http://marconews.com/news/play/lely-high/marconews.com Stories: Lely High Schoolen-usplay/lely-highhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/17/report-plancher-autopsy-results-complete/Former Lely High School football player Ereck Plancher had sickle cell trait, which led to his death shortly after football practice at the University of Central Florida on March 18, according to an autopsy report released by the District 9 Medical Examiner’s office in Orlando on Thursday. Plancher was 19. He played wide receiver at Lely through fall 2006, when he was named offensive MVP after gaining 1,027 yards of total offense. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:08:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/17/report-plancher-autopsy-results-complete/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/15/lely-shows-new-faces-boys-basketball/The Lely boys basketball team used its summer to get to know each other on the court. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:46:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/15/lely-shows-new-faces-boys-basketball/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/12/basketball-lelys-stewart-brought-full-circle-camp/With 25 years of experience and a handful of district titles on his coaching résumé, it’s easy for Don Stewart to forget his early struggles. After winning the district in his third year at Lely, the Trojans boys basketball coach continued building a strong program and didn’t look back. Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:50:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/12/basketball-lelys-stewart-brought-full-circle-camp/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/03/seniors-key-lely-girls-basketball-success/The Lely girls basketball team has four players who will do battle together for the last time this winter. Until last year, folks in the know said “give them time — they are just freshmen, just sophomores.” Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/03/seniors-key-lely-girls-basketball-success/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/26/weight-room-agility-skills-fill-lely-workout-sched/Cheers, groans and friendly trash talk emitted from the Lely High weight room as the footballers got in their workout on Thursday. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:47:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/26/weight-room-agility-skills-fill-lely-workout-sched/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/22/football-merv-wards-life-celebrated-memorial-servi/The Magician pulled some football tricks in his time, sure, but no one seemed surprised with Merv Ward's final act -- when he turned memorial service tears into gridiron grins and fond football memories. "You know how some wakes are about saying goodbye?" said Lely High athletic director Paul Ruby, who was a senior under Ward in 1987, when he led Lely to the Class 3A state title game. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/22/football-merv-wards-life-celebrated-memorial-servi/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/lely-football-coaches-teach-game-youngsters/ “When do we get to tackle?” “Can I leave my helmet on in fun time?” “Mouthpiece. You can’t play without your mouthpiece.” Those were often-heard remarks at the Lely Youth Football Camp at Winterberry Park this week. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:14:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/lely-football-coaches-teach-game-youngsters/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/remembering-merv-ward/Merv Ward arrived as an assistant from Michigan in 1984, and three years later, he’d taken a Lely team that had barely sniffed .500 to the area’s first state title game. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:47:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/remembering-merv-ward/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/former-lely-high-football-coach-merv-ward-dies-age/Collier County has lost a prep football legend. Merv Ward, architect of the Lely program and the first to coach an area school to a state championship game, passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 68. Kathy, his wife of 32 years, discovered him outside the pair's East Naples home, a night before a scheduled check-up to address her husband's declining health over the past month. "From what we can tell, it was his heart," she said. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:41:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/former-lely-high-football-coach-merv-ward-dies-age/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/16/mcmann-learns-college-football-high-hill-climb/In 2004 senior Shawn McMann and his Lely teammates were cherishing the Trojans first successful season in a number of years. He was a key offensive lineman who opened holes for running back Fafa Alce, helping the Trojans go 7-4 after a 1-10 season the year before. Both received All-Star honors. Alce was named Lely’s Overall MVP, while McMann was the Offensive MVP. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/16/mcmann-learns-college-football-high-hill-climb/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/04/lely-hopes-spring-game-foretells-future/A month before last year’s spring football season, Steve Pricer had just been named the new head coach of Lely football. This spring season, he had a bit more time to prepare his squad, and because most of them had a full season of experience under their belts with Pricer at the helm, the result was a 24-17 win over Clearwater-Countryside High School last week. Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:01:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/04/lely-hopes-spring-game-foretells-future/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/03/lely-learns-about-itself-football-win/The Lely Trojans traveled to Clearwater for its spring game against Countryside, coming away with a 24-17 win and positive attitude for the fall. The game Thursday pitted the Trojans, a 3A school, against 5A Countryside. Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:50:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/03/lely-learns-about-itself-football-win/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/01/open-water-festival-lely-highs-stephenson-wins-10k/Swimming in his eighth Open Water Festival, Harry Stephenson knows a thing or two about racing in the Gulf of Mexico. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:30:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/01/open-water-festival-lely-highs-stephenson-wins-10k/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/29/howard-chosen-eagle-lely-athlete-year/In a year of outstanding athletes, Lely High coaches came up with several top contenders for the Marco Eagle Lely Athlete of the Year. It took a four-sport athlete, with credentials that also include academics and community involvement. Victoria Howard, a junior, becomes the Eagle’s second Lely Athlete of the Year. Thu, 29 May 2008 21:33:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/29/howard-chosen-eagle-lely-athlete-year/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/27/lely-travels-clearwater-spring-game/The Lely and Clearwater-Countryside players will have chips on their shoulders Thursday when they play their spring game in Clearwater. Both teams are smarting from missing the playoffs last season. Tue, 27 May 2008 20:29:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/27/lely-travels-clearwater-spring-game/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/27/lely-graduate-dayana-octavien-making-bid-represent/Beijing, China, is 12 time zones and half a world away — for most. Dayana Octavien, a 2000 Lely High grad, stands inside a discus circle on a vacant practice field at Community School of Naples. She spins and twirls before letting out a scream and letting go the 2-pound, 3-ounce metal disc that might just be her ticket overseas. Tue, 27 May 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/27/lely-graduate-dayana-octavien-making-bid-represent/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/22/lely-awards-top-track-athletes/With stiff competition, seniors Fortin Faustin and Manolitha Joseph won the overall most valuable player awards for Lely High’s track and field team. The announcement came at the team’s awards dinner at the school on Monday. Thu, 22 May 2008 20:38:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/22/lely-awards-top-track-athletes/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/20/olympics-swim-away-marcos-farhat/The Olympics. Just the name alone is awesome. Becoming the first woman to swim for a country, priceless. Marco Island’s Mercedes Farhat will be the first female to swim for Libya in the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing. Opening ceremonies are Aug. 8. Farhat will be representing Libya, her father Kamal’s home country. He goes as her coach. Tue, 20 May 2008 21:23:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/20/olympics-swim-away-marcos-farhat/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/20/lely-boasts-new-swim-team-records-board/A dynamic, colorful Lely High School Swim and Dive Records Board adorns the wall near the gymnasium, showing how good its recent crop of swimmers has done. Particularly the girls. Especially Wesley Blassneck and Mercedes Farhat of Marco Island. Tue, 20 May 2008 21:18:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/20/lely-boasts-new-swim-team-records-board/playhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/20/track-and-field-lelys-joseph-signs-naia-warner-sou/When Manolitha Joseph came to Lely High, she realized that sports could help her adjust to high school life. Tue, 20 May 2008 20:52:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/20/track-and-field-lelys-joseph-signs-naia-warner-sou/play