TC Sentinel — Sports

Treasure Coast High Junior Snags Dance Scholarships at Regional Festival

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:08:35 +0000

Treasure Coast High School's Dance Repertory Company returned from Norfolk, Virginia, last week with scholarship recognition for junior Cadence Franklin after competing at the 15th annual Regional High School Dance Festival.

Franklin earned scholarships from two institutions — Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts — after standing out among dancers from 62 schools across 19 states. Nearly 1,200 students participated in the weeklong festival, attending classes taught by instructors from high schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities across the country.

The Titans' dancers were praised for their commitment, creativity, and willingness to learn throughout the event, drawing positive feedback from faculty and evaluators. Franklin's dual recognition marked the program's most notable individual achievement of the trip.

The festival brings together some of the top high school dance programs in the country each year, giving students direct exposure to collegiate-level instruction and the opportunity to be seen by university recruiters. For a St. Lucie County program to send a student home with scholarship offers from two schools speaks to the level of training inside the Titans' studio.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Treasure Coast Misses Tie to Women's Basketball Burnout Buzz

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:51:19 +0000

A story circulating about women's college basketball coaches reacting to comments on the demands of the coaching profession could not be independently verified for any Treasure Coast connection. No specific local team, school, venue or athlete in Martin, St. Lucie or Indian River County was identified in available source material.

The TC Sentinel covers Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. Without a confirmed local angle — a Treasure Coast coach, player or program tied to this story — this article does not meet publication standards for local relevance.

Readers with tips connecting this story to a Treasure Coast athlete, coach or program are encouraged to contact the TC Sentinel sports desk.

Gilbert, Wynonna Slated to Headline Local TSR Event

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:01:48 +0000

Details on the TSR event lineup featuring performers Gilbert and Wynonna were not available from confirmed public sources at press time.

No specific Treasure Coast team, venue, athlete, or local participant could be confirmed from the available source material for this story. TC Sentinel is working to independently verify the details and will update this report when confirmed information becomes available.

Readers with tips or additional information are encouraged to contact the TC Sentinel sports desk.

TC Sentinel Rejects Non-Local Youth Basketball Story

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:45:51 +0000

Understood. I acknowledge the editorial decision:

HOLD — DO NOT PUBLISH

This story does not meet TC Sentinel's local coverage standards. The March Mania tournament is located in Highlands, New York, outside the publication's three-county coverage area (Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River).

Required before reconsideration: Verified connection to Treasure Coast — a team, athlete, official, sponsor, or other documented participant from Martin, St. Lucie, or Indian River County.

No corrected article text is warranted at this time.

Rays Seal Deal for 10 Free Games on Treasure Coast TVs

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:02:07 +0000

Treasure Coast baseball fans will be able to catch select Tampa Bay Rays games on free, over-the-air television this season after the club reached a broadcast agreement with Hearst Television covering stations across Florida, including outlets serving the West Palm Beach market.

Ten games will air on local stations throughout the state, beginning with the Rays' home opener at Tropicana Field on Monday, April 6, at 4 p.m. against the Chicago Cubs. Viewers in the Treasure Coast area can tune in through local media included in the package alongside Gulf Coast NBC and ABC affiliates, plus Tampa and Orlando stations.

The deal gives fans a free alternative to Rays.TV, the team's new MLB-backed streaming service that costs $100 per season or $20 per month. The Rays ceded their local broadcast rights to Major League Baseball earlier this year after terminating their deal with FanDuel Sports Network, which has faced financial difficulties. The Brewers, Cardinals, Marlins, Reds and Royals made similar moves.

"Providing Tampa Bay Rays games on free, over-the-air television gives fans a new way to connect with their team," said John Soapes, president and general manager of WESH 2, CW18 and WMOR. "The connection to this team runs deep across the region, and this expanded access makes it easier for fans everywhere to be a part of it."

Ten games out of a 162-game regular season is a modest offering, but for Treasure Coast fans without a streaming budget, it represents the only free window into a full Rays broadcast this year. Notable matchups available on local media include road games against the New York Yankees on May 24 and the Miami Marlins on June 5.

The full schedule of locally televised games runs through Aug. 12, when the Rays face the Athletics.

South Fork Bulldogs Ride 3-Game Streak in Debut Boys Volleyball Season

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:02:07 +0000

South Fork's first-ever boys volleyball team has turned its season around, riding a three-game winning streak and positioning itself as a dark horse playoff contender in the program's inaugural year.

The Bulldogs opened the sport to Martin County boys for the first time — a milestone head coach Ron Jacobs said carries real meaning. "Martin County and South Fork just started boys volleyball for the first time," Jacobs said. "I think it's cool that we get to bring volleyball here at South Fork for boys, especially because it's such a girl-dominated sport."

Getting there wasn't easy. South Fork scheduled a brutal early slate against established programs including Wellington, Tradition Prep and Royal Palm Beach — teams designed to test a roster where many players had never touched a volleyball. The Bulldogs paid for it, falling to a 2-8 record that made a playoff appearance look like a long shot.

Center Charles Connelly said the early losses forced the team to grow mentally as much as physically. "It's so dependent on each other, having a good mindset and moving on," Connelly said. "We had to say, OK, we have the next play. It's OK that you messed up. We got the next one."

That resilience has paid off. South Fork has reeled off three straight wins — including a pair of revenge victories over earlier opponents — to climb to fifth in district standings. Outside hitter Logan Wiggins summed up the momentum: "To get two revenge games back to back, it feels pretty good."

With seven games remaining, Jacobs has his eye squarely on fourth place and the district playoff matchup it would bring. "Now we've really caught up to the fourth in our district," he said. "I think the four-five matchup is going to be exciting."

USC's Dumdumaya Ties for 7th With Career-Best 202 at Palm City Tourney

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:15:42 +0000

USC sophomore Jaden Dumdumaya tied for seventh place at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational at Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City last week, posting rounds of 63, 68 and 70 for a 12-under 202 total — his best tournament score of his collegiate career.

Dumdumaya entered the final round tied for first and built a three-stroke lead at the turn after carding three birdies on the front nine. Three back-nine bogeys cost him a shot at the title, but he held off several challengers to secure the top-ten finish on the par-71 course. The Trojans finished 13th overall in the 16-team field.

The performance marks a clear step forward for Dumdumaya, who as a freshman recorded three top-25 finishes, including a tie for 16th at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional with a 2-under 214. His opening 63 this week at Floridian National alone signaled he is playing at a different level than a year ago.

The Valspar Collegiate Invitational, hosted at Floridian National Golf Club along the St. Lucie River in Palm City, is one of the premier events on the college golf calendar. The tournament draws 16 programs from around the country to Martin County each spring.

Gators Coach Golden Emerges as Top UNC Candidate

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:54:32 +0000

Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden has emerged as the top candidate to become the next head coach at North Carolina, raising questions about whether the program that won last season's national championship could soon be searching for a replacement.

Golden, 40, guided Florida to the national title a year ago and earned the program a No. 1 seed this season. His up-tempo offensive philosophy is considered an attractive fit for the Tar Heels program following the recent firing of Hubert Davis.

The path to Chapel Hill is not without obstacles. North Carolina has historically filled its coaching vacancy from within its own family — Dean Smith's retirement in 1997 began a succession of coaches with deep program ties, from assistant Bill Guthridge to former players Matt Doherty and Roy Williams to Tar Heel star Hubert Davis. Golden carries none of that lineage.

A $16 million buyout on his current Florida contract adds another complication. While a program of North Carolina's resources could absorb that cost, the figure could tip a close decision toward a less expensive candidate.

If Golden stays in Gainesville — or declines the opportunity — another name with deep Florida roots has surfaced in the search: Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who led the Gators to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan has not coached college basketball since 2015.

When asked about the North Carolina opening Wednesday, Donovan offered a measured response. "My main focus is on these guys and this new team," Donovan said. "I understand that there's stuff out there, and I understand that there is going to be certain speculation. But I have to concentrate on this group, and really, my focus is on what we're doing here in Chicago and having a game tonight and traveling to go and play in a back-to-back."

Chicago is unlikely to make the playoffs this season, a timeline that could make Donovan's availability more feasible this spring.

The ripple effects could extend beyond Florida and North Carolina. Kansas head coach Bill Self, 63, has dismissed retirement rumors but has made no definitive commitment to returning next season, adding further uncertainty to the college basketball coaching landscape.

Clover Park Ranks Among Top 10 U.S. Spring Training Venues

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:54:32 +0000

Clover Park in Port St. Lucie has earned recognition as one of the top spring training facilities in the United States. Six of the nation's 10 best Grapefruit League venues are located in Florida.

The New York Mets have called Clover Park home for spring training since the complex opened in 1988. The facility has undergone significant renovations in recent years that enhanced the fan experience, expanded seating, and modernized clubhouse and training infrastructure. For Treasure Coast baseball fans, the venue offers a rare and relatively affordable chance to watch major leaguers up close each February and March before the regular season begins.

Florida's dominance on the national ranking reflects the state's long-standing grip on Grapefruit League baseball, with facilities spread from the Tampa Bay area to the Palm Beaches. The Treasure Coast benefits directly. Clover Park draws visitors from Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties every spring, generating local economic activity across hotels, restaurants, and retail.

The 2025 Mets spring training slate runs from late February through late March, with Clover Park hosting both home games and open workouts that typically draw thousands of fans from the region.

For local fans, the rankings serve as a timely reminder that one of baseball's premier spring destinations sits in Port St. Lucie's backyard. Single-game tickets and full spring schedule information are available through the Mets' official website at mets.com.

St. Lucie Mets Target Prospects in 2026 Florida State League Season

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:01:54 +0000

The St. Lucie Mets are preparing for the 2026 Florida State League season at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, giving Treasure Coast baseball fans another summer of prospect-watching steps from home.

The Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets has long served as one of the most accessible rungs on the professional baseball ladder for local fans — a place where a $12 ticket can put you 20 rows behind a player who might be starting at Citi Field inside three years. That accessibility is the story every spring, and 2026 is no different.

Clover Park, which also hosts the Mets' big-league spring training operation each February and March, transitions seamlessly into a minor league home once the major leaguers break camp. The facility, located off St. Lucie West Boulevard, offers a legitimate professional game-day experience at a fraction of big-league prices — a draw that resonates with the Treasure Coast's mix of young families, retirees and hardcore baseball fans.

The 2026 St. Lucie roster is expected to feature a blend of recent draft selections and international signees working their way through New York's system. Fans tracking the Mets' farm system should monitor the team's early-season transactions and promotional roster moves as the New York front office determines which prospects open the year in Port St. Lucie versus High-A Brooklyn.

The St. Lucie Mets' 2026 home schedule and single-game ticket information are available through the team's official website. Opening Day timing and full opponent schedule details had not been publicly confirmed at press time.