Kevin Weiss

Sinkhole solution down to three options

March 21, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Pasco County is inching closer to resolving the massive sinkhole that swallowed two houses in Lake Padgett Estates more than eight months ago.

Public Safety officials and county engineers are down to three recommendations on the long-term recovery efforts at the sinkhole site on Ocean Pines Drive:

Option No. 1: Install a 6-foot tall “wrought-iron style” decorative fence and access gate around the sinkhole with dead-end signs, at an estimated cost of $65,000
Option No. 2: Build the same fence around the sinkhole, with two, 70-foot “hammerhead” turn-arounds, at an estimated cost of $242,000
Option No. 3: Build the same fence around the sinkhole with a cul-de-sac on each side, at an estimated cost ranging from $1.7 million to $2.2 million

The sinkhole opened on July 14, 2017, at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive. It eventually swallowed two houses, a motorcycle and a boat in the Lake Padgett Estates community in Land O’ Lakes. (File)

Kevin Guthrie, the county’s assistant administrator for public safety, outlined those possibilities with homeowners at a March 10 community meeting at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

Based on conceptual designs, the county would need to purchase three houses to install a cul-de-sac. That option also would likely require renaming a portion of Ocean Pines Drive.

For a turn-around option, no additional homeowners would be displaced. The county would need to purchase only the area needed for the turn-arounds from homeowners, not their entire properties.

Officials said the main purpose for those two options is to ease access for garbage trucks and emergency vehicles, which presently are forced to drive backwards to exit Ocean Pines Drive.

If the county installs just fencing and landscaping — the cheapest option — Ocean Pines would remain closed off at the site of the sinkhole.

Previously discussed options — such as connecting the sinkhole to Lake Saxon or rebuilding the roadway with sheet piles driven underground — have since been deemed too risky by the county’s geotechnical consultant, Intertek-PSI.

At the meeting, residents were encouraged to provide feedback and jot down comments to be considered by the Pasco County Commission.

Residents take a look at conceptual designs of the Pasco County’s long-term recovery efforts at the sinkhole site. (Kevin Weiss)

Various concerns were raised, from the county’s mitigation costs to how it intends to fund whichever solution is chosen.

The county already has spent more than $1 million for initial cleanup and stabilization of the sinkhole site.

Guthrie said it hasn’t been determined how the county will pay for whichever option, though use of public funds may be a possibility.

Some residents questioned why a fence even needs to be installed at the sinkhole site.

Guthrie stressed that’s a matter of public safety as open waterways touched or owned by the county must be cordoned off.

He guaranteed permanent fencing, at the very least, will be installed due to potential liability issues for the county.

“You can take this to the bank: The county commission, 5-0, is going to put a fence around that,” he said.

Guthrie noted the county is currently in litigation with two homeowners and their insurance companies who haven’t taken responsibility for cleanup and securing the areas of private property affected by the sinkhole — an issue that may not be resolved for “probably decades.”

“If they’re not going to take responsibility, the county has to step in. And, we have to ensure the safety for the citizens,” Guthrie said.

The sinkhole opened on July 14, 2017, at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive. It eventually swallowed two houses, a motorcycle and a boat.

Seven additional homes nearby were also condemned as unsafe, based on subsurface conditions and other geologic anomalies.

Displaced homeowner Dottie Benschoter was among about 30 people attending one of the two community meetings.

The 78-year old and her husband had lived at their Ocean Pines Drive home for more than 40 years — before it was condemned in July.

The massive sinkhole was a shock for her family and fellow neighbors, forcing them to uproot their lives.

“Especially at our age, we never dreamed anything like this would happen,” she said.

“It’s affected my neighbors. We’re all affected mentally, because one day you’re living your life, and one day it changed completely. We had to move everything in one day,” Benschoter said.

She continued: “(The county’s) trying their best, but we still don’t have any answers. They still haven’t made their decision with what they’re doing. They said we have to demolish our homes and pay for it ourselves.”

Guthrie called the entire sinkhole situation “really upsetting and frustrating.”

He added: “I know the homeowners are frustrated but at the same time, we have remediated this hole to the point that we can.”

Guthrie and his staff will present their findings to commissioners at their March 27 or April 11 meeting, at which time a final decision is expected.

Published March 21, 2018

Pasco Sheriff’s Office unveils app to help stress

March 21, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Pasco Sgt. Matt Rosenbloom has handled countless distressing calls throughout his 12 years in law enforcement.

“I’ve seen things that people shouldn’t see out there,” he said.

Sometimes it takes several days for him to get past a particular incident. Witnessing the death of a child, for instance, takes a heavy toll.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said post-traumatic stress is a ‘hidden secret’ in the law enforcement community. Along with the app, the Sheriff’s Office is working on several different projects to address the issue from both the member and the family side, which includes available training regarding emotional survival and coping techniques.
(Kevin Weiss)

It’s something many deputies aren’t mentally prepared for emotionally, the sergeant said.

“We’re trained to deal with the physical dangers and to anticipate knowing that there’s those physical dangers,” Rosenbloom said. “What we are not often aware of are the long-term emotional health dangers that come along with the job.”

To help its members cope with those psychological scars, the law enforcement agency has developed a new smartphone app called Pasco Sheriff’s Office PTS (Post-Traumatic Stress).

The app offers resources, including mental health tools and videos for those who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress.

The app features a stress assessment questionnaire and also provides contact information to those who can provide help, including community partners such as BayCare and the University of South Florida. Other crisis resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the National Law Enforcement Officers Hotline.

The tool was developed in-house with help from some outside contractors, as part of a $150,000 pilot program related to post traumatic stress in law enforcement and ways to address the issue.

The funding was included in last year’s state budget that was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, after Rep. Danny Burgess and Sen. Wilton Simpson submitted a budget request on behalf of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Along with the app, funding has been spent on several different projects to address the issue from both the member and the family side, including offering training for its members and their families regarding emotional survival and coping techniques.

At a March 15 media conference, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said post-traumatic stress is a “hidden secret” and “never really been spoken about” among law enforcement circles.

He said the disorder has led to broken families, alcoholism and other problems among deputies, because the issue wasn’t addressed head-on.

The current, sometimes volatile climate for law enforcement doesn’t help matters, Nocco said. This year, so far, more than 30 officers nationwide have been killed in the line of duty.

The sheriff elaborated: “For a law enforcement deputy…you’re going from one person’s worst moment of their life, continuous all day long and then you go home. “We’re called upon during people’s worst times, and then what’s going on more and more in society is — no matter what we do, it is never good enough.

“I can tell you that is overwhelmingly stressing our members now that they know no matter what decisions they make, it’s going to be second-guessed the following day,” he said.

Pasco Sheriff PTS is now available through the Google Play store and soon will be in the Apple store.

Rosenbloom said he has already utilized the tool on a few occasions and has found it helpful.

An app that’s easily accessible
“The quick access is great because I would say for some deputies that immediately after the incident that adrenaline dumps, and now all of a sudden they’re experiencing these feelings.

“They could go on the app right then and there, or it may come days later, where they may start reliving that experience and saying, ‘Is this normal?’ and go back on the app,” Rosenbloom said.

Meanwhile, it provides “a good foundation” for deputies unfamiliar with post-traumatic stress and its effects, Rosenbloom added.

“There may be newer officers…who are not sure whether they’re feeling the right thing or whether they should still be feeling what they’re feeling after a critical incident.

“This app breaks it down, asks questions and, in the end, it gives you an assessment of whether what you’re feeling is correct or not,” Rosenbloom explained.

The app is also meant for deputies’ families. Rosenbloom’s wife, Lena, has utilized the app to access support for herself and her children.

“You need just a couple of taps to get you help,” Lena said, noting its user-friendly capabilities.

“When you’re in a crisis, the last thing you want to do is try and find a phone number, pull out a card and (find) the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) number,” she said.

While mainly geared toward law enforcement and their families, the sheriff encourages anyone to use the tool, if he or she needs guidance or help.

The sheriff specifically mentioned the tool’s usefulness for other first responders, such as firefighters, as well as teenagers, parents and teachers.

“We want everybody to go on here and use this,” Nocco said. “We want to make sure they see it’s available, because the intent when we asked this of the Legislature was to say, ‘Look, we’re going to build it, we’ll develop it, but at the same time, it’s not solely for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It’s going to be used for everybody.’”

The Sheriff’s Office will not use the app to collect data or information on users, Nocco said.

The app also will be updated continuously as new strategies come along in dealing with post-traumatic stress.

The goal is to provide assistance in time of need, Nocco said.

“Everybody feels like they’re swimming out at sea, and there’s nobody to help them; here’s another life preserver that we’re throwing out there, to help them get help, to make them feel better and to realize that they’re not alone,” Nocco said.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.

Symptoms of PTSD:

Reliving the event, or having flashbacks in bad memories or nightmares
Avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic event
Having contant negative beliefs and feelings, such as guilt and shame, or feeling the world is dangerous and can’t trust anyone
Feeling overly jittery and alert, and always on the lookout for danger

People with PTSD may also experience other problems. These include:

Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
Depression or anxiety
Drinking or drug problems
Physical symptoms or chronic pain
Employment problems
Relationship problems, including divorce

–Information from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ National Center for PTSD

Published March 21, 2018

Local soccer player scores prestigious statewide honor

March 21, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Whenever the Land O’ Lakes Gators needed a score, Sydny Nasello was there to answer the call.

And, she delivered often, racking up 120 goals during her four-year varsity soccer career.

In this past season alone, the senior tallied 45 goals and 13 assists — guiding the Gators to the regional finals, a 23-3 record and undefeated (7-0) district mark.

Land O’ Lakes High School senior forward Sydny Nasello was named Class 3A Player of the Year. She tallied 45 goals and 13 assists this season, leading the Gators to a 23-3 mark. (File)

Her skills on the field — combined with remarkable statistics — have since garnered attention statewide.

Earlier this month, Nasello was named Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A Player of the Year. She was a finalist for the 2018 Miss Soccer award, too, finishing third in voting by coaches and the media in Florida.

Locally, Nasello was a shoo-in for the Sunshine Athletic Conference Girls Soccer Player of the Year, also announced this month.

The recent accolades recognize Nasello’s commitment.

“When I first heard about it, it was just like everything I’ve been working for in life and just in soccer — like everyone else can see it and it’s paying off,” the forward/midfielder said.

Nasello added she’s proud to “leave a mark” at Land O’ Lakes, and to be an influence to the program’s younger generation.

She was one of a trio of Gators seniors, also including Brooke Hannigan and Morghan Craven, who played all four years on varsity.

During that time, the Gators went a remarkable 90-10-3 with three Final Four appearances, and captured three district and regional crowns apiece.

“I don’t think anyone has ever done that at Land O’ Lakes,” Nasello said, matter-of-factly.

Her role transformed, too.

“I went from freshman year, being like the little kid — super nervous, having all these older role models — to being the role model for the freshmen and the sophomores,” she said.

A University of South Florida signee, Nasello has sights set on a professional career in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Someday she hopes to represent the United States in the Olympic Games, too.

She looks to be on the right track for each.

She was one of just 24 players to take part in a training camp for the under-18 national teams late last fall in California. The U-18 team provides a transition for a number of players that could possibly make up the core of the team that would attempt to qualify for the following U-20 women’s World Cup, or even contribute to the current cycle of U-20s, according to the United States Soccer Federation.

“It was very beneficial,” Nasello said of last year’s tryout. “Basically you can compare yourself to the best of the best around the world, see where you stand, see what you need to improve upon, see what these girls are doing better than you, so you know where to start.”

Lauded for her speed, versatility and flashy attacking on-ball style, Nasello has worked on improving her runs off the ball “because that’s what my college coach wants me to do.”

She credits Gators head coach Vicky King as a key influence in her development as a player.

“She’s never let up,” Nasello said of her high school coach. “Like, she’s probably harder on me than she was any other player, and sometimes I would think, ‘She’s just being mean or whatever,’ but really she’s just pushing me to do my best in all areas of life, whether it’s on or off the field.”

King — who’s coached multiple Division I soccer players over the past three decades — describes Nasello as an “excellent player” who’s “really matured and grown over the last few years.

“She can be a difference-maker in the game. She has a nose for the ball and can play anywhere on the field,” King said.

“She’s really driven to succeed,” the coach added.

Part of it stems from her family’s ties to the game.

Those familiar with the local high school soccer scene are well aware of the Nasello name. Her two older sisters, Lacy and Holly, both were standouts at Land O’ Lakes and eventually played college ball, at University of Tampa and Point University (Georgia), respectively. Younger sister, Lexy, also plays soccer and her father, Tim, played college soccer.

Nasello strived to follow in the footsteps of Lacy — now a sophomore at University of Tampa — who she was teammates with at Land O’ Lakes for two seasons, in 2015 and 2016. Lacy was regarded as a stellar defenseman, with goal-scoring prowess.

“(Lacy) was basically the best of the best,” Nasello said. “She was the big, aggressive one, and I always looked up to her and always wanted to be who she was, what she was on the field, played at what her level was, so we used to work out all the time together in the summer.”

Being around other skilled, experienced players on the team also helped, her high school coach noted.

“We’ve had some other very talented players, and I think her observing them also helped her grow into a better player, as everyone always has someone to grow and improve like that,” King said.

Nasello is currently playing for the Tampa Bay United club soccer team and gearing up for the Elite Club National League championships in May.

Nasello is eager for the next phase of her soccer and academic career.

“I’m so excited to start college,” she said.

Her future USF coaches are also eager for her to arrive.

“Sydny is an amazing talent,” USF head coach Denise Schilte-Brown said in a released statement. “She is arguably the most creative attacking player to come out of the state in quite some time…We are tremendously excited to get her here on campus and continue her development at the next level.”

Published March 21, 2018

Saint Leo athletic director honored

March 21, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Saint Leo University athletic director Francis X. Reidy has been named one of 28 Under Armour Athletic Directors of the Year. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the honor on March 5.

Saint Leo Athletic Director Fran Reidy
(Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Reidy has earned the honor for the third time in the past six years, and is one of four Division II AD’s to be recognized. The others are Josh Berlo of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Dave Marsh of Northwood University, and John Planek of Lewis University.

Reidy, who is in his 19th year as Saint Leo athletics director, was a recipient for the award for the 2014-2015 and 2011-2012 seasons. Under his direction the past two years, Saint Leo athletics won its first individual national champion (men’s golf in 2016) and team national title (men’s golf 2016). It also added the women’s individual national champion (women’s golf in 2017).

Meanwhile, Reidy has guided the Lions into the top 20 of the Learfield Director’s Cup, including the program’s best finish of second place in 2015-16, while overseeing the addition of the newest sport, beach volleyball. Reidy also has directed the growth of success of 25 All-Americans and six total CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.

The Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

Under Armour is in its 10th year of sponsoring the award. During that time, more than 220 different athletics directors have received the award.

New community park planned in North Tampa

March 14, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

A new family friendly county park is coming this fall to the Greater Carrollwood area.

After nearly a year of finalizing its conceptual design, construction is slated to begin next month on the new Carrollwood Village Community Park, at 13055 Delwood Road in Tampa.

The park replaces the site of the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is situated on 50 acres along the west side of North Dale Mabry Highway, just south of West Village Drive.

Construction is expected to begin next month on the new Carrollwood Village Community Park, at 13055 Delwood Road. It replaces the site of the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is situated on 50 acres along the west side of North Dale Mabry Highway, just south of West Village Drive. (File)

Hillsborough County Public Utilities is presently decommissioning and relocating the existing treatment plant infrastructure, which has been in operation for more than 40 years.

Everything associated with the treatment plant will be demolished with the exception of two reclaimed water tanks, pump stations, an administration building structure and fencing.

Details about the forthcoming park were unveiled during a March 6 pre-construction open house at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. County parks and recreation officials were on hand to answer questions and gather input from residents.

Described as a “passive” community park, the main amenities will include a dog park, multi-use walking trail, splash pad, playground, indoor community space, and picnic shelters.

Other features include a pond, an open lawn, restrooms and parking.

Each of those aspects were finalized and based on input gathered from Carrollwood residents in a series of community meetings dating back to 2015.

Officials say most of the park will be complete by October, with final touches targeted for December. A ribbon cutting is planned sometime this fall.

Speaking at the open house, Hillsborough County parks and recreation director Rick Valdez called the park a “very important project” for Carrollwood.

“We’ve been meeting on this for months, and I think we have a really good sense of what the community wants to see,” Valdez said.

Described as a ‘passive’ community park, main amenities for the Carrollwood Village Community Park will include a dog park, multi-use walking trail, splash pad, playground, indoor community space, and picnic shelters. Other features include a pond and open lawn, along with restrooms and parking. The Hillsborough County Commission approved the $6.5 million project last May. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation)

Park hours will normally be from sunrise to sunset, with staff on-site to facilitate programming and provide maintenance.

Based on renderings, the park’s main entrance will be off West Village Drive with a secondary entrance to the south, off Delwood Road. The two entrances will not connect, to avoid the potential for becoming a pass-through route. There will also be new pedestrian crossings on West Village Drive and pedestrian park access in the northeast corner of the park.

Offsite work includes re-striping West Village Drive, which includes a left-hand turn lane, deceleration lane and addition of the multi-use trail.

The Hillsborough County Commission approved the $6.5 million project last May.

If more funding becomes available, the county would look to construct an additional playground, an event center, a boardwalk and fishing dock, and a nature center. The items would be part of Phase II and perhaps a Phase III.

“Those are things we want to address; we just don’t have the money to do it right now,” said Kyla Booher, planning and development manager for the county’s parks and recreation department.

More could be on the way if at least one county commissioner gets his way, however.

Eric Denney, a legislative aide to Commissioner Ken Hagan, was at the meeting and said the commissioner is “going to work his tail off to get money in the budget” for Phase II of the park.

Hagan is a northwest area resident and longtime supporter of the park project.

“When everything is said and done, this should be a true community asset —something that will improve the standard of living here in Carrollwood,” Denney said.

The original idea for a new park in Carrollwood became a community-driven, grassroots effort after word spread four years ago about the retirement of the wastewater site.

Public comments on the Carrollwood Village Community Park will be accepted through March 20.

To provide feedback on the project, visit HCFLGov.formstack.com/forms/public_comment.

Published March 14, 2018

Solid year for local hoops

March 14, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Florida high school basketball has wrapped up, and while no teams from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area won a state title, several boys and girls squads nonetheless achieved impressive performances during the 2017-2018 season.

Here’s a look back at some of the teams and players who stood out:

Boys
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 4A)
Record: 24-4 overall, 8-1 district 4-4A

Four more points — that’s how much Carrollwood Day School needed to clinch a win to reach the Class 4A Final Four.

The Patriots lost to Oviedo Master’s Academy 71-68 in the region finals on Feb. 27.

Yet nothing should be taken away from first-year coach Teddy Owens, a former assistant at the University of Nebraska.

Owens tripled the Patriots’ win total from the prior year — the team went 8-12 during the 2016-2017 season — and steered the program to its first winning season since 2012.

A bevy of talent helped, too.

The Patriots had one of the Tampa Bay area’s most electrifying players in 6-foot-1 junior guard Malcolm Whitlow, who averaged a whopping 32 points, seven assists and nine rebounds per game, and set a school-record 47 points during a game against Durant High in January. The program also received major contributions from 6-foot-3 guard Edgar Ziegler (17.5 points, 4.6 rebounds) and 6-foot-8 senior center Owen Mixon (10.9 points, 10.5 rebounds).

Keystone Prep Knights (Class 2A)
Record: 20-10 overall, 10-3 district 4-2A

Keystone Prep boys basketball celebrated its first 20-win season and first district championship. The Odessa-based school was also just one win away from reaching the Class 2A state semifinals. (Courtesy of Keystone Prep High School)

It was a year of firsts for Keystone Prep.

The Odessa-based school celebrated its first 20-win season, first district tournament win, first district championship, first playoff win and first region final appearance — and was just one win away from the Class 2A state semifinals.

It was an utter turnaround from last season, when the Knights won just four games.

Keystone Prep was particularly dominant throughout district play, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 36 points.

The team was led by a trio of seniors in Myikel Wilson (19.6 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 steals), Ryan Sanders (14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 steals) and Jairen Embry (10.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals).

Despite losing a strong senior class, the Knights may to be in good shape next season should they return juniors James Pursley (14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks), Jalon Pittman (11.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks) and Mario Lovett (8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds).

It also helps that the program has a young, up-and-coming coach in Matt Grossenbach. An alumnus of Academy at the Lakes, Grossenbach was that school’s first player — male or female — to score more than 1,000 career points (1,189). He later served as an assistant coach at the Academy before taking the Keystone Prep gig.

Wharton High Wildcats (Class 8A)
Record: 23-6 overall, 11-3 district 8-8A)

Under longtime head coach Tommy Tonelli, Wharton High once again showed itself as one of Tampa Bay’s most consistent hoops programs, by surpassing the 20-win mark for the ninth straight season.

They did so in exciting fashion, too.

In addition to a nail-biting 51-50 victory over Bartow High in the Class 8A region quarterfinal, Wharton finally downed crosstown rival Plant High to capture its first district crown since 2014. The Wildcats lost to Plant twice earlier in the season before getting revenge a third time around.

The Wildcats next season will be without three players who are 6-foot-4 or taller in

team captains Ryan Anders and DJ Henderson, and Nate Barnes.

However, the team will return top player and Division I prospect Darin Green Jr., a 6-foot-4 junior shooting guard, who claims scholarship offers from a handful of mid-majors, including Cal State-Fullerton, Florida Gulf Coast and Rider universities.

Other notable boys teams:

Land O’ Lakes High Gators (18-8 overall, 4-2 district 8-7A)
Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls (17-9 overall, district 8-8A)
Wesley Chapel High Wildcats (16-11 overall, 10-6 district 8-6A)
Zephyrhills High Bulldogs (20-9 overall, 14-4 district 8-6A)

Other notable boys players:

Elijah Howell, junior, Wiregrass Ranch: 12.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.7 SPG
Mekhi Perry, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes: 17 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG
Isaiah Ramsey, sophomore, Wesley Chapel: 18.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Angelo Sardegna, junior, Steinbrenner: 12.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG
Roney Webster, senior, Pasco: 18.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Jamaal Wright, junior, Sunlake: 15.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Girls

Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 4A)
Record: 28-4 overall, 8-1 district 4-4A

After a resounding 32-point victory over Gainesville P.K. Yonge in the Class 4A state semifinals, it appeared as though Carrollwood Day School was well on its way to a state championship. Alas, the Patriots run fell just short after losing to Miami Country Day — with that team claiming its fifth straight state title.

Even so, the Patriots are no flash in the pan.

Its entire roster is comprised of six sophomores, two eighth-graders, a junior and a freshman. Four of those players — each a sophomore— averaged double figures in scoring: Tarriyonna Gary (15 points), Tiasia McMillan (14 points), Nabaweeyah McGill (12.6 points) and Cairah Mays (10.1 points).

Additionally, the team is coached by Karim Nohra, one of the most successful girls basketball coaches in Tampa. The Patriots also won 28 games last year — Nohra’s first with the program after leaving Academy at the Lakes.

Sunlake High Seahawks (Class 7A)
Record: 20-8 overall, 6-1 district 8-7A

Buoyed be a senior-laden group of contributors, Sunlake won 20 games for the first time in school history, captured its third straight district title, and fell just one win shy of reaching the Class 7A Final Four. They also earned a four-game sweep of district rival Mitchell High.

Its ability to force turnovers proved troubling for opposing offenses all season long. The Seahawks allowed just 39 points per game and gave up 50 or more points in just five contests.

Like last season — when the team won 18 games — the Seahawks were carried primarily by the same four players: 6-foot-1 forward and double-double machine Andrea Wallace (13.3 points, 10.6 rebounds) and guards Kasia Ramirez, Mary Moran and Elizabeth Moran. All seniors, finding capable replacements will be a must for the team to have a fourth straight winning season in 2019.

Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls (Class 8A)
Record: 20-9, 11-3 district 8-8A)

Wiregrass Ranch celebrated yet another 20-win season— it’s fifth straight and sixth in the last seven years under head coach John Gant. No small task as the Bulls play in a tough district that also features Plant, Steinbrenner and Freedom high schools. More striking, perhaps, is the Bulls’ extremely young roster. Outside of senior guard Alexis Bolden (10.8 points), the 2018 team was composed entirely of freshman and sophomores. That means Wiregrass should be exciting to watch for the next several years, thanks in part to the freshman duo of 6-foot-2 forward Zoi Evans (11.6 points, 11.4 rebounds) and 5-foot-7 guard Alexis Couzens (9.9 points, 4 rebounds).

Other notable girls teams:

Steinbrenner High (15-10 overall, 10-4 district 8-8A)

Other notable girls players:

Kiara Broner, senior, Pasco: 14.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.6 SPG
Valeria Burbano, senior, Wesley Chapel: 9.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.2 SPG
Regina Henry, senior, Wharton: 8.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.0 SPG
Isabella Prada, freshman, Bishop McLaughlin: 16 PPG, 3.2 APG, 3 RPG, 4 SPG
Ashauna Jones, freshman, Zephyrhills Christian Academy: 10.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.1 SPG
Lexi Kilfoyl, junior, Academy at the Lakes: 11 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 5 BPG

–Stats compiled using MaxPreps.com—

Published March 14, 2018

Super Score!

March 14, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Sunlake High School junior golfer Jordan Sarhaddi fired a combined 7-under par (68—Round 1, 69—Round 2) to finish third among 84 players at the Florida Junior Tour at Stone Creek Golf Club Boys 16-18 tournament in Ocala last month. One of the top prep golfers in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, Sarhaddi tied for 16th in the 2A boys state meet back in November. Sarhaddi’s next Florida Junior Tour meets are April 14 and April 15 at Cypress Creek Golf Club in Ruskin, and May 19 and May 20 at Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club in Sarasota.

Local offers & commitments

March 14, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Academy at the Lakes’ Thomas Kramer (Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes Football)

Academy at the Lakes senior quarterback Thomas Kramer committed to play football at Division II Brevard College (Brevard, North Carolina). The 5-foot-9 Kramer threw for 372 yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2017, as a member of the Wildcats 8-man state championship team.
Pasco High School senior midfielder Jennifer Luna committed to play soccer at Florida College, a USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) program in Temple Terrace. Luna, a four-year varsity player, tallied 28 goals and 68 points this past season.
Pasco High School senior midfielder Taylor Boyd committed to play soccer at NAIA Division II Warner University in Lake Wales. Boyd is a three-year varsity player and was a team captain this season.
Zephyrhills High school senior infielder Chase Booker committed to play softball at St. Johns River State College, a junior college program in Palatka. Booker has a .305 career batting average and .414 on-base percentage through 20 varsity games.
Zephyrhills High School senior offensive lineman Omar Estrada committed to play football at Division III Aurora University (Aurora, Illinois). The 6-foot, 235-pound Estrada 14 pancake blocks in nine games in 2017.
Zephyrhills High School junior wide receiver Cartrell Strong picked up a scholarship offer from Division I Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia). The 5-foot-10 Strong posted 25 catches for 410 yards and seven total touchdowns.

USA Women’s Hockey, fans celebrate gold in Wesley Chapel

March 7, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Just days removed from celebrating a gold medal win in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the USA women’s ice hockey team returned to where their remarkable journey all began — Wesley Chapel.

The U.S. women’s national ice hockey team posed for pictures on Feb. 28 at Florida Hospital Center Ice, in Wesley Chapel. The team spent more than five months training at the facility and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. (Kevin Weiss)

It’s where the team spent more than five months getting prepared for the Winter Olympics, training at Florida Hospital Center Ice and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. It’s also where daily practices, off-ice testing and intrasquad scrimmages were used to determine the 23 players selected for the Team USA roster back in May.

The team spent the better part of an hour on the afternoon of Feb. 28 greeting fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs at the Center Ice facility.

The surprise visit was part of a nationwide media blitz that took them to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York City.

A week earlier, the team defeated Canada in a 3-2 shootout to win gold, ending a 20-year drought for the women’s hockey program.

Moments since have been nothing short of surreal for Team USA, from celebrating the victory to the fan support.

“It’s been overwhelming, exciting, just a whirlwind,” said two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne. “It’s been truly an honor to bring home this gold to the United States, and to see the reaction from everybody and the support.”

“It’s been crazy,” added 19-year-old defenseman Cayla Barnes, the youngest member of Team USA. “This has been a goal of ours for so long, and it just proves you can do whatever you set your mind to.”

Two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne shows off her Olympic gold medal. She is one of 23 players on the U.S. women’s national ice hockey team.

Their time spent in Wesley Chapel won’t soon be forgotten, either, from top-flight training digs and hospitality, to the warm, sunny weather.

“These facilities were awesome, the staff here was amazing, and they really helped us with everything we needed,” Barnes said. “It was great to be down here, such nice weather, and really nice to train out here in preparation for the games.”

“Hockey in Florida was new to a lot of us, but I don’t think it took long for us to realize that hockey is serious in Florida,” said Coyne. “The growth is amazing, and just to see the growth in the short six months we were here just shows how much more there can be.”

Coyne added, the gold medal victory provides a “huge opportunity” to further the sport in the United States, particularly among young girls.

The 25-year-old herself was inspired by Hall of Famer Cammi Granato and the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey, the last team to win gold.

“With our win, I think we can get more girls playing across the United States,” Coyne said.

“If you look at our team currently, a lot of us are playing because we saw the ’98 team win a gold medal. So, knowing that feeling and knowing personally I was one of them… I saw Cammi Granato, and seeing her gold medal made me want to become one of them.”

Tampa resident Chad Courson is all smiles after posing for a picture with Team USA Women’s Hockey. He came equipped with a Team USA jacket and ‘Gold Medal edition’ box of Corn Flakes to get autographed.

Having Team USA train in Wesley Chapel was likewise beneficial to Florida Hospital Center Ice and the Tampa Bay hockey community, said Gordie Zimmerman, managing partner and developer of Florida Hospital Center Ice.

The $28 million,150,500-square-foot complex was picked as Team USA’s training ground over such hockey facilities in Boston, Chicago and others.

“It’s been terrific on every front — for the development of hockey for the girls and the boys, and just the awareness and having the girls here in the facility,” explained Zimmerman.

“I think there was a lot of pressure on them and where they train…and it turned out to be a great experience for everybody. This wave is going to continue, and you can see like with the girls’ (programs) — and that’s what it’s all about.”

As one of dozens of fans at the meet-and-greet, Wesley Chapel resident Rob Simonelli just couldn’t pass up the chance to take photos and chat it up with the newly crowned Olympic gold medalists.

He found out about the team’s surprise appearance at Center Ice through a friend who caught wind of the event.

“I had a feeling because they had been here for a couple months with their training that they’ve got to come back and take a look at the people at the rink,” said Simonelli, who plays recreational hockey at Center Ice along with his son.

“They’re really friendly, and it’s nice that they decided to come and just kind of say ‘Hey’ to the people.”

Simonelli said he watched much of the Olympic coverage on television, and even attended some of the team’s tryouts and international games at Center Ice last year.

Besides national pride, he felt some local pride, too.

“I just was excited that this was their home base. Just following them when they made this their home was kind of cool,” Simonelli said.

Another exuberant fan, Tampa resident Chad Courson, came to the event equipped with a Team USA jacket and a “Gold Medal edition” box of Corn Flakes featuring a cover picture of USA women’s gold winning hockey star Meghan Duggan.

He brought both items to get signed. He also bought about 40 other boxes of the limited-edition Corn Flakes to get signed later that night at Amalie Arena as part of another Team USA appearance.

“I met the team on previous occasions, but it’s still cool,” Courson said of the team’s stop in Wesley Chapel.

As for the team’s run in PyeongChang?

“It was amazing,” Courson said.

Published March 7, 2018

Local park’s new name reflects its historic role

March 7, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

A park that has played a historic role in Land O’ Lakes now has a name to reflect that fact.

Officials gathered on March 1 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renaming of the former Land O’ Lakes Community Center. The center and adjacent park is now known as Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

On March 1, elected officials and community leaders gathered at the park for the site’s renaming.

A new marquee has been unveiled near U.S. 41, which reflects the new name.

A new marquee sign with the masthead ‘Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park’ overlooks U.S. 41. (Kevin Weiss)

Festivities included a presentation of colors by American Legion Post 79 and a variety of speakers, who detailed the history and significance of the park.

“We’re thrilled about the renaming of this park,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, who served as master of ceremonies for the event.

“It’s important that we recognize the history of the area, and recognize the citizens that came forward and actually put a lot of effort into the park.”

The name change has been known for some time. The Pasco County Commission adopted the new name of the community center and park in November, at Moore’s request.

Moore consulted with members of the board of directors for the Heritage Foundation before making the suggestion. That was after the newly built Heritage Stage made its debut in August at the park.

The completion of the stage resulted from years of effort and partnerships between government, businesses and community volunteers.

For years, the Land O’ Lakes Community Center has been located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., while the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway.

The similarity of names has been a source of confusion.

“It is not uncommon for folks to get mixed up with the two facilities,” said Brian Taylor, Pasco County’s parks and recreation manager.

Heritage Park Foundation president Sandy Graves acknowledged the community center and park probably should’ve been renamed “long ago.”

“We always thought that it needed a name change because it needed branding on its own, and now it has it,” she said.

Terri Dusek, of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, is credited with initially coming up with the “Heritage Park” moniker.

She said the name change marks “the final touch” on the park’s recent upgrades.

Besides the new stage for community events, the park has undergone $2.3 million worth of improvements since 2015. Other additions have included new ball fields, a playground, a concession stand and restrooms, and a walking trail.

“Our community already has a very rich heritage, and I feel like now we’re adding to it. For me the only fitting name was Heritage Park,” Dusek said.

Published March 7, 2018