FORT MYERS, Fla.- 2018-19 was a magical year for Florida SouthWestern Athletics in a number of ways, but the most impressive of feats was the well-roundedness of the Bucs success. Our #7 accomplishment of the year highlights just that, as all four FSW teams captured Suncoast Conference Championships and each also sported an All-American, both firsts in the Bucs young history.
Men's Basketball was the first FSW squad to capture a title in 2018-19, cruising to a Suncoast Conference Championship by a whopping six games. The Bucs went 12-0 in conference action, outscoring their opponents by over 22 points per game. After being named the Suncoast Conference Player of the Year, Charles Manning Jr. was honored by the NJCAA as he was tabbed a Third Team All-American, the second in FSW's three years of existence.
The Bucs Women's Basketball squad was the next to sew up a title. They blew through Suncoast Conference play undefeated as well, going 9-0 and winning the league by five games over second place St. Pete. As with the men, the FSW women rarely played a close game in conference action, drubbing their opponents by an average of 25 points per night. Tina Stephens was rewarded for her stellar play at season's end as she was named the program's first First Team NJCAA All-American.
The FSW Softball team has made it commonplace to collect the Suncoast Conference Championship in early April and this year was no different. The Bucs once again ripped through their conference opponents to the tune of a 19-1 mark, outscoring the opposition 175-26 in the 20 games for their fourth straight title. The Bucs had a handful of players receive All-American honors as Kelsi Collins, Rebeca Laudino, Owen Bowers, and Paris Woods were all tabbed among the best in the land by the NJCAA at season's end.
The lone program coming into the season without a title, the Bucs Baseball team changed that, but it wasn't quite as easy as it was for the other three. FSW needed a roaring finish down the stretch in which they went 11-1 to clinch their first Suncoast Conference title outright on the final day of the regular season as they came from behind late to down Polk State 8-5. In another first, pitcher Ryan Gusto was named a Second Team NJCAA All-American, the first Buc in program history to receive that honor.
Friday we will wrap up the first half of the Top 10 as we revisit arguably the most exciting single moment of the 2018-19 year for the Bucs.
#10- Sarah Lawton's Perfect Game
#9- Bucs Baseball Sweeps Defending Champs
#8- Collins Named NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year
#7- Bucs Go 4 for 4 in Suncoast Titles/All-Americans
#6- Revealed July 12th
#5- Revealed July 15th
#4- Revealed July 16th
#3- Revealed July 17th
#2- Revealed July 18th
#1- Revealed July 19th