Introducing the Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Flag Football Team
At the end of each season, The Herald-Tribune selects All-Area teams honoring the best athletes for every sport. Coaches from Sarasota and Manatee county schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rate their athletes as well as those from other teams. That data combined with The Herald-Tribune's research led to the selection of the All-Area teams.
FIRST TEAM
Aubrey Barak
School: Braden River
Year: Junior
Highlights: A wide receiver/linebacker, Barak caught 82 passes for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense. On defense, Barak pulled 70 flags, intercepted 6 passes, and defended 6 passes.
Maddie Beahr
School: Braden River
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: A linebacker/wide receiver/athlete, Beahr pulled 71 flags, defended 13 passes and had 4 interceptions on defense. On offense, Beahr caught two passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Jayna Bowen
School: Parrish Community
Year: Freshman
Highlights: A two-way player, Bowen had 48 receptions for 640 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense and eight interceptions on defense.
Cydnee Brooks
School: Braden River
Year: Senior
Highlights: A quarterback/defensive back, Brooks completed 344-of-508 passes for 3,660 yards and 61 touchdowns and ran 99 times for 870 yards and 14 scores. On defense, Brooks pulled 21 flags and picked off five passes.
Victoria Carneglia
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Senior
Highlights: A two-way player, Carneglia caught 35 passes for 584 yards and six touchdowns on offense defended seven passes, and made four interceptions on defense.
Madison Epperson
School: Braden River
Year: Junior
Highlights: A defensive standout, Epperson pulled 67 flags, recorded 28 sacks, and defended one pass. On offense, Epperson caught two passes.
Victoria Fernandez
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Senior
Highlights: A quarterback, Fernandez completed 186-of-304 passes for 2,223 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed 31 times for 163 yards and six scores.
Saniyah Hines
School: Parrish Community
Year: Senior
Highlights: Hines pulled 91 flags, 4 interceptions, and 3 sacks on defense. On offense, Hines rushed 25 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 165 yards and a score.
Ameria Smith
School: Braden River
Year: Senior
Highlights: A wide receiver/defensive back, Smith caught 83 passes for 1,063 yards and 20 touchdowns on offense. On defense, Smith pulled 57 flags, defended 11 passes, and had 9 interceptions.
Amelia Someson
School: Parrish Community
Year: Freshman
Highlights: A quarterback, Someson completed 147-of-214 passes for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns and ran 31 times for 140 yards and another score.
Aryanna Spainhower
School: Braden River
Year: Senior
Highlights: A wide receiver/linebacker/athlete, Spainhower caught 68 passes for 851 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense. On defense, Spainhower pulled 44 flags, defended 12 passes, intercepted 8 passes, and recorded a sack.
Amy Zeitler
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Junior
Highlights: A two-way player, Zietler rushed 59 times for 473 yards and four touchdowns and caught 36 passes for 307 yards and seven scores as a running back, defended six passes and had three interceptions on defense.
HONORABLE MENTION
Samantha Baker, Braden River
Jolani Clarke, Southeast
Milena Cordova, Lakewood Ranch
Natalie Davis, Braden River
Makeria Dawes, Palmetto
Sophy Dorce, Manatee
Iyana Dunbar, Bayshore
Ava Horne, Lakewood Ranch
Allie Lowery, Southeast
Madison Malanowicz, Parrish Community
Anessa Moses, Manatee
Payton Pedersen, Lakewood Ranch
Dekayla Peterson, Southeast
Lamaryah Sallers, Palmetto
Ava Tamburin, Braden River
Amyia Yunker, Manatee
COACH OF THE YEAR
Amanda Porco
School: Braden River
Highlights: Led the Pirates to an 18-2 record and a berth in the Final 4 after winning the first regional title in program history. Braden River scored 30 or more points in nine games and held its opponents to seven points or fewer in 16 games.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Here is the Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Flag Football Team
