The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

Baseball players recognized

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The 2019 Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All-Region selections were recently released and The Laker/Lutz News coverage area is well-represented.

Led by Steinbrenner’s Daniel Bautista and Gaither’s Derek Crum and Roy Peguero — who were named All-Florida second teamers — several other local players earned Florida region honorable mention.

Gaither High senior right-handed pitcher Roy Peguero was named to the 2019 Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-Florida second team. Fellow Gaither teammate Derek Crum and Steinbrenner’s Danny Bautista also earned the designation. (Courtesy of Gaither baseball)

Bautista, Crum and Peguero were among just 100 Florida high school senior baseball players selected to either the first or second team.

The Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-Region teams are made up of top players from nine regions around the country. Florida, along with California and Texas, each have their own region.

Perfect Game is considered the elite amateur baseball scouting organization in existence, producing more than 100 tournaments and showcases each year across the country.

Below is a listing of players from local schools and communities.

Each is listed by name, school and position; college commitment listed in parenthesis.

Florida Region All High School Senior Second Team
Daniel Bautista, Steinbrenner, shortstop
Derek Crum, Gaither, outfielder (Wake Forest University commit)
Roy Peguero, Gaither, pitcher (Bethune-Cookman University)

Florida Region Honorable mention
Ryan Andrews, Steinbrenner, outfielder (Adrian College)
Dillon Baker, Carrollwood Day, shortstop
Kyle Benedict, Carrollwood Day, outfielder
Jaydon Bishop, Zephyrhills, pitcher (Hillsborough Community College)
Christian Bradshaw, Steinbrenner, shortstop
Bryce Carroll, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic (Land O’ Lakes native), pitcher
Adison Dubin, Gaither, first baseman
Jeff Figueroa, Home School (Odessa native), pitcher
Will Grisack, Carrollwood Day, pitcher (Lehigh University)
Garrett Hester, Pasco, pitcher (University of (Alabama)
Blake Hooker, Carrollwood Day, second baseman
Nick Jennings, Land O’ Lakes, pitcher (Saint Leo University)
Bryce Leonhardt, Steinbrenner, pitcher (Flagler College)
Michael Leroy, Freedom, pitcher (Hillsborough Community College)
Anthony Mannarino, Sunlake, pitcher (Flagler College)
Michael Mullins, Steinbrenner, outfielder
Dawson Place, Sunlake, pitcher (High Point University)
Matt Roberts, Steinbrenner, shortstop
Mike Rodriguez, Home School (Odessa native), first baseman
Derick Stager, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic (Odessa native), catcher (Chipola College)
Justin Turk, Sickles (Keystone native), outfielder
Charlie Vari, Tampa Prep (Wesley Chapel native), catcher (High Point University)
Nicholas Watts, Carrollwood Day, pitcher
Dylan Wood, Zephyrhills, catcher

Local athlete signing

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(Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

Wharton High School senior Tre Rivers signed to run track and cross-country at NCAA Division I University of Illinois at Chicago. In the fall, Rivers finished third overall in the 2018 FHSAA Class 4A state cross-country championship meet, clocking a 15:52.17. He holds the school’s 5K cross-country record, with time of 15:45. In track, Rivers holds the school record in the 3200 meter run (9:17.22) and currently ranks as one of the state’s top distance runners in that race.

Cybercrimes on the rise, expert says

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Cyber-related crimes don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

Pasco Sheriff Sgt. Sam Pepenella knows that better than most — as the unit supervisor of the agency’s cyber and computer forensic investigations.

He shared some of his insights as the featured guest speaker at an East Pasco Networking Group meeting in Dade City last month.

The Sheriff’s Office processes about 9,000 digital devices — phones, tablets, computers — every year, a significant rise from when Pepenella helped form the special unit nearly a decade ago.

Pasco Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Sam Pepenella was the featured speaker during a recent East Pasco Networking Group meeting. Pepenella supervises the agency’s cyber and computer forensic investigations unit. (Kevin Weiss)

“It’s getting busier,” the law enforcement officer said.

In traditional crime, perpetrators use a pry bar and pop open a door, Pepenella said. Cybercriminals, he said, run their fingers over a keyboard and find a way to break in.

Much of Pepenella’s talk focused on common online scams his unit has been seeing lately.

One, known as phishing, is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Phishing scammers often send emails or texts posing as a bank or financial institution, to try and bait users into providing their bank account information or click links or attachments that then download malicious software. He pointed out financial institutions never ask for any personal or account information, via email, unsolicited phone calls or text messages.

To protect against phishing, the speaker advised users to do their due diligence before opening and responding to any solicited emails or text messages. Securing and frequently changing passwords is another way to reduce risks.

Said Pepenella: “Make sure you know what you’re opening. Make sure you know what you’re clicking on. If you’re not 100 percent sure on who you’re receiving this information from, don’t click on it.”

The same goes for accepting friend and follower requests, and messages from strangers on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, he said.

“If you don’t know them, don’t accept them as a friend,” he advised.

The speaker mentioned that even the Nigerian scam is still prevalent and has victimized people locally. “It is happening,” he said.

These type of scams involve someone overseas offering a share in a large sum of money or a payment on the condition you help them to transfer money out of their country. While these scams originated in Nigeria, they now come from all over the world.

Stolen money is rarely recovered in these cases, Pepenella said.

He explained: “It’s not uncommon for us today to get complaints from citizens, ‘Hey, my life savings is gone.’ We find out they became a victim of a Nigerian scam. All a sudden they got an email, the scammer gains the trust of the person…and they just tug on the heartstrings.

“Unfortunately, once that money leaves this country and leaves our borders, we have no jurisdiction over it,” he explained.

The speaker also touched on some alarming figures related to online child sexual solicitation and exploitation.

Reported complaints of suspected child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has increased by more than 10 million nationwide in the past two years alone, he said.

He surmised the rise in tips to NCMEC is partially explained by the recent proliferation of family plans from cellphone carriers.

As a result, the number of digital devices have skyrocketed— and, that, combined with a lack of oversight from parents when it comes to technology, gives youth unfettered access to smartphones, tablets and computers.

The law enforcement official went on to explain that online predators will communicate with adolescents through the chat feature in Xbox and PlayStation video games.

The predators try to develop a relationship with youths, and attempt to gain their trust and confidence with the promise of gifts and money.

From there, Pepenella said, offenders begin a “grooming” process over a period of time, coaxing children to take and send sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves via cellphone.

The Pasco Sheriff’s cyber investigations unit has found children as young as age 9 who were sexually solicited by online predators, Pepenella said. Many of the offenders are in another state, he said.

Said Pepenella, “Unfortunately, in a lot of those cases, they happen out of the area. They might happen in Missouri or New York or California. What we do is put as much of the case together as possible and ship it off to that jurisdiction.”

Meanwhile, Pepenella urged parents to limit their children’s screen time, use parental controls on digital devices and have access to all passwords.

“Be nosy about what your kids are doing, and do not allow that device out of your sight,” Pepenella said.

Published April 10, 2019

Dade City selects new city manager

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Dade City has selected someone with a familiar face to be its next city manager.

City Commissioners on April 3 voted to extend an offer and enter contract negotiations with Leslie Porter to become Dade City’s next city manager.

Porter, the city’s finance director, has been acting as the interim city manager since February. She’s also been handling her responsibilities as finance director.

Dade City has decided to enter negotiations with Leslie Porter to become the city’s next city manager. She’s been acting as interim city manager, while continuing to handle her responsibilities as the city’s finance director. (File)

If negotiations are fruitful, Porter will assume the vacancy created by Billy Poe, who left the post after nearly 12 years. Poe is now the deputy city manager in the City of Zephyrhills and is expected to move up to city manager when that post is vacated.

The decision to offer Porter the city manager job came during a special meeting, when commissioners had been expected to review and rank top candidates for the city manager position. Porter was one of the nine applicants who applied by the March 15 deadline.

It marked the second call for applications after the city was unable to come to a contract agreement with Christopher Edwards, its top candidate for the position back in February.

Edwards is a real estate associate in Tallahassee and former deputy director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economy Vitality.

Instead of selecting a list of new candidates to interview, the commission opted to proceed with Porter for the position, citing her performance as acting city manager over the last two months while also juggling her duties as finance director.

Porter has served as the city’s finance director since 2014. Before that, she spent nearly a decade working as town treasurer for the Town of Chesapeake Beach in Maryland.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a master’s degree from George Washington University.

Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon said she’s been impressed with Porter during her stint as acting city manager role.

Like others, she previously expressed concern about Porter’s lack of city management experience to take on the post full time.

Said Newlon, “I think that Ms. Porter has done an excellent job and continues to do a great job, quite frankly doing two very large jobs, and I continue to be impressed by the work she’s doing.”

Others on the commission offered similar assessments.

Commissioner Jim Shive offered a strong endorsement for Porter, saying she’s exhibited “true leadership” and “a great propensity for achieving and personal growth.

“She continues to step up a notch,” said Shive. “I think we have a great opportunity to promote an individual from within, who’s shown a commitment and dedication to Dade City, and is up to the challenge.”

Mayor Camille Hernandez described Porter as “a no-nonsense gal” who “knows the job and the task at hand.”

“We have someone that knows our system, knows our city, is definitely committed and dedicated to the job,” Hernandez said.

She added, “It’s been interesting to watch her evolve over the last two months or so. She understands that she doesn’t know everything and there’s a lot to learn, but I love that about her, that she’s up for the challenge.”

Mayor Pro Tem Eunice Penix added of Porter: “I think she has done a great job, too. To me, we need her. She is well capable.”

Even City Attorney Nancy Stuparich weighed in on Porter: “I’ve enjoyed working with Leslie the last few months. She’s a very quick learner, and she’s had a lot of issues put on her very quickly and has been very responsive.”

Commissioner Scott Black was the lone voice to suggest the commission conduct interviews with some other applicants for the position, in addition to Porter.

Said Black, “I would feel more comfortable having a little more time to observe (Porter) for a longer period of time as different things come up that could be challenges to her, but I do think she’s done a good job.

“I do have a lot of confidence in Ms. Porter, especially given her finance background, but I’d like to talk to some of these others (that applied).”

The mayor and city attorney will now undergo contract negotiations with Porter, with an update expected at an April 23 city commission meeting.

As finance director, Porter makes nearly $86,000. However, her earnings have bumped to nearly $99,000 since taking on the additional role of acting city manager.

Provided an agreement with Porter is reached, commissioners mentioned City Hall will likely undergo some restructuring, as they look to hire a new finance director, and possibly add an assistant city manager and economic development specialist to the city’s organizational leadership chart.

Published April 10, 2019

Sunlake sweeps conference track championships

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For the second straight year, the Sunlake High track and field program reigned supreme at the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) Eastside championship meet, as its boys and girls teams earned first-place overall finishes to best six other east Pasco high schools.

Liina Winborn, of Sunlake High School, right, in the lead over Natalie Abernathy, of Land O’ Lakes High School, during the girls 1600-meter run. (Christine Holtzman)

The Sunlake boys team tallied 189 points, comfortably ahead of second place Wiregrass Ranch (101) and third place Land O’ Lakes (94.5).

The Sunlake girls team registered 253.5 points, more than doubling the point totals of both Wiregrass Ranch and Land O’ Lakes, who tied for second with 125 points.

Cypress Creek, Pasco, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills also participated in the April 3 meet at Cypress Creek Middle High School in Wesley Chapel.

Both Seahawks squads combined to place first in 18 of the 34 events.

That included a near sweep of middle and long distance events, which encompasses the 4×800 relay, 800-meter, 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs. Land O’ Lakes senior Natalie Abernathy was the lone non-Sunlake distance runner to win an event, placing first in the girls 3200-meter, clocking 11:46.60.

D’narijo Troupe, of Sunlake High School, competes in the high jump.

The feats by many of Sunlake’s distance runners shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the success of the school’s cross-country teams this past fall. At the 2018 FHSAA Class 3A state championships in Tallahassee, the Seahawks boys team finished fourth overall and the girls placed 10th.

Grueling summer and fall workouts for cross-country hence laid the groundwork for track season, Sunlake distance coach Randal Reeves said.

“We kind of knew we were going to be out front,” Reeves said of the conference meet.

“They’ve been working their butts off.”

Allison Fleming, of Wiregrass Ranch High School, jumps over a hurdle during the girls 300-meter hurdles race.

Sunlake junior distance runner Liina Winborn turned in one of the more noteworthy meet performances.

She took first place — and set personal bests —  in both the girls 1600-meter (5:09.25) and 800-meter (2:27.35). She opted not to compete the 3200-meter run, though she was seeded No. 2 entering the event.

Winborn’s mark in the 1600-meter was particularly eye-opening — a whopping 21 seconds quicker than second-place finisher, Abernathy (5:30.49), a two-time SAC East Track Athlete of the Year.

“I feel really great because I PR’d and I tried my best, and I had a lot of great supporters out here,” Winborn said of her meet results.

“I want to do my best every race. I don’t really have a specific time in mind. I just set my goals high to where they can be achievable.”

Donte Sol, running for Wesley Chapel High School, is in the lead during the boys 400-meter dash.

Winborn has picked up right where she left off in the fall, where she finished sixth in the Class 3A cross country state meet.

Established as one the state’s top distance runners, Winborn is receiving looks from “quite a few” NCAA Division I programs, her coach said.

“Overall, as a runner, she’s probably top 10 in the state, performance-wise,” Reeves said.

Her achievements — in track and cross-country — don’t come by accident.

Reeves said the distance runner has never missed a practice — even in times when she’s been sick. The coach added Winborn also makes it a point to train alongside the top distance runners on the boys team.

“She is a coach’s dream,” Reeves said. “She does everything I ask of her — and asks for more. Her dedication really says it all. She puts it all out there, and she’s a leader in that regard.”

2019 Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference Eastside championships

Team Scores (Boys)
1) Sunlake (189 points)

2) Wiregrass Ranch (101)

3) Land O’ Lakes (94.5)

4) Wesley Chapel (84)

5) Zephyrhills (75.5)

6) Cypress Creek (68)

7) Pasco (28)

Event winners
Track events
100-meter dash: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior (11.22)

200-meter dash: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel, senior (22.62)

400-meter dash: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel, senior (48.75)

800-meter run: Edward Scheid, Sunlake, junior (2:03.38)

1600-meter run: Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior (4:32.20)

3200-meter run: Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior (10:15.09)

110-meter hurdles: Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (15:46)

300-meter hurdles: Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (40.64)

4×100-meter relay: Zephyrhills — Maguire Neal, freshman; Ja’Quan Sheppard, senior; Clayton Cornelius, sophomore; Cartrell Strong, senior (43.33)

4×400-meter relay: Sunlake — Issac Taveras, junior; Ludcheel Colas, junior; Cade Whitfield, sophomore; Edward Scheid, junior (3:31.51)

4×800: Sunlake — Dominic Burleson, senior; Edward Scheid, junior; Cade Whitfield, sophomore; Ludcheel Colas, junior (8:10.62)

Field events
High jump: Isaiah Burns, Wesley Chapel, sophomore (5 feet, 10.75 inches)

Pole vault: Shayne Tenpow, Sunlake, senior (11 feet, 0.25 inches)

Long jump: Jacquez Mobley, Pasco, senior (20 feet, 6.50 inches)

Triple jump: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior (43 feet, 8.50 inches)

Shot put: Kasean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior (49 feet, 10.50 inches)

Discus: Joseph Perez, Sunlake, senior (151 feet, 9 inches)

Team Scores (Girls)
1) Sunlake (253.5 points)

2) Wiregrass Ranch (125)

2) Land O’ Lakes (125)

4) Cypress Creek (60.5)

5) Wesley Chapel (39)

6) Zephyrhills (33)

7) Pasco (9)

Event winners
Track events
100-meter dash: Delcina Gilespie, Cypress Creek, junior (12.58)

200-meter dash: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior (26.70)

400-meter dash: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior (1:02.18)

800-meter run: Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior (2:27.35)

1600-meter run: Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior (5:09.25)

3200-meter run: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes, senior (11:46.60)

100-meter hurdles: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (16:35)

300-meter hurdles: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (47.63)

4×100-meter relay: Sunlake — Nia Johnson, junior; Jaymonda Calmes, Gianna Levy, junior; Hannah Kilmer, junior (49.97)

4×400-meter relay: Land O’ Lakes — Ashley Doers, junior; Lauren Bates, junior; Abigail Perez, junior; Lizzie Epps, freshman (4:19.01)

4×800-meter relay: Sunlake — Shannon Gordy, sophomore; Ashley Spires, sophomore; Emma Burleson, freshman; Justine Ruhlman, senior (10:19.77)

Field events
High jump: Ondrasha Joel, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman (4 feet, 11 inches)

Pole vault: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, junior (10 feet)

Long jump: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior (17 feet, 2 inches)

Triple jump: Jayda Forester, Sunlake, junior (33 feet, 8 inches)

Shot put: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake, senior (38 feet, 4.25 inches)

Discus: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake, senior (108 feet, 10 inches)

Published April 10, 2019

Dade City extends ban on cannabis dispensaries

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Dade City is again pressing pause on allowing any medical marijuana treatment centers within city limits.

The Dade City Commission on March 28 voted to extend its moratorium relating to the operation of cannabis dispensing organizations and the issuance of business tax licenses for such facilities.

The Dade City Commission extended its moratorium, or temporary ban, on medical marijuana treatment centers, during a March 28 meeting. The city has had a moratorium in effect since 2016. (File)

The moratorium, temporary in nature, is in effect for the next six months, with a retroactive date of March 23.

The action marks the fourth time commissioners have passed a six-month extension of the moratorium, which was initially enacted in 2016, to study the potential impacts of such facilities on the municipality.

The original moratorium followed the November 2016 amendment of Florida’s Constitution to allow “the dispensing and use of marijuana for medical purposes by persons with debilitating diseases.”

City leaders, meanwhile, are still considering ways to regulate cannabis dispensaries, as opposed to instituting a permanent or outright ban.

Commissioners in January directed city staff to draft an ordinance that would have allowed for medical marijuana in all zoning districts where the city allows pharmacies, except in the city’s Community Redevelopment Area, generally encompassing the downtown corridor, and within 500 feet from any public or private elementary, middle and high school.

However, the Dade City Planning Board recommended denial of the drafted ordinance, due in part to concerns about its limiting pharmacies or drugstores in the downtown area, in making them legal nonconforming use.

The planning board then made a recommendation to the local planning agency and commission to extend the moratorium on the sale of medical marijuana, with a time frame to be determined by the commission; a public hearing and first reading of the extension was passed unanimously by the commission back on March 12.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said the commission will look to again address the medical marijuana dispensary issue and try to come up with a long-term solution sometime following Florida’s 2019 legislative session, which wraps up May 3.

Despite the moratorium, the mayor said she remains in favor of some type of ordinance that would permit medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.

“I still feel very strongly,” Hernandez said. “I still think it serves a purpose and helps a lot of people.”

Former Dade City Manager Billy Poe received a plaque of appreciation for his nearly 11 years of public service to the municipality. Poe left the city manager post in February, accepting a similar position with the City of Zephyrhills. (Kevin Weiss)

The mayor also pointed to Florida voters’ clear support of Amendment 2 in 2016, in which 71 percent of the electorate voted in favor of medical marijuana treatment centers.

Said Hernandez, “I do think that the voters did express their opinion, and if we can put it together so it doesn’t adversely affect Dade City, then we need to do that, absolutely.”

In other action, commissioners presented a plaque of appreciation to Billy Poe, who served as city manager in Dade City for nearly 11 years.

Poe officially left the post in February to accept a similar position with the City of Zephyrhills as its deputy city manager. He is expected to transition to the city’s top leadership position once longtime Zephyrhills City Manager Steve Spina retires sometime this summer.

During the award presentation, Poe thanked the commission “for the opportunity to work with wonderful citizens and staff,” and specifically mentioned commissioners Scott Black and Eunice Penix “for taking a chance on me a way long time ago.”

Poe also expressed gratitude to city staffers he worked alongside during his tenure as city manager.

“Obviously, I could not have done and been able to be in Dade City for as long as I was without a great staff, and I truly appreciate it,” he said.

Meantime, the city is still searching for Poe’s replacement after it was unable to come to a contract agreement with its top candidate for the city manager position earlier this year.

Commissioners will have a special meeting April 3 at 4 p.m., to review and rank its second pool of candidates for the position.

The deadline to apply for the city manager vacancy ended March 15. The city received nine applications.

Published April 03, 2019

International music composer calls Wesley Chapel home

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When it comes to music, Wesley Chapel’s Nick Coetzee does a little bit of everything.

He’s a songwriter. He’s a composer. He’s a producer. He’s a worship leader.

“I love being creative,” Coetzee said. “I love doing something different every day.”

An ear for melodies has led to a lasting 30-year career that’s taken him pretty far — literally.

International music composer Nick Coetzee operates his own recording studio from his Wesley Chapel home. He’s noted for producing more than 150 contemporary Christian and worship albums. (Courtesy of Nick Coetzee)

Born and raised in South Africa, Coetzee’s first big break came in Australia in the early 1990s, when he was tasked with helping churches craft contemporary style music programs.

“I started getting into programming music for songwriters, and I started writing my own songs and creating my own albums,” Coetzee explained.

Opportunities followed for Coetzee while in the land Down Under.

He scored music for more than 250 episodes of an Australian television drama series called, ‘Paradise Beach.’ He used a guitar to score the five-night-a-week soap opera, which also aired in several European countries in the early 1990s.

Coetzee is modest about the TV project, though.

“It was like a low-budget ‘Baywatch,’” Coetzee said, but added, “the residuals were really good.”

Meanwhile, Coetzee wrote the halftime music for an international rugby final between South Africa and Australia in 1993, at Ballymore Stadium.

The match was significant, as it marked the first tour of a South African team to Australia since 1971, when the former was subjected to a variety of international boycotts due to its apartheid policy.

“It was a big event with 35,000 people. I was on the stage there with my band and we performed the song,” Coetzee recalled.

Coetzee started reaching into America shortly thereafter, in the mid-1990s.

He first landed in South Carolina, then Florida, orchestrating music training workshops for community churches, steering them from classical hymns and choirs to more contemporary “kind of rock band” style.

“I’ve always traveled, I’ve always recorded, and I’ve always led worship in churches. Like those three things have been constant,” Coetzee explained.

While in the States, Coetzee also wrote and composed a theme song for the RP International Vision Awards in Los Angeles, which celebrates some of the most prolific actors, directors and producers in the world.

Coetzee would go on to perform at the event for more than a decade, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Josh Groban, Phil Collins, Hans Zimmer and other celebrities.

Said Coetzee: “It was a really interesting sort of angle that I had writing songs. I became this sort of songwriter for big themes; I’ve written quite a lot of songs.”

That he has — mainly through his work with multiple Christian-based record labels.

He’s produced more than 150 contemporary Christian and worship albums, including an instrumental jazz album, Reflections, which sold over 300,000 copies worldwide.

One of his most noted works came in 1995.

That’s when he was hired to produce the first U.S. release of Darlene Zschech’s ‘Shout to the Lord,’ at the time one of the world’s top gospel songs.

Being the first person to ever produce the song for the U.S. market, Coetzee calls it his “claim to fame.”

“It’s kind of helped me get work. I mean, it’s become prestigious,” Coetzee said.

He also said of the song: “It’s been recorded probably 500 times or more by artists all around the world. ‘Shout to the Lord’ it’s kind of like (the Beatles’) ‘Let it Be’ in the world. I mean, it’s the most famous (gospel) song in the world.”

Over the years, Coetzee has gone on to work with and produce for other big names in the music industry, including Abraham Laboriel, Pedro Eustache and Genesis’ Chester Thompson.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of interesting kind of projects over the years,” he said. “Sometimes I forget all the things that I’ve done.”

However, these days, at 58 years old, Coetzee keeps a bit of a lower profile.

He does much of his work from his own recording studio, conveniently located on the second floor of his Watergrass home.

The soundproof room is equipped with all sorts of instruments, from guitars to banjos to keyboards, along with various recording hardware and software, nestled into a cozy, relaxed atmosphere.

“I don’t know if there’s many home studios like this in Wesley Chapel,” Coetzee said with a chuckle.

It’s where he goes to work on his next major project — co-writing songs for Netflix original programming, building up an action sequence or a dramatic moment.

It’s also where the South African works with local songwriters and musicians of all genres.

Developing local talent and maximizing their musical gifts, has become one of his most enjoyable initiatives.

He most recently helped record some tracks with Phase III, a Dade City-based folk band that frequently performs live shows at local hot spots like Ukulele Brand’s, Zephyrhills Brewing Company and Prime 19.

“I really love to help people that maybe have got something to say with their music,” Coetzee said. “I enjoy being able to pour into people and see their results. That’s part of who I am, is really like a coach and a mentor to see the next generation raised up.”

And, it’s something he foresees doing for years to come in the East Pasco community he and his wife have lived since 2014.

“We like Wesley Chapel,” he said. “Part of my goal is to help unlock people’s creativity. There’s a huge creative community here in Pasco.”

Published April 03, 2019

Local commitments

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Gaither High junior linebacker/defensive end Chance Coleman verbally committed to play collegiate football at Division I FBS University of South Florida. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Coleman posted 71 tackles and 10 sacks in 2018. He also holds Division I FBS scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Colorado State, Florida Atlantic and Liberty universities, among others. (Courtesy of Gaither High School Athletics)
The Saint Leo University men’s soccer team landed a verbal commitment from Tampa Catholic High School senior goalkeeper Jackson Eckley. This past season, the 6-foot-2 Eckley posted a 1.095 goals against average and 130 saves, with a 9-3 record and eight shutouts. In his high school career, Eckley started 63 games as a four-year letterman and two-time captain, also helping the Crusaders to multiple regional tournament appearances. (Courtesy of Tampa Catholic High School)

New Tampa teen’s javelin throw among nation’s best

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As a kicker on the Wharton High School varsity football team and a defender on the varsity boys soccer team, Zach Godbold relies on his legs quite a bit.

But, it’s his right arm and throwing ability, that could take him furthest in his athletic endeavors.

The 17-year-old New Tampa resident happens to be one of the nation’s top high school javelin throwers, as a junior on the Wharton varsity track and field team.

New Tampa teen Zach Godbold is ranked among the nation’s top high school javelin throwers. The 17-year-old Wharton High School junior’s best mark so far this season is 191 feet. (Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

At an AAU meet last month in Fort Lauderdale, Godbold recorded a javelin throw of 191 feet, which, for a short period, ranked No. 1 nationally for junior athletes 18 years old and under.

While the mark has since been surpassed, it still ranks among the top 10 throws nationally —and tops in Florida.

“He’s by far the No. 1 in the state,” Wharton track and field coach Kyle LoJacono said.

The feat earned Godbold a coveted spot at the annual New Balance National Outdoor meet, regarded as the most prestigious postseason track and field championships for high school athletes. The meet, set for June in Greensboro, North Carolina, showcases more than 2,900 of America’s elite and emerging high school talent.

Not one to regularly look up his national ranking, Godbold couldn’t help himself following his recent performance in South Florida.

“I actually hadn’t been looking at the national rankings at all,” he said, “but then, after I threw that one and it felt really good, I went and looked it up, and I was very happy, obviously.”

Godbold isn’t settling with his current mark, though. He said he wants to surpass 210 feet in the javelin by the end of the year.

“I was very excited with my throw this year because it’s so early in the season, that later on I’m hoping to improve on that, obviously,” Godbold said.

Javelin comes naturally
Success in javelin is not foreign to Godbold, since taking up the discipline about six years ago.

When he was 12 years old, he finished second overall in javelin for his age division at the 2014 AAU Junior Olympics Track and Field meet in Des Moines, Iowa.

Over the years, he’s gone on to finish among the top performers multiple times for his age bracket in the Junior Olympics championships, including earning a gold medal as a 14-year-old when the meet was in Houston, Texas.

Godbold also competes in the shotput and discus.

Like javelin, he took up the throwing events after growing tired of always running in track and field, which he did mainly to stay in shape for football season.

“I really didn’t want to run anymore,” Godbold said, “so I just tried all three of the throwing events.”

Javelin has come most natural to Godbold, as a multi-sport athlete with a background in baseball and football.

He explained: “I’ve always been playing sports where I have to like throw a ball. I always played baseball, football — I was the backup quarterback for like Hail Marys — so I’ve always just been like throwing something and it just translates, like having a strong arm.”

“It was something that just translated to me really well,” he said.

Javelin, however, takes more than throwing ability to master, said Godbold, who stands at 6 feet and 190 pounds.

As “probably the most technical” of all throwing events in track and field, Godbold noted javelin requires power and strength from the lower body.

Godbold practices his throws about two or three times per week. The rest of the time is dedicated to quick sprints and medicine ball work, as opposed to lifting heavy weights.

“It’s more like throwing with your legs than your arms, despite what people think. It’s about more running and working with your legs and stuff,” he said.

Lofty goals ahead
Godbold’s javelin performances of late have drawn the attention of major college track and field programs.

He’s received interest from the likes of Florida, Florida State, Cornell and Stanford universities, among others.

“I’m definitely trying to make the Division I level,” Godbold said.

The 2024 Olympics is also on his long-term radar. “That would definitely be a goal of mine, to compete for the U.S.,” he said.

More immediately, Godbold is looking to make history at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) track and field meet over the next two years.

The FHSAA, for the first time ever, will crown an individual champion in the javelin as a provisional event, after it’s been an exhibition event each of the last two years.

However, the javelin throw won’t accumulate points toward team scores until the 2020 season when it officially becomes the FHSAA’s 18th sanctioned track and field event.

“My goal is to win states,” Godbold said, “and then hopefully next year, when it’s an official event, do the same and score points.”

Meantime, the prospect of finally being able to benefit from the elite javelin thrower has Wharton coaches excited.

“It’ll be huge,” LoJacono said, noting the track team would’ve won a recent divisional meet had Godbold’s javelin throws counted toward scoring.

It also has the team gearing up for the event sooner than other area schools, said longtime Wharton throws coach Wes Newton.

Said Newton, “Because we have Zach, and because they’re (the FHSAA) going to put the javelin in, we started the javelin much earlier than most everybody else, and so, no school in this county does what we do, because we have him.”

Newton also said Godbold’s presence in the javelin has led to several other Wharton athletes taking up the throwing event.

“We have four guys that throw the javelin and about five girls that throw the javelin,” Newton said. “No other school has that.”

Published April 03, 2019

Sheriff’s Office adds innovative fitness program

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The Land O’ Lakes Detention Center has been outfitted with a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness facility equipped with top-of-the-line resistance machines, exercise bikes, ski machines, adjustable weights, kettlebells, plyometric boxes, battling ropes, medicine balls and more.

Known as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Resilience Center, it’s the initial phase of the agency’s newly formed Human Performance Program.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco unveiled the agency’s new Resilience Center and Human Performance Program at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, during a March 18 news conference. The state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness facility is equipped with top-of-the-line resistance machines, exercise bikes, ski machines, adjustable weights, kettlebells, plyometric boxes, battling ropes, medicine balls and more. The sheriff said the program gives the agency ‘the best tools possible to be successful.’ (Kevin Weiss)

The program aims to improve law enforcement officers’ career longevity, injury prevention and overall fitness for on-the-job tasks.

The Resilience Center opened last month in partnership with EXOS, a worldwide human performance company that primarily services professional athletes, the military and corporations.

The Human Performance Program is eventually expected to staff dietitians, physical therapists, a sports psychologist, and strength and conditioning coaches, to better address the specific needs of members.

The sheriff’s office is using grant money to fund the wellness program, which is free to its members. It is believed to be the first time EXOS has partnered with a law enforcement agency.

At the Resilience Center,  the physical training regimen utilizes “functional techniques,” such as Olympic lifts and quick, explosive movements, said Chris Jacquard, who’s contracted by EXOS to serve as the sheriff’s office human performance advisor.

In other words, it’s not the conventional workout routine you’d find at your local gym, whether it be jogging on the treadmill or throwing up some weights.

Pasco Sheriff’s Office deputy trainees go through workouts at the agency’s new Resilience Center at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center. The Resilience Center is one aspect of the agency’s new Human Performance Program that aims to improve law enforcement officers’ career longevity, injury prevention and overall fitness for on-the-job tasks.

Instead, many of the prescribed workouts are designed to best translate to the everyday environment of a law enforcement officer, said Jacquard, who offers one-on-one wellness consultations and organizes group trainings for the agency at the Resilience Center.

That includes, for instance, exercises that strengthen lower backs and lower legs — important for deputies who wear burdensome gun belts and bulletproof vests throughout the course of a 12-hour shift.

Jacquard explained of the fitness program: “Running 5 miles, you’re not going to do that on the job (as a law enforcement officer). You’re going to sprint a quarter-mile as fast as you can and then non-lethally subdue a suspect. How do we train for that type of task? That’s really what we’re going to try to mirror in our approach.”

The Resilience Center also features a body composition scanner, so users can track muscle development, fat levels and so on.

Jacquard noted the machine “is definitely not cheap,” but “mirrors the investment of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office in terms of the health and well-being of their members.”

Pasco Sheriff’s Office Human Performance Advisor Chris Jacquard, pictured right, coaches a deputy trainee on the proper execution of a split squat at the agency’s new Resilience Center at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center. The Resilience Center opened last month in partnership with EXOS, a worldwide human performance company that primarily services professional athletes, the military and corporations.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the Resilience Center and Human Performance Program is all about giving the agency “the best tools possible to be successful.”

Said Nocco, “This is a physical job. You know, we’re expected to jump over fences, to chase people down, to run in somewhere to save somebody, have to get into a fight sometimes, and so, we have to be in the top physical performance, so this is going to help our deputies in the fact that we’ll be in a better performance to go out there and save people.”

He continued, “When you have a good regimen, when you’re exercising the right way, sleeping the right way, drinking plenty of water, and physically exercising, you’re performing at a much higher level.”

The sheriff said about a quarter of the agency has already begun to utilize EXOS programming and the Resilience Center in the short time it’s been around.

It’s been well-received thus far.

“The reaction we’re getting is they’re very excited about it,” Nocco said. “As the word spreads, as success spreads, people want to get involved in this.”

“We’re seeing a lot of interest,” Jacquard added. “The deputies, for the most part, have been highly receptive. You look at an opportunity to perform better, and accessing resources like this that (you) wouldn’t typically see in a civilian setting. We’ve had a lot of participation in the program so far and we’ve really only been around for four weeks.”

The Resilience Center was instituted at the Land O’ Lakes jail, Nocco said, because of its centralized location in the county and because it features “the largest amount of members we have at the sheriff’s office congregated at one place.”

The agency, however, plans to add similar training facilities and related wellness programming to its other district offices in Dade City, Trinity and New Port Richey.

Published March 27, 2019