Sidelines 10.30.14

+ Area programs thrive at districts

Local swimming and diving programs from within the coverage area of the West Orange Times & Observer dominated the competition at district meets this past week.

At the Class 4A District 2 Meet, Dr. Phillips’ boys placed first and its girls placed second. Olympia’s girls placed first and the Titans’ boys team placed third.

At the Class 4A District 3 Meet, the West Orange girls placed first and the Warriors’ boys team placed second.

All of those teams will clash at the Class 4A Region 1 Meet at 9 a.m. Friday. The regional meet, which will be hosted by Olympia, will take place at the YMCA Aquatic and Family Center off of International Drive in Orlando.

+ CFYFL, FYFCL playoffs to begin

The 2014 Playoffs for the Central Florida Youth Football League begin this Saturday, Nov. 1, with the Ocoee Cardinals’ Bobbleheads squad taking on the Altamonte Patriots at 8:15 a.m. at Lake Brantley High School, and the Cardinals’ fifth-grade squad taking on the South Lake Cowboys at 12:45 p.m., again at LBHS.

Ocoee’s fourth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade teams all received byes for the first round of the playoffs and will compete in the conference playoffs Nov. 8.

The Florida Youth Football and Cheer League also has set its brackets for its playoffs.

The West Orange Bobcats’ 6U Flag Football team is the top seed in its tournament and will take on the East Orlando Junior Predators. The Bobcats’ 8U Tackle team is the No. 3 seed and will take on the East Orange Thunder. The 10U team is also the No. 3 seed and will take on the Volusia Titans. West Orange’s 12U team is the No. 2 seed and will face the Seminole Sharks. Finally, the Bobcats’ 14U team is the No. 4 seed and will take on the Lake Mary Ducks.

+ SunRidge team crowned champs

The SunRidge Middle School boys soccer team emerged as winners of the Orange County Middle School Championships. 

SunRidge overcame Maitland Middle School in an overtime battle for the championship, with a final score of 2-1 (3-2 penalty kicks). 

The team is coached by SunRidge Middle School PE instructor Alexander Miranda. Players for the team include Reeves Oakman, William Held, Nathan Rank, Zach Everidge, Jake Baldauf, Gabriel Garcia, Gustavo Garcia, Noah Schwartz, Cole Miller, Avery McIntyre, Chase Harry, Max Mathers, Amin Ferreira, Daniel Tregansin, Jack Beadle, Caleb Smith, Elias Tazi, Noah Lewis, Zach Stewart, Jake Parsons, Edgar Gonzalez, Jake Patterson, Preston Viers, Brandon Otero and William Hutchinson.

+ WO Bobcats’ Riddle recognized

Windermere resident Terry Riddle is receiving recognition as one of the country’s most inspiring youth coaches.

Riddle, now in his ninth year as a coach for the Florida Youth Football & Cheer League’s West Orange Bobcats, was selected by USA Football to receive the weekly Courtyard Inspiring Greatness Award, given by the national hotel chain to reward deserving youth football coaches.

 Riddle will receive a $1,000 grant for new equipment to improve player safety, and is now eligible for a national coach of the year award that would deliver additional grant money. 

In addition to coaching, Riddle is a managing partner and owner of H&R Properties of Central Florida, as well as the owner of Amateur Athletic Sports International, which currently hosts the AAU Tackle Football National Championships.