Explorers Sports Recap: Wrapping up Fall Sports
- Jake Reed
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Jake Reed
This past week has reflected the dedication our student-athletes put forward. Featured below are results and takeaways from the races, meets, tournaments, and game that the Explorers are competing in as the fall season comes to an end.
Swim and Dive Regional/State Results
Last Thursday, Nov. 6, the swim and dive team excelled in the regional swim meet. Overall, the team competed well and placed fourth, an improvement from last year’s sixth place. Two relay teams, one individual swimmer, and a diver made it to states in Ocala, where on Nov. 14, the Explorers competed in four events.
The Explorers’ 200 medley relay team managed to advance to the state B finals and placed 15th. The 400 free relay team almost made it to the finals, missing the cut by just one second. Senior Lucas Franchak also swam well but in the toughest competition was not able to advance to the finals. Returning state medalist junior Gianmarco La Neve was able to place again, this time coming in sixth compared to last year’s seventh. Now a two-time medalist, there’s no doubt La Neve will return next year seeking a higher placement.
Below are those who competed in the state meet in Ocala:
200 Medley Relay - 15th Place
Marcel Cowley
Lucas Franchak
David Guerra
Sergio Samada
400 Free Relay
David Guerra
Sergio Samada
Illan Villar
Lucak Franchak
100 Breaststroke
Lucas Franchak
Diving
Gianmarco La Neve - 6th Place Medalist
Congratulations to the Swim and Dive Team for their hard work and improvements this past season.
Cross Country Goes Back to Back 1st Place in Districts and Regionals
On Nov. 7, the Hellions competed at the 4A District 8 Championship. Four Hellions finished in the top 10: senior Diego Eseverri (1st), senior Alexander Lopez (4th), sophomore Nico Garcia (8th), and senior Fede Llaguno (9th). With a total score of 39 points, Columbus earned the top spot on their 30th district championship.
On Nov. 12, the Hellions reaffirmed their statement at the regional championship at Larry and Penny Thompson Park. They took home first place out of 16 teams with a 16:20 team average, which is the second-fastest team average in school history on this difficult course. Eseverri led the team again with a second-place finish and a 15:47 time (second fastest in school history on this course). Three additional runners joined him in the top 10 featured below.
The Columbus community is extremely proud of the hard work the cross country team has put forward. We especially applaud senior Lucas González, who signed to continue his academic and athletic career at Babson College. We look forward to what the Hellions have in store for the state championship next week on Nov. 22. Good luck!
Columbus Golf Team Wraps up the Season
The Columbus golf 2025 season came to an end with the FHSAA Class 3A State Championship Nov. 11–12. Out of the top 16 teams in Florida, Columbus placed ninth overall, marking a strong season for the young program that has three out of five starters returning next year.
Sophomore Jake Williams took the spotlight this week while leading for 33 holes at the state championship, at one point being 4 under par. Williams ended up placing sixth overall, yet still was able to stand out as the first non-senior on the leaderboard. Senior Joe Fernandez followed with scores of 84–75 (159), showcasing the toughness Columbus stands for in his final event as an Explorer. Senior Marcelo Gonzalez and junior Eduardo Marin both carded 164 totals, and freshman Sebastian Eterovic matched that score in his first state performance, signaling a strong future for him and the Explorers golf team.
”The boys demonstrated incredible composure and represented Columbus with class and pride as always, which is what we expect. Congratulations to our golfers and a special thank you to my assistant coach Chris Hayes for his dedication and help all season long," said Coach Marinelli.
Columbus Football Paves its Way to Semifinals
The Columbus football team faced off against Santaluces (Lantana) on Friday, Nov. 14. The 6 p.m. game was a battle on the ground. Columbus took over the run game completely. Both senior RB Joey Triana and senior RB Shawn James each were able to rush for a touchdown. Junior QB Kingston Rust also had a stellar performance, punching in two touchdowns of his own.
The Explorers defense is where the standout performance brought the game home. Intense pressure from the defense as a whole forced the Santaluces offense into several turnovers. Junior FS Ivan Houston came down with two interceptions. Senior DE Jonathan Nua and senior OLB Ethan Barosela each had fumble recoveries. Good effort from both sides resulted in Columbus’ ability to pull way ahead going into the second half.
With this clutch and dominant 28–3 win against Santaluces, Columbus’ record is now 4–7. This Friday, they have their sights set on Miami Palmetto High School, which is currently 9–2 but faced off against Columbus earlier in the season. That matchup was extremely close, resulting in Columbus coming just short at 21–24.
Make sure to congratulate the players on their playoff win and — more importantly — wish them luck this Friday at 7 p.m. at Tropical Park!