- April 18, 2024
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Zach Sanford, left, has been FPC's head wrestling coach for the past four seasons. File photo by Michele Meyers
Zach Sanford is stepping down as Flagler Palm Coast's head wrestling coach, athletic director Steve DeAugustino said.
"He did a great job here," DeAugustino said.
Sanford is leaving education, said DeAugustino, who expects to name a replacement soon.
Sanford took over one of the most accomplished wrestling programs in the state. But when he arrived in 2018, the Bulldogs were in rebuilding mode. They returned just two varsity wrestlers and they started nine freshmen in his first season.
This past season, when those 2018-2019 freshmen became seniors, the Bulldogs advanced to the state duals tournament for the first time, advancing to the semifinals. They won district and region championships in both the duals and individual bracket tournament seasons. FPC sent nine wrestlers to the state tournament and finished 11th in the Class 3A team standings.
Matanzas principal Jeff Reaves personally delivered the Pirates' Female Athlete of the Year award to Emma Wood on May 11 at Daytona State College's softball field. Wood was playing in the Pirates' regional quarterfinal game and was unable to attend the awards banquet earlier that evening.
Wood had outstanding seasons for the Pirates' volleyball and softball teams. Tyson Mills, was named Male Athlete of the Year. Mills was a state wrestling runner-up who also played football and ran track. Tate Winecoff and Karissa Jackson were named the Pirates' Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the Year.
FPC weightlifter Dom Bennett and cross country/soccer/track athlete Jada Williams were named the Bulldogs' Male and Female Athlete of the Year at FPC's athletic banquet on May 16. Bennett won two state titles to lead the Bulldogs to the Class 4A state weightlifting championship. Williams, Gavin Gotera (baseball), Anniel (Annie) Buchanan (weightlifting) and Maddie Oliva (blowing) won Scholar Athlete Awards. Giva Clavizzao won the Service Above Self award.
Sophomore Bella DeJulio led Mainland to the state softball playoffs. DeJulio batted .600 with 11 extra-base hits and had a 0.79 earned run average with 221 strikeouts in 106.1 innings pitched. The Bucs lost to Deltona in both the district championship game and regional quarterfinals to finish the season at 11-9.
AdventHealth is offering free sports physicals and ECG screenings to Flagler school district students on May 24 at Matanzas from 5 to 9 p.m. and May 25 at Flagler Palm Coast from 5 to 9 p.m. The physicals are open to students in grades 6 to 12. Registration is required. To register online go to FSSportsPhyscials.com.
