Of the area high school programs with the potential to play championship-caliber softball this spring, two in particular are leading the charge.

A seventh-inning rally by Haines City kept host Lake Region High from claiming top honors at last week’s Thunder Spring Classic.

WINTER HAVEN — The Winter Haven High baseball team hosted Lakeland Christian on Wednesday, March 24, as part of their 2021 Blue Devil Classic.

The tradition-rich Lake Wales football program will take a step back in time with the Florida High School Athletic Association’s recent vote for a one-year reclassification cycle.

On March 17, the Winter Haven Blue Devils girls lacrosse team hosted the nearby Discovery Spartans, of Lake Alfred. The game was also Senior Night for the home team.

LAKELAND — In the end, the Bartow Yellow Jackets didn’t just repeat as FHSAA Class 6A State Champions — they were dominant in doing so.

LAKELAND — The Bartow High boys basketball team dominated Ocala Forest in the FHSAA Class 6A State Semifinals Thursday night, topping the Wildcats 63-24 at the RP Funding Center.

The Bartow High boys basketball team enjoyed its trip last year to Lakeland for the FHSAA Final Four so much that the Yellow Jackets are going back.

The staff for the athletics department at soon-to-be-opened Davenport High School continues to take shape.

For a second consecutive season, the Winter Haven High School girls basketball team’s season ended in the Final Four in Lakeland.

On Sunday, Feb. 28, Winter Haven native Trey Mancini received a standing ovation during his first live at-bat after missing the 2020 season while recovering from Stage 3 colon cancer.

Polk County Public Schools staff announced Wednesday, Jan. 27, that the school district will limit attendance at athletic events for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year in an effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Three of Polk State College’s five athletics programs returned to action within the past week, with a fourth set to begin play this week.

Novel coronavirus-related issues continue to be the norm – especially for tournament organizers.

Florida High School Athletic Association regional meets involving area schools are scheduled for this week: Class 3A-3 (Jan. 30 at St. Cloud High), Class 2A-3 (Jan. 28 at River Ridge High) and Class 1A-4 (Jan. 30 at Lemon Bay High).

The Florida Tropics Presented by Bond Clinic will start their defense of their first ever Eastern Conference championship on Saturday, Jan. 2, when the St. Louis Ambush visit the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Bartow City Commissioners presented a proclamation to Bartow High School’s two principals and head football coach last week, proclaiming the city the “Home of Champions.”

The Auburndale boys basketball team swept all four games it played last week, including wins over nearby Winter Haven and a well-regarded Windermere team out of Orange County, to improve to 8-0 on the season.

Winter Haven High School girls basketball standout Trinity Hardy announced her commitment to further her education and basketball career at the United States Military Academy at West Point on November 21.

Courtney Blastic has helped play an important role in the Winter Haven High girls soccer team’s 3-1-1 start this season. Blastic plays forward and has been on varsity since her freshman year. She is currently a junior.

The transition from fall to winter high school sports is underway as the calendar flips to December.

It seems like forever going back to February 2020, but that month Winter Haven’s girls varsity basketball team nearly reached the Class 6A state championship game.

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors held its second regularly scheduled meeting of the 2020-21 school year on Nov. 16 in Gainesville.

The novel coronavirus continues to exact a significant toll on the varsity football season.

Throughout the month of November, the Lakeland Magic and Florida Blue are asking fans to help virtually sell out the RP Funding Center and fill the bowl for those in need as they raise money to fight hunger in the Central Florida community.

The COVID-19 pandemic teamed up with Tropical Storm Eta to alter portions of last week’s high school athletic schedule.

Keymari Odum, a senior for the Ridge Community High School football team, moved from playing quarterback for the Bolts to wide receiver.

The Bartow High football program has had quite the turnaround over the past three seasons, capped by a decisive win over Lake Wales in the Yellow Jackets’ regular season finale Nov. 6.

The high school varsity football season has progressed similar to that of a long roller coaster ride.

The Lake Wales High boys and girls bowling programs were represented at the 2020 FHSAA state bowling championships.

The Bartow and Lake Wales varsity football teams remained undefeated last Friday, while Fort Meade reached the .500 mark the same night with its second straight victory.

The Winter Haven girls volleyball team celebrated the Class 6A-District 15 title after consecutive five-set victories over Harmony and Viera.

Bartow High School varsity football head coach Richard Tate won the Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Coach of the Week award for Week Three on Oct. 3.

The first meeting of new Polk County rivals in the United Premier Soccer League went to the Florida Tropics.

The Frostproof Bulldogs hosted the Lake Placid Dragons on Oct. 2 and won 40-7, improving to 2-0 on the season.

Lake Region High hosted the Thunder Twilight event last Thursday, Oct. 1, with junior varsity and varsity five-kilometer races for boys and girls.

The FHSAA released girls volleyball district tournament brackets last Wednesday, Sept. 30. Member schools had until Sept. 18 to opt out of the state series, while a blind draw was utilized to determine the initial matchups.

While area high school football teams push through the regular season amid the pandemic, the Florida High School Athletic Association recently unveiled regional assignments on which the state playoffs will be based.

HAINES CITY – Winter Haven Police Department officers won first place in the “Hoops & Heroes” fundraiser basketball tournament, held Oct. 2 to benefit the Ridge Community High School Lady Bolts basketball team.

Freshman defensive tackle Gervon Dexter made the most of his playing time in the University of Florida’s 51-35 victory at Ole Miss last Saturday.

The All Saints Academy girls volleyball has started the season 5-4 and a big part of their success has been the play of Jenna Johnson. Johnson, who is a junior, leads the team in kills with 109 and has the highest percentage of kills on the team with 42.9%.

Lake Region High senior Michael Collins and his Thunder cross country teammates look to utilize a home-course advantage this week.

True freshman Josh Celiscar (Winter Haven) made a significant impact in his first collegiate game with the UCF Knights. Celiscar recovered a first-quarter fumble, registered his first career interception during the second quarter and had one pass reception for 11 yards in the fourth quarter …

The girls varsity volleyball season is progressing faster than a quick set.

For the first time in nearly 18 months, the Florida Tropics took to the outdoor pitch to defend their United Premier Soccer League national championship. The Tropics had a road game Sept. 19, after the time of publication, at the PSE Conquistadors.

Josh Celiscar a true freshman for the UCF football team and a Winter Haven High School alum, made a significant impact in his first collegiate game.