The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Michael Murillo

Stage is alive with the sound of (free) music

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You know what’s fun? Going to a concert.

If it’s an outdoor venue and the weather is nice, nothing’s better than sitting back and listening to some great music.

You know what’s not fun? Paying for it.

Thousands are expected to take advantage of the Florida Orchestra’s Pops in the Park series Oct. 18-19. (Courtesy of Florida Orchestra)
Thousands are expected to take advantage of the Florida Orchestra’s Pops in the Park series Oct. 18-19. (Courtesy of Florida Orchestra)

Concerts today are expensive. I mean, really expensive. A ticket where you’re close enough to actually see the musicians could cost $100 or more. That doesn’t count parking, either. Who wants to pay that kind of money to have a good time with friends or family?

Nobody reading this column, I hope. We’re not about spending a lot of money here. So how about an outdoor concert with experienced musicians playing great music for the low, low price of … nothing? That’s music to my ears.

If it also sounds good to you, make sure you catch the Florida Orchestra’s Pops in the Park on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m., at River Tower Park, 401 E. Bird St., in Tampa. It’s absolutely free, and a great way to see one of the state’s best professional symphony orchestras.

This isn’t some skeleton crew showing up to test some instruments. It’s a full 75-person ensemble performing a two-hour concert (with an intermission). That gives them time to play plenty of music, including Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Festival Overture” and Ferde Grofe’s “Mississippi Suite.”

You’ve heard of those, right? No? Me neither. But I looked them up, and they’re pretty famous. And there’s nothing wrong with being exposed to something you’ve never heard before. They’re classics for a reason, right?

But don’t think it’s an entire concert of music you don’t know. You’ll recognize a lot of their selections. They’ll play music from “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.” You’ll hear a special armed forces salute. And they’ll finish with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

And yes, you know that one. Even if you don’t know it by name, you’ll recognize it when you hear it. It’s a great closer.

All you have to do is bring a chair and a blanket and get there early enough to pick the spot you like. Coolers are allowed, too, so you can even pack food and drinks and have a picnic.

Bring a good friend, your romantic interest or the entire family. No matter whom you bring, it all costs the same — nothing.

Anyone who goes will think you’re being creative — dare I say, sophisticated? — for thinking of it. After all, they don’t get to see a symphony orchestra for free every day. This is the Florida Orchestra’s special free weekend, so this is really your only chance to see them in this format.

Well, maybe not your only chance. If Sunday is bad for you, they’re doing the same thing the night before. But on Saturday night, it’s at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. It’s a longer drive, but if you can’t go Sunday you might want to catch them there. It’s worth it.

Or you can spend a lot of money, including ridiculous service fees, to see some current band at a big theater. And then pay for food and drinks.

That doesn’t sound very good to me. Save your money and see the Florida Orchestra instead.

By the way, I’d advise you to get there at least an hour early. Thousands of people are expected at this event, so plan ahead to get a good space.

For more information, visit FloridaOrchestra.org.

If you have a good idea for On the Cheap (or want to share your experiences going to an event we mentioned), send me an e-mail at .

Published October 8, 2014

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Free seminars about county services aim to educate, motivate

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With so many different agencies providing services throughout Pasco County, figuring out exactly what each one offers can be confusing.

But the Community Awareness Series at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch aims to make things easier to understand with free lectures that focus on different service providers.

Sonia Rodriguez, associate dean at Pasco-Hernando State College, put together a series of free seminars providing information about community-based organizations and agencies. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Sonia Rodriguez, associate dean at Pasco-Hernando State College, put together a series of free seminars providing information about community-based organizations and agencies. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The six-part series began with a presentation by Pasco County Community Services on Sept. 5, and continued with the Florida Department of Health on Sept. 19.

The next seminar will take place Oct. 10, focusing on the Sunrise Domestic and Sexual Violence Center, followed by the American Cancer Society on Oct. 24. Veterans Services Pasco County and the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County will round out the series in November.

The series helps satisfy one of the college’s strategic goals of increasing awareness in the community, PHSC associate dean Sonia Rodriguez said.

“Most institutions are microcosms of their environment, and there are a lot of agencies and information out there that people don’t know about,” she said. “Or they have a situation going on where they don’t know where to seek help or find an avenue in which to help someone else.”

Rodriguez has been with the college for 20 years, and was involved with a similar program on their north campus in Brooksville. Attendees often are people who not only want to learn about the specific services each agency offers, she said, but also find out how they might be able to volunteer time or donate to their cause.

The room is set up to hold 60 people, and it was around half-full for the first presentation. Rodriguez considers that a good start. She believes that more people will attend later events as word gets out, and as certain topics generate more interest. The second presentation attracted around 35 people.

She picked the agencies with members of her staff, choosing the ones she thought would be of interest to the community. As the series progressed in Brooksville, different agencies would ask to be featured, providing more topics and covering a wider variety of services.

The popularity grew until it became a weekly series, and Rodriguez hopes to see the Wiregrass Ranch campus offerings to eventually grow to that level.

While she wants to see as many people take advantage of the Community Awareness Series as possible, Rodriguez said the people who might utilize the services directly might not be the ones actually attending the seminars. While unwanted pregnancy and domestic violence issues exist in the county, for example, those topics are unlikely to draw the individuals involved with them.

“The people who need it the most are the people that you probably can’t get to come to something,” Rodriguez said. Instead, individuals who know someone in need might be the ones in attendance.

The college also encourages its faculty and students to attend, since they might interact with people who need those services. The knowledge they gain from the presentations could help them in assisting others.

Each session lasts 90 minutes, with a 60-minute presentation and a 30-minute question-and-answer session. Each agency decides what kind of seminar to give, and could include a PowerPoint presentation, or different agency members speaking on specific topics.

Feedback has been positive so far, and Rodriguez hopes they’ll continue to be well received by the students and faculty, as well as the community in general.

“Pasco-Hernando State College’s mission is to be a part of this community,” she said. Before we were a state college we were a community college, so community never leaves our mission.”

Each seminar starts at 10 a.m., at the conference center in Building B. The Wiregrass Ranch campus is located at 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

For more information about the Community Awareness Series, visit PHSC.edu.

Published October 8, 2014

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Good grief! New Tampa Players prepare Charlie Brown musical 

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One of the good things about performing the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” musical is that the audience is familiar the characters. Everybody knows the “Peanuts” gang.

Everybody, that is, except the actress who plays Lucy.

Brooke Stinnett, 21, of Lutz, will play the role of Lucy in the classic Charles Schulz stage production, ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.’ This is Brooke’s first lead part with the New Tampa Players, a stage production company based out of CrossPointe Church. (Fred Bellett/Photo)
Brooke Stinnett, 21, of Lutz, will play the role of Lucy in the classic Charles Schulz stage production, ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.’ This is Brooke’s first lead part with the New Tampa Players, a stage production company based out of CrossPointe Church.
(Fred Bellett/Photo)

“I’m very unfamiliar with Peanuts, unfortunately,” said Brooke Stinnett, who plays the unpopular character in the New Tampa Players production, which runs for two weekends beginning Oct. 10 at CrossPointe Church of the Nazarene, 919 Debuel Road in Lutz. “I’ve seen the Christmas movie, and that’s it.”

To be fair, the Lutz resident is just 21, so she was born well after the comic strip’s heyday in the 1960s, when a series of television specials — and the original version of the musical — began to add to its popularity. Stinnett had to do some catching up for the role, learning Lucy’s bossy attitude and crabby behavior, she said.

But she thinks that not knowing Lucy too well allows her to add something fresh to the character, and the musical gives Stinnett an opportunity to show Lucy’s sensitive side.

According to director G. Frank Meekins, Stinnett brought a lot to the table when she joined the cast.

“She’s a very talented actress with an amazing voice,” he said. The two worked together in the New Tampa Players’ production of “The Sound of Music,” and he thought she’d be a great fit for the Charlie Brown musical.

With just seven cast members, chemistry and camaraderie is important, Meekins said. He feels like everyone fits in properly, with the singing and acting talent necessary to cover the challenges of each role.

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is both a familiar and different challenge for Meekins. He performed in the play in high school, and has directed it several times. But in those cases, it was the original 1967 version.

This play is based off the 1999 revival version, and Meekins chose that one because it has more exciting songs with a Broadway feel to them, while retaining the character warmth from the original that people have come to expect from a “Peanuts” production.

Stinnett also brings an acting pedigree to the stage. Her mother, Victoria, has performed for New Tampa Players, and her father, Scott, was in a production as well. Younger sisters Reagan and Eva have had roles with the company, too. In fact, when New Tampa Players performed “The Sound of Music,” grandfather Earl Myers joined Brooke, Victoria and Eva in the production.

“It definitely runs in the family,” Stinnett said.

While singing is almost second nature for her, being outgoing doesn’t come naturally at all. Stinnett admits to being a shy person in her everyday life. But acting and singing allows her to take on a character’s traits and become that persona during the performance.

“I’m a different person when I’m on stage, and it’s always been that way,” she said. “There’s something different about being on stage where I can open up more.”

Stinnett attends the University of South Florida, where she doesn’t do theater but instead studies computer science. While she admits that might sound like a better fit for a shy personality, Stinnett also doesn’t stray too far from her theatrical roots. She volunteers at her alma mater, Wharton High School, where she serves as musical director.

Stinnett will have plenty of scenes to show off her portrayal of Lucy to the audience, and it provides some challenges for her. The hardest part about playing the character is her demeanor. She’s simply not that mean or opinionated in real life.

The best thing about playing Lucy? “I guess it would be the same exact thing,” Stinnett said. “I get to be someone completely different than I normally am, and interact with other actors in different ways than I’m used to.”

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” features the “Peanuts” personalities people know in a series of stories, Meekins said, with musical numbers that add depth to the characters in a way the audience will appreciate.

“They can expect an evening of musical comedy,” he said. “I would say it’s a series of comic strips that are sewn together.”

If you go …
WHAT: ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ from the New Tampa Players
WHEN: Oct. 10-11, Oct. 17-18 at 8 p.m., Oct. 12 and Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: CrossPointe Church, 919 Debuel Road, Lutz
COST: $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and students
INFO: (813) 386-6687, or NewTampaPlayers.org

Published October 1, 2014

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Fun to spare: Special Olympics hosts county bowling competition

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If you wanted to do some bowling in Zephyrhills on Sept. 19, you probably had a long wait.

Around 200 Special Olympics bowlers were knocking down pins, laughing and showing off hard-earned ribbons at Pin Chasers, 6816 N. Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Pine View Middle School student Maryanne Meeker knocks down some pins at the Special Olympics bowling event Sept. 19, which was part of its Fall Classic schedule. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Pine View Middle School student Maryanne Meeker knocks down some pins at the Special Olympics bowling event Sept. 19, which was part of its Fall Classic schedule.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Athletes from eight area middle and high schools packed the lanes in two sessions at the event, which was part of Special Olympics’ Fall Classic season. Gymnastics and softball also are part of the season, which begins with county games before moving to area competition and the state games in November.

According to Judy Brunner, county coordinator for Special Olympics Florida, the athletes get excited about bowling day, which combines competition with socialization and fun.

“They look forward to it for weeks and weeks,” Brunner said. “They love being here, they love showing off their abilities. They especially love getting that ribbon to take home.”

The event is good for family members as well, she said. Like little league or other organized sports activities for traditional students, parents come out to Special Olympics events to support their athletes, watch them perform, and see them interact in a social setting.

Holland Meeker was one of those proud parents at the bowling alley. Her daughter, Maryanne, has learning and speech disabilities, and doesn’t usually enjoy social settings. But Special Olympics bowling was different, and she had been looking forward to the event.

“Since (Maryanne) found out she was going to be participating, she was super excited,” Meeker said. “She’s enjoying herself greatly.”

Her attitude was a welcome surprise for her grandmother, Pamela Stewart, who also came out to watch Maryanne bowl.

“It’s great because she’s an introvert. Even if she’s at my house, she just sits there by herself,” she said. “Maryanne couldn’t wait to come.”

Maryanne, an eighth-grader at Pine View Middle School, said she likes her classes and enjoys math in particular. But it can’t compare to her first bowling event with Special Olympics, where she stared down the pins instead of studying.

“It’s fun,” she said. “I get to miss school.”

Fun is what Special Olympics is all about, Brunner said. And in her 34 years with the organization, she’s seeing more people having fun over the years.

When she first started, there was one season with just 250 athletes participating. Now there are different seasons and separate events for east and west Pasco participants.

In all, around 1,200 students and adults participate in Special Olympics in Pasco County.

Having that many participants means plenty of volunteers are needed to keep events running smoothly. At the bowling event, Zephyrhills High School students were on hand to help. Students from Land O’ Lakes High School helped with a similar event in west Pasco.

Special Olympics benefits from having around 100 volunteers for the Fall Classic season, Brunner said, and they make a big difference to the organization.

“We couldn’t do it without the volunteers,” she said. “They’re crucial, and they’re so good with our athletes. They give them a lot of extra attention and a lot of kudos, and make them feel good about themselves.”

Brunner also credited the Pasco County school system with handling transportation and letting them organize events on school days, which increases participation.

The result is full lanes, a lot of smiles, and a desire to continue participating in Special Olympics. Even for athletes like Maryanne, who don’t normally look forward to social events and interacting with new people, it’s something fun to mark on the calendar.

“She’s already looking forward to the next one,” Stewart said.

Published October 1, 2014

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Bulldogs pick up pieces after tough South Sumter loss

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At least they know where they stand.

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs are a very good football team, as evidenced by their first three games — winning by a combined score of 146-44.

Zephyrhills kicker No. 15 Zach Gleaton punts as he gets protection from Bulldog’s Lorine Parker, 32, as he blocks South Sumter’s Carson Wells during game action Sept. 19 at Zephyrhills. South Sumter was up at the half, 28-10. (Fred Bellett/Photo)
Zephyrhills kicker No. 15 Zach Gleaton punts as he gets protection from Bulldog’s Lorine Parker, 32, as he blocks South Sumter’s Carson Wells during game action Sept. 19 at Zephyrhills. South Sumter was up at the half, 28-10. (Fred Bellett/Photo)

But they’re clearly not the class of their district after taking a 45-10 loss at home to defending Class 5A-District 6 champion South Sumter. And according to Head Coach Reggie Roberts, the Bulldogs definitely are not the kind of team that can hurt themselves and expect to beat a school of that caliber.

“We knew that we can’t make mistakes with that team and survive, and we did that,” he said.

The Raiders had a strong start against Zephyrhills, building an early 21-point lead. But the Bulldogs fought back, scoring a touchdown and getting in position to score another. Instead, they settled for a field goal, later gave up the ball on a muffed punt, and allowed another touchdown before halftime.

That took them from a more manageable 21-14 or 21-10 halftime deficit, to instead trailing 28-10 at the break — a big blow in a game marked by poor weather.

“That’s tough to do against a very good football team,” Roberts said. “I think that was a turning point.”

While it’s tough to lose a district game, it’s also disappointing to see some players not bring their best to such an important contest, Roberts said. Yet a few did answer the call and gave their best in difficult conditions. Players like offensive linemen Austin Larkin and Jonah Thomas caught the coach’s eye for their effort the entire game, and senior Jaylen Pickett was singled out for his mental and physical toughness, and efforts to motivate the team.

“I saw him all game trying to get the guys up,” Roberts said of Pickett. “He’s a competitor.”

While bouncing back after a tough loss isn’t easy, Roberts isn’t giving the team any other option. Zephyrhills had some good practices following the loss, and are working to get back to the dominant play they displayed earlier in the year. And with the rest of their district games coming up in consecutive weeks, there’s no room for error — and not much time to right the ship.

“We have to roll from here on out,” Roberts said. “We can’t lose anymore.”

The Bulldogs also can’t dwell on the loss. They have to have a short memory and focus on the opponents in front of them, Roberts said.

And if the team finds their early-season form and gets back to their winning ways, the coach doesn’t rule out a rematch with the Raiders down the road. It will take a consistent, strong effort, fewer mistakes, and a winning streak, but the postseason and another shot at South Sumter is possible.

“That’s the moral of the story here. We have to play hard,” Roberts said. “That’s a good football team. If we continue to win and don’t lose again, we’ll see them again.”

Published October 1, 2014

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No challenge too tough for swimmer with cerebral palsy

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When Taylor Sanders was born, she had a stroke.

Diagnosed with monoplegic infantile cerebral palsy, doctors told Taylor’s parents that she couldn’t walk, she couldn’t do things her peers could do and she couldn’t live a normal life.

Sanders usually chooses the 50-meter freestyle when she competes for the Zephyrhills High School swim team. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Sanders usually chooses the 50-meter freestyle when she competes for the Zephyrhills High School swim team.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

So her parents gave up. Specifically, they gave up on words like “couldn’t.”

“We had a No. 1 rule. The ‘C’ word was not allowed in our house, and that’s ‘can’t’ or ‘cannot,’” said Taylor’s mother, Vanessa Sanders.

Now, 15 years later, the focus is on all the things Taylor can do. She can walk. She can make friends and fit right in at Zephyrhills High School. And, like many students, she can be an athlete, too.

Taylor is in her second season on the school’s swim team. And before anyone even thought about giving her special treatment when she joined, her mother eliminated that possibility on the first day.

“I went to coach (Karen Cooley) the very first day of practice, and I told her what she has,” Sanders said. “I said that there isn’t anything that she cannot do. Anything that you request the team do, I ask you to request that Taylor do the same.”

Cooley accepted those terms happily, and ended up with a productive, contributing team member.

“She’s an awesome member of the team,” Cooley said. “She’s a leader. She likes to be involved and she’s very creative.”

Taylor is supportive of her teammates, and is good at taking direction and working hard to get better, Cooley said. As a result, her technique, form and times have improved since she joined the team.

Being on the team allows Taylor to challenge herself and others while doing something she enjoys in a supportive group setting.

“I’ve always loved swimming since I was little,” Taylor said. “And I have a very competitive attitude, so competing while I’m doing something I love is just amazing.”

The team, she said, is her family. “Ever since I started, they’ve accepted me like nothing was ever wrong.”

Being an athlete might be a challenge for Taylor physically, but it’s also in her genes. Vanessa Sanders was a softball player in high school and college, and still competes to this day. Her father, Scott Sanders, was a golfer in college. Disability or not, they wanted Taylor to experience the camaraderie of team competition, and the benefits and challenges that come with competing in sports.

While she enjoys the competition, her cerebral palsy has made Taylor used to more painful challenges outside the pool. Her hips were growing at the wrong angle due to learning to walk in an unorthodox way, and she would fall up to 10 times on a daily basis. But two surgeries in the past year has helped reduce her pain, limited her falls dramatically, and allowed her to live somewhat more comfortably.

The only drawback in Taylor’s mind? It set her back in the pool, and her times aren’t where she wants them to be.

“Because of my surgeries, I’ve kind of started back to day one all over again,” she said.

But Hannah Cutkomp, a teammate and captain, is impressed with how far Taylor has come in her time with the team.

“There’s been a drastic change from what I’ve seen from last year. She’s swimming so much better,” Cutkomp said. “She’s an amazing teammate.”

If Taylor is focused and determined while swimming, she’s just as tenacious when she’s on dry land. She plays guitar for fun, but graphic design and animation is her calling.

The sophomore already is accumulating college scholarships with an eye on the best schools to help her with that career. She even wants to raise money for a trip to California to visit legendary graphic studios Dreamworks Studios and Pixar Animation Studios to get real-world perspective on the industry.

That kind of focus is just part of who she is.

“When I find something I love, I run with it,” Taylor said.

And her parents are proud to see the results of raising her without words like “can’t” in her vocabulary. They’re also vocal supporters at her swim meets, with her mother getting overwhelmed seeing Taylor accomplish so much when doctors warned them to expect so little.

“I cry every single time,” Vanessa Sanders said. “Every time.”

Published September 24, 2014

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New tax collector’s office doing brisk business in opening weeks

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Any time you open a new location, you wonder if people will like the decisions you’ve made, and if the hard work will pay off. That happens if you’re a business owner or a general manager.

Or even the Pasco County Tax Collector.

“You’re always concerned about ‘If you build it, will they come?’” said Tax Collector Mike Fasano, referencing the iconic line from the movie “Field of Dreams.”

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Robert Knox registers his truck at the new tax collector’s office, located off Wesley Chapel Boulevard in Lutz. The location is already drawing around 240 customers a day, exceeding the expectations of Pasco’s tax collector, Mike Fasano. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Robert Knox registers his truck at the new tax collector’s office, located off Wesley Chapel Boulevard in Lutz. The location is already drawing around 240 customers a day, exceeding the expectations of Pasco’s tax collector, Mike Fasano.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Six weeks after the county opened its newest tax collector’s office at 4610 Pet Lane, off Wesley Chapel Boulevard in Lutz, Fasano has his answer: They’re coming.

The county set a modest goal of around 125 to 175 customers a day as a start for the location. But less than two months later, they’re seeing 240 on a normal office day, Fasano said.

Even on the weekend, when the office is open for limited hours, people are taking advantage. The location gets around 200 customers during their Saturday hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It’s the area needing the service,” Fasano said. “Wesley Chapel, the Lutz area and west Zephyrhills is growing. The service was needed there.

“They have a location go to now, and not have to travel either to Dade City or all the way to Land O’ Lakes on U.S. 41.”

That decision appears to have advantages as well. Purchasing land and building an office was an earlier consideration, but would have cost several million dollars and delayed the opening by a few years. And when the decision to lease space at The Grove fell through, the current location at Compark 75 proved to be a viable alternative that offered a larger area for driving tests.

As a result, the chosen location allowed the county to have the site up and running in around six months and for less than $1 million, Fasano said.

In addition to the office’s most popular services — obtaining and renewing driver’s licenses and vehicle registration renewals — the full-service location also handles birth certificates, paying property taxes, and obtaining occupational, hunting and  fishing licenses.
And many residents are taking advantage of the driver’s license testing, Fasano said. He attributes the testing’s popularity to area demographics.

“We have a lot of young families in Wesley Chapel,” he said. “We are seeing a larger amount of young people that we are providing that service to than I expected.”

The tax collector’s office could have a new service to offer customers in 2015 as well. Thanks to a new law that allows approved tax collectors to accept applications for concealed weapons licenses, the county’s offices will be able to file them for residents with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

It should take about a year for the Pasco offices to be involved in the rollout, Fasano said.

Comment cards have revealed positive reviews and customer satisfaction with the new location and its services, but Fasano understands that a trip to the tax collector’s office rarely is cause for celebration.

But there’s a focus on keeping wait times down — there are no appointments — for those who need services performed in a timely manner, Fasano said. In some cases, customers might wait 45 minutes to an hour at peak times, but many are getting their tasks accomplished in 20 minutes or less.

While customer traffic can be unpredictable, Fasano suggests doing business in the middle of the month if possible, as people are often renewing auto tags at the end of the month. Wednesdays might be less busy than other days of the week as well, he said.

And customers can save themselves multiple trips by making sure they have all the necessary identification and accepted proofs of residency the first time they come in. Document requirements can be found at PascoTaxes.com.

The location’s customer traffic is growing and people are using the services it offers, which makes Fasano feel good about the decisions and preparations that went into its opening.

“I’m extremely pleased,” he said. “It’s not only met our expectations, but exceeded our expectations.”

Published September 24, 2014

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Strong start: Saint Leo cracks top 10 in men’s soccer

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They’re only a few games into the season, but it’s never too early to get some national recognition.

The Saint Leo men’s soccer team (2-0-2) has earned a ninth-place ranking in the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. The poll was released before their two most recent games: a 1-0 victory over 21st-ranked West Alabama on Sept. 19, and a scoreless tie against the University of West Florida Sept. 21.

Just a few games into the season, Saint Leo goalkeeper Manny Schoenhuber hasn’t allowed any goals and the Lions haven’t lost any games. They’re ranked in the top 10 of the most recent NSCAA poll. (Courtesy of Mike Carlson)
Just a few games into the season, Saint Leo goalkeeper Manny Schoenhuber hasn’t allowed any goals and the Lions haven’t lost any games. They’re ranked in the top 10 of the most recent NSCAA poll.
(Courtesy of Mike Carlson)

While they’ve won just two games in the new season, the first was a big one: The Lions toppled second-ranked Carson-Newman University out of Tennessee, 2-0. The victory boosted the 17th-ranked Lions up to the 11th spot in the poll, and a scoreless draw against Clayton State propelled them into the top 10.

According to coach Keith Fulk, a good showing against Carson-Newman — which also was last year’s national runner-up — was important to establish momentum at the beginning of the season.

“We’ve built the program for four years now, and if you’re going to try and get to the final four or get to win a national championship, you have to play the best,” he said.

Even with the confidence he has in his Lions, Fulk admitted to being a bit surprised at how well the team came together so quickly and dominated the second half of that game.

While Saint Leo’s defense has shined with three shutouts, opponents are spending a lot of time trying to keep the Lions from scoring. The team has outshot its foes 87-35 so far, including commanding 35-10 advantage in shots on goal.

While Saint Leo is playing well in both aspects of the game, Fulk believes his offense is the team’s strength right now. The team is pressing forward well and displaying a dynamic style that’s giving opponents problems.

That offensive style is making it harder for teams to get many shots on the Lions, so their goalkeeper doesn’t have to work as hard. It’s been a recipe for success, but Manny Schoenhuber, now in his third year, actually wishes he was a bit busier.

“I like getting a lot of shots on goal, to be honest. It keeps me ready,” he said. “Of course I’m glad I get shutouts and all that, but I’m also here to save the ball. I like my job. I like being a goalie.”

Schoenhuber has had plenty of time to learn to like his job. Now 22, he started playing soccer when he was 5, and was involved in club soccer at 7. He hails from a small town near Munich, Germany, and played at the professional club level before coming to the United States.

Now in his third year with Saint Leo, he’s become a team leader and has seen a great change in the Lions’ approach to the game.

“When I first came here, the biggest issue we had was discipline,” Schoenhuber said. “It was just not a very professional way of thinking among the players. But that’s changed a lot now.”

Fulk credits a lot of that change to players like Schoenhuber, who have joined the team from other countries. Saint Leo has a number of players from Germany and France on the team, and having athletes who come from countries where soccer is so important makes everyone better, he said.

“I think the difference is their experience, their culture, their knowledge, their confidence. It’s contagious to the younger players,” Fulk said. “The Florida kids have learned. A kid said to me the other day that he’s learned more in three weeks than he learned in 15 years. And a lot of that is learning from the other players.”

For now, Saint Leo is having to learn to play with some national recognition and status associated with their name. They won’t be able to sneak up on teams, Fulk said, and playing in the tough Sunshine State Conference means there aren’t any easy games on the schedule.

Fellow conference member Lynn University was ranked No. 6 in the same poll, for example. Since then, the Fighting Knights lost their first match on Sept. 20.

While the Lions are proud of their ranking and excited about the attention, they all agree that the goal isn’t to ascend in polls, accumulate statistics or earn votes. They want to keep winning games and play well when it matters most at the end of the year, and in the playoffs.

“We want to be there in November and December playing,” Fulk said. “That’s our real target.”

And Schoenhuber agrees.

“At the end, the only thing that matters is that we win as a team,” he said. “I don’t care if I have 15 shutouts this season or only two. If we win the national title, that’s all that matters to me.”

Published September 24, 2014

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Still in effect: No changes to county’s athletic transfer policy

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Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy for athletes isn’t going anywhere.

Earlier this month, the Pasco County School Board declined to make any changes to the policy, which requires students who switch schools to sit out a calendar year before playing for their new school. They can appeal the one-year ban, but unless they meet certain criteria, the student isn’t playing.

Students who change schools are subject to Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy, which could mean sitting out a calendar year before playing for their new school. That affects all high school sports, including the more popular ones, such as football. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Students who change schools are subject to Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy, which could mean sitting out a calendar year before playing for their new school. That affects all high school sports, including the more popular ones, such as football.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The purpose of the policy is to prevent students from changing schools simply due to athletic considerations. However, some consider it stringent and controversial. The policy brings both positives and negatives to the table, said Land O’ Lakes High School athletic director Karen Coss.

Having the policy adds an extra check between the school and the Florida High School Athletic Association, she said.

“Having that extra check is a benefit. Without a policy, the schools make their own decisions, which can be ill-informed, or they need to navigate the FHSAA bylaws and policies,” Coss said.

On the other hand, schools have to identify affected students in order to request an appeal, Coss said. There’s also additional paperwork, which can put a further burden on an athletic director’s time.

Many athletic directors also are teachers — Coss teaches American government and human geography, for example — so the extra work can be challenging.

School board member Steve Luikart has been a critic of the policy as it’s being applied. But some have portrayed him as being against the policy itself, he said, and that’s not the case.

“I was never trying to rewrite something,” Luikart said. “We don’t have real big issues with the policy. We’ve had some big issues with the procedures and how they’re being implemented.”

Luikart believes there is some ambiguity in terms, such as what constitutes an enrolled student or a transfer student, he said. As a result, there are athletes being forced into an appeals process based on these interpretations when they should already be eligible to play sports.

“I’m under the impression that, according to the FHSAA, if a student lives inside their attendance zone, and they live with a legal guardian and they’ve enrolled in school on the first day of school, then they’re an enrolled student,” Luikart said. “There is no definition of being transferred from one place to the other.”

For the public, one of the sources of confusion is in relation to the FHSAA and the county. They aren’t the same organization, and while they work together to create athletic opportunities for students, they have different roles.

“The county is not determining eligibility,” Coss said. “They are deciding if they will allow the student to participate in sports. Some students still have to be ruled on by the FHSAA in addition to the county, so it is possible that a student is permitted to participate by the county, but ineligible by the FHSAA, and vice versa.”

Creating a policy and applying it can be two different things, and it’s the application that has concerned Luikart. It’s also the source for some degree of optimism.

Instead of expressing disappointment that the policy wasn’t changed or rescinded at the last meeting, Luikart feels like they’re working on a clearer explanation of how to apply it.

While nothing formal has been sent to the board to review, he’s heard that some adjustments in the procedures could be made. At that point he’ll review the adjustments and see if it fits with what he considers a fairer implementation of the policy.

In that regard, even though the policy is still in place and no changes to it were made, Luikart believes he got what he wanted.

“I thought I won,” he said. “My whole argument was that the process was flawed. The procedures were totally flawed.”

Published September 17, 2014

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Gimme five: Youth receiver a bowl participant … again

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For the fifth year in a row, wide receiver Dean Patterson has been named an All-American by the Offense-Defense instructional football camp. He’s also been hand-selected to participate in the organization’s Bowl Week festivities, at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando at the end of the year.

Dean Patterson, 12, has been selected to join the Offense-Defense Bowl Week later this year in Orlando. It’s his fifth invitation to the event. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Dean Patterson, 12, has been selected to join the Offense-Defense Bowl Week later this year in Orlando. It’s his fifth invitation to the event.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Even though he’s used to the invitation by now, he still admits to some jitters before he steps onto the field.

“I get kind of nervous and freaked out,” Patterson said. “But as the days (get closer), I normally just get all excited and happy.”

Patterson can be forgiven for his nerves, considering he’s just 12 years old. The seventh-grader, who lives in Lutz and attends Martinez Middle School, plays for the South Pasco Predators Pop Warner football program. He’s played youth football since he was four, and started getting recognition from Offense-Defense when he was seven.

Like many athletes his age, Patterson loves watching football at the higher levels. As a fan of Florida State University and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, he’s seen his teams achieve great success over the past year.

But he doesn’t watch the games like a regular preteen. Patterson keeps his eyes on the receivers, watching their movements, how they get separation from the defenders, and make adjustments to catch the ball. He supports his teams, but he’s also studying them, trying to find qualities he can emulate when he steps onto the field.

His system seems to be working. Each year, Patterson impresses the decision-makers at the Offense-Defense camp, even as he gets older and faces better talent coming to compete for spots at Bowl Week. But his reward includes a number of activities over the course of several days, including practices, a game at the Citrus Bowl, and another on campus at the University of Central Florida in Oviedo.

Even though Patterson’s a regular at the event, his first invitation didn’t even come at receiver. He was a running back at the time, and a cornerback the following year. But since then, he’s settled into the position he loves and plans to stick with it. He enjoys running routes and hearing his mother, Krystal, yell his name from the stands when he makes a big play.

At 5-foot-1, Patterson isn’t the tallest athlete on the team. Weighing 104 pounds, he’s not the biggest. And by his own admission, he’s only third or fourth fastest. It’s the intangibles, hard work and focus that allow him to excel at his position.

“It’s kind of getting to know your quarterback and what speed you have to run,” he said. Adjusting to a ball that might be over or under-thrown and making the catch is part of the job.

His future receiving opportunities include a potential athletic career at Steinbrenner High School when he’s old enough to attend. But before he can suit up for the Warriors, he has to stay focused and remain disciplined.

That includes in the classroom, too. Patterson reads to keep his vocabulary up and makes sure his studies are a primary focus.

“School’s always first,” he said. “You have to make sure you get good grades.”

Patterson also spends a lot of time with his head coach, going over game film and doing exercises every morning. But it’s not hard to schedule those workouts since his father coaches the team.

While it’s not unusual for a father to get involved in his son’s athletics, Robert Patterson had been coaching well before Dean had even seen a pigskin. An athlete himself who played football in high school — and soccer and lacrosse in college — he said that a coach was instrumental in helping him stay focus and motivated, and achieve success beyond high school. He wanted to be that kind of role model for other children, and that now includes his son.

“I’ve been working with at-risk youth for 20 years, helping kids get back on track or stay out of trouble with the law,” Robert Patterson said. “So to be able to do that with your kid, and see him flourish on the football field as well as the classroom, it’s a special deal.”

In addition to practicing three days during the week and playing a game on Saturdays, father and son have a regular early-morning jog that includes push-ups mixed in as well. Dean wakes up at 6:30 every morning to take care of his dog, Brady — named after the famous New England Patriots quarterback — before heading out on their morning routine.

The Pattersons are a close family. Dean’s little sister Kyra is on the cheer squad for the Predators, so she’s on the field while her brother practices at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center.

But they can be competitive, too.

When playing video game football on their Xbox 360, both Dean and Robert agree that dad has the upper hand. But what about a hypothetical match-up between the Patterson men if they were the same age, with Robert at his high school position of cornerback covering Dean as wide receiver? In that case, they have differing opinions over who would get the best of that encounter.

“I don’t know. It would have been a competitive deal, put it that way,” Robert said.

But Dean thinks he’d have the edge and could get open.

“I definitely do think so,” he said with a smile.

Published September 17, 2014

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