The Daily Feed

Welcome to The Daily Feed, your one-stop shop for everything high school sports in the Tampa Bay area. Whether you’re looking for the latest scores, highlights, interviews, or memes, we’ve got you covered. Every day, we’ll bring you a mix of social media posts, short stories, fun facts and links on what’s happening in the local scene. You’ll get to know the players, the coaches, the fans and the rivals. So, sit back, relax and enjoy The Daily Feed.

Several area standouts who were selected in last month’s MLB Draft had impressive professional debuts with their assigned minor league affiliates.

Former Mitchell star Aidan Miller, who was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round (27th overall), went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI for the FCL (Florida Complex League) Phillies a week ago.

.@Phillies 2023 first-round pick Aidan Miller went 3-for-4 with an RBI in his first game with the FCL Phillies on Thursday! pic.twitter.com/i5T6LDVptg

Bennett Lee, who led Jesuit to a state title in 2019 and helped Wake Forest advance to the College World Series semifinals this year, went 3-for-5 for the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Detroit’s Single A-affiliate in the Florida State League. Lee was selected in the sixth round (170th overall) by the Tigers.

Lee’s high school and college teammate, Camden Minacci, had a scoreless inning as a reliever for the Island Empire 66ers, the Angels’ Single-A affiliate in the California League. Minacci went in the sixth round (174th overall) by California.

Another Wake Forest standout, Brock Wilken, who starred at Bloomingdale, had a single, a sacrifice fly and a walk with the Arizona Complex League Brewers. Wilken, taken by Milwaukee in the first round (18th overall), played so well in the ACL that he was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Brewers’ High Single-A affiliate.

Arjun Nimmala, who was named the Gatorade state player of the year at Strawberry Crest this past season, technically made his debut with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays on Tuesday. But the game was postponed because of lightning, and he will not play again until today.

Nimmala went in the first round to Toronto (20th overall).

Eric Kennedy, a former standout at Calvary Christian and Texas who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Royals, was promoted to their high Single-A affiliate in Quad Cities after going a combined 4-for-9 in four games with the organization’s Arizona Complex League team.

Former Seminole standout Joey Krehbiel was promoted from AAA to the Orioles’ 40-man roster and threw 1⅓ perfect innings with two strikeouts against the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Jesuit’s Wes Mendes recently received his plaque for being named the Class 5A state player of the year for the second straight season by the Florida Dairy Farmers.

The Mississippi signee helped the Tigers reach the state final this year after winning the title in 2022.

Very special to receive this today. Congrats to Wes Mendes '23, the two-time recipient of Florida's Class 5A Player of the Year award. #AMDG #GoTigers #JesuitBaseball pic.twitter.com/PR5yuCKV21

Karter Knox, a five-star recruit, has decided to leave Tampa Catholic to play for Overtime Elite, a league for elite prospects based in Atlanta, where he will play on a scholarship and have the opportunity to earn a significant amount of money through NIL deals.

Knox, the younger brother of former Tampa Catholic and Kentucky standout Kevin Knox II, had a chance to become the school’s all-time scorer and was aiming to lead the Crusaders to a state title after reaching the final four each of the past two seasons.

Instead, Knox will play his senior season with Overtime. He also will make a college decision among his top eight choices sometime around Christmas. One of his options is to play for the G League Ignite after this season, then declare for the NBA Draft.

Freddie Dyles, one of most successful boys basketball coaches in Pinellas County, and the state, was named to the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Dyles won 674 games and led Gibbs to three state titles.

In 1966, the Gladiators made history, becoming the first all-black basketball program to join the all-white Florida High School Activities Association. That year, Gibbs played before big crowds, including more than 7,000 who packed the Bayfront Center to watch them take on Clearwater High in a holiday tournament.

But the Gladiators were more than just a basketball curiosity. Dyles had a championship team. They endured taunts. But Dyles insisted his players avoid any confrontations for fear it could slow integration among students statewide.

Gibbs won another state title during the 1966-67 season, this time in the Florida High School Athletic Association. Soon after, more all-black schools joined the state’s governing body for high school sports.

When Dyles retired in 1993, he was Pinellas County’s all-time winningest coach. In 2010, he was surpassed by Lakewood’s Dan Wright, his former player.

His induction comes three years after the Gibbs’ gymnasium was named in his honor to preserve his coaching legacy.

Mieke Rowe already has been named the Class 2A and Miss Flag Football player of the year after leading Alonso to a state title.

Now, add another award to the list.

On Thursday, Rowe was named the national player of the year by USA Today’s High School Sports Award presentation.

This past season. Rowe finished with 5,016 yards and 95 touchdowns to lead the Ravens to a title.

Rowe and teammate Eryn Klaus also were selected to the newspaper’s list of the top 25 players in the country. Two Robinson players, Katejion Robinson and Hadyn Spano, were named to the list.

The 2023 USA TODAY HSSA National Girls Flag Football Player of the Year, Mieke Row‼️ Alonso High School Tampa, FL @MiekeRowe @alonsohigh @RavensFlagFB#usatodayhssa #highschoolsportsawards #highschoolsports #girlsflagfootball pic.twitter.com/pBfBM0thjI

The season officially started Monday, the first day practices were allowed.

Largo wasted no time getting on the field, holding a midnight practice the first day. Others went in the morning.

All with the same goal in mind: Beat the heat.

Trainers monitor the heat stress in direct sunlight by using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. Afternoon practices amid soaring temperatures during this summer’s heatwave often mean teams have to cut practices short, take off layers of gear or move inside.

To combat that, a few teams have decided to go in the morning some days or even for the whole season.

Here is the guide trainers use in Pasco and Hillsborough when monitoring the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature.

A pair of talented Hillsborough County skill players, Jesuit running back Justin Thurman and Tampa Bay Tech receiver Javion McKay, made their college plans known by announcing their commitments this week.

Thurman, a junior, picked Notre Dame over offers from 20 other schools, including Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. The four-star prospect will have a more prominent role as ball carrier this season as the Tigers try to replace Joquez Smith, now at Temple.

McKay, a senior, decided on Charlotte, joining Titans running back Rod Gainey, who committed to the school last month.

There are now more than 40 area players in the 2024 class who have committed to colleges.

The fan votes, which started last month, continue with the semifinals in Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas and the quarterfinals in Hillsborough.

Voting lasts until 9 a.m. Monday in each county.

Sickles has hired Chris Patterson as softball coach.

The announcement was made on Friday via social media.

Patterson, who has worked with the Clearwater Bullets Klinefelter travel team for the past four years, replaces Al Bowman, who left after coaching the Gryphons for eight seasons.

Former St. Petersburg standout goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese, who played at Florida from 2015-18 before embarking on a steady club soccer career, is currently playing for Bristol City in the Women’s Soccer League while on loan from Arsenal.

Former Countryside and Florida standout Bobby Finke, who won gold medals in the 800 and 1,500-meter freestyle races at the 2020 Summer Olympics, continued to solidify his status as the nation’s premier distance swimmer by setting American records in his two signature events at the World Aquatics Championships.

Finke took bronze in the 800, breaking his own American record of 7 minutes, 38.67 seconds. In the 1,500, Finke shaved five seconds off his previous American record by finishing in 14:31.59 in an epic race that he lost 0.05 seconds to Ahmed Hafnaoui.

Bobby Finke does it again 🤯𝟭𝟱𝟬𝟬𝗺 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲: – Sets a new American record, 14:31.59, beating his previous record by 5 seconds – Became the third-fastest swimmer of all time – Silver Medal🥈#GoGators | #AQUAFukuoka23 pic.twitter.com/u7jIdQi3Ki

Josie Hensley, who led Clearwater Central Catholic to the Class 3A state title last season, made her college plans official by announcing her commitment to Troy this week.

Hensley, a setter, recorded 962 assists, 304 digs and 104 kills last season. Her ability to direct the offense was a big reason the Marauders went on a tear in the playoffs to win a title in one of the toughest classifications in the state.

As a junior this season, Hensley will be counted on again to lead a team with plenty of pieces in place to make another title run.

Congratulations to Josie Hensley for committing to play volleyball at Troy University. Go Trojans ♥️⚔️ @JHensley2025 pic.twitter.com/77qqZlQYQN

The fan votes, which started last month, continue with the semifinals in Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas and the quarterfinals in Hillsborough.

Voting lasts until 9 a.m. Monday in each county.

Jesuit, which has become the area’s powerhouse wrestling program, is once again in position to win a state title in the Individual Bracket Tournament (IBT), at least according to one ranking.

Kabra Wrestling has the Tigers at No. 2 in Class 2A in its early season rankings.

Hernando’s girls wrestling team is ranked No. 3 in the state.