Michael Murillo

A perfect 2013 for Sunlake … junior varsity

November 13, 2013 By Michael Murillo

A local high school football team just completed an undefeated season in which most of the games were shutout victories.

The last game was the closest, a one-point win where the margin of victory was a blocked extra point. That capped a three-game winning streak, all on the road.

Freshman wide receiver Rakeem ‘Kimme’ Jones grabs a pass against the River Ridge Royal Knights in a 36-0 win last September. The Sunlake Seahawks junior varsity team would go on to an undefeated 8-0 season. (Photo courtesy of Belinda Kasper)

They finished a perfect season, and most people had no idea they were even playing. And it’s all because of one word: “junior.”

As in, junior varsity football. They don’t get the crowds, the accolades or the press, but the Sunlake Seahawks went 8-0 this season, just one year after completing a 7-1 campaign.

There won’t be any playoffs and there are no district or regional titles to earn. But for the players, coaches and those who followed the team, there’s a lot of pride in what they accomplished.

“It feels great. It’s what we worked hard for, it’s what I drilled into their heads: 8-0 was the goal, and we finally reached that goal,” explained Head Coach Ryan Horan.

But it wasn’t an easy goal to attain. Even though the games weren’t at the top tier of high school sports, the Seahawks certainly felt varsity-level drama this season.

They avenged their only loss last year with a close 7-0 victory against the Pasco Pirates to open their schedule, and they closed it out with a win on the road against the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls, another undefeated team looking to avoid its first loss. A blocked extra point and a go-ahead touchdown later, and Sunlake had finished its season undefeated.

Junior varsity football isn’t usually a big draw. There might be a few fans, but often there’s family, friends and a lot of empty seats. But the last game was different, because both teams wanted a perfect season. For that game there were a lot of fans in the stands and a lot of energy to motivate both teams.

“Believe it or not, you would’ve thought it was a varsity game,” Horan said.

One of those fans was a former player: Justin Hall, a freshman quarterback who played five games with Sunlake’s junior varsity team before leaving the squad. His absence was justified, however — he caught the eye of the varsity team and was called up for the remainder of their season.

Since there are no playoffs, the real payoff for the players is the opportunity to eventually work their way up to the varsity level. Hall accomplished that after a handful of games in his first year, and he credits his experience with junior varsity football with giving him a solid foundation to compete at the next level.

In fact, he was already familiar with a lot of the offensive strategy when he got there.

“You get a couple of new plays, more advanced plays,” Hall said of the transition to varsity. “But it’s basically the same plays in both JV and varsity.”

While he said the varsity game is faster and has players who have found the best position for them on the field (making the competition stronger), Hall felt better prepared to face those challenges as a result of his success with the junior varsity team.

Even though he wasn’t with the team anymore, he still had friends there and attended their remaining games to show support. And when his former team completed their undefeated season, Hall felt a real sense of pride to have contributed to their success.

“I felt really good. I felt happy for them that they could pull off those last two wins, and it was good knowing that I could be part of that 8-0 season,” Hall said.

Pride on the line between Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel

November 6, 2013 By Michael Murillo

If you’re looking for a powerhouse matchup between two of the best high school football teams in the area, the Nov. 8 game between the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls and the Wesley Chapel Wildcats probably isn’t it.

Neither team will be going to the playoffs, both are winless in their respective districts, and they have a combined three victories between them (all of them from 3-6 Wiregrass Ranch, while Wesley Chapel sits at 0-9).

So why are both schools looking forward to the match up?

The answer is simple: It’s a rivalry game. And it’s a game among neighbors as well.

The two schools are only about 10 miles apart. In fact, Wiregrass Ranch was created in part due to Wesley Chapel’s overcrowding.

A decade ago, current Bulls students would likely have been Wildcats. They live near each other, interact with each other, and many players participated in youth sports together. So when they face off in a high school rivalry game, the athletes don’t consider it just another date on the schedule.

“These guys have seen each other for a number of years, so it’s always special,” Wesley Chapel head coach Tico Hernandez said. This is Hernandez’s first year running the school’s program, but he understands the pride that goes along with defeating a rival.

But for the Wildcats, there’s also history on the line. Wiregrass and Wesley Chapel have been playing against each other since the 2007 season, and each time Wesley Chapel has come out on top. But this year the Bulls own the better record and some confidence that they can not only beat the Wildcats, but beat them on their own field.

Hernandez said to avoid that outcome and keep his school’s streak going, the Wildcats will have to have one of their better defensive efforts and get more consistency from an offense that can create effective moments, but is also susceptible to what he calls “silly” plays. He believes that putting a complete game together and getting the season’s first win against a rival would be meaningful for the players.

But Wiregrass Ranch head coach Mike Lawrence doesn’t want to hear much about rivalries. He just wants to win.

“Focusing just because it’s Wesley Chapel and a rivalry, I don’t want to play too much into that. I just want to focus on winning the ballgame,” he said.

Lawrence knows his players could get excited about facing the Wildcats, but sees a better road to success by keeping the Bulls focused on their game plan and treating the contest like another game on the schedule. That means both offense and defense prepared for the game, and playing well when they’re on the field.

Like Hernandez, this is Lawrence’s first season as his school’s head coach. But instead of the rivalry aspect of the game, he’s more concerned about Wesley Chapel’s winless record, and their drive to get into the win column for the first time this year.

“They’re hungry and they’re looking for a win. They haven’t won a ballgame yet, and that’s an advantage that they have right now on us,” he said. “They don’t want to finish their season without a victory.”

While that’s true, Hernandez said there’s a little bit more behind their motivation when they see the Wildcats on the schedule. They want a win, but they also want neighborhood bragging rights as well.

“Our team goals at the beginning of the year were to control the classroom and behave on campus and have a certain GPA,” he said. “And one of our other goals was to continue to own Wesley Chapel.”

Pirates-Bulldogs: Winner gets playoffs, loser goes home

October 30, 2013 By Michael Murillo

In high school football, every game is meaningful. If it involves two good teams, it’s a little more important. And if the playoffs are on the line, that ups the ante.

But if it’s a rivalry game, it has the makings of something really special.

Friday’s match up featuring the 5-3 Pasco Pirates and 7-1 Zephyrhills Bulldogs qualifies as all of the above.

ZHPascoGrid — Bulldogs coach Reggie Roberts has beaten the Pasco Pirates more than once as a player, but now he’s looking for his first win against his rival as a coach. And the playoffs are on the line. (File photo)

When Pasco visits Zephyrhills, the game will feature two strong teams in the top half of 5A-District 6 in terms of points scored and points allowed. And while South Sumter sits atop the standings in both district and overall play (already clinching the top spot in the district), the Pirates and Bulldogs are battling for second place and the trip to the playoffs that goes with it.

The winner of this game earns that spot, while the loser has to accept defeat and will be sent home at the hand of their rival.

While making the playoffs is a goal for every team, Zephyrhills is looking to end a long post-season drought. The Bulldogs haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, with just two winning seasons in that span (both occurring since Head Coach Reggie Roberts took over in 2010).

Pasco, on the other hand, is used to post-season appearances. During the years that Zephyrhills has been kept out the playoffs, Pasco has earned six district championships and three undefeated regular seasons.

Now, with one game determining who makes the playoffs, Zephyrhills will either break their streak of futility, or Pasco will continue its run of success. With a 4-1 district record, Zephyrhills’ Roberts is excited about his team’s prospects.

“We’re a better football team than we have been in the past,” Roberts explained. “The last two years, we tasted a little bit of the possibility of the playoffs, and these kids really want to get there. And they’re playing like that right now. I’ve got a bunch of motivated kids on my hands.”

Two of those motivated kids are sure to be the focal points of Zephyrhills’ offense, and the biggest concerns for Pasco’s defense. Senior Devon Brockington is not only one of the rushing threats in the Bulldogs’ run-first scheme, but he’s also the top target when they throw the ball. But if the Pirates find a way to contain him, they’ll still have to contend with Jaylen Pickett, a senior who serves as the lead back and workhorse when Zephyrhills does their damage on the ground.

There’s no question the Bulldogs have had a good year, as evidenced by Roberts being named Coach of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association for District 10. But Roberts, who attended Zephyrhills in his playing days, still has some unfinished business with Pasco. As a linebacker and tight end, his Bulldogs teams were undefeated against their rival, but it’s been a different story as a coach: In three previous opportunities, he has yet to win when facing the Pirates.

And while the game is important for reasons that go beyond his personal history with the team, he’s aware of the disparity in records as a player and coach.

Roberts and the Bulldogs are also aware of the rivalry aspect of playing Pasco. Whatever his coaching staff designs in preparation for the contest, manufacturing motivation and excitement among the players won’t be necessary.

“That’s our rival. The kids always get up for that football game,” Roberts said. “It’s always a good match up; a good rivalry. They’re going to be ready to play. Now you put the district on top of that, and the possibility of the playoffs on top of that? Yeah, it’s not going to be hard to get up for this football game.”

Pro shop finds modern business model in old game

October 30, 2013 By Michael Murillo

When an economy struggles, one of the first major areas to get hit is leisure. You know, places like the golf course.

It’s hard sometimes to justify that extra trip to the greens, and even then, spending too much in the pro shop there, if anything at all. That has made keeping pro shops in country clubs difficult for many golf courses, which gave Land O’ Lakes resident Steve Pitts an idea.

The owner of Steve’s World of Golf in Hudson, Pitts has spent years welcoming golfers to his shop. But he wasn’t really on the golf course — until now.

Rand Willette, a senior at Land O’ Lakes High School, works the pro shop at The Groves Golf & Country Club. Steve’s World of Golf out of Hudson supplies this shop and 16 others in Florida and Georgia. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“I, like others, hurt the golf industry by pulling golfers away from their golf course to shop at shops like mine,” Pitts said. “My kids are in college now. Instead of retiring, I have decided to help the total golf industry by building this business model.”

That business model is supplying pro shops at golf courses around the state. Pitts will open a location with between $60,000 and $100,000 of merchandise, and hand-delivering shipments from his own 4,000-square foot warehouse.

The process, Pitts said, removes the overhead costs and hassle of running a pro shop, while still allowing the club to make money on every sale. Updating inventory and returning defective merchandise is easy, and the course isn’t financially responsible for items that don’t sell.

And that’s good, because having a deficient pro shop could hurt a golf course’s reputation.

“One of the first things you notice, if not the first thing you notice when you come to a golf course, is the pro shop,” said Jan-Michael Norman, a club professional at The Groves Golf & Country Club in Land O’ Lakes. “A lot of golf courses generally have one or two major brands, and that’s all they’ll carry.”

The Groves doesn’t have that problem because, like 16 other golf courses in Florida and Georgia, Steve’s World of Golf stocks it. Working with the store has allowed the pro shop to become more competitive, Norman said, while freeing him of the time-consuming duties usually required to stock and manage it.

These pro shops also benefit from advertising Steve’s World of Golf does, as well as having a more diverse shop with better choices and prices. The golf courses staff it with their own personnel, so no jobs are lost in the process, either.

Pitts believes he’s improving each club’s image, providing better value to their members and visitors, and saving them time — all while decreasing their risk and increasing their bottom line.

“All they have to do is just run their operation,” Pitts said. “They make twice the net profit with our business model than they could ever dream of making on their own.”

And that means no more discounting items that don’t sell, or having to fight with vendors over defective merchandise. The pro shop, at least at The Groves, is running smoother than it ever has before.

“We can accommodate pretty much every need of all the golfers who come through our doors as far as price, while still giving a quality product,” Norman said.

A Pasco County classic: Sunlake stops Land O’ Lakes in OT

October 23, 2013 By Michael Murillo

When a football game looks like a good match-up on paper, too often the end result is a lopsided affair that fails to live up to expectations.

And last Friday’s contest between Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake looked like a potential classic on paper.

This time, the game didn’t meet expectations. It beat them.

At the end of the game — which required overtime — the Sunlake Seahawks defended their home turf, put themselves in good position in the district standings and turned away the previously unbeaten Gators with a 28-21 victory.

That overtime was necessary underscores how close the game was: Neither team led by more than seven points, and they were tied at halftime, the end of the third quarter and at the end of regulation. And when Sunlake stopped Land O’ Lakes in overtime to clinch the win, Seahawks head coach Bill Browning’s first thoughts came from the perspective of both a football coach and a football fan.

“It was just relief, and what a great game to be a part of,” Browning said. “It was a great high school football game. Both teams played their hearts out.”

Each team had an offensive star suiting up for the contest, and both showed up to play: Sunlake’s junior running back Nathan Johnson and Land O’ Lakes’ junior quarterback James Pensyl had a hand in six of the seven touchdowns scored in the game. In the end, it was Johnson’s third touchdown run in overtime that became the margin of victory, eclipsing Pensyl’s three scoring passes.

But Browning pointed out that another player was instrumental in Sunlake’s victory. Senior quarterback Esteban LeWallen didn’t dominate the stat sheet, but his second start in place of injured junior Dayton Feiden was a solid one. He ran in a short touchdown and made important plays with his arm when it mattered.

“He came in and hit some very big passes in the course of that game that helped tremendously,” Browning said.

While beating an undefeated team is cause for celebration in itself, there was more at stake than one football game. With the win, Sunlake improved to 2-1 in the district while Land O’ Lakes fell to 1-1, keeping Sunlake alive for one of the two playoff spots. An earlier one-point loss to Springstead (currently 2-0 in district play) meant that losing to Land O’ Lakes would have handed both teams a better current record and tiebreakers over the Seahawks, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Instead they emerged with new life, a big victory and a potential tiebreaker against their district rival.

But if the team is vulnerable to a letdown after such a big win, Browning plans to use the schedule to ensure that doesn’t happen. The Seahawks have a bye this coming week, and he plans to use it to get them settled after an emotional victory and focused on their final district contest against Fivay (0-2 in district play, 3-4 overall) on Nov. 1.

Headed into their week off, Sunlake now has a 1,000-yard rusher in Johnson, renewed confidence and an eye on the playoffs. But to Browning, none of that matters unless they take care of business in their final district game.

“It kept us in the hunt. It guaranteed nothing, but it kept us in the hunt,” he said about the team’s recent win. “Land O’ Lakes still has to play Springstead, and of course, we still have to beat Fivay. All we can do is keep winning and things will take care of themselves, hopefully.”

Collision Course: Gators, Seahawks battle for gridiron supremacy

October 16, 2013 By Michael Murillo

The one thing a high school football team can’t control is its schedule.

Some games look pretty lopsided; either a team is playing an outmatched opponent, or they’re facing a superior team and have little chance at success. Other games look evenly matched but reveal a lack of talent, which might produce a dull contest.

But every so often there’s a game on the schedule that features two powerful teams that have enjoyed a lot of success, and are in each other’s way as they battle for district supremacy. They both have a lot of strengths and relatively few weaknesses, and it will be up to the coaching staff and individual efforts on the team to try and exploit them.

It’s Land O’ Lakes versus Sunlake this weekend, and while James Pensyl, below, is ready to tack on to his 230 yards per game, the Seahawks will have to do without Dayton Feiden, left, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. Senior Esteban LeWallen is taking over after shutting out Wesley Chapel last week. (File photos) — It’s Land O’ Lakes versus Sunlake this weekend, and while James Pensyl is ready to tack on to his 230 yards per game, the Seahawks will have to do without Dayton Feiden, below, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. Senior Esteban LeWallen is taking over after shutting out Wesley Chapel last week. (File photos)

With a lot on the line for the teams and plenty of entertainment for the fans in the stands, those are the good ones.

One of those good ones is on tap Friday night at Sunlake High School, when the Seahawks (6-1, 1-1 in district play) host the Land O’ Lakes Gators (6-0, 1-0 in district play).

This isn’t just a matchup featuring two good teams: It’s the highest-scoring offense in the district (Land O’ Lakes has already put up 181 points) facing the stingiest defense (Sunlake has given up just 23 points all year, with four shutouts).

It’s also a true hometown rivalry, as the schools are less than 10 miles away from each other. And it’s critical to the standings, as both teams are chasing Springstead (6-1 overall but already 2-0 in the district). According to Land O’ Lakes Head Coach Brian Wachtel, following the game plan will be key in a contest featuring two good teams.

“Football is kind of like a chess match out there on the field,” he said. “The bottom line is, with football it comes down to execution. Your players have to execute the plays that are called.”

Nobody will be surprised if Land O’ Lakes tries to execute a number of passing plays, since they have a star in junior James Pensyl. He is averaging more than 230 yards per game, with a couple of rushing scores to complement double-digit touchdowns through the air.

Pensyl has shown a lot of growth in his second year, Wachtel said, and has a firm grasp of both the team’s objectives and the scheme they’re using to get there.

Even Sunlake Head Coach Bill Browning has taken note of Pensyl’s progress.

“He is vastly improved over last year,” Browning said. “They’ve developed a good scheme around him, that I think fits what he does well.”

Unfortunately for Browning, his own starting quarterback won’t be suiting up for Friday’s game: Junior Dayton Feiden suffered a recent knee injury, and was scheduled for surgery earlier this week. He’s out for the year.

That means senior Esteban LeWallen is transitioning from backup to starter (he was behind center for the team’s win against Wesley Chapel last weekend). With four years’ experience in the system, Browning saw good things in LeWallen’s first start and has confidence in him going forward.

Still, fans can expect a lot of running plays for Sunlake, specifically for star running back Nathan Johnson. The junior scored two more touchdowns last week against Wesley Chapel (boosting his season total to 10), and already is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing.

But Johnson isn’t guaranteed an easy time on Friday: Land O’ Lakes is second in the district with just 54 points allowed all year.

Still, Browning admits that Johnson will, as usual, be the focal point of their offense. “He is every week. It’s no secret,” he said.

No matter how the game itself plays out, both coaches are coming into the contest with a healthy respect for their opponent and the realization that this is a special week.

“This is a rivalry game. This is a community game. There will definitely be a great atmosphere there; there’s no doubt about that,” Wachtel explained.

And Browning agrees. “This is what high school football is all about. You want challenges like this as you play,” he said. “I would imagine that anybody who’s a high school football fan in Land O’ Lakes, Fla., will be at that game Friday night.”

Runners take over for Keppel on the track

October 9, 2013 By Michael Murillo

Everything was in place for a successful year for Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country team: High expectations, skilled runners and a dedicated coach with decades of experience under his belt.

The runners were optimistic and prepared for whatever they had to face on the various courses.

Unfortunately, nobody was prepared for Coach Kris Keppel’s recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Now the man who hadn’t missed a competition in 20 years of coaching has been forced to miss practices and meets, leaving the team stunned and concerned.

“I was just shocked, and I think the rest of the team was, too,” said Tyler Stahl, one of the team’s top runners. ” You feel like if you’ve been through something like this before — like with Steven — there’s no way it could happen again.”

“Steven” is Steven Barnebei, a cross-country athlete who was diagnosed with brain cancer in his junior season. After emergency surgery and dozens of radiation doses, Barnebei has returned to the sport in his senior year with a cancer-free diagnosis and a determination to compete at a high level.

That experience was emotionally taxing for the team last year. And now, after rallying around their teammate, the runners now have to rally around their coach. Since the diagnosis, it’s the experienced runners who have stepped up to lead the team.

Stahl and Travis Nichols — seniors, team captains and state qualifiers last year — are getting a lot of support from parents and Rick Moody, a friend of Keppel’s with experience coaching Olympic athletes. But they know that to keep things running smoothly, they have to demonstrate real leadership both on and off the courses.

“We’ve had to really step up in keeping our team focused on post-season goals, and keeping them from being discouraged from the setbacks,” Nichols said. That means coaching teammates in practice and keeping them focused and upbeat during events.

Keppel still guides the team by sending out workouts and goal times via email, and the team leaders know that everyone wants to succeed for him.

“The team is staying pretty focused and we just keep saying that they need to work hard and perform well for coach,” Stahl said.

Working hard and performing well was commonplace when Keppel was at every practice and competition, and it’s carrying over in his absence: The team placed third in the 2013 Gator Invitational Oct. 5 at Crews Lake Park. At the event, the top times were nearly dominated by Land O’ Lakes runners. Nichols took first place, Stahl took third and teammate Jake Poore finished fourth. All three broke the 17-minute mark easily.

Both Stahl and Nichols share optimism for the rest of the year, and look forward to having their coach back as soon as possible. And while it might seem difficult to keep running and stay focused while missing their leader, nobody is letting up or lowering their goals because Coach Keppel isn’t able to be there right now.

In fact, Stahl said he’s been able to improve his concentration in the face of the team’s recent adversity.

“I think it is actually easier to focus on running after hearing about” Keppel’s diagnosis, Stahl said. “I have more of an incentive to work hard and do well than before. I want to make him proud.”

Overcrowding creates challenges at Wesley Chapel District Park

October 2, 2013 By Michael Murillo

When Wesley Chapel District Park opened in 2007, the county hoped that residents would use the 140-plus acres for a variety of activities.

And they have. Football, baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading and soccer draw thousands of participants each year. The park has become a magnet for local youth sports, and that’s considered a good thing.

Only now it might be too much of a good thing. Overcrowding is creating a difficult situation for concurrent activities, but a few fields also need repair, and that means even less space for everyone.

Repair work at Wesley Chapel District Park has gone on longer than expected, with the commute to Zephyrhills creating concerns about attracting new players to the various recreational sports there.

As a result, some participants have been pushed out of the area altogether until the repair work is done: Eight soccer teams and 120 players now have their practices and games at the Samuel W. Pasco Recreation Complex in Zephyrhills. That extra 20-mile round trip can be a challenge to participating families, despite the fact that they paid a convenience fee to park at the Wesley Chapel Park.

Jeff Olsen, a soccer coach whose daughter now plays in Zephyrhills, says the situation is anything but convenient.

“It places a burden on the families. There’s lost time as a family, there’s lost time for homework,” he said. “There’s an extra rush on the evening schedule and extra costs for gas. So there’s a burden there.”

The teams started their season on Aug. 1 and estimated they’d be displaced for about six weeks. But more than two months later, there’s still no timetable for return.

Aside from the inconvenience, playing outside Wesley Chapel can impact the area’s reputation regarding youth soccer. Gil Gonzalez, a coach who also leads public relations efforts for the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, says local parents want their children to play locally. If their first taste of local youth sports is a lot of inconvenience, it affects their impression of the organization.

“I think the biggest impact, in my opinion, is for newer parents, who don’t have the background in terms of understanding that this is really a temporary issue,” he said. “But if we have new parents and new players, I think it creates a negative experience for them.”

If word of mouth is negative as a result of those experiences, families might start considering competing programs for their children. If not resolved, those issues could affect recruiting and the program’s ability to grow.

The displaced teams aren’t the only ones dealing with issues related to overcrowding, Gonzalez said. The players and teams who are still at the park have to contend with their own problems.

Scheduling can be a challenge, with some teams dealing with later practices. The games themselves also are affected: Gonzalez said that matches are so close together that parents cheering at one game might have to duck incoming soccer balls from a nearby contest.

Throw in some long walks due to crowded parking lots, and it’s a situation everyone hopes is resolved quickly.

Unfortunately, predicting how and when the county will provide a satisfactory resolution is a bit more difficult. Interest and participation in youth sports has increased since the park opened, while related budgets have decreased. According to the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, the county has decreased park and recreational spending by more than 28 percent since 2006.

Still, Gonzalez — whose daughter also now practices in Zephyrhills — is hopeful that there will be both short-term solutions (resodded fields at Wesley Chapel District Park) and long-term solutions (more space) on the horizon, whenever that may be.

“I think what will happen is there will be continued discussions for the county to acquire additional property near the district park to expand it as well,” he said.

If there’s a silver lining, it might be that player interest in soccer hasn’t really waned as a result of the extra challenges. Olsen said that even those who have to play in Zephyrhills still enjoy the sport and the competition.

“Do they mind? They like to play,” Olsen said. “But nobody wants to take a 30-minute drive out there when the rains start coming down, then take a 30-minute drive home.”

Freshmen golfers on course to exceed expectations at Wesley Chapel

September 25, 2013 By Michael Murillo

When your high school golf team is mostly made up of freshmen, it’s probably a rebuilding year.

The team at Wesley Chapel High School had a couple of players from the golf team graduate last year, and even lost some talent to other sports this season. Because of that, Coach Mike Rogers was expecting his team to learn from this year and build up experience for the future.

The Wesley Chapel High School golf team has already surpassed last year’s victory total with a 6-4 record in September. That’s despite having a team made up primarily of freshman. Helping in that winning effort are, from left, Aaron Hoyte, Zack Marquadt, Zack Lemmens, Tyler Rover, Alex Nay, David Lee and Ben Wolfman. (Photo courtesy of Randy Rover)

Instead, his golfers earned a 6-4 record in September and have already eclipsed last year’s win total of four victories.

“It’s been quite refreshing to see how we’ve come through,” Rogers said. “To beat some of the teams we’ve beaten, I’ve been pretty impressed.”

Wesley Chapel opened the season with a victory over Wiregrass Ranch, a team that beat them in 2012. Rogers said they even had respectable showings in losses to perennial powerhouses Plant and Jesuit.

Having a lot of young players to go along with a few sophomores and upperclassmen might be a frustrating challenge for some coaches, but Rogers enjoys it. Now in his third year coaching boys golf, he sees a team with a lot of talent and athleticism, and he appreciates the individual attitudes and personalities on it.

And those players are responding with good play on the courses — especially some of the freshmen. In fact, Rogers said his top athlete, Tyler Rover, is one of his many players who are new to the high school sport experience.

“He’s my No. 1 golfer at this moment,” Rogers said of the freshman. “He’s just been outstanding for his first year in high school golf.”

While Rover is new to the high school format (he’s never played golf as a team competition before), he’s no stranger to the sport itself: He’s been playing in amateur golf tournaments since he was 9. And his enthusiasm runs in the family. His father, Randy, is a PGA Club Pro at the Avila Golf & Country Club in Tampa. He also volunteers with his son’s golf team and offers tips and advice to both the newer and experienced golfers.

With his father and a new coach guiding him in high school, Tyler has learned to appreciate having a team component to an individual sport.

“I think it’s definitely a little relieving since you have a few teammates behind you to pick you up if you’re down,” he said. “You go up and play the best you can for each shot, and if your friends play well, it’s even better.”

Tyler explained that golf can be mentally and physically draining — that’s what he enjoys about the sport — so it’s a positive experience to participate with other students and have a coach help him.

Even though the team is still working its way through the season (with individual competitions at the district, regional and state levels to follow), Tyler said he’s already seen benefits from working with Rogers.

“Coach Rogers has definitely given us lots of opportunities,” he said. “I think it’s good to get some different knowledge about my game.”

For his part, Rogers believes that his team’s success lies mostly with the ones who are making the tough shots.

“They’ve put a lot of work and time and effort into it,” Rogers said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily anything I’ve done. I think it’s what they’ve put into it, and some good old-fashioned talent as well.”

Whoever deserves the credit for the team’s success, both the players and coaches know that the team’s prospects look even better down the road, as freshmen turn into experienced upperclassmen. Rogers is excited to see the team grow together, and Rover knows they have a bright future as well.

“That’s what we’ve been talking about all year,” he said. “If we get our new players to keep improving and learning new things, we’ll definitely be good for the next three years.”

Swimmers scramble to compete at elite level

September 18, 2013 By Michael Murillo

When Brian Vaile took over as coach of the boys swim team at Land O’ Lakes High School this year, he saw a lot of things he liked: A dual-meet winning streak spanning more than a decade, a few very talented athletes, and an interest in maintaining a strong program.

Cam Hilgenberg is part of a small family dynasty that has been part of the Land O’ Lakes swim team’s dual-meet streak dating back to 2000. He had to recruit some new swimmers to make sure that streak remained intact this season. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But it was the one thing that was missing that worried him: Swimmers. As in, not enough swimmers to field a competitive team.

“Unfortunately, you could win first place in every event and still lose the meet,” said

Vaile, who has more than 15 years experience as a swim coach. In high school swimming, teams need more than just the fastest athlete in the pool. They need enough competitors to challenge for the second- and third-place spots and collect those points as well.

Otherwise, a team could win individual competitions but still lose the overall contest if their opponent takes the points associated with the other places. And without enough swimmers to challenge for those spots, Vaile knew his team would face a lot of disappointment no matter how fast they swam: The school’s win streak would evaporate and be replaced with a season of frustration.

With just seven experienced swimmers on the roster — and needing to increase those numbers quickly — Vaile called upon his team to recruit others to join the cause. And the team responded; the Land O’ Lakes boys swim team now has 12 members.

While Vaile would have liked 16 swimmers, the Gators have enough to compete in their meets. And he feels good about where the team is headed this season.

“I’m a science teacher. I look at it like an atom: We have a really good nucleus,” he said. “You’ve got seven strong swimmers who can swim almost any stroke or event you ask them to.” And with the added depth, they can work toward keeping their winning streak intact.

That streak is important to the team, but it’s a source of family pride for Cam Hilgenberg.

The senior has been with the team since his freshman year, but he’s not the first of his family to swim for Land O’ Lakes. His brother Craig was on the team when its dual-match streak began back in 2000. Another brother, Curt, kept it going after him. His mother, Robin, even coaches the girls swim team.

So a lack of numbers that threatened the Gators’ winning ways had Hilgenberg worried.

“At the end of last year we weren’t sure what was going to happen,” he said. “Even at the beginning of this year, until the week before (the first meet), I was still pretty nervous.” Hilgenberg is the youngest of his siblings to compete for the Gators.

“I’m the last Hilgenberg,” he said. “I’m just trying not to blow the winning streak.”

As one of the team’s leaders and top swimmers, Hilgenberg did his part to boost their numbers: A member of the school’s baseball team, he recruited one of the pitchers to compete in the pool as well. And along with the other experienced swimmers, he helps guide and advise the new members, working on techniques and providing pep talks when necessary.

That work has paid off. The team has won all their meets so far, and the members have confidence as they complete the schedule.

“I think if we keep on the same path as we’re on right now, I think we’ll do pretty well,” Hilgenberg said.

Vaile wants to prepare the swimmers for conference, district and state competitions, but he still has an eye on the dual-meet schedule. He said they’ve defeated some quality opponents and still have challenges on the schedule, but he feels confident the streak won’t end under his first season as coach.

“I think it’s safe for the rest of this year,” he said.