• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Michael Murillo

Hot bats, hot start for Saint Leo

March 25, 2015 By Michael Murillo

Saint Leo University’s baseball team is off to a 21-5 start.

While the Lions have had strong records the last two years under coach Sean O’ Connor, his third season at the helm has produced the best results so far. They won 17 out of their first 18 games, and currently lead the nation in both hits and runs in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II play. They’re ranked 15th in the D2 Baseball News poll, and 16th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

At 21-5, coach Sean O'Connor has the Lions off to their best start in his three years with the team. He also played for Saint Leo in the early 1980s. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
At 21-5, coach Sean O’Connor has the Lions off to their best start in his three years with the team. He also played for Saint Leo in the early 1980s.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

O’ Connor admits he is surprised by the team’s performance — he actually thought it would be better.

“I’m shocked we have five losses at this point,” he said. “We haven’t played our best baseball, to be honest with you.”

Still, to be 21-5 is an impressive start, and to build on consecutive 30-plus win seasons is no easy feat. O’ Connor attributes the team’s success this year to having a lot of returning players. The team’s starting lineup this year is about the same as last year, and playing underclassmen in the past is paying off now.

The Lions also benefit from a focus on depth during the recruiting process. O’ Connor wanted to avoid tying their fortunes to one or two star players, where an injury or slump could derail the entire season. Instead the team has depth, with players on the bench that could start for other schools. While they might not get as much playing time as the starters, those athletes can take over when necessary without a big drop-off in talent or production.

“We’ve tried to build this team so that when something does go wrong, we’re fully prepared for it and somebody else will step in and do the job that’s more than capable of doing so,” O’Connor said.

That method seems to be working, with double-digit run production in more than half of their games. But even with the strong start, O’Connor warns that there’s no guarantee of post-season success just yet. They weren’t selected for the regional tournament the past two years, and with most of the conference schedule ahead of them, they have to win when it matters most to make the tournament.

“The real test is the conference,” O’Connor said. “It’s nice that we’re 21-5, but if we don’t finish in the top two or three spots in the conference, it doesn’t mean a thing.”

The Sunshine State Conference provides a pretty tough test for its teams. All eight schools have a winning record, and five of them have 19 wins or more. With a 2-4 conference record, the Lions will have to win many of those upcoming conference games to keep up with the other talented teams and enter the regional tournament.

If they get there, they’ll do it with passion and emotion. While some coaches (and their teams) are stoic and don’t display much passion, O’ Connor said that Saint Leo plays with a lot of emotion. Being vocal and staying invested in the moment is part of the team’s personality, and he wants the team to remain that way.

And if that passion gets them to the first regional tournament of his tenure as coach, he thinks they can keep it going from there.

The talent level is so high in the Sunshine State Conference, O’ Connor thinks the teams that escape it have an advantage over teams that don’t face that level of competition on a regular basis.

“If you get out of the conference, you’ve got a good shot at going to the World Series,” he said.

Saint Leo is also proving that they can bounce back after losses as well. After being swept by Nova Southeastern earlier this month, they followed it up by winning four of their next five, including two of three against Florida Tech, ranked 10th at the time.

While there’s still a lot of baseball left to play before the season ends in early May, O’ Connor believes he has the kind of team that can get over the hump and make a run in the regional tournament and World Series.

“This is certainly the best team we’ve had in the three years I’ve been here,” he said.

Published March 25, 2015

 

MARCH 28 COMEDY SHOW BENEFITS WIREGRASS RANCH BASEBALL

March 25, 2015 By Michael Murillo

A comedy show on March 28 at Side Splitters Comedy Club will benefit athletics at Wiregrass Ranch High School. A portion of the proceeds at the 6 p.m. show will benefit the school’s baseball program. The headliner is Orlando-based comedian Pedro Lima. Tickets are $15. For information, call (813) 960-1197, or visit SideSplittersComedy.com.

Prep Sports Board

March 18, 2015 By Michael Murillo

March 9
Baseball
Steinbrenner 7, Armwood 0
Strawberry Crest 5, Freedom 3
Softball
Wiregrass Ranch 12, River Ridge 3
Mitchell 5, Zephyrhills 1

March 10
Baseball
Zephyrhills 1, Wesley Chapel 0
River Ridge 10, Sunlake 0
Hernando 12, Pasco 9
Jesuit 9, Steinbrenner 2
Robinson 7, Freedom 1
Softball
Zephyrhills 18, Wesley Chapel 1
Land O’ Lakes 2, Anclote 1
Sunlake 10, Fivay 0
Hernando 10, Pasco 9

March 11
Baseball
Wiregrass Ranch 5, River Ridge 2
Softball
Land O’ Lakes 7, Gulf 4

March 12
Baseball
Gulf 6, Wiregrass Ranch 5
Wesley Chapel 6, Anclote 0
Sunlake 9, Mitchell 3
Pasco 7, Hudson 2
Zephyrhills 12, Fivay 1
Softball
River Ridge 5, Sunlake 4
Wiregrass Ranch 15, Hudson 3
Land O’ Lakes 3, Mitchell 2
Pasco 12, Fivay 1

March 13
Baseball
Wiregrass Ranch 6, Ridgewood 1
Wesley Chapel 3, Hernando 0
Zephyrhills 3, Central 1
Softball
Wiregrass Ranch 5, Palm Harbor University 4
Sunlake 8, Seminole 7
Hernando 7, Wesley Chapel 0
Zephyrhills 18, Central 3
Land O’ Lakes 4, Wewahitchka 0
Palmetto 4, Land O’ Lakes 3

March 14
Softball
Land O’ Lakes 5, Riverview 2
Land O’ Lakes 6, Alonso 1
Tarpon Springs 13, Sunlake 6
Freedom 3, Plant City 2

March 20
Baseball
Sickles at Steinbrenner, 7 p.m.
Softball
Sickles at Steinbrenner, 7 p.m.

March 24
Baseball
Steinbrenner at Wiregrass Ranch, 7 p.m.
Nature Coast Tech at Wesley Chapel, 7 p.m.
Land O’ Lakes at Sunlake, 7 p.m.
Weeki Wachee at Pasco, 7 p.m.
Hernando at Zephyrhills, 7 p.m.
Freedom at Gaither, 7 p.m.
Softball
Wesley Chapel at Nature Coast Tech, 7 p.m.
Land O’ Lakes at Sunlake, 6 p.m.
Weeki Wachee at Pasco, 7:30 p.m.
Zephyrhills at Hernando, 7 p.m.
Steinbrenner at Wiregrass Ranch, 7 p.m.
Freedom at Gaither, 7 p.m.

Published March 18, 2015

Comedy on tap at Zephyrhills pub

March 18, 2015 By Michael Murillo

Entertainment at local bars often includes live music, trivia and special themed events. Now, Cheers 54, at 36616 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, is adding comedy to the mix.

The pub will host a stand-up comedy night on March 20, the first in a new monthly series, called Next Up.

Other venues in the area aren’t putting regular comedy on the schedule, and that’s exactly why it appealed to owner Kim Beverlin.

Comedian Jared Waters is scheduled to perform at Cheers 54 for a new comedy series beginning March 20. (Courtesy of Jared Waters)
Comedian Jared Waters is scheduled to perform at Cheers 54 for a new comedy series beginning March 20.
(Courtesy of Jared Waters)

“We’ve just been trying to come up with some new ideas for Zephyrhills,” she said. “Something other places don’t do.”

If local residents want to see live comedy, they most likely have to drive to Tampa, Beverlin explained. The comedy night allows the pub’s regulars to enjoy something out of the ordinary, and Beverlin hopes, attract some new business, too.

The show will include sets from four different performers selected by Frankie Lane, a Zephyrhills resident whose entertainment company creates events for Cheers 54.

“Comedy’s been kind of one of the things we always wanted to do,” Lane said.

It took a little work to put the lineup together, which includes comedians Rio Paris, Amanda Jordan, Jared Waters and Antonio Hamilton.

Lane went to see each of them perform before asking them on the show. He wanted to get a feel for how they entertain, and he believes that’s not possible by just reading their credits or watching video.

Each comedian brings something different to the table, so there will be varying styles on display that night.

“I love new, up-and-coming talent, and I figured, what better way to get those guys a platform and get us a great show?” Lane said.

Because Cheers 54 is a venue for adults, the comedy will be adult-oriented as well. And, the performers are looking forward to showing off their wit on a new stage, even if it doesn’t normally have stand-up shows.

“What comedy brings over all other entertainment is joy, the ability for an audience member to take a break from the normal lives and laugh at someone else’s view on the world,” said Jared Waters, one of the performers on the bill.

Waters has been doing comedy for around four years, and performs regularly at local comedy clubs such as Side Splitters in Tampa. He’s also performed at comedy theaters and festivals in North Carolina.

Cheers 54 is able to seat nearly 200 people, so they’re prepared to accommodate a large turnout. And, they’re determined to make the comedy show a regular part of the schedule. The second show is already scheduled for April 17, with a new lineup to be determined.

Initial response has been strong, Beverlin said, noting people are looking forward to comedy night.

She’s expecting strong attendance for their first show.

“I have had very positive feedback. I think we’re going to be packed that night,” Beverlin said. “It sounds like people are interested in having something different in Zephyrhills.”

The show costs $5 and begins at 8:30 p.m. A disc jockey will play music after the comedy sets.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call Cheers 54 at (813) 788-3840.

Piblished March 18, 201u

Sunlake soccer success is no fluke

March 18, 2015 By Michael Murillo

When a team finishes in the exact same spot for three years in a row, you might think that’s cause for concern.

Unless, of course, that “spot” is the state semifinals. Then, that consistency is a cause for celebration.

Connor Spencer and the rest of the Sunlake Seahawks had a great season, claiming a regional title and reaching the state semifinals for the third straight year.  (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Connor Spencer and the rest of the Sunlake Seahawks had a great season, claiming a regional title and reaching the state semifinals for the third straight year.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

The Sunlake Seahawks boys’ soccer team didn’t feel like celebrating immediately after last month’s 2-0 loss to Choctawhatchee.

Despite the loss, though, the game capped another stellar season for the Sunlake soccer program. The team finished with a 28-2 record — giving the team its third straight year with no more than two losses in a season. And, for the third year in a row they lost to the eventual state champion.

Choctawhatchee defeated Merritt Island in a rematch of last year’s state championship.

Now that the dust has settled, coach Sam Koleduk can look back on the season and recognize the team’s accomplishments, and the difficulty they overcame just to get back to the state semifinals.

“I lost all four defenders from the previous year, and to only give up 10 goals the entire season was pretty remarkable,” he said. Overall, the team managed another Region 3A-2 title despite losing a total of seven starters from the previous season.

Most programs can’t lose that many starters without missing a beat, but Sunlake isn’t like most programs.

The school’s junior varsity team went 14-1 this past season, and Koleduk said many of those players could have played varsity at other schools.

Sunlake has so much talent it couldn’t fit these players on the varsity team, but they’re ready to step in and fill the roles vacated by this year’s graduating seniors.

One of those seniors is Cobi Shirmohammad, a forward who spent all four high school years on the team. This past season he chipped in 27 goals for the Seahawks, and Koleduk said his talents will be missed on the pitch.

“It’s his speed and tenacity. He’s very aggressive,” the coach said of Shirmohammad. “He’s a real hard worker.”

For his part, the senior is proud of his team.

“I feel like we accomplished a lot, honestly. Even though we didn’t win, we had a great season,” he said. “I left it all on the field. There’s nothing else I could do.”

When he says he left it all on the field, Shirmohammad isn’t kidding. He broke his collarbone in the state semifinal. Now, with 12 screws and a plate keeping it together, he’s around six weeks into a healing process that will take a few months.

Another benefit Sunlake has in soccer is the team’s activity at the club level. Every player participates in club soccer (Shirmohammad plays for the FC Tampa Rangers) and that training helps create a more professional atmosphere. And while many club players don’t bother with high school soccer, Sunlake’s players enjoy being part of the team and accomplishing team goals for the school.

That doesn’t stop when they graduate. Even though Shirmohammad is now considering college options and playing at the next level, he always will be a supporter of Sunlake soccer.

“Those are all my teammates, and I support them to the end,” he said.

Nobody should be surprised if that includes another regional title next season. While each year brings its own challenges, they should have the talent to compete at a high level and replace the graduating seniors with other talented players.

It also doesn’t hurt that their star goalkeeper, Danny Hrenko, will be protecting the goal once again. Hrenko already holds the state record for shutouts with 63, and with another season ahead of him, the national record is a possibility.

But for now, Koleduk is able to get past the semifinal loss and acknowledge another successful year. After the loss he told his team how proud he was, and looks back on what they accomplished with pride.

“In retrospect, it was really a good season for us,” he said.

Published March 18,2015

PASCO POLICE ATHLETICS LEAGUE ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS, VOLUNTEERS

March 18, 2015 By Michael Murillo

The Pasco Police Athletic League is accepting registrations for football and cheerleading. Football is for children ages 5 through 13, and cheerleading is for children ages 3 through 14. Volunteers are needed, too. The football season runs from July through November, but leagues are beginning to train coaches. PPAL states that they conduct a complete and thorough background check on all volunteers. For information, visit PascoPAL.com.

GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITS TWO CHARITIES

March 18, 2015 By Michael Murillo

The Building Great Communities Charity Golf Tournament, benefiting A Brighter Community and USO Central Florida, will take place April 24 at Saddlebrook Resort, 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel. USO Central Florida provides services for ill, injured and deployed military service personnel and their families. A Brighter Community is the oldest nonprofit preschool in Hillsborough County. The cost is $500 per player, or $1,600 for a foursome. Sponsorships are also available. For information, call (813) 354-0995, or email David Ackerman at or Mary Ann Skok at .

Still moving after all these years

March 11, 2015 By Michael Murillo

Phyllis Goodlad has won so many awards at athletic event for seniors, there’s too many to mention.

And when you talk to her, she never mentions them.

“What’s behind is behind. You’ve got to keep your sights on the future,” she said. At 86, she’s been collecting medals and trophies for decades.

Phyllis Goodlad, 86, is often on a bicycle, in the pool or on the road traveling to different competitions. She took part in cycling and swimming in last year's Florida Senior games.  (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Phyllis Goodlad, 86, is often on a bicycle, in the pool or on the road traveling to different competitions. She took part in cycling and swimming in last year’s Florida Senior games.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

She doesn’t even know where most of them are. A couple of trophies can be seen in her home, but the majority are likely stored away in other rooms or in a shed at her home in Dade City.

Sometimes she even forgets to pick them up after she wins her events, she said.

Goodlad doesn’t even like to say she won or came in first place. She simply says “I did well,” so as not to seem boastful.

Her reluctance to appear prideful might stem from being a little girl in Wexford, Ireland before World War II, a time when women weren’t encouraged to participate in athletics, much less to excel at them.

“I was brought up where you couldn’t do sports, because ladies did not do that,” Goodlad recalled.

But they could marry athletes, and she found one in her husband, Terry.

“He was an all-around athlete. When I met him, he was going to turn pro as a boxer, and I don’t like boxing,” Goodlad recalled. “I gave him a choice.”

Terry chose love over a boxing glove, and they had been married for nearly 60 years, when he passed away in 2007.

During their marriage, her husband became an expert runner and cyclist, and traveled to participate in several sports around the world.

The interest rubbed off on Goodlad. She found herself trying new sports such as cross-country skiing, race-walking (where she holds Masters records in the United States and Canada) and triathlons.

She competed in last year’s Florida Senior Games in cycling and swimming.

And when she enters an athletic contest, she often wins.

She entered a triathlon at the National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio, a couple of years ago. After some coaxing, Goodlad admits she took first place.

But the victories and awards aren’t what are important to her.

She values the friendships she makes, the fun of competing and the health benefits that keep her in the water or on the course.

Those are the things that keep her feeling young.

“I don’t think of my age until I have to put it down,” Goodlad said.

Her athletic participation also keeps her mentally sharp. She enjoys setting goals for herself, using her tablet to research future events, and focusing on the next competition or event.

While most people in their mid-80s aren’t training for their next cycling event or swimming race, Goodlad said that seniors can and should do more to stay active.

Like most people, she watches some television — especially when the Olympics or Tour de France are on — but doesn’t make it her main activity for the day.

Doing something that requires physical exertion is harder than sitting in a chair and watching a program, she said, but the latter activities don’t provide any health benefits.

Even if someone’s health isn’t perfect, doing something is better than doing nothing, and can still make a big difference in their lives, Goodlad said.

“Get involved, even if it’s only for a short time in the morning or a short time in the afternoon or evening. Just don’t stay home all the time,” Goodlad advises. “Even if it’s only walking to the end of the street. Park your car as far away from the store as you can. Just that little but of walking is amazing. It’ll start you on a journey that will only give you the greatest pleasure you can think of.”

Goodlad’s journey takes her to Lakeland several times a week for swimming practice, and to Canada for several months out of the year, where she visits family in between traveling to competitions. She also will likely head to the National Senior Games in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, this July.

Even though she’ll be 87 this year, she’s still looking to try new things. She always wanted to take up fencing, and now that her granddaughter is trying it, she wonders if that might be a new opportunity.

The fact that she’s never done something before doesn’t deter her. Goodlad once entered a kayaking competition despite never setting foot in one. She took second place.

So if you want to try something new, her advice is to give it a shot, enjoy the journey, and don’t let a lack of experience hold you back.

“Nobody knows anything until they learn it,” Goodlad said.

Published March 11, 2015

No horsing around: Avalon’s Students Prep For Equestrian Shows

March 11, 2015 By Michael Murillo

The Reflections community in Lutz has beautiful houses, well-maintained areas and a peaceful, suburban aesthetic.

And 30 acres for riding, training and showing horses.

Annaliese Donaldson-Pham and her horse, Tirza, are preparing a move into national competition. She began riding at age 3.  (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Annaliese Donaldson-Pham and her horse, Tirza, are preparing a move into national competition. She began riding at age 3.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“It’s been here 20 years. They built that (the housing development) about 11 years ago,” said Pam Roush, trainer and owner of Avalon Stables, 18029 Lake Reflections Blvd. Before that, the property was a farm for thoroughbreds. Then Roush bought it and converted it to an area for training and lessons, and the Veterans Expressway helped the area develop residentially.

Now, Avalon Stables almost looks tucked away in a subdivision, but a quick detour off the main road leads to dozens of stables, large training areas and a little community all its own.

“We kind of call it our ‘barn family,’” said assistant trainer Lonna Glover. “Usually in the afternoons, everybody is here. It’s a big social thing for a lot of our customers.”

Saturday mornings also are a popular time, with riders and family gathering at the pavilion to watch lessons, socialize and support each other.

While Avalon Stables is a fun place for its riders, it also can be serious business. Many students own their own horse and keep it at Avalon. A horse can easily cost what you’d pay for a new car, Glover explained, and adding several hundred dollars a month for care and maintenance means it’s for riders looking to improve and become successful at competitions.

But owning a horse isn’t a requirement to participate. Some riders simply pay for lessons and use horses on-site that are designated for student use. And whether they’re gunning for recognition at a show, or just having fun on the weekends, horse riding and training can relieve stress.

The pursuit requires the kind of concentration that doesn’t leave room for outside pressures to creep in.

“Most people like to come out here to just relax and do something different, because they can’t think of anything else while they’re sitting up there,” Glover said. “They have to think of what they’re doing and how they’re doing it.”

Children with attention challenges often find their focus improving when they’re on a horse, because every movement works in concert to keep the animal behaving as it should, Roush explained.

Brooklyn Krone, 12, has been coming to Avalon for seven years. She spends three days a week working with her horse, Breve Latte, to make a jump from Academy level shows to A level. She’s almost there, and still enjoys the training process after all these years.

“It’s just really fun. I get to meet a lot of people and spend time with horses,” she said. Krone is working hard on form and body placement, which is a big part of the judging. It’s important to maneuver the horse properly using complex signals and motions, but maintain a smooth and comfortable look, as if the two work together naturally.

And even though it’s hard work, it’s a welcome respite from the stresses of her virtual school schedule.

“Usually when I have a really hard day at school, it just takes my mind off of things,” Krone said. She hopes to reach A level in the next couple of months.

Annaliese Donaldson-Pham, 12, can’t remember a time when she wasn’t riding. She’s been with Avalon for a couple of years, but began riding when she was 3.

“I just love the connection between you and your horse,” she said. And she’s building a connection with Tirza, a horse she acquired to focus on performing as she plans to make a jump of her own in the showing circuit. A competitor at A level for more than three years, Donaldson-Pham is looking to go national, and works weekly with Tirza to get ready for tougher competition.

Seeing her students improve and advance in competition is a particular source of pride for Roush.

“I love my kids. It’s the best,” she said. “It’s why we do it.” It also becomes a lifelong passion for many of them, she said, building from an interest that began as children into a consistent part of their lives as adults.

Krone agrees.

“I definitely see myself doing this for a long time,” she said.

The spring break camp at Avalon, which lasts a week, began on March 9.

Summer camp dates begin in June.

For more information, call (813) 765-7162 or visit AvalonStables.com.

Published March 11, 2015

Three cheers for state champs

March 11, 2015 By Michael Murillo

When Pasco-Hernando State College won a state championship last month, there was a lot of cheering.

Not just from fans or family members.

The cheering actually came from the team itself.

Because that’s exactly how they won the title – from cheering.

Practice and teamwork have helped Pasco-Hernando State College’s cheerleading squad claim a state title. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Practice and teamwork have helped Pasco-Hernando State College’s cheerleading squad claim a state title.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The PHSC cheer team won the College Co-Ed Level Six division state title at The American Cheer & Dance Championships for Florida, held Feb. 7 at the Florida State Fair. Their routine, which lasted 2 minutes and 30 seconds, earned a score of 92.30 out of 100, which earned the team first place in their division.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Sophia Haddad, the team’s head coach.

Haddad is in her first year leading the team, but she’s no stranger to PHSC cheerleading. She helped start the cheer team as a student back in 2009, and was part of the cheerleading squad that also won a state title a few years ago.

At just 23 years old, Haddad has athletes on the team who are older than her.

She considers it an advantage, to be close in age to the cheerleaders on her squad.

It helps her connect with the team, and she’s not afraid to get on the mat herself and demonstrate what to do, if it will help get her message across.

“I can see it through their eyes,” Haddad said. “I think I can relate a little bit more to them.”

As a former state champion, she also can relate to their success.

Haddad writes the team’s routines, and said she’s able to highlight their strengths in a way that judges will notice.

Those strengths include moves like stunting and pyramids, which require not just physical ability and skill, but a level of trust and teamwork that’s hard to achieve.

The team’s success stems not only from the members’ talent.

A good attitude, Haddad said, is essential to creating a successful routine and a championship squad.

“You can come in and have good skill, but if you’re not a team player and you don’t have the right attitude, then you’re not anything to the team. You’re not helping them in any way. If anything, you bring them down.”

Right now nobody is bringing down the Conquistadors, who will travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the national championships, which begin March 20.

The team will compete as a group and also in a separate stunting category.

Haddad has a good feeling about how they’ll perform on the national stage.

Karlee Roach, a PHSC sophomore who attended Land O’ Lakes High School, shares Haddad’s optimism about the team’s prospects.

Roach cheered for her school as a Gator, but said things become a little more intense at the college level when a state title is on the line.

“The pressure of it, representing our school, was very, very different than high school,” Roach said.

Winning the title also brought special satisfaction for her.

In high school, she felt like the squad during her senior year had the talent to win the state championship, but it didn’t finish in the top three.

She still believes the scoring was questionable and did not represent what the team achieved on the mat.

Winning at PHSC has provided some validation for Roach and her squad.

“That is why I wanted to join the cheerleading team here, because I wanted to prove that I am not fourth. I am first. And it’s not just me. It’s the team. We are,” Roach said.

Roach takes her cheerleading seriously, and she proves it outside of practice and competitions. She’s in the gym three or four times a week, doing weight training or cardio to stay at her best. Everybody on the team puts in their time to perform at a championship level, she said.

But for all that work, many people still think of the cheerleaders as the people on the side of a game, or simply dancing around. They don’t see the practice time, the injuries, the training and the teamwork that goes into building a winning program.

“A lot of work goes into it, and nobody realizes how much,” Roach said.

At PHSC, that’s changing.

Roach has been stopped by faculty and school administrators and congratulated for the team’s success. Over time, people are recognizing that the team’s hard work is paying off, and it feels nice to be noticed for their accomplishments.

For Haddad, those accomplishments include being good students. As an academic advisor for the school, she knows the importance of making sure athletes put importance on their classes.

Cheerleading helps in those and other areas, by teaching team members the importance of working in groups and providing support, whether it’s at the base of a pyramid — helping get the best out of a teammate, or focusing on a common goal, like a state or perhaps a national title.

“I’m really lucky. I have a great team,” Haddad said. “They have great attitudes, they’re great students. The overall package. And that’s really what I look for. You can’t be a good cheerleader here if you’re not a good student. You have to have both.”

Published March 11, 2015

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 20
  • Page 21
  • Page 22
  • Page 23
  • Page 24
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 41
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

All-in-one dental implant center

June 3, 2024 By advert

  … [Read More...] about All-in-one dental implant center

WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

April 8, 2024 By Mary Rathman

Tampa Bay welcomes WAVE Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art spinal care clinic founded by Dr. Ryan LaChance. WAVE … [Read More...] about WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

More Posts from this Category

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2025 Community News Publications Inc.

   