The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

Academy at the Lakes wins second straight football title

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They did it again.

The Academy at the Lakes Wildcats notched its second straight eight-man football title, downing Miami Citi Christian Academy Fire 36-18 in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) state championship on Dec. 8, at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

Team members for Academy at the Lakes hoist the championship trophy after beating Citi Christian Academy of Miami. (Fred Bellet)

Academy at the Lakes (10-0) never trailed against the Fire (7-3) in a game marked by physicality, aggressive play-calling and bouts of sloppy play.

The Wildcats struck first blood midway through the first quarter when quarterback Jalen Brown, in the face of heavy defensive pressure, completed a 3-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to running back Adrian Leverette.

Near the end of the first half, the sophomore signal-caller drove the Wildcats to the end zone again, with the score square 6-6.

Fielding the ball at their own 38 after a Citi turnover on downs, Brown quickly brought the ball into opposing territory rumbling 22 yards on a bootleg run. He then completed two passes for downs, to set up a 17-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jullian Jennings, with under a minute to go in the half.

For Brown, who entered the game with 26 total touchdowns, those types of plays have been par for the course. Brown was named offensive MVP for the game.

“I thought his play was awesome,” Wildcats head coach Shawn Brown said. “I thought he stayed under control. I thought he stayed composed.

Head Coach Shawn Brown signals during game action against Citi Christian of Miami.

“He had a heck of a season,” the coach said.

The Wildcats cushioned their lead to 22-6 midway through the third quarter on a 3-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back/linebacker Dylan Price — set up by a successful onside kick that gave the Wildcats good field position.

The squad from Miami didn’t give up without a tough fight, however.

The Fire answered with two consecutive scoring drives — the first touchdown set up by a Wildcats failed onside kick; the second, set up by a Brown interception — to narrow the game to 22-18 early in the fourth quarter.

And, they had a chance to take the lead, driving the ball from their own 38-yard line with 4 minutes left in regulation.

At that point, the Wildcat’s championship prospects appeared dicey, with momentum on the opposition’s side.

Citi Christian’s No. 21 Denzel Aracena tries bringing down Academy’s No. 7 Adrian Leverette as he carries for extra yardage during game action in Lakeland.

The team stuck together, however, through the tense moments.

“Nobody got down on each other,” coach Brown said. “We constantly lift people up. We see somebody’s head hanging, I saw players go and talk to them, ‘Hey, you’re all right, you gotta get going.’ I thought they stayed positive. I thought they stayed with it. They were picking kids up that were down, so it was amazing.”

Staying upbeat may have worked for the Wildcats — as the game’s course shifted almost instantly.

A bad snap over the head of Fire quarterback Rolondo Bayex forced an errant throw, which wound up the hands of Wildcats defensive end Tioma Stepanets, who returned the interception 10 yards for a touchdown to give the Wildcats a 30-18 lead with 3:24 left in regulation.

With under a minute left, Wildcats defensive back Caleb Yann added another pick-6 for 85 yards to safely put the game out of reach at 36-18.

Wildcats players and coaches agree: The final score wasn’t indicative of just how challenging the game was, matched up against a team stacked with athleticism and size.

Coach Brown described the game as “crazy, crazy physical.”

Jalen Brown called the game a “dogfight.” “We knew they were going to come in and hit us. We just had to stay cool,” he said.

Academy at the Lakes’ quarterback No. 2 Jalen Brown was the offensive most valuable player at the championship game against Citi Christian Academy of Miami.

Senior running back/linebacker Dylan Price put it this way: “They were a tough team. They hit hard. They had that speed to back up the hard hitting.”

The victory was an encore to last year’s memorable state title run when the team went 11-1 and defeated Jacksonville Old Plank Christian Academy 30-9 — for the school’s first-ever eight-man state football championship.

That 2017 season also prepared the team for what to expect this time around.

“I think our experience from last year is the reason why we pulled away in this game,” Jalen Brown said. “(Citi) came out with everything right away, and we were calm, cool and collected, and we just executed.”

With two consecutive state titles, an undefeated season and 20-game winning streak in tow, the team already has their sights set on a third straight championship.

“It’s happening,” Jalen Brown said.

Meanwhile, for seniors like Price, a team captain, his high school career couldn’t have ended any better.

“Every high school player has that image of wanting to end their season on top, with a state championship, get a ring. I’ve been able to do that twice, so it’s just amazing. To celebrate it with these guys, it’s great,” he said.

Road to a perfect season
Sept. 14: Citi Christian Academy (24-12 win)

Sept. 21: at Solid Rock Community (53-6 win)

Sept. 28: at Canterbury (34-13 win)

Oct. 19: Faith Christian (46-13 win)

Oct. 26: St. Lucie Christian (13-0 win by forfeit)

Nov. 2: at Lakeside Christian (15-6 win)

Nov. 9: at Bell Creek Academy (52-0 win)

Nov. 16: Harvest Community (22-6 win)

Nov. 30: Duval Charter (27-16 win)

Dec. 8: Citi Christian Academy (36-18 win)

Scoring Plays


First quarter
(6:29) — Academy at the Lakes (AATL) quarterback Jalen Brown completes a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Adrian Leverett; extra point no good (6-0, AATL leads)

(0:19) — Citi Christian Academy (CCA) athlete Walter Grimes rushes 3 yards for a touchdown; extra point no good (6-6, tie game)

Second quarter
(0:54) — Brown completes a 17-yard touchdown pass to receiver Julian Jennings; 2-point conversion good (14-6, AATL leads)

Third quarter
(7:01) — AATL running back Dylan Prices rushes 3 yards for a touchdown; extra point (22-6, AATL leads)

(5:09) — CCA running back Derrick Posas rushes 3 yards for a touchdown; 2-point conversion attempt no good (22-12, AATL leads)

Fourth quarter
(7:59) — CCA offensive lineman Wilbert Fabian recovers an offensive fumble for a touchdown at the 1-yard line; two-point conversion no good (22-18, AATL leads)

(3:24) — AATL defensive end Tioma Stepanets returns an interception 10 yards for a touchdown; extra point good (30-18, AATL leads)

(0:58) – AATL defensive back Caleb Yann returns an interception 85 yards for a touchdown; extra point no good (36-18, AATL leads)

Final: 36-18, AATL wins

Academy at the Lakes Wildcats 2018 roster (By jersey number)
1—Jullian Jennings, senior

2—Jalen Brown, sophomore (team captain)

3—Tioma Stepanets, senior (team captain)

4—Peyton Williams, sophomore

5—Jamaal Johnson, senior

6—Brandon Lemke, senior

7—Adrian Leverette, sophomore

8—Amad Zarak, senior

9—Caleb Yann, sophomore

10—Sebastian Sosa, junior

11—Cole Lallanilla, junior

12—Denzyl Downing, junior

13—Tayshawn Pendleton, sophomore

15—James Elverson, freshman

17—AJ Panepinto, freshman

18—Elijah Freedman, junior (Team captain)

22—Dylan Price, senior (Team captain)

23—Carson Passero, senior

47—Quinn McCormick, eighth grade

48—Andrew Kilfoyl, sophomore

52—Matthew Martin, junior

54—Adam Zarak, sophomore

55—Jordan Witt, junior

81—Terrell Woods, freshman

87—Will Callaghan, senior

97—Jay Qian, junior

99—Dwight Downing, sophomore

Coaching/training staff
Shawn Brown, head coach

Kevin Barrett, assistant coach

Landon Smith, assistant coach

Kirk Downing, assistant coach/stats

Jesus Soler, assistant coach

Ben Donatelli, assistant coach

Troy Williams, assistant coach

Makenzie Brinker, athletic trainer

Managers: Ian Curry, Carter Kienast

Published December 12, 2018

Locals make impact in college football ranks

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The college football regular season has come to a close, and dozens of players with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area showcased their skills on Saturdays in the fall.

More than 100 players from the area are a part of various programs at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) levels, as well as Division II, Division III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Here’s a closer look at a few of the top performers from the 2018 season:

Amani Oruwariye

Amani Oruwariye—Penn State University, redshirt senior cornerback
High School/Hometown: Gaither High School/Tampa

The former Gaither standout earned first-team All-Big 10 honors, finishing the season with three interceptions, 12 pass breakups and 48 tackles — part of a secondary that allowed 186.5 yards through the air per game, a number that ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference.

Some outlets, including Pro Football Focus and CBS Sports, project the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Oruwariye as a possible first-round talent in the 2019 NFL Draft, for his ideal size, ball skills and man-to-man coverage responsibilities.

Oruwariye is one of several Gaither alums playing at the Division I football ranks. Others include DeCalon Brooks (Florida State, redshirt freshman linebacker), Estefano Feliciano (Old Dominion, redshirt freshman linebacker), Donovan Jennings (South Florida, freshman offensive lineman), Cayden Jordan (Charleston Southern, freshman wide receiver), Shane McGough (Florida International, redshirt sophomore center) and Matthew Wood (Holy Cross, freshman linebacker).

Jaylen Pickett

Jaylen Pickett—Eastern Michigan University, senior linebacker
High School/Hometown: Zephyrhills High School/Zephyrhills

After playing in just six contests last season, the Zephyrhills High product bounced back for a productive senior campaign — registering 72 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two sacks; and, helping Eastern Michigan (7-5) become bowl eligible for the second time in three years. Should Eastern Michigan earn a bowl bid, the 6-foot-1, 224-pound Pickett will suit up one final time as a Division I FBS football player.

Pickett also happens to be college teammates with another athlete with local ties — sophomore running back Willie Parker, who attended Carrollwood Day School.

The Pickett name is a familiar one in Zephyrhills — Jaylen’s father, Damian Pickett, and his  uncle, Ryan Pickett (13-year NFL veteran) are both former Bulldogs greats from the 1990s.

Scott Patchan

Scott Patchan—University of Miami, redshirt junior defensive end
High School/Hometown: IMG Academy/Freedom High School/New Tampa

Coming out of Freedom High (and transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton for his senior year), Patchan was one of the state’s most highly rated prospects in the 2015 recruiting class.

He’s finally starting to live up to the hype of being a four-star recruit who was once courted by blue blood programs like Florida State, Ohio State, Notre Dame and others.

After playing tight end for Miami last season, he moved back to his more natural position of defensive end, posting 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble in 11 games. He played in just five games the last two seasons combined.

Provided he stays healthy, look for the 6-foot-6, 255-pound Patchan to be one of Miami’s top defensive players next season.

Patchan is something of a Miami legacy, as his father Matt Patchan III won national titles with the Canes in 1983 and 1987.

DeCalon Brooks

DeCalon Brooks—Florida State University, redshirt freshman linebacker
High School/Hometown: Gaither High School/Tampa

The son of NFL Hall of Famer/Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Florida State legend Derrick Brooks appears set on paving his own legacy at the same institution his father once starred.

After logging repetitions on the Seminoles’ scout team last season—and dealing with a nagging knee injury throughout — the younger Brooks emerged to become one of the Seminoles’ more productive defensive players in 2018 — registering 46 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and forced fumble in 11 contests.

Moving forward, the undersized, yet speedy 5-foot-11, 211-pound backer looks to be a building block for a Seminoles program, which just suffered its first losing season (5-7) since 1976, under first-year head coach Willie Taggart.

Brooks is one of several young Seminoles with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, joining freshman defensive back Isaiah Bolden (Wesley Chapel High School), sophomore tight end Tre’ McKitty (Wesley Chapel native/Wesley Chapel High/IMG Academy) and freshman offensive lineman Chaz Neal (Wesley Chapel High).

Chris Faddoul

Chris Faddoul—Florida A&M University, sophomore punter
High School/Hometown: Wiregrass Ranch High School/Wesley Chapel

The former Wiregrass Ranch multi-sport star emerged as one of the nation’s premier specialists this season, earning first team All-MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) honors and leading the Division I FCS ranks in punting average (47.0 yards per punt) — up from 39.4 yards per punt he posted as a true freshman in 2017.

As a further show of Faddoul’s leg strength, 14 of 41 punts were 50 or more yards, including a long of 67 yards. He also tallied seven touchbacks, nine fair catches, and 17 punts inside the 20-yard line.

While at Wiregrass Ranch, it seemed as though no sport was off limits for Faddoul. He played football, soccer, tennis, and also competed in track & field.

Also noteworthy, Florida A&M has another Wesley Chapel native on its roster — sophomore safety Ellrie Allen, who prepped at Wesley Chapel High School.

Other news and notes on locals in college football:

—Former Zephyrhills High record-setting running back Antwione Sims made solid contributions in his freshman season at Samford University, tallying 150 rushing yards on 35 carries; also added 10 receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown.

—Before he suffered a torn ACL in late October, Dade City native/Pasco High/Tampa Bay Tech alum Mike Penix Jr., saw some action throughout his freshman season at Indiana University, completing 21 of 34 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown in three appearances.

—Wesley Chapel native/ Wesley Chapel High/IMG Academy product Tre’ McKitty had a strong sophomore campaign at the tight end spot for Florida State University, catching 26 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games.

— Former Wiregrass Ranch High standouts Jordan Miner (Penn State) and Daniel Biglow (Florida Atlantic University) were forced to retire from football before their college freshman seasons due to similar cardiovascular conditions. (Physicals revealed the sport would put too much stress on their hearts.) Miner and Biglow, who are cousins, helped Wiregrass Ranch to two straight playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017.

—Wesley Chapel High product Isaiah Bolden had his freshman season at Florida State University cut short when he suffered season-ending shoulder injury in September. Since Bolden played in only one game this season, NCAA rules allowed him to redshirt this season and have four more years of eligibility.

— Dade City natives and half-brothers Nate Craig-Myers (Pasco High/Tampa Catholic) and Jayvaughn Myers (Pasco High) both left the Auburn University football team in September.

Craig-Myers, a junior receiver, and Myers, a redshirt sophomore defensive back, both have two years of eligibility remaining at the program they transfer to. (The NCAA’s new redshirt rules allow players to play in up to four games before losing the ability to redshirt and preserve a season of eligibility.)

Published December 5, 2018

Shining at states

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(Courtesy of Habib Fayiz)

Wesley Chapel Martial Arts Academy had a strong showing at last month’s Florida Tae Kwon Do Open Championships in Sarasota, with several youth members collecting individual medals. From left: Habib Fayiz, owner of Wesley Chapel Martial Arts Academy; Mathew McMahon, silver medals in sparring and forms; Jeremy McMahon, silver medals in sparring and forms; Zachary Cannon, gold medal in sparring, silver in weapons; Lynzi Sozine, gold medal in sparring, silver in forms; Kennedy Bruce, gold medal in sparring, silver in forms; and, Braydon Young, gold medal in sparring, silver in forms.

Local commitments and signings

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Jesuit High senior catcher Jimmy Clifford, a Lutz resident, has signed to play collegiate baseball at Division III Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut). Clifford posted a .200 batting average and .429 on-base percentage; he also registered a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 11 games. Clifford grew up playing many years in Lutz Little League, and attended Lutz Elementary and Most Holy Redeemer schools.

Zephyrhills High senior receiver/cornerback Ja’Quan Sheppard verbally committed to play collegiate football at Division I Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). A four-year varsity player, Sheppard wrapped up his prep career as one of the more decorated athletes in program history. In 43 career games, Sheppard tallied 34 touchdowns and 2,192 scrimmage yards on 87 receptions and 51 carries; he also registered 65 career tackles, five interceptions and 20 passes defensed. A consensus three-star prospect, Sheppard holds Division I FBS offers from the likes of Cincinnati, Kentucky, North Carolina State and South Florida universities, among others.

Volleyball standout earns collegiate honor

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Sydney Hiner (Courtesy of Chowan University)

Former Land O’ Lakes High School volleyball standout Sydney Hiner, now a freshman outside hitter at Division II Chowan University (Murfreesboro, North Carolina), recently earned Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s All-Rookie and All-Second team honors.

Hiner finished the season with 149 kills and 301 digs. She also finished 21st in Division II in aces per set (0.47), also the highest mark among all freshman.

During her senior year at Land O’ Lakes, Hiner earned All-Pasco County honors after registering 223 kills, 198 digs and 39 aces.

Zephyrhills opens doors to new City Hall

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The brand-new Zephyrhills City Hall has been in operation since October — but local residents and dignitaries got an up-close view of the digs during a Nov. 27 open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

At 19,000 square feet, the $6.2 million building represents a major upgrade to the former City Hall facility, which was 11,000 square feet and was built in the 1950s.

The new $6.2 million Zephyrhills City Hall is more than 19,000 square feet. The two-story building is located at 5335 Eighth St. (Kevin Weiss)

The two-story building, at 5335 Eighth St., has a modernized brick and stone exterior, and is accented with a fountain and courtyard plaza.

The interior has a similar majestic feel.

On the whole, the new City Hall features more open workspaces and multifunctional meeting rooms, which can flexibly be used to accommodate public events.

The first floor is spotlighted by its sizable council chambers — outfitted with high ceilings, large windows and modern decor. It seats up to 80 people and is equipped with large flat-screen televisions to help attendees see presentations.

Also on the first floor, is a large main lobby and a sizable reception area, for those waiting to meet with the city’s utility, building and planning departments.

Much of the second floor features administration and IT office spaces, as well as a conference room and break room. Several of the second floor spaces are double-door rooms, which may later be converted to more offices as the city grows.

Technology is another a significant feature in the facility. It has automatic lighting and upgraded thermostats, as well as security cameras and access-control keypads. Meeting rooms are equipped with Smart TVs that are integrated with office computers for greater efficiency and planning purposes.

Multiple restrooms, stairwells and an elevator are some other noted features.

City officials expressed excitement about the City Hall during the open house event.

The new Zephyrhills City Hall was christened with a Nov. 27 open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is a beautiful facility,” Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield said. “The first thing I thought of when I came in after it was finished was, ‘Wow!’”

He added: “We’re very proud of it and very proud we could do this for our citizens. It’s their building. It fits our community, and we’re really proud of that and we’re proud to have the honor of serving the community.”

Zephyrhills City Council president Lance Smith was enthusiastic about the building, too. He noted the former City Hall felt “kind of like a dungeon.”

“It was well past time we needed this new building,” Smith said. “It’s just a beautiful building, and I think that’s what a public structure should be — it should be something that everybody’s proud of and it’s to be used by the community.”

Smith also took time to encourage more residents to utilize the council chambers to host meetings, events and other activities. “I just want everybody to use this. …Instead of being used once every two weeks, I want to see that thing used,” he said.

Fellow City Council member Jodi Wilkeson expressed these sentiments, regarding the new City Hall: “I believe in my heart that the people who hold this city together — the workers— they deserve a structure like this, as do the citizens of our community.”

The City Hall project was designed and built by Harvard Jolly and A.D. Morgan.

It took more than a year to build the facility after the old City Hall was demolished last September. During construction, Zephyrhills staffers worked from the city’s old police station on Ninth Street, while City Council meetings were held at the Zephyrhills Public Library.

Assistant City Clerk Jessica Carter remembers her co-workers being elated to finally move into the new City Hall on Oct. 8.

“That was a day we were all looking forward to. We didn’t mind coming into work that Monday,” Carter said with a chuckle.

Though pleased with the entire facility, Carter noted the break room, of course, is a favorite among city employees, herself included.

Said Carter: “It’s a happening place; lots of counter spaces.

“I don’t know if anybody saw the old City Hall, but our break room was more like a closet with a refrigerator, so this is definitely a huge upgrade,” she added.

The new building is still undergoing a few final finishing touches, according to Public Works Director Shane LeBlanc. Those include correcting minor painting flaws, window treatments and other punch list items. Work is also being done on the courtyard fountain and an additional parking lot, which is expected to be finished by January.

Published December 5, 2018

Tennis center plans are progressing

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The approved renderings for the exterior design of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center include brick elements and flat awnings that blend the features of some of the City of Zephyrhills’ newer buildings, such as the library and City Hall, and the city’s older downtown historic buildings.

Shown here is the front exterior rendering of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center that was approved by the Zephyrhills City Council. A final architectural design for the project will be presented at a later date. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

The Zephyrhills City Council came to a consensus on the design for the much-awaited facility during the council’s Nov. 26 meeting.

The exterior also is accented with signage, a large-picture window and glass fixtures, based on the rendering.

The rear view includes a memorial statue of Sarah Vande Berg — named after the former Zephyrhills High School district champion who died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in October 2015.

Before being presented to the City Council, multiple tennis center designs were reviewed by the Zephyrhills Parks and Recreation Board, and a committee made up of City Manager Steve Spina, Planning Director Todd Vande Berg, Public Works director Shane LeBlanc, Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson and professional tennis instructor Pascal Collard, who will manage the tennis center.

The council has gone back and forth since September on various renderings to best match the municipal architecture of the city.

A final design and floor plan now will be completed by the project’s architectural firm, Fleishman-Garcia Architects.

The process of selecting a design wasn’t easy, Wilkeson said, but she believes the city now has “a very clear direction for the architect.”

The rear exterior rendering.

The tennis center project, expected to cost about $3.5 million, will be located on about 5 acres of donated land at The District at Abbott’s Square, a new real estate development situated north of Dean Dairy Road and west of Simons Road.

The tennis center will be 7,000 square feet to 8,000 square feet. Plans call for it to include a fitness/wellness center and cryotherapy room, a pro shop, a restaurant, conference and multipurpose rooms, a kid’s club and playground, a common area, office spaces and other features.

Next to the indoor center, there will be 11 full-size outdoor courts — a mix of clay and hard surfaces — built to U.S Tennis Association (USTA) professional standards.

At some point, there’s also a possibility of phasing in a covered/indoor tennis court building that would have four full-size courts.

Discussions about the entire project began in 2016.

Planning Director Todd Vande Berg said there’s not yet a set date for breaking ground, but noted the city ideally would like to begin construction sometime in the first quarter of 2019.

He explained the tennis facility could be finished by late 2019 or early 2020 “if we get started when we think.”

In other action:

  • The City Council unanimously approved a contract for incoming assistant city manager Billy Poe. Per its terms, Poe, 42, will earn a $105,000 annual base salary and will be enrolled in the city’s health insurance policy. Poe, who’s served as Dade City manager for the past 11 years, will begin his new role on or before Feb. 7, 2019. He is expected to replace Zephyrhills City Manager Steve Spina once he retires sometime next year. Poe was offered the assistant city manager position during a special city council meeting on Nov. 7.
  • The City Council passed the city’s 2018-2018 fiscal year budget of more than $59.4 million, based on a millage rate at 6.35.

Published December 5, 2018

Zephyrhills meetings may go ‘live’

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Residents and others may soon be able to listen and watch the City of Zephyrhills’ public meetings online.

The idea has been floated to city leaders by video production company IntellisMedia, a division of WUSF Public Media.

Under its initial proposal, IntellisMedia would agree to live-stream and record designated city meetings (city council, planning commission, airport commission and so on) from the City Council chambers for a fee of $750 per meeting ; the city would have to agree to live-stream and record a minimum of three meetings per month, costing about $2,250. The company would provide all labor and equipment necessary to process the live-stream and recordings.

Live-streamed, and audio and video recorded meetings would be available on the city’s official website, as well as other platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube. Recorded meetings may also air on Pasco County’s government-access television channel, which IntellisMedia also manages.

Zephyrhills City Manager Steve Spina told the City Council he will consult with city staff to look into other live-streaming options and proposals before making a final decision.

“I think it’s a good idea, and I think some of our staff are pretty excited about the idea of live-streaming our meetings and kind of getting up with times,” Spina said, “but this was the first and only proposal we had, so it might be worthwhile to look at it a little more.”

Some other Pasco municipalities, including Port Richey and New Port Richey, stream and record their meetings through their official city websites and YouTube.

“I know a lot of other municipalities and counties do have those things available for people to watch and tune into,” Spina said.

“I think it’s something of interest,” Spina added.

Zephyrhills City Council president Lance Smith said, “It’s something we need to look into, for sure.”

Published December 5, 2018

PHSC seminar aims to help reduce impaired driving

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Drunk driving forever changed Brian Rushing’s life.

He was just 18 years old when he wrecked his SUV and killed his 21-year-old brother, Nathan.

That fateful night on Nov. 18, 2007, Rushing’s blood alcohol content was 0.09, over the legal limit.

After a night of partying, the last thing he remembers is seeing his brother at the family’s Land O’ Lakes home.

Brian Rushing shared his personal tragedy of being involved in a drunk driving crash, during a DUI awareness seminar at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel. Pictured in the background is Rushing’s older brother, Nathan, who died in the 2007 Land O’ Lakes crash. (Kevin Weiss)

He doesn’t remember getting in his car or pulling out of his family’s driveway; nor does he remember swerving off the road on Parkway Boulevard in Land O’ Lakes.

“I was in a blackout,” Rushing recalled. “I shouldn’t have been drinking.”

Rushing was later charged with DUI manslaughter in the death of his brother.

He was sentenced to nine months in county jail and 10 years felony probation. His license was revoked for life. Said Rushing: “DUIs destroy lives.”

More costly to Rushing, however, is each day he must cope with the loss of his brother — a brother he adored and looked up to.

“I have to live with that decision for the rest of my life,” he said. “And the consequences.”

Rushing was a guest speaker at a DUI awareness seminar at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

The Nov. 13 event was part of the state college’s ongoing Community Awareness Series, open to the public, students, faculty and staff.

Rushing, now 29, has turned his life around.

He’s been sober for more than 10 years, graduating from college and now working as a registered nurse.

He often shares his personal story to warn others about the dangers of driving under the influence, in hopes of preventing other families from experiencing a tragedy like his did.

“I never thought it could happen to me,” he said, “until it did, and it rocked my world. I thought it was something you’d read about in the newspapers in other towns.”

Stories like Rushing’s are all too common, the seminar revealed.

More than 11,000 people died and more than 290,000 were injured last year in drunk driving crashes, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

More than 1,100 of those fatalities occurred between Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve.

The problem hits locally, too.

The Tampa Alcohol Coalition (TAC) reports that Hillsborough County ranked No. 1 in Florida for DUI arrests (4,077) last year.

The county was also tops in Florida in 2015, which is the latest available data from the state, in alcohol-related crashes (1,469), alcohol-related injuries (993) and alcohol-related fatalities (66), the coalition reports.

“To be No.1, even though we’re the fourth-most populated county, is very alarming,” said Ellen Snelling, who chairs the Tampa Alcohol Coalition, which is part of the larger Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance.

Snelling, who has worked with the organizations since 2000, provided a closer look at the sobering statistics throughout the seminar.

Some suggest the area’s limited public transportation system is largely to blame for the county’s impaired driving figures.

Snelling, however, believes there’s more at play.

“We can try to work more on public transportation,” she said, “but I think the real reason is the mindset of people thinking, kind of like Brian said, ‘It’s not going to happen to me.”

Too many people want to party, and then think they can drive home and be fine, she said. “And, that’s a huge problem.”

Snelling also pointed to the high number of concentrated bars and clubs throughout the Tampa area.

She refers to them as “drinking malls,” where groups of people will hit several spots in one night, taking advantage of drink specials at each establishment.

“And, what if you haven’t made a plan? You’re going to get in the car and drive,” she warned.

Snelling went on to explain that closing gaps in some of Florida’s alcohol laws is critical to preventing impaired driving incidents, in particular, first-time offenses.

Florida is one of two states that has no law against bars serving obviously intoxicated persons; the other being Nevada.

Florida also has a weak dram shop law, which refers to civil liability for bars and clubs that serve an intoxicated person who later causes serious injury or fatality. (Under the law, individuals or businesses who sell alcohol will generally not be held liable for damages or injuries caused by a drunk person who they sold alcohol to.)

Snelling put it this way: “Now we don’t want bartenders and servers to lose their jobs, but we do want to send a strong message, because if you prevent a person from getting super intoxicated, there’s less of a chance they’re going to get in a car and drive and cause a terrible crash.”

She also observed: “We need to look at the circumstances, and if a bar is making tons of money by overserving and having like all these drink specials, then they should be held accountable, too.”

Drinking and driving isn’t the only problem, Snelling said.

“It’s not just about alcohol — it’s about drugs. It’s about marijuana. It’s about pills. It’s about opioids. …We’ve got to work on ways to reduce the use of alcohol and drugs before driving,” she said.

The Tampa Bay region leads the state with the most confirmed crashes caused by drugged drivers, with 465 since 2014, Snelling said. Also, deadly crashes caused by drivers high on drugs have increased 47 percent in the past three years.

Other speakers at the seminar included Jeannine Laurence, Mothers Against Drunk Driving program specialist; and, Dr. Eddie Williams, PHSC assistant professor of human services.

Published November 28, 2018

Local youth barefoot water-skier is a rising star

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In the extreme sport of barefoot water-skiing, one of the world’s top-ranked juniors can regularly be seen perfecting his craft on the steady waters of East Lake Padgett.

Hanging on to a line from the boat’s tower, Brett Swanbom endures the spray from barefooting in the stern of his father’s boat. (Fred Bellet)

Twelve-year-old Brett Swanbom is a Land O’ Lakes resident and seventh-grader at Pine View Middle School. He also happens to be a two-time national junior champion and the world’s ninth-ranked junior barefoot water skier, according to the World Barefoot Council’s latest published rankings.

Since he took up the craft three years ago, Swanbom has collected countless trophies, individual medals and other honors for his assortment of tricks, jumps and slaloms on the water.

His latest career highlight is his greatest.

That’s when he was one of just six youths selected to the 2018 U.S. Junior Barefoot Water Ski Team. In August, the group topped 11 other countries to win overall gold at the 2018 Barefoot Water Ski World Championships, at Dream Lake in Napanee, Ontario, Canada.

Twelve-year-old Brett Swanbom attempts to master barefooting tricks to improve his standings with the World Barefoot Council’s rankings.

Until recently, Swanbom’s biggest goal was to make the 2020 U.S. junior team. So, when he was selected to the national team two years earlier than expected, it came as a very pleasant — and shocking — surprise.

“When (my dad) first said it to me, I didn’t believe it. I thought it was a joke,” Swanbom said, with a chuckle.

In addition to Team USA’s gold medal against the likes of New Zealand, Australia and others, Swanbom finished ninth overall as an individual boys junior at the World Games; other Americans also dominated the leaderboards.

“I was happy,” Swanbom said, of the performance. “It was kind of funny, too, because there were so many (Team USA) people that we kept falling off the podium.”

And, the overall trip to Canada proved special.

Holding onto a slalom wake handle, Brett Swanbom reverses his position at 45 mph for some backward barefooting.

Though he acknowledged it felt strange to spend a week away from family, the elite barefooter enjoyed soaking up time with his fellow Team USA teammates. He also made new friends from other nations, swapping articles of country-themed World Games gear with one another.

Swanbom also remembers plenty of playful nationalism throughout the trip.

He recalled one such comical experience of first arriving to the team’s hotel in Ontario: “So, we had a minivan, and we just pulled into the hotel and we blasted ‘Proud to be an American,’ and everyone’s looking at us because they’re from Canada.”

The World Games wasn’t the only major success for Swanbom this season.

One hand, one foot. Brett Swanbom makes it look easy at 45 mph on Lake Padgett, in Land O’ Lakes.

He also claimed a national title at the 41st annual Footin.com Barefoot Water Ski National Championship, held in July at Lake Grew in Polk City. In the boys B division (12 & under), Swanbom swept titles in slalom (12.00 points), tricks (2,580 points), jumping (32 feet) and overall (3,000.0 points).

His next task: Build upon those numbers in time for the 2020 World Games in Sydney, Australia. By then, Swanbom said he’d like to tally somewhere around 16 points in slalom, 4,000 to 5,000 points in tricks, and around 50 feet in jumps.

To achieve those marks, Swanbom is working to refine high-scoring maneuvers like toe holds, reverse turns and more. He practices many of his new moves on dry land before hitting the lake several times per week. “We try to go out every day,” he said.

The elite barefooter also plays other sports, such as flag football and basketball.

Brett Swanbom, 12, of Land O’ Lakes, is a rising superstar in the world of barefoot skiing, and he’s got the medals, plaques and trophies to prove it.

But, he’s more drawn to barefooting because he likes “always having a new challenge and learning a new thing.” He explained: “Like a lot of kids want to play (sports like) baseball and master everything, and it’s easy for them, but this one takes until like you’re 20 (years old) to get everything done.”

Barefooting is evidently challenging, as it requires a combination of balance, technique and strength.

It also requires a rare brand of toughness — bracing for water falls at high rates of speed.

“You gotta be tough to take the falls,” Swanbom said. “A lot of the falls hurt, and I’ve seen some people, they quit because of the falls, they just can’t take ‘em.”

Swanbom’s affinity for the sport can be traced to his father, Bob Swanbom, a former professional show skier on the Wisconsin-based Tommy Bartlett water-ski team back in the 1970s and 1980s.

Nowadays, the elder Swanbom will post videos of his son’s barefooting skills on Facebook, where some of his old ski friends will remark that Brett may someday surpass him.

The father proudly pointed out it’s already happened.

“He’s way better than I ever was. He’s way excelled past me,” Bob Swanbom said.

The father added, “I was pretty good in my time, but everything’s advanced so much. …Seeing him come up, he’s more of a natural at it.”

Interestingly, Brett Swanbom isn’t the first big name in the sport to come from Land O’ Lakes. The Lake Padgett community is also home to Don Mixon Sr., and Don Mixon Jr. — both regarded as pioneers in the sport. Mixon Sr., is the past president of the American Barefoot Waterskiing Association and a former coach of the United States Barefoot Team. Mixon Jr., is a former barefoot professional, winning the 1994 World Barefoot Championship in Sydney, Australia.

What is barefoot water-skiing?
Barefoot skiing, also referred to as “barefooting,” is water-skiing behind a motorboat without the use of water skis. It requires skiers to travel at higher speeds than conventional water-skiing (30 mph to 45 mph); the necessary speed required to keep the skier upright varies by the weight of the barefooter.

There are three events in traditional barefooting:

  • Tricks: The skier has two passes of 15 seconds to complete as many different tricks as possible. All tricks have specific point values depending on difficulty. The skier also is awarded points for the start trick they performed to get up.
  • Slalom: The skier has two passes of 15 seconds to cross the wake as many times as possible. The skier can cross the wake forward or backward, and on two feet or one foot.
  • Jump: The skier travels over a small, fiberglass jump ramp. They have three jumps, and the longest one successfully landed counts.

Published November 28, 2018