Lake Minneola High School Archives | South Lake Tablet

Lake Minneola HS Freshman Goalie Competes in National Water Polo Championship

Michelle Delaney — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:39:06 +0000

By Ashley Salter, Lake Minneola High School

Lake Minneola High School freshman goalie Jackson Salter (Class of 2029) recently competed in the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program Boys National Championship, held this past weekend in San Diego. This marks Jackson’s second consecutive year being selected to participate in the prestigious championship, part of the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program—widely recognized as the primary pipeline for identifying future USA Water Polonational team athletes.

ODP Cadets 2026

During the off-season, Jackson trains with his club team, Orlando Thunder Water Polo, which practices locally in Lake County at the National Training Center in Clermont.

While Jackson’s selection highlights an impressive individual accomplishment, it also reflects the rapid growth of the Lake Minneola High School water polo program, which is currently in only its second year. Both the boys and girls teams are already exceeding expectations and setting early program milestones this season.

According to the latest rankings from the Florida High School Athletic Association:

The Lake Minneola girls’ team is ranked No. 15 out of 54 teams statewide and currently sits in first place in the district, which includes Apopka and Gainesville.
The boys’ team is ranked No. 26 out of 61 teams in Florida and currently holds second place in the district.

Both teams have improved significantly since last season, highlighting the dedication and hard work of the athletes, coaches, and families who have helped build the program in such a short time.

With four weeks remaining in the regular season, the teams continue to build momentum as they prepare for postseason play.

The post Lake Minneola HS Freshman Goalie Competes in National Water Polo Championship appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Lake Minneola High School Swim Team Regional Results

Michelle Delaney — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 01:00:26 +0000

by Julia Flohr, Lake Minneola High School

The Lake Minneola High School boys swim team WON the FHSAA 4A Region 2 swim meet on Friday, November 7th topping Windermere HS by 75 points! The girls finished an impressive 5th of 21 teams behind some of the fastest in the State. Notable performances:

Lyla Conte, 1st Place, 500 free and 3rd place 200 free
Jack Raburn, 1st place 500 free and 2nd place, 200 free
Henry Carlisle, 3rd 500 free and 3rd 200 free
Jackson Kelly, 4th 500 free
Collin Magnus, 5th 500 free and 4th, 100 backstroke
Nico Rabinowitz, 2nd 200 IM and 3rd 100 fly
Ismail Elamrani, 5th 200 IM and 4th 100 breaststroke
Evan Stires 3rd 50 free and 5th 100 free
Mai Perez, 4th 500 free

The boys won both the 200 medley and 400 free relay and took 5th in the 200 free relay. The girls got 3rd in the 200 free relay and 2nd in the 400 free relay.

The following swimmers are advancing to the 4A State swim meet on Friday, November 14th. Good Luck and Go Hawks! Jaden Garcia, Elijah Hodge, Olivia Klein, Lyla Conte, Evan Stires, Jackson Kelly, Chris Lessard, Sidney Stromberg, Elise Stromberg, Henry Carlisle,Nico Rabinowitz, Mai Perez, Jack Raburn and Ismail Elamrani.

The post Lake Minneola High School Swim Team Regional Results appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Local Student Performer Selected To Perform At Carnegie Hall

Michelle Delaney — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 20:20:48 +0000

For most musicians, performing at Carnegie Hall is a dream that takes a lifetime to achieve. For 15-year-old Corinne Vogel, a sophomore at Lake Minneola High School, that dream is already coming true.

Corinne has been selected to join the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, where she will perform as part of the Honors Concert Choir in February 2026. The prestigious program brings together some of the most talented young performers from across the world.

Earning a spot in the Honors Performance Series is no small feat. Corinne auditioned earlier this year and was accepted following a rigorous review by the Honors Selection Board. Her selection reflects not only her vocal talent, but also her years of hard work, dedication, and passion for the arts.

A high-achieving student with a 4.1 GPA, Corinne has been studying music for more than seven years. She is an active member of both the Lake Minneola High School Choir and Theatre programs and Caponi’s School of the Arts, where she also volunteers, mentoring younger performers who share her love of the stage.

Corinne made her professional debut last year in Winnie’s Rock Cauldron Cabaret at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and she’s performed in numerous school and community theatre productions, earning recognition for her vocal and theatrical performances. When she’s not on stage, she channels her creativity online as a digital content creator, sharing her love for music and theatre through storytelling.

When asked about her upcoming Carnegie Hall performance, Corinne’s excitement was unmistakable.

“I’m honestly so excited and grateful to be chosen for the Honors Performance Series!” she said. “Performing at Carnegie Hall has always been a dream of mine, and I can’t believe it’s actually happening. I can’t wait to meet other students who love music as much as I do and to learn from such amazing directors.”

In February, Corinne will travel to New York City to rehearse and perform with fellow student musicians from around the globe. Under the direction of world-renowned conductors, they’ll spend several days refining their craft before taking the stage at the legendary Carnegie Hall — a venue known for hosting some of the greatest performers in history.

“Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing,” said Marion Gomez, Music Director for the program. “We processed nearly 10,000 nominations this year and have selected the most talented student performers from around the world. Working with these conductors and performing at these renowned music halls is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians will never forget.”

The Honors Performance Series, presented by WorldStrides, was created to showcase outstanding young musicians and provide them with an international platform to grow artistically.

The Honors Concert Choir performance is open to the public, and tickets will be available for purchase approximately 60 days before the event through the Carnegie Hall Box Office.

For more information, visit honorsperformance.org and worldstrides.com.

The post Local Student Performer Selected To Perform At Carnegie Hall appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Lake Minneola High School Partners with Keep Lake Beautiful For Park Clean-Up

Michelle Delaney — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:41:33 +0000

Lake Minneola High School recently teamed up with Keep Lake Beautiful for a park clean-up initiative aimed at enhancing the natural beauty of Minneola Trailhead Park. Students joined forces to remove litter and improve the area, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship and community pride.

The clean-up event provided a hands-on opportunity for participants to give back to their surroundings while raising awareness about the importance of maintaining public spaces.

The initiative not only improved the appearance of Minneola Trailhead Park but also served as a reminder of how small acts of service can create a lasting impact. By taking an active role in preserving local green spaces, Lake Minneola High School students set an example of civic responsibility and environmental care.

Keep Lake Beautiful continues to encourage local engagement in similar efforts, emphasizing that a cleaner, greener community starts with the dedication of its residents.

For more community news and upcoming events, visit The South Lake Tablet. Share your stories, news, and public service events by contacting news@sltablet.com.

(picture: City of Minneola FB)

The post Lake Minneola High School Partners with Keep Lake Beautiful For Park Clean-Up appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Lake County Supervisor of Elections Presents Award to 2024 High School Voter Registration Challenge Winner—Lake Minneola High School

Michelle Delaney — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:45:06 +0000

Lake County Supervisor of Elections, Alan Hays, announced the winner of the 2024 High School Voter Registration Challenge for Lake County Public High Schools during the bi-weekly meeting of the Lake County School Board.

Leading the way to a 2024 victory Lake Minneola High School, now a challenge winner, were Brian Katz, Department Chair and high school senior Noelle Schnacky. The Hawks crossed the finish line first with the greatest number of students to register or pre-register to vote during the challenge period. Mr. Katz’s leadership and passion has helped paved the way for many students to become civically engaged by encouraging participation in the High School Voter Registration Challenge.

Supervisor Hays and Assistant Supervisor Hines expressed their appreciation for the support of Superintendent Kornegay and Principal Roberts for supporting the challenge and providing the opportunity for 16-18-year-olds to become registered voters.

Principal Roberts, Mr. Katz, and Noelle Schnacky were presented with the Challenge’s traveling trophy and a plaque to be permanently displayed on campus commemorating the Hawks win.

“Lake County experienced unprecedented voter turnout for the 2024 General Election. Our Election Worker teams shared with us many stories of students voting for the first-time. It’s exciting to see this generation of young voters discovering the right to vote and becoming engaged in the elections process,” commented Supervisor Hays.

The post Lake County Supervisor of Elections Presents Award to 2024 High School Voter Registration Challenge Winner—Lake Minneola High School appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Special Effects Makeup Artist Is Guest

Michelle Delaney — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 01:15:12 +0000

Susan Ratcliff, an ESE teacher at Lake Minneola High School, has been teaching her students about careers, resume writing and interviews. As part of the curriculum, she had various guest speakers talk to the students about their careers.

Savannah Gaskin, a local special effects makeup artist, spoke with the students and gave a live demonstration on Principal William Roberts and Assistant Principal Rhonda Wolf.

Follow Gaskin’s work on SavannahGaskin@savimariee on TikTok and Instagram.

The post Special Effects Makeup Artist Is Guest appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Lake Minneola High School Swimmers Are Sent To State Swimming Championship

Michelle Delaney — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 17:16:53 +0000

Submitted by Julia Flohr Larkin, Lake Minneola High School

Led by Coach Alex Baxter, Lake Minneola High School sent 10 athletes to the 3A FHSAA State Swimming championship on November 11, 2023. Highlights include these events/athletes making it to finals!

Girls 200 medley relay, 11^th overall (Parades, Stromberg, Imperi, Stires)

Girls 400 free relay, 14^th overall (Parades, Stires, Kozlowski Rezende, Stromberg)- swam a best time!

Collin Magnus, 500 free, 11^th overall, swam a best time!

Sidney Stromberg 500 free, 16^th overall, swam a best time!

Kai Larkin 200 IM, 16^th overall, swam a best time!

Kai Larkin 100 Breast, 10^th overall, swam a best time!

Also notable, the LMHS swim team broke several school records this season!

Gabi Parades with a :54.20 for the 100 fly. Sidney Stromberg in the 100 breast with a 1:13.63. Kai Larkin in the 100 breast with a :59.56. And the Girls 400 free relay of Gabi Parades, Sidney Stromberg, Ellis Imperi and Kaelynn Stires set a new school record with a 1:53.74

The post Lake Minneola High School Swimmers Are Sent To State Swimming Championship appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Ten Lake Minneola High School Swimmers Heading to 3A State Meet (Nov 11)

Michelle Delaney — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:26:58 +0000

Submitted by Julia Flohr

The Lake Minneola High School swim team participated in the Regional meet at the Long Center, Clearwater on Friday, November 3rd.

The boys finished 3rd and the girls finished 4th!
Ten swimmers are going on to the 3A State meet on Saturday, November 11th in Ocala.

The girls won the 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay.

LMHS had two individual event champions:
– Sidney Stromberg 500 Free,
– Collin Magnus 500 Free).
Two other individuals were automatic qualifiers:
– Kai Larkin 2nd in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 100 Breast and
– Gabi Parades 2nd in the 100 Fly. Gabi also was an at-large qualifier in the 200 IM.

The boys 200 Free Relay and 400 Free Relay were at large qualifiers.
Relay swimmers attending:
– Ellis Imperi,
– Kaelynn Stires,
– Monique Rezende,
– Evan Stires,
– Katon Schmidt, and
– Connor Costa.

The post Ten Lake Minneola High School Swimmers Heading to 3A State Meet (Nov 11) appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Lake Minneola High School XC Teams Move On To Regionals On November 11

Michelle Delaney — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 02:44:24 +0000

Article by Donna Wong, XC Parent
Photos by Lauren Nasser, Kristin Pautienus, Donna Wong, XC Parents

It was another amazing showing for the Lake Minneola HAWKS at the FHSAA 3A District Meet at Whispering Pine Park in Inverness. The competition was tough but the HAWKS stayed strong!

Head Coach Corey Isom said, “I was extremely proud of everyone’s eﬀort. They are getting stronger at the right time!”

Both teams are moving onto the Regional Meet at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee on November 11. Qualifying teams from Regionals will move on to the state finals in Tallahassee on November 17.

The weather was perfect for running with temperatures in the low 70s at race time. The cooler weather helped as the HAWKS had 11 PRs (Personal Records) between both the boys’ and girls’ teams.

Sophomore Ashlyn LeViner leads her teammates at the start of the District 5K girls’ race

On the girls’ side, the team placed three runners in the top 10, and sophomore Ashlyn LeViner took the top overall spot on a course that challenged her last year.

“It was great to see sophomore Ashlyn LeViner go out and win Districts especially after she came and said she wanted that title,” Isom said after the race. “That is a great warrior mindset and I love it!”

Sophomore Ashlyn LeViner rounds the corner heading towards the finish line a full five
seconds ahead of her closest competitor

For LeViner, it was redemption.

After the race, LeViner said, “Last year I broke my foot on this course. This year I was happy I could come back and win districts with a PR!”

LeViner’s PR of 18:53.02 also has her in 4th place all-time for the HAWKS. She is less than 40 seconds away from the HAWKS all-time record set in 2017 by Cadi Rowe (18:13.56). With two more years running XC for the HAWKS, the top spot is within reach.

Alejandra Rodriguez finishes strong in 5th place

In a tough field, every second counted. Freshman Alejandra Rodriguez (20:02.19) finished 5th and sophomore Raegan Krepcho (20:08.01) was 6th.

Sophomore Raegan Krepcho has been improving all season and is ready for Regionals!

“Each corner was a twist and a turn. I always feel strong on this course,” said Krepcho after the race.

Senior Sophia Reed (21:27.72) was the 4th finisher for the HAWKS in 18th place. She added, “I feel like I did really well and competed well. It was a lot of competition but it was an awesome course.”

Sophomore Haley Samuel sets a new PR en route to a 21st place

Sophomore Haley Samuel (21:55.93), junior Kristin Czymek (22:43.59), and seniors Kiera Davidson (22:56.58) and Ana Heskin (23:48.88 ) also had personal. records on this course, showing the depth of this HAWKS squad.

Senior Ana Heskin sets a new PR for her 5K!

On the boys’ side, six PRs highlighted the HAWKS field at Districts. The boys finished in 7th overall and were just seven points behind the 6th place team. Every second and every place matters and so many of the boys stepped up their game.

Sophomore Grant Pautienus and Freshman Dayton Nasser compete at the start of their
5K race.

Freshman Quentin Thompson finishes strong as the top runner for Lake Minneola. Thompson had another PR at Districts

Once again, freshman Quentin Thompson (17:37.78) was the top HAWK finisher in 15th place overall with another PR! He was just over one second behind the 14th-place competitor and less than 25 seconds from a top-10 finish!

Freshman Dayton Nasser in a footrace with a runner from Lecanto HS

Freshman Dayton Nasser (18:06.25) was the 2nd HAWK to cross the finish line in 28th place overall. Less than four seconds separated Nasser from the five runners ahead of him. So close!! Nasser and the rest of the HAWKS are moving up and improving at the right time!!

Sophomore Grant Pautienus (18:29.84) finished in 35th place and senior Jackson Crossley (19:00.66) finished in 50th – the 3rd and 4th HAWKS to cross the finish line.

Freshman Mason Robertson PRs at Districts

The surprise for the boys was freshman Mason Robertson (19:03.87) who was the 5th finisher for the HAWKS, in 53rd place overall. Robertson had a PR on this course and passed a few of his HAWKS teammates who are normally ahead.

Robertson said, “I guess I was holding back all season but I got what I wanted and worked hard for it.”

Junior Matthew McCullough and Sophomore Reese Davidson in a footrace at the finish!
The

An exciting footrace took place between teammates as sophomore Reese Davidson (21:35.44) and junior Matthew McCullough (21:35.65) were so close at the finish. Davidson edged McCullough by 0.21 seconds!

The final HAWKS PR was from sophomore Nate Cooke (21:49.70) who took 45 seconds oﬀ his previous best time set at the HAWKS Last Chance Meet on October 14.

This was truly a team effort on both sides with so many HAWKS putting it all on the line.

Assistant Coach Paden Whetten was proud and excited for the HAWKS, a team he had been part of until his graduation this past year.

Whetten said, “The boys had a great race I am very proud of all of them. The girls did exactly as I expected of them and am equally proud. The girls have a bright future for this year for competing at states and our boys have a good chance as long as they continue to fight hard.”

Whetten added, “I am especially proud of Mason and his massive breakthrough, Dayton and his continued growth and Quentin for continuing to run excellently. For the girls, I am very proud of our district champion Ashlyn. She deserved her victory for all her hard work and dedication.”

LeViner said of her teammates, “I enjoyed seeing my team get PRs and work hard. Excited to go to Regionals with the girls and boys!”

Sophomore Ashlyn LeViner leads her teammates at the start of the District 5K girls’ race

Sophomore Ashlyn LeViner rounds the corner heading toward the finish line a full five seconds ahead of her closest competitor

Freshman Alejandra Rodriguez finishes strong in 5th place

Sophomore Raegan Krepcho has been improving all season and is ready for Regionals!

Sophomore Haley Samuel sets a new PR en route to a 21st-place finish!

Senior Ana Heskin sets a new PR for her 5K!

Sophomore Grant Pautienus and Freshman Dayton Nasser compete at the start of their 5K race.

Freshman Quentin Thompson finishes strong as the top runner for Lake Minneola. Thompson had another PR at Districts

Freshman Dayton Nasser in a footrace with a runner from Lecanto HS

Freshman Mason Robertson PRs at Districts

Junior Matthew McCullough and Sophomore Reese Davidson in a footrace at the finish!

The LMHS girls with their 2nd place trophy!

LMHS HAWKS are moving on to the Regional meet on November 11, at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee.

The post Lake Minneola High School XC Teams Move On To Regionals On November 11 appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Staci Mauro Selected As An AGS Geography Teacher Fellow

Michelle Delaney — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:10:48 +0000

The American Geographical Society (AGS) has named Staci Mauro of Lake Minneola High School in Lake County as a 2023 AGS Geography Teacher Fellow. Teachers were selected from across the United States and will receive special opportunities to support their teaching activities for the year. Mrs. Mauro is one of forty-two teachers selected from across the United States to participate in this sixth year of the initiative.

Mauro teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography in Lake County, Florida. As part of the award, Mauro will attend the AGS Fall Symposium on November 16 & 17, at Columbia University in New York City. The Symposium provides Teacher Fellows with the opportunity to interact with geography and geospatial leaders from across the country, as well as receive professional training in geography and geospatial technology tools.

“It is a tremendous honor for AGS to name Mauro as a 2023 AGS Geography Teacher Fellow. Mauro joins an exclusive group of the finest geography teachers in the United States,” said Dr. John Konarski, CEO of the American Geographical Society. “We are looking forward to welcoming and working with her and the other AGS Geography Teacher Fellows in New York City this November,” he added.

Geography 2050 is the most important and widely recognized geographical/geospatial event in North America during the fall semester. CEOs and senior executives from preeminent geospatial companies along with leading experts and representatives from government, not-for-profits, and academia attend the AGS Fall Symposium. The AGS Geography Teacher Fellow initiative has been made possible by generous support from the Melamid Teacher Fellow Workshop Endowment and AGS Corporate Angels, whose contributions enable resources for teacher professional development throughout the year.

The American Geographical Society (AGS) is a 21^st-century learning society dedicated to the advancement of geographic thinking, knowledge, and understanding across business, government, academe, social sectors, and most importantly with teachers and students. Established in 1851, AGS is the oldest professional geographical organization in the United States. It is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in geographical research and education for over 166 years. The mission of AGS is to advance and promote geography in business, government, science, and education. Our goal is to enhance the nation’s geographic literacy so as to engender sound public policy, national security, and human well-being worldwide. AGS seeks to engage the American public, from its youngest to its oldest citizens, with new and amazing ways to understand and characterize our changing world. The Society maintains its headquarters in New York City.

The post Staci Mauro Selected As An AGS Geography Teacher Fellow appeared first on South Lake Tablet.