Sunshine State Games Busy Month of June Concludes With Championship Sunday
To wrap up the final weekend of Sunshine State Games, presented by Amazon, events during the month of June, 50 Water Polo teams, played more than 100 games, over the course of 35 hours between Friday and Sunday at the Coral Springs Aquatic Center and Boca Raton High School.
The 35 hours included only two hours of a weather delay on Saturday. Also included in the weekend’s activities were Fencing in Alachua County and Powerlifting, also in Broward County.
Championship Sunday brought out the best in the eight Water Polo gold medal games. After two days of pool play, with sometimes lopsided scores, the championship games were decided by an average of four points.
In winning its third consecutive Girl’s 18 and Under Sunshine State Games Championship, Sarasota Water Polo (pictured at right) defeated South Florida Water Polo, 10-9 in the final game.
After having a shot blocked to give Sarasota a would be, two-point lead, South Florida got the ball with :05 remaining. Once the referee threw the ball into the pool, South Florida took a potential game-tying shot from the middle of the pool that was blocked by Sarasota goalie, Sophie Raquel as time expired.
“I could read the shot that was coming,” said Raquel. “So I knew what was going to happen and got the block.”
Sarasota was undefeated in five games over the weekend, winning its final two games by one point, against the silver and bronze medal winning teams. Also undefeated in five games was Team Orlando to win the Men’s Open Division gold medal. Team Orlando defeated the Miami Riptides, 12-8, in the Championship Game.
2022 Sunshine State Games, presented by Amazon, medal winners
12 and Under Coed
GOLD; Hialeah Storm; SILVER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Miami Whitecaps
14 and Under Coed
GOLD: South Florida Water Polo; SILVER: Miami Riptides; BRONZE: Hialeah Storm
16 and Under Girls
GOLD: Miami Riptides; SILVER: FEC; BRONZE: Orlando Thunder
16 and Under Boys
GOLD: Miami Whitecaps; SILVER: Miami Riptides; BRONZE: South Florida Water Polo
18 and Under Girls
GOLD: Sarasota Water Polo; SILVER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Orlando Thunder
18 and Under Boys
GOLD: Miami Whitecaps; SILVER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Miami Riptides
Women’s Open
GOLD: Miami Riptides; SIL VER: South Florida Water Polo; BRONZE: Orlando Thunder
Men’s Open
GOLD: Team Orlando; SILVER: Miami Riptides; BRONZE: MAC Water Polo
Since February, 19 Sunshine State Games, presented by Amazon, sports have been contested, in 14 different Florida cities, with nearly 7,000 of Florida’s Finest Amateur Athletes in action. For results of all of the sports, visit www.sunshinestategames.com/results.
The 43rd Annual Sunshine State Games continues in August with the International Beach Games, in Panama City Beach, August 12-14. Currently scheduled is Beach Soccer and Highland Games events. For more informatiocn visit, www.sunshinestategames.com/beach-games.
The Sunshine State Games, presented by Amazon, are an annual presentation of the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida. The Games are held in conjunction with local partners that include, Central Florida’s Polk County Sports Marketing, Clay County Tourism, the Gainesville Sports Commission and Visit Lauderdale. Now in its 43rd year, the Sunshine State Games are the longest continuously-running State Games in the U.S.