The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

FHSAA executive finalists named

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A replacement is being sought for Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director Dr. James ‘Roger’ Dearing, who announced his retirement last June. (File)

The board of directors for the Florida High School Athletic Association has selected four candidates to interview for the open executive director position, replacing Dr. James “Roger” Dearing. He announced his retirement last June and will step down once a new hire is made. Dearing has served in the post for eight years.

The interviews, which are open to the public, are scheduled for March 12, from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building in Gainesville.

The finalists are:

  • Eddie Bonine– executive director for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Bonine has 22 years of public school and state association administrative experience, including nine years as a state association executive director in Nevada and Louisiana.
  • Margaret “Peggy” Jones– educational consultant, Indian River Schools in Florida. Dr. Jones has 26 years of public school and state association experience, including five years as an FHSAA associate executive director and 21 years in administrative positions for the Indian River Public School system.
  • Hershel Lyons– chancellor of Florida’s K-12 Public Schools since 2013. Lyons has 28 years of administrative experience in the Alachua County Public School system.
  • George Tomyn– retired former superintendent of Marion County Schools in Florida. Tomyn has 36 years of administrative experience in the Marion County Public School system.

Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame

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Erin Kinberger

Saint Leo University has announced it will induct eight new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame March 30 at the Marion Bowman Activities Center. Inductees for the Class of 2017 are:
Lauren Hudson Daniel ’09, women’s soccer; Matt Harkins ’95, men’s soccer; Erin Brunt Kinberger ’07, softball; Michelle Nogueras ’09, volleyball; Asmir Pervan ’06, men’s soccer; Jordan Prais ’10, men’s basketball; John Semeraro ’05, men’s golf; Bob Sullivan, coach/administrator.

“The Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2017 recognizes some outstanding student-athletes from recent years who displayed their abilities on a national level, as well as some individuals who paved the way for that success through their commitment to Saint Leo and the student-athlete experience,” according to Saint Leo Athletic Director Francis X. Reidy. “I congratulate the members of this year’s class of inductees, and welcome them into the Saint Leo Athletic Hall of Fame.” Reservations for the induction dinner and ceremony are $35 each, and can be purchased from Erin Mykleby, assistant athletics director, at (352) 588-8223 or .

Appreciating life, one moment at a time

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Roslyn Franken doesn’t take life for granted.

She understands its precarious nature.

Her father was a prisoner of war in Japan, surviving the Nagasaki atomic bombing.

Her mother was a Holocaust survivor, and later, a cancer survivor.

And, in 1994, the then 29-year-old Franken also survived cancer.

Roslyn Franken, the author of ‘Meant To Be: A True Story of Might, Miracles and Triumph of the Human Spirit,’ spoke at the Hugh Embry Library on Jan. 24.
(Courtesy of The Mitchell Group)

She shares what she has learned through her book, “Meant to Be: A True Story of Might, Miracles and Triumph of the Human Spirit,” and through inspirational talks.

She spoke on Jan. 24, in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City.

Franken, who lives in St. Petersburg, delivered a clear message: Take life as it comes, and be grateful for every blessing received.

“As we’re going through our lives, it’s so easy to just coast along,” Franken said.

“A lot of us are on automatic pilot, just so busy trying to get everything done on our to-do list that we neglect things that are most important and meaningful.”

She offered guidelines to members of the audience, to help them live fulfilling lives. She advised them:

  • Choose to be happy now
  • Stop being a victim of past events and circumstances
  • Be grateful for what you have
  • Make the best choices you can everyday

Her personal battle with cancer, along with her parents’ experiences in captivity, give her perspective regarding the challenges of daily life.

“Things happen,” she said, “but, we can all find a way to keep going.”

Perhaps the most remarkable element of Franken’s presentation was the retelling of the story of her mother’s survival of the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Franken’s mother, Sonja, was 15 years old when she was forced from her family’s home in the Netherlands and taken to the first of 11 different concentration camps.

One of those camps was Auschwitz, arguably the most notorious extermination camp built and operated by the Third Reich.

It was there where Sonja was tattooed on her left arm. The numbers read “78491.”

“The living conditions were brutal,” Franken told the audience. “For people who weren’t killed in the gas chambers, they would die of starvation, malnutrition, infectious diseases, individual executions, or horrific medical experiments.

“It was one of the most streamlined, mass-killing centers ever created in human history,” Franken said.

Yet, Sonja survived Auschwitz.

She, too, survived the poisonous gas chambers — three separate times.

“There was either a malfunction in the gas supply, or, they had put so many people through that day that they had run out of gas,” Franken explained. “Every time, before they fixed the problem, she was being shipped to another camp.

“It’s a miracle that she survived.”

In 1945, Sonja was liberated by the Swedish Red Cross.

The adversity didn’t stop there, however.

More than four decades later, Sonja was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer – primary peritoneal carcinoma, which affects the lining of the abdomen.

Her physician gave her two years to live.

Sonja made it 31, despite her cancer coming back five times.

“It would have been so easy for her to play the victim and feel sorry for herself, and to want to give up,” Franken said. “Not my mother.”

The story of Franken’s father is inspiring, too.

John Franken was 18 when he was conscripted to the Dutch Navy Air Force in 1940.

Just months later, he became a Japanese prisoner of war. He was held captive for 3½ years in Makassar, Indonesia and Nagasaki, Japan.

He experienced torture, starvation and brutal winters, Franken said. He saw death and murders of fellow POWs.

Yet, he found ways to survive. He applied his trade skills, like welding, to become an asset as a slave laborer.

One day, he volunteered to work in the Japanese coal mines.

It ended up saving his life.

During the Nagasaki bombing attack, he was mining coal several hundred meters underground.

Franken’s father was liberated in 1945, by the United States.

Like Franken’s mother, her father’s adversity didn’t end with the war.

He underwent a quintuple bypass surgery in 1981, following a massive heart attack.

One surgeon predicted he might live another 15 years. But, he nearly doubled that, living for another 27 years before dying in 2016.

Franken said her father’s secret to longevity was “appreciating every moment.”

Having an optimistic outlook on life, the author said, also helped her to overcome her own bout with cancer.

She drew strength from her parents’ example.

“As I started the treatments and the ugly side effects of it, I started to think about my parents and everything they went through.

“They didn’t just sit around, and wait for and pray for a miracle. They believed they had their own active role to play in their fate,” Franken said.

Franken said her parents’ experiences, and her own survival, serve as a constant reminder.

“Never forget how precious life really is, and how things can change on a dime,” Franken said.

To learn more about the author, visit RoslynFranken.com.

Published February 8, 2017

Safeguarding seniors against scams

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Awareness is key in protecting yourself against scams, according to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.

Atwater launched Operation SAFE (Stop Adult Financial Exploitation) in 2014 to help protect Florida’s elderly population from financial scams and fraud.

An Operation SAFE workshop, presented by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, was held on Jan. 18 at Zephyrhills Cinema 10.

There, a group of mostly senior attendees learned about spotting fraudulent behavior, common scams that target seniors and ways to fight identity theft.

Savannah Sullivan, a communications specialist for the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), counseled the dozens in attendance to first be wary of odd behavior. She said seniors should tread carefully if someone is “becoming a little too friendly” or “shows up out of nowhere and wants to move in.”

During the presentation, Sullivan pointed out senior women, typically, are more vulnerable than their male counterparts to becoming a scam victim.

“A lot of women are a little more trusting, nurturing, caring, and may find themselves in a position where they want to help somebody more,” she explained.

Those attributes, Sullivan said, makes them particularly susceptible to what’s known as a romance scam.

In romance scams, a con artist pretends to have romantic intentions to gain affection and trust, often claiming to be from another country. The scam artist will then begin asking for money, claiming it’s for airplane tickets, medical bills or other expenses.

Those scams, Sullivan noted, are becoming more prevalent with the rise of online dating sites.

It’s also becoming one of the most costly.

Sullivan said romance scams wound up costing older Americans about $82 million in 2014; the average cost was over $100,000 per person.

“It really does wrap people in it,” Sullivan said, “because it uses that place where we are at our weakest — our hearts and our love connections.

“If they’re asking for money, and you haven’t met them, it’s a bad sign.”

The overall rate of scams against seniors is staggering.

According to the AARP, 80 percent of fraud victims are 50 and older.

Moreover, one out of every five adults, 65 years and older, has been the victim of a financial scam.

One explanation: seniors control about 70 percent of the disposable income in the United States.

“(Seniors) have so much control over the nation’s wealth,” Sullivan said, “and that is why scam artists are targeting them.”

Yet many scam artists, surprisingly, aren’t even strangers.

About 79 percent of scams against seniors over 65 occur by a family member, a DFS report shows.

“It’s important to keep in mind that sometimes it’s the people you least expect,” Sullivan explained. “It’s often the people who are closest around and may have access to personal financial information…”

Det. Bruce Cohen handles economic crimes for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

He said many scammers claim to be an authentic government agency, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and then proceed to ask for payment via a prepaid debit card.

Requests for green dot cards, he said, are one vital clue to filtering out a scam.

“No legitimate business or government agency will tell you fill out a green dot card; if you hear that, it’s a scam,” Cohen said.

Cohen also instructed seniors to never place mail in mailboxes for pickup.

Doing so creates an easy opportunity for criminals to access financial statements, like credit card accounts and bank statements.

“If you’re going to deal with mail, go to the post office and drop it off at the post office box inside,” Cohen said. “The red (mailbox) flag is just an indication to all the thieves to steal your stuff.”

Seniors, too, should be wary of various intimidation scams, like the jury duty scam.

Fraudsters, posing as courthouse officials or police, telephone in claims that jury duty was missed.

Because of that, scammers threaten you’re going to be arrested, unless a fine is immediately paid.

“It’s a doubly whammy,” said Zephyrhills Police Sgt. Reginald Roberts. “You’ve given them money and your (personal) information.”

Roberts noted those types of scams have also become more frequent because of spoofing, a technique where scammers manipulate the Caller ID feature to masquerade as courthouses or law enforcement agencies.

“They’ll use official names. They’ll use the names of judges, the sheriff, the police chief,” Roberts explained.

He continued: “Caller ID was the gospel at one time, but nowadays, there’s just too many spoofing apps that you really can’t trust that.”

If you suspect a sham call, Roberts advised, “hang up and call the jury clerk.”

Unfortunately, Roberts said, these types of scams, along with other fraud schemes, are constantly getting tweaked and fine-tuned by criminals.

It makes law enforcement’s job even tougher, he said.

“These scams are going to change daily,” Roberts said. “They’re going to try to find a way to get better.”

Yet, experts agreed that knowing the telltale signs of scams and applying common sense can help to avoid getting caught up in a money-draining plot.

“Scam artists are using information that you don’t know,” Sullivan said. “They’re banking on you not knowing something.”

For more information, visit MyFloridaCFO.com.

Common tactics used by scam artists

  • Phantom riches: The scam artist will dangle the prospect of wealth, perhaps a guaranteed monthly income, if you purchase a certain product.
  • Source credibility: The scam artist will make it appear that his or her company is reputable, or that they have special credentials or experience.
  • Social consensus: The scam artist will want you to believe that people you may know already have invested or purchased the product, such as your neighbors, or well-known community leaders.
  • False affiliation: Similar to source credibility, the scam artist works for a company whose name gives the appearance that they are a part of, or affiliated with a senior advocacy group, such as AARP, or a government agency to gain your trust.
  • Sense of urgency: The scam artist will try to get you to buy now by saying the offer is extended only to the next 10 people who purchase today.

Red Flags

  • The person uses broken English and/or poor grammar during the interaction.
  • The person requests money or personal information.
  • A stranger tells you that he or she knows you.
  • The person makes threats that you will be arrested or will be forced to pay a penalty, if you don’t pay a fee.

Ways to avoid being scammed

  • Practice safe internet use.
  • Protect your Social Security number.
  • Destroy private records.
  • Secure your mail.
  • Check your credit report for suspicious activity.

Published February 8, 2017

 

Local athletes sign with colleges

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The athletic talent pool continues to flourish throughout north Hillsborough, and east and central Pasco.

Zephyrhills High’s Antwione Sims will play football for the U.S Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He missed the 2016 season after tearing his ACL last March.
(Courtesy of Antwione Sims)

Dozens of local high school athletes signed their letters of intent (LOI) on Feb. 1 to various colleges and universities as part of National Signing Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in February.

Once again, schools in our coverage area were well-represented.

Wiregrass Ranch High School led the way with 13 signings, followed by Land O’ Lakes High with nine. Other high schools, including Gaither and Steinbrenner, featured a handful of signings.

While Zephyrhills High had just one signing, it was arguably the most memorable.

Bursting with emotions and tear-filled eyes, senior running back/safety Antwione Sims signed his LOI to play football at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The day signaled a redemptive moment for Sims, who missed his entire 2016 senior season after tearing his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) last March.

A trio of Freedom High School athletes signed to various colleges on Feb. 1. From left: Kalijahe Spann (Warner University), Megan Clark (Tennesee Tech University) and Tyler Bray (Maryville College).
(Courtesy of Freedom High School)

Oftentimes, football players — even those as talented as Sims —have athletic scholarships withdrawn after a serious injury, particularly from Division I programs.

But, Navy upheld its offer.

“It’s a blessing to have (this) opportunity,” Sims said, “because not everyone has that…”

Putting pen to paper marked the end of a “long journey” for the 5-foot-11, 208-pound gridiron star.

It, too, signals the beginning of a new one.

“It’s not about the next four years,” Sims said, “it’s about the next 40.”

Sims, one of the most dynamic athletes in Pasco County, was one of just four football players from the county to sign with a Division I football program.

The others were Wiregrass Ranch quarterback/kicker Chris Faddoul (Florida A&M University) and defensive lineman Jason Winston (Stetson University), and Wesley Chapel safety Ellrie Allen (Florida A&M University).

Four athletes from Wesley Chapel High School participated in National Signing Day on Feb. 1. From left: Bailey Hern (Saint Leo University), Lauren Campoe (Ave Maria University), Jacob Thomas (Mars Hill College) and Ellrie Allen (Florida A&M University).
(Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School)

Sims, though, is the most high-profile prospect of the group.

At one point, the consensus three-star recruit had scholarship offers from nearly a dozen schools.

His recruitment picked up steam after he rushed for a school-record 2,093 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2015.

Despite that production, he won’t likely play in Navy’s offensive backfield.

Instead, he’s expected to contribute in their defensive backfield, as a safety.

Sims noted he started closely following Navy’s football program “ever since they started recruiting me.”

On the surface, he made a solid selection.

Navy, renowned for its vaunted triple-option offense, went 9-5 in 2016. Under coach Ken Niumatalolo, they’ve had a winning season in eight of the past nine years.

Sims’ choice is about more than football, however.

“I feel like making this decision will allow me to set myself up for life,” he said.

A roundup of signings of athletes in our coverage area:
Gaither
Football
Decalon Brooks—Florida State University
Estefano Feliciano—Old Dominion University (Virginia)

Soccer
Ben Hickson—Florida College
David Garzon—Florida College

Softball
Kasey Heslin—Pasco-Hernando State College

Freedom
Basketball
Megan Clark—Tennessee Tech University

Football
Kalijahe Spann—Warner University (Florida)

Golf
Tyler Bray—Maryville College (Tennessee)

Land O’ Lakes
Baseball
Troy Klemm—Palm Beach Atlantic University
Max Law—University of North Florida
McCabe Sargent—Saint Leo University
Dustin Harris—St. Petersburg College

Football
Spencer Childress—Lyon College (Arkansas)

Soccer
Devyn Cabral—Erskine College (South Carolina)
Haley Eckel—Florida Southern College

Cross Country
Skylen Acuna—Pasco-Hernando State College

Steinbrenner
Basketball
Mary Katherine Miller—Hillsborough Community College

Football
Devon Connors—U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado)
Noah Ruggles—University of North Carolina

Soccer
Claire Morrison—Stetson University

Softball
Emmalee Jansen—University of Tampa

Sunlake
Football
Tyler Peretti—Southeastern University (Florida)

Softball
Casey Gottschall—Broward College (Florida)
Shelby Lansing—Southeastern University
Haley Kirinsky—Flagler College (Florida)

Wharton
Softball
Mackenzie Allen—University of Tampa

Volleyball
Kathryn Attar—Yale University (Connecticut)
Alexandria Schneider—Florida College

Wesley Chapel
Football
Jacob Thomas—Mars Hill University (North Carolina)
Ellrie Allen—Florida A&M University

Soccer
Lauren Campoe—Ave Maria University (Florida)
Bailey Hern—Saint Leo University

Wiregrass Ranch
Golf
Morgan Power—King University (Tennessee)

Football
Chris Faddoul—Florida A&M University
Jason Winston—Stetson University

Tennis
Noah Makarome—University of Pennsylvania

Soccer
Connor Nixon—Presbyterian College (South Carolina)
Erin Brenner—Huntingdon College (Alabama)
Ysabelle Borgstadt—Andrew College (Georgia)
Sydney Chase—Saint Leo University
Maddie Moore—Shaw University (North Carolina)
John Pease—Jacksonville University (Florida)

Softball
Alexis Ridolph—Hillsborough Community College
Samantha Hiley—Edward Waters College (Florida)
Jaime Valenta—St. John River State College (Florida)

Zephyrhills High
Football
Antwione Sims—U.S. Naval Academy (Maryland)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Football
Serion Bellamy—Shorter University​ (Georgia)

Published February 8, 2017

 

Sunlake girls hoops to compete at regionals

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The Sunlake High varsity girls basketball team is set to compete in the Class 7A regional tournament, beginning Feb. 9. On Feb. 2, the Seahawks (15-8) defeated Springstead High 62-54 to capture the Class 7A, District 8 girls basketball title. Last season, the Seahawks reached the Class 6A regional semifinals.

Saint Leo coach joins Division I Troy University

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After 11 seasons, Saint Leo women’s soccer head coach Ged O’Connor has resigned in order to accept a head coaching position at Troy University in Alabama.

Longtime Saint Leo women’s soccer coach Ged O’ Connor has resigned to accept the same position at Troy University, in Alabama.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

The longtime coach most recently helped guide the Lions to the 2016 Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championship.
He posted a 123-66-12 overall record in his decade-plus of coaching, leading the Lions to seven NCAA tournament appearances during that period.
He leveraged that success into a coveted Division I coaching opportunity.
“I am very happy for Ged and his new position in collegiate soccer,” Saint Leo athletic director Francis X. Reidy said, in a statement. “He has been a tremendous coach and team member for the last 15 years at Saint Leo. He built a winning culture as evidenced by multiple Coach of the Year awards, Sunshine State Conference titles, SSC tournament titles, and NCAA post-season appearances.
“He recruited some amazing young women, and has built a great foundation for the next coach. “
A national search for a new Saint Leo head women’s soccer coach is underway.

Wesley Chapel releases 2017 varsity football schedule

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Wesley Chapel running back Dexter Leverett is expected to return in 2017.
(File)

Just two months removed from an impressive 7-2 campaign in 2016, the Wesley Chapel Wildcats (Class 5, District 8A) are already gearing up for their next season. Second-year head coach Anthony Egan has announced the team’s 2017 schedule, which includes six road games and four home games. Here’s the Wildcats’ 10-game regular season schedule:

  • at Sunlake High (Aug. 25)
  • vs. Wiregrass Ranch (Sept. 1)
  • at Pasco High (Sept. 8)
  • vs. Fivay High (Sept. 15)
  • vs. Gulf High (Sept. 22)
  • at Anclote High (Sept. 29)
  • at Ridgewood High (Oct. 6)
  • at Hudson High (Oct. 13)
  • vs. Zephyrhills High (Oct. 20)
  • at River Ridge High (Oct.27)

Even without quarterback Jacob Thomas and third-leading rusher Ellrie Allen, the Wildcats return a bevy of talent, including tailbacks Dexter Leverett (1,249 yards, 10 TDs) and Malik Melvin (358 yards, 7 TDs). Defensive stalwarts like linebacker Austin Wittish (93 tackles) and defensive back Isiaiah Bolden (24 tackles, 10 passes defensed, one interception) are also expected to return.

Design is final for new Zephyrhills City Hall

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When it comes to a new City Hall, the Zephyrhills City Council agreed that “bigger is better.”

Council members unanimously approved the design for the new City Hall complex on Jan. 23. The design calls for a two-story building of 19,615 square feet.

The $6.2 million price tag is about $300,000 greater than the alternative option, which called for a structure of 18,170.

Alan Knight, the council’s vice president, was the most outspoken advocate of proceeding with Harvard Jolly’s larger, more expensive, building.

The Zephyrhills City Council on Jan. 23 unanimously approved the design plan for a 19,615-square-foot, two-story City Hall complex. Construction will cost about $6.2 million. The total scope of the project is estimated at about $7.6 million.
(Courtesy of Harvard Jolly)

The city’s anticipated future growth is the main factor, Knight reasoned, in dishing out more dollars.

“We’re no longer a sleepy little town,” Knight said. “Zephyrhills is not growing, we’re exploding. I think to do anything to shortchange — or cut the building down— would be a mistake.”

He added: “We’re already the largest city in Pasco County, and I see nothing but growth.”

Council member Lance Smith concurred: “We need to do it first-class.”

The total scope of the City Hall project is estimated at about $7.6 million.

That includes additional “soft” costs, such as architect and engineering fees, furniture and technology expenses.

Other estimated expenses — relocation costs and temporary office space— are also included in the figure, as provided by the city.

The new complex will replace the existing City Hall, which is situated between the city’s public library and fire department on Eighth Street. A courtyard plaza and walkway eventually will link all three buildings.

With a modern stone and brick exterior, the new City Hall follows an architectural template similar to the Zephyrhills Public Library.

The complex’s interior, meanwhile, will be equipped with more open workspaces and multifunctional meeting rooms, which offer flexibility to accommodate public events.

The schematic rendering by Harvard Jolly shows the first floor houses the council chambers, and includes office quarters for the city’s building, finance and planning departments.

Other city departments, such as public works, the Community Redevelopment Agency and technology will be located on the second floor.

“This plan provides a lot flexibility for future growth,” said Amy Morgan, an associate architect with Harvard Jolly. “There are a couple of spare offices with plenty of storage.”

Phil Trezza, senior vice president at Harvard Jolly, expects the new City Hall to have “at least” a 50-year lifespan.

“The bones of the building will be pretty stout,” Trezza said, addressing the council. “We’re considering concrete block walls, and long-life materials.”

Trezza noted the design-development process will take another “five to six months” before construction can begin.

Construction, he said, will take another 12 months, placing the timetable to completion around mid-2018.

In the interim, the city must locate temporary quarters during the City Hall build out.

The council previously discussed the possibility of continuing to utilize the existing City Hall during construction, but safety and accessibility issues won’t allow that.

Temporary placement options include using extra space at the city’s police and fire stations, and other locations.

“We would all be within one block of each other,” said City Manager Steve Spina.

The City Hall complex marks the second major project Harvard Jolly and contractor A.D. Morgan has designed for the city in recent years.

In 2013, both firms were hired to help design the public library.

They later faced scrutiny over the project’s escalating costs.

At the time, the council was presented with an 8,500-square-foot facility for $1.7 million, but overall costs ended up totaling $2.26 million, a 33 percent increase from what the council originally agreed upon.

Spina, though, has reassured the council a similar instance will not occur, with members being involved in the project “every step of the way.”

Along with Spina, other city staff who’ve served on the City Hall review committee are: Sandra Amerson, Bill Burgess. Brian Williams, Gail Hamilton, Lori Hillman, Todd Vande Berg, Mike Panak and Shane LeBlanc.

Published February 1, 2017

Hockey facility opens in Wesley Chapel

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The wait to skate is over.

Following about 2 1/2 years of construction, Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel has opened its doors.

Florida Hospital Center Ice facility has several National Hockey League- and Olympic-sized ice rinks. Observation points from the center’s second floor gives onlookers a great view of the action. The new business is being touted as the ‘largest ice skating facility, south of New York.’
(Fred Bellet)

The 150,500-square-foot, two-story complex, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., is off Interstate 75 at the State Road 56 interchange in Wesley Chapel.

The facility had its “soft” opening on Jan. 26, where more than 300 people turned out for the first evening public skating session.

A ribbon cutting ceremony, meanwhile, was held on Jan. 25.

Labeled the largest ice sports facility in the Southeastern U.S., the complex’s main attraction is its five ice rinks. That includes an Olympic rink (200 feet by 100 feet), three National Hockey League-sized rinks (200 feet by 85 feet) and a mini rink; one of the NHL pads has a multipurpose floor for other sports, including soccer, inline hockey and box lacrosse.

The unveil of the highly anticipated venue has been a long time coming.

It was expected to open in October 2015. However, various permitting and technological setbacks delayed the $28 million capital investment project.

Even so, Gordie Zimmermann, managing partner of Florida Hospital Center Ice, said the facility’s development was overall “a fabulous experience.”

Florida Hospital Center Ice is now open in Wesley Chapel. The 150,500-square-foot, two-story complex is labeled the largest ice sports facility in the Southeastern U.S. It was originally expected to open in October of 2015, but permitting and technological setbacks caused delays.
(Kevin Weiss)

“It was a complicated project, and involved much patience and perseverance,” said Zimmermann, who also developed the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. “There were a tremendous amount of people involved in this.”

He added: “We are excited…to showcase to the Tampa Bay community the most modern and high-tech skating complex in the Southeast.”

With a relative dearth of ice complexes in the Bay Area, Center Ice is forecasted as an economic driver for both Wesley Chapel and Pasco County.

Case in point: the county has five hotels in development, including two directly adjacent to the complex.

Officials believe the massive facility will attract 1.5 million to 2 million visitors annually, with 40 percent coming from outside Tampa Bay.

The facility, too, is expected to attract international hockey tournaments and non-sports activities such as dog shows and graduation ceremonies.

“This is an amazing asset we have right here in our very own backyard,” said Hope Allen, president and CEO of The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore said small and large business owners, along with hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, will benefit substantially as a direct result of the new venue.

“It will be a major destination here in Pasco county, and the entire region,” Moore said.

Florida Hospital Center Ice also received a seal of approval from the Tampa Bay Lightning, who’ve jumped aboard as program rink sponsors.

Former Lightning great Dave Andreychuk, now the organization’s vice president of corporate and community affairs, said the ice complex will buoy the sport of hockey in the region.

“There were four ice surfaces in a matter of 50 miles, until this came along,” Andreychuk said. “This is a huge opportunity for us to continue to grow the game, and for us to make sure that kids in this area have the opportunity…to learn a great game.”

He added: “This is going to be a community building that everybody here in the Wesley Chapel and Pasco area will use. It’s not just for developing kids to play hockey or girls to learn figure skating, but it’s going to be an awesome place for all of us here.”

Previously, many Pasco residents would trek to the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon to get their hockey and skating fix. Others may have used the Clearwater Ice Arena or the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar.

“As a resident just down the road from here, I understand what this building means,” Andreychuk said.

Laura Bohannon, a Wesley Chapel-based Realtor, said the facility is now an “anchor” for the community, and will be a windfall to local real estate sales.

“It’s huge for this area,” Bohannon said. “People want to be where there’s a new, exciting thing. People are coming here from different places because of what this (facility) has to offer.”

That effect is already apparent.

Toni Ravens, a Land O’ Lakes resident, said her family moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, last year as a direct result of the ice complex.

“We were moving to Florida, and we narrowed our search by this facility,” she said. “We promised the children before the move that they would stay in hockey.”

Though open and operable, the entire complex is still not fully complete.

The facility’s Rink B doesn’t yet have ice poured, and finishing touches are still being made to the 2,600-square-foot fitness center. The full-service restaurant, Top Shelf Sports Lounge, is slated to open sometime in February.

In total, 20 full-time and 30 part-time employees will be working at the facility.

Programming registrations are ongoing.

For more information, visit FloridaHospitalCenterIce.com.

By The Numbers

  • Capital Investment-$28 million
  • Property-13.5 acres
  • Floor Space-150,500 square feet
  • Running Track-six lanes; 90 yards
  • Locker Rooms-16
  • Benches-75
  • Rental Skates-702 pairs
  • Curling Stones-90
  • Hockey Nets-10 sets (regular and youth)
  • Sport Ice Resurfacers-3.5
  • Fixed seats in the main National Hockey League regulation rink-425
  • Audio/Video Capabilities—Four video walls and 60-plus 55-inch monitors
  • Restaurant seats-90

Facility Overview

  • One Olympic-size rink (200 feet by 100 feet)
  • Two North American standard-size rinks (200 feet by 85 feet)
  • One multipurpose sports floor/ice pad-multipurpose pad conversion
  • A 2,600-square-foot fitness facility
  • An indoor sprint track and conditioning area
  • An onsite athletic trainers and sports performance program
  • Five corporate/birthday party rooms
  • A family sport restaurant (Top Shelf Sports Lounge)
  • Snack bar
  • Pro shop (Rinkside Sports)
  • Spectator observation areas
  • Private and public locker rooms
  • A hockey skills training area
  • A revolving entrance door to control inside temperature environment

Florida Hospital Center Ice will have numerous programs and uses, including:

  • Local, regional, national and international hockey tournaments
  • University and high school teams’ practices and games
  • Recreational leagues
  • Hockey development programs
  • Roller and street hockey
  • Camps, clinics, multisport training
  • Figure skating
  • Public skating, birthday parties
  • Sled hockey
  • Curling
  • Indoor sports: box lacrosse, volleyball, basketball
  • Sports Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention programs
  • Corporate events, public meetings

Published February 1, 2017