The Rays Reporter

Lady Mantas Dominate & Boys Fight to a Final Photo Finish

The dust has settled at Aubrey Rogers High School, and the Rays Reporter is back with a massive update from the FHSAA 2A District 12 Championships. If you’re a fan of Lemon Bay athletics, you’ve got a lot to be proud of.

The Lady Mantas are District Champs!

In a performance that can only be described as a “team takeover,” the Lemon Bay girls finished 1st place overall with a staggering 199 points. They held off a very talented Aubrey Rogers squad (189 pts) to bring the trophy back to Englewood.

The depth of this team is their greatest strength. Whether it was the sprints, distance, or the field, the girls were racking up points in every single event.

Individual District Champs

• Myah Dickerson – 100, 200, 400, and Shot put
• Daria Lukash – Discus
• Jazmin Smith – Triple Jump

The Boys Battle to 2nd Place

The boys’ side was a literal nail-biter. It came down to the final events, and while the Rays fell just three points shy of Bishop Verot (184 to 181), taking the District Runner-Up trophy is a huge statement. This was a heavyweight fight between three powerhouses (Verot, Lemon Bay, and Aubrey Rogers), and our boys showed they are officially in the elite tier of 2A track.

Individual District Champs

• Alex Schafer – Discus
• Dylan Campanella – Pole Vault

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Individual Highlights & State-Bound Momentum

While the official Regionals list is being finalized, several Mantas put up performances that have “Kissimmee” written all over them:

• John Mertzlufft (Sprints): John was a scoring machine, taking 1st place in the 400m Dash with a blazing 50.53. He also snagged 2nd in the 100m and 2nd in the 200m. The man simply does not tire out.
• Declan Porter (Mid-Distance): Declan showed incredible strategy in the 400m, finishing right behind Mertzlufft for a Lemon Bay 1-2 punch that effectively silenced the crowd.
• Alex Skadal (Distance): In a tactical 800m run, Alex secured a podium spot with a 2:09.20, proving his kick is one of the best in the district.

The Field Event Dominance

You can’t win a district title without the field, and that’s where we truly separated ourselves. Between the high jump, pole vault, and the throwing rings, the “Manta Field Force” was out in full effect, qualifying a massive contingent for the Regional meet.