The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

Traffic signals on tap in Zephyrhills

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Pasco County officials are lauding a new traffic signal in Zephyrhills — for making a busy intersection a little less dangerous.

The fully operable traffic light at Eiland Boulevard and Handcart Road was installed in time for the 7 a.m., start of the school year on Aug. 13.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said the project has been “a main priority” for Zephyrhills and the county since he stepped into office in 2014.

Pasco County officials recently held an informal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new traffic signal at Eiland Boulevard and Handcart Road in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“It was much-needed,” Moore said. “It’s a life-safety issue, so that’s what’s most important. We have to think about our citizens’ lives and their safety, and this is obviously done to stop potential accidents.”

It, too, has been on fellow County Commissioner Ron Oakley’s radar for some time.

He explained: “I’ve been here my entire life, so I know so many different people that this light affects. Before this light was installed, many accidents were happening.

“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve run across and said, ‘Thank you for getting that light.’”

Pasco County engineering services director Margaret Smith called the traffic signal “a definite, definite need” for Zephyrhills — labeling it “a good intersection control project.”

“Just watch (traffic) coming through compared to the craziness it was before — it totally controls the intersection,” she said.

Smith pointed out previous struggles for motorists to make left-hand turns east from Handcart onto two-lane Eiland Boulevard.

“I’ve been there all kinds of times of day, and it was very difficult. I think they needed to slow it down a little bit,” Smith said.

Such turns were also something Oakley experienced, as a nearby resident: “You can take a right turn here fairly easily, but you take a left turn and you’re taking a chance,” he said.

Along with the traffic signal, Eiland and Handcart had other improvements, including guardrails and road resurfacing.

Reflective pavement markings also will be installed at the intersection in about a month, officials say.

The Pasco County Commission approved the design plans for the project in 2016. Construction began in March 2018.

Before construction, the county completed a 30-day traffic operations study at the intersection to collect traffic data.

The analysis showed the traffic signal was warranted “based on Handcart (Road) southbound approach volumes and the amount of left turn vehicles turning east onto Eiland Boulevard.”

The study also found that two crashes occurred from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013. The crashes “may have been prevented with the installation of a traffic signal,” the study found.

From Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014, the study also documented two angle crashes that occurred at the intersection.

Meanwhile, other traffic signals are coming to Zephyrhills.

A new signal is expected to be operating at Eiland and Geiger Road by late November.

A third is planned at Chancey and Coats roads. That signal will be operating in late October.

Oakley noted each of those signals are necessities to keep up with increasing traffic patterns: “The reason for these (roads) being so busy is our growth in our county. I mean, that’s great growth we’re having, and it’s a managed growth, so this is part of that management — managing traffic because it’s gotten bigger and bigger with the schools and the communities here.”

Published August 29, 2018

First female pilot earns private license in PHSC program

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The first time she steered a plane, Vanessa Baker was hooked.

It was that moment, on an introductory discovery flight, that she knew piloting was the career for her.

“The second you do it, you fall in love,” Baker said. “It was kind of like an addiction after, like you do it and once you’re like, ‘This is awesome! I want to do this again!’”

Baker, 24, is the first — and currently the only— female pilot student at Pasco-Hernando State College to have earned a private pilot’s license, through the school’s professional pilot technology program.

Vanessa Baker is the first, and currently the only, female piloting student from Pasco-Hernando State College to have earned a private pilot’s license through the school’s professional pilot technology program. She began taking classes in January and earned her first wings in July. She has about another year-and-a-half in the associates of science aviation degree program. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Baker’s interest in flying piqued after her father showed her a magazine about the PHSC’s new aviation department at the East Campus in Dade City.

A self-proclaimed “wild child,” Baker figured she’d give it a shot. She’s had fun ever since.

“Literally, every day I’m there, I have the best time,” she said of learning to fly.

Baker began taking classes in January and earned her first wings in July.

“I do feel a sense of accomplishment, like, ‘Hey, I was the first female to do this. If I can do it, you can definitely do it,’” she said.

Along with the designation at PHSC, Baker joins rare company nationwide.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports about 7 percent of all pilots are females, equating to about 42,000 total.

Even fewer are commercial pilots, which Baker wants to become someday.

Said Baker: “I definitely do think it’s interesting that it’s mostly a male-dominated field. I think that’s very weird. It doesn’t make any sense to me at all, and I think it would be really cool if that changed.”

Mark Aragon, PHSC professional pilot director, said other female students are enrolled in the PHSC aviation program, but have yet to get their private pilot’s license.

He also noted just 10 percent of all pilot students across each state college end up earning their wings, making Baker part of an “elite group.”

Aragon taught Baker her aviation ground school classes.

The instructor admits Baker struggled early on, but her effort and dedication has won out in a pilot technology program, which he said “is like drinking from a fire hose.”

“She’s going to be very successful,” Aragon said. “She has that stick-to-itiveness, that drive and desire that like, ‘This is what I want to do. This is what I want to be. I’m not going to let anything slow me down.’”

Private pilot license in hand, Baker is still seeking her instrument pilot rating, multi-engine pilot rating and commercial pilot license — all through the two-year professional pilot technology associates of science degree program.

She’s racked up more than 100 flying hours at the American Aviation Flight Academy at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. She needed about 40 hours to earn her private license.

At the academy, Baker trains in a Cessna 172, a four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft that cruises at 140 mph and reaches more than 180 mph.

She’s flown throughout Florida, passing over Naples, St. Augustine, Crystal River, Gainesville, Ocala and Crystal River, and even going as far north as Valdosta, Georgia.

The thrill of flying still hasn’t worn off, Baker said.

“You definitely feel alive,” she said. “I still look out the window when I’m flying, and I’m just like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to do this!’”

In between her busy class and flight schedule, Baker works as a phlebotomist at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, not leaving much room for free time.

“It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it,” Baker said. “I think this is probably the best decision I’ve ever made — definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”

The state college launched its aviation department last August.

It began offering two Associate of Science degrees in professional pilot technology and aviation administration. This fall, it began offering A.S. degrees in aviation maintenance administration and unmanned vehicles systems operations.

The two–year programs are designed for students interested in becoming private and commercial pilots or airport managers.

Other possible career opportunities include flight dispatchers, transportation security officers, various Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) occupations, aviation safety and aircraft manufacturing.

Pilot students, who receive more than 200 flying hours during the entire degree program, also train on the FAA-approved Advanced Flight Simulator Laboratory, located at PHSC’s East Campus. The simulators can be reconfigured to emulate all types of aircraft in any environment or weather condition, providing a realistic experience.

Besides flight training, other classroom topics cover meteorology, flight safety and security, flight theory, and aviation regulations, among others.

Baker and other PHSC aviation students seem to be entering the aviation industry at an ideal time.

A 2017 report by Boeing estimates airlines in North America are going to need 117,000 new pilots and more than 200,000 aviation mechanics in the next 20 years, as passenger and cargo airlines worldwide are expected to buy 41,000 new airliners through 2036.

And, retirements at U.S. airlines will start to rise precipitously starting in 2021 as the current crop of pilots turn 65, the mandated age of retirement. More than 42 percent of active U.S. airline pilots at the biggest carriers will retire over the next 20 years, according to a 2017 report by Cowen & Company.

In Florida, meanwhile, employment as a professional pilot is expected to grow by about 13.5 percent between 2016 and 2024, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO).

Pilots in Pasco and Hernando counties typically earn entry level salaries of about $30,000 for a private pilot, and up to $104,000 for a commercial pilot, the FDEO says.

“The risk is worth the reward,” Baker said. “I think it’s a great thing to get into, and I don’t know why more people don’t do it.”

Published August 29, 2018

Perfect score

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Wharton High boys varsity cross-country team (Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

On Aug. 21, the Wharton High boys cross-country team won the Central Hills Divisional 5K at King High (3.1-mile) with a perfect score of 15 — taking the first five places in the meet. It marks the first time in program history the Wharton boys varsity cross-country team has recorded a perfect score at a meet, according to head coach Kyle LoJacono.

Individual times and places for Wharton runners:

-Senior Tre Rivers (1st place)—17:17

-Senior Anthony Stephens (2nd place)—17:39

-Sophomore Jared Hammill (3rd place)— 17:45

-Senior Josue Reyes (4th place)—18:19

-Sophomore Thomas Walter (5th place)—18:28

-Junior Jackson Blanchard (7th place)—18:48

-Senior Nash Robinson (9th place)—19:57

Hefty hauls

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(Courtesy of John Medvid)

Tom Moore, left, and Scott May teamed to win first place at the South Pasco Bassmasters’ (SPBM) August tournament, hauling in five bass for a total weight of 17.79 pounds on the Lake Harris Chain of Lakes. Moore and May caught the haul using fishing flukes and senkos in canals with moving water. The duo also won last month’s tournament on Lake Parker. The next tournament is Sept. 15 on the Kissimmee Chain. For information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Ian Flores receives state, national honors

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His high school soccer career is over, but Ian Flores is still picking up accolades for his contributions at Wiregrass Ranch High School.

Last month, Flores was named the 2018 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Florida State High School Player of the Year.

That followed another prestigious designation he earned recently: 2017-2018 United Soccer Coaches Winter-Spring Boys High School All-America.

Wiregrass Ranch product Ian Flores, right, was recently named 2018 NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Florida State High School Player of the Year. He’s pictured here with Wiregrass Ranch head coach Dave Wilson. (Courtesy of Carlos Flores)

Flores, who graduated in May, was one of just two players from Florida (and 20 total nationwide) to be selected to the All-America team.

In the last six years, just 11 players from Florida have received the award.

As a senior, Flores tallied 20 assists in more than 1,900 minutes of play— an integral part of a Bulls team that went 24-6-1 and reached the Class 5A regional semifinals.

Flores, however, wasn’t anticipating such individual honors as he played out his senior season.

His main goal instead was to try and help his teammates win a state title.

“Really, getting All-America or high school player of the year wasn’t in my head at all. It just kind of happened just from playing naturally with my teammates,” said Flores, also a First Team All-Sunshine Athletic Conference selection.

Even so, the state and national recognition is “very exciting” to Flores, who was a team captain and three-year varsity player at Wiregrass Ranch.

“I know that not a lot of people have gotten such honors like that before,” Flores said. “I didn’t know that would reach Pasco County.”

Flores and other 2017-18 United Soccer Coaches All-Americans will be formally recognized at the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago, Jan. 9 to Jan. 13.

Longtime Wiregrass Ranch head coach Dave Wilson said the postseason awards bestowed on Flores are well-deserved.

“Skill-wise and talent-wise, he was fantastic. The little things that make one a great player is really where Ian shined, too,” Wilson said.

“There were games that he would score goals, and there were other games we’d score goals because of him,” Wilson said. “He was pretty much picture perfect on the field.”

Size, or lack of it, is a trait Flores often had to overcome to become a top player.

At 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds, Flores has relied on his soccer IQ as much as his quickness, footwork and passing skills.

“It’s always about being smarter than your opponents,” Flores said. “If someone’s bigger than you, you have to adjust. If you’re going up against a 6-foot-4 striker, you have to play smarter to beat him to the ball.”

The impact on the field speaks for itself.

But, Flores’ leadership qualities stood out, too, his high school coach said.

“He was such a good leader and such a good, positive role model,” Wilson said. “Even when he was younger, just his work ethic and everything he did, he was just so positive that it’d be really hard to measure how important he was to our team.”

Wilson has had many elite players come through the Bulls over the years. As many as 14 of his players have gone on to play collegiate soccer scholarships.

Flores, however, was the most sought after in program history, receiving dozens of scholarship offers and inquiries from over 60 colleges of all levels — Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA schools.

Said Wilson: “He had more offers and more interest from colleges than any player we’ve ever had. To have someone get as many offers as Ian did and then all the accolades that came along with it — it’s pretty impressive.”

Out of the many postsecondary suitors, Flores signed with Oglethorpe University, a Division III program in suburban Atlanta.

Flores feels it’s the right fit over other Division I and Division II schools and the handful of professional invites he received.

“I was looking for a place where I was just going to be happy playing. I knew that if I came here, I would’ve had a great opportunity to play,” Flores said.

Now in preseason practices at Oglethorpe, Flores is adjusting to a higher level of play and training. That includes 5 a.m., daily workouts.

“The level is much more intense once you get into college,” Flores said. “The level of play is much more different, much more faster. More people play one, two touch instead of dribbling.”

But, Flores seems to be handling the transition well, looking to make an immediate impact.

He recently recorded the top mark of all Oglethorpe freshmen in the program’s Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test, used to measure a player’s cardiovascular fitness level.

The feat obviously caught the eye of Oglethorpe head coach Jon Akin, who played soccer at Saint Leo University and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1999.

“Everything that we recruited him for he’s delivering on,” Akin said of Flores. “He fits in well with the team, and I think he’s going to be a player who — on a very, very talented team— will be able to contribute this season.

“We’re very glad he’s with us. We think he’s going to be extremely successful,” Akin said.

Published August 29, 2018

Local astronomy club promotes stargazing

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A group of amateur astronomers have gathered at New Port Richey’s Starkey Park for 15 years, toting their telescopes to help the public get an intimate glimpse at planets, star clusters, meteors and galaxies.

The space enthusiasts’ latest gathering held particular meaning.

The Pasco Astronomers celebrated its 15th anniversary on Aug. 11 with a free public stargazing event the park.

The Pasco Astronomers have hosted public stargazing events at Starkey Park for the past 15 years, to promote science and astronomy. Many club members bring their own telescopes for the public to use at monthly showings.
(Kevin Weiss)

It was an evening where four planets — Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus — were each in prime viewing position.

The event, too, coincided with the first time the group met 15 years ago — a day when Mars was last closest to Earth, otherwise known as perihelic opposition.

Pasco Astronomers was established in 2003 by Joe Colontonio and Tom Wade, after a few county park officials requested some astronomy-related activities.

Since then, the club has sought to promote science and astronomy through public outreach programs, by providing telescopes and general space knowledge.

“It’s kind of nice to have people look through your telescope, and see the awe and the wonder that they experience,” said Wade, a retired pastor who studied astronomy at the University of South Florida. “The first time they see things up close — the craters of the moon, the rings of Saturn — some of them are speechless.”

Added Colontonio: “We’re not really here for ourselves. We’re just here to enlighten people, give them something to do that’s cheap,” he said.

Plus, he noted: “It’s a good thing to have something free for kids to do, other than sit at their computers.”

Pasco Astronomers club member Carl Wight, right, assists Greg Shimp with properly setting up a telescope. The club recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a free public stargazing event at Starkey Park in New Port Richey.

Ward and Colontonio have since handed the club’s reins to Mark Hardies, mathematics and physics professor at St. Petersburg College, who’s had an interest in amateur astronomy going on 30 years.

Since he’s taken over, anywhere from 300 to 500 people — and as many as 1,200 — show up for monthly stargazing events, or “Star Parties,” as they’re colorfully called.

“I just enjoy that our whole purpose is to do this for the public,” said Hardies, who joined the club about 12 years ago.

He added: “It’s nice to be here to help the public see what’s available, to get them interested in (astronomy) and to give them a chance to see through a telescope, because quite frankly, most people don’t get that chance.”

As well as Pasco, club members venture from as far as Brandon, Lutz, Largo and Spring Hill.

And, many happily supply telescopes they’ve made from scratch.

Colontonio, for instance, brought along his own 10-inch truss-tubed Dobsonian he built 15 years ago inside a mirror lab at the St. Pete Astronomy Club.

“I just kind of winged it,” he said. “It took me like six months to grind the mirror.”

His personal interest in astronomy piqued 20 years ago after he bought his wife a telescope. “I got addicted seeing the planets,” he said.

But, nowadays, the club’s original co-founder mainly prefers to impart his astronomy wisdom to others, detailing subjects like Messier 37 and the Ring Nebula, all through the lens of his scope.

Dozens of families gathered for the Pasco Astronomers’ 15th anniversary stargazing party at Starkey Park in New Port Richey. At the Aug. 11 event, space enthusiasts were able to view four planets — Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus— through the lenses of telescopes and binoculars.

He explained: “I like to show the real dim stuff. People get a kick out of that because you don’t see anything but black sky, and then when you look through the scope, there’s something there.”

Jack Brockhurst, another astronomy enthusiast and club member, also supplied his own handmade scope — a 13-inch Dobsonian weighing over 130 pounds.

The New Port Richey resident said he’s been building telescopes for 40 years.

A machinist by trade, Brockhurst first constructed a small 3-inch scope. He eventually progressed to larger Dobsonians and German Equatorials measuring over 10 inches in diameter.

His collection of handcrafted scopes is now up to 11.

“I got what they call light bucket fever. I had to build bigger ones,” he said, jokingly.

Brockhurst still regularly likes to experience “what’s out there” in space.

But, like Colontonio, he also gets a kick from sharing his passion for astronomy with others. “My best reward is when I hear the oohs and aahs from the parents and the kids,” he said.

Aside from the regular club-goers, the 15th anniversary event drew several first-timers, like Tampa’s Raj Reddy and his group of friends.

“We just wanted to see the meteors,” Reddy said, “and, I also think it’s cool that you can watch other planets today.”

New Port Richey’s Greg Shimp and his son, Kevin, also were among the newcomers.

Besides peering at Mars and the other planets — “That’s something that we wanted to see,” Shimp said — the father and son learned to properly navigate an 8-inch refractor telescope purchased last year. “Mostly, we’re here for the help, kind of getting the (scope) set up,” Shimp said.

For information on the Pasco Astronomer’s Club, visit their Facebook page, Facebook.com/Pasco-Astronomers-169098913172928/.

Published August 22, 2018

Local entrepreneur creates healthy desserts

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After tiring of drinking the same old protein shakes, James Doyle decided to brainstorm some new ideas.

He figured there was a way to turn his protein powder into a dessert.

So, the 29-year-old Wesley Chapel man began experimenting.

Inspired by how Jell-O works, Doyle developed FREEZINda, a liquid and dry mix product that transforms any whey protein powder into an ice cream-like, frozen dessert.

Wesley Chapel resident James Doyle is the creator of FREEZINda, which turns whey protein powder into an ice cream-like, frozen dessert. (Courtesy of James Doyle)

Throughout a lengthy trial period, Doyle estimates he tested more than 100 different ingredients and about 3,000 pounds of frozen dessert in his kitchen.

Doyle’s friends and family members — even his dog, Buddy — taste-tested recipes.

As he toyed with countless combinations early on, his taste-testers were brutally honest.

“I had my dad try one of the formulas, and he straight up told me, ‘It tastes horrible,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, man! It (froze) right, it had the right qualities, it looked good,’ and then we tasted it and it was like, ‘No!’”

He said it took approximately 19 months “to get the formula down.”

Eventually he found what he considers the ideal combination of mixing agents that bind together to form a texture that mirrors a sweet icy, syrupy sorbet; with ingredients like vegetable glycerin, erythritol (sugar alcohol), guar gum and xanthan gum, and just a gram of sugar per serving.

FREEZINda officially launched last November and is now offered in 21 stores across the United States. It is non-genetically modified, low sugar, fat free, lactose free, gluten free, low glycemic (low net carbs) and vegetarian friendly.

Preparation is easy. Mix any whey protein powder with a cup of water or milk — like a protein shake — then add the FREEZINda liquid and dry mix, and place in the freezer overnight.

Doyle’s favorite concoction? Mixing in just about any type of chocolate mint whey protein powder, specifically the flavor made by Adaptogen Science.

To further customize the high protein ice cream dessert replacement, Doyle recommends adding nuts, fruit, sprinkles and so on.

Doyle noted: “It definitely does satisfy your sweet tooth and your cravings that you would get, so once you eat it, then you’re like, ‘OK, I’m good.’”

And, there’s no question he’s a fan of his own product.

For about eighth months straight, Doyle said he ate about 2 pounds of FREEZINda each day.

“I still eat it,” he said, “but not 2 pounds a day.”

Computer specialist turned entrepreneur
Doyle was born in New York but went to high school in Leesburg, right outside The Villages.

He later settled in Wesley Chapel with his older sister, to attend and graduate from the University of South Florida.

After college, Doyle worked as an IT specialist locally.

He was forced to quit his career as lingering vision issues prevented him from staring at a computer monitor all day long.  “It was pretty tough,” Doyle said, of having to give up IT work.

FREEZINda contains mixing agents that bind to form a texture that mirrors a sweet icy, syrupy sorbet. It includes such ingredients as vegetable glycerin, erythritol (sugar alcohol), guar gum and xanthan gum, and just a gram of sugar per serving.
To prepare, mix any whey protein powder with a cup or water or milk — like a protein shake — then add the FREEZINda liquid and dry mix, and place in the freezer overnight.

Not sure where to turn next, the concept for FREEZINda suddenly popped in his head while he basked in the sauna at the New Tampa LA Fitness one spring day in 2016.

“It’s kind of weird how, like, when doors close, another one opens,” he said.

Once he had the idea, the next step was to figure out how to get it to market.

Doyle leaned on a minor degree in entrepreneurship, as well as advice from several family members who own businesses to help FREEZINda off the ground.

“I kind of figured out my way from there,” he said.

As a sole entrepreneur, Doyle works from his Wesley Chapel home office, where he can facilitate supply chain duties between a commercial kitchen in Oldsmar, and a co-packer and fulfillment center in Texas.

He’s had to learn how to navigate other aspects, including patents and trademarks, and ensuring the product is compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

He’s also had to figure out innovative ways to market his product and generate more sales.

“There’s quite a bit to owning your own business,” said Doyle, who works six days a week. “There’s so many different areas, from fulfillment to marketing. There’s so many different areas, it’s unreal.”

FREEZINda is offered in retail nutrition and mom-and-pop stores as far away as Texas and California. It is also sold in Florida.

Locally, it can be found at Total Nutrition USF, 2720 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa.

It’s also available on Amazon and several other nutrition-focused websites.

Next month, Doyle plans to introduce new packaging and a new FREEZINda formula that’s sugar-free, and substitutes sea salt for baking powder.

He’s searching for a food broker, too, to help promote FREEZINda to additional chain wholesalers, retail stores and independent wholesalers.

“I’m hoping to pick up more traction, with better retail boxes and a little more enhanced formula,” he said.

He also dreams of appearing on the hit Emmy Award winning reality show “Shark Tank.”

He applied in January and made it through a couple rounds of casting interviews before talks dried up.

While Doyle  aims to be successful in business, he also wants to help people to become healthier.

For more information, visit Freezinda.com.

Published August 22, 2018

Land O’ Lakes girl is all-star golfer

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Hailey Stricker already has collected a fair number of medals and trophies competing in youth tournaments throughout Tampa Bay.

The 12-year-old from Land O’ Lakes is seeking an addition to her trophy case — as a member of the Clearwater Jr. PGA All-Star team.

The 10-member all-star team will compete on Aug. 26 in the PGA Jr. League North Florida Section Championship at Orlando’s Grand Cypress Golf Club.

Land O’ Lakes resident Hailey Stricker, 12, has notched several top finishes within the Greater Tampa Bay Junior Golf Association. This summer, Stricker was selected to the Clearwater Jr. PGA All-Star team. She is a seventh-grader at Rushe Middle School.
(Courtesy of Brian Stricker)

Earlier this month, the group won a sectional qualifier at Apollo Beach Golf Club, besting a handful of other all-star teams from Tampa, Sarasota and Odessa.

A top finish this weekend would allow the team to advance to the PGA Jr. regional tournament in St. Augustine. Winners from 12 regional tournaments across the country then earn a spot in the seventh PGA Junior League Championship in November in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Stricker, who’s been golfing since age 8, already has made a name for herself within the Greater Tampa Bay Junior Golf Association.

Over the past two years, she’s collected five top-three finishes for her age group. That includes a pair of first place titles she won last October and November, at Wentworth Golf Club and Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, respectively.

Orlando will mark the longest distance that Stricker has traveled to compete in a golf tournament.

She’s optimistic about the team’s chances, even against tougher competition.

“I’m looking forward to our team pulling through it and winning, so we can go to St. Augustine and do that tournament,” said the seventh-grader, who attends Rushe Middle School.

Stricker is one of three girls on the Clearwater Jr. PGA All-Star team.

She was named to the select squad after strong showings all summer in the PGA Junior League at Westchase Golf Club, in Tampa.

Stricker considers it a special honor.

“It’s kind of cool because I tell people I’m on the all-star team, and they’re proud of me. I just feel really good about it because I’ve practiced and worked hard for this moment,” she said.

Her grandfather, Brian Stricker, is enjoying the moment, too. He’s the one who encouraged the young golfer when she showed an interest in the sport four years ago.

“She kind of took to (golf) in a natural way,” her grandfather said. “She can stand up on the tee and, when she gets a good swing on the ball, she can hit the ball 160 yards straight. She has a pretty well-rounded game, and she just has a passion for it that’s really impressive.”

Stricker said she plans to play golf in high school and “definitely” wants to play in college.

Her ultimate goal? “To play on the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Tour,” she said.

Stricker appears to be on the right path for playing at a high level someday, according to Michael Cestone, who operates the Cestone Golf Academy at Westchase Golf Club.

The golf instructor said Stricker has “great promise” and a “very good skillset.”

“She has all of the basic fundamentals of the game,” said Cestone, who nominated Stricker to the Clearwater all-star team. “She has a good swing. She can chip. She can putt. She can do pretty much any of the shots that you need to play golf — it’s just a matter of getting better.”

Cestone noted Stricker regularly shoots in the high 80s and low 90s from the ladies tees.

He “very soon” foresees Stricker reaching the high 70s and low 80s — a striking feat for a young girl.

“If she stays on the track that she’s on, she’ll play college golf,” Cestone said. “Whether she wants a DI (Division 1) or D2 (Division 2) school, that’ll depend on how much time she’s willing to put into this game,” Cestone said.

Published August 22, 2018

High school football kickoff week

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Jonesing for the return of high school football?

Here’s a look at all the Friday night matchups for teams in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. All Week 1 games are at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 24, unless otherwise noted.

Hillsborough County

St. Petersburg Catholic Barons at Carrollwood Day Patriots (7 p.m.) — Both teams come off losing seasons, but the Patriots feature a large senior class and one of the area’s top quarterbacks in senior Chris Butash.

Freedom Patriots at Steinbrenner Warriors — The Warriors have reigned supreme in this matchup the last three years (and hold the series lead 4-1). However, the Patriots will have arguably the best player on the field in senior receiver/safety Jeremiah Ashe, who boasts over a dozen Division I FBS scholarship offers.

Gaither Cowboys at Chamberlain Chiefs — The Cowboys’ strong running attack (262.5 yards per game in 2017) will be imperative to keep the Chiefs offense and senior quarterback Tyler Riddell off the field; Riddell, a University of Akron commit, threw for 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.

Pasco County

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic Hurricanes at Shorecrest Prep Chargers (7 p.m.) — Last time these teams met was in 2013, where the Hurricanes were shut out 40-0. The Hurricanes should have better luck this time around, with Shorecrest Prep coming off a 1-6 campaign.

Cypress Creek Coyotes at Gulf Buccaneers — The Coyotes are seeking its first official win in program history after it was forced to forfeit its 12-0 victory against Gulf last season.

Coming off a 10-2 mark, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs and head coach Nick Carroll, right, figure to again be one of Pasco County’s top teams this fall. They play Wiregrass Ranch on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (File)

Land O’ Lakes Gators at Citrus Hurricanes — Gators first-year head coach Chad Walker faces a relatively manageable test against a Hurricanes squad that has just six seniors and is without several key contributors from last season.

Pasco Pirates at Hudson Cobras — Pasco won last year’s matchup 22-10 and holds the overall series lead, 6-2. A victory here would be a good start for the Pirates, who are seeking their first winning season since 2014.

Sunlake Seahawks at Wesley Chapel Wildcats — Wesley Chapel handily beat Sunlake last year (42-24). Doing so again likely won’t be as easy, as the Wildcats have lost some of the county’s top offensive and defensive players from 2017, including Isaiah Bolden, Dexter Leverett, Malik Melvin and Austin Wittish.

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls at Zephyrhills Bulldogs — Two of Pasco County’s top squads square off in what should be an exciting, back-and-forth affair. Adding fuel to the fire: Former Zephyrhills head coach Reggie Roberts is now an assistant at Wiregrass Ranch.

Later Week 1 games:

North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) at Zephyrhills Christian Warriors (Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m.) — A good barometer for both teams coming off eight-win seasons and appearances in the FHSAA Class 2A playoffs.

Donahue Catholic Shamrocks (Ave Maria) at Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (Sept. 7, 7 p.m.) — The defending FCAPPS eight-man state champions shouldn’t have much trouble against the visiting Shamrocks; the Wildcats won last year’s contest 36-0.

Compiled by Kevin Weiss

Published August 22, 2018

Sectional Champs

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(Courtesy of Kerri Sumner)

The Land O’ Lakes Little League Majors Division All-Stars were recently crowned Little League Florida Section 4 Champions, and also advanced to the state tournament in Fort Myers. Back row, from left: Manager Bart Sumner, Isabell Barrios, Alyssa Forgas, Erin Vandiver, Coach Scott Vandiver, Molly Blackwood, Deanna Finch, Zoe Cacio, Coach Dave Barr, Zoe Barr and Taylor Jones. Front row, from left: Emily Cheek, Caidee Sumner, Alexis D’ Altorio, Aliyah Bentley and Julia Foster. (Not Pictured: Coach Abner Barrios)