SPORTS

By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Osceola County High School athletes vie for track championships, spring football games this week

Although the school year is rapidly winding down, a lot of moving parts remain for the athletic programs in Osceola’s eight public high schools. Here is a rundown of what is happening this week in county high school sports:

BOY’S VOLLEYBALL

Coming off a dominating three-set sweep of Dr. Phillips (25-18, 25-17, 25-20), Celebration returns to action Tuesday night when they host Winter Garden’s Horizon Hawks in an FHSAA Regional Final on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the State Championship Tournament this weekend at Polk State College in Winter Haven. The Storm (20-9 this season) last advanced to the state tournament in 2019, when they defeated Apopka for the Regional Championship before bowing out to Archbishop McCarthy in 5-set quarterfinals – finishing their season with a 24-3 record. “On paper, we should be favored on Tuesday, but you never know in the playoffs,” Celebration coach Pedro Davila noted. “The most important thing will be to come out with intensity and establish our rhythm early.” You can read about Celebration’s big win against Dr. Phillips here (https://www.positivelyosceola.com/ celebration-storm-one-win-away-from-state-tournament-in-boys-volleyball)

Signing Day At Osceola

Osceola High School will hold a signing ceremony on Monday afternoon. Five athletes, including Quanaya Jenkins (Girls Track/Field – Florida Memorial), Nyla Rocke (Girls Wrestling – North Iowa Area Community College), Davian Rivera (Wrestling –North Iowa Area Community College), Keira Suro (Girls Wrestling – Friends University), and Daniela Tabora Contreras (Girls Wrestling- Friends University) will sign their scholarship papers at the event. “We’ve had a great year this year and singing days like this one are the big payoff for the student-athletes and their families,” Osceola AD Rick Tribit said. “Monday’s signing brings to 30 the number of 2022-23 OHS Studentathletes who will get the opportunity to chase their dreams at the next level and is a true testament to the hard work that our teachers, coaches, and counselors have put in coaching and mentoring them.”

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Deputy Chief Betty Holland takes over as City of Kissimmee’s 29th Police Chief

Betty Holland has taken over the role of Kissimmee Chief of Police, Kissimmee City Manager Mike Steigerwald announced on Friday. Chief Holland began her term on Saturday, April 29, and will be sworn as the 29th Police Chief of the City of Kissimmee during the next city commission meeting on Tuesday, May 2.

“I’m pleased to welcome Betty Holland as our next Chief of Police, one of the City’s most critical leadership positions,” said Steigerwald. “Her 35 years of law enforcement experience, including the past 5 years as a key member of Chief O’Dell’s leadership team, have well positioned her to take our police department to the next level. Given the growth of our police force in recent years, I am especially excited about Chief Holland’s ideas for the continued development of our police force. I believe her prior experience leading the Polk County Sheriff’s training academy will be of great benefit in preparing future leaders within our agency.”

Carol Guedes, RD Dietitian Orlando Health