- March 12, 2025
Matanzas swimming sends four to regionals
Four Matanzas High School swimmers advanced on to regionals after competing Saturday in the District 2 swimming meet, in Sebastian.
Brian Barth, a junior, advanced to Thursday’s regional championships after finishing in second place in the 100-yard freestyle and in third place in the 100-yard backstroke, breaking his school record in a time of 1:00.02.
Kylie Allen qualified in the 200-yard freestyle (fifth place) and the 500-yard freestyle (fourth place).
Emily Petkovsek qualified for regionals in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in eighth place, and Carley Stinchcomb finished in eighth place in the 200-yard individual medley to qualify.
Evan Johnson barely missed the cut for regionals in the 100-yard backstroke (ninth place), but he did break the school record.
Pirates fall behind early, lose to Nease
In a must-win District 4-5A matchup, Matanzas lost to Nease, 37-14, on Friday night.
With the loss, Matanzas (3-5, 1-3 District 4-5A) will miss the state playoffs.
After battling through most of the first quarter in a scoreless tie, Nease finally broke the deadlock on a 22-yard touchdown run with about two minutes to go in the first quarter.
Nease went on to score 14 unanswered points in the second quarter and led 21-0 at halftime.
After three quarters, Nease led, 27-0.
Matanzas got in the scoreboard in the fourth quarter with six minutes left in the game when QB Jeremiah Wilson scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.
Wilson scored again with three minutes left in the game on a 74-yard touchdown run.
Wilson finished the game 5-for-17 for 53 yards and eight carries for 66 yards and two TDs.
Stefan Tucker carried the ball 16 times for 60 yards.
Wide receiver Marcaus Cooper hauled in three catches for 34 yards.
Defensively, Bryan Dieudonne led the way with nine tackles. Al’Kwazi Spencer and Steven Moseley both had eight tackles.
Matanzas has two games left this season. The Pirates will travel to Palatka 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in the final district game of the season. Then, Matanzas hosts Atlantic 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, for Senior Night and the final regular season game.
