Pinellas Park High School - Occurrences Yearbook (Largo, FL)

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Displaying sheer determination, freshman Chezzy Sils overcomes her competitors. Ej ihing herself, junior Becky Watson :j ches up with the leaders. ROW 1: Chezzy Sils, Kim Logan, Suzanne Holin, Janine Whitman, Becky Watson; ROW 2: Aaron Gil, Sean Poteet, Scott Temple, Chris Hamilton. Todd Temple, Bill Mantooth, Karim Kurji, Donald Kealey, Joe Winkowski, Coach Rick Haley CROSS COUNTRY 193

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Setting his pace, Karim Kurji, senior, keeps ahead of the rest. At the sound of the gun, sophomore Bill Mantooth and Kurji jump to a strong start. CROSS COUNTRY Sept. 6 Sept. 11 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 1 Oct. 3 Oct. 6 Oct. 11 Oct. 16 Oct. 25 Nov. 2 Lake Seminole Leto Inv. Cresent Lake Countryside Inv. Taylor Park Largo Inv. Dunedin Inv. Cresent Lake Countryside Conference 7th place Districts 9th place Physical and mental endurance- Cross country running was not only a sport of physical en- durance but also one of mental preparation. Runners must know how to set their pace in com- parison to other runners and when to give the final surge. Cross country running was a unique sport, however, as it was more of an individual than a team effort. Yet, there was always that special linkage be- tween the runners. The runners were required to run three to five miles every day after school and oftentimes would run more on their own. The work that you would put in- to it was the same amount of suc- cess you could expect out of it, said senior Karim Kurji. As a team, the Patriots finished seventh in conference and ninth in districts. The team did not place high enough in districts to go further. Sophomore Bill Mantootl however, was honored in bein asked to accompany the distric champions, Countryside, to a na tional competition in Nort: Carolina. He finished fifth. Senior Joe Winkowski felt tha the season, as a whole, was gooi and that the team worke( together well in putting fort ' their best. 192 CROSS COUNTRY

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Giving a pep talk, Coach Jennifer MerkUng instructs the team before a game. :i: H; VOLLEYBALL ■ St. Pete MKflti 9! Northeast H liHil Osceola w Dunedin L Gibbs W Lakewood W Boca CieRa — L Seminole HHp W Tarpon W Dixie W Clearwater L Countryside L Largo W Bump, set and spike to victory Uedication and being able to adapt to the new volleyball coach, Jennifer Merkling, were factors in the formation of the Patriot volleyball team. The team seemed to adapt to the new coach well. We all liked her and thought she was a great coach, commented captain Sharon Berry, senior. Although the team had four incoming freshmen, the five returning players were there to help them along as the team developed into a functional unit. The team was lucky this year to get freshmen that had a lot of potential. They were willing to learn and practice hard in order to come together, stated junior Joan Freeland. Inexperience was not a prob- lem for the team because everyone had some prior ex- periences of playing volleyball. The team also attended a volleyball camp during the sum- mer to improve their skills as well as to learn new ones. The attitude of the team was very supportive towards one another. They tried to help each other on and off the court. When one of us made a mistake, the others were there to root us on and give us confidence to try again. We always pulled together as a team, stated Freeland. The key players were seniors. Berry, captain Lynn Collins, and junior Linda Piver. Berry and Piver were both spikers. Freeland, also a spiker, con- tributed with them. Everyone, however, was essential to the team as they always made the game a team effort. In districts, the Patriots started out with two wins against East Bay. The following games against ROW 1: Debra Session, Joan Freelan Linda Piver, Sharon Berry, Peg] Cochrane, Bonnie Krol; ROW 2: Lyr Collins, Merkling, Lisa Page, Deani Hitt Plant, however, dashed the hopes for the district title, single penalty was crucial for tt Patriots. The Patriots lost the fight for the district title again Plant, but they felt good about tl season overall. 194 VOLLEYBALL