Florida
St. Frances Academy picks up another big win in Florida
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- No team has traveled like Messay Hailemariam’s St. Frances Academy Panthers have this season.
Traveling from their home of Baltimore, Maryland out to California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas and now Florida, the Panthers have surely earned all of their flier miles this 2024 season.
With St. Frances Academy finishing up having playing eight straight away games, which have included tilts versus Duncanville, Mater Dei and a host of others, it begs the question of would the Panthers like to play in their own backyard a little more often?
“I mean, who wouldn’t love to stay home and have a normal high school process,” Hailemariam said after the game. “We’re dealt this hand and we try to execute it the best we can. I commend this young men that go on the road weekly, which I don’t even think pro teams, college don’t do it as much as we do. They’re committed to a goal and they don’t let much get in their way.”
The constant catching flights and never catching feelings about doing so has this Panthers team playing some of their best football as the 2024 season winds down.
St. Frances Academy (6-3) by season’s end will have racked up over 18,000 miles traveled roundtrip, making them road warriors in a league of their own. Playing in Maryland’s MIAA Conference would make for a much less travel-heavy schedule, but until that can become reality, the Panthers continue to make the long trips out to face some of nation’s most powerful football programs a weekly endeavor.
Next week will be a nice change of pace for Hailemariam’s bunch as they will return home and host IMG Academy, the No. 4 ranked team in the country. The last time St. Frances Acadey was able to edge out the Ascenders was back in 2021, a 34-24 victory. A win over IMG Academy would certainly mean a lot to a Panthers’ team that’s seemingly been snakebitten up against teams like Duncanville and Mater Dei.
“We look forward to playing up against teams like IMG,” Hailemariam said. “(IMG Academy) has experienced national championships and we’re trying to get to where they’re at in our own process and I think each year we’re understanding what it takes to play at this level.”
Outside of playing everyone in country outside of Maryland, another team out of the Terrapin State has emerged as a nationally recognized program in Archbishop Spalding.
Archbishop Spalding is the MIAA’s top team and would certainly be an intriuging matchup for St. Frances Academy if the two ever clashed. When asked about possibly playing Spalding, Hailemariam said it’s of course something he’d love to see someday.
“I’m hoping,” Hailemariam said of the prospect of a future matchup with Spalding. “One of the biggest things I say is we’re both in the top 25, local. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to play a team that’s local like we are. I think it would be an amazing game.”
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In Switzerland ever since, Ignatavicius has steadily improved with each passing season.
Spending most of the 2025-26 campaign playing against professionals in the National League, he notched 13 points (7G, 6A) in 52 games with Genève-Servette HC. He also suited up in 11 games in the postseason, scoring two goals and dishing out an assist.
During a brief stint in Switzerland’s second-tier league, he was better than a point-per-game player, racking up 11 points (7G, 4A) in eight contests.
“That was a big there,” the 18-year-old forward said of his breakout season. “There we go, and here I am now.”
Catching the attention of scouts across the NHL, Ignatavicius was projected as a possible late-first-round pick by several outlets heading into this weekend.
Making history when the Panthers called his name, he became the fourth Lithuanian to be drafted, joining Darius Kasparaitis, Dainius Zubrus and Andrey Pedan.
“It means a lot to my family and to my country,” Ignatavicius. “It shows little kids that whatever you dream it’s possible. You’ve just got to work for it. When you get your chance, you take it. Don’t give up. Work hard.”
A veteran of 1,293 games in the NHL, Zubrus has been a longtime mentor to his young countryman.
“I’m pretty close with him,” Ignatavicius said. “We text a lot. I’m happy with that and think I can learn a lot from him.”
When it comes to future lessons, he’ll have no shortage of new teachers to work with in South Florida.
Priding himself on playing a physical, relentless style, Ignatavicius models his game after one Panther in particular.
“Matthew Tkachuk,” he said. “I try playing like him, his style. I think he’s a great player and I can learn a lot from him.”
Yet to commit to returning to Switzerland next season, Ignatavicius is still waiting to see where he’ll lace up his skates in 2025-26.
“I’ve just got to focus on my summer and getting better,” he said.
In the immediate future, Ignatavicius will soon board a flight to Fort Lauderdale to participate in his first development camp with the Panthers.
“Florida? Can’t complain much,” he said when asked about his impending trip. “Very happy.”
In between on-ice sessions, maybe Ignatavicius will even find some time to grab a pizza.
If he needs a recommendation, I’m sure Panthers fans will have a few suggestions.
“This is just the beginning,” he said.
A diver who was reported missing near the Fort Pierce Inlet has been found dead, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Coast Guard received a mayday call around 11:30 a.m. June 27 about the missing diver. The Coast Guard then notified the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which deployed four boats to assist in the search, according to a social media post by the Sheriff’s Office. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office marine unit also responded.
Friends of the missing diver joined the search, departing from Fort Pierce Inlet around 1 p.m.
The search, which included aerial support from the Coast Guard and FWC, focused on an area about six to seven miles north-northeast of the Fort Pierce Inlet, near Avalon State Park.
Around 4:10 p.m., the group of civilian divers entered the water and located the missing diver at the bottom of the ocean in about 55 feet of water. The diver was recovered and pronounced dead.
The body was transported to Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the incident.
No additional information is available at this time.
This story was created by Colleen Wixon, colleen.wixon@tcpalm.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Colleen Wixon is the Indian River County government watchdog reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.
The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.
Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Friday, June 26, 2026.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 26 drawing
05-13-30-33-52, Mega Ball: 06
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Jackpot Triple Play numbers from June 26 drawing
09-12-15-25-30-38
Check Jackpot Triple Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from June 26 drawing
Midday: 05-11-19-27-31
Evening: 17-24-29-34-35
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 26 drawing
Morning: 11
Matinee: 08
Afternoon: 14
Evening: 03
Late Night: 01
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Winning Pick 2 numbers from June 26 drawing
Midday: 2-7, FB: 1
Evening: 3-5, FB: 8
Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 26 drawing
Midday: 2-8-7, FB: 1
Evening: 7-0-4, FB: 8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 26 drawing
Midday: 3-4-9-0, FB: 1
Evening: 4-2-7-4, FB: 8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from June 26 drawing
Midday: 0-5-3-4-6, FB: 1
Evening: 7-0-0-4-5, FB: 8
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
- Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
- Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.
You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.
Florida law requires public disclosure of winners
If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:
- Full name
- City of residence
- Game won
- Date won
- Amount won
- Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.
When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
- Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
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