SARASOTA — The Sarasota Herald-Tribune held its annual Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards Show on May 30 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. During the show, we announced the Cardinal Mooney basketball team as our Girls Team of the Year. The Cougars captured the Class 2A state title after four straight losses in the title tilt.
Did we get it right?
Here’s a chance to have your say. Vote in our poll today. Which team would you select to be the best high school girls team of the 2024-25 school year from Sarasota and Manatee counties?
The poll closes at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Here are the nominees:
Basketball
Booker: Finished with a record of 20-7. The Tornadoes defeated St. Peterburg Gibbs to win the Class 4A-District 11 title. They lost to Palm Bay in a Class 4A state semifinal.
Cardinal Mooney Catholic Finished with a record of 24-9. The Cougars The Cougars won their fifth straight regional title and capped off their season with a win over Jacksonville Bolles for the Class 3A state title.
Venice: Finished with a record of 19-6, lost to Winter Haven in the Class 7A regional final.
Lacrosse
Bradenton Christian: Finished with a record of 13-4. The Panthers won the Class 1A-District 10 championship and reached the regional final and lost to Community School of Naples in the Class 1A regional final.
Manatee: Finished with a record of 13-7. The Hurricanes finished the season ranked 8th in Class 2A and 18th overall. They lost to Plant in the Class 2A regional final.
Soccer
Lakewood Ranch: Finished with a record of 15-5-2. The Mustangs captured the Class 6A-District 11 title with a 2-0 win over Parrish Community. They lost to St. Thomas Aquinas in a Class 6A state semifinal.
Softball
Parrish Community: Finished with a record of 26-4. The Bulls won their fourth consecutive district title and third straight regional championship. Parrish Community lost to Pace in a Class 6A state semifinal.
Sarasota: Finished with a record of 21-8. Sarasota won the Class 7A region championship and appeared in the state Final Four for the first time in 10 years. The Sailors lost to Wellington in a Class 7A state semifinal.
Tennis
Lakewood Ranch: Finished with a record of 12-2, losing to only Venice. The Mustangs placed third in the district meet behind Venice and Riverview.
Track & field
Saint Stephen’s: Finished tied for eighth place at the Class 1A state meet. The Falcon team finished fourth at the Manatee County Championships, fourth at the district meet, eighth at the regional meet, and finished tied for eighth at the Class 1A state meet.
Volleyball
Cardinal Mooney Catholic: Finished with a record of 22-5, losing to Berkeley Prep in the Class 3A regional final.
Venice: Finished with a record of 19-6, losing to top-seed Plant in a four-set match in the Class 7A regional final.
Team: Highlight
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VOTE: Who should be the 2025 Sarasota, Manatee Girls Team of the Year
