Jacob Pipercic – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL)  – On Tuesday, April 25, Lakewood Ranch High School will hold its first Boys Volleyball Tournament.

Each team is required to have six boys and will be coached by one of the girls on the LRHS volleyball team.  Mustangs can sign up during lunches next week in the school cafeteria.

Junior Ciarra Scarbrough said, “It is an exciting opportunity to get more people involved in volleyball and allow boys to participate as well.”

Anyone with questions should contact Mustangs head volleyball coach Peri Hankins.

Roberto Rodriguez – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – The LRHS FFA Chapter is the winner of the annual Tractor Supply Grants for Growing.

LRHS FFA co-adviser Janyel Smith said, “FFA chapters across the state volunteer at Tractor Supply during National FFA Week, selling paper emblems to raise money for the program. The money is directly distributed to FFA, with 20% going to the state association and 80% of funds raised going to FFA chapters that submit an application that has been approved for funding.

“This grant will allow us to build a chicken coop on campus to house poultry projects. We are extremely excited to grow our land lab,” she continued.

The Mustang FFA chapter volunteered at the Tractor Supply, 4404 State Road 64.

Roberto Rodriguez – Mustangs Ahead

This weekend the LRHS Mustang softball team competed in the annual Kissimmee Klassic tournament. The Mustangs finished third overall. They played four games and Won 11-0, 8-0, and, 10-2, finally losing only to a nationally ranked team from Kentucky.

Junior Olivia Danko felt good about the weekend.

“We came into the tournament with a winning mindset and to sweep the competition,” she said, “and for the most part we did just, that besides losing the last game we as a team mainly focused on the victories to keep our winning spirits up. We still won third place and that put a smile on everyone’s face regardless.”

Junior Kailey Christian said, “The competition at the tournament is exactly what we wanted to play against. We wanted to play the best teams, and it showed us where we are as a team for our end goal: winning States.”

The next game for the Mustangs is at home Tuesday against Charlotte. The JV plays at 5 p.m. (which is also JV’s last game) and varsity plays at 7 p.m.

Molly Mendoza – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Monday LRHS senior class adviser Ann Fleury had the senior class meet in the auditorium for a brief informational meeting. All the upcoming important dates and paperwork were discussed and a $50 Polo Grill gift card was raffled away.

First period Tuesday seniors should receive Senior Dinner tickets. Seniors will need to RSVP with the detachable part of the Senior Dinner ticket by May 9 outside Fleury’s room (572) in the respective yes or no bags. The Senior Dinner is completely free, black and white themed, and tons of fun with food catered by Texas Roadhouse. Seniors will need their senior privilege card for this event. Dress code is semi-formal.

Seniors will also receive their prom permission slips in first period. Students will need to fill them out and keep them until the day of prom, April 28. Seniors will be able to leave at the beginning of fourth period after checking in with their teacher. If seniors lose this permission slip they can buy a new one for $5 from Fleury. In order to leave at that time, seniors will also need their senior privilege card. Even if seniors are not attending prom, they may leave early too.

Seniors will also receive the senior exam schedule some time this week or next, which will include important graduation information on it.

Fleury explained how graduation tickets work this year. The class of 2017 is made of about 600 students, so everyone will receive five tickets to graduation. Small children need a ticket; a general rule of thumb is if they walk, they need a ticket.

Starting Monday, April 17, seniors can go to Fleury’s room to place their name on the ticket request list. Seniors can request up to three additional tickets. On May 18 the number of extra tickets will be known, and if there are enough to give everyone one additional ticket on the list they will be given. Then if there are enough to give another additional ticket to everyone who requested two they will be given.  However, if there aren’t enough for all requesting two no one will receive the second additional ticket.

Graduation tickets will be given out 2:30 p.m., May 18, the same day as cap and gown pick up, in the LRHS cafeteria. Seniors need to be present to pick up their own caps and gowns.

Graduation rehearsal is scheduled for 8:15 a.m., May 19 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd, Palmetto, FL 34221.

Graduation for the Class of 2017 will take place at the Bradenton Area Convention Center at 9 a.m. on May 20. Seniors will need to be there by 8:30 a.m. at the latest, and doors will close at 8:50 a.m.

Dress code for Top 10% ladies in silver gowns is light colored dresses or pants with silver or black shoes. All other ladies in black gowns need to wear dark colored dresses with black shoes. Men should all wear dark ties, plain white collared dress shirts, black shoes, black socks, and black dress pants.

The annual senior video is currently being made by LRHS TV production students. Seniors should send pictures they wish to be included to mailto:LRHSvideo2017@gmail.com.

The senior fee price has now risen to $40 and will rise to $50 and become a debt on May 1. Students can pay this before or after school in Fleury’s room 572.

During the meeting seniors filled out name cards for graduation, so any seniors who missed the meeting they need to see Fleury before or after school.

Seniors can buy a new senior privilege card for $5 if they have lost theirs, before or after school in Fleury’s room.

This is a lot of information as there are many important things going on for seniors during April and May. For reminders follow the senior twitter account @SeniorsLRHS and check the senior page on the LRHS website.

Kyle Praizner – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – LRHS seniors Maddison “Gi” Krstec, girls varsity soccer, and LaDazhia Williams, girls varsity basketball, were named Sarasota Herald-Tribune Players of the Year in their sports.

Krstec scored 19 goals to go with 13 assists to help lead Lakewood Ranch to another district title in the 2017 soccer season. With this final season of high school, she looks back on her career as she heads to the University of Maryland.

Krstec said, “I am proud to a part of an amazing team in my last year in high school. We have a good bond together and know how each other plays. And I can’t wait to play in Maryland and get to know more people and improve myself.”

Krstec added, “I’m happy to be thought of as the player of the year, I just played my best and tried to be a team player to get as far as we could.”

Williams averaged 19.6 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals per game. All-time leading scorer and rebounder in program history and is ranked as one of the top 50 recruits in the nation, she also received offers from schools such as Tennessee, Louisville, University of South Carolina, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Williams is heading to the University of South Carolina to continue her education and basketball career.

“This past year we tried to go all the way, I feel like we all tried our best, and we played well together. Even though there was some injuries we made it pretty far and I’m still proud of everyone,” said Williams

Williams added, “In college I want to try and get better and fight for a starting position. Then maybe get scouted for the WNBA.”