SPORTS
OPPORTUNITY LOST
JESUIT’S SPRING SPORTS WERE
HAVING STELLAR SEASONS WHEN THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC STRUCK
J����������������������������������������������������������������������-
letes ranked at the top of the District,
including the State’s No. 1 ranked
pole vaulter, Anson Rowe ’20, plus elite
distance runner Lawson McLeod ’22 and
high jumper/hurdler Bennett Anders-
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After three early season one-goal
losses, Jesuit lacrosse – targeting its 3rd
straight District title and Region Final
appearance – had found its footing and
won three straight games while outscoring
opponents 52-9.
Tennis and baseball? They were riding a
rocket toward the stars, undefeated and
seemingly destined for State glory.
Then it all came to a halt in the second
week of March, the spring sports
seasons nationwide suspended due to
the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, there was hope for a while that,
perhaps in May and June, there would
be State playoffs. But after Gov. Ron
DeSantis closed the public schools for
the remainder of the school year, the
FHSAA followed suit on April 20 and all
sports seasons were cancelled.
Fifteen
seniors had
led Jesuit
baseball to
the nation's
No. 1
ranking
20 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • SPRING 2020
Jesuit baseball was in the media
spotlight throughout March and April,
as reporters sought the defending State
Champions for their thoughts on the situation.
The Tigers had been a dominating
9-0 and were ranked No. 1 nationally by
Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball,
and No. 2 by MaxPreps. Head coach
Miguel Menendez, brothers Tripp Russo
’20 and Cole Russo ’21, 2019 Class 6A
Player of the Year Camden Minacci ’20,
catcher Bennett Lee ’20, and slugger
Henry Politz ’20������������������������������������������
local media regarding the premature
end to the season and to their historic
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back State crowns and second National
Championship.
Tennis, the 2019 State runner-up, returned
its top players in 2020, including
individual State runner-up Sebastian
Solano ’20 and Thomas Lahart ’20, and
the Tigers had faced a rugged schedule
and remained unblemished, 8-0, before
the season was stopped. In head coach
Joe Curtis’ previous 25 seasons, Jesuit
had been State runner-up six times, and
this seemed like a great chance at that
elusive State title.
“It’s extremely unfortunate, as these
athletes have trained very hard and
dedicated themselves for these oppor-
����������������������������������������������������������������������Andy
���������������� said. “But in the big picture.
it’s just a blip. The health and safety of
our community and society at large is
paramount, and our guys rising to meet
the challenges presented during these
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WINTER SPORTS
RECAPS
BASKETBALL
Under head coach Neal Goldman,
Jesuit basketball earned its 9th
consecutive District Championship
by outscoring No. 1-seed Blake 24-10
in the 4th quarter to win 58-46. The
Tigers, who won 13 of 14 during the
second half of the season, drew three
charges, by Spencer Farfante '20, Kevin
Mauro '20, and Jasiah Taylor '22, to
help turn the game in their favor, while
Junior Vandeross '22, Kai Ravenna '21,
and Grayson Arnold '21 ratcheted up
the defense. On offense, Ryan Weir '21
(16 points) and Bennett Andersen '20
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
(23-7) would rout Boca Ciega 84-46 in
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Andersen and Weir led the Tigers with
13.5 ppg each, and Andersen also led in
rebounds (5.0) and assists (2.6). Tiger
Bales ’20 set a new single-game school
record v. Middleton with 10 3-pointers,
and Taylor led Jesuit at 43.5% on
3-pointers.
Under head
coach Jassen
Cullimore, the
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regular season at
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second place in
the Andreychuk
Bennett Andersen '20
Division of the Lightning High School
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the Tier I State tournament (for teams
comprised entirely of players from one
������������������������������������������������������������������������
and alternate captains Matthew
���������������������� and Justin Bailey ’20 led a
team with 14 underclassmen throughout
the season that had peaks and valleys
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got plenty of game experience and with
the hockey program having more than
40 players, next year’s team should
be exciting. Seniors Smith and Owen
Forrest represented Jesuit at the LHSHL
All Star game at Amalie Arena.
With a clearance of nearly 15 feet,
Anson Rowe '20 was the State's
No. 1 pole vaulter
HOCKEY