Port St. Joe soccer teams earn wins, ties

Both Port St. Joe soccer teams enjoyed a successful week, with each notching a win and a tie. 

In boys action, the Tiger Sharks thrashed winless Munroe 7-1 on Tuesday, November 29, behind the talented foot of senior Jaydon Gant, who sent six goals into the opposing net. 

After taking a 3-1 advantage into the half, St. Joe turned the match into a rout with another four goals in the second frame. 



Senior Tad Russell recorded a seventh goal for the Sharks, and freshman Josiah Beach helped out with an assist. 

Returning from concussion protocol, junior goalie Fisher Vandertulip allowed a penalty kick score but saved three others. 

Two nights later, St. Joe played “our best performance to date against 6A Mosley,” by tying the 4-1-2 Dolphins 2-2, said Shark coach Brian Burkett, “even without team captain and midfielder Taylor Burkett.” 

Burkett, who suffered a concussion against Bozeman on November 15, might be able to return to the lineup against Franklin County on December 8, but “if he’s not cleared, he’ll likely not return until January.” 

Against Mosley, Coach Burkett credited freshman Rhett Jemison with being the player of the match, because “his intensity and selflessness contributed to (both of) Gant’s goals.” 

On the road for the next two matches, the Sharks faced 0-4 Bozeman on Tuesday, December 6, and will clash with the 1-2-1 Franklin County Seahawks on Thursday. 

On Saturday, December 10, St. Joe will play Rocky Bayou Christian (2-1) at home starting at 1:00 p.m. 

Like the boys team, Justin Gerlach’s girls had an easy time against winless Munroe, cruising to an 8-0 win last Tuesday. 

Four different players scored twice each for the Lady Sharks: eighth grader RJ Gerlach, freshman Alexa Pavon, and sophomores Hailyn Levins (who also had an assist) and Lillian Williams. 

Eighth grader Brooke Peacock pitched a shutout in the St. Joe goal. 

On Thursday, December 1, Gerlach’s squad traveled to Marianna to take on the 3A Bulldogs, and came away with a scoreless tie. 

“I think our ladies are slowly beginning to come together and grow in confidence defensively,” said Gerlach.

“We’re now hoping that we can use some of that confidence to grow more offensively before we go into the Christmas break.” 

Now 2-3-1, the St. Joe girls have another opportunity for growth on Tuesday at Bozeman (3-2), before traveling to Eastpoint on Thursday to play Franklin County (0-3). 

The Sharks will host Rocky Bayou (0-4) on Saturday, December 10, with the first kick scheduled for 11:00 a.m.



Meet the Editor

David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.

Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.

Wendy Weitzel The Star Digital Editor

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