The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

AP All-State football

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Steinbrenner kicker Noah Ruggles was named to the Class 8A First-Team All-State.
(File)

The Associated Press recently announced the Florida All-State teams across eight classifications. Several players in our coverage area received nods:

Class 8A
First-team
Kicker — Noah Ruggles (Steinbrenner High)

Class 7A
Second-Team
Linebacker— Decalon Brooks (Gaither High)

Third-Team
Defensive Back — Jordan Miner (Wiregrass Ranch High)

Honorable Mention
Offensive Line — Aaron Beardsley (Wiregrass Ranch High)
Linebacker — Ryan Scamardo (Wiregrass Ranch High)

Class 6A
Third-Team
Utility — Tyler Peretti (Sunlake High)

Class 2A
Second-Team
Defensive Back—Markeis Colvin (Carrollwood Day)

Saint Leo softball ranks No. 17

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The Lions’ 2017 season begins Feb. 1.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo University softball enters the 2017 campaign as No. 17 in the nation, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

The Lions, finishing 2016 at No. 16, will begin the campaign in the top-20 after reaching the NCAA South Regional, and winning a second Sunshine State Conference (SSC) title in program history.

Coming off a 39-8 season, the Lions are the lone SSC team in the poll.

Saint Leo opens the 2017 slate with a doubleheader at Flagler at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Feb. 1.

Saint Leo will host Embry-Riddle for its home opener on Feb. 24 at University Softball Field.

Big Haul!

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Joey Koehler, of Zephyrhills, caught a 5.31-pound bass at the South Pasco Bassmasters’ January tournament.
(Courtesy of John Medvid)

Joey Koehler, of Zephyrhills, won the Big Bass category (5.31 pounds) at the South Pasco Bassmasters’ January tournament, at the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. In all, Koehler and his partner, Travis Nichols, caught five fish for a first-place weight of 16.75 pounds. They used flukes as bait.

The next tournament is Feb.18 at Lake Walk-in-Water.

For information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Area weightlifters qualify for states

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Several local girls will compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Weightlifting Meet Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 at Belleview High School in Belleview:

Class 1A
101 pounds
Shelby Lewis (Sunlake High)
Zeena Zayed (Freedom High)

139 pounds
Caroline Winstead (Sunlake High)

154 pounds
Tricia Clifton (Wiregrass Ranch High)

169 pounds
Josie Blew (Freedom High)
Alyssa Kremer (Land O’ Lakes High)
Veronica Salazar (Land O’ Lakes High)

183 pounds
Hailey Parks (Sunlake High)

Unlimited
Micaiah Long (Sunlake High)

Class 2A
101 pounds
Sara First (Zephyrhills High)

139 pounds
Eliahnis Lewis (Pasco High)

183 pounds
Jessica Guadarrama (Zephyrhills High

Monologue honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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What would Dr. Martin Luther King have to say if he was alive today?

One distinguished scholar has a theory.

Saint Leo University hosted Dr. T. Leon Williams on Jan. 16 for a presentation he called: “The View from the Mountaintop: What Would Dr. King Say Today?”

Williams is a North Carolina minister and former multicultural affairs director at Elon University.

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Saint Leo University hosted Dr. T. Leon Williams, who presented ‘The View from the Mountaintop: What Would Dr. King Say Today?’ In his speech, Williams said America is still struggling with many of the same issues that confronted the nation decades ago. He referenced racial tension, gun violence, black-on-black crime, police brutality and poverty, among other systemic problems.
(Courtesy of Amanda Topper, Saint Leo University)

He began a series of monologues in 1999, in the vein of MLK — with the hope of educating students on the life and legacy of the celebrated civil rights leader.

Though it’s been nearly 50 years since King’s assassination in 1968, Williams said America is still struggling with many of the same issues that confronted the nation a half-century ago.

Williams cited numerous systemic problems, including racial tension, gun violence, black-on-black crime, police brutality, and poverty.

Because of the continuing issues, Williams said the country is still in the midst of the civil rights movement.

“If (King) was here today — based on what we see today on TV — I think he would just be devastated,” Williams said. “I think Dr. King would be saying, ‘America, we have fallen apart, and we’ve got to get it together.”

During his hour-long presentation, Williams assumed the persona of King, reflecting on the historical relevance of America’s progress on race divisions.

During the talk, Williams claimed injustice and inequality has drawn a line of division in race relations and the distribution of wealth in America.

The speaker later challenged the audience to accept a moral and social responsibility for promoting peace and harmony.

He urged them: “Ask ‘What is my responsibility in reshaping the world?’”

The biggest challenge, however, is for members of the audience to love another — regardless of race or class.

“The problem in our world today is that we have very little remembrance of what love is,” Williams said. “Love is caring for homeless and those less fortunate. Love is feeding the hungry. Love is obedience over sacrifice. Love neutralizes the weapons of hate.”

Williams, too, advised the audience to open themselves up to new ideas. He encouraged them to read information that might differ from their current point-of-view.

In studying King’s legacy, Williams said he was inspired by King’s internal struggle of “loving a country that intentionally — publicly — didn’t love him.”

“It had to be very troubling for King to love on America, ask supporters to stand with him, and be attacked daily,” Williams explained.

Since embarking on a nationwide speaking tour over 15 years ago, Williams said race issues have experienced numerous “peaks and valleys.”

He believes the country, unfortunately, is currently in a one of those “valleys.”

Williams pointed to rampant gun violence, particular in cities like Chicago, which experienced 762 murders in 2016. He also noted the rise of ambush killings of police officers, which rose to 21 last year, up from six in 2015.

“There are a lot of shining moments, then last year was a horrible year. It was just a rough time,” said Williams.

“Even after having a black president elected, we still have a ton of issues.”

Williams said he remains uncertain about the direction of race relations under the presidency of newly-elected Donald Trump.

“I don’t see a strong presence of a civil rights mindset; it is a corporate mindset,” Williams said, referencing Trump and his Cabinet nominees. “There’s…some energy and hostility from his campaign already generated. We don’t know where this is going now.”

Notable quotes Dr. T. Leon Williams’ monologue

  • “I believe this generation, unlike no other generation, is prepared and ready to lead the nation toward freedom every day. You’ve labored in love instead of malice; concern instead of resentment.”
  • “This generation, unlike the former, is willing to be on the receiving end of the water hose. This generation…is willing to contest police brutality by standing between the billy club and the usual suspects. This generation…is prepared to heal itself.”
  • “It is my belief that one of the reasons why America has failed to reconcile racial tension is because America has coerced the victims of racism and discrimination to view brokenness as life.”
  • “In order for this nation to take the next step toward greatness, reconciliation must be the first order of business for the oppressor.”
  • “When I think back to the ’60s, fiery eyes and frown brows reflected courage and hope. Since then, many of us have campaigned for reconciliation, despite truth. And as a result, our courage and hope has turned into anger and hopelessness.”
  • “Nonviolence is not a retreat from confrontation, but rather a confrontation in the form of disobedience.”

Published January 25, 2017

Education a key theme for upcoming session

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Education was a recurring theme among speakers at a recent meeting held by the Pasco County Legislative Delegation before this year’s annual session.

Local citizens and civic leaders voiced their concerns on this hot-button issue during a Jan. 18 gathering at Sunlake High School, with six local representatives to the state Legislature.

Dozens of interest groups and local government leaders also talked to legislators about their priorities for the legislative delegation.

The Pasco County Legislative Delegation had a pre-legislative session on Jan. 18 at Sunlake High School. From left, on the dais, are Richard Corcoran, incoming Speaker of the House for the Florida House of Representatives, and State Reps. Tom Ley, Danny Burgess, State Sen. Wilton Simpson, State Rep. Amber Mariano, and State Sen. Jack Latvala.
(Kevin Weiss)

Rising school enrollment and additional education funding were just two topics raised during the four-hour meeting with State Sens. Wilton Simpson and Jack Latvala, incoming Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran, and State Reps. Tom Ley, Danny Burgess and Amber Mariano.

Spencer Pylant, speaking on behalf of Superintendent Kurt Browning for the Pasco County School District, talked to the delegates about concerns increasing school enrollments and the lack of funding to provide adequate school capacity.

“It’s fitting the delegation is meeting at this school, because it rests in one of the highest-growing segments of Pasco County,” Pylant said.

“After opening 10 years ago, it is at 114 percent capacity; this additional growth demands additional capacity,” he said.

Pylant said 1,707 new students chose Pasco schools in the 2016-2017 school year.

That’s only a preview of things to come, he added.

“We expect approximately 20,000 new students in 10 years, based on our projections,” he said.

School board members and district officials are concerned that current funding sources cannot match the growing demand.

He presented two suggestions:

  • Restore the authority of the school boards to levy—by simple majority vote — up to 2.0 mills for capital purposes.
  • Provide Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funding for school construction.

“A balanced capital funding stream is necessary to provide a proper learning environment for our students and families,” Pylant said.

He also suggested some other changes:

  • More flexibility regarding assessments
  • Elimination of End-of-Course exams not required for graduation
  • Authorization of the use of a nationally recognized assessment (ACT or SAT)
  • Letting school districts decide when to administer personnel evaluations

“These recommendations reduce quantity and increase the quality of student assessments, while ensuring simple, meaningful accountability,” he said.

Later on, Kenny Blankenship, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, pleaded with delegates to improve public schools by providing “additional funding” and “more support for teachers” in the county.

Education was a recurring topic during the four-hour delegation, which featured several hundred attendees. ‘I think this is one of the best turnouts we’ve ever had at a delegation meeting,’ said State Rep. Danny Burgess.

Blankenship, a 20-year teaching veteran, endorsed “much-needed” school health centers, small class sizes and “adequate compensation” for teachers.

“We need your help to work with us to improve our public schools, because public education benefits everyone,” Blankenship said.

Jessica Hooper, representing Project Lead The Way, advocated for mandatory computer science education in schools, suggesting, “kids will be more prepared for the 21st century workplace.”

Improvement is needed in this arena, Hooper said. “Unfortunately, there are not enough offerings. You would think that Florida — being the hub of computer science technology employers — would need more (offerings) in this area in the education space.”

Pasco-Hernando State College President Timothy Beard also asked state legislators to increase funding for facilities.

Specifically, he requested $2.5 million in PECO funding for the West campus in New Port Richey.

He also asked for $10 million for an education performance arts center, which would be built on the campus of Cypress Creek Middle/High School.

Saint Leo University representatives lobbied for continued funding of Bright Futures scholarships, along with the Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG), which provides tuition assistance to Florida undergraduate students attending an eligible private, nonprofit Florida college or university.

The Florida Legislature kicks off the 2017 session on March 7.

Published January 25, 2017

Festival offers smokin’ good time

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Sunny weather, tasty barbecue and upbeat tunes combined to attract people from all over to the seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ and Blues Fest.

Thirteen-year-old Sommer Mullinn, of Zephyrhills, samples her first taste of the corn roasted by one of many food vendors at the music and barbecue festival in Zephyrhills.
(Richard K. Riley)

Locals and nonlocals alike arrived in droves on Jan. 21 at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport for an afternoon where sunshine, barbecue smoke and blues’ music set the stage for a good time.

Attendance and financial figures weren’t readily available.

But, there was one indication of the festival’s popularity: The traffic.

A line stretched at least a mile, from the parking gate all the way to 20th Street, in Zephyrhills. Traffic was also backed up on the approach to the festival from State Road 52.

The entertainment lineup at the festival included the Chuck Riley Band, of Zephyrhills. 

Event officials were “thrilled” with the event, and the “amazing” crowds.

Melonie Monson, executive director for The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, said she’s “heard only positive things” from officials and festivalgoers.

“The response that we’ve gotten so far is that the volunteers were friendly, the staff was friendly, and everybody was very helpful,” she said.

Miriam Hansford, an ambassador for The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, the coordinator for the event, displays some of the branded souvenirs of this seventh annual festival.

Aside from “a few little glitches,” including a 15-minute power outage, Monson said she “felt really great with how everything ran.”

“When you’re dealing with something like (Pigz in Z’Hills) there’s always little things here and there,” Monson said. “Any problem was solved quickly and efficiently.”

But, she did note there was a better flow of foot traffic compared to prior years, considering the festival’s new venue spans 14 acres.

“The layout worked really well — the amount of people that we were able to push through went really well,” Monson said. “The cook teams loved the venue; they loved the setup.”

The chamber, meanwhile, plans to garner additional feedback from the city of Zephyrhills, event volunteers and other department heads that worked the event.

“We go through the plusses and the minuses, and see how we can improve, and then we start making a game plan for next year,” Monson said.

Published January 25,

 

Academy softball player makes national team

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Academy at the Lakes’ Alexis Kilfoyl is a softball prodigy, of sorts.

She’s been a varsity star since the seventh grade.

Alexis Kilfoyl, a sophomore at Academy at the Lakes, was selected to join the 2017 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team, along with just 23 other athletes nationwide. She is the youngest of the group. Last season, the 6-foot-1 ace won 11 games, compiling a 1.36 ERA and striking out 163 batters in 103 innings.
(Courtesy of John Faith)

She was a freshman when she committed to the University of Alabama, which is perennially one of the nation’s top softball programs.

As a sophomore, she’s already one of the area’s top pitchers and hitters.

Now, she’s among elite company.

On Jan. 3, the 6-foot-1 ace was selected to join the 2017 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team, along with just 23 other athletes nationwide.

Ten of the chosen athletes will be competing with their NCAA Division I universities, while 14 players will still be a part of their respective high schools prior to the summer team.

Of those qualifying, Kilfoyl is the youngest.

She made the team following a two-day selection process in Clearwater.

Using her signature drop-ball pitch, Kilfoyl said she felt “very confident” following tryouts, despite matching up against older peers.

“I definitely knew it wasn’t going to be just a cakewalk,” said Kilfoyl, who’s played softball since she was 8 years old. “But, what made me think I could make the team was I pitched strong…in all the late innings I pitched.”

In June and July, Kilfoyl and others will compete in a training camp and exhibition games in Oklahoma City at the World Cup of Softball XII. From there, the final roster for the 2017 USA Softball JWNT will be narrowed down to 17 players. The 17-player roster will then compete at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Championship from July 24 to July 30 in Clearwater.

Alexis Kilfoyl, on committing to the University of Alabama as a freshman:
“When we showed up there, the whole culture of everybody was so different. We showed up, all the coaches were there. They all dedicated their time to us, and they were really…focused on you, and not just anything else.”

The summer experience will give Kilfoyl the opportunity to receive additional top-level coaching, from the likes of Oregon State head coach Laura Berg, Arizona State head coach Trisha Ford, University of Texas-Arlington head coach Kristie Fox and University of Kansas associate head coach John Rittman.

Furthermore, it’s all just another step in Kilfoyl’s dream of playing in the 2020 Olympics.

“That’s a very high projection,” she said, acknowledging the lofty target.

For Kilfoyl, however, the goal seems attainable.

Diane Stephenson, first-year coach at Academy at the Lakes, said the Junior Nationals should take Kilfoyl’s “mental game to a totally different level.”

“I think she’ll be even more dominant,” Stephenson said, “because of that experience of being around people that are all as good as her.

“So many times, when you’re an elite athlete, you don’t have the opportunity to be around and be challenged by other people.”

Perfecting the emotional and cerebral side of the game, Kilfoyl agreed, will be a major emphasis this season.

“We’re really going to try and focus on my mental game,” Kilfoyl said. “I feel like it will go really well with my physical (abilities).”

Meanwhile, Stephenson, who coached for two decades at Indiana University and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame last October, knows she has quite the difference maker in Kilfoyl, at the Academy.

“It’s really only the very elite, elite athletes that are making (college) commitments in ninth and even eighth grade,” Stephenson said, referring to Kilfoyl’s verbal commitment to Alabama.

“The best schools in the country are trying to solidify their roster as soon as they feel like someone is developed enough that they can make a difference in their program,” the coach said.

The new Academy coach also commended Kilfoyl’s personal pitching instructor, Kaci Clark Zerbe, who pitched on UCLA’s 1995 national title team.

“She’s been pretty instrumental in (Kilfoyl’s) development over the last two years…and helping to get where she is,” Stephenson said. “There’s a lot of very talented people, but if you don’t have great coaching, you don’t make something like the (Junior National) team.”

Meantime, Kilfoyl is looking to build off what was an eye-popping freshman campaign — both in the circle and at the plate.

Last season, Kilfoyl won 11 games, compiling a 1.36 ERA and striking out 163 batters in 103 innings.

“I just kind of have to get a feel for the hitters — where their strong spots are, where their weak spots are,” Kilfoyl said of her pitching strategy.

At the plate, Kilfoyl batted a team-leading .561, hitting three home runs, along with six doubles and 20 RBIs.

The Wildcats open the 2017 season with a preseason tournament — Springstead Invitational — on Feb. 9. Their first regular season game is at Carrollwood Day School on Feb. 16.

Practices began on Jan. 23.

Stats compiled using maxpreps.com.

Varsity Stats
Freshman
Pitching: 11 wins, 1.36 ERA, 163 strikeouts in 103 innings
Hitting: .561 average, three home runs, six doubles, 20 RBIs

Eighth grade
Pitching: 12 wins, 0.72 ERA, 111 strikeouts in 87.1 innings
Hitting: .458 average, four home runs, eight doubles, 25 RBIs

Seventh grade
Pitching: 14 wins, 2.61 ERA, 118 strikeouts in 115.1 innings
Hitting: .309 average, four doubles, 12 RBIs

Published January 25, 2017

Former Pasco High football star forgoes 2017 NFL draft

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Former Pasco High star Janarion Grant is returning to Rutgers next season.
(Courtesy of Rutgers University)

Janarion Grant, a former Pasco High football standout, will return to Rutgers (New Jersey) University for his final season of eligibility in 2017, holding off the NFL Draft for another year.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound wide receiver was granted a medical redshirt after a broken ankle prematurely ended his true senior season last September.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., said that he thinks a healthy Grant might have been drafted in the seventh round because of his special teams’ ability. Grant is tied for the NCAA career record with eight punt and kick returns for touchdowns.

Grant graduated from Pasco High in 2013. An all-purpose player, Grant played wide receiver, defensive back and special teams for the Pirates.

Wiregrass Ranch three-sport athlete commits to FAMU

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Wiregrass Ranch High’s Chris Faddoul will play college football at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
(Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School)

Wiregrass Ranch High senior quarterback and punter Chris Faddoul has verbally committed to play football for Florida A&M University, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Division I school. In 2016, the 6-foot, 185-pound signal-caller threw for 892 yards and nine touchdowns, and rushed for 450 yards. Faddoul proved to be one of the state’s top high school punters, averaging 45 yards per punt, the second-highest mark in Florida last season. Faddoul also played soccer and tennis at Wiregrass.