With Hernando County’s football teams already eliminated from postseason contention, or in the case of Nature Coast having locked up the district crown, another local squad took center stage last week. Weeki Wachee’s volleyball team captured a pair of regional matches on its home court to advance to the Class 2A, Region II final at Ponte Vedra High this Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“The girls, they are just nonstop right now. They’re unbelievable. It’s crazy,” Weeki Wachee head coach Kelly Werkmeister said. “It’s just staying patient. Our seniors, they don’t want the game to be over.” On Tuesday the Lady Hornets (23-7), fresh off winning their first district title, earned their first-ever regional triumph and first victory in eight tries over Fivay, 25-13, 25-23, 25-22.
Miranda Werkmeister paced the hosts with 12 kills and 22 digs, and Morgan Hnatiuk added 12 kills and two blocks. Sarah Asbury had 37 assists and Zoe Murchio chipped in 35 digs. That set up Saturday’s semifinal against 25-1 Ridgewood. Weeki Wachee rallied from early deficits in the first and third game, and pulled out a 25-22, 20-25, 29-27, 25-21 triumph to move on the Elite Eight.
“It feels really good. I’m just really happy that we’re making it further and making new records this year,” said the senior libero Murchio. “We just never gave up. We just kept fighting and pushing through, and that’s what we do best as a team… We plan to take it all. We want to go all the way to states. That’s been our goal since the beginning of the season, because we knew that this year was our year.” Murchio contributed 32 digs, while Miranda Werkmeister totaled 18 kills and 24 digs, and Asbury notched 42 assists.
In Friday’s football action, Nature Coast senior running back DeShawn Smith put together another incredible performance in a 56-7 win at Hernando. Smith ran 10 times for 247 yards and six touchdowns, and added a 54-yard touchdown reception as the Sharks improved to 9-0 and finished 6-0 in Class 5A, District 7.
“He does things that I wish we could take some credit for, but sometimes big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games,” Nature Coast head coach Justin Worden said. “And he takes it a step further. He just makes big-time plays period… He’s done a lot of work, especially once he gets to that second level. Then you take someone like that and you put him behind an offensive line that’s cranking away and you get the results that we’re getting right now.”
The Leopards, in their second year under head coach Bill Vonada, finished up 3-6 overall, 3-3 in 5A-7.
“Can’t be more proud of the guys that stuck it out here,” Vonada said. “The seniors that came in and this process a year and a half ago, everything’s different. It’s a totally different system. Would have been very easy for guys to hang their heads and quit. Instead they stuck it out despite being in a hole like that, and finished and showed these young guys what finishing means. Now the young guys just have to continue to work and get stronger and carry the torch… There were some steps forward. There are still some things that we need to address in order to continue to move forward. Those are things we’ll address in the offseason.”
Springstead won an overtime thriller at Pasco, 44-43, when the Pirates failed on a 2-point conversion. Quarterback Jordan Wright ran for a pair of touchdowns including one in overtime for the Eagles (3-5 overall, 1-3 6A-6), and also threw for one while netting 97 rushing yards on 16 carries. Additionally, Randy Morgan ran for 121 yards and a score, and T.J. Owens accounted for three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving.
Weeki Wachee set a new school record for wins with a 27-9 victory at Crystal River, behind Alec Cromie’s three touchdown passes. The Hornets (4-5 overall, 3-3 5A-7) were also paced by Shawn O’Gorman with four catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, plus 63 yards and a score on the ground.
Central had a bye, leaving just its season finale this Friday at Anclote. Springstead takes on Weeki Wachee in the last game for both teams, while Nature Coast travels to Groveland-South Lake attempting to become just the third team in county history to go 10-0.
Saturday featured regional cross country and swim meets, as well as the conclusion of the state golf tournament.
Hernando’s boys cross country team qualified for states with a third-place finish in the 2A-Region II Meet at Florida Horse Park in Ocala, scoring a 119 led by Trevor Foley, in 15th place with a 17:08.00.
Central senior Kylyn Burbine also made states behind a 14th-place 20:34.40 in the girls race. Springstead senior Allen Keister qualified out of the 3A-II race at the same venue, taking 13th in 16:46.40.
Springstead senior Trey Patterson became a two-time state qualifier in swimming after he swam a 22.69 in the 50-yard freestyle during the 2A-II swim meet at The Long Center in Clearwater, taking sixth place. That earned him the 17th seed at the FHSAA Finals this Saturday in Stuart. Last year in the same race at states, he came in 22nd (23.24).
In the 2A FHSAA Finals for golf at Mission Inn and Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Nature Coast sophomore Skylar Muscianese finished 19th on the girls’ side with a 83-76—159 over the two-day, 36-hole event. Fellow Nature Coast sophomore Mickey Dono tied for 83rd in the boys tournament, posting a 95-90—185.
