Highland Prep at 5:15 pm followed by a match against Windermere Prep at 6:15 pm in Orlando, hosted by The First Academy. The Middle School girls volleyball White roster (sixth and seventh grade) will play the same teams 24 hours later at the same location.

The girls golf season gets underway on Thursday, September 3 at 4:00 pm against The First Academy at Bella Collina.

The boys and girls cross country teams start things off on Saturday, September 5 for the Horse Park Invitational in Ocala. The girls race is set for 7:20 am, followed by the boys at 7:40 am. The Junior Varsity runners will compete at 9:20 am.

The boys and girls swim teams splash in on Wednesday, September 9 for the Winter Park Tri-Match against Winter Park and Boone High School, with a start time scheduled for 4:00 pm.

The post MVA Athletics Open 2026-27 Year With Preseason Volleyball Action appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Date    Time           Opponent

8/14     7:00 pm      St. Cloud (Kick off Classic)

*8/21     7:00 pm     South Lake High School

*8/28     7:00 pm     Leesburg High School

9/4       7:00 pm      @Lake Minneola High School

9/11     7:00 pm      @ South Sumter High School

*9/17    7:00 pm      Forest High School

9/25    7:00 pm       @Celebration High School

*10/2    7:30 pm     Wiregrass Ranch (ERHS Homecoming)

10/9                       @ Horizon High School (Winter Garden)

*HOME GAME

The post Friday Night Lights: East Ridge High School Varsity Football Schedule appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Date    Time           Opponent

8/14     7:00 pm      Leesburg

8/21     7:00 pm      @Mount Dora High School

8/28     7:00 pm      @ Gateway High School (Kissimmee)

*9/4      7:00 pm      East Ridge High School

9/11     7:00 pm      @ St Cloud High School

*9/17    7:00 pm      Tavares High School

*9/25    7:00 pm      Evans High School

*10/9    7:00 pm      Wekiva High School

*10/16  7:00 pm      Eustis High School

10/25    7:00 pm      @ South Lake High School

10/30     7:30 pm.     @ Lake Gibson High School (Lakeland)

*HOME GAME

The post Friday Night Lights: Lake Minneola Varsity Football Schedule appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Date    Time           Opponent

8/14     7:00 pm      Viera (Kick Off Classic)

8/21     7:00 pm      @East Ridge High School (Clermont)

8/28.                       BYE Week

9/4      7:00 pm      @The Villages Charter (The Villages)

*9/11.  7:00 pm.     The First Academy (Orlando)

9/18     7:00 pm      Bishop Moore (Orlando)

*9/25   7:00 pm       Wekiva High School (Apopka)

*10/2    7:00 pm      Boca Ciega (Gulfport)

10/9    7:00 pm        @Evans High School (Orlando)

10/16   7:00 pm        @West Orange High School (Winter Garden)

*10/23  7:00 pm        Lake Minneola High School (Clermont)

*10/30.   7:00 pm.    South Sumter High School (Bushnell)                

*HOME GAME

The post Friday Night Lights: South Lake High School Varsity Football Schedule appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

“I am so pleased that Tripp was recognized by the FCSAA to be the recipient of this award. He put in the time and effort to grow as an individual, as a golfer, and as a leader on our team,” said head coach Meredith Yaun.

After a successful freshman season, Watkins returned as a strong leader to a team of sophomores. He achieved his first individual win in a one round match against Eastern Florida State College in October.

He carded a two-under score on the front nine following with a +1 on the back nine to post a career-best 71 (-1). His leadership on the course also helped the Lakehawks to the program’s first win.

Watkins’ individual win came with regional recognition. He was named the FCSAA October Golfer of the Month, another first for the program.

Watkins’ next standout performance came at the 2026 Lakehawk Invitational where he tied for first in individual standing with a +3 two-round score. He narrowly missed the individual champion title after a sudden death playoff which stretched three extra holes.

The FCSAA named Watkins the March Golfer of the Month after his performance at the Lakehawk Invite and a third place finish at the Pioneer Invitational in Gaffney, S.C.

Executive Director of Athletics Jay Miller says, “Tripp played a pivotal role in establishing our men’s golf program the last two years. He helped set the standard for future Lakehawk golfers.”

“He is a fierce competitor whose commitment to excellence has elevated everyone around him. Earning FCSAA Golfer of the Year is a well-deserved honor and further solidifies the legacy he leaves both on and off the course.”

Watkins’ Lakehawk career came to an end in Oxford, Ala. at the 2026 NJCAA South District Championship. He took fifth overall in the tournament with a +12 after three rounds of competition.

In addition to regional recognition and induvial success, Watkins was voted the 2025-26 Lakehawk Athletics Male Player of the Year, an award dedicated to honoring the most talented student-athlete in the department.

“We are incredibly proud of Tripp Watkins and all he has accomplished on the course and in the classroom,” said John Temple, President of Lake-Sumter State College. “As one of the first student-athletes to take a chance on joining our College’s new men’s golf program, Tripp has helped lay a strong foundation for future Lakehawk success. We look forward to the bright future ahead for Tripp.” 

Watkins has etched his name into the Lakehawk Golf history books as a player, but he also brought value to the program as a person and a student.

This year, Watkins volunteered at the Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) Athletics Golf Classic and the LSSC Foundation Gala, as well as at home baseball and softball games assisting in the concession stand.

Watkins finished the 2026 championship season ranked no. 25 nationally. He will continue his education and collegiate golf career at New College of Florida in Sarasota, Fla.

As the men’s golf honoree, Watkins moves forward as a candidate for the FCSAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. The finalists will be announced on Tuesday, June 30 followed by the winner on Thursday, July 2.

The post LSSC’s Tripp Watkins Named FCSAA Men’s Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Mitchell spent the 2021-22 season at MVA, helping lead the Eagles to a GEICO High School National Championship and a No. 1 national ranking. The Eagles captured their third consecutive national title that season, finishing atop the national polls after winning GEICO Nationals. Mitchell played a key role throughout the championship run, averaging 13.0 points and 11.3 rebounds during the national tournament.

Mitchell, a Tampa native, arrived at MVA as one of the nation’s premier prospects and quickly established himself as one of the top two-way players in high school basketball. During his lone season with the Eagles, he earned McDonald’s All-American honors, was named a MaxPreps Third Team All-American, earned Naismith Trophy Second Team All-America recognition, and was selected to the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) All-Defensive Team.

Following his graduation from MVA in 2022, Mitchell signed with the University of Texas, where he spent two seasons. He later transferred to the University of Cincinnati before finishing his collegiate career at St. John’s University under Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino.

At St. John’s, Mitchell helped lead the Red Storm to Big East regular-season and tournament championships while showcasing the athleticism and defensive versatility that made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2026 draft class. He averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game during his final collegiate season and earned All-Big East Defensive Team honors.

Known for his elite athleticism, rebounding ability, and defensive impact, Mitchell developed into one of the nation’s top defensive forwards during his college career. Those traits ultimately caught the attention of the Celtics, who made him the 40th overall selection.

The entire Montverde Academy community congratulates Dillon on this tremendous accomplishment and wishes him continued success as he begins his professional career with the Boston Celtics.

(Provided by Montverde Academy)

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