The Land O’ Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation recently added five new members to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame, during a dinner ceremony. The inductees for the 2019 class were: Stacy Bishop, a record-setting girls soccer player from 1999 to 2003; Jerry Brewster, a state qualifying wrestler and team MVP in 1986; John Childers III, an All-Conference basketball standout in the mid 1980s; … [Read more...]
Hockey team formed for Land O’ Lakes High
May 29, 2019 By
It all started as an idea between two dads who just wanted the best for their hockey-playing sons: What if we started our own hockey team at Land O’ Lakes High School? After long months of conversations, fundraising and coordination, Joshua Whitman and Bill O’ Connor’s theoretical question became a reality. This coming fall, the Land O’ Lakes High School hockey club will begin its first … [Read more...]
Sunlake girls weightlifting coach earns statewide honor
May 22, 2019 By
In her decade-plus long tenure as the Sunlake High girls weightlifting coach, Denise Garcia has racked up her fair share of achievements. Some of the biggest came this year alone. Back in February, Garcia guided the Seahawks to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 2A state championship — marking the program’s first-ever team weightlifting title. The veteran coach … [Read more...]
AATL tops Land O’ Lakes in postseason tune-up
May 8, 2019 By
Two of the state’s top softball players matched up for the final time against one another in high school uniforms when Academy at the Lakes hosted Land O’ Lakes in a recent non-district game at Starkey Ranch District Park. In the latest matchup between crosstown foes, the Wildcats and senior ace pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl bested the Gators and their senior star pitcher, Callie Turner, en route to … [Read more...]
Locals shine at boys weightlifting
May 1, 2019 By
A handful of locals turned in top-notch performances at the 2019 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) boys weightlifting state championships, held last month in Panama City. Standouts included Sunlake High School seniors Caleb Huff and Victor Velez, who each won a gold medal in Class 2A. Huff won in the 119-pound division and Velez won in the 129-pound division. Huff … [Read more...]
Imagine School captures girls soccer title
April 17, 2019 By
Caidee Sumner and Bella Wood were determined to end their middle school soccer careers on a high note. The eighth-grade team co-captains did just that — leading the Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes Dragons to the 2019 Tampa Charter Athletic League (TCAL) girls soccer championship title. “It’s our last year here and we wanted to go out as a champion,” Wood said. The Dragons (9-2) entered … [Read more...]
Sunlake sweeps conference track championships
April 10, 2019 By
For the second straight year, the Sunlake High track and field program reigned supreme at the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) Eastside championship meet, as its boys and girls teams earned first-place overall finishes to best six other east Pasco high schools. The Sunlake boys team tallied 189 points, comfortably ahead of second place Wiregrass Ranch (101) and third place Land O’ Lakes … [Read more...]
Land O’ Lakes tennis standout eyes district title
March 27, 2019 By
After a sophomore campaign that yielded an undefeated mark in regular season dual matches and being named Sunshine Athletic Conference Eastside Girls Tennis Player of the Year, Land O’ Lakes High School’s Courtney Piltaver has even bigger goals in sight this season. The junior is eyeing a 6-3A district title. “I’m hoping to win districts this year,” she said. Beyond that, Piltaver is … [Read more...]
Land O’ Lakes standout finds home in new pro football league
March 6, 2019 By
Not too long ago, Shaheed Salmon was making thumping defensive stops as an All-State linebacker all over the gridiron of John Benedetto Stadium at Land O’ Lakes High School. He’s still doing the same — now, as a professional football player. The 2014 Land O’ Lakes High graduate is a backup linebacker in the American Alliance of Football’s (AAF) Birmingham Iron franchise. The league is … [Read more...]
Stellar hoops season ends for Land O’ Lakes
March 6, 2019 By
The Land O’ Lakes High varsity boys basketball team’s banner season — and hopeful bid for a state finals appearance — has come to a close. After winning a district championship and then dismantling King High 62-35 in the regional quarterfinals, the Gators fell at home to Hillsborough High 52-36 in the Class 7A regional semifinals, on Feb. 26. The defeat ends what was one of the best hoops … [Read more...]
