Lely High School

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. Full story »

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. Full story »

When Manolitha Joseph came to Lely High, she realized that sports could help her adjust to high school life.
Full story »

The Lely football field lays bare, stripped to below ground about two feet. Some time soon a fill mixture of crushed rock, rubber and sand will be put down before the new synthetic turf is laid. Full story »

For all that Sabrina Carrender has accomplished, it doesn’t seem to fit into just four years. Lely High School’s Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee was the only runner to complete all four years on the varsity cross country team. She’s traveled to China, and she’s made the Junior ROTC program a big part of her life. Full story »

Nico de Vries and Ana Segura met in Colorado in the summer of 2002. It was one of many running camps that Lely High cross country and track coach Mark McGarity has run over the years to improve his runners and to do a little bonding. Both worked for Nico and Ana who married this year on Feb. 9. Full story »

It is early in spring football practice, yet the Lely coaches are smiling. After just eight days of practice, coach Steve Pricer told his team on Friday, “I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. You are so far ahead of last year. And it is all because of you and how hard you worked over the winter.” Full story »

Lely High wrestling coach Tige Thompson can add an “r” to his first name after placing second in two events at the U.S. Wrestling Nationals in Las Vegas. Full story »

Ah, football in the spring. Most states up north don’t have high school football in the spring, but it is like a ritual in Florida. For freshman and sophomores it is almost a rite of passage, moving up to the varsity. They get their shot in spring practices and then the one game of spring. Full story »

After track practice on Wednesday, Lely coaches Nick Young and Mike McGarity sat down and talked about today’s Class 3A state meet. Full story »

“Hi, this is Coach K. I can’t get to the phone right now. I’m probably on the deck or in the pool. Please leave me a message. Go Lely!” After 30 years, Lely’s Carl Kolling will be changing his greeting on his home and cell phone. The Lely swim coach is retiring. Full story »

Lely High senior Sabrina Carrender is the Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete nominee for the school. She will meet with the Winged Foot Award Committee at 5:15 p.m. today. Full story »

The good news for the Lely High track team is that it will have four girls in the state 3A track and field finals at Winter Park on Friday. Full story »

The Lely High School girls basketball coaching staff will hold a meeting for incoming freshmen and any other girls interested in playing on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the school gym.
Full story »

Former Lely linebacker Steve Octavien and former Estero wide receiver Micah Rucker signed free-agent deals with the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively, on Sunday night, according to multiple Internet reports.
Full story »