Big ups to Braden River High’s Marching Band of Pirates, first in the 3A division and Grand Champions of the 1-3A Divisions at the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit Outdoor State Championships in Winter Garden.
They were led by Drum Majors Alexa Macke, Allyson Abercrombie and Braxton Taylor and Captains Nico Wharton, Alexa Helton, Jared Rodriguez, Kirsten Soler and Eva Abraham.
The River’s leadership also includes Addy Hartley, Joshua Sallee, Paul Close, Emma Daley, Alexis Huffstutler, Chloe Randall, Ashley Romero, Joshua Small and Dylan Atencio.
The Band Director is Cliff Dawson and the Color Guard Director is Kaylie Price. The Visual Staff includes Kaitlin Money and Nate Dungan. The Music Staff includes DJ Harpole, Marshall Knapp and Ethan Hacker. The Percussion Staff includes Tanner Hall, Hunter Brown, Tarah Macke and Ken Macke. The Colorguard Staff includes Brittnie Balcom and Ava Small. Technology is Chris Yates and consultants are Daniel Wiles, Frank Sullivan, Doug Downer and Cristian Good.
· That’s 11 years of wedded bliss for Krystal and Brent Laudicina.
· And six for Brittany and Matt Kitchie.
· Well done to Southeast’s Chloe Khang, Florida Scholastic Press Association All Florida first-place winner for her illustration of “Casey at the Bat,” the central character in Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s famous baseball ballad about the fictional Mudville Nine. Chloe is on the Southeast Scribe Literary Magazine staff. The adviser is AP English Teacher Mignon Austin.
· Ol’ Plant High Panther Mike Barber is 67.
· Props to Parrish Community High seniors Stefani Cannon, Maya Krone, Mia Davis,Khyler Reed and Cassidy Ott on their athletic futures in college: Stefani (golf) at Delaware State; Maya (golf) at Fairmont State; Mia (volleyball) at State College of Florida; Khyler (volleyball) at Western Carolina; and Ott (softball) at Memphis.
· Julie Eberly is 39. Again.
· So is Kelly Appalucci.
· A bow to the honorees at the Florida Sports Hall of Fame’s 2025 celebration Tuesday and Wednesday at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, a first for Manatee County.
There’s legendary Sarasota High baseball coach Clyde Metcalf, whose Sailors had 950 wins with six state titles in 41 seasons and sent 200-plus players to college and 72 into the pros.
Then there’s Trey Burton, former Venice High quarterback, Florida Gator tight end and Philadelphia Eagle hero, whose TD pass in the gutsy “Philly Special” trick play helped win Super Bowl 52.
Then there are Mike “A-Train” Alstott, the Bucs Super Bowl 37 champion fullback and career TD (71) leader, and the late Dave Wills, beloved radio voice of the Tampa Bay Rays for 18 seasons.
Enshrinees also include Jim Leyland, who managed the 1997 World Series champion Marlins; longtime FSU softball coach Lonni Alameda, whose Noles were 2018 NCAA champs; and Ricky Carmichael, 15-time AMA motocross champion.
For more details, visit: flasportshof.org
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Braden River marching band excels at Florida championships
