Vote Now: Who Will Be Gainesville's Top Girls Sports Team of 2025?

Trenton, USA - The summer of 2025 is heating up, especially with the Gainesville area’s looming decision on which girls athletic team from the 2024-2025 season deserves the distinct title of „Best Team.“ Voting is currently open, with a lineup of 16 remarkable nominees, including some heavy hitters like the Trenton softball team, the Class 1A state champions, and the Gainesville High School basketball team, who were state runners-up in Class 5A.

Voting for this exciting poll, which is set to close on Friday at 11:59 p.m., encourages local sports fans to participate as many times as they want. Feel free to rally your friends and family to join in on the fun! Recognition is up for grabs for a variety of teams—from the Williston girls basketball squad, who made it to the Rural Class regional finals, to the Buchholz cross country team, that proudly finished second at Class 4A states.

Nominees for Best Girls Team

• Trenton softball: Class 1A state champions
• Williston girls basketball: Rural Class region finalist
• Gainesville High basketball: Class 5A state runner-up
• Branford volleyball: Rural Class state runner-up
• Gainesville High softball: Class 5A region finalist
• Columbia golf: Top 15 finish at Class 2A states
• Buchholz cross country: 2nd place finish at Class 4A states
• P.K. Yonge soccer: Class 3A region finalist
• Gainesville High swim and dive: Top 9 finish at Class 3A states
• Eastside swim and dive: Top 7 finish at Class 2A states
• Gainesville High tennis: Class 3A region finalist
• Branford softball: Rural Class state final four
• Oak Hall track and field: Top 20 finish at Class 1A states
• Fort White girls basketball: Rural Class region finalist
• Bradford flag football: Class 1A region finalist

Meanwhile, the Gainesville High School girls basketball team is enjoying a moment in the spotlight after their impressive performance this season. This underdog story sees the No. 2 seed Hurricanes defeating the top-seed Booker T. Washington 64-57 in a thrilling FHSAA Class 5A-Region 1 Final. This victory not only marks their seventh consecutive win but also advances them to the final four for the first time since 1987, a nostalgic moment for long-time fans.

The Hurricanes have built a solid season record of 16-8 and are riding high on the thrills of regional play, where they secured victories against Lincoln and Beachside by significant margins. Incredibly, the team’s momentum has been bolstered largely by the stellar performance of seniors Jamison Cardwell—who scored 22 points—and Louisiana Tech signee Jayden Terry, who added an impressive 18 points.

The Path Ahead

As GHS heads into the FHSAA Class 5A state semifinals at the RP Funding Center on March 5, anticipation is palpable. They will face No. 2 seed Northeast in a match that promises to be exhilarating, while the other semifinal brings top-seed New Smyrna Beach against No. 4 seed Clearwater. This is indeed a pivotal season for Gainesville High, and the school proudly stands alongside Hawthorne as a representative of Alachua County in this year’s final four.

While accolades begin to pile up for local teams, it’s worth noting the remarkable talent present in high school girls basketball across Florida. Just take a glance at the talents highlighted in national conversations, like the Co-Players of the Year awarded for outstanding achievements in the 2022 season. Stars from various teams are patronized for their excellence, indicating just how competitive and skillful this arena is.

As such, with local teams shining under the spotlight and various state and regional contests unfolding, there’s much to be proud of in the Gainesville athletic community. Anyone with ties to these programs should consider throwing their votes in to see who can capture that coveted distinction of being the best girls athletic team in the Gainesville area.

Check out the full list of nominees and cast your vote now, as the community celebrates these outstanding young athletes working hard to put their schools and themselves on the map!

Gainesville.com reports that voting is open until Friday at 11:59 p.m. for recognizing local female athletes. For insights on the GHS girl’s journey to the final four, visit Main Street Daily News. And to gain perspective on regional talents, check out Golfweek for more about standout players across the state.