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Notebook: Armwood's Patchan Selected For All-Star Game

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2007

Armwood two-way lineman Matt Patchan has been highly regarded as one of the nation's top prospects, and now the Hawks senior standout will get his chance to play against the rest of the nation's best after being selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

The official announcement will come from the bowl's official selection tour during a Tuesday morning ceremony at Armwood, Hawks coach Sean Callahan and a bowl representative confirmed Wednesday. The elite all-star game, set for Jan. 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, features the nation's top 80 high school football players in a game nationally televised on NBC (WFLA, Channel 8).

Patchan will be the second Armwood player in as many years to participate in the game. Former Hawks standout Torrey Davis, now at the University of Florida, played in the game in January.

"We're excited about the fact that two years in a row now we've got a player going. Most coaches never have a player of this caliber," Callahan said.

Patchan is rated a five-star recruit and the nation's No. 15 prospect overall by Scout.com, the nationally known recruiting service which helps select players for the game.

NEW GROUND: It's hard to imagine Armwood's football program breaking new ground when it comes to polls, but the Hawks did just that this week when they cracked the USA Today Top 25.

Armwood is ranked No. 25 in the latest poll, the only area team to be recognized. In other football poll news, Armwood remained at No. 26 in the Rivals.com National Fab 50 and at No. 2 in the FSWA Class 4A Top 10, but jumped one spot to No. 4 in the Beef O'Brady's Top 25 for state programs across all classifications.

Also, Brandon's wrestling team came in at No. 18 in the Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40. Junior standout Eric Grajales was the Eagles' lone representative in the individual national rankings, coming in at No. 3 in the 125-pound weight class.

A NICE SCHEDULE TWIST: Traditionally, the late-season bye week for Sickles has allowed it to get a head start on collecting equipment and the offseason program.

Not this year. With the program's first playoff game looming against Gaither on Nov. 16, Coach Pat O'Brien is doing all he can to keep his kids on a normal schedule.

"They finally got a Saturday off," O'Brien said about the day after Sickles' playoff-clinching win against Alonso. "We lifted weights and watched film on Monday, and then got back on a regular schedule. We'll try to keep it as normal as we can."

Oddly, Sickles' opponent - Gaither - has a bye week, as does both of Sickles' potential second-round opponents, Wharton and Chamberlain.

PONTON COMMITS: Former Hillsborough and USF running back Ricky Ponton has verbally committed to Georgia Southern, Terriers coach Earl Garcia said Wednesday.

VOLLEYBALL HONORS: Three Pasco County volleyball players were selected as players of the year during the Florida Athletic Coaches Association annual meeting.

Marissa Gill (Bishop McLaughlin), Brooke Castelamare (River Ridge) and Lea Weber (Mitchell) were selected as the Class 2A, 5A and 6A players of the year, respectively.

Brooksville Nature Coast sophomore Alex Livengood was the 4A player of the year.

This is the FACA's District 8 selection, which includes Lake, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sumter counties.

Gill, a senior setter for the Hurricanes, collected 537 assists, 55 kills, 42 aces and 32 digs. Castelamare, a senior outside hitter for the Royal Knights, tallied 430 digs, 171 kills and 114 aces. Weber, a senior setter/middle hitter for the Mustangs, posted 357 assists, 309 digs, 243 kills, 50 aces and 46 blocks.

BACK TO BASICS: Plant City coach Kevin Kelley is putting a lot of stock in Friday's nondistrict game against Freedom.

Sure, the Raiders are already in the playoffs. But after their 26-14 loss to Brandon, Kelley wants to see his Raiders put together a better performance entering the postseason.

"We have a lot to accomplish that we didn't get done on Friday night," Kelley said. "We need to get back to getting first downs on offense in the second half. We need to finish drives, tackle better, block better. I'm glad we have a game this week. It means a lot."

GRANT COMMITS: Freedom's Ali Grant will become the first Patriots softball player to sign with a Division I school Wednesday when she signs a national letter-of-intent with Michigan State.

Grant, a shortstop, hit .495 last season and only committed five errors in 120 chances.

BOYS BASKETBALL PRESEASON: Those looking for an early dose of high school boys basketball can attend some preseason tournaments being played next week:

At Tampa Prep: Nov. 13 and 15, 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Pool - Tampa Prep, Bayshore Christian, Hillsborough and Bradenton Manatee. At Seffner Christian: Jan Bennett Shootout, Nov. 15 and 16, 8 p.m. Pool - East Bay, Lennard, Riverview and Seffner Christian. At Wesley Chapel: Nov. 15 and 16, 6 p.m., 7:45 p.m. Pool - Wiregrass Ranch, Alonso, Wharton and Wesley Chapel. At Berkeley Prep: Nov. 13 and 16, 7:30 p.m. Pool - Berkeley Prep, Blake, Plant and Admiral Farragut. At Middleton: Nov. 15 and 17, 6 p.m., 8 p.m. Pool - King, Gibbs, Sarasota Booker and Middleton. At Hudson: Nov. 13 and 14, 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Pool - Jesuit, Hudson, and Faith Christian Academy. At Tampa Catholic: Nov. 14 and 17, 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Pool - Tampa Catholic, Spoto, Sickles and Armwood.

Adam Adkins, Eddie Daniels, Matthew Postins, Nick Williams

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