Just as the football slate kicks off this weekend area volleyball teams’ also kick off their seasons this week and it appears that senior laden talent on several teams has coaches looking forward to deep playoff runs.

Orange Park – The Lady Raiders pulled off a District 1-6A surprise last year by taking the title against Mandarin High before losing a nail biter to Spruce Creek in region play and with five returning seniors, Orange Park may be the class of the county this year.

“We should again be fairly strong this season with a veteran squad,” said Amy Walker, who enters her eighth season as head coach. “So far, I’ve seen good team chemistry and evenly spread talent.”

Walker listed returners Haley McKissack, Rachel Keefer, Chelsea Ferguson, Mary Marlar, Jasmine Anderson and Michelle Wanek as the key players for this season. The Lady Raiders opened with a preseason tournament at Middleburg High on Aug.28.

Good things do come to those who wait, just ask defensive lineman Anthony Abood who recently accepted a football scholarship to play for Edward Waters College and running back Malcolm Jones who elected to walk-on at the University of Florida with preferred status.

“I am excited and honored to get an opportunity to play at the next level and look forward to the challenges that come with being a college student and athlete,” Abood said.

ORANGE PARK -- Eight students from St. Johns Country Day School recently attended the National Latin Convention at the University of North Dakota.

There they competed in academic, athletic, and artistic competitions relating to the study of the classics. Sophomores Allison Killea and Carson Graham took second place in couples costume, depicting Helen of Troy and Paris; Carson also placed in Latin II derivatives.

Gary Baker, a graduated senior who will be attending New College this fall, was elected national parliamentarian of the Senior Classical League, the sister organization for college students. He also placed in four categories, all at Level 5 and above.

ORANGE PARK -- St. Johns River Community College recently held a pinning ceremony to recognize the Associate in Science in Nursing students. The pinning ceremony symbolized the "rite of passage into the nursing profession," said Anna Lebesch, SJRCC’s vice president for workforce development. The pin is a reminder to the 24 graduates of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed.

Lebesch described the pinning and lighting ceremony as the symbol of the care and devotion nurses provide. The ceremony is also a continued tradition of Florence Nightingale’s extended honor to her most outstanding nurses.