The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Errors, blown lead dooms AATL in state final four

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By Jeff Odom

 

Academy at the Lakes coach Jerry English tried to find the words to sum up his softball team’s loss to St. Petersburg Canterbury in its first trip to the Class 2A state semifinals May 10.

Academy at the Lakes celebrates a run in the first inning of the Class 2A state semifinal May 10. (Photo by Thomas Matzke of SunlakeSports.com)

“We hustled and made some very, very good plays and got some timely hits,” English said. “We were in (the game), but the mistakes we made were youthful.”

Blunders got the best of the Wildcats (12-6), who led early, but committed five errors in the fifth inning. The top-seeded Crusaders (20-11) pounced on the mistakes to score 10 runs and pull away with a 13-3 six-inning victory at the Vero Beach Sports Complex.

“(Our) young kids are learning how to play the game, English said. “They didn’t do it on purpose. … (Canterbury) is a very good team and we were out-athleted.”

The Wildcats got on the scoreboard in the first when Katherine Smith singled to right field with one out, shortstop Lauren Evans walked on four pitches and Sydney doubled them both home to make it 2-0.

AATL made it 3-0 in the fourth when Skyler Boynton drove in Brenna Wilson with two outs.

Not much went right for the Wildcats after that.

The Crusaders opened the fifth with runners on second and third with one out. A fielding error by the AATL infield, and another at the plate, made it 3-2.

Canterbury took its first lead just one batter later when Kama Woodall cleared the bases with a clutch two-run double.

From there, the Crusaders never looked back.

The Wildcats committed two errors at first base and two more in the outfield. By the time they were able to get out of the inning, Canterbury had taken an 11-3 lead.

The Crusaders finished off AATL in the sixth when Kelsey Hill singled home a pair of runs, and the game was called because of the mercy rule.

“I was so pleased with the girls and their never give up attitude,” said Canterbury coach Jody Moore. “They made me very proud; everybody picked each other up, and I thought we did a really great job of coming from behind.”

In the region finals, the Wildcats used a five-run fourth inning to defeat Quincy Munroe 9-4 at Live Oak Park May 6.

The Bobcats (10-9) didn’t make AATL’s route to the final four easy, as they opened the first inning with three runs off of two errors by the Wildcats’ infield.

AATL would bounce back in the third as Evans, who was intentionally walked three times by Munroe starting pitcher Jerri Sloan, and Marie Aumaitre both scored off dropped fly ball errors by the Bobcats to cut the deficit to one.

In the fourth, AATL took its first lead and never looked back when a pair of walks and another Munroe error loaded the bases for the Wildcats with no outs.

Skyler doubled home a pair of runs to give her team a one-run lead. Then, after a fielder’s choice added another run, Sydney kept the rally going with a two-RBI double of her own to the left field fence to make it 7-3.

“We survived the three runs early on, and we knew we had to get them back,” English said. “We were playing for one run at a time. Everyone came through from the one through nine.”

The Bobcats added a run in the fifth, but that’s all they would get as AATL scored two more in the sixth to pull away.

“I’m just excited that we were able to get the win today,” Sydney said. “It felt really good to not have a lot of them get big hits and my defense, after that first inning, did really well, so I was really happy.”

Three Sunlake football players sign

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By Jeff Odom

 

Three Sunlake football players that helped lay the program’s foundation signed on the dotted line May 10 to continue their careers at the next level.

From left: Sunlake football players Aaron Protch, Eddie Burgos and Brogan Ronske sign with their respective colleges and universities May 10. (Photo by Jeff Odom)

Seahawks athlete Eddie Burgos (Black Hills State in South Dakota), offensive lineman Aaron Protch (Geneva College in Pennsylvania) and linebacker Brogan Ronske (Butte College in California) made their selections official inside the school’s media center.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Burgos, who split time as Sunlake’s running back, wide receiver and defensive back last season, said he’s excited to have the opportunity to play and isn’t worried about the change in climate.

“I know the weather is a little bit cold up there, people have been telling me that all day, but yeah, I just want to play football,” said Burgos, an All-Laker/All-Lutz News first team selection last season. “I want to try out as a freshman, try to be starting as a freshman and just make chances.”

Protch, who recorded 14 pancake blocks last season, said he never thought he would make it through four years of high school football. But with the guidance of Seahawks coach Bill Browning, he was able to become a program staple.

“It was life-changing, because I came from middle school to high school not even wanting to play football,” Protch said. “I was scared, extremely scared at the change in the level, but the coaches helped me transition, and they’ve honestly made me who I am today.”

Ronske finished last season with 39 total tackles, three sacks and one interception. The senior said he wants to complete a couple years at Butte, the same school where Super Bowl MVP and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers played at before transferring to California in 2002, and move on to a Division I FBS program.

“It means a lot to be able to go on to the next level, but the road doesn’t end here,” Ronske said. “I still have a lot of work to do, and I’m still not satisfied. I’ve got one or two years at Butte and hopefully go to a (Division I) college.”

Wiregrass falls short of state final four

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By Jeff Odom

 

There were no hung heads following the Wiregrass Ranch baseball team’s 6-0 loss against Venice in the Class 7A region finals May 10.

The Bulls (20-10) were overmatched in nearly every facet of their meeting with the defending 7A state champs, but coach Jeff Swymer was happy with the way his players battled throughout the first postseason run in the program’s six-year history.

“I am exceptionally proud of what our young team accomplished,” Swymer said. “You can definitely tell walking in here why they have two (state championship) flags hanging underneath that American flag (in the outfield). They’re well-coached, well-organized, and guys do things and play the right way. … When you come here, you better play your best ball.”

Wiregrass Ranch pitcher Zach Drury tossed a complete-game shutout against Steinbrenner in the region semifinals. (Photo by Thomas Matzke of SunlakeSports.com)

The host Indians (27-3), who are nationally ranked by both MaxPreps and Baseball America, put their foot on the gas pedal from the very first pitch and never let up.

Led by starter Tyson Albert, the Venice pitching staff kept the Bulls’ bats quiet all night. Albert gave up no hits and struck out seven Wiregrass batters in 4.1 innings.

The Bulls didn’t record their first hit until Austin Drury knocked a blooper into left field off reliever Tyler Shambora to lead off the sixth.

“They just kept coming, didn’t they?” Swymer said with a laugh. “I wish I had that. They had a dugout that looked like 65 guys, and I’m scrounging together 14 or 15. … That’s what we want our program to be in a couple of years.”

Offensively, the Indians were just as dominant.

They got things going in the first when Mike Rivera doubled to right field to drive in Dalton Guthrie from third to make it 1-0, a lead they would not relinquish.

Venice added two more runs in the third, one in the fourth and another pair in the sixth to pull away.

In the region semifinals, Wiregrass Ranch starting pitcher Zach Drury tossed a complete game shutout as the Bulls stunned host Steinbrenner 4-0 May 7.

The Warriors (24-3), who came into the contest ranked No. 16 in the nation by MaxPreps, had outscored Wiregrass 20-1 in three previous meetings this season. But Swymer said his guys weren’t about to roll over in Game 4.

“We put in a lot of work (in practice) to really, really make some adjustments at the plate that I saw them doing to us,” Swymer said. “And the kids, I told them, the first three games they had their opportunities to do it the way they wanted to. This was my opportunity to do it the way I asked them to.”

That decision by Swymer paid off in dividends.

Wiregrass Ranch went blow for blow with Steinbrenner as both teams traded scoring chances in the first four innings. The Bulls, however, struck first as they scored two runs in the fifth.

Chris Parra reached on an infield error to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Austin Drury. Campoamor broke the scoreless tie with a double off Warriors ace Gideon Dunn to score Parra, and Shane Bucenell followed suit with an RBI single to right, which plated Campoamor.

That’s all the support Zach would need as he mowed down the Warriors’ lineup, which left nine runners on base including the bases loaded in the sixth.

“The biggest game of my life for sure, and it’s awesome,” said Zach, who gave up just three hits and struck out five in the victory.

The Bulls added another run in the sixth when Austin scored Parra on a sacrifice fly to right and then one more in the seventh from Ryan Girard to secure the win.

“You’ve got to give Zach Drury credit; he was awesome tonight,” said Steinbrenner coach John Crumbley. “We had beaten him twice, and he came out with a desire, and they made plays for him. … We didn’t take enough (quality swings), and that’s a tribute to him.”

 

 

Hobby farmers and suburbanites can count on Wilson’s Tractor

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In the 21 years that Bruce Wilson has owned his Dade City business, Wilson’s Tractor and Supply Co. has gone through several economic ups and downs.

Bruce and Junior Wilson
Bruce and Junior Wilson

Today Bruce is glad to report that his business is once again on the upswing with a steady demand for service and new sales of farm and lawn maintenance equipment.

Wilson’s Tractor and Supply sells top-name commercial and residential tractors and lawn equipment, including well-regarded brands such as Snapper, Snapper Pro, RedMax, Exmark, Ferris and TYM Tractors. Equipment ranges from enclosed, air-conditioned tractors to heavy-duty front loaders to commercial-grade chain saws, mowers, trimmers, edgers and leaf blowers.

“Our primary customer is the hobby farmer with 5 to 10 acres,” said Bruce. “We sell everything they need to take care of their horses and livestock and to grow and harvest hay, blueberries, peaches and other crops.”

Wilson Tractor also serves suburban homeowners with large lots. Bruce notes that his store is the closest location of quality, commercial-grade lawn equipment for residents in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City.

“We are the closest store for people in east Pasco wanting durable, commercial- grade equipment that they can depend on and not worry about replacing every few years,” said Bruce.

Just as important as new sales is his service department. Bruce estimates that half of his volume comes from the shop’s service and warranty work.

“Unlike most equipment dealers, we will service any brand, not just those that we sell,” said Bruce. “We try to take care of our customers no matter who the manufacturer of their equipment.”

Bruce’s vow to take care of customers, no matter what the problem, is why 80 percent of his customers are repeat business.

An example of his superb customer service is Bruce’s insistence that every mower he sells is personally delivered to the customer, who is given detailed instructions on how to operate his new mower properly and safely.

You find this type of personal service in everything that’s done at Wilson Tractor and Supply. If Bruce isn’t in the store taking care of customers, then his son Junior is.

Bruce is obviously proud of his 18-year- old son, Bruce Jr., who graduates in May from Pasco High, the same Dade City high school both his parents graduated from in the 1980s.

“My son can fix anything,” Bruce said. “He’s studied welding at school, and his hands are calloused from working on stuff all day long.”

Also involved in the family business are Bruce’s wife and Junior’s mom, Jennifer, who teaches health occupation at Pasco High. The family’s younger son Aaron is a sixth-grader at Centennial Middle School. Jennifer helps with bookkeeping after school and weekends, and both sons work alongside their dad.

Before founding Wilson Tractor and Supply in 1992, Bruce worked for Managed Logistics Systems. After a corporate move to Albany, Georgia, Bruce and Jennifer decided to open their own business in their hometown of Dade City so they could raise their children close to family.

When Bruce first opened from his original location on the US 301 bypass, he worked on automotives, big trucks and farm equipment. In 2000, he moved his operation to his current store because it was more visible and easier for customers to get to.

As his business grew, Bruce began to focus more on farm and garden equipment and stopped servicing automotives and trucks. It was a natural evolution to add new equipment sales. Helping Bruce sell farm equipment is Fred Roenicke, an industry icon known fondly as Fred The Tractor Man.

“Fred has 45 years of experience and loves selling tractors. He’s 75 years old and is an expert on helping people determine what they need for their farm,” said Bruce.

“We invite folks to stop by and meet Fred, check out our equipment and learn how we can help them with new equipment and service their old.”

Visit Wilson’s Tractor & Supply Co., a 12410 U.S. 301, Dade City. Call them at (352) 567-5002.

This story was written by the advertising department.

A Lutz landmark closes its doors

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Customers say they’ll miss Hot Rod’s BBQ

 

By B.C. Manion

 

When Derwin Anderson, of Lake Bernadette, learned that Hot Rod’s BBQ & Grill was closing May 2, he made it a point to eat lunch there.

Anderson wanted to enjoy one last meal at the Lutz restaurant while he still had the chance.

“We used to come here and hang out with the college students from my church,” said Anderson, a former pastor at Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church.

He moved away from the area for five years and now lives in Zephyrhills.

“I’m upset they’re closing,” said Anderson, now lead pastor of NorthBridge Church in Wesley Chapel. “The food is ridiculously good. It’s authentic barbecue. The people are just awesome.”

Hot Rod’s BBQ & Grill, a popular local restaurant that ceased operations on May 2 after the restaurant’s owner Rod Gaudin lost a court battle over debt. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

Kim Adams, 31, was a regular at the barbecue joint while she attended graduate school at the University of South Florida. She now lives in Ohio, but was in town last week to visit her friend John Sawyer, who moved to Town ‘N Country a week ago.

“I said, ‘Well, let’s go to Hot Rod’s,’” Adams said. “I didn’t even know they were closing. … I’m really sad about it. I love coming here to eat. The food was always amazing.”

She enjoyed the atmosphere, too: “It’s down-home friendly. It was always a unique experience. If people came down to visit me from out-of-town, we would come here.”

A few hundred people turned out on closing night, said Rod Gaudin, who opened Hot Rod’s in 1998.

“We ran out of food, and we ran out of beer,” he said.

The restaurant began as a barbecue pit, which Gaudin set up next to the country store that he owned at the corner of Sunset Lane and Livingston Avenue.

As the pit’s popularity grew, Gaudin converted a wood-frame house into a restaurant, with an area out back for bands and parties.

Hot Rod’s developed a reputation for its colorful menu items and eclectic décor.

Throughout the years it served up such fare as lizard tail, which is a beef steak sandwich, and armadillo eggs that are actually cheddar cheese poppers.

Its most recent menu included redneck prime rib made with Spam and swamp bat, which state inspectors once told a Tampa Tribune reporter was actually quail.

Gaudin didn’t directly deny that inspector’s report, but he didn’t exactly confirm it, either.

“That’s what the inspector said,” Gaudin said. “So, let him say what he wanted to say.”

Visitors to Hot Rod’s entered the old frame house by stepping across a wooden plank porch and pulling on a water spigot door handle.

Once inside, they encountered walls and shelves decked out in a collection that Gaudin has been known to describe as “early clutter.”

The “spiders and dust,” he said, “are just a country accent.”

Even after most of the décor had been cleared out, there were signs remaining on closing day that conveyed a playful feel such as “Complaints to the cook can be hazardous to your health” and “Beware of Attack Waitress.”

And, sauces for sale included “Scorned Women,” “Endorphin Rush” and “Mosquito Blood — It sneaks up on you and you will (heart symbol) its sting.”

Hot Rod’s became a local landmark in a relatively short time.

It was a popular spot to listen to music and to have family parties.

It drew big crowds of construction workers and lawn crews for lunch, but those people disappeared when the housing market crashed and the recession set in, Gaudin said.

The restaurant’s last day came after Gaudin lost a court battle about debt, which he vows to challenge.

Meanwhile, the last helpings of ribs, cornbread pudding and swamp bat have been served at this restaurant, in a community which became very dear to the Gaudins.

They expressed their feelings on a menu, printed after the restaurant’s 15th anniversary.

“Through the years, we have built families and friendships nobody could fully understand or cherish as much as we do,” the menu reads. “Our lives have grown and been renewed by the people in Lutz, who have supported us and fully understand what a small town family business is all about.”

The menu goes on to read that they hope to continue their operation and maintain those connections for another 15 years.

It’s a wish that old regulars, such as Adams and Anderson, would’ve liked to have seen come true.

Pasco moves toward new sports complex

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By B.C. Manion

 

Pasco County commissioners have taken a step closer to creating a sports complex in Wesley Chapel aimed at boosting tourism by attracting national tournaments.

Commissioners voted unanimously on April 30 on a deal to accept 138 acres from the Porter family, with a deadline of signing the closing documents on May 7 or before.

The Porters had hoped for an April 30th closing, but commissioners pushed off the date at the recommendation of county staff.

Assistant county attorney Jane Fagen said the additional time was necessary to review contract language involving easements.

The Porter family, which has played a pivotal role in the development of Wesley Chapel, donated the land as part of a plan to create a world-class facility for sporting events.

Initially, the Porters had proposed building and operating the sports complex, but after skirmishes with the county, they backed off that idea and decided to donate the land instead.

It took months of negotiations to hammer out those details, with the county opting to reject a portion of the land that had initially been identified as part of the donation.

Fagen explained to county commissioners that it did not appear to be in the county’s best interest to accept all of the land that had been earmarked because a portion would be of limited use.

Once the county closes the land donation deal, it will resume negotiations with Blue Marble Strategic, a company that wants to develop the sports complex.

The Porters previously sold land used to develop The Shops at Wiregrass, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and various residential communities and shopping centers.

The family also donated land for the new Pasco-Hernando Community College campus under construction in Wesley Chapel. Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch is expected to open in January 2014.

Work begins on Veterans widening

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By Kyle LoJacono

 

The first widening project in the 19-year history of the Veterans Expressway got underway April 29.

The $386 million project will expand the entire 11-mile toll road in Hillsborough County from four to eight lanes, according to Christa Deason, public information officer for the Florida Turnpike system. The job will also reconstruct the 38 existing bridges on the Veterans while building three new ones.

Vehicles pass through one of the tollbooths on the Veterans Expressway. Widening on the highway has begun, and all booths will soon be replaced with electronic ones. (File photo)

“The widening is being done because 150,000 cars use the Veterans each day,” Deason said. “That’s 300 percent more than when it opened in 1994.”

The improvements are divided into three phases, with the area between Memorial and Gunn highways getting underway first.

The final stage, which is set to start in 2015, will widen the road between the Sugarwood Toll Plaza in Odessa and Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

Deason said the project will also replace all the tollbooths from cash collection stations to ones that either deduct money from a SunPass account or send drivers a monthly bill for using the highway.

“All the booths will be all-electronic by this time next year, and maybe before that,” Deason said. “Drivers who don’t have a SunPass will be charged a monthly service charge, so getting a SunPass will save drivers money.”

Deason said those with SunPasses will also save 25 cents while going through several tollbooths on top of not having to pay the service charge.

Deason said plans are in the works to widen the Suncoast Parkway from the W. Lutz Lake Fern Road exit in northern Hillsborough through Pasco County, but no details or funding have been set.

“We will be converting all the tollbooths on the Suncoast to all-electronic ones too,” Deason said. “That will get started once the resurfacing work in Pasco County is done. … That should be in the next week or so if we don’t get a lot of rain.”

The project in Pasco resurfaced the entire 20-mile stretch of the Suncoast in the county at a cost of $18.5 million. Deason said they will start a similar project in Hernando County in the next few months.

Deason said drivers on the Veterans should watch for lane shifting and various lane coursers throughout the project.

For up-to-date lane closure information, visit floridasturnpike.com/construction_update_CentralFla.cfm#7.

As temperatures rise, so does risk of injuries

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By Jeff Odom

 

The cool winter days are gone and warming temperatures are signaling the start of more outdoor activities.

However, with the changing of seasons comes the risk of something more than sunburn — serious injuries.

Dr. Stephen A. Hanff

Dr. Stephen A. Hanff, a board certified orthopedic surgeon at the Medical Center of Trinity, had a seminar May 3 called Weekend Warrior to discuss the most common types of traumatic and sports injuries to shoulders, knees and toes and what kind of procedures can be done to repair them.

 

Sprain or break

In the case of a sprain or simple fracture, there are different treatment options to choose from according to Hanff.

One of the easiest ways to help the injury heal is with a boot, in the case of a broken foot or leg, or a cast for six to eight weeks. In displaced or unstable breaks, major surgery may be recommended in which a plate and screws will be inserted to prevent the formation of arthritis in the bone.

In compound fractures, immediate surgery is required as well as antibacterial treatment to prevent serious infection that could require amputation. In some cases where the outside skin and soft tissue has been compromised, muscle flaps or skin grafts may be needed to prevent further injury and infection.

 

Achilles tendonitis

A severe case could mean time in therapy with the aid of a walking boot. However, it could be a much worse injury like an Achilles tendon tear. Hanff said if the tendon is torn, then surgery to repair it is recommended. It can even reduce the risk of rupturing the tendon again by more than 8 percent.

 

Knees

One of the most common injuries that athletes face is the tearing of the ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament. According to Hanff, most ACL tears are noncontact injuries and can usually be associated with a popping sound and immediate swelling.

Although the tear is repairable through surgery and months of rehabilitation, pain could linger long after the injury, and arthritis could form between the bones as a result. In the worst cases of arthritis, a knee replacement procedure might be recommended. Hanff said most replacements last about 20 years.

 

Hamstring rupture

A hamstring rupture can happen and go unnoticed for some time.

According to Hanff, “If you pop a hammy, you might not even realize it,” because it does not swell or hurt the same as an ACL tear. Usually, the first sign that the hamstring area is ruptured is bruising, which could get very bad. In unusual cases of complete hamstring tears, all four muscles that are attached to the bone come off, requiring surgery.

 

Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow

Lateral epicondylitis, also called tennis elbow, is an injury that occurs in most tennis players, because they use the muscles in that region most often.

In some cases, surgery may be needed, but it is rare.

In medial epicondylitis, or golfer’s elbow, much of the same symptoms can occur and the muscles that are involved with flexing the fingers and thumb become inflamed from overuse.

The best way to treat both injuries, according to Hanff, is to rest the areas for a long period of time to prevent future damage, which could be much more serious.

 

Chalk Talk

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Lutz students make Honor Society

The following students from Lutz were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines: Parker Tobin, initiated at Elon University; Linda Passman and Jonathan Kalis, initiated at University of South Florida; Matthew Green, initiated at Florida State University.

 

Commissioner celebrates agriculture literacy day

Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam celebrated the 10th annual Florida Agriculture Literacy Day by teaching schoolchildren about the importance of Florida’s farmers. The event celebrated the history of the state’s agriculture dating back to the 1500s. For more information about Florida Agriculture in the classroom, visit www.flagintheclassroom.com.

 

PHCC’s career-path summer camps

Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) is offering two academic career-themed summer camps designed for students entering seventh through ninth grades.

The sessions, which will be at PHCC’s New Port Richey campus, will provide an opportunity for students to explore popular career programs offered at PHCC.

One camp will focus on business and technology careers and the other on health careers.

To find out more, visit www.phcc.edu/summercamp or call (727) 816-3244.

 

Saint Leo graduates more than 1,120

Saint Leo University awarded degrees to more than 1,120 graduates during three commencement ceremonies on April 26 and April 27.

Honorary degrees were awarded to artist Yankel Ginzburg and to alumnus and retiring Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher.

The bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of St. Augustine, the Most Rev. Felipe J. Estévez, was also honored during a special Mass.

 

Fishing tournament benefits PHCC Foundation

The seventh annual Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) Foundation Catch and Release Fishing Tournament will begin at 9 a.m. on May 10 at Catches Waterfront Grille, at 7811 Bayview St. in Port Richey. An awards party will immediately follow the tournament. Skanska USA Building is the presenting sponsor of the tournament.

The tournament raises funds to benefit the PHCC Foundation, which supports programs at the college including scholarships, diverse academic programs, four campus libraries, faculty and staff development, instructional equipment and more.

To register an angler team or to partner as a sponsor, visit www.phcc.edu/gofish or call (727) 816-3410.

 

Staying safe behind the wheel

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) are urging student drivers to stay safe behind the wheel during prom and graduation season by not driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs.

Research from SADD and Liberty Mutual Insurance reveals that 23 percent of teenagers admit to driving under the influence.

 

Land O’ Lakes poet honored

Lisa Fabian of Land O’ Lakes won an honorable mention in the seventh annual Jacaranda Poetry Festival contest presented by the Pasco Arts Council.

The Pasco County Commission established the nonprofit Pasco Arts Council in 1979 to promote and preserve arts and culture in the county. To learn more, visit www.pascoart.org for additional information.

 

Land O’ Lakes Christian claims national honors

Students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School (LOLCS) achieved outstanding results in the 36th annual American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) National Competition in April at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.

Nearly 1,700 students and sponsors from 34 states participated in the AACS National Competition, qualifying to compete by winning top honors at state contests. The students, representing 200 Christian high schools, competed in 77 categories in the five basic areas of Bible, music, speech, art and academics.

The Bible competition included Bible quiz teams, preaching and teaching. The academic competition included academic testing and a science fair. Music students challenged each other in solo and group competitions for both vocal and instrumental music. The speech competition included such categories as debate, dramatic interpretation, original oratory, duet acting, plus other categories.

LOLCS students won third place awards in the following categories: Jared Mancini, World History; Tianna Hall, creative arts and digital media; Kristyn Engstrom, creative writing, poetry; Vickie Frazier, biology.

 

PHCC ranked among most affordable

Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) was recently ranked as being among the 100 most affordable large community colleges in 2013 in a ranking done by Affordable Colleges Online.

Affordable Colleges Online reviewed data sets provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the NCES’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Carnegie Foundation to create the ranking.

Specific criteria for list inclusion were two-year, public nonprofit schools serving 15,000 to 92,000 students with tuition less than $3,000.

AffordableCollegesOnline.org focuses on providing prospective college students with information about affordable college options, financial aid and cost saving ideas.

 

Faith Woodard defends her high jump championship

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Senior becomes first in program history to win states

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Faith Woodard faced nothing but pressure during the Class 4A state track and field meet May 4 at the University of North Florida.

The Freedom senior was the defending state high jump champion and entered as the only girl in Florida to have cleared 5-feet, 10-inches this season. Constant wind and rain during the meet added to the stress, but Woodard would not be denied.

Freedom senior Faith Woodard captures consecutive 4A state high jump titles by clearing 5-06. (Photo by Kyle LoJacono)

The 6-foot-2 Riverview transfer did not scratch until all of her competitors had been eliminated and repeated as champion by clearing 5-06. She is the first in the program’s 11-year history to win a state title.

“Not a lot of people can say that they’re a state champion, so to come back and defend and win two in a row is really exciting,” Woodard said.

Woodard said the weather did prevent her from building up the kind of speed she needs to put up her best performance, but was happy with what she did considering the elements.

“With the wind and rain I just wanted to be able to say I did my best, and I did,” Woodard said. “I believe that nothing happens by chance. If it’s raining, it’s raining. Can’t do anything about it.”

The title gives Woodard four state high jump medals after tying for sixth and finishing runner-up as a freshman and sophomore, respectively, while at Riverview.

The two-time state champion started running track while in sixth grade at Rodgers Middle.

“I did just straight running events in middle school,” Woodard said. “No high jump at all.”

She started high jumping at the suggestion of her mother Lora.

“She actually did high jump back in her day, and she said one day that I should do high jump,” Woodard said. “I figured why not. … When I started as a freshman my form was not the best. I was just jumping over, and it was not really good. Each year it’s gotten better.”

She ends her high school career with four district titles along with three Hillsborough County and regional championships.

“I never thought I could do this,” Woodard said. “I just came out as a freshman thinking I did track in middle school, so I’ll just keep doing it.”

Woodard, a Georgetown University signee for basketball, said states is her last track meet.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to juggle basketball and track and Georgetown,” Woodard said.

She said she was thinking a lot about it being the end of her high school career on the drive to Jacksonville.

“I was crying coming up here because I could not believe that this was my last high school event, period, not just for track,” Woodard said. “Just to know that this is it, and it’s here, it was definitely kind of scary.”

Woodard also helped lead Freedom basketball to the first final four appearance in program history and was named The Laker/Lutz News Girls Basketball Player of the Year following the season. She said her senior campaign was more than she could have hoped for.

“I wasn’t expecting all of this to happen,” Woodard said. “It exceeded everything I thought it would be. Didn’t know what I was walking into, but this has been by far the best year out of all my high school years.”

Fellow Patriots senior Sandra Akachukwu finished as the state runner-up in the high jump (18-05.25), which is her best placing at states in any event.

The Western Kentucky University signee ends her high school career with five state medals.