When Q. Wiggins looks at his Senshi Do Kai MMA competition team, he sees many young beginners along the walls of the dojo. They’ve only been training for the year or so that the Plant City school has been open. But when he looks deeper, in his mind he sees a lineup of 14 winners. […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? PCHS changes have promise
Many of you Plant City High students, parents and alumni are probably eager to see how the school’s athletic programs fare in the 2015-16 school year, as the recent shuffling of personnel has impacted the Raiders family at its core. I see no reason for anyone to be anything but optimistic right now. Much has […]
Continue ReadingSidelines 08.07.15
Do you have a good Sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com or Tweet us at @PCTOSports. BASEBALL + Ralyea signs with Bishop State Recent Plant City High graduate Jacob Ralyea signed with Bishop State Community College last week and will play there in the fall. Ralyea, who began his baseball career at […]
Continue ReadingFOCUS ON FITNESS: Finding excuses and losing them
I don’t have time. I’m too busy. It’s too hard. I can’t afford it. I don’t have motivation. You’ve either heard or made excuses like these before, and the list goes on and on. Those excuses have been heard by every trainer out there. And, to be honest, those excuses are the only things standing […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Cardoza Watkins
On Saturday, Aug. 1, the Plant City Dolphins and East Bay Bucs got together for the Buddy Bowl. Although the weather was less than ideal, all teams played hard. One of the top performances of the day came from Mighty Mites nose tackle Cardoza Watkins, who got four sacks against the East Bay offense in […]
Continue ReadingRussell Kemp is still chopping
There’s a saying among sports circles usually reserved for the most dominant athletes: You can’t stop him — you can only hope to contain him. As far as Russell Kemp is concerned, cancer might have him contained right now, but it won’t beat him. Kemp, a recent Plant City High graduate, was diagnosed with stage […]
Continue ReadingWHERE ARE THEY NOW? Ryan Raburn
When athletes come back from injury, there’s always speculation about if they’ll be the same or not. For most professional athletes over 30, the stories can start to look more like career eulogies. But there’s also 34-year-old Ryan Raburn, coming off of a season-ending knee injury, playing some of the best ball of his Major […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? We all have a sports influence
I don’t think any sports fan can say that he or she became a fan on their own. There’s always some influential figure in our lives who’s responsible for passing the sports bug onto us — be it a parent, coach, teacher, friend or whatever the case may be. I’ve written in the past about […]
Continue ReadingSidelines 07.31.15
Do you have a good Sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com or Tweet us at @PCTOSports. FOOTBALL + Marshall High football team to attend reunion On Saturday, August 8, one of the best football teams in Plant City’s history will bring the band back together. The Marshall High School Class of 1965’s […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Alex Machado
Plant City Little League’s 9-10 Baseball All-Stars recently won the state championship and this week played in the Tournament of State Champions in Greenville, South Carolina from Monday through Wednesday. Although the entire team has been playing well, catcher Alex Machado got this week’s nomination. How does it feel to be on the best Little […]
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