There is good news on the Marco Island Charter Middle School sports front.

The girls cross country team won its second meet in a row.

The boys also won their second meet as both teams claimed titles on Saturday at the Lely Invitational.

The girls volleyball team did very well in league and tournament games, while the boys team won their first game.

The boys volleyball team won its first match in three tries.

The team fell behind early, losing the first set, 25-20 to East Naples in the Collier County Middle School Volleyball League on Saturday at the Charter School. They rebounded in the second set, winning, 25-18, then dominated in the final set, winning 15-5. Kyle Adams, returning after being out most of the season with an injury, and Buck Reinders played well, Coach Allan Pernas said.

“It was a great team effort against a solid, athletic, East Naples team,” he said.

In earlier games the team lost to Manatee and Golden Gate.

“The team has made improvements every game,” Pernas said. “Reinders and Tyler Canady have been the most consistent. Jimmy Fleming, Cooper and Tanner Fulcher have shown great progress. The team has gained confidence as they played a short four-game schedule.”

The boys cross country team won, even without five of its top seven runners who were playing volleyball.

Charter School’s five runners all finished in the top 10. Benji David won the race, while Tanner Fulcher was second, Christian Van Bovan, seventh, Zach Halaschack, eighth and Gage Wheeler, ninth.

Amanda Marinaro won her first race of the season to lead the girls to their win. Christy Thorstenson raced to third, Sierra Rose, fourth, Lexie Lundquist, sixth and Kristin Temkiewitz was ninth. Rose actually played in a volleyball game before and after the race.

“The Lely races were a super end to a very rewarding season,” Coach Roger Raymond said. “It was an intense season, with eight races in seven weeks. The girls upset win in the Sun Conference Athletic League Championship showed that hard work paid off. The boys second-place finish in the conference race was outstanding since they were missing two of their top runners.”

Raymond is looking to a positive season in 2009 with six of the top seven girls returning and four of the top eight boys back.

The boys soccer team made it to the finals of the Sun Conference Soccer Championship.

The team blanked Seacrest Country Day School, 3-0, with goals scored by Brandon Black, Franco Paniccia and Jose Olalde in the semi-finals.

“In the second half we played like a world cup team,” Coach Jackie Sauter said.

In the championship game, Community School of Naples built a 5-0 lead, going on to win, 6-1. Ross Castillo scored the lone Eagles goal.

“Kevin Sanchez actually played outstanding in goal,” Sauter said.

The Charter School finished the season in second place to Community School. The Eagles were 9-3 on the season, with all their losses to Community School.

The girls volleyball team improved its record to 13-5, even though it lost the Sun Conference Championship game to Naples Christian Academy.

“We were missing a key player due to school discipline that was unfortunate, but all the girls played well,” Coach Dave Johnson said. “NCA didn’t dominate us, but we never could overcome their three-to-four-point lead in games.”

The Charter girls lost 25-20 and 25-22.

In the quarter-final game they knocked off number one seed Community School of Naples, 25-13 and 25-18, then downed First Baptist Academy, 25-23 and 26-24. Johnson felt the Lady Eagles knocking off First Baptist was an upset.

“They should have beaten us, but our team really showed up and played very well,” he said.

In those games many of the teams’ members stepped up. Mary Gibler and Jenna Lundquist shined in the Community win. Cassidy Penzo and Kristin Rotkvich led the win over First Baptist and Johnson got outstanding play from Rotkvich, Gibler, Maddie Bolsen and Francesca Archacki against Naples Christian Academy.

Johnson used all his played in the county league win over East Naples. In the first set, Johnson played all seventh graders, losing 25-13. In the second set he played all eight graders, winning a tight game, 26-24.

All the starters played in the final game, winning 15-11.

Johnson says the success of the team has been hard work and “there is a lot of love on this team.”

He credits Assistant Coach Nina Lane for much of the team’s success.

“I’m more the motivator, Coach Lane is the one who teaches technique and has done an outstanding job.”

By ROGER LALONDE

EAGLE STAFF, rjlalonde@marcoeagle.com

There is good news on the Marco Island Charter Middle School sports front.

The girls cross country team won its second meet in a row.

The boys also won their second meet as both teams claimed titles on Saturday at the Lely Invitational.

The girls volleyball team did very well in league and tournament games, while the boys team won their first game.

The boys volleyball team won its first match in three tries.

The team fell behind early, losing the first set, 25-20 to East Naples in the Collier County Middle School Volleyball League on Saturday at the Charter School. They rebounded in the second set, winning, 25-18, then dominated in the final set, winning 15-5. Kyle Adams, returning after being out most of the season with an injury, and Buck Reinders played well, Coach Allan Pernas said.

“It was a great team effort against a solid, athletic, East Naples team,” he said.

In earlier games the team lost to Manatee and Golden Gate.

“The team has made improvements every game,” Pernas said. “Reinders and Tyler Canady have been the most consistent. Jimmy Fleming, Cooper and Tanner Fulcher have shown great progress. The team has gained confidence as they played a short four-game schedule.”

The boys cross country team won, even without five of its top seven runners who were playing volleyball.

Charter School’s five runners all finished in the top 10. Benji David won the race, while Tanner Fulcher was second, Christian Van Bovan, seventh, Zach Halaschack, eighth and Gage Wheeler, ninth.

Amanda Marinaro won her first race of the season to lead the girls to their win. Christy Thorstenson raced to third, Sierra Rose, fourth, Lexie Lundquist, sixth and Kristin Temkiewitz was ninth. Rose actually played in a volleyball game before and after the race.

“The Lely races were a super end to a very rewarding season,” Coach Roger Raymond said. “It was an intense season, with eight races in seven weeks. The girls upset win in the Sun Conference Athletic League Championship showed that hard work paid off. The boys second-place finish in the conference race was outstanding since they were missing two of their top runners.”

Raymond is looking to a positive season in 2009 with six of the top seven girls returning and four of the top eight boys back.

The girls volleyball team improved its record to 13-5, even though it lost the Sun Conference Championship game to Naples Christian Academy.

“We were missing a key player due to school discipline that was unfortunate, but all the girls played well,” Coach Dave Johnson said. “NCA didn’t dominate us, but we never could overcome their three-to-four-point lead in games.”

The Charter girls lost 25-20 and 25-22.

In the quarter-final game they knocked off number one seed Community School of Naples, 25-13 and 25-18, then downed First Baptist Academy, 25-23 and 26-24. Johnson felt the Lady Eagles knocking off First Baptist was an upset.

“They should have beaten us, but our team really showed up and played very well,” he said.

In those games many of the teams’ members stepped up. Mary Gibler and Jenna Lundquist shined in the Community win. Cassidy Penzo and Kristin Rotkvich led the win over First Baptist and Johnson got outstanding play from Rotkvich, Gibler, Maddie Bolsen and Francesca Archacki against Naples Christian Academy.

Johnson used all his played in the county league win over East Naples. In the first set, Johnson played all seventh graders, losing 25-13. In the second set he played all eight graders, winning a tight game, 26-24.

All the starters played in the final game, winning 15-11.

Johnson says the success of the team has been hard work and “there is a lot of love on this team.”

He credits Assistant Coach Nina Lane for much of the team’s success.

“I’m more the motivator, Coach Lane is the one who teaches technique and has done an outstanding job.”