Fall sports produce winning teams around the area

Boca Raton swimming claims only state championship

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

The fall sports season produced several playoff teams in the Boca Raton/Delray Beach area, unforgettable moments, and one state champion.

The past two years, the Boca Raton High girls swim team has come oh so close to winning a state championship.

In 2005, the Bobcats lost the title to Satellite Beach, but last year was even more demoralizing – a 1-point loss that left the girls hungry to win it all this year.

Boca Raton did that – without the benefit of an individual champion – and finally achieved the one goal that had eluded them.

The boys team also fared well at states, placing third in the competition.

The West Boca Raton volleyball team did not win a district title for the first time since the school opened, but Coach Courtney Fochtman led her team to two playoff wins and the regional finals, where the Bulls lost to St. Thomas.

For the second straight year, Boca Raton Christian also made a deep playoff run, falling to Redland Christian in another regional final.

Spanish River High won its volleyball district again, but the young Sharks fell in the regional semifinals to Jupiter after upsetting Royal Palm Beach in the quarterfinals.
Boca Raton also made a return trip to the state playoffs, but their season ended in the first round.

The Boca Raton golf team advanced to states behind a talented nucleus of young players led by No. 1 player Matt Green. The Bobcats finished seventh in the state and return four of their five golfers next year.

Spanish River High junior Madison Pressel also excelled, finishing fourth in the state in Class 2A, her second straight top-5 finish.

Last year as a sophomore, Pressel finished third in the state.

In football, West Boca Raton High clinched a second straight playoff berth with a 6-4 record, then upset Fort Pierce Westwood on the road.

Atlantic High won District 14-5A once again, but the Eagles suffered a shocking double overtime 28-21 loss to Melbourne in the regional quarterfinals.

American Heritage-Delray was also a repeat playoff performer, winning eight straight games en route to winning District 7-1A.

The Eagles ripped through the regular season behind a defense that surrendered just 50 points in 10 games.

In the regional quarterfinal against Archbishop Curley, it was more of the same, as Jake Walker scored on a 59-yard fumble return and the Stallions rolled to a 42-6 victory.

The West Boca Raton bowling team also had a banner fall. With last year’s top bowler, Matt Foley, having graduated, the Bulls regrouped and made it all the way to Orlando, where West Boca finished as the state runner-up.

The Bulls emerged from the loser’s bracket to make it all the way to the final, and Spanish River also contended for the title, finishing third.

With football wrapping up the fall season comes to a close, but it was a season that saw many standout performances – and that one state champion.