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Thursday's Prep News and Notes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2007

Hillsborough County's 2008 track schedule has a major scheduling conflict. The annual Nash Higgins Relays at Leto - a meet all of the county's public schools are required to attend - is slated for March 1, the same day as the Steak n Shake Invitational at USF. According to Wharton track coach Wes Newton, who has spearheaded hosting the Steak n Shake meet the past several years, March 1 was the only date available for the event. For any number of reasons - none the least of which is that Leto features an unforgiving asphalt track measured in yards - Newton says he would prefer sending his team to the USF meet. He also would prefer the competition at Steak n Shake, which would come from across the state.

"Nothing against the people at Leto because they do a great job hosting their meet, but we've won Nash Higgins seven years in a row and the reason we do is because we're practically the only school with enough kids to field a relay team in every event," Newton said. "We would just get a lot more out of the Steak n Shake meet in terms of competition."

Newton said county athletic director Lanness Robinson has contacted the county's principals to see if they would consider changing the mandatory status of Nash Higgins, as well as the Manuel-Griffin-Fraundorfer Relays at Middleton later in the season. There's also a chance Nash Higgins could move to another date. Whether the principals agree or not, Newton says the Steak n Shake meet will take place March 1, possibly with an Orlando school as the host.

Newton says another issue with the schedule is the lack of a county championship meet.

ZINK BACK? Tampa Catholic coach Bob Henriquez said Wednesday senior running back Drew Zink is probable for Saturday's 2A state championship game against Madison County.

Henriquez said Zink is responding well to therapy and doing some jogging.

Zink's practice today will be the determining factor in his availability. But Henriquez said he's encouraged by Zink's progress since suffering the knee injury against Clewiston and expects him to be available unless there's a setback.

HOUSECLEANING: How big is the Class 5A state semifinal playoff game between Largo and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas? Well, big enough to get the attention of the Pinellas County Schools district office.

Tuesday afternoon, while the Largo players were going through practice, on their (self-proclaimed) dogpatch field, school district workers were busy pressure washing both the home seats of the stadium and the visiting bleachers.

The game is going to pull in quite a few fans, but with news the Raiders plan to bring a caravan of 17 buses of not just the coaches and players but also fans, it seems as if school district officials want the stadium to look as good as it can.

FACA VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR GAME: Four area volleyball players were selected to play in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Volleyball All-Star Classic on Saturday at noon at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.

From Hillsborough County, Plant senior setter Kellie Catanach, the Florida Dairy Farmers 5A Player of the Year, and Bayshore Christian senior outside hitter Jannica Mollett, the 1A Player of the Year, were selected. From Pasco County, River Ridge outside hitter/libero Brooke Castelamare and Mitchell setter/opposite hitter Leah Weber were selected.

BASEBALL: Middleton SS/P Corey Thomas confirmed Wednesday night he has signed a scholarship with the University of South Florida.

Bill Ward, Matthew Postins, Lee Diekemper, Nick Williams

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