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Monday at River Lanes in Titusville, Space Coast's girls bowling team added the District 10 championship to their Cape Coast Conference title of last week.

Merritt Island won the boys bracket, 3-2 over Edgewood, on the other side. District 11 bowlers competed Tuesday at Palm Bay Shore Lanes, and it was a good day for Heritage, which sent both boys and girls teams to state.

Individually, the Vipers swept the top spots in District 10, with Sofia Trujillo the No. 1 girl and Dylan Carmichael leading the boys. Trujillo bowled games of 200-257-234 for a 691 and finished 24 pins in front of teammate Brooke Street. Carmichael's 236-223-237 gave him a 696, 46 pins better than the Red Wolves' Courie Husbands.

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For the Mustangs, it was a 3-0 day, knocking both Titusville and the Space Coast boys into consolation before edging the Red Wolves in the final. The Vipers girls only gave up two games and won the final over the Terriers, 3-1.

Individually, Viera's Annabelle Duggan-Herhiem outpaced her counterparts in District 11, bowling games of 158-287-168 for a 613 total.

Sean Williams of Bayside posted the top boys score, shooting 247-214-246 for a 707 day. That was 11 pins better than Kayce Gentile of Eau Gallie (288-222-186—696).

Heritage's girls went 3-0, defeating Palm Bay in the District 11 final, 3-1. It was a rematch as the Pirates had been dropped into consolation by the Panthers. Palm Bay beat Odyssey Charter in the consolation bracket to make it back to the final.

The Heritage and Bayside boys advanced to the state tournament next week in Orlando, along with all the district winners and runners-up. Heritage won its way to the final, while the Bears took the consolation route back to the last match.

Individually, all bowlers on the top two teams in each district will compete at state, as will individual qualifiers. Those additional individuals are Faith Ozburn and Isabella Williams of Rockledge, Carmichael, James McGill of Titusville, Duggan-Herhiem, Mary Haywood of Odyssey Charter, Gentile and Melbourne's Victor Nardone.

Cape Coast Conference bowling:Vipers, Panthers take team titles

FHSAA District 11 bowling

Top individual girls: 1. Annabelle Duggan-Herhiem, V 158-287-168—613; 2. Mary Haywood, O 184-231-189—604; 3. Genevieve Giguere, WS 207-168-217—592; 4. Jennifer Chiarillo, EG 183-211-197—591; 5. Piper Honsa, PB 194-170-217—581; 6. Klarissa Schleicher, PB 219-173-185—577; 7. Kelly Brown, H 214-166-194—574; 8. Chloe Wood, EG 175-184-211—570; 9. Kara Brown, H 173-159-204—536; 10. Gabrielle Dancey-Renz, O 145-156-220—520.

Top individual boys: 1. Sean Williams, B 247-214-246—707; 2. Kayce Gentile, EG 288-222-186—696; 3. Vic Nardone, M 214-243-185—642; 4. Kevin Brown, H 205-190-245—640; 5. Ian Giguere, WS 167-228-236—631; 6. Jarrell Richards, EG 160-207-249—616; 7. Dominic Gibson-Smith, B 246-192-168—606; 8. Zachary Engler, B 226-192-168—594; Aiden Elrod, PC 205-223-166—594; 10. Gavin Ham, V 212-217-161—590.

FHSAA District 10 bowling

Top individual girls: 1. Sofia Trujillo, SC 200-257-234—691; 2. Brooke Street, SC 248-188-231—667; 3. Faith Ozburn, R 226-224-215—665; 4. Emily Street, SC 170-218-186—574; 5. Alexis Meadows, T 166-185-218—569; 6. Isabella Williamson, R 545; 7. Addilyn Orrick-Cole, SC 543; 8. Maya McKay, T 176-167-195—538; 9. Alayna Edwards, T 203-170-161—534; 10. Brooke Meadows, T 196-170-152—518.

Top individual boys: 1. Dylan Carmichael, SC 236-223-237—696; 2. Courie Husbands, E 220-198-232—650; 3. Christian Liquori, MI 204-216-222—642; 4. James McGill, T 183-244-213—640; Tyler Wickfelder, E 219-232-189—640; 6. Brodie Douglas, MI 204-186-247—637; 7. Austin Kerfoot, E 181-225-224—630; 8. Jonathan Udas, SC 194-202-233—629; 9. Brayden Horvath, MI 197-209-223—629; 10. Tristan Trujillo, SC 238-191-199—628.

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – No matter where they went, Travis Kent says it never took long for someone to recognize his mom, former Rockledge High School chemistry teacher Caroline Kent.

“(They) would say, ‘Miss Kent, Miss Kent,’ and they would come and track her down,” Travis Kent told News 6.

In a 30-year career with Brevard Public Schools, Caroline Kent taught countless sophomore and junior high schoolers about the periodic table and stoichiometry — lessons some of her students still remember decades later.

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“I can remember so many times where she was bright-red in the face laughing,” said Jameel Mohammed, a Rockledge High School grad who was a student in Kent’s class from 2001-2002.

“She was really funny,” Travis Kent said. “I mean, she was she was a chemistry teacher so she had a lot of tools at her disposal. She would do wacky science experiments of lighting things on fire and she’d have all these chemicals and stuff like that.”

Former student Sean Kutzner remembers a story when Kent refused to order a specific chemical for the AICE exam because she knew it was a volatile substance.

“(Kent) said, ‘There’s no way my kids are handling that, that’s one carbon atom away from rocket fuel!’”

Kutzner says her persistence eventually prompted the course leaders to allow a safer substitute for the exam.

“She was not afraid to stand up for what she knew was right as the expert,” Kutzner said.

Her empathy for her students and love for outdoor adventure were evident in the comments below the announcement of Kent’s death on Facebook on Aug. 31.

“She never took life too seriously and she always knew how to have a good time,” former student Sid Ferrell told News 6.

A celebration of life was held Sunday afternoon in Merritt Island. In lieu of flowers, Kent’s family asked to consider donating to a local food bank or the Brevard Humane Society.

Kent was an avid surfer who took up the sport after retirement and even went on an international surfing trip earlier this year.

“She was incredibly active. She loved skiing, snow skiing and waterskiing. So she was very, very active, she made every day count,” Travis Kent said.

A paddle-out ceremony was held Saturday morning in Cocoa Beach to honor Kent’s legacy.

Kent had a lifelong love for horses and even competed in equestrian competitions.

As if that wasn’t enough, Kent was also an accomplished scuba diver, venturing into underwater caves and springs in her younger years.

Since his mom’s death, Travis Kent says many of her former students have described how Ms. Kent inspired them to pursue science after graduation.

“I think students know that students can tell when a teacher cares and when they don’t care,” Kent said. “My mom really cared. She really cared about them on both on a chemistry course level and on a human level, too.”

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – James Verpaele’s thoughtfulness stood out Friday night during his last football home game at Merritt Island High School.

The senior student was crowned homecoming king but hundreds of students and parents witnessed him handing his crown and sash to his classmate Parks Finney.

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“All the senior guys got together, and we just kind of all agreed that Parks should get it — that we’d give it to Parks after we’d found out who would be king,” the 17-year-old senior said.

When Finney was asked what he said to Verpaele after his gesture of kindness, he said he was shocked and thanked him.

It was an emotional night for Amy Finney, whose son was born with a condition known as Periventricular Leukomalacia or PVL. It’s a brain injury 19-year-old Parks Finney suffered at birth.

“You know we see a lot of a lot of criticism of teenagers, that they’re only into their phones and that they don’t care about what’s going on, but this shows that they do, and it’s the magic of teenagers and just the magic of inclusion and acceptance,” Amy Finney said.

Despite her son’s condition, it hasn’t prevented him from being a welcoming and bright-spirited young man.

“He can strike up a conversation, he’s funny, he’s a nice guy and he’s the mayor. He’s mister mayor is what we call him,” Verpaele said. “He’s just like a brother to all of us.”

For Parks Finney’s mom, who is also an English teacher at the high school, the gesture sets an example everyone can learn from.

“I would like to say thank you, first of all, to the young men here at Merritt Island High School for including him and I think that the message that comes from this is just people are people and be accepting and be kind,” she said.

Previous movements to incorporate one of Brevard County’s largest communities have failed

Merritt Island looking at idea to become its own city

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MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – Advocates for making Merritt Island a city said it would attract new businesses, remove blight and protect miles of shoreline and wildlife areas.

Incorporation has never had a majority of support from the public, though.

Voters rejected the idea 35 years ago, and the last movement more than a decade ago didn’t even make it to the ballot. But once again, Brevard County is paying for a study to determine what making a Merritt Island a city could cost its citizens now.

“It’s time for us to try it again, maybe,” Brevard County Commissioner Tom Goodson said during a January meeting.

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Chair Rita Pritchett agreed that funding the study would benefit the Merritt Island area.

In an interview Friday, commissioner John Tobia said population shifts and a potential change in public opinion warrants at least exploring the option.

Early results found the county would lose $8 million if Merritt Island became a city.

Tobia said that loss would come with a trade-off.

“There would be less services the county would need to take over,” he said. “So, in other words, (the fire department) would be run by Merritt Island. It would no longer be run by Brevard County Fire Rescue unless an agreement was struck to cover those services.”

Many people News 6 spoke to this week feared their taxes would increase, but Channing Black suggested residents wait on the results of the study.

“Jury’s still out for me, but I think best decisions are made at the local level,” the Merritt Island resident said. “Let the local citizens decide how their local government wants to run.”

When it’s done, the county will send the study to the state Legislature. If lawmakers approve it, then incorporation could be on the ballot on Election Day in 2024.

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BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – It was quite the reunion on Thursday for the teens that were struck by lightning earlier this summer in Merritt Island.

The girls, who were struck outside a Brevard County home on June 10, met the first responders who rushed to the scene that day for the first time at the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Recognition Ceremony Thursday morning.

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Rescue crews initially responded to the the 400 block of Via Salerno Court in Merritt Island after the teens, who were watching a movie, said they heard thunder and made the mistake of going outside to look.

Lori Leer, 14, was seriously hurt and her friend, Ava Weidmann, 14, stepped into action and called 911, performing CPR on Leer with the help of dispatchers over the phone.

McKenzie McCord, 12, was also struck by lightning and rushed to the hospital.

Both Leer and McCord thanked their heroes with the Brevard County Fire Rescue and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office for their actions, as well as their friend, Weidmann, for her bravery.

“It’s good seeing all of you guys and seeing the people that saved my life,” McCord said.

Leer, who had been fighting for her life in the hospital back in June according to a GoFundMe set up to help support her recovery, was grateful as well.

“Crazy to see, like, everyone and like how people care and stuff like that. Thank you,” Leer said.

Officials played the 911 calls from that day, adding Leer was in cardiac arrest and dispatchers knew they did not have time to spare.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey also attended the ceremony and honored all first responders and Weidmann for saving a life.

“Two little girls are alive because of the actions of another little girl. I was standing in the back and had goosebumps,” Ivey said.