Kevin Weiss

FHSAA directors approve football playoff expansion

February 7, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

An expanded playoff format is coming to Florida high school football next season, as the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to add two teams per region to the Class 1A-4A playoffs.

The action was made during a meeting on Jan. 29.

Beginning with the 2018 season, six teams will qualify from each region for football’s 1A-4A state series, increasing the playoffs from 16 to 24 teams.

In the first round the tournament’s third seed will host its sixth seed; and the fourth seed will host the fifth seed. The top two seeds will receive byes.

The change affects three schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area: Carrollwood Day School (Class 2A), Zephyrhills Christian Academy (Class 2A) and Cypress Creek Middle High School (Class 4A).

The expanded playoff format gained a green light earlier this month by the FHSAA’s Athletic Director Advisory Committee and Football Coaches Advisory Committee.

The FHSAA passed the original playoff system in September 2016, as a measure to base football postseason berths on a points system in Classes 1A-4A, rewarding teams for winning records and strength of schedule; Classes 5A-8A are still in districts and eight teams in four regions get into the playoffs.

Also of note: The board unanimously voted to make the golf season a 16-contest regular season, up from 14 contests.

Bakas Equestrian Center is set to move

January 31, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Bakas Equestrian Center, which has offered horse-riding therapy for disabled children and adults for nearly 30 years, is expected to have a new home by the end of this year.

In fact, the center will be replaced by two facilities under a plan unanimously approved by the Hillsborough County Commission on Jan. 11.

Tom Pepin, a beer distributor and philanthropist, approached the county with a proposal to replace the existing facility in western Hillsborough with two similar facilities on county-owned lands.

The Hillsborough County Commission approved a proposal by beer distributor Tom Pepin to relocate the Bakas Equestrian Center, 11510 Whisper Lake Trail in Tampa, to two similar facilities on county-owned lands. Bakas will move 2 miles from its current location to a 17-acre site at Northwest Equestrian Park in Odessa. A second riding center, of 10 acres to 12 acres, also will be built at Sydney Dover Trails in Dover. (File)

Under the approved plan, the 23-acre equestrian center property, at 11510 Whisper Laker Trail in Tampa, will move 2 miles from its current location to a 17-acre site at Northwest Equestrian Park in Odessa. Located on South Mobley Road, the park spans 600 acres and has 6 miles of horse trails.

A second riding center, of 10 acres to 12 acres, also will be built at Sydney Dover Trails in Dover, where there are about 250 acres available for good riding. That center is expected to serve residents in the eastern and central part of the county.

The commissioners’ approval now allows county staffers to begin negotiating terms of a final sale, with the project’s timeline for completion slated for the end of this year.

Board members agreed in September to put the county-owned park and its facilities up to bid, but only if Pepin pledged to build two new equestrian centers where the Bakas center could relocate at no cost to the county. The county, however, will be responsible for ongoing operating costs, such as staffing and maintenance.

Pepin’s approved proposal featured two bids—valued at $1.45 million and $1.97 million, respectively.

The first bid—the price Pepin originally was willing to spend on the project—calls for building the two facilities to match the same specs “like for like” as the Bakas site, plus a $200,000 endowment for capital costs and other operating expenses.

The second, more costly bid, includes various site upgrades and amenities at both sites desired by the county and Bakas’ Horses for Handicapped board members. Among them are competition-size arenas that measure more than 100 feet-by-200 feet, to accommodate more users and enhance fundraising opportunities. The current ring at Bakas measures 60 feet-by-120 feet.

The proposal received the general endorsement of Bakas’ Horses for Handicapped program, which noted on its website that “this would allow us to expand our program to both sides of the county.”

Therapy riding programs, such as the one at Bakas, are credited with helping people with disabilities develop balance and coordination, and to gain confidence.

However, the proposed changes drew mixed reviews during the commission’s public comment period, during which several speakers disapproved of the conversion of county-owned parklands to private property.

Kent Bailey, who chairs Tampa Bay’s Sierra Club chapter, claimed the proposed deal is undervalued as it “returns less than $2 million to the county’s taxpayers for a property that was purchased in 2001 for $3 million.”

“(Pepin) is a fine man,” Bailey said, “but what does that have to do with your faithful discharge of the fiduciary responsibilities as good stewards of the taxpayers of this community.

“No one is entitled to preferential treatment here, regardless of their standing in the community,” he added.

Tampa resident Christopher Gleason expressed similar sentiments to commissioners, saying the land deal gives “unfair advantage to somebody based on their standing in the community and political connections.”

Tampa resident Karen Michalski also directly questioned commissioners, by saying “Why is the public county park with a working value added successful equestrian therapy center being sold to an individual? Just because (Pepin) has the opportunity?”

Others, meanwhile, voiced concerns about site naming rights, and questioned whether the county is willing to adequately staff and handle ongoing operating expenses at two separate sites.

Jolie Smith, a Land O’ Lakes resident whose two daughters benefit from Bakas, explained she didn’t want to see the equestrian center sold, but is hopeful the deal will result in a “win-win” for the county and Bakas riders.

Smith noted: “the premise of the swap is to allow the Bakas program to grow, expand, and service more individuals with special needs.

“We’ve seen people walk, breathe and restore function. It’s an amazing program, and part of that therapy is the pristine setting where we are at,” she said.

Pepin said he plans to use the purchased Bakas tract, which abuts 67 acres he already owns, for personal use.

During a town hall meeting in November, he said he might build a few residences, but doesn’t intend to create a subdivision or commercial property.

He also said he’s willing to work with the community on certain amenities, such as larger riding arenas at both locations, in lieu of less desired features.

“My mission is the same as Bakas—it’s to help handicapped children,” Pepin said during the town hall.

Published January 31, 2018

Special Olympics program rewards athletes, volunteers

January 31, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Vicky King is perhaps best known as the longtime head coach of the powerhouse Land O’ Lakes High girls soccer team.

After all, the Gators did just secure its fourth-straight district championship and fifth-straight 20-plus win season, with sights now set on another regional title and state finals appearance.

However, that’s not the only team she coaches.

Land O’ Lakes High School varsity girls soccer coach Vicky King also runs the school’s Unified Special Olympics Program, which pairs special needs athletes with nondisabled partners to compete across a number of different sports. (Courtesy of Special Olympics Pasco County)

King also oversees the high school’s Unified Special Olympics sports program, which pairs special needs athletes with nondisabled peers, or ‘partners.’ Together, these Land O’ Lakes athletes and partners compete year-round against other unified programs across Pasco County and Florida — in everything from basketball and soccer, to flag football, bowling, golf and more.

King has done it for more than 30 years, ever since she took a coaching job at the high school in the mid-1980s, which came with the duty of working with athletes with special needs.

“Every (special needs) athlete appreciates everything,” explained King, the longest-tenured and winningest coach in Pasco County.

“Whether they win or not, they’ll play as hard as they can. They don’t argue about the calls. They just take it for what it is, whereas the people that are more gifted or more talented or have everything sometimes take it for granted.

“It’s just small things, like cheering for the other team, or sometimes giving up another basket to someone who’s never scored,” she said.

Besides coaching the Gators varsity girls soccer team, King is helping unified athletes at Land O’ Lakes gear up for the upcoming Pasco County Summer Games.

Scheduled for Feb. 22 and Feb. 23, at River Ridge and Wesley Chapel high schools, the summer games are expected to feature many of the county’s Special Olympic athletes competing in bocce, cycling, tennis, soccer and volleyball.

Inclusion and acceptance are major tenets of the Unified Special Olympics Program. Here, the River Ridge and Land O’ Lakes unified basketball teams share a picture after a recent competitive game.

That’s followed by the Area Summer Games in March and April. First-place finishes at area meets provides athletes the opportunity to advance to state championships — something Land O’ Lakes has accomplished frequently under King’s tutelage.

“We’ve been to state soccer — I can’t remember the last time we didn’t go — and then they’ve been to state basketball the past two years. A couple of them have gone to state swimming,” King said.

In Pasco County, there are more than 1,500 Special Olympics athletes and more than 200 volunteers across 17 offered sports.

The Land O’ Lakes unified program, meanwhile, features 24 coed athletes and nearly 40 partners.

It’s a solid participation rate based on the school’s ESE (Exceptional Student Education) population, King said.

Andrew Ahearn has been one of King’s standout unified athletes for several years, participating in soccer, basketball, flag football, bowling, and swimming, among others.

Ahearn has high-functioning autism and competes as a 21-year-old senior.

“Soccer is my favorite sport,” Ahearn said, noting he likes to run and score goals.

He’s never concerned himself with medals, or wins and losses.

Instead, Ahearn prides himself on teamwork and enjoying himself through physical activity.

“It’s not about winning or losing — it’s about having fun,” he said. “It ain’t about gold or medals or anything, it’s about…doing what’s best for the team.”

“I’ve always been a team player and forever will be a team player,” he added.

Involvement in unified sports helped Ahearn cultivate countless long-lasting friendships over the years.

Andrew Ahearn, wearing No. 10, is a standout on the Land O’ Lakes High School unified soccer team. Soccer is his favorite sport because he likes to run and score goals.

“I’ve got a lot of best friends and buddies in Special Olympics,” Ahearn said, as he rattled off the names of his Land O’ Lakes teammates. “Every athlete that’s a part of (the team) is my favorite.”

Some of the best memories came in 2015, when the Land O’ Lakes High School Unified Special Olympics Soccer journeyed to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games. The Land O’ Lakes squad was the lone representative from the United States in unified soccer. They earned a bronze medal after defeating a team from China.

“It was fun,” Ahearn said, enthusiastically.

“We went to the Olympics Village, doing all kinds of stuff. …We went to dance, too. That was my favorite part,” he said.

Basketball is the last sport Ahearn competes in as a member of the Land O’ Lakes unified team. He’ll advance to the Masters division of Special Olympics after he turns 22 next month.

“He’s really good. I’m sure people will want him,” King said. “He’s very focused, hardworking, wants to do well. He’ll do any sport.”

According to Special Olympics Florida’s website, unified programs enable Special Olympics athletes to not only learn and play new sports, but also experience meaningful inclusion. Each athlete is ensured of playing a valued role on the team. The teams also provide a forum for positive social interaction.

All participants are of similar age and ability, and unified teams are constructed to provide training and competition opportunities that meaningfully challenge and involve all athletes.

Special Olympics sports rules, moreover, ensure everyone has “a fair and enjoyable competitive experience.”

Unified sports can also prove to be a rewarding experience for its volunteer partners, such as Land O’ Lakes High senior Kim Guglielmello.

Guglielmello has served as a unified partner for five years, dating back to when she was a student at Pine View Middle School.

“Oh, they’re the best,” said Guglielmello, who assists with basketball. “Just seeing the joy and excitement they get out of scoring a point…it’s probably the best experience you could possibly get.”

January marked the start of a fundraising campaign called “Light The Torch,” where Publix and other businesses support local Special Olympics programs.

For more information, visit SpecialOlympicsPasco.org.

Published January 31, 2018

Local youth earns runner-up at USTA tournament

January 31, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Lutz resident Samuel Frizelle placed second at the USTA (United States Tennis Association) Florida Level 3 Boy’s 14 Singles Championships on Jan. 16, at the Hunter’s Green Sports Center in Tampa. Frizelle advanced to the finals, before falling in three sets to Solomon Giles, of Pembroke Pines. The tournament featured more than 60 players from across the state. Frizelle, an eighth-grade home-school student, trains at Eric Dobsha Tennis Academy at Van Dyke Farms. Tennis Recruiting Network lists Frizelle as a four-star prospect, ranking him as the No. 15 player in Florida and No. 119 nationally for the 2022 recruiting class.

New members named to hall of fame

January 31, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Glenna Earle and Linda Marshman, of the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club, have been inducted into the Florida Shuffleboard Association Hall of Fame for their career feats. Both were recognized during an induction ceremony on Jan. 15 in Sebring.

Earle has 13 first-place wins at Florida Shuffleboard Association-sanctioned pro tournaments and has placed in 75 tournaments, amassing more than 200 points She started shuffling in 2003 and earned pro status in 2008.

Marshman won the Florida State Amateur Singles in 2008 and the Florida National Singles in 2009. She also won first place in the Tournament of Champions in 2014. More recently, she teamed with Joan Cook to win the 2017 Florida National Doubles. Marshman turned pro in 2008. She teaches shuffleboard to beginners at the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club.

Local soccer player sets goal-scoring record

January 31, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Carrollwood Day School’s Rachel Stevenson recently scored her 33rd goal of the season, setting a new school record across the girls and boys soccer programs. Stevenson, a senior midfielder, has scored more than 90 goals across her four-year varsity career.

Heavy hauls!

January 31, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Ken Willis, left, and Dave Panno teamed up to win first place after reeling in five bass, totaling 9.78 pounds during the South Pasco Bassmasters Jan. 20 tournament, at the Lake Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Lake Wales. The duo used white chatter baits and plastic worms to catch their haul. The next tournament is Feb. 17 in Winter Haven. For information on joining the fishing club, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Expanded playoffs, other changes on tap for high school football

January 24, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

An expanded playoff format and other changes are likely headed to Florida high school football next season.

During the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Athletic Director Advisory Committee (ADAC) meeting earlier this month, the group endorsed a handful of proposals that would affect the sport beginning this fall.

The first would be to add two more teams from each region to the state playoffs for Classes 1A-4A.

Under the FHSAA’s revamped playoff system implemented for the first time last season, four teams in each of the four regions qualified for the postseason based on points.

This year, six teams would qualify, with the top two seeds earning byes into the second round — thus increasing the playoffs from 16 to 24 teams.

Small schools like Zephyrhills Christian Academy could benefit from the FHSAA’s playoff expansion proposal for high school football. (Courtesy of Zephyrhlls Christian Academy Athletics)

The proposed changes are an effort to allow more teams to qualify for the playoffs, and also give the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds the opportunity to play a home game, thereby increasing revenue for their schools.

The FHSAA’s Board of Directors will vote to implement the change at its Jan. 29 meeting. If approved, the rule takes effect this fall.

The FHSAA’s Football Coaches Advisory Committee previously voted unanimously to recommend the increase in the number of Classes 1A-4A teams advancing to the postseason from each region.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy (Class 2A) was the only small school from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to make the playoffs last season. The team, which was a No. 4 seed, lost in the first round.

Other small schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area that could be affected by the playoff expansion format are Carrollwood Day School (Class 2A) and Cypress Creek Middle High School (Class 4A).

The ADAC also endorsed several other football-related changes:

To clearly define the FHSAA’s procedures for postponed and interrupted games. For example, if a game is interrupted due to weather, teams will effectively be required to finish the following day or set up a mutually agreed-upon date by 9 a.m. the next day. The final procedures are expected to be modified before August, in order to be enforced for the 2018 season.
To increase points for a “high-quality” loss. Starting this fall, 35 points will be awarded for losing to a Category 1 team (previously 30). The five-point increase also applies for losses to Category 2 (30), 3 (25) and 4 (20) teams.

The measure ensures a loss to a Category 1 team (8-2 record or better) is the same as beating a Category 4 team (0-10 to 3-7 record). There was a five-point discrepancy before, allowing teams to play lesser teams and be rewarded more than playing and losing to a top team. Category 1 teams are those that won 80 percent or more of their games; Category 2 teams won at least 60 percent of their games, but no more than 79 percent; Category 3 teams won at least 40 percent of their games, but no more than 59 percent; and Category 4 teams won less than 39 percent of their games.

To approve a 40-second play clockpending approval by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The rationale is to make every game more uniform in that each referee has the ability to speed up or slow down a game. There would be parameters to move to a 25-second play clock following penalties, on kickoffs and so on.

FHSAA rules changes are imminent in several other sports, too.

Swimming & Diving: The committee agreed to allow the FHSAA to create guidelines regarding pay structure for schools to follow. Lastly, the ADAC voted to have a minimum of four officials at the state swimming & diving meet.
Cross Country: The ADAC approved two action items that will next go before the Cross Country Advisory Committee this December. The first approval was to allow the use of watches with GPS capabilities during all cross-country meets. The final item supported was awarding the top-15 placing runners at the state meet.
Track & Field: The ADAC accepted the Track & Field Advisory Committee’s recommendation to add javelin to the state series in 2020. The rule change will reappear in front of the Track & Field Advisory Committee this May.
Golf: The ADAC voted to extend golf’s regular season from 14 contests to 16 contests. The FHSAA Board of Directors will vote on this as an action item in the near future.

Published January 24, 2018

Local signings & offers

January 24, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Royce Luedde (Courtesy of Florida College Athletics)

Royce Luedde, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, has signed to play collegiate soccer at Florida College, an NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) program in Temple Terrace. Luedde, a 6-foot-4 all-state defenseman, has posted eight goals and 22 points for a Wiregrass Ranch team that currently stands with an 20-1-1 record.

Javion Hanner (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Christian Academy)

Javion Hanner, a junior at Zephyrhills Christian Academy, has picked up a football scholarship offer from Harvard University, a Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) program in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound athlete posted a team-leading 1,379 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Hanner transferred from Pasco High School after his sophomore year in 2016.

Former Gaither coach in Hall of Fame

January 24, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Frank Permuy — the man credited with starting the Gaither High School baseball program in 1984 — was among 11 members of the American Baseball Coaches Association’s 2018 Hall of Fame Class.

The formal induction ceremony was on Jan. 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Permuy, who retired in 2014, compiled a 513-276 record in 30 seasons, with 13 district titles and a state runner-up finish. His other coaching stops included Leto High School, Tampa Catholic High School and the University of Tampa.

He becomes just the second prep coach from Florida to be inducted; the other is 1994 inductee Richard Hofman, of Westminster Christian School in Miami.

The 2018 ABCA Hall of Fame class also included former Saint Leo coach John Schaly. Now coaching at Ashland University in Ohio, Schaly spent six years (1992-1997) at Saint Leo, leading the Lions to the Division II playoffs in 1996 and earning Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year honors.