Michael Murillo

It’s time to clean up the Old Lutz School

March 20, 2014 By Michael Murillo

The Guv’na wants to see you in school on March 22.

The Old Lutz School, a Lutz staple for more than 80 years, needs volunteers for its spring cleaning March 22. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo) — The Old Lutz School, a Lutz staple for more than 80 years, needs volunteers for its spring cleaning March 22.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Suzin Carr holds the honorary title this year. And the school she’s talking about is the Old Lutz School, located at 18819 N. U.S. 41, which is in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

And on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., Carr is looking for volunteers who will donate some time to the school’s upkeep.

There’s plenty of work to do.

“That’s our spring cleanup day,” Carr said. “It’s dusting, it’s moving desks, it’s weeding. Any kind of work is available. So if people have an hour, or if they can stay the whole five hours, that’s great. But it’s really something that we do to get the schoolhouse back in shape.”

The Old Lutz School isn’t open very often. In fact, it had been dormant since December until the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club had its annual flea market there earlier this month. But Carr would like to see more events there and give people more of an opportunity to experience an important piece of Lutz history.

The Old Lutz School is actually the third school built in Lutz, back around 1929. It featured what were considered “modern” conveniences like indoor plumbing, and a water tower replaced the hand pump found in previous schoolhouses.

It was used as a school for nearly 50 years, and was listed in the National Register in 1996.

Citizens For the Old Lutz School Building is the group officially in charge of its maintenance and upkeep, and relies on area organizations to help with the normal duties required to keep it looking nice. But Carr said she’d like to see residents take part in the cleaning event as well, and help maintain a community treasure. “Typically it’s been the same core group of people who have done it year after year,” she said. “We’re trying to get more people to come out and take an interest, because it’s smack there in the middle of downtown Lutz, and we’d like people to know it’s there.”

Carr had a yoga event there during her run for Guv’na (she’s nearing the end of her time in office) and the Guv’na debate between the new crop of candidates will be there in May.

The spring cleaning is a good way for people who might drive by it regularly or just recognize it as an interesting building to help maintain a symbol of the area’s history, Carr said.

“It represents so many generations of kids and area residents who have gone through that school at one time or another as students,” she said. “It’s the heart of Lutz.”

Cleaning supplies and tools will be provided. Volunteers need only bring something to drink, and any amount of volunteer time is appreciated.

For information, call Carr at (813) 453-5256.

Published March 19, 2014

No swimming off-season for Wesley Chapel’s Duncan

March 20, 2014 By Michael Murillo

When you’re already a state champion in your freshman year, a swimmer might have trouble pushing herself to new heights and staying focused as she continues her athletic career.

Not Abbey Duncan. Not even in the off-season.

“We’re always training for the next season to do our best,” said the Wesley Chapel High School swimmer, who won the Class 2A state championship for the 200-yard freestyle last November. “I swim nine times a week.”

Not only is she in the pool after school, but she gets up early on Saturdays to swim, and avoids junk food and sodas to stay in shape.

She also competes in different swimming events outside of school competition. Last month, she took part in the Orlando Grand Prix at the YMCA Aquatic Center. Duncan had to qualify to get into the open event, which means it was not categorized by age. In Group C she competed against athletes who were years older, but not necessarily better. Yet, Duncan took first in the 100-meter fly and 100-meter back, and sixth in the 200-meter back.

In Orlando she also got to meet stars in her sport, including Olympic athletes like Ryan Lochte, who has 11 medals in his Olympics career and holds the world record in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter individual medley. While Duncan wouldn’t rule out an Olympic opportunity for herself, it’s not the main focus in her swimming career.

She is, however, already considering her athletic career beyond high school and plans to swim in college. Duncan said that a school’s swimming program would weigh into her decision.

But before the Olympics, or college, or even her sophomore swimming campaign, there’s the daily practice schedule and an emphasis on continuing to get better. Duncan said that repetition is important because being a successful swimmer is about more than speed.

“You have to focus on your technique. You have to be focused on swimming as fast as you can, and you have to be focused equally on your technique,” she said.

And that focus has to come before the actual competition. Thinking about maintaining her form is actually the last thing she wants to do while she’s competing, Duncan said. The practice time is designed to create a comfort level with the different strokes, allowing muscle memory to take over and letting her swim as fast as possible without thinking about it too much in the pool.

Those quick responses, which come from the regular practice routines, give her a slight advantage over a swimmer who has to concentrate on their form and technique during a race. And any advantage in a competition measured in fractions of a second can be the difference between winning and losing.

Travis Ten Brink, one of Duncan’s swimming coaches at Wesley Chapel High, said Duncan has not only succeeded in winning, but she’s made her teammates step up their game when they competed together.

“Especially when it comes to relays, they wanted her to succeed as well,” he said. “It seems to me that it brought up the other swimmers. They wanted to compete at a higher level.”

Duncan also spent time with less-experienced swimmers with their turns, starts and stroke technique to accelerate their improvement, he said.

While Duncan motivated her teammates to do a better job, Ten Brink admitted that her determination had a similar effect on him as well. While he’s an experienced swimmer who swam for Zephyrhills High School in his youth, this is his first year coaching.

Duncan’s ability allowed Ten Brink to spend extra time with other swimmers, giving them more personal attention that helped the team overall.

He’s also well aware that she’s just a freshman, and is looking forward to building a strong team in the years to come around a talented young swimmer.

“I’m absolutely excited. I was just telling some colleagues that I can’t wait for swim season,” he said. “I coach soccer, too, and after soccer was over I was like ‘When does swimming start?’”

Published March 19, 2014

Pinewood Derby maintains tradition for Cub Scouts

March 13, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Cars line up before a race, and their owners are nervous.

A lot of work and preparation has gone into this moment, and they’re eager to see how they perform against top competition.

The vehicles have new paint jobs, aerodynamic body styling, and success in previous races. And within a few seconds, everyone will see which ones will come out on top.

That scene didn’t happen in front of thousands of fans on giant racetracks. Instead, it happened at Saint Leo University on Saturday morning in front of friends and family, continuing a Cub Scout tradition of the Pinewood Derby that spans more than 60 years.

The Pinewood Derby begins with Cubs receiving a box containing a few simple items: A block of wood, four plastic wheels and four nails. From there it’s up to them to craft a car out of that kit, shaving down the block of wood into a car’s body, adding the wheels and nails and using the excess wood to add back the weight that was lost to improve track speed as it heads downward.

Once the car meets regulations, it’s off to a pack competition, with the winners moving on to the district competition.

The district winners — categorized by age — earned trophies this past weekend, but all Cubs get to keep their cars and the memories that go along with it.

Not much has changed over the years for the Pinewood Derby, including the meaning of the event. At least that’s according to Jason McCombs, committee chair for the Allohak District, which is comprised of 17 different packs and approximately 450 Cub Scouts.

“The main thing is not so much the winning or losing, it’s how you play,” he said. “Your sense of accomplishment is that you did it yourself.”

Parents might help a child put their car together, which provides quality family time. But the Cub himself does the heavy lifting normally, allowing him to customize the car to his liking and finish a project in which his fellow Cubs also are participating.

The event not only is exciting for participating Cubs, but parents and family members who were Cub Scouts when they were younger, McCombs said. They usually see many similarities between the cars they created and the ones competing today.

“A lot of the same designs that we had when I was a Scout are still coming back today,” McCombs said. “The paint jobs are fancier and there are more accessories that you can put on, but the base scale (weight limit) of 5 ounces has been 5 ounces as far back as I can remember.”

Paul Kollak, who earned his way into the event by winning his group in Pack 149, said he devoted a lot of effort to the project.

“I spent a lot of time and I worked really hard,” he said. The 8-year-old created a blue car, adorned with two American flags, with his father. The racing success came in part by creating an aerodynamic front that kept wind resistance to a minimum.

While he was happy to win his pack heats and become one of the approximately 50 participants in the district race, Kollak also enjoys watching other cars race, so he can see what’s working for them and possibly incorporate some ideas into his own cars in the future.

And while earning a trophy is always nice, it’s not the only part of the competition he enjoyed.

“I like racing it, but I also like designing it,” Kollak said. “It’s really fun.”

According to McCombs, that sense of accomplishment and enjoyment in the process is exactly what the derby is trying to foster. Unlike other projects that can be completed and forgotten, the Pinewood Derby allows children to enjoy creating and actually have something to show off when they’re finished.

“There’s something about being in school where you get a project, and it’s great when you get a project done,” he said. “But then it’s done. You don’t see it anymore. When you’re in Boy Scouts and you get a project like that, you’ve got something in your hand when you’re done, and you can see the sense of accomplishment.”

Published March 12, 2014

A perfect season: Weightman girls go 8-0 in soccer

March 13, 2014 By Michael Murillo

When a soccer team goes 7-0-1 in a season, capturing a championship in the process, what’s left to accomplish the following year?

The Weightman Middle School Wildcats celebrated an 8-0 season — the first in school history for girls soccer — and a second consecutive sectional title. Members of the team include, from left, Carrie Greene, Karissa Olsen, Jillian Skairus and Jessica Brunner. (Courtesy of Brian Dorkowski) — The Weightman Middle School Wildcats celebrated an 8-0 season — the first in school history for girls soccer — and a second consecutive sectional title. Members of the team include, from left, Carrie Greene, Karissa Olsen, Jillian Skairus and Jessica Brunner.
(Courtesy of Brian Dorkowski)

For Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel, that question was answered: A perfect 8-0 season for their girls soccer team and another sectional title.

“The girls are outstanding kids and outstanding soccer players. It was the most talented group that I’ve ever coached,” said coach Brian Dorkowski.

While he wasn’t the coach for last year’s title, Dorkowski isn’t a complete newcomer to Weightman, either. He coached both boys and girls soccer at the school before leaving to coach Wesley Chapel High School boys soccer for 11 years. Upon his return, Weightman not only logged their second consecutive title, but the first perfect season for girls soccer in school history.

The Wildcats didn’t just win all of their games. They dominated most of them, scoring at least five goals in five of their eight matches. In fact, two of them ended 8-0 due to the school system’s mercy rule.

And while they were offensively dominant, their defense was just as good, recording five shutouts as well.

In fact, their starting goalkeeper, Logan Coward, only allowed one goal the entire season. The other goals allowed came when they substituted backups to finish the games, but they only gave up four more in those circumstances for a total of five goals against for the entire season.

Since there are no playoffs at the middle school level, their record earned them the title for their section of Pasco County.

While the numbers suggest that the Wildcats overpowered their opponents, Dorkowski said he was impressed with the level of overall play he found upon returning to middle school soccer.

“It’s been a while since I coached middle school and coached girls, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the talent at the other schools,” he said. “We won by wide margins, but most of our games were against talented teams. The other teams had very talented players as well. These were good teams that we were beating.”

Dorkowski implemented a few strategies to keep his team sharp during the year. When the matches were already in hand, Dorkowski would give the girls in-game challenges to keep up their interest and focus, such as only allowing each girl to score one goal, which forced them to pass more and help their teammates score.

He also would instruct them to only touch the ball three times before passing or shooting, requiring them to make quick decisions on their possessions.

According to forward Tori Mitchell, who was on last year’s championship team and plays club soccer with the Wesley Chapel Flames, Dorkowski also brought a few new strategies to the table.

“He has a lot of background knowledge in coaching. He taught us some new set plays,” Mitchell said, referring to methods for free kicks and corner kicks that led to additional success.

“He definitely knows what he’s doing and helped some newer players who weren’t so familiar with the game.”

Mitchell also said that last year’s season began with a tie, so they knew a perfect season wasn’t possible. This year perfection was definitely a goal for the team, and even though they had the title wrapped up heading into the final game, they wanted to finish 8-0. Once they did, it was time to celebrate with post-game parties and an announcement at school the next day.

Next year will bring new challenges, as some students will graduate to high school, while others might attend different middle schools. But Dorkowski said that, as the school’s physical education coach, he sees plenty of sixth-graders with talent to share with the team next year.

He feels good about their potential next season and he’s proud of what the Wildcats accomplished this season.

“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had as a coach,” he said. “I told the girls at the end of the year that if we hadn’t won any games I would have felt the same way because they were just so pleasant to coach, just the way you’d want them to be.”

Published Masrch 12, 201

Special Olympics athletes shine in Wesley Chapel

March 6, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Before any ribbons were handed out. Before any competitions. Before the Special Olympics Summer Games began at Wesley Chapel High School on March 1, every athlete enjoyed rousing cheers and applause.

Athletes at the Special Olympics Summer Games at Wesley Chapel High School wave to the crowd as they take an introductory lap during opening ceremonies. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo) — Athletes at the Special Olympics Summer Games at Wesley Chapel High School wave to the crowd as they take an introductory lap during opening ceremonies.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The opening ceremonies included a lap around the track for the approximately 475 athletes who participated — walking, waving and proudly representing their respective schools. The actual attendance was much higher, with parking filled to overflow, families and friends in the stands and volunteers helping everyone get organized for the day’s activities.

But it was the athletes who were soaking up the fun and support.

“It feels amazing,” said Carlos Ortiz, who has participated in the Special Olympics since 2008. “You get to have fun and talk to your friends.”

Ortiz also serves as a global messenger for the organization, which enables him to speak to groups and individuals about the benefits of the Special Olympics.

While the athletes were socializing and preparing for their events, their parents were enjoying the moment as well. Denise Peeks, whose daughter Tiffany competes in cycling, said the community support means a lot.

“I’m just glad to know that, not only are the parents supporting them, but they are embraced by the community,” she said. “The business community and the volunteers come out and they get so much support that they so desperately need. I think it’s fantastic.”

Tiffany is a previous gold-medal winner in her event and looks forward to competing and having fun, Peeks added.

Jennifer Lynch agrees about the importance of community support. Her son, Alex, also has won gold in cycling, and said that the Special Olympics is a much-needed day of inclusion for students and parents dealing with intellectual disabilities.

“I think it helps him to feel like he’s part of a community,” she said. “There are so many things he is excluded from and so many activities he can’t do. But this is one that he can, and everyone can rally around and support him.”

In addition to cycling, Lynch said that Alex also participates in basketball when it’s a designated sport. At the Summer Games, athletes compete in cycling, bocce, track and field, soccer skills and tennis.

The volunteers also enjoyed themselves, including Wesley Chapel High freshman John Margetis. A special-needs student himself, Margetis is a high-functioning participant and thought it would be best to volunteer and let others have their moment at the games. He also participates in the school’s Wildcat Wings club, which is a social inclusion group designed to help special needs students interact with other students.

Margetis relates to the athletes and their needs.

“I felt like I should be a part of this,” he said. “I feel like they feel.”

The winners at the events earned ribbons, and many will continue competing in the area games for a chance to participate in the state games. But the goal was for everyone involved to have a good time and give proud parents like Peeks and Lynch an opportunity to cheer while their children show what they can accomplish with some guidance and support.

“It gives us an opportunity to allow our babies to showcase their skills and their talents,” Peeks said.

Published March 5, 2014

Gators, Warriors girls hoops teams reach new highs

March 6, 2014 By Michael Murillo

When a high school team makes the playoffs, it’s an impressive achievement. But they also know that, unless they win the state title, their entire season and postseason will end with a loss. It’s just a matter of time.

The Steinbrenner Warriors reached the regional finals for the first time, falling to Harmony in a close game. (Photo courtesy of Josee Briere)

Often a school measures success not just by reaching the postseason, but how far they get in the tournament.

In that regard, two girls basketball teams are holding their heads very high.

The Steinbrenner Warriors (26-4) and Land O’ Lakes Gators (23-5) both closed out the year on the losing side of a playoff game, but they each went far beyond any other team in school history.

For Steinbrenner, that was the Class 7A regional championship game, where they fell to the Harmony Longhorns, 44-40.

For Land O’ Lakes it was a step farther: The Gators lost in the state semifinals for Class 5A to the Southeast Seminoles, 49-24.

Land O’ Lakes trailed for most of the game in a contest that didn’t turn out to be very close. But Southeast, from Bradenton, lost just one game all year and finished the season with a 27-game win streak and the state title.

Coach Phyllis Crain said her team didn’t play a perfect game, but they played a team they knew would provide a big challenge.

“They’re a very good team,” Crain said about the Seminoles. “Yes, we could have done things differently, but I don’t know if it would have made the result better. Bradenton Southeast is a very good team.”

Land O’ Lakes proved they’re also a good team themselves this season, and Crain attributes the school’s first regional title to a commitment to teamwork and playing well together. The Gators were considered underdogs headed into the postseason — they finished as district runner-up to the Gulf Buccaneers — and had to come from behind in two of their three playoff victories.

But Crain saw their confidence build and is proud of how far their teamwork took them.

“I’m very pleased with the season and I’m very proud of my girls,” she said. “They played well together.”

Steinbrenner also is proud of their accomplishments, but the end of their playoff run is more bittersweet because they were very close to advancing to the state semifinals. The Warriors had a sizeable lead in the second half, but a run by Harmony evaporated that advantage, and they lost by four.

“We had everything you could want for a team that was trying to get to a Final Four: Hosting a regional final, having a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter and playing a great game for the first 24 minutes,” Coach J.R. Allen said. “Unfortunately, the last eight minutes of the game we weren’t true to who we were the whole season.”

But Allen also admitted that before the season started, he thought Steinbrenner would be hard-pressed to get anywhere close to the regional final. For each of the four years the team has been in existence (led by Allen since the beginning), the Warriors have gotten better. But after last season, the team lost their main offensive weapons and it looked like they might struggle.

Allen challenged the girls to live up to the success of the previous group, even telling them he wasn’t sure they would be as tough as their predecessors. He hoped they would respond in a positive way, and was pleased when he got his answer.

“They bought in. They really bought in and they responded to the challenge well,” he said, noting the team took on a strong defensive identity he plans to carry over into next season. In addition to taking another step forward in the playoffs, Steinbrenner also had their first holiday-season success this year, taking the Indian Rocks Christian tournament back in January.

Both coaches are pleased with their respective campaigns, and can look back on the year with pride. Plus, they understand that the last game has to be put in context of the entire season, since almost all good teams end the year on a sour note.

“The only person who’s not going to hurt at the end of the season is going to be the champion,” Crain said.

Published March 5, 2014

Founders’ Day honors pure water city with rich history

March 6, 2014 By Michael Murillo

The annual Founders’ Day celebration is March 8. There will be a parade, a 5-kilometer race and a one-mile fun run. And for some folks, that’s all they need to know.

Parades have been a part of the annual Founders’ Day celebration in Zephyrhills practically from the beginning. It’s a chance to bring the whole community together, celebrating a vision from more than a century ago to provide a relaxing community in Central Florida. (File Photo)

And that’s a shame, because Founders’ Day is about more than floats and a race. It’s about history (this is the 104th incarnation of this event, so that should tell you something). It’s about Zephyrhills — not Tampa, not Dade City, and not other areas close to Zephyrhills, although the weekend events will attract people from all over.

Whether you were born here (and a lot of you were) or you moved here (that number is growing all the time, too), you have a stake in this area. Even if you’re one of our seasonal residents, you make this your home. And that means you should dig into its history, because there’s a lot of interesting things to be found.

Before you pack up the family and head out to Founders’ Day and its related events, here are a few things you should know:

• Zephyrhills used to be called Abbott. But that was more than 100 years ago, so no need to worry about updating your address labels or anything.

• Zephyrhills used to be a colony. The Zephyrhills Colony was envisioned as a location for Civil War veterans (on the Union side) to relocate and get involved in farming and manufacturing. In fact, the first newspaper was the Zephyrhills Colonist.

Now, what’s the difference between a small town and a colony? Not too much, but it’s a neat part of history, isn’t it?

• The name was a little unclear in the beginning. Don’t be too hard on your out-of-town family members if they don’t know whether you live in “Zephyrhills” or “Zephyr Hills.” It confused people right from the beginning.

It was called both of those, and occasionally “Zepherhills,” too.

Newspaper articles sometimes referred to the company that purchased the land as the “Zephyr Hills Colony Co.,” and at other times the “Zephyrhills Colony Co.”

• Zephyrhills has always had a rich military history. In addition to attracting Civil War veterans, special land deals were granted to veterans of the Spanish-American War. How’s that for history?

And during World War II, the airport was used as a training base.

Zephyrhills might not have been front and center during wartime, but the military always has been welcomed and honored here. That’s important.

• Zephyrhills celebrates its history. If you’ve lived in several different places during your life, you’ve probably realized that not every city marks its anniversary. Some don’t acknowledge it at all, some have a leader give a short speech, and others slap a plaque on a landmark and are done with it.

But you live in Zephyrhills, there’s a parade. It’s not Mardi Gras, and it’s not even Gasparilla, but it’s a real parade that gets people excited — and it’s ours.

The 5k race is a tradition, too. Even if you don’t run in it (I get tired just driving 5k in my car), it’s a big deal. People go just to show support and cheer.

And really, that’s Founders’ Day in a nutshell. People going to show support and cheer — for the runners, for the city and for its history. It’s a fun time, but it’s more than just your average let’s-have-a-race morning or parade based on fictional history.

It’s Founders’ Day. So enjoy it.

Published March 5, 2014

Torch arrives in Wesley Chapel for Special Olympics

February 27, 2014 By Michael Murillo

The Winter Games in Sochi have ended, but a different set of Olympic athletes are gearing up for opening ceremonies in Wesley Chapel this week.

There are many activities those who participate in Special Olympics can take part in every year, like bowling. Sam Whitacre, left, Stephanie Varnes and Andy Faulk from Wesley Chapel High School are among those students who compete at the lanes. (Photo courtesy of Bridget White)

Special Olympics competitors in a variety of sports are expected to participate in the Pasco County Summer Games on Friday at Wesley Chapel High School. The games are affiliated with Special Olympics Florida, the state’s chapter of Special Olympics Inc., which organizes athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Florida’s counties and regions host local games, with winners advancing to state, national or even international competitions.

Wesley Chapel will host athletes from Central and East Pasco County. West Pasco athletes will participate in games at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.

Wesley Chapel High is ready for the games to begin, said Bridget White, a special education teacher and one of the school’s coordinators for the Special Olympics.

“We feel very honored to host this type of event, and we just love that it keeps getting bigger and bigger every year,” she said. The school has hosted the Summer Games for at least the past four years, and it expects around 475 athletes to participate this year.

That’s a big jump from when the Special Olympics first started in Pasco County decades ago, according to county co-director Valerie Lundin. In 1975, the local Special Olympics had just 175 athletes.

Between the two locations for the Summer Games this year, more than 1,100 athletes are expected to participate, and total attendance at Wesley Chapel High alone could top 1,000 when factoring in family, volunteers and other spectators. The high school was chosen to host the games due to its ability to accommodate the crowds and the buses, which bring students in from different schools.

After the opening ceremonies, athletes will start competing in the different sports represented in the Summer Games: track and field, bocce, soccer skills, cycling and tennis. There also will be an Olympic Village, with games and activities for the athletes and their friends to enjoy while they wait to compete.

While event winners will earn ribbons, it’s not necessarily the end of the competition for any of the athletes, regardless of their finish. Each competitor in the county games is allowed to participate in the area games, which includes athletes from Pasco, Pinellas, Citrus, Sumter and Hernando counties. From there, only qualifiers will move on to state competition.

The Special Olympics always has a great turnout of volunteers and supporters to help the event succeed and cheer on the participants, White said. And for the athletes, it’s a chance for them to enjoy the spotlight and showcase their skills.

“It’s an opportunity for our kids with disabilities to have something that’s all about them and that’s catered to them,” she said. “So instead of going to their brothers and sisters’ events all the time, they get to come to their events and they get to be the superstar.”

While the Special Olympics is able to consistently promote awareness and celebrate the skills of their student-athletes, Lundin would like to see the organization attract more adult participants as well. Athletes of any age are welcome.

“I know there are a lot of adults in Pasco County who qualify but are not participating at this time, and we’d love to really focus on that population and getting them more involved,” she said.

The opening ceremonies begin at 11:30 a.m., Friday at the school, located at 30651 Wells Road. The event is free and open to the public, with concessions available. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics.

For more information regarding the Summer Games or to inquire about participation, visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org, or call (352) 243-9536.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.

National soccer scoring title belongs to Sunlake’s Pimm

February 27, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Any soccer team that played the Sunlake Seahawks this season knew that Remi Pimm was a scoring threat. The sophomore forward was by far the best scorer on his team this season.

Sunlake’s Remi Pimm led the nation in scoring this past soccer season with 64 goals. That mark also makes him the new Pasco County single-season record holder. (Photo by Michael Murillo)

Of course, he also was the best scorer in the district.

And the region.

And the state.

In fact, Pimm finished the year as the top scorer … in the nation. He had 64 goals and 39 assists. Pimm’s total not only was good enough for this year’s national honors, he broke the all-time record for most goals in a season by a Pasco County player of either gender.

Pimm said he takes the substance of the game seriously, but likes adding a little style as well.

“I like to create and have fun with the game, take defenders on, create scoring opportunities,” he said. “When I play I just like to have a good time. I like to do it the right way but also play with flair and good style.”

But flair and style wasn’t on everyone’s mind when he first joined the team this season. Pimm said that people would ask him if he was going to break the county record that had been recently set by another Sunlake player. Connor Gilboy — who joined the University of Florida’s football program and was red-shirted as a freshman this year after graduating from Sunlake — held the mark with 60 goals after last season.

Known for his soccer skills, Pimm said the pressure was on for him to claim the mark for himself. So he was glad to have accomplished that task in his sophomore season.

“Beating his record was my goal at the beginning of the year, and I beat that,” he said. “And I eventually got the Pasco record. I felt really good.”

One goal that the team didn’t accomplish was a state title. The Seahawks fell to Merritt Island 1-0 in the Class 3A state semifinals on Feb. 13. But the team finished with a perfect 16-0 district record and a 29-2-1 overall record.

While the Seahawks wanted to win the title, Pimm said he was proud of the team for playing hard, not giving up, and staying positive.

In fact, a positive mindset is a big part of Pimm’s game. He studies the best professional soccer players — he wants to be one someday — and noticed they bring an intensity and focus even if thing aren’t going exactly the way they want on the pitch.

Pimm believes good players need to have a positive attitude that things will go well, but a short memory if they don’t.

“The secret to scoring this many goals is to quickly forget when you miss one,” he said. “Also studying the game — which is a huge part — watching the professionals do it, and visualizing myself in their position.”

While the Seahawks’ season is over, soccer is still on Pimm’s mind. He plays for the FC Tampa Rangers, a local club based in Lutz, and will participate in the State Cup for the team’s Under-16 boys group, which begins next month.

But wherever he plays, Pimm has learned to keep his attention on the contest at hand, taking deep breaths to regain his focus when necessary.

And he’s also learned patience. While he might score multiple goals in some games, in others those opportunities might not be there in the beginning. He believes the key is to not dwell on a lack of success, but focus on taking advantage at the next available opportunity.

“At no point in the game should you ever hang your head and give up,” he said.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.

Wade Boggs, others support new Little League park name

February 20, 2014 By Michael Murillo

Because it’s located at 18050 Kinnan Street, many people know New Tampa Little League Park as Kinnan Fields. But soon it could be getting a whole new name.

Kinnan Fields could soon get an official name after a couple that devoted a lot of time to bring Little League to the area. Eber Park, named for Dick and Kathy Eber, could be made official as early as this spring. (Photo by Michael Murillo)

A final decision has yet to be made, but a public meeting on Feb. 10 to discuss options ended with one clear choice among interested parties.

“Every person there spoke to renaming the park Eber Park, after Dick and Kathy Eber,” said Jack Carlisle, director of Parks, Recreation and Conservation for Hillsborough County. The couple was instrumental in the formation of the league, first as the Northeast Little League, and then its move to New Tampa.

And the Ebers still live in the area, Carlisle said, with Kathy Ebers an assistant athletic specialist for the county, and Dick Eber a retired postal carrier.

The Ebers have a vocal group of supporters who want to see them honored with the park naming, but the couple was not informed of the effort, Carlisle said. His plan was to meet with Kathy this week and reveal the news, ahead of Wednesday’s Hillsborough County Commission meeting, where the item is on the agenda.

The ball to recognize the Ebers got rolling when Harald Stone, a former Little League president, spoke with Commissioner Ken Hagan about the possibility of renaming New Tampa Little League Park in their honor. Stone then spoke before the Park Advisory Board to present the issue, which led to a public meeting to consider all options and opinions.

“I had been thinking about it for two or three years,” explained Stone, who has known the Ebers for more than two decades. “They have just been the heart and soul of Little League.”

Kathy, Stone said, served as Little League president multiple times, and would handle the league’s administrative duties in the early days, while Dick would work on managing, coaching and umpiring. After their own children grew out of the league, the Ebers stayed and even sacrificed vacation time to mentor children, remain active and help it grow.

In an organization where leaders tend to come and go as their children moved through the system, the Ebers remained a constant presence and source of support. “Through all the comings and goings of the various of adults and parents who were involved in the league, there was one constant, and that was Dick and Kathy Eber,” Stone said. “We were there when our kids played. They were there long-term.”

The meeting had enthusiastic supporters for the name change in attendance, but it wasn’t a large group. Only six people came to speak to the issue, but some had well-recognized baseball credentials. Major League Baseball Hall-Of-Famer Wade Boggs and former University of South Florida baseball coach Eddie Cardieri were among those speaking on the Ebers’ behalf.

Carlisle explained that while there might not have been large numbers in attendance, it’s not surprising that those who showed up were passionate about the topic.

“I’m fond of telling staff in almost every meeting that at Parks and Recreation, we’re in the business of creating memories,” he said. “When people walk away from the park with their family or from some sporting event, they’re walking away with a memory. I believe that collectively, over time, that creates a kind of passion for a particular place.”

The renaming of the park — which boasts three fields, batting cages and a concession area — won’t be official until the board approves it. But there aren’t any other names in contention. If approved, appropriate signage will be placed at the park, and a ceremony will be scheduled to mark the change.

That could happen sometime in the middle or end of the current season, which runs through closing ceremonies scheduled for May 17.

While he was the catalyst behind the name change, Stone said he’s just one of the couple’s many admirers, and represents the sentiments of those who appreciate their contributions to youth baseball.

“There would have been a hundred other guys who, if I had been hit by a car, would have kept it going. I can tell you that,” he said. “I was not alone in this.”

Published Feb. 19, 2014