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Sunshine State Games Busy Month Concludes With Championship

Miami Riptides

By Sharon Aron Baron

To wrap up the final weekend of Sunshine State Games events, 50 water polo teams played more than 100 games over 35 hours between Friday and Sunday at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex and Boca Raton High School.

The 35 hours included a two-hour weather delay on Saturday. Also included in the weekend’s activities were fencing in Alachua County and Powerlifting in Broward County.

The Championship on Sunday brought out the best in the eight water polo gold medal games. After two days of pool play, with sometimes lopsided scores, the championship games were decided by an average of four points.

In winning its third consecutive Girl’s 18 and Under Sunshine State Games Championship, Sarasota Water Polo (pictured at right) defeated South Florida Water Polo, 10-9, in the final game.

After having a shot blocked to give Sarasota a two-point lead, South Florida got the ball with five seconds remaining Once the referee threw the ball into the pool, South Florida took a potential game-tying shot from the middle of the pool that was blocked by Sarasota goalie, Sophie Raquel as time expired.

“I could read the shot that was coming,” said Raquel. “So I knew what was going to happen and got the block.”

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Sarasota was undefeated in five games over the weekend, winning its final two games by one point against the silver and bronze medal-winning teams. Also undefeated in five games was Team Orlando to win the Men’s Open Division gold medal Team Orlando defeated the Miami Riptides, 12-8, in the Championship Game.

2022 Sunshine State Games Medal Winners

12 and Under Coed

GOLD; Hialeah Storm; SILVER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Miami Whitecaps

Hialeah Storm.

14 and Under Coed

GOLD: South Florida Water Polo; SILVER: Miami Riptides; BRONZE: Hialeah Storm

16 and Under Girls

GOLD: Miami Riptides; SILVER: FEC; BRONZE: Orlando Thunder

16 and Under Boys

GOLD: Miami Whitecaps; SILVER: Miami Riptides; BRONZE: South Florida Water Polo

Miami Whitecaps

18 and Under Girls

GOLD: Sarasota Water Polo; SILVER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Orlando Thunder

Sarasota Water Polo

18 and Under Boys

GOLD: Miami Whitecaps; SILVER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Miami Riptides

Miami Whitecaps

Women’s Open

GOLD: Miami Riptides; SIL VER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Orlando Thunder

Sunshine State Games Busy Month Concludes With Championship

Men’s Open

GOLD: Team Orlando; SILVE R: Miami Riptides; BRONZE: MAC Water Polo

Team Orlando

Since February 19, the Sunshine State Games have been contested, in 14 different Florida cities, with nearly 7,000 of Florida’s Finest Amateur Athletes in action.

The 43rd Annual Sunshine State Games continues in August with the International Beach Games in Panama City Beach, August 12-14. Currently scheduled are beach soccer and highland games events. For more information, visit www.sunshinestategames.com/beach-games.

The Sunshine State Games, presented by Amazon, are an annual presentation of the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida.

For results of all of the sports, visit www.sunshinestategames.com/results.

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Sharon Aron Baron

Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.