The Pasco-Hernando State College women’s volleyball team is looking to build off last season’s 20-13 mark. The team returns four players from last year, including team captain Danielle Christian (189 kills, 85 blocks.) Other returning sophomores include setter Jordyn Mattos, outside/right side hitter Marissa Niedermayer and right side hitter Jordan Anderson. Twelve incoming freshmen are expected to bolster the team, including former Wiregrass Ranch standouts Austin Kopenski and Courtney Rottum. Their season, which began on Aug. 24, runs through November.
Week 1 prep football roundup
The first week of the regular season for high school football kicked off on Aug. 26. Here’s a look at how teams in our coverage area fared under the lights on Friday night.
Pasco County results:
Wesley Chapel 13, Land O’ Lakes 3
The skinny: New Wildcats coach Anthony Egan notched his first career win in a close road game against Land O’ Lakes High School. Up-and-coming quarterback Jacob Thomas, threw a 75-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to swing the momentum in the Wildcats favor. Junior running back Ian Leverett added a game-high 145 rushing yards on 26 carries. Despite the game’s outcome, Land O’ Lakes sophomore quarterback Jude May had a solid showing, completing 65 percent of his pass attempts for 157 yards.
Next up: Wesley Chapel travels to Wiregrass Ranch on Sept. 2 for a 7:30 p.m., kickoff; Land O’ Lakes faces River Ridge in a nonconference matchup.
Wiregrass Ranch 43, Zephyrhills 8
The skinny: Nick Carroll’s first regular season game as Zephyrhills High School head coach didn’t go as planned with the Bulldogs’ defense surrendering 429 yards of total offense to Wiregrass Ranch High. Now fully healthy, expect Wiregrass Ranch to surprise opponents with a potent running attack and lockdown secondary. It will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs respond this week against Sunlake High, where Carroll was an assistant coach for the past nine seasons.
Next up: Wiregrass Ranch faces Wesley Chapel on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Zephyrhills has another home game against Sunlake.
Sunlake 62, Gulf, 0
The skinny: Sunlake High School once again has the makings of another dominant season after demoralizing Gulf High on the road. Sunlake tailback Justin Metzger scored three touchdowns, while two-way standout Cris Galdos racked up 162 all-purpose yards. Sunlake’s defense held Gulf to just 10 total yards. Junior middle linebacker Adam Jarvis led the Seahawks in tackles with five.
Next up: Sunlake has a road game against Zephyrhills on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Victory Christian 29, Pasco, 19
The skinny: The Pasco High School Pirates couldn’t avenge a second quarter where they allowed 21 points to a solid Victory Christian Academy squad. But, this week’s game against Gulf High provides them a chance to even up their record, and build some confidence in early September before the schedule becomes tougher.
Next up: Pasco has a home game against Gulf High on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Hillsborough County results:
Carrollwood Day 64, Avant Garde Academy, 0
The skinny: Carrollwood Day School interim head coach Mark Jones earned his first win as the Patriots demolished Avant Garde Academy in Kissimmee. Jones, a 36-year-old former NFL receiver/kick returner, took over as interim coach on Aug. 16, after former CDS coach Lane McLaughlin was let go by athletic director Baker Mabry.
Next up: CDS Prep faces Grapevine Christian Academy (Texas) in Orlando on Sept. 2 at 5 p.m.
East Bay, 34, Freedom 13
The skinny: Missed opportunities and a lifeless fourth quarter prevented the Freedom High School Patriots from getting a victory for new coach Floyd Graham. The score was 13-7 late in the third quarter, but a Freedom botched snap and ensuing East Bay touchdown put the game out of reach.
Next up: Freedom has a bye week before a road slate against Alonso High on Sept. 9.
Gaither 42, Steinbrenner 10
The skinny: Gaither High School forced six turnovers and held Steinbrenner High to just 113 yards of total offense in an eye-opening home victory. Gaither’s Trentyn Jackson was a force all night, scoring three touchdowns on an 80-yard interception return, a 31-yard reception and a 9-yard run. After a rough 2015 season, Gaither junior quarterback Gavin DenBoer shined, completing 9 of 15 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Gaither senior linebacker DeCalon Brooks paced the Cowboys with 9 tackles.
Meanwhile, one of the few bright spots for Steinbrenner was the performance of senior outside linebacker Dane Coleman (12 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack).
Next up: Gaither travels to Bloomingdale High on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Steinbrenner travels to Blake.
Wharton 39, King 0
The skinny: Wharton High School’s running duo Randy Haynes Jr. (93 yards on, two touchdowns) and Shannon King (76 yards, two touchdowns) proved too powerful for the King High Lions in this nonconference contest. On defense, Wharton forced a turnover or a three-and-out on nine of the Lions’ 12 drives.
Next up: Wharton has a home game against Robinson High on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
–Stats and information compiled from Maxpreps.com.
Published August 31, 2016
Zephyrhills names new fire chief
The Zephyrhills City Council appointed a new fire chief during a special meeting on Aug. 16.
It was the fourth new fire chief within four years.
Brian Swartout has more than 32 years of fire service experience, and most recently served as Division Fire Chief for the Seminole Tribe Fire/Rescue in Broward County.
As division fire chief with the Seminole Tribe, Swartout supervised a staff of 104. He was also responsible for fleet management, capital projects, new purchases, and rehabilitation of apparatus and equipment maintenance.
Swartout previously worked for the Lee County Port Authority, City of Deland Fire/Rescue, Flagler County Fire/Rescue, St. Johns County Fire/Rescue, City of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Broward County Crash Fire Rescue.
City Manager Steve Spina said Swartout “definitely stood out” among the three candidates that were interviewed for the post.
With continual turnover at the fire department’s leadership position, city council members indicated they’d like to see a “multiple year” commitment from the new fire chief.
In May, Daniel Spillman resigned from the position after being appointed in Oct. 2014; he replaced Verne Riggall, who also resigned after being under fire for how he had managed the agency from 2012-2014.
In a 2014 memo to the council, Spina addressed budding concerns about the direction of the department under Riggall’s leadership, saying there was a “clear lack of coordination and communication in Zephyrhills Fire Rescue” and “a clear sense of dysfunction and morale issues” that were affecting day-to-day operations.
Swartout, who said he was unaware of the past issues within the department, now oversees the 23-member fire rescue crew that responds to approximately 3,000 calls annually.
The new chief said the first few days on the job have been “a whirlwind” as he becomes familiar with the staff, the city, and other municipal departments.
Swartout said his initial duty is to build relationships with his staff before making any major department-wide decisions.
“I’m more of the opinion that it’s important for me to sit back and observe, and listen…so I have a better idea of which way I need to go,” Swartout said. “I don’t believe in coming in anywhere and making (immediate) changes — I want to see what’s going on before I address anything.”
He added: “In my mind, I’m here to be supportive with what the guys do, and the message I’m telling them is that, ‘As the new fire chief, I’m here to support you and get you what you need.’”
With discussions already underway for the city’s 2016-2017 budget, Swartout said he likely won’t add much input into the fire department’s general fund, which reached $2.4 million in 2015-2016.
“I think I may be too late to have much of an impact into the next fiscal cycle, but what it does do for me is it does give me an ability to see what the needs are throughout the year and hopefully come back with some ideas or some solutions to issues,” the new fire chief said. “It actually works in my favor — I look at it as a blessing where I have time to learn and then move forward.”
During a council meeting in May, the city manager presented council members with several possible scenarios to consolidate fire services, and reduce operating and equipment costs. However, the council opted to keep the department and its two fire stations intact.
At the time, Spina noted there’s duplication in services with the city and Pasco County Fire Rescue, since the county also responds to all medical and fire calls.
Published August 24, 2016
New venue being built for Zephyrhills events
The popular Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival, along with several nonprofit organizations, will finally have a permanent event venue at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.
A groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 15 marked the beginning of construction for a 14-acre community venue site, at 5040 Airport Road.
Once complete, the site will include a 20-by-40 stage and 50 vendor spaces equipped with water and electricity, along with additional space for free-standing vendors, business expos and children’s activities.
The venue is situated north of the Zephyrhills’ City Yard, stretching to Airport Road and backing up the southern boundary of the Lincoln Heights subdivision.
Its location will be able to accommodate up to 15,000 guests at a time, and will provide easy access and parking along South Avenue.
The $60,000 venue, owned and operated by the city of Zephyrhills, is expected to be complete in time for the seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ and Blues Festival set for Jan. 21.
Nearly a year ago, The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce proposed the concept for a local festival grounds after the organization determined a larger site was needed to house Pigz in Z’Hills.
The tract of land the chamber had been using for the festival was about 2.5 acres.
“We kind of got to a point where we grew so much, that it was really impossible to every year set up a whole venue,” Melonie Monson, chamber director, said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is going to make it (possible) to grow where we want to grow…and it won’t take all week of putting stuff together.”
Officials say the permanent venue will help the annual shindig run smoother, creating a better layout for musicians, vendors and attendees.
Moreover, the permanent site will help cut down on variable expenses, including the annual costs to rent a stage and generators, which officials say can total nearly $10,000.
“The only way for this event to go forward was to find a permanent venue,” Monson said.
Chamber officials say Pigz in Z’Hills has created an economic impact of more than $1.3 million for Zephyrhills. Out of the 30,000 total attendees the past six years, more than half have come from outside the region and state.
“Somewhere in the last few years, Pigz in Z’Hills stopped just belonging to the chamber and now belongs to the community,” Monson said. “With that, this new building will reaffirm the strength of the partnership that we have with the city and community.”
In addition to the chamber, several organizations have expressed interest in using the event site, including the Rotary Club of Zephyrhills, Thomas Promise Foundation, Ride for Hospice and Paulie Palooza.
Once in operation, nonprofit organizations wanting to use the venue will pay a fee to cover the cost of site maintenance and staffing, which will be performed by the city.
“This is truly a community effort,” said Bob Winters, of the Rotary Club of Zephyrhills. “It’s an outstanding opportunity for the nonprofits of Zephyrhills to make a showing, and kick money back into the community.”
Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield said the venue will be used “for generations to come.
“We’re going to enjoy this venue today and the days ahead, but it’s something for our children and grandchildren,” Whitfield said. “We’re always about trying to do things for our community and our citizens, always with an eye on the future.”
Events are expected to be limited to daytime festivals in order to prevent stage noise in the residential area behind the venue, although the stage will be designed to direct music towards the airport.
The new venue also paves the way for the return of the Celtic Festival and Highland Games to Zephyrhills; the festival’s immense popularity forced it to vacate its venue at Zephyr Park in 2011.
Published August 24, 2016
Additional input being sought on Hillsborough’s parks plan
When Hillsborough County property owners receive their annual notice from the property appraiser’s office, they’ll also get an invitation to take part in an online survey about the county’s parks master plan.
The Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation Department has teamed up with the county’s property appraiser to spread information to property owners about a park survey for the Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
Nearly 450,000 TRIM (Truth in Millage) notices sent out this month will not only inform Hillsborough County property owners on how much their residences are worth and what their taxes are likely to be, but will tell them how to participate in the county’s online parks survey, through PlanYourParks.org.
Beyond that invitation, the county also is sending postcards with information about the survey to 20,000 households.
Between both efforts, Doc Dougherty, the county’s parks and recreation director, said the hope is to receive at least 50,000 responses from county residents.
They hope the completed surveys will provide the department with a realistic view of upgrades and improvements needed for each neighborhood park.
The goal is to have a final master plan in time for the county’s budget discussions in January, Dougherty said.
Once completed, the plan essentially will be a “wish book” of requests, upgrades and programming for the park system.
The parks and recreation department recently had a series of seven meetings throughout the county to solicit residents’ opinions the park system.
On June 27, an addendum survey at the Northdale Community Center indicated a strong preference for more senior-oriented programs, disc golf fields, and hiking and walking trails. There were also requests for more open green spaces with picnic areas and additional recreation centers.
The county’s parks and recreation system is large. It includes: More than 180 neighborhood parks, 118 playgrounds, 270 athletic fields and 53 community centers.
The county also oversees five dog parks and three skateparks.
“A big part of our discussion of the master plan is: Do we build new parks or do we renovate old parks? When you start looking at the number of parks we already have, how about we invest into the older parks,” Dougherty said at a public open house in June.
“A lot of people just think about the big parks that we have, but we’ve got such small individual parks that just a little (upkeep) will go a long way.”
Published August 24, 2016
Freedom golf seeks a fourth district crown
The expectations are high once again for the Freedom High School boys golf team, as it enters the 2016 campaign seeking its fourth consecutive Class 3A-District 10 title.
If it pulls off the noteworthy feat, it would Freedom’s first sports team to win four consecutive district championships.
Armed with the district’s past two individual medalists in senior Tyler Bray and junior Cy Storlien, plus a superbly talented freshman in Cooper Smith, the Patriots appear to have a solid nucleus with their season kickoff against Wharton scheduled on Aug. 23.
Bray, expected to consistently be one of Patriots top one or two scorers, said this year’s squad has a similar profile to the one that reached the state tournament in 2013 — when he was a freshman.
“The last two years, we’ve kind of just been like one guy short, but I feel like we’re a lot stronger this year, for sure,” the senior said. “We have a new freshman on the team, Cooper Smith — he’s going to really help us out.”
He added: “We’re definitely focused on districts and regionals, and hopefully we’ll make it to states again.”
Michael Passarelli, Freedom’s golf coach, said this year’s group “absolutely” has the potential to not only win districts, but also make a solid showing at regionals, and possibly advance to states in late October.
“We’ve got a couple of really, really good golfers,” Passarelli said. “The goal is definitely there.”
The work ethic and commitment to reach those goals is, too.
“They’ve got a club in their hands at all times,” Passarelli said. “These guys practice every aspect — they hit a ton of balls, they chip and putt a thousand balls, they play all the time.
“They work unbelievably hard.”
Perhaps one concern heading into the season is the team’s depth, or lack thereof. As opposed to a roster that goes nine or 10 deep, the Patriots will need quality play from the likes of seniors Nick Mitchell and Sam Smith, if they plan on making a deep postseason run.
“The two guys behind our top three are the ones that need to step up and be consistent, solid contributors,” Passarelli said. “If those two guys can play the way they are capable of, then we have a real shot.
“Those ‘No. 4’ and ‘No. 5’ guys know that at least one of them has got to score for us.”
With just six players on the varsity roster, Passarelli said the main key is ensuring everyone’s “mental approach is sound” throughout the course of the season.
“They all just need to make sure they play within themselves, and their expectations are real,” Passarelli said. “It’s just a matter of understanding of how to deal with things if a certain aspect of the game is not there on a given day.
“When you’re as talented as some of these kids are — the game is there, every single shot in the bag is there — it’s just about being able to manage a round of golf from a mental standpoint to make sure that mistakes remain one mistake, and not two or three.”
Freedom golf coach Michael Passarelli
On freshman Cooper Smith: “He gets the ball out there for a little guy, but what makes him so dang good is his short game is ridiculous — you get that kid around the green and he has a chance to make anything happen.”
On senior Tyler Bray: “Tyler is the only one that’s been here for four years (as a letterman.) He’s pretty much the leader of this team.”
On senior Nick Mitchell: “This kid has worked so hard. He’s come such an unbelievably long way — it’s really crazy to think about where he was two years ago and where he is right now because he’s a heck of a golfer. …He’s going to be one of the guys that we’re going to count on, and he knows it.”
Class 3A-District 10
Freedom High
Hillsborough High
Leto High
Tampa Bay Tech
Wharton High
Wiregrass Ranch High
Freedom boys golf roster:
Tyler Bray, senior (4-year Letterman, 2014 District 3A-10 champion, 2015 District runner-up)
Matt Daniello, junior (2-year letterman)
Nick Mitchell, senior (3-year letterman)
Cooper Smith, freshman (projected starter)
Sam Smith, senior (2-year letterman)
Cy Storlien, junior (3-year letterman, 2015 District 3A-10 champion)
Published August 24, 2016
Land O’ Lakes pitcher commits to Palm Beach Atlantic University
Troy Klemm, a 6-foot-5 senior right-handed pitcher, has verbally committed to Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Division II school in West Palm Beach. In 27 innings last season, Klemm recorded a 1.81 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
New tennis coach joins Saint Leo University
Pablo Montana, a two-time national coach of the year with seven NCAA Elite Eight appearances, is the new head coach for men’s and women’s tennis at Saint Leo University.
“In an applicant pool with many exceptionally qualified candidates, Pablo Montana’s name quickly rose to the top,” Francis X. Reidy, Saint Leo’s director of athletics, said in a release. “His extended track record of success in Division II, combined with his international recruiting connections and his commitment to his student-athletes’ academic and athletic success, made Pablo the obvious choice to keep Saint Leo tennis among the top programs in the nation.”
Montana spent the last 12 years coaching women’s tennis at California University of Pennsylvania, building one of the nation’s elite Division II programs on a campus situated in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Montana guided the program to a 259-72 overall record, capturing 10 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships and 10 NCAA Atlantic Region Championships.
Montana, a five-time Wilson/ITA Atlantic Region Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year honoree, was named the Wilson/ITA Division II Women’s Tennis National Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2010.
Since 2012, Montana has also been on the staff at the College Tennis Academy in Tampa.
Montana replaces Chris Frusci, who stepped down in June to become an assistant women’s tennis coach at Baylor University.
In two years at Saint Leo, Frusci achieved immediate success, posting an overall record of 43-8 on the men’s side, and a 42-9 record on the women’s side.
Academy finishes strong in private school standings
Academy at the Lakes finished eighth overall in the 2015-16 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup All-Sports Award 2A private school standings, the highest in the Tampa Bay area. It marks the fifth straight year the Wildcats have finished among the top eight in the final standings. The school’s highest finish in the Sunshine Cup standings came during the 2014-15 school year, placing third overall. The All-Sports Award standings are based on criteria that award points for state, regional, or district championships won in each sport sanctioned by the FHSAA.
Saint Leo women’s basketball rounds out roster
The Saint Leo women’s basketball team has added two players to its 2016-2017 roster: Kamryn Kimmel, a prep standout from Ohio, and Nikira Hooks, a junior college product from North Dakota.
Kimmel, a 5-foot-6 guard, joins the Lions from Pleasant High in Marion, Ohio. As a high school senior, Kimmel (9.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals) earned First-Team Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC) honors, while helping her team earn a MOAC championship, and an Ohio State Championship runners-up nod.
“Kamryn Kimmel is expected to be a workhorse who challenges for playing time at the point guard position,” Saint Leo coach Anthony Crocitto said, in a release. “She handles, defends and will fit well in our system.”
Hooks, a 5-foot-11 forward, heads to Saint Leo following a successful sophomore season at Williston State (North Dakota) College, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) school. As a sophomore, Hooks started all 24 games, averaging a team-best 17.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 47.6-percent from the field. She earned Second Team All-Region and was in the Top-25 of NJCAA for free throw percentage.
“Nikira Hooks will look to impact this program in many, many ways,” Crocitto said. “She is a long guard-forward who will shoot the three, rebound the ball on both ends and post you up at times. We see Nikira’s experience supporting in a successful transition from the junior college ranks. She has a strong scorer’s mentality, but will pass and make solid basketball decisions with the best of them.”
With the addition of Kimmel and Hooks, the Lions will have six newcomers in the upcoming season, as the duo joins Ragen Dotson, Gina Brierley, Courtney Cox and Madelin Lang.