The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

Lutz robotics team ranks eighth at international event

By

The Lutz-based Trinity Dragons ended the robotics season on a high note, with another top-10 showing at worlds.

Team 6430 ranked eighth among more than 500 teams, during the 2017 VEX World Competition in Louisville, Kentucky; they finished ninth last year.

The Lutz-based Trinity Dragons Team 6430 finished eighth among more than 500 teams, during the 2017 VEX World Competition in Louisville, Kentucky. (Courtesy of Ray Carr)

They also earned the Teamwork Award in the event’s Research Division, and were recognized as competition finalists.

The world championships, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, drew over 16,000 participants from across 37 nations; it marks the fourth consecutive season Team 6430 has received an invitation.

Throughout the weeklong event, Team 6430 joined forces with clubs from Galveston, Texas; Glen Allen, Virginia; Carrollton, Georgia; and Sichaun, China.

The VEX robotics challenge, titled “Starstruck,” is played on a 12-by-12 square field, in which two alliances consisting of two robotics teams each, square off in matches comprising of a 15-fifteen second autonomous period, followed by 1 minute and 45 seconds of driver-controlled play.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by having each robot place “stars” and “cubes” in designated zones, and remotely hang robots onto a hanging pole.

It otherwise was a fruitful 2016-2017 robotics campaign for the local club.

Team 6430 won the Florida State High School VEX Robotics Championship in February, outscoring 56 other high school teams at the Florida State Fairgrounds; the team also went undefeated in each of its regular season tournaments.

And, at one point this season, Team 6430 ranked fourth internationally, of 8,500 teams worldwide, in autonomous programming skills.

Next year’s VEX robotics challenge, titled “In The Zone,” requires robots to essentially stack as many “cones” as possible.

The Trinity Dragons, coached by Ray Carr, was formed about six years ago.

The team is sponsored by Occam Technology Group, Pharmaworks and Broten Garage Doors.

Published June 14, 2017

Local gymnast reaches ‘elite’ status

By

Hard work is paying off for Kristen Ng.

The 17-year-old, who will be a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, can lay claim to being one of the nation’s premier rhythmic gymnasts.

Kristen Ng earned Level 10 Elite status at last month’s USA Gymnastics Rhythmic National Qualifier in Lake Placid, New York. She now will compete at the 2017 USA National Gymnastics Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ng, 17, will be a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School. (Courtesy of Angie Ng)

Last month she earned Level 10 Elite status — the highest level possible — at the USA Gymnastics Rhythmic National Qualifier in Lake Placid, New York.

Only the top 20 senior finishers in the qualifier earn Level 10 Elite status, while the remaining 20 percent of competitors earn Level 10 status.

Ng placed 17th, recording an all-around 44.50 score, earning her a bid to the 2017 USA National Gymnastics Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The national event, which runs from June 27 through July 2, is reserved for the top 20 qualifying seniors and top 25 juniors from rhythmic.

If Ng finishes in the top eight, she’ll be selected to the USA Gymnastics Rhythmic National Team, to compete internationally.

For Ng, reaching elite status was a “life goal” — nearly a decade in the making.

“I was so happy,” said Ng, who lives in Wesley Chapel. “They called up my name, and I started crying; it was just an amazing feeling.”

The achievement was likewise moving for Ng’s longtime instructor, Tyana Marlowe.

“It was a big cry fest of happy tears,” said Marlowe, who owns and operates Tampa Bay Rhythmics in Riverview.

Ng’s journey to the top wasn’t easy.

For years, she’s practiced more than 20 hours a week, in four-hour sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — all to perfect four, 90-second routines, using a ribbon, a hoop, a ball and clubs.

Ng competed as a Level 4 gymnast at age 9, but began training with Tampa Bay Rhythmics about two years before that.

Her potential was evident early on.

But, first she had to correct some flaws.

For instance, Ng’s hand-eye coordination needed development.

Her turn-out (supination in thigh joints) needed refinement, too.

Kristen Ng performs her club routine during the 2017 Caribbean Star Rhythmic Gymnastics Invitational in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. She was the highest-ranking American all-around.

“She’s come a long way,” Marlowe said. “We saw that she had a lot of natural flexibility, but she had a lot of things we had to work on.”

Her rhythmic expression always stood out, however.
It’s what consistently earns her high marks from judges today.

“She’s very clean,” Marlowe explained. “She has the nice extended legs, pointed toes — those are her two strengths.”

Ng’s ability to be graceful and dramatic also makes her a “well-rounded gymnast,” Marlowe added.
Typically, Ng and other gymnasts at Tampa Bay Rhythmics stretch for an hour then work on their skills, using each rhythmic apparatus.

The ribbon is attached to a stick and must be kept in motion showing patterns, such as spirals, snakes and figure eights. It also is used in the air and on the floor.

In the ball exercise, gymnasts roll, throw, bounce, catch and trap the ball while trying to make it appear to be an extension of their body. The hoop, similar to a Hula-Hoop, is decorated with tape to match the athlete’s leotard. The hoop can be circled, rolled, spun and tossed. A gymnast can pass over or through the hoop. One typical movement is the “boomerang,” rolling the hoop forward with a snap of the wrist to make it roll back.

Gymnasts must be precise, graceful, strong
Routines — and corresponding music — are developed and interchanged each year.

The gymnasts need to be smart, strong and have adequate stamina.

“It’s a high-intensive sport,” Ng said.

“It’s a nice combination of gymnastics and dance,” Marlowe said. “You don’t have the danger of the gymnastics, and you have a little bit more than the dance.”

“It’s not just dance, it’s a little bit more like a challenge to it,” the coach said.

According to Marlowe, the sport is quickly growing, thanks to better USA Olympic performances.

“It’s mostly a Russian-Bulgarian dominated sport, but the USA has really been climbing the ladder,” Marlowe said.

Ng also has noticed the heightened interest.

“In school, a lot more people know it now,” Ng said. “They’ll be like, ‘Oh, rhythmic gymnastics — I know what that is,’ versus before they were like, ‘What?’”

Kristen Ng displays balance, grace and flexibility in her ribbon routine. It is one of four apparatus she uses in rhythmic gymnastics, including hoop, ball and clubs.

Like artistic gymnastics and figure skating, rhythmic gymnasts are judged on their technical skills and artistry.

It’s why countless hours of repetition are required.

Finding ways to stay motivated year-round is a must, too.

“We work a lot on goals, and setting goals,” Marlowe explained. “There’s always something you can make better, so we always try and do little specific things.”

Meanwhile, Ng’s passion for the sport has remained steady.

Her favorite routine is ball-based, which she describes as “upbeat and spunky.”
“You have to be able to enjoy it; that’s why it’s lasted so long,” Ng said.

“The fact that you add one extra (apparatus) makes everything all the more challenging; making these cool tricks with the equipment is like my favorite thing.”

Staying calm while she competes
Her talents have taken her all over North America.

Besides local competitions throughout Florida, Ng has traveled throughout the United States, from New York to California to Las Vegas, and made stops in Canada and Puerto Rico.

Often, she wins.

At the Florida State Championships in March, Ng placed first in the Level 9 Senior division for her hoop routine.

In April, she won first-place all-around at the 2017 Rhythmic Gymnastics Region 6 Championships in Dania Beach, Florida.

She later became the highest-ranking all-around American at the 2017 Caribbean Star Rhythmic Gymnastics Invitational in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

And, wherever she goes, she follows her competition regimen.

Before each event, she makes sure to get a good night’s sleep.
And, immediately before hitting the main stage, she prays and takes calm, deep breaths.

Instead of judging herself against others, she likes to compare herself against her previous achievements.

The formula has worked well.

“Of course, you’re competing against other competitors, but if you look at it that way, you’re going to get way too nervous,” her coach explained. “You have to compete against yourself.”

Despite Ng’s national success, the upcoming 2017-2018 season might be her last, as there are no college scholarships for rhythmic gymnastics.

However, Ng wants to stay involved with the sport, likely as a coach and judge.

She’s also considering a part-time dance career, aiming for premier Cirque de Soleil shows.

Published June 14, 2017

Saint Leo golfer nominated athlete of the year

By

Saint Leo senior Marie Coors has been named the 2017 Division II Honda Athlete of the Year nominee for golf, as announced by Chris Voelz, executive director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

Saint Leo golfer Marie Coors (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Coors is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious Division II Honda Athlete of the Year, which will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the CWSA program, now in its 41st year.

Coors, the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Division II Golfer of the Year and a First Team All-American, captured the individual championship at the 2017 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship in May, after carding a seven-over 295 over 72 holes. She finished the season with a 72.16 stroke average over 32 rounds, and had the lowest stroke average of any Division II women’s golfer.

The Gross-Zimmern, Germany, native earned First Team All-SSC honors and was also named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) At-Large Academic All-District team.

She also won the NCAA Elite 90 award for the 2017 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship for having the highest grade point average of any competitor in the national championship.

Coors was the recipient of Saint Leo’s Clara McDonald Olson Scholastic Excellence Award, presented to the member of the graduating class with the highest GPA attained over four years at Saint Leo University.

Coors won three tournaments during the 2016-17 campaign with 10 top five finishes. She finished among the top 10 in all 12 events in which she competed during the season.

All Honda Sports nominees from Division II and Division III become a finalist for the prestigious 2017 Honda Woman Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 26, 2017, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 Division II and Division III NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross-country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and track and field.

Land O’ Lakes’ Hall of Fame adds members

By

The Land O’ Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation inducted five new members to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame during a dinner ceremony May 25.

The inductees for the 2017 class were: Allen Claggett Jr., a longtime varsity football and track coach; Desiree Croteau, a varsity softball pitcher in the late ’90s; Michael Keough, a standout three-sport athlete in the mid ’70s; Doug Hutchinson, a longtime athletics volunteer; and, Stephen Querns, the starting quarterback for Land O’ Lakes High’s first district football championship in 1978.

The ceremony marked the school’s fifth Hall of Fame induction class, which began in 2013 after the Gators Athletics Foundation was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

William Floyd, a former NFL fullback and current color radio analyst for Florida State University football, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony.

The foundation’s purpose is to “raise funds through donations and fundraising events for the direct benefit of the athletic programs at Land O’ Lakes High School.”

Funds raised through the booster club are currently being allocated to build an athletic field house at the school, perhaps within the next five years.

Hall of Fame bios

Allen Claggett Jr. (Coach/Administrator)
Claggett moved to Land O’ Lakes in 1971 when Sanders Elementary experienced a hiring spree. There, he taught language arts and coached football for sixth-graders through eighth-graders. He joined Land O’ Lakes High in 1975, when it opened. He taught language arts and coached football and track until he retired in 2009. During his tenure, the Gators football program won 13 district titles, six conference titles, and made 17 playoff appearances. As head track coach, his teams won four district and four conference, and two county championships.

Desiree Croteau (Female Athlete)
Croteau (Class of ’97) excelled on the softball field as a pitcher, playing for former longtime Land O’ Lakes coach Jerry English. Croteau was named area player of the year in 1995 and 1997, and was a 1997 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star. She later played softball at Saint Leo University and earned induction into the Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame. Croteau is now a corporal with the Tampa Police Department’s K-9 unit.

Michael Keough (Male Athlete)
Keough (Class of ’76) came to Land O’ Lakes High from St. Petersburg shortly after the school opened in 1975 after his father, Judge Lawrence Keough, was appointed to the Sixth Judicial Circuit in west Pasco County.  Keough played football, basketball and track, earning All-Area honors in both football and basketball, including being named to the Tampa Tribune’s Class 2A, Section 2 All-Star Football Team as a first-team quarterback. He then earned an athletic scholarship to play football at Tennessee Technological University — the first student to do so from Land O’ Lakes High. He graduated from Tennessee Tech and earned a law degree from Stetson University. Today, he has his own law practice in New Port Richey.

Doug Hutchinson (Lifetime Service Award)
Hutchinson received the Lifetime Service Award for his volunteer efforts in supporting Land O’ Lakes High School athletic programs over the past 35 years. Over the years, Hutchinson has assisted the Land O’ Lakes Little League, Police Athletic League and the Land O’ Lakes Athletic Booster Club. He’s also acted as chairman for the local SwampFest event, sponsored by the LOLHS Boosters. While volunteering, Hutchinson was also a paramedic for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, earning recognition as Paramedic of the Year in 2009.

Stephen Querns (Posthumously Lifetime Achievement Award)
Querns was a standout both on and off the field. At Land O’ Lakes High, Querns played football and baseball, earning recognition on local All-Area teams for both sports. Querns also was starting quarterback for the school’s first district championship football team in 1978. Upon graduation, Querns stayed close to home to attend the University of Tampa on a baseball scholarship, later transferring to the University of South Florida where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Querns eventually worked for Johnson & Johnson, where his medical design work led to 13 U.S. patents and several European patents.  Querns died at age 37 from cancer. His research and design work in the medical field, however, continues to help others.

Retirement ‘bittersweet’ for Zephyrhills police chief

By

After 25 years of service, former Zephyrhills Police Chief David Shears is settling into retirement life.

Throughout a respected career, Shears at some point worked every hour of the day, every day of the week and every day of the year.

Now, he gets to relax.

His last day in uniform was May 31.

To Shears, stepping away from law enforcement altogether is “bittersweet.”

David Shears retired as Zephyrhills Police Chief on May 31. He spent 25 years in the department, moving up the ranks from patrol officer to detective, sergeant and captain. (Kevin Weiss)

“You enjoy the job, and enjoy doing the work and everything,” he said, “but, also I think with veteran officers there comes a point it’s time to move on and let the next generation come in.

“For me personally, my goal was to get my 25 years in here at the police department.”

He’ll most cherish memories of his time on patrol.

“The biggest thing I am going to miss is actually being out there working with the community as a cop on the street; that was something I enjoyed,” he said.

Shears, 54, exits the department satisfied, with what he considers a job well done.

“I can walk out with my head up high, feeling good about the agency and everything that we did here,” he said.

Zephyrhills leaders agree.

City Manager Steve Spina shared his appreciation for Shears’ service, during a May 22 city council meeting.

Spina said, “Chief Shears led his department — and the men and women working there — with quiet resolve, moral integrity and high ethical standards. While every department and every organization experiences turbulence and some level of discord, never in his tenure as chief were there any ethical or moral lapses that compromised or embarrassed his coworkers, the city of Zephyrhills or his community.”

Other councilmen expressed similar sentiments.

A portion of Eighth Street—from North Avenue to Henry Drive—has been renamed Chief Shears Way, an honorary designation for the outgoing Zephyrhills Police Chief. The council unanimously approved the measure May 22.

“He has been a leader, and he has taken this city and molded it into a safe, protected city,” Council president Alan Knight said. “He’s really just somebody that I want to tip my hat to.”

“He’s just been a tremendous part of this city,” Councilman Charles Proctor said. “He’s helped transform our police department into the modern police department that it is today; he’s left it in great hands.”

Shears is often described as ‘a cop’s cop.’

A native of Flint, Michigan, Shears relocated to Florida in 1982.

Prior to joining the force, Shears worked in internal security, and then became an electrician.

Law enforcement, however, was his true passion.

“I always wanted to be a police officer,” Shears said. “I was blessed that my parents paid for my academy.”

Shears joined the Zephyrhills Police Department in 1992 as a patrol officer.

He wasn’t the only one in his family to don the badge, either.
His older brother served in the Tampa Police Department, while his younger brother was an officer at the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

In Zephyrhills, Shears moved up the ranks to detective, sergeant and captain, before being named the city’s ninth police chief in 2008. He replaced former chief Russell Barnes, who resigned after accusations he created a “flex time” policy that allowed employees to receive time off instead of overtime pay for extra hours worked.

Over the years, Shears worked with and trained scores of numerous veteran officers; supervised patrols and actions; oversaw the civilian side of the department; provided for records and evidence, communications and dispatch, volunteer services and operating equipment; and equipping the department.

His first year as acting chief was a “learning experience,” he acknowledged.

“It was a little bit more of a difficult process for myself,” Shears said. “I had to learn the administrative side rather quickly, and also I had to put together a budget, which is very tough on someone that’s never done one before.”

But, the most challenging aspect, he said, “was getting a mindset that you’re responsible for everybody in (the) police department. Decision-making that affects not only the police department, but the community — that was something that you better learn real quick.”

He preserved two key citywide streaks: all of the city’s homicides were solved, and no Zephyrhills police officer was killed in the line of duty.

There were other highlights, too.

In 2015, starting officer wages increased to $43,000.

Training opportunities, such as in-house de-escalation instruction, also ramped up.

Shears also helped modernize the department’s property room, instituting bar coding.

“I believe that we have made this a better agency than it was when I took over,” Shears said. “We have made improvements throughout the years that had really bettered this police department.”

Shears also emphasized high standards in ethics and integrity.

“Transparency has got to be a big thing in this line of work,” he said. “Whether we’ve made a mistake or we’ve done good, it needs to be out there so people understand that you’re doing the right thing, and sometimes the right thing isn’t always the most pleasant.”

Meanwhile, efforts to make Zephyrhills safer are still needed, Shears said.

Addressing the city’s drug problem is one approach.

“The majority of crimes that are committed—in any community—is generally drug-related,” Shears explained. “I think combating that situation, but also having the backing of our State Attorney’s Office, is something that needs to be looked into and firmed up, because that’s what’s going to deter a lot of crime that is committed here with thefts and all the burglaries and property crimes that are being committed by people addicted to drugs.”

In hindsight, the police chief role was burdensome, at times.
Besides navigating the city’s budget crunches around 2010 and 2011, Shears prepared for countless retirements and defections inside the police department –often to higher-paying agencies.

Around that period, he battled two bouts of colon cancer, and underwent an assortment of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation.

Dealing with cancer, Shears said, was “very difficult.

“I had to keep a positive mindset that we could handle anything, and that’s the way I looked at it. I’m just thankful that I had a staff to step up.”

He’s been cancer-free since 2012.

With new-found free time — and less stress — Shears plans to take a family vacation, with visits to North Carolina and West Virginia.
House repairs and fishing are on his initial retirement agenda, too.

“I’ve got to learn how to fish again,” Shears said, jokingly.

Zephyrhills police Capt. Derek Brewer is serving as interim chief, until the city fills the position permanently.

Besides losing Shears to retirement, the department is also losing another long-time veteran. Zephyrhills police Capt. Robert McKinney, a member of the department for 15 years, retired, effective June 2. He had been in law enforcement for 25 years.

Published June 6, 2017

Seminar sheds light on skin cancer

By

His skin cancer diagnosis was a wake-up call to be more careful around the Florida sun.

Dr. George Hanak was blindsided when he first was stricken with skin cancer, and he’s not shy about sharing his personal battle with the disease.

“I was shocked when I got the report,” said Hanak, the department chair of neurological sciences at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco-Hernando State College presented a Skin Cancer Awareness Seminar on May 24 at its Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

The associate professor was a featured speaker during the school’s Skin Cancer Awareness Seminar on May 24.

The seminar was part of a series the state college organized to increase public awareness regarding a variety of resources available to community members.

Over two years ago, a standard histology revealed two types of non-melanoma skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma — had formed on the tip of Hanak’s nose.

From the naked eye, Hanak couldn’t detect the carcinomas.

It wasn’t apparent, either, that the cancerous cells already penetrated through his dermis — the inner layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin.

“I didn’t know. It did not look like (skin cancer),” Hanak said.

Luckily, the department chairman visited a dermatologist before the carcinomas spread further.

Now, he has a clean bill of health — because of Mohs micrographic surgery.

The surgery progressively removes and examines thin layers of cancer-containing skin until only cancer-free tissue remains.

Hanak doesn’t take his good health for granted.

Now, he takes added precautions, beginning with copious amounts of sunscreen—even when just running errands.

He encourages others to do the same.

“I put it on my face every day,” Hanak said. “When I’m going out into the car or to the store, cumulatively, over the time of the day I could be outdoors for 30 minutes or more.

“It’s really important,” he said.

Skin cancer is common nationwide.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 5.4 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States — more than all other cancers combined. Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types.

The American Cancer Society reports that most skin cancers are caused by the sun’s ultraviolet light and radiation, which alter the genetic material of skin cells.

The skin is the body’s largest organ, and also one of the most vital.

However, many don’t treat it that way.

“We, for the most part, take our skin for granted,” Hanak said. “We never think about the skin.”
Regions of the body most susceptible to skin cancer are the face, ears, neck, lip, back of hands, legs, and torso.

Those with freckles and fair skin, or who have a family history of skin cancer should be especially cautious.

Folks on antihistamines also should be careful, too, as they can compromise the skin and increase the potential for skin cancer.

Moles are another risk factor, especially ones that irregularly change in shape, size, or color.

“You never mess with a mole,” Hanak said.

“Leave it (the mole) alone, or have it removed if there are changes happening to it. If there’s a hair inside the mole, you do not pluck that hair. You do that and you’re opening up Pandora’s box,” Hanak warned.

Early detection makes all forms of skin cancer more treatable.

It’s why self-exams and regular checkups to a dermatologist are critical.

“I don’t care if you see anything or not — go to the specialist and have them check you — head to toe,” Hanak said.

Unfortunately, there’s no sure way to entirely prevent skin cancer, he said.

But, there are precautions that can help reduce the risk of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Linda Oakley-Hankins, an associate professor of nursing at PHSC’s West Campus, advised those attending the seminar to follow Cancer.org’s sun exposure catchphrase: “Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap!”

The catchphrase is meant to help people remember some of the key steps that can be taken to shield against UVA and UVB ultraviolet (UV) rays.

They can slip on a dark shirt; slop on broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours; slap on a wide-brimmed hat; and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and skin around them.

Besides skin cancer, overexposure to UV rays can result in sunburns, dark patches, wrinkles, loose skin, premature aging and eye problems.

During the seminar, Oakley-Hankins warned against the use of tanning salons.

She also suggested people — especially Floridians — seek shade between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“What you do to your skin now,” she said, “will either be a benefit or a non-benefit later on in life.”

Published June 6, 2017

She’s young, but she wants to be Lutz Guv’na

By

Kori Rankin is not only a first-time Lutz Guv’na candidate — she’s easily the youngest at 21 years old.

Her two opponents — Jessica Sherman, of Pinch A Penny, and incumbent Greg Gilbert, of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Lutz — are more than twice her age.

But, that hasn’t hindered Rankin from holding her own on the campaign trail.

Kori Rankin won a cow-chip throwing contest, during the May 20 Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School. (Kevin Weiss)

During the May 20 Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School, Rankin exhibited confidence and moxie.

She shined in several debate activities, leading the alligator watermelon-carving contest and dominating a cow-chip throwing contest: She launched patties several feet further than her two rivals.

Several of her responses, during the annual tongue-in-cheek event, were memorable, too.

For instance, she advocated for a construction ban in Lutz, and recommended “unlimited wine” for every Lutz woman.

Politicking for Guv’na runs in the family.

Her stepmother, Jennifer Rankin, won the coveted “sash” in 2015 by raising more than $9,200, and she continues to stay involved in the annual Guv’na Race.

Rankin acknowledged her stepmom has provided a helping hand along the way, offering guidance on fundraising and event organization.

“She doesn’t want me to be slacking,” Rankin said of her stepmother.

The month of June will be a busy one.
After a Painting with a Twist event on June 11, Rankin plans to organize a bowling tournament and a dinner night at a local Mexican restaurant.

She also wants to partner with the GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club on a bingo night.

Meanwhile, Rankin is drumming up cash by auctioning LuLaRoe clothing, offering 50/50 raffles, and selling “little things” like candy and drinks.

The Guv’na hopeful currently works full-time at Al’s Lawn Care Products & Services, a local business established in 1986.

She also owns her own photography and portable photo booth company — aptly named Kori Rankin Photography.

Besides mini-sessions, she’s built up a portfolio shooting everything from weddings to newborns, over the last year-and-a-half.

“I pretty much do anything and everything all across the board,” she said.

A long-time Lutz resident, Rankin has lived in the area since she was 10 years old.
She spent her early childhood in Temple Terrace. Then her family moved to Zephyrhills when she was 6, before the family settled into the tight-knit Hillsborough County community.

She —like many residents — enjoy the rustic aspect of Lutz.

“I’ve always kind of loved that it’s in the country, than in the city,” she said. “It’s always nice.”

Rankin attended Martinez Middle School and graduated from Steinbrenner High School in 2013 — the school’s first four-year graduating class.

There, she was a competitive cheerleader and member of the flag football team; she also gave track and weightlifting a shot.

“I was very athletic,” Rankin said, “and tried to play just about every sport possible.”
The Guv’na race continues through the Fourth of July weekend.

The winner will be announced after the community’s traditional parade.

The annual charity event started in 1991. More than $100,000 has been raised in the past decade alone.

The winner of the Guv’na race gets to earmark 10 percent of what he or she raises to the charitable organization of his or her choice.

If Rankin becomes the honorary mayor of Lutz, she hopes to donate to the Lutz Chiefs Youth Football and Cheerleading Organization, a league for boys and girls ages 5 to 14.

“I feel like they don’t really get anything, besides what their parents provide for them,” she said.

If you’d like to contribute to Rankin’s campaign, call (813) 476-3718, or email .

Published June 6, 2017

Saint Leo adds women’s beach volleyball

By

It’s a sport sweeping the nation — and one local institution is taking advantage.

Saint Leo University is the latest Florida college to add women’s beach volleyball as a varsity NCAA sport.

Current Saint Leo indoor volleyball coach Sam Cibrone will move into a new role as director of volleyball. An additional full-time assistant coach will be added for the new beach volleyball program, while current assistant coach Carlos Ramos will work exclusively with Saint Leo’s 2017 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) champion indoor volleyball program.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Competition for the sand-based sport begins Spring 2018, as an independent (non-conference) team. It marks Saint Leo’s 20th intercollegiate sport and its 11th offering in women’s athletics; the recommendation to add beach volleyball was made by the university’s Gender Equity Committee, and approved by University President Dr. William J. Lennox Jr.

It will initially be a non-scholarship sport.

“The addition of beach volleyball will provide additional opportunities for women to compete in the Green and Gold for Saint Leo University and is a natural fit for Saint Leo athletics,” Saint Leo athletic director Francis X. Reidy said, in a statement. “Between our location in Florida and the strength of our existing indoor volleyball program, I believe beach volleyball has a bright future here at Saint Leo.”

Construction will begin this summer on a new five-court beach volleyball complex on a portion of the intramural field, adjacent to the Saint Leo Tennis Center.

The facility — expected to be the largest in Division II — is slated to be “practice-ready” this fall and “competition-ready” by January.

The complex will benefit the beach volleyball program and the university’s intramurals program, as well. There also will be opportunities to host youth, club, and collegiate events at the new beach volleyball complex, generating revenue and exposure for the university and the beach volleyball program.

Sam Cibrone, currently the Lions’ head volleyball coach, will move into a new role as director of volleyball. An additional full-time assistant coach will be added for the new beach volleyball program, while current assistant coach Carlos Ramos will work exclusively with Saint Leo’s 2017 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) champion indoor volleyball program.

Saint Leo University has added women’s beach volleyball as a varsity NCAA sport. Competition for the non-scholarship sport will begin in Spring 2018

The new position appears to be a seamless transition for Cibrone, the winningest coach in Saint Leo volleyball history and three-time SSC Coach of the Year.

A beach volleyball player for more than 20 years, Cibrone created the Clearwater-based Sunshine State Outdoor Volleyball Association in 2004, drawing hundreds of junior and adult teams in year-round tournaments.

He’s taking Saint Leo’s upstart sport seriously, with hopes to make it a national power — like the indoor volleyball program.

In 13 seasons as volleyball head coach, Cibrone has compiled a 255-164 record, guiding the program to eight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including four in a row.

“Our indoor program has a great history of being successful, and we’re going to expect the same thing from our beach program,” Cibrone said. “I want the quality to be at the same level as our indoor program, because we’re not treating this like a club.”

Besides hiring an assistant beach coach, Cibrone’s next step is filling a roster of 16 players. Several athletes from the Saint Leo indoor team are expected to join the beach program for the first year.

Cibrone’s ultimate goal, however, is to mold primarily beach-only players.

“We really want to grow this program as a separate entity,” Cibrone said. “Plus, that’s not going to help our gender equity issue if we just take the same kids and have them play two sports.”

Beach volleyball only calls for two players from one team to be on the court during matches. Both players must work together and become jack-of-all-trades and dominate on many fronts, including passing, setting and hitting. Indoor volleyball, however, calls for players to be much more specialized.

“The kid that can do everything well is a good beach player,” Cibrone said. “You don’t have to be a super phenomenal athlete; you just have to be a good volleyball player.

Beach volleyball doesn’t yet have a strong high school presence, making the recruiting process “completely different” compared to indoor.

As opposed to scouting prep teams, coaches will recruit open club competitions, such as the Dig the Beach Tournament Series in Siesta Key.

“I’m going to be going to a lot of beach tournaments and recruiting through the beach circuit, because there’s tournaments all over in Florida,” Cibrone said. “I think you’re going to see those kinds of big tournaments come to focus.”

Cibrone is also tasked with building a 16-game schedule for 2018.

Many opponents figure to come from in state, he said.

Within Florida, a total of 10 institutions competed in beach volleyball during the 2017 season: Eckerd College, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Jacksonville, Stetson, North Florida, Webber International and Warner.

Additionally, the University of Tampa and Florida Southern College have announced their intention to add the sport for Spring 2018. The growth of beach volleyball has skyrocketed in recent years since it was first approved as an “emerging sport” by the NCAA in 2009. At the time, data showed that more than 200,000 females ages 6-17 played beach volleyball, and more than 60 percent competed exclusively in the sport rather than indoor volleyball.

At the start of the 2016-17 academic year, a total of 66 NCAA member institutions had either added the sport or announced their intention to do so. The NCAA added a national collegiate championship for beach volleyball as its 90th championship in January 2015, after a target of 40 institutions had added the sport.

While building a championship contender is a focus, Cibrone also wants Saint Leo’s beach players to have an enjoyable athletic experience.

“I want to make it a great experience,” he said, “because I understand they’re coming with just their academic money, and so they’re making a sacrifice.

“I think some of these programs that are not fully funded—they’re pushing the kids too hard and making it not a great experience.

“I’m going to make it fun for them, challenging and super competitive.”

Published June 6, 2017

Steinbrenner High product named First-Team All-AAC

By

University of South Florida shortstop Kevin Merrell graduated from Steinbrenner High in 2014. (Courtesy of University of South Florida)

University of South Florida junior shortstop Kevin Merrell, a Steinbrenner High product, was selected to the All-American Athletic Conference first team, selected by league coaches; Merrell earned the same honor in 2016.

The 6-foot-1, 189-pound Odessa native wrapped up the 2017 regular season batting a conference-leading .386, with six home runs, 35 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

Lauded for his base-stealing, defensive range and extra-base hit power, the middle infielder is projected to be a first-day pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, which starts June 12.
At Steinbrenner, Merrell was a four-year letter winner for head baseball coach John Crumbley; he also lettered in golf and track.

Land O’ Lakes High product named C-USA Freshman of the Year

By

Former Land O’ Lakes softball standout Shannon Saile was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in her rookie campaign at Florida International University. (Courtesy of Florida International University)

Land O’ Lakes High alum Shannon Saile earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors following a sensational rookie campaign at Florida International University. Saile boasted a league-best 1.46 ERA paired with a 17-8 record over 33 appearances, tallying 234 strikeouts in 198.1 innings pitched.

During the 2017 season, Saile was recognized as C-USA Pitcher of the Week four times, a conference high.

At Land O’ Lakes, Saile amassed 517 strikeouts and a career 1.76 ERA in four seasons. She also compiled 41 wins, 31 complete games, 11 shutouts and five no-hitters in her prep career.