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Newsome's O'Neal Picks Wisconsin

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2009

NEWS AND NOTES

O'Neal Picks Wisconsin
Newsome senior two-way lineman Conor O'Neal has verbally committed to Wisconsin.

O'Neal chose the Badgers over offers from Michigan State, Boston College, N.C. State, Buffalo and Georgia Southern.

"I went for my visit up there before Christmas break, and I felt really good up there," O'Neal said of his official visit to the campus in Madison. "The coaches were real personal with the players, getting to know everything about them and being a part of their lives."

O'Neal, a two-year varsity starter, was a Tribune All-Hillsborough County first-team selection as a senior after helping lead Newsome to the Class 5A-District 8 title and the program's first state playoff appearance.

As the starting center, O'Neal paved the way for a powerful Wolves rushing attack that averaged 170 yards per game. As a starting defensive tackle, his first season playing defense, O'Neal contributed 35 tackles and six sacks for a unit that posted three shutouts. He will play defensive tackle for the Badgers.

Bulls Lose Townsend

Bloomingdale senior forward Callum Townsend, Hillsborough County's leading scorer with 24.0 points per game, is out for the season.

Bloomingdale coach Josh Chapin said Townsend, a 6-foot-6 Division I prospect, re-tore the ACL in his right knee during a game against King on Wednesday. Townsend first tore the knee ligament last spring, but after surgery and tireless rehab, was back on the court in five months.

Townsend was a Tribune All-Hillsborough County first-team selection as a junior after averaging a county-best 27 points per game.

Former Coach Herndon Dies

Don Herndon, an All-American halfback at the University of Tampa in the 1950s and a coach who guided the 1973 Haines City Hornets (13-0) to a state title, died Saturday in Lakeland. He was 72.

Herndon, a native of Wauchula, who coached at Hillsborough, Chamberlain and Hardee in his early career, was best known for his Haines City team, featuring future Florida RB Willie Wilder, that outscored opponents 370-31 in the regular season and was named Polk County's "Team of the Century" by The Tampa Tribune.

Herndon also coached at Pasco, where his 1983 team went 12-1 and reached the Class 3A state semifinals.

A memorial service for Herndon is Wednesday afternoon at 4 at Robarts Family Funeral Home, 529 W. Main St., in Wauchula.

Adam Adkins, Nick Williams, Joey Johnston

NEWS AND NOTES

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