Thursday's Prep News And Notes

County Adding Many All-Weather Tracks

Just a few years ago, Berkeley Prep was the lone high school in Hillsborough County to boast a rubberized track. But when the track season begins next month, the county could boast as many as 10 high schools with an all-weather surface.

During the holiday break, Armwood, Tampa Catholic, Plant and Jesuit began work or completed their own rubber tracks. And at Leto, veteran coach Bob Ennis says his school has raised the necessary funds to put down its first all-weather track. There's an outside chance the Falcons could have it installed before they host the Nash Higgins Relays on March 1, Ennis said.

Thanks to its new track, Plant coach Roy Harrison says his school is hoping to stage its first meet of any kind in nearly 20 years when the Panthers host Jesuit and the Academy of the Holy Names this season.

Area high schools already owning rubber tracks besides Berkeley are Gaither, Spoto, Jefferson and King.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Brandon senior forward Marcus Morrison has committed to the University of Tampa, coach Mark Hermann announced Wednesday.

Morrison, a 6-foot-6 wingman, is currently averaging 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for the Eagles (9-3).

"He's extremely coachable," Hermann said. "He's only going to get better and he has a lot of potential."

Morrison also had interest from Eckerd and Flagler.

"They play hard and they have good chemistry," Morrison said. "They showed me a lot of interest and it's a good school academically.

BASEBALL: Sunlake High will have a major boost in getting its baseball program off and running. Saturday, five major league baseball coaches will host a seminar/clinic at the school.

"I think it's a great opportunity for people to come to listen to major-league coaches," said Tom Nieto, catching instructor for the New York Mets, who coordinated the event.

Dave Eiland, New York Yankees pitching coach; Mark Middlefield, Yankees head organizational trainer; Derek Shelton, Cleveland Indians hitting coach, and Rob Thomson, Yankees bench coach, will pass along information to anyone interested.

Nieto hopes the event will become a yearly fundraiser for Sunlake.

"We're asking for anybody who wants to come," Nieto said. "Walk-ups are welcome. If you do walk up, just RSVP with us, so we can get a head count. We're getting our food donated by Beef O'Brady's in Carrollwood, so they're going to get a lunch out of it and a chance to hear some big-league coaches talk baseball."

For information, call Sunlake coach Billy Garcia at (813) 996-6274.

WRESTLING: Brandon dropped 15 spots to No. 36 in the latest Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40, which was released Tuesday.

The Eagles, coming off their first loss in nearly 34 years, are one spot back of Homestead South Dade, the team that ended Brandon's national record winning (459) and unbeaten (468) streaks on Saturday in the final of the sixth annual Jim Graves Challenge the Streak Dual Meet Tournament at Brandon.

Brandon junior standout Eric Grajales also appears in the AWN's individual rankings. Grajales, undefeated in two-plus seasons with the Eagles, is listed as the second-best 125-pounder in the nation, behind only Iowa City West senior Nate Moore.

Brandon's doesn't return to the mat until Jan. 18-19, when the Eagles host the Tony Ippolito Memorial Tournament.

FOOTBALL: Chamberlain assistant coach Brian Turner confirmed Wednesday that Jefferson juniors Anthony Williams, Edward Williams and Rico Valdez transferred to Chamberlain and enrolled Tuesday. Anthony Williams, listed at 6-foot-3, recorded 38 receptions for 388 yards while Valdez, a 5-10 defensive back, finished with 49 tackles for the 5-7 Dragons this past season. At Armwood, Hawks coach Sean Callahan said junior Mario Williams, a defensive back at Hillsborough last season, has transferred to his school. Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia confirmed the move.