Boys
Golfer of the year: Donnie Gabrelcik, Jr., Mitchell
Gabrelcik led his team to its first showing at state. At the Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament, he shot 3-under par, including five birdies, to reprise his role as champion, leading the Mustangs to their third consecutive title. He was named SAC co-golfer of the year with teammate Mike Spinger.
Most impressive accomplishment: Gabrelcik shot 1-under 70 at the Class 2A region tournament, breaking ahead of a group that nearly tied at 4 over. His score, which included five birdies and nabbed medalist honors, clinched Mitchell’s first region championship.
Future plans: Though he has a year left in high school, Gabrelcik has started thinking about college. He’d like to stay local and hopes to join the golf team at Florida or UCF, leading up to a career in the PGA.
Did you know? Gabrelcik started playing just five years ago, when he rode around on the golf cart while his father and uncle played on courses around Brooksville. Finally tired of just watching, Gabrelcik picked up a club and took a swing. “I tried it, and I got hooked,” he said.
First team
Jake Roberts, Jr., Sunlake: Roberts was third at districts (76) and regionals (75), then tied for 34th in the Class 2A state tournament.
Brazon Dixon, Sr., Springstead: Dixon traveled to state after coming in as the region runnerup behind Gabrelcik, shooting 75.
Anthony Swinford, Jr., Mitchell: Swinford won the 2A-14 district tournament, shooting 72 to edge teammate Mike Spinger. He shot 75 for a top-five finish at regionals and tied for 24th at state.
Mike Spinger, So., Mitchell: One of Mitchell’s youngest players had the Mustangs’ best finish at state: 14 over to tie for 21st.
Ryoto Furuya, So., Saddlebrook Prep: Furuya played consistently all season, winning districts (67), coming in as the region runnerup and tying for sixth place at the Class A state tourney (2-under 142).
Second team
Won Jun Lee, Fr., Saddlebrook Prep
Michael Feng, Sr., Saddlebrook Prep
Travis Wells, Fr., Sunlake
Jacob Arnett, Jr., Nature Coast
Jackson Raymond, Sr., Gulf
Honorable mention
Gulf: Ryan Gibson; Hernando: Cody Montgomery; River Ridge: Michael Stewart, Grant Glewen; Saddlebrook Prep: Joe He, Hugo Johnnings; Springstead: Ben Cash; Sunlake: Justin Jungbauer; Wesley Chapel: Zack Lemmens
Coach of the year
Rick Hyatt, Mitchell. Hyatt regularly occupies this spot, and with good reason. He led the Mustangs to their first state berth, first region championship and third straight SAC title. Hyatt attributes his team’s success to their depth of talent, and his emphasis on playing up to potential continues to make Mitchell the North Suncoast’s golf powerhouse.
Girls
Golfer of the year: Kelly Harris, So., Sunlake
As a freshman, Harris shined in the Sunshine Athletic Conference, coming in as the runnerup. This year, Harris was a thorn in the side of Mitchell’s powerhouse team, shooting neck-and-neck with their best players all season. She was two strokes ahead of the runnerup to clinch SAC medalist honors, the first championship in Sunlake’s seven seasons. At the Class 2A state tournament, Harris had the best finish of any North Suncoast golfer, tying for 46th.
Most impressive accomplishment: Harris shot 80 to win the 2A-15 district championship, 10 strokes better than the runnerup. That score was also the best of any North Suncoast golfer in any district.
Future plans: Harris’ dream school is FSU, where she’d like to join the golf team and study pharmacology.
Did you know? Harris started playing when she was 6, tagging along with her dad. Six years later she was selected to play in a European tournament in Scotland. Since then, she’s played in North Carolina tournaments twice.
First team
Shyanne Dove, So., Mitchell: Dove and Harris have developed a healthy rivalry that coach Tom Stratman said will benefit both. Dove won her district (83), topped Harris at regionals (77) and placed 50th at state.
Lindsey Ritchey, Jr., Mitchell: Ritchey was one of Mitchell’s top finishers at state, shooting 40 over to place 56th. She came in third at districts.
Ashley Richardson, Sr., Mitchell: Richardson played consistently all year, finishing well at state after coming in fourth at regionals and districts.
MacKenzie Bennett, So., Mitchell: Bennett was second at regionals, just two strokes behind Dove. She was runnerup at district as well and finished strong at state.
Kylie Van Meter, Sr., Springstead: Van Meter tied for first in 2A-13 with Kierra Schau, losing out on medalist honors in a tiebreaker. She tied for third at regionals (85) and was Hernando County’s lone state representative.
Second team
Michaela McDougall, Jr., Mitchell
Kierra Schau, Sr., Springstead
Estefania Guizar, Fr., Land O’Lakes
Eden Shirmohammad, Sr., Land O’Lakes
Amber Mariano, Sr., Fivay
Honorable mention
Bishop McLaughlin: Brooke Dalton; Gulf: Sarah Usewick, Emily Crouch; Fivay: Lauren Mariano; Land O’Lakes: Miranda Bradley, Sierra Holt, Alejandra Vasquez; Wiregrass Ranch: Remlee Horrigan, Morgan Powers; Zephyrhills: Sydney Owens
Coach of the year
Tom Stratman, Mitchell. Stratman’s Mustangs continued their SAC dominance, winning their 13th consecutive title. The Mustangs finished 78 strokes ahead of runnerup Land O’Lakes at conference, won district and region titles, and advanced to state for the first time since 2009.