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Brink's Options May Increase After Golden South Classic

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 5, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Amid all the graduation-week hoopla, Ridgewood senior Keari Brink has another big day to prepare for after she gets her diploma.

The Class 3A state champion pole vaulter is competing in Saturday's Golden South Classic in Orlando, where a good showing could add several college scholarship offers to a list that already has started to grow.

Rams coach Sue Vien said Brink has been contacted by at least two Division I schools, the University of South Florida and Mississippi, as well as other schools in Tennessee and Ohio. So far, she is weighing her options and hopes more will come after Saturday.

Vien also called Florida State to gauge that program's interest, but like many track and field programs this time of year, they want to continue scouting before making an offer.

"Everybody's kind of waiting on the wayside," said Ridgewood pole vault coach John Herig, who will accompany Brink to the Golden South. "I've advised her not to accept anything yet, because she might receive more offers. The better she does Saturday, the better the offers are going to be. That's how I see it."

Brink, who could not be reached Wednesday, only has practiced once since winning the state title May 2 with a personal-best 11-foot jump. The Ridgewood pole vault setup had to be dismantled due to spring football, and attempts to practice at other schools were canceled for various reasons.

Coupled with all the scheduled activities for Ridgewood's seniors this week, it is unclear just how sharp Brink will be Saturday. She has not lost a pole vault competition this year.

"It's tough, because she hasn't had a lot of practice time," Vien said.

Her competition at the Golden South also is expected to be tough. Class 4A state champion Meagan Martin of Lake Mary (12-0 at state meet) and third-place finisher Morgan Scherschel of Tampa (11-0) are entered, as is Madison Lamar of Sale City, Ga., who has a personal best of 11-6. Another 11-foot vaulter, Claire Logan of Birmingham, Ala., also is expected to compete.

TANNER TO THOMAS: Matt Tanner, a senior on Land O' Lakes' Sunshine State Conference-winning boys soccer team, will play for Thomas University in Georgia in the fall.

Tanner posted a county-best 27 assists last season to go along with seven goals. From Nov. 24 to Jan. 25, he had at least one assist in 18 of the Gators' 20 matches.

Tanner also was being recruited by the University of Tampa, Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson.

Land O' Lakes is expected to be a popular stop on the recruiting trail next year, where senior-to-be Dominic Cutrofello and junior-to-be Frank Villar have drawn interest from several Division I schools.

GULF TRIO TO PHCC: Gulf cross country runners Courtney McAuliffe, Jessica Peck and Jaci Pustelnik are going to continue running at Pasco-Hernando Community College.

Pustelnik was the first to sign with the Lady Quistas, in December. She posted the best time among the six Buccaneers who competed as a team in the 3A state cross country championship in November in Dade City (20:58).

McAuliffe finished that race in 21:16, good for 96th place. She also was successful in track and field, where she captured the Sunshine Athletic Conference title in the 1,600 for the second consecutive year, and advanced to state, where she finished 10th.

Peck rounded out the 2007 Bucs squad with a 22:31 at the state meet.

The trio will be joined by former River Ridge standout Kayla Bratcher, who signed two weeks ago, and Chelsea Alicea, formerly of Ridgewood, who will walk on.

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@

pop.tampatrib.com.

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