The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Michael Murillo

New season, higher goals for Zephyrhills football

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Last year, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs snapped an eight-year playoff drought by making the postseason for the first time since head coach Reggie Roberts took over in 2010.

This year, the path to an encore doesn’t begin on the practice field, or in the classroom watching game film.

It begins in church.

Head coach Reggie Roberts is looking to build on his team's 8-3 record and accompanying playoff berth last season. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
Head coach Reggie Roberts is looking to build on his team’s 8-3 record and accompanying playoff berth last season.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

“I had one of the preachers from a local church say, ‘Coach, you’ve been praying for the playoffs and that’s what you got. Start praying for the state championship this year,’ ” Roberts said while taking a quick break during practice last week.

This year, the goal is a state championship.

But Roberts and the Bulldogs won’t be leaving things up to divine intervention. They’re putting in plenty of hard work as they prepare for the start of the season later this month. Music blares from loudspeakers during practice to keep the athletes motivated while they run drills. Offense, defense and special teams all take over parts of the field to get their practice time in before scheduled breaks.

The players have noted that there’s a new level of seriousness and focus as they prepare for the upcoming season.

“I’ve pushed them. Last week they said it’s been the hardest it’s ever been at Zephyrhills High School, and it probably is because the expectations are higher,” Roberts said. “We’re looking for better things.”

Roberts’ time as coach — he played tight end and linebacker for the school back in his playing days — has been marked by achieving better things. He took over a program that had won just six games in the previous two seasons. It took a year to get things the way he wanted, but since then it’s been a string of winning records, culminating in an 8-3 mark and a trip to the postseason.

Players like running back Myles Carter will be expected to step up for the Bulldogs this season.
Players like running back Myles Carter will be expected to step up for the Bulldogs this season.

The Bulldogs lost a close game to Suwannee High School, and it left them wanting a bigger taste of the postseason.

They’re aiming for a trip to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, where the state championships will be played in December.

Before they can get that far, though, they have to earn it on the field during the regular season.

And before that happens, Roberts wants them to earn it in their studies and in the community.

“The first thing my athletes have to understand is that football is an extension of the classroom. We are student-athletes first,” he said.

Roberts speaks with the decisive tone of a coach who knows what he wants from his players, and he’s already getting their support. They recently worked at a Purple Heart Memorial Dedication earlier this month, and he wants them to bring a blue-collar attitude to everything they do. By focusing on working together and getting things done in class, the coach is convinced it will make them better players on Friday nights.

Roberts will need players to step up and fill some big gaps left by graduating seniors. The coach misses all of them, since they all contributed to the team’s success. But standout players like quarterback Ty Tanner and running back Jaylen Pickett were more than role players, and they’ve moved on. That means the team has to find a way to move on as well.

The coach is confident the team can take the next step with existing talent like Myles Carter, Antwione Sims and Jackie Tucker. And Tucker, a senior receiver, shares his optimism.

“This offseason I’ve been grinding with my two younger quarterbacks, Charles Harrison and Dylan Wood, trying to get them to where my previous quarterback, Ty Tanner, was,” Tucker said.

The 6-foot-2, 188-pound wideout is in his third year with the Bulldogs, and he knows that means taking on a leadership role. He’s embracing the responsibility of being a voice for the team and making sure everyone is doing their job in practice, working out and getting prepared for the upcoming season.

And for Tucker, that includes himself.

“I hit the weight room 10 times harder than I used to,” he said.

The players work hard in the weight room and at practice, where Roberts’ assistants fine-tune their mechanics, and the team races through a battery of drills and exercises.

And, the head coach isn’t making any time for offseason distractions.

They’re in a new district this year.

Roberts isn’t concerned that the Bulldogs aren’t expected to do much with competition like River Ridge and Gulf waiting for them in 5A-8 (“If you look at the polls, we’re way down,” he said. “I love it.”).

The coach brushed off a question about playing longtime rival Pasco High School in November (“Hasn’t even crossed my mind.”).

Roberts also didn’t want to single out any one facet of his team that he expected to stand out this coming season.

But when pressed to choose one — offense, defense, or special teams — the coach gave a smile before responding with a tone that suggested the answer was final.

“Offense. Defense. And special teams,” he said before heading off to focus on his players.

Zephyrhills Bulldogs regular season schedule
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)

Aug. 28 at Wiregrass Ranch

Sept. 4 at Sunlake

Sept. 18 at Gulf

Sept. 25 vs. Fivay

Oct. 2 vs. Hudson

Oct. 9 at Ridgewood

Oct. 16 vs. River Ridge

Oct. 23 at Wesley Chapel

Oct. 30 vs. Anclote

Nov. 6 vs. Pasco

Published August 19, 2015

OCT. 17 GOLF TOURNEY PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS

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Sydney Has A Sister, a charity that raises scholarship money for students who have a sibling with autism, will have its second annual golf tournament on Oct. 17 at Northdale Golf & Tennis Club, 4417 Northdale Blvd., in Tampa. The four-man scramble begins with check-in at noon and a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost is $85 per player, and includes a goodie bag, contests, prizes and a free round of golf at the club. Sponsorships are also available. For information, visit SydneyHasASister.com.

Spare your wallet and bowl for free

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The great thing about On The Cheap is I get to tell you about a variety of fun things you can do without spending a lot of money. Maybe it’s catching a movie. Maybe it’s a trip to a zoo or aquarium. Maybe it’s watching a professional sports team.

Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills has nightly specials and is hosting ‘Bowl Fest’ later this month. That means plenty of cheap (and free) opportunities to bowl. (Photos courtesy of Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills)
Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills has nightly specials and is hosting ‘Bowl Fest’ later this month. That means plenty of cheap (and free) opportunities to bowl.
(Photos courtesy of Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills)

Or, maybe it’s bowling.

Wait.

Bowling?

Like “putting on different shoes and throwing a ball down a lane” bowling?

Yes, bowling.

Everyone’s gone bowling before, but maybe it’s been a while since you gave it a try.

So, whether you’re in a league or haven’t played it in years, you have a few chances to play some games at a big discount. And on some days, it’s absolutely free.

The venue is Pin Chasers, 6816 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

I don’t have to spend a lot of time describing a bowling alley, do I? It’s really big (32 lanes), it’s clean, and it has automated scoring. But I’d like to point out that it’s also indoors, which means you won’t be subjected to blazing hot temperatures or a sudden downpour while you play. There’s no chance of bowling getting rained out or ruining your clothes, and I consider that a pretty big advantage these days.

A typical game of bowling costs around $6 to $7 (shoe rental is free), and that’s not a bad deal.

You can bowl with friends, family or anyone who likes to throw a heavy ball and knock things down. And, on certain days, you can do it for free.
You can bowl with friends, family or anyone who likes to throw a heavy ball and knock things down. And, on certain days, you can do it for free.

But this is On The Cheap, so we’re looking for bigger bargains. And we’ve found them this month during what they call “Bowl Fest.”

On Aug. 22, students in kindergarten through 12th grade can bowl absolutely free from 10 a.m. until noon. That’s two hours of games at no cost whatsoever. If a child hasn’t played before, the staff can help teach them. And they’ll even have face painting for the youngest players.

You don’t have to paint your face to bowl, of course. But it probably doesn’t hurt, either. Maybe the pins will get intimidated and fall down on their own.

Free bowling is a great way to have a fun morning with a child or grandchild, or for friends to get together over the summer.

But what about older players?

Well, on Aug. 19, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., women can bowl for free. And it’s the guys’ turn on Aug. 27 during those same hours.

So if you want a night out with friends, while remaining friendly with your budget, keep those dates in mind. No face painting, but they’ll have snacks and beverages, too.

Those are great deals, and if you want to bowl at other times (or just want to play more), Pin Chasers has specials just about every night as well.

On Mondays, you can buy a $5 wristband and play for just $1 per game, with $1 drafts, soda and hot dogs. On Thursdays, they have unlimited bowling from 9 p.m. until closing for just $10, with drink specials as well. On Sunday nights, it’s the same deal, but it’s $9.33. On Tuesdays, unlimited bowling starts at 9:30 p.m., for $9.99 and includes free pizza. Then they have cyber bowling on the weekends and buy-one-get-one-free games starting Aug. 22 and running through Sept. 6. That’s a lot of bowling.

Oh, there’s one more: On Labor Day (Sept. 7), you can bowl from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., for $10. That’s 12 hours of unlimited bowling. I admit that staying there the whole time might be a little much. Maybe you’d like to see your family and eat lunch that day. But it’s nice to know that you can play as many games as you want for one low price.

Whether you play every few weeks or haven’t been inside a bowling alley in years, the next few weeks are perfect for grabbing a ball (don’t worry, they have plenty) and having some fun.

They’re open every day, rain or shine. And in Florida, it’s probably rain and shine. So maybe it’s best to stay inside, and work on your strikes and spares instead.

For more information, call (813) 782-5511 or visit PinChasers.net.

Published August 12, 2015

 

Sunlake eyes return to playoffs

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Now that high school football teams are allowed to practice, the Sunlake Seahawks are running routes, conducting seven-on-seven drills, sprinting and diving to the ball.

Sunlake coach Bill Browning leads the Seahawks in practice. They'll try to defend their Class 6A-6 district title this season. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)
Sunlake coach Bill Browning leads the Seahawks in practice. They’ll try to defend their Class 6A-6 district title this season.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)

They’re working hard, but head coach Bill Browning isn’t ready to hand out any awards just yet.

“Seven-on-seven in the summer plays a role, but it’s nothing but glorified PE (physical education) football,” Browning said. “I’m looking for reliability over ability right now.”

Browning’s seen too many quarterbacks and running backs who shine in drills, but lose their luster once the pads come on. So while he’s pleased with his team’s effort so far, he knows the Seahawks have a long way to go to match their recent string of success.

The success they’ve enjoyed includes the school’s first-ever district title last year and no less than eight wins in each of the past five seasons.

Living up to that standard won’t be easy.

Sunlake, like all teams, lost talented players to graduation. Guys — like Nathan Johnson, who paced the offense from the running back position — aren’t there to carry the load anymore.

They’ve also lost players to other issues, Browning said.

It's early in the practice schedule, but the Seahawks aren't taking it easy as they prepare for the season to start later this month.
It’s early in the practice schedule, but the Seahawks aren’t taking it easy as they prepare for the season to start later this month.

Three expected starters on defense won’t be with the team due to accidents on jet skis and motorcycles, as well as lingering injuries.

There won’t be any excuses at Sunlake, however.

Expectations are high, and Browning is looking for players to step up and fill those roles.

“We have some puzzle pieces to put together. We’re far from being polished yet,” he said.

“It’s our job as a coaching staff to get somebody else to replace them who’s a very good football player, and we’re working on that,” Browning said.

Some guys are hard to replace. Browning expects to use a committee approach to handle running back duties, in place of Johnson.

And, he feels good about the offensive line. The unit is mostly intact and experienced, and should be a strong point for the team, which will need them to provide protection for the quarterback, and open up holes for the running game.

“They’re all seniors. They all started last year, they all eat weights, and they all play physical football,” Browning said of the offensive line.

One of those linemen, Bryce Cooley, also sees his position as an important one for the team.

“Without an offensive line, I really think you can’t do anything on offense,” he said. “Seven-on-seven doesn’t mean anything, until you get the big boys out there.”

At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Cooley is one of those big boys who will be out there. Now in his third year with the team, he’s comfortable taking more of a leadership role. That means leading by example mostly, he said, but he’s not above calling out a teammate if they aren’t giving it their all.

Still, the Seahawks are more about camaraderie than calling each other out, Cooley explained. They spend time together away from the field and have developed friendships that make the team closer. He expects that synergy will help them when the season starts.

Until then, Cooley knows there’s a lot of work to do. But he said he loves it, and feels confident in what Sunlake can accomplish if everyone puts in their best effort.

“We’re just going to defend the title, hopefully, and do what we have to do,” he said. “I’ve got faith in these guys.”

Sunlake still has a little time before their preseason game against East Lake High School on Aug. 21, and the start of the regular season on Aug. 28 against Gulf High School. There will be preparation required before the team is ready, but Browning is no stranger to hard work. He’s taken the Seahawks from a winless squad in 2007 to a perennial playoff threat today. He also doesn’t take much time off when the season ends, and now looks forward to replacing top players and pushing the team to meet the high standard he’s set for Sunlake football.

“It makes me thrive. I like these challenges,” Browning said.

Sunlake Seahawks regular season schedule
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)

Aug. 28 vs. Gulf

Sept. 4 vs. Zephyrhills

Sept. 11 at Wiregrass Ranch

Sept. 18 vs. Land O’ Lakes

Sept. 25 at Lakewood Ranch

Oct. 2 at Springstead

Oct. 16 vs. Pasco

Oct. 23 at Mitchell

Oct. 30 at St. Petersburg

Nov. 6 at River Ridge

Published August 12, 2015 

FREE SOCCER TRAINING FOR GIRLS

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The Wesley Chapel Soccer Club offers free soccer training throughout the summer for girls ages 5 through 7. The sessions are every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m., at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road. There is no cost or obligation for the session. Participants are encouraged to bring soccer gear, a ball (if they have one) and water. For information, visit WesleyChapelSC.com.

NEW APSL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS THROUGH SEPT. 7

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NewAPSL, a recreational adult soccer league which includes what they describe as “a touch of competitiveness,” is accepting registrations until Sept. 7. The fall season begins Sept. 13 with men, women and coed games played on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings at Benito Middle School, 10101 Cross Creek Blvd., in New Tampa. For information, call (747) 999-5425, email , or visit NewAPSL.com.

Keiko Shin dominates at karate championship

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Members of the Keiko Shin Karate Academy brought home numerous honors from a recent karate competition. (Courtesy of Keiko Shin Karate Academy)
Members of the Keiko Shin Karate Academy brought home numerous honors from a recent karate competition.
(Courtesy of Keiko Shin Karate Academy)

At Keiko Shin Karate Academy’s most recent competition, the AAU National Karate Championship in North Carolina last month, there was a slight imbalance in the numbers.

The academy left with more medals than it had competitors.

The academy, located at 3753 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, sent 20 athletes to the event, and brought home 34 medals, including 22 gold. That success gave them the top spot in the tournament in terms of titles, a dominant finish in each of their categories, and an additional haul that added to their existing collection of more than 150 medals. Their athletes ranged in ages from 6 to 40 and faced competition from all over the world, including Canada, Israel and Romania.

For more information about Keiko Shin Karate Academy, call (813) 994-9253, or visit KeikoShin.com.

Nostalgia, newer songs in ‘Mary Poppins’ production

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Julie Nelson has a challenge as lead choreographer for the latest New Tampa Players show.

On one hand, it’s something most people know.

On the other hand, it’s something people don’t really know at all.

Choreographer Julie Nelson, left, works with the stars of ‘Mary Poppins.’ Courteney McClutchy (Mary) and Jarrett Koski (Bert) prepare for opening night on Aug. 7. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)
Choreographer Julie Nelson, left, works with the stars of ‘Mary Poppins.’ Courteney McClutchy (Mary) and Jarrett Koski (Bert) prepare for opening night on Aug. 7.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)

“I think people know the songs more than anything. I think they remember the songs more than they remember the storyline,” Nelson said.

She’s talking about “Mary Poppins,” the story made famous by the 1964 Walt Disney film, and the latest New Tampa Players production based on the Broadway musical, which runs Aug. 7-9 and Aug. 14-16 at the University Area Cultural Development Center.

While the audience will probably recall the story of the iconic nanny as it goes along, songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” are expected to be familiar from the beginning. So Nelson and her co-choreographer, Jarrett Koski, have been tasked with bringing those popular elements to life. But, they also want to let the audience follow the story, which might not be as well known to them.

For a musical, “Mary Poppins”, features a good amount of dialogue.

And, as a theater enthusiast for more than 30 years, that suits Nelson well. She prefers a play that has a healthy amount of story to supplement the singing and dancing.

Even the most well-known songs need a lot of practice to get them just right. The New Tampa Players' cast of ‘Mary Poppins’ rehearsed ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ as a group ahead of opening weekend.
Even the most well-known songs need a lot of practice to get them just right. The New Tampa Players’ cast of ‘Mary Poppins’ rehearsed ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ as a group ahead of opening weekend.

“I’ve seen some shows where it’s just sing-and-dance, sing-and-dance, sing-and-dance, and there’s not enough in-between,” Nelson said. “So I do like when there’s a good ratio.”

There’s also the challenge of bridging the differences between the movie and the play, given the former is probably where most people gained a fondness for the story.

The source for both comes from British author P.L. Travers who wrote eight children’s books with Mary Poppins as the magical nanny blown by the East wind to Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London. She lands at the doorstep of the Banks family, where she becomes nanny to the children.

The film included scenes where live actors interacted with animation, which isn’t something a stage production would accommodate. Still, knowing that people remember the famous scene where Dick Van Dyke, who plays a chimney sweep, dances with animated penguins, Nelson wanted to give the audience a hint of what they recall from the film.

“We added a penguin-ist flair to ‘Jolly Holiday,’ a movement that resembles the penguins, just to touch on that little memory,” she said.

She also got to work on songs that might be unfamiliar to many people. “Playing the Game” is a slower-tempo number that didn’t appear in the movie, and wasn’t a part of the original Broadway show. It was a fun song to choreograph since it features children playing the roles of toys and is a little different from traditional “Mary Poppins” classics, she said.

Theater isn’t just a personal passion for Nelson, who will teach theater at Corbett Preparatory School in Carrollwood this fall. It’s more of a family affair. Her twins, McKinnley and Rylie, have roles in the current production, and “Mary Poppins” was the first Broadway play they saw in New York. Nelson’s husband, Bill, also helps out backstage.

Being in a theater family, Nelson appreciates the family friendly message and production of “Mary Poppins,” and its story of ultimately bringing a family together. She also appreciates the opportunity to share her interest in theater with the community by taking part in a performance with such well-known songs.

“I’m an educator first. I’m very passionate about theater and the arts,” Nelson said. “Even in my classroom, just sharing my love of the arts with others is always awesome for me.”

Show times for both weekends are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. The University Area Community Center is located at 14013 N. 22nd St., in Tampa. For information and to buy tickets, call (813) 386-6687, or visit NewTampaPlayers.org.

Published August 5, 2015

Wharton athlete runs past pain and into college

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Mollie Golicher was a skilled runner and was expected to be a big part of Wharton High School’s cross-country and track teams.

Mollie Golicher struggled with severe hip pain throughout her junior and senior seasons. But she kept a leadership position on the team while she worked on her running, and her efforts paid off. Wharton High School won district titles in both cross-country and track. (Photos courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)
Mollie Golicher struggled with severe hip pain throughout her junior and senior seasons. But she kept a leadership position on the team while she worked on her running, and her efforts paid off. Wharton High School won district titles in both cross-country and track.
(Photos courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

After all, her older sister, Kallie, was a standout runner for the school. Kallie earned a letter all four years of high school, was a team captain for both cross-country and track, and won school awards for athletic excellence.

So, even before she stepped onto a single track or course, big things were expected of Mollie.

“Her sister was kind of an all-everything runner, and everybody expects her to be the same thing,” recalled Kyle LoJacono, the Wharton boys’ cross-country and track coach who also spends a lot of time working with the girls’ team.

For Golicher’s freshman and sophomore years, things went according to plan. She was one of the school’s top runners in cross-country and track.

But then there were problems.

Specifically, she had problems with her hips.

As she got older and continued to grow, she was having trouble doing her normal running. Her hips would make clicking sounds, and she felt excruciating pain. And that made it impossible to be the athlete she was expected to be.

“It got really bad, to the point that it hurt to walk around school,” Golicher said. “If I sat down for a while, my hips would hurt getting up.”

With her junior year a wash, Golicher focused on bouncing back her senior year, working hard and preparing to re-establish herself at the top of her sport.

She did what her coaches told her to do. She did everything right. Unfortunately, things went wrong.

As a senior, practicing became a constant exercise in pain. Instead of being able to focus on running, Golicher was just trying to get through the activity in one piece.

Coach Kyle LoJacono talks with Golicher after her final high school track meet. But it's not the end of her running career. She'll run for Wofford College in South Carolina as a freshman.
Coach Kyle LoJacono talks with Golicher after her final high school track meet. But it’s not the end of her running career. She’ll run for Wofford College in South Carolina as a freshman.

“The pain is just to the point where she can’t get through simple runs sometimes without just breaking down crying, because there was so much pain,” LoJacono said.

At that point it would almost make sense to quit.

Golicher could have taken the easy path and moved on to something else.

But if being a top runner wasn’t an option anymore, neither was quitting.

Despite her struggles, Golicher became a team captain in both cross-country and track. And she took the leadership role seriously.

“In senior year when I became a captain, I knew I had to support my team no matter what I was going through, to push the younger runners to their full potential and to push the team in general, and be a leader and role model for the younger runners,” Golicher said.

She also got support from Kallie, now running for the College of Charleston, a Division I school in South Carolina. She encouraged her little sister to look at the big picture, and not give up on the idea of running in college herself one day.

She followed her sister’s advice. She encouraged and supported the top runners — most of whom were freshmen and sophomores.

Her attitude and knowledge wasn’t just helpful to the team.

According to LoJacono, it was instrumental to their success.

“We could not have won districts in both cross-country and track without Mollie. She was like having another coach out there,” he said.

As a result, the girls cross-country team won their district for the first time in six years, reaching the state level of competition. The track team also continued its winning ways, claiming their second straight district crown.

And Golicher kept running as well. The pain lessened over time — becoming more manageable — through stretching and strength conditioning.

She also kept working to improve her times.

That effort also paid off.

Golicher will enter her freshman year at Wofford College in South Carolina as a runner, while she studies sociology and business.

So, despite her challenges in high school, Golicher, like her sister, will run for a Division I program in college.

She also realizes that she became a big part of Wharton’s success after all. It just wasn’t the role she thought she would play.

“I was really proud of them, and how far they’ve gone and how far they pushed themselves to even get to states,” Golicher said. “I tried my best to be a role model for them, and support them and help them push themselves to get to states and run the best times they could.”

Published August 5, 2015