The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Browning recommends Falcone’s termination

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By B.C. Manion

 

Superintendent Kurt Browning has recommended the termination of Anna Falcone, principal of Connerton Elementary in Land O’ Lakes.

Falcone was placed on administrative leave March 22, pending the Pasco County School Board’s action on Browning’s recommendation.

Aimee Boltz will serve as acting principal until a permanent replacement is named.

Anna Falcone

Browning called for Falcone’s dismissal based on allegations that she breached confidentiality and had been insubordinate, according to a district release.

The breach of confidentiality related to a climate survey conducted in February at every school in the district that posed questions about school culture, communication, collaboration and other topics, said Linda Cobbe, district spokeswoman.

The questionnaires were filled out by staff, students and parents, and those completing them were assured their names and responses would be kept “strictly confidential,” Cobbe said.

At least three administrators told Falcone she could not have access to the names of school staff members who responded to the survey, but she got that information “under-handedly,” the release states. Individual responses were not compromised.

Browning said it was brought to his attention “that Mrs. Falcone persisted in seeking confidential information after repeatedly being denied the information by her superiors. … I cannot and will not tolerate such insubordination, especially when it brings into question the integrity of this school system.”

After previous complaints about Falcone’s leadership, former Superintendent Heather Fiorentino transferred an assistant principal and gave staff members the option to transfer to other schools.

Browning also said, “We were working with Mrs. Falcone to address parental and staff concerns by assigning a principal coach and providing additional supports from the district. Unfortunately, her actions related to the surveys constitute insubordination, violate district policy and may violate the educator code of ethics.”

Falcone started her career in Pasco schools an as intermediate teacher at San Antonio Elementary. She was an assistant principal at Pine View Elementary before being appointed as principal at Sanders Elementary, both in Land O’ Lakes.

She took leadership of Connerton when Sanders closed and the students, faculty and staff moved to the Land O’ Lakes school when it opened in 2010.

An attempt was made to reach Falcone by email at the school on March 22, but it was unsuccessful.

—Editor Kyle LoJacono contributed to this story

Newton returns to Wharton’s track

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By Don Trello

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

Veteran Wharton girls track and field and cross country coach Wes Newton faced the biggest challenge of his life as he laid in a hospital bed eight months ago wondering if he would be paralyzed for the rest of his life.

Newton, 65, suffered a severe spinal cord injury after falling 12 feet off a ladder while cutting tree branches with a chain saw on his land in Brooksville.

“My wife (Laura) found me and called 911, and they drove me to Tampa General Hospital where I wanted to go,” Newton said. “It took two hours from the time I fell and was found for everything.”

Seven days passed before doctors were able to operate on Newton to repair the damage to his spinal cord.

Wes Newton

“I had a heart attack in 2008 after a 3-mile run and had a stint put in and was taking blood thinner medication,” Newton said. “My blood had to thicken up before they could operate.”

The operation was a success as doctors replaced a damaged vertebra with a cage-like device, but Newton was unsure of what faced him.

“I laid there for two weeks, and it was very hard; I was worrying,” Newton said. “The spinal cord unit is set up in small cubicles, and there was a guy next to me who fell off a roof and landed on his head and was paralyzed from the neck down. … They give you a Christopher Reeve book, and I thought this was going to be me. I thought I’d rather be dead.”

Reeve was the Superman actor who became quadriplegic after being thrown from a horse in 1995. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair on a breathing device before he died in 2004.

“But I said to myself, I’m tough enough to make it out of here,” Newton added. “The mental aspect has a lot to do with it.”

Newton was moved to the rehabilitation unit where he began the process of regaining strength and use of his body. He completed rehabilitation quickly and was released from the hospital 25 days after surgery.

“I was determined I was going to recover,” he said. “If they asked me to do five of something I would do 15. There were times when I was frustrated, but I made steady progress.”

Newton completed rehabilitation at home following a strict routine that included four hours of exercise seven days a week.

“I could have never, ever, ever done what I did without my wife,” Newton said. “She took care of me, but she didn’t give me any slack. She’s been a tremendous person for me.”

Newton’s successful recovery culminated with the resumption his teaching and coaching duties at Wharton.

“I took a medical leave for a half a year and was supposed to return January 22 of this year,” said Newton, who teaches chemistry honors classes, “but the neurologist cleared me to return, and I was back after nine weeks.

“It was a happy day, but the first week I was beat,” Newton added. “I slowly regained my stamina, and if I had to rate myself I’m probably 90 to 95 percent of where I should be. There isn’t anything I can’t do now that I could do before the accident.”

Wharton senior hurdler and sprinter Mikayla Barber feels Newton’s return to the track has been inspirational to her and her teammates.

“It’s very motivating when I see coach back after the accident,” Barber said. “You don’t let anything knock you down.”

Newton’s injury occurred when he was clearing low hanging branches on an oak tree so lumber could be delivered for a cabin he is building on his property.

“I always wanted to build a log cabin, and we decided to build it,” Newton said. “We will probably move into it in the next three weeks.”

Newton plans to continue teaching and coaching for at least the foreseeable future.

“They keep turning on the hose and sucking you back in,” Newton said about his decision to continue working. “Wharton will be getting a synthetic track soon and that keeps me in the track arena. It’s difficult to retire when you coach because every year somebody who will be good shows up. The longer you do it, the harder it is to step away from it.”

More than a pitch

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Steinbrenner grad Sammy May’s battle with leukemia

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Former Steinbrenner baseball player Sammy May stood by the mound Feb. 12 inside a stadium he had played in countless times.

It was like being home again, but this time was different.

His old pinstriped jersey and blue cap were replaced by a pair of jeans and a polo shirt. His blonde hair, short from months of painstaking chemotherapy, shined brightly under the lights.

Former Steinbrenner baseball player Sammy May, left, and his brother, Jeff May. (Photo provided)

For once, his thoughts weren’t on battling cancer or upcoming procedures at the hospital.

They were on one simple pitch.

With the spotlight on him, time seemed to stand still.

“Just throw a strike,” May told himself.

And he did — right down the middle.

***

May was diagnosed with adult T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia last July while attending the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York. He had earned a congressional appointment to attend the college, along with a baseball scholarship to continue his career.

After dealing with a persistent cough during boot camp, he visited a clinic on campus for a checkup and was told to immediately go to the hospital.

That’s when his life changed forever.

Doctors found a large mass in his chest and diagnosed him with cancer days later.

His best friend and current Steinbrenner infielder Brad Miller remembers getting the phone call that broke the news.

“I don’t know if everything happens for a reason, or some things are better to come, but it was heartbreaking for that to happen,” Miller said. “He was following his brother (Davey) to the Merchant Marines, and just to have that dream stopped was heartbreaking.”

May soon began treatment and was forced to stay at North Shore University Hospital in New York for more than month. At his side were his parents Dave and Debra and his brothers Davey and Jeff, who is an assistant on the Land O’ Lakes baseball team.

Miller said he stayed in contact with his friend as much as possible to let him know people were praying for him.

“I would call him or Skype him every night just to make sure he was in good spirits and to make sure he knew someone was there for him when he needed them to be,” Miller said.

***

Back home, family friends began to organize fundraisers and sell rubber bracelets to pay his medical bills.

Former teammates, coaches, friends and even complete strangers came by the dozens to support May at various events.

His favorite country music artist Brantley Gilbert gave him a call and sent him autographs and albums to keep his spirits up.

Fourth-year Warriors baseball coach John Crumbley came up with an idea of wearing special camouflage jerseys to honor his former outfielder’s love of the outdoors.

May, whose No. 20 uniform was not issued this season in honor of his battle, got one too.

“We had an opportunity in the summer leagues to try and honor him with a set of jerseys to wear with his typical camo lettering, and now we’re trying to get approval to wear them throughout the season,” Crumbley said. “Our parents and coaches have been heavily involved in different types of fundraising that people in the community have put on. … All of that shows the connection and support from us to the May family and Sammy.”

Crumbley, the longtime Jesuit coach, had Dave on staff as an assistant the past three years and coached Davey while at the helm of the Tigers. His main priority was making sure he was at the families’ side as much as possible.

“I’ve known them way farther than just at school or as a parent,” Crumbley said. “We’ve been on many baseball trips together to the College World Series, and that’s what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to help people, and hopefully we’ve all done a pretty good job, and hopefully we can continue to be there for him.”

May was amazed when he found out how much Steinbrenner was doing for him.

“It makes me feel honored to know that I have so many people behind me and supporting me,” May said. “It gave me a lot of strength, and I was astonished at how many people contacted me from Steinbrenner. They talked to me for hours on end just if I ever needed to talk to somebody, and they really comforted me when I was in a time of need.”

After months of radiation therapy, his strength has begun to return, and he’s back to his usual routine of bass fishing, hunting and, of course, watching baseball.

Crumbley surprised him before the home opener against King and asked if he would like to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Of course, his answer was yes.

***

A smile flashed across May’s face after the ball hit the glove of Steinbrenner catcher Jesse Haney.

All around him, fans were cheering as his former teammates mobbed him on the mound.

He hugged his brothers, his mother and his father and took one last look before leaving the field.

“When I was at Steinbrenner, I never knew how many people were actually there for me,” May said. “I’ve been so inspired by everyone and I’m honored. I really am.”

—Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

Carrollwood Day School hosts empathy walk

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By B.C. Manion

 

In a twist on the saying about walking a mile in someone’s shoes, Carrollwood Day fifth-graders staged an empathy walk — going barefoot three times around the school’s track to get a feel for what life is like without them.

Danielle Macaluso’s class organized the walk to raise awareness about the 1.5 billion people worldwide who do not own a single pair of shoes.

The students began conducting research on less-developed countries as part of their 5th Grade Primary Years Program Exhibition, Macaluso said.

Students from Carrollwood Day School walked barefoot to get a firsthand feel of what life would be like without shoes.

As they delved into their research, students began focusing on health and education needs in less-developed countries.

Coincidentally, while the class was doing its research, Danielle Calhoun, an acquaintance of Macaluso’s put out a call on Facebook looking for people to help with a shoe drive she was conducting.

Calhoun, a wedding and portrait photographer, belongs to a national group called Dando Amor, which means “give love.” That group is doing a drive for children living in orphanages in Ecuador and Africa.

Macaluso was searching online for ideas when she found out about Calhoun’s drive. She asked her students if they wanted to help.

They did.

“We thought it would be a really neat idea if we got involved in it,” said student Annie Frankel.

Once they decided to get involved, all 17 of her students began offering ideas about what they could do.

They organized two schoolwide events — the shoe drive and the empathy walk.

The kids wrote a script for a live commercial they performed for students in the school’s theater.

They did their own take on the Harlem Shake, calling their version the Shoeless Shake, Frankel said.

And, they got results.

“People, right away, started bringing in shoes,” Frankel said.

“We got a lot,” said Shelton Quarles, her classmate. “We really got to the kids in our school and they actually helped us get 551 pairs of shoes.”

The students said they have learned a lot about life in less-developed countries.

“I didn’t know that Africa didn’t have shoes,” Quarles said.

The students began working on the project in November, Macaluso said.

They voted on the theme and chose to study the health care and educational needs in developing countries.

During their research they learned that the lack of shoes actually has led to death in thousands of cases as injuries and illnesses progressed due to insufficient medical treatment.

“There’s not a lot of doctors there to help them, so they were making shoes out of water bottles and string,” Frankel said. She added, “Some people didn’t have any of those materials.”

When students learned that, they were motivated to help.

Macaluso is proud of the work her students have done on their project: “They care so deeply about it. This has really become their passion. I truly have just been a guide for them.”

The empathy walk was intended to give students a personal understanding of what life is life for millions of people in developing countries.

The event drew hundreds of elementary and middle students to the field, where some kids walked barefoot, others wore socks and some wore shoes.

As the walkers circled the rough track, some kids hobbled along. Others strayed off to the side to walk along the track’s grassy edge.

One boy, walking along the track called out, “I have a good quote for you, ‘It hurts.’”

The kids in Macaluso’s class, on the other hand, like the way it feels to help others.

 

To donate shoes or money, contact Danielle Calhoun at

 

Chalk Talk

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Sunlake business leaders shine at districts

All 62 members of Sunlake High School’s Academy of Finance and Future Business Leaders of America competed at a competition that drew 535 students from Pasco and Hernando county high schools. Thirty-five Sunlake students qualified and will attend the conference to compete at states. District winners were: Megan Maggi, Staci Johnson, Sara Sturgess, Jeremy Devlin, Jesse Crawford-Lang, Ryan Talbert, Cullen Quamina, Jacob Silence, Derek Noble, Gabriella Rivera, Garrett Mogab, Hui Hui Guo, Devon Mays, Rachel Weber, Zachary Valentine, Dylan Mixon, Justin Jungbauer, Austin Vogt, Tyler Bainbridge, Nick Bush, Timothy Finn, Darren Bainbridge, Mariah Berberich, Mackenzie Jones, Brooke Wood, Josh Wilford, Letisha Ingram, Aaron Aucoin, Allison Haff, Meagyn Speer, Anthony Fuentes, Elissa Noblitt and Deidre Yocum.

 

Give a book, get a kid’s meal

LongHorn Steakhouse is inviting families to participate in the restaurant’s Give a Book, Get a Free Steakhouse Kid’s Meal offer to celebrate International Children’s Book Day on April 2.

To participate, all families have to do is donate a children’s book, suitable for ages 5 to 12, on April 2 at any local LongHorn. In return, participating guests will receive one free kid’s meal from LongHorn’s kid’s menu with the purchase of one adult entrée.

 

Robotics competition winners

Two teams from The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage areas took home awards from the Florida First Tech Challenge Florida Championship.

The winners were:

—Brick Buddies, a team from Land O’ Lakes, received the Winning Alliance and PTC Design Award

—Team Duct Tape, a team with members from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Oldsmar and Northdale, received the Finalist Alliance and Judges Award

 

Lee to compete in Orlando pageant

Isabel Lee, a student at Wiregrass Ranch High, has been selected as a state finalist in the National American Miss Florida Pageant in Orlando this July. The pageant is a competition for girls between the ages of 13 through 15.

 

Liberty Middle FBLA grabs awards

The Future Business Leaders of America at Liberty Middle received 36 awards at a recent competition and was named the chapter of the year for Hillsborough County. The 96-member team will be traveling to Orlando in April.

 

Poetry contest seeking submissions

The Pasco Arts Council is sponsoring its seventh annual Jacaranda Poetry Festival and is inviting poets to enter. All poems must be original and not previously published. The entry fee is $3 per poem, with no limit on the number of entries. Those entering must submit three copies of each poem. One should include the name, address, telephone number and email address of the poet. The other two should not contain any identifying information.

Entries may be mailed, with a postmark by April 3, or hand-delivered to: Pasco Arts Council, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday, Fla.  34690-2354, Attention: Jacaranda Poetry.

A panel of professional judges, led by published author Alicyn Lopez, will choose the winners. Awards, including cash prizes, will be announced at the Jacaranda Poetry Reading at 1 p.m. on April 20 at the Pasco Arts Council’s art center, at 5744 Moog Road in Holiday, next to Centennial Park Library. There will be poetry readers at this free event, which is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

 

Tampa Theatre film camps

Young filmmakers can learn about making films, from generating ideas to creating storyboards, writing scripts, filming scenes, lighting, sound and editing.

The camps last a week and are open to students in third through 12th grades.

Each production team of three to five young filmmakers will work together with a camp counselor to create a short live action or stop-motion animation film.

Four one-week sessions will be offered from June 17 through June 21, June 24 through June 28, July 15 through July 19 and July 22 through July 26. The cost is $175 per student.

All equipment, including cameras, lighting, sound-recording equipment and computers with editing software, is provided. All experience levels are welcome in all sessions, and at the end of the summer, the films will be screened at the Tampa Theatre Film Camp Festival.

The film camp is presented in collaboration with the Florida Center for Instructional Technology at the USF College of Education, with assistance from Learning Gate Community School.

For more information, visit tampatheatre.org/education/summer-camp/.

 

PHCC Foundation gets $25,000 in support

The Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) Foundation recently received an additional $25,000 from the Thomas A. Plein Foundation (TAP) to fund the Thomas A. Plein Memorial Scholarship endowment.

The endowment was established in 2011 with a donation of $20,000 plus an additional $2,000 for annual scholarships for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years.

Plein, of Oshkosh, Wis., established TAP in the 1980s to advance his family’s philanthropic interests. The family owned 7-Up bottling plants in Oshkosh and other Midwest cities.

His nephew, Steve Plein of New Port Richey and TAP board member, was instrumental in facilitating the gift to support students of PHCC.

The foundation accepts scholarships through the college’s online application at scholarships.phcc.edu. For more information or to make a contribution, call (727) 816-3410 or visit www.phcc.edu/foundation.

 

Magnet schools receive national recognition

Magnet Schools of America (MSA) will recognize Hillsborough County public magnet schools and programs as Magnet Schools of Excellence or Magnet Schools of Distinction at the annual conference May 5 through May 8 in Tulsa, Okla.

Magnet Schools of Excellence will go to: Lee, Lincoln, MacFarlane Park and Philip Shore Elementary magnet schools; Boys Preparatory Academy Franklin, Progress Village, Williams and Young middle magnet schools; and Middleton and Tampa Bay Technical.

Magnet Schools of Distinction will go to: Cahoon, Lomax, and Muller elementary magnet schools; Dowdell, Girls Preparatory Academy Ferrell, Orange Grove, Sligh, Stewart and Walker middle magnet schools; Rampello Downtown Partnership K-8 and Roland Park K-8; and Robinson High.

 

Land O’ Lakes repeats as conference champions

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By Kyle LoJacono

 

Members of the Land O’ Lakes boys track and field team remained kings of Pasco County by claiming consecutive Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) titles March 21 at Fivay.

The Gators repeated as SAC champs despite graduating eight seniors who scored 80 points in individual events at conference last season.

“We not only lost a lot of seniors, but we’ve had some serious injuries,” said second-year Land O’ Lakes coach Bill Schmitz. “Ethan Weilant can’t throw the discus for us because of his shoulder. Dylan Mohammad had knee surgery in November. Isaac Cabrera had a serious ankle sprain. Travis Nichols isn’t even running for us because of his stress fracture, and he’s our only returning guy who made states last year. They’ve been very focused, they had a great preseason and they wanted to repeat.”

The Gators were in a battle with Wiregrass Ranch, which won the team crown two years ago, but they pulled through in the final events of the day. Land O’ Lakes finished with 131 points to the Bulls’ 115.3. Sunlake was third (65) and Wesley Chapel took 10th (12) in the 13-team event.

Sunlake senior Eddie Burgos crossing the line first in the 100. He also took second in the 200.

“This is a really good group of young men,” Schmitz said. “They aren’t kids; they’re young men. They have leadership qualities, and I’m really proud of them.”

Wiregrass Ranch led 101.3 to 98 with three events left, but Land O’ Lakes juniors Tyler Stahl (9 minutes, 55 seconds) and Jake Poore (10:03) gave their squad the lead for good by placing first and third, respectively, in the 3,200 meters with each setting new personal records (PRs).

“I knew we had to perform really well, both of us, to get some points for our team and get ahead of Wiregrass,” Poore said.

The Bulls had seniors Thor Alastre (fourth place, 10:13) and Patrick Hill (fifth place, 10:15) in the race, but Stahl said they didn’t focus on where the Wiregrass Ranch duo was.

“We were just trying to run our race,” Stahl said. “What they do, we really don’t want to be concerned about that because we don’t want to get that in our heads while we’re running.”

The 4×400-meter relay clinched the team title by finishing in 3:37, a new PR for the group.

“It feels good to really be able to help my team win this again,” said junior Jamel Clark, who ran the anchor leg of the relay. “We all really wanted this. We talked about it all week in meetings that we wanted to win conference again.”

The Gators other individual title was won by Stefan Zapata in the triple jump (43-feet, 0.5-inches). The junior also placed second in the long jump (19-09).

“Last year I finished second in the triple jump by just three inches, so I thought I had a good chance of winning,” Zapata said. “I PRed at the meet at Central on (March 19) and PRed in the long jump as well, so that gave me confidence going into day. I honestly just felt really relaxed.”

Sunlake senior Eddie Burgos won consecutive conference titles in the 100 by running an 11.08.

“I was just thinking win and take this home,” Burgos said. “I had to defend my championship. … I felt like I was at the top and people wanted to beat me. I knew I’d worked hard enough to get it done.”

Burgos also scored in the 200 (second place, 23.4) and long jump (eighth place, 18-09) while helping the 4×100 relay take fifth (45.16).

Fellow Seahawk senior Travis Manecke took runner-up honors in the shot put (45-07) and discus throw (137-10).

“We thought third place as a team was possible if we did well, and those two performing allowed us to reach that goal,” said Sunlake coach Nick Carroll.

The Gators girls came in third with 68.83 points, 82.17 behind the five-time reigning conference champs Wiregrass Ranch. Wesley Chapel took ninth (24) and Sunlake was 11th (19).

Land O’ Lakes junior Hallie Grimes won her second SAC title in as many years in the 400 (59.24).

“I was hoping to run under a minute and get a win, and I did, so I’m happy with that,” said Grimes, a two-time state qualifier in the 400. She added, “I am where I’d like to be. A couple days ago at USF I ran a 57, and the year before I was at 59, so I’m definitely feeling good.”

Grimes helped the Gators 4×400 relay place first (4:15) and took second in the 200 (26.26). She also set a new PR in the long jump by posting 16-03.5 to take fourth place.

“I’ve long jumped at almost every meet, but I’ve never done that well,” Grimes said. “I can never get my steps down, and then the last meet I finally got 15-07 and was getting my steps down every time, so I’m finally getting the hang of it, I think.”

The Bulls scored victories in the triple jump by Hannah Eder (34-03.5), pole vault from Alisha Henry (9-06), Nikita Shah in the 1,600 (5:14) and in the 4×800 relay (10:18).

Berlin Waters, who is in her first year with the squad, ran the anchor leg of the relay. She got the baton with a slim lead, which she stretched into a six-second win over Gulf.

“I knew I had to step it up at the end,” Waters said. “We had a small lead when I got it, and I could see the girl’s shadow. I just thought I can’t let her pass me, and I’ve got to finish this.”

Wesley Chapel’s lone conference title was won by senior Samford signee Courtney Prengaman in the high jump. The defending Class 2A state champ cleared 5-04 about a week after she set the school record at 5-08.

“We talked about how you can have one bad meet a year, so let’s make it this one and get back on track,” said Wildcats coach Brad Allen.

Wiregrass Ranch hosts the Class 3A-District 6 meet April 16, which will also include Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake. Wesley Chapel competes at the 2A-9 meet April 12 at Berkley Prep.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

Wiregrass Ranch girls maintain conference dominance

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By Kyle LoJacono

 

Members of the Wiregrass Ranch girls track and field team remained queens of Pasco County by claiming the program’s fifth straight Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) championship March 21 at Fivay.

The seventh-year program didn’t just win the title. The Bulls, in every sense of the term, ran away with the county crown by scoring 151 points, besting second-place Ridgewood by 60.5. Land O’ Lakes finished third (68.83), Wesley Chapel took ninth (24) and Sunlake was 11th (19) at the 13-team event.

“The thing I really like is that we won by the margin that we did,” said fourth-year Wiregrass Ranch coach Don Howard. “That shows the depth of the program. … We were able to score in 14 of 17 events, and that’s really what does if for us.”

Bulls sophomore Addie Cornwell finished runner-up in the 3,200 by running a 12:42.

Senior Hannah Eder said Howard and boys coach Mike Lawrence, who primarily guides the sprinters and jumpers, “pushed up everyone’s standards” this season.

“Coach Howard told us that as long as we did what we were expected to do we should win,” Eder said. “In a way that’s a good feeling, but it’s also pressure to live up to what you should be able to do. We have pressure, but we were confident too.”

Senior Alisha Henry gave the Bulls a lead entering the day by claiming consecutive conference crowns in the pole vault, which was contested the day before. Wesley Chapel senior Abby Hudak took second.

Henry cleared 9-feet, 6-inches, a foot less than her best performance of the year.

“The biggest problem was I was just crushing poles,” Henry said. She added, “I was pushing the bar down to much instead of using it to get over.”

Henry entered the season with a personal record (PR) of 11-03 and with a goal of clearing 12.

“I started off the season with a really bad mindset, and I’ve fixed that in the last couple of weeks,” Henry said. “I’m past that now. … I was feeling a little hopeless because I felt like I would never do 12, so I started caring a little less and started having a little more fun. I got to the point where I was stressing myself out. I’d say I have to get 11-06 by this time and 12 by this time. I’ve decided to take a step back and have fun.”

Eder claimed a field title for Wiregrass Ranch by posting a 34-03.5 in the triple jump, which she also won last year.

“Coming in I knew I had a big margin in seeding over the second-place girl, so I thought if I got to 34 it would be enough,” Eder said. “It wasn’t exactly my best, but I guess it was enough.”

Eder took third in the long jump (16-06), while teammate Gelisa Jenkins took second (16-10.5)

“Gelisa is really dedicated,” Eder said. “We work together a lot in the long jump, and she’s really athletic.”

Jenkins, a freshman, also took fourth in the 100 meters (12.99 seconds) and 200 meters (27.79) while helping the 4×100 relay (44.46) take runner-up.

The Bulls distance athletes also scored big, starting with claiming gold in the 4×800 relay (10:18).

“We really wanted to win this and give our team these points, and we came out and did that,” said freshman Madison Conway who led off the relay. She also took third in the 800 (2:32) and 1,600 (5:35).

Senior Berlin Waters, who is in her first year with the squad, ran the anchor leg of the relay. She got the baton with a slim lead, which she stretched into a six-second win over Gulf.

“I knew I had to step it up at the end,” Waters said. “We had a small lead when I got it, and I could see the girl’s shadow. I just thought I can’t let her pass me, and I’ve got to finish this.”

Senior Nikita Shah, a Harvard University signee, defended her 1,600 title by running a 5:14, besting Mitchell’s Claudia Cancello by just less than two seconds.

“She ran a great race and stayed strong,” Shah said. “On the last lap I just pushed it and came home.”

Shah and Howard decided to not have her run the 3,200, an event she won last year, because she was competing the following day at the FSU Relays.

Addie Cornwell stepped up in the 3,200 in place of Shah and took second (12:45).

“I haven’t been feeling good because my Tband has been hurting really bad and I haven’t been able to race in the last two meets, so I didn’t know what I could do,” Cornwell said. “I didn’t even know if I could finish this race, so I was happy to get under 13.”

Wesley Chapel’s lone conference title was won by senior Samford signee Courtney Prengaman in the high jump. The defending Class 2A state champ cleared 5-04 about a week after she set the school record at 5-08.

“We talked about how you can have one bad meet a year, so let’s make it this one and get back on track,” said Wildcats coach Brad Allen.

The Wiregrass Ranch boys almost made it a Bulls sweep, but they could not unseat the reigning champs, Land O’ Lakes.

Wiregrass Ranch totaled 115.3 to the Gators’ 131. Sunlake was third (65) and Wesley Chapel took 10th (12).

The Bulls led 101.3 to 98 with three events left, but Gators juniors Tyler Stahl and Jake Poore gave their squad the lead for good by placing first and third, respectively, in the 3,200.

The Bulls’ only individual title was claimed by senior Elijah Boston in the discus throw 134-04.

Wiregrass Ranch’s Khalil Phelan scored in both hurdle events, taking second in the 300 (43.64) and third in the 110 (16.92). The senior last did track in middle school, but decided to return to the sport in his final high school season.

“My friends told me I should come out, and I thought it would be a good opportunity,” Phelan said. “I did hurdles my eighth-grade year, and I kind of missed it.”

The Bulls host the Class 3A-District 6 meet April 16, which also includes Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake. Wesley Chapel competes at the 2A-9 meet April 12 at Berkley Prep.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

Gaither track and field building momentum

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By Kyle LoJacono

 

Gaither track and field was at a low point just four seasons ago.

The Cowboys boys and girls each placed fifth out of six teams at districts in 2010. The girls earned 51 points and the boys took 30, about 200 behind the league champions.

Jeff Ditman took over the boys program the following year, and, now in his third season at the helm, he sees steady progress with the squads.

“It takes time to rebuild a program, and seeing the success we’ve had recently, especially last year, has really built interest,” Ditman said. “It’s gaining momentum, and me and coach (Patrick) Geanconteri coaching the girls we’re hoping to continue that into the future.”

Gaither junior Arkady Naus finally got to compete in his first high school competition March 16.

Ditman said part of that energy comes from University of South Florida scholarship athlete Paul Barrett, who became the second boy in Gaither history to win a state track title by claiming the Class 3A crown in the 300-meter hurdles last season.

“The hard work that Paul put in every day was evident and shows people what that can do for you,” Ditman said. “We’re trying to instill that in these kids, that natural ability can only get you so far. If you want to be an elite athlete you have to put that work in.”

The boys and girls squads have also been helped from the fact that their points at districts have steadily increased the last two years, up to 70 and 78 in 2012, respectively.

The boys have seen an influx of athletes, including junior hurdler Matt Williams, who took last season off from track, and senior thrower Brad Smith.

Also new is thrower Arkady Naus, a junior foreign exchange student from Holland.

“Arkady was out for football, and he actually expressed interest in doing track, and that’s what we want,” said Ditman, who also coaches Gaither’s offensive line in football. “It’s one thing to comb the halls and try to find people, but when they want to join the track team, that’s what we want. He’s worked hard to work on his technique for the shot and disc, but the raw ability is there.”

Naus wanted to play defensive tackle this season, but paperwork issues prevented him from competing.

He practiced every day with the football team in the fall and this season in track. He was finally cleared to compete for the first time March 16 at the USF/Steinbrenner Invitational.

“It’s awesome that I get to compete,” Naus said. “It’s tough that it wasn’t football because that’s my main sport, but it’s still fun.”

The girls team has also seen an infusion of new talent like sophomore hurdler Cassidy Lawless.

“Our goal for her as a new athlete is to get her comfortable in the hurdles and feeling some success,” Geanconteri said. “Next year she can really kind of blossom and be really a key for us as we build this program up.”

The girls also have some seasoned returners such as Kiana Bryant and Rachel Cazares.

Bryant, a senior sprinter, has won districts in the 100 her first three seasons and placed second in the 200 the last two years.

“I want to win districts again, PR and break the school record,” Bryant said. Her personal record (PR) in the 100 is 12.2 seconds, just 0.1 from the school record.

Cazares had what she called her best cross country season during the fall when she placed third at districts and was a first-team The Laker/Lutz News selection. The junior 800-meter runner had plenty of motivation.

“I felt like I had some meets to avenge from last year, just some days when I screwed up and didn’t do the way I wanted to at all,” Cazares said. “I just wanted to make sure I came out here to make up for it.”

Cazares said the most painful performance last year was finishing one place and 1.8 seconds from advancing to consecutive state meets.

“I got to regionals and got that miserable fifth place,” Cazares said. “I was feet from getting to states. I got boxed in early in the race and couldn’t get out.”

Cazares is using a simple method to cut her own school record of 2:18 set earlier this season.

“I know my weakness is running with people, running next to them and around them, so I’m trying to get to a point where I’m fast enough to not be near them,” Cazares said. “I’m trying to beat them out early with brawn rather than brain. I want to win my own race and not worry about any of that.”

Geanconteri said Cazares helps with more than her times.

“Rachel’s work ethic is really evident, and with the times she’s putting up that shows the other kids what that level of hard work can do,” Geanconteri said. “She’s also a really good leader, and that brings others up to her level.”

The boys squad’s big returner is Samson Moore. The 6-foot-2 sophomore finished as the 110 hurdlers state runner-up last year but is switching up his events to focus on the 200 along with the 100 and long jump.

“I’ve been a hurdler and a 400 runner my whole life, and those get you really conditioned, but that’s not really speed,” Moore said. “This year I’m working on speed and quickness out of the blocks to help me for the 110s and the top speed in the 300 hurdles next year.”

Ditman said the approach is the best for Moore’s development.

“I’m hearing a lot of grumblings about why he’s not doing the hurdles this year, but we’re taking the long view,” Ditman said. “What’s best for the kid, and what’s best in the long-term for the program. The natural instinct is to try and score as many points as I possibly can this year, but long-term for him is why we’re doing it this way.”

Gaither hosts the Class 3A-District 8 meet April 17, followed by regionals at Leto April 24 and states at the University of North Florida May 3.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

Wharton hurdling duo competing for same goal

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By Don Trello

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

Tyler Watson and Mikayla Barber’s common goal is to be the best at what they do, even though that means finishing ahead of each other.

Watson and Barber are senior hurdlers on the Wharton girls track and field team, and each advanced to the Class 4A meet last year.

Wharton hurdlers Mikayla Barber, left, and Tyler Watson compete during the regional meet last year. (File photo)

Watson won the regional title in the 300-meter hurdles in a personal record 44.25 seconds, just 0.04 seconds faster than Barber’s second-place finish. Barber took fourth the following week at states, while Watson was eighth.

“It’s like a track meet every day since we train together,” Watson said about her and Barber’s head-to-head competition.

Barber, who also made states in the 100 hurdles last season, holds the edge in wins racing against Watson.

“Tyler and me motivate each other to work on things to get better,” Barber said. “There’s nothing negative between us.”

Barber’s best time of 43.96 in the 300 hurdles came during the state meet her junior year.

“I was messed up in the regionals due to illness, but I can’t use that as an excuse,” Barber said. “I’m staying focused, and I’m going to win state this year. I finished fourth last year, and there’s one little extra step that will get me there.”

Wharton coach Wes Newton has seen plenty of talent since he started his coaching career in 1972 at Leto and said Watson and Barber have potential to do well at the state meet.

“There is a rivalry between (Watson and Barber) and they are friends on the track, but they are also competitors,” Newton said. “They know they are on a team, but they both want to win. It’s good competition.

“Tyler has progressed tremendously once we found a role for her,” Newton added. “Mikayla does a good job and will run in college.”

Watson came late to hurdles competition and didn’t participate in the event until her junior year. Even though Watson is focused on hurdling, she also runs with Barber on the 4×400 relay team.

“Coach Newton wanted me to come out (for hurdles) when I was a freshman, but I had too much fear of falling and getting injured,” Watson said. “But (Wharton graduate) Amani Bryant ran in 2008-2009 and was state champion in the 300 hurdles. Watching her run inspired me.”

Watson ran the 400 in ninth grade and took second in the district in the 800 her sophomore year. She credits her father Gary with convincing her she should be a hurdler.

“My dad has a summer track team, and he’s been my coach since I was 6 years old,” Watson said. “He took me to the side of a hurdle and showed me I was taller than the hurdle. I went over to coach Newton and said I would try the hurdles.”

Barber’s path to becoming a first-rate hurdler began in ninth grade.

“I saw older girls running for a scholarship, and I thought I could do it myself,” Barber said. “My dad (Anthony) was a hurdler in college and a 300-meter champion in high school. He is my personal coach.

“My dad believed in me when I didn’t believe in me,” added Barber. “He saw I could reach the same goals as he did. My dad said hurdles are 95 percent mental and 5 percent technique and training. You have to attack each hurdle like it’s the first one.”

Both Barber and Watson indicated they feel fortunate to have Newton as their coach.

“He’s a tough coach, but he does it because he sees potential in us,” Barber said. “He helps us mentally and physically. He’s a very awesome coach.”

Watson feels Newton, along with her father, is instrumental in her development as a top competitor.

“Wes is my hurdles coach, and he taught me everything I know,” Watson said. “It’s easy to learn from him. He let me know there will be tough times, but in the end it would pay off.”

Wesley Chapel looks to regain its playoff form

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By Kyle LoJacono

 

Wesley Chapel baseball was not just the class of Pasco County two seasons ago, it was also viewed as one of the powers in the state.

The 2011 squad started the season with 22 straight victories and rolled into districts 25-2, the most wins for a season in the program’s 14-year history. The Wildcats had made the playoffs the previous three years, the last two times as district champs, and were almost a lock to take a run at states.

Almost.

Wesley Chapel (10-4, 9-2) fell 5-4 to Pasco in the district semifinals. The Wildcats also lost nine seniors, the majority of whom were starters, to graduation.

Wildcats sophomore catcher Brandon McLeod works with his pitchers during a recent practice.

The young Wildcats lost another one-run game to Pasco in the district quarterfinals last year, but those who are back are ready to start a new playoff streak.

“We’ve gotten to the point where this team now can compete every year,” said Wesley Chapel coach Chuck Yingling. “Do we every game? No, but high school kids don’t do that. We are where we felt we should be. We still play very young. Most of the infield we start are sophomores. We still lack some of that maturity, but we have athletes now.”

Yingling, who led Tampa Catholic to state titles in 1996 and 2001, started the program’s ascension when he took over six years ago and guided the Wildcats to their first playoff berth in 2008. He said they didn’t have the kind of depth he has this year when they made three straight postseasons, especially pitchers.

“After the first two or three pitchers last year we literally had no arms,” Yingling said. “Even when we were winning districts we had three starting pitchers, but nobody after that. Now we have six or eight arms that are really arms, but we’re having to teach them how to pitch and not overreact.”

Leading the staff is senior Chase Ingram, who has a 5-0 record with a 1.05 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 40 innings. The 6-foot-3 righty said the pitching is as good as he’s seen during his time with the program.

“I think this team is very similar to that team that won all those games a few years ago,” Ingram said. “We got Hunter (Robinson), Kyle (Custer) and Tyler (Peck), and those are all senior pitchers. We’re all good pitchers, and I think we’re just as good as a pitching staff as we were a couple years ago.”

Yingling also sees a strong defensive core.

“We are very strong up the middle,” Yingling said. “Right now we’re having K.J. Bierly start at second and Corey Mumaw at shortstop and Michael Jones mixing in. Michael has the strongest glove on our team. Then our two catchers are really solid. We have Brandon McLeod, who was our starter last year until he broke his arm, and he’s done really well. Then we got this freshman Dillon Sink — that’s the real deal. He’s caught a couple games this year, and I can’t believe he’s a freshman.”

The defense has also benefitted from Justin Ortiz. The senior centerfielder had to sit out last year after his family moved from Sunlake’s district during the school year.

“There’s not a better defensive outfielder in the county, and he’s got a laser for an arm,” Yingling said.

The Wildcats are hitting .341 as a team, but have on-base percentage of .452. Yingling said that’s reflective of their focus on taking good at bats and working counts.

The offense got a big boost when slugging first baseman Turner Imhoff (.412, five doubles, 10 RBI) transferred from Pasco this season.

“He’s one of the top RBI guys in the county,” Yingling said.

Imhoff did have to adjust to his new squad.

“I always thought of Wesley Chapel as a good defensive team, and I think we’re playing good defense again this year,” said Imhoff, a junior. “Some nights are better than others, but most nights we keep teams to two or three runs with some shutouts. At Pasco, it was more about hitting.”

The mix has put the Wildcats in the No. 2 seed in next month’s Class 5A-District 8 tournament, trailing Pasco by one game.

Senior first baseman/pitcher Jared Crescentini, who’s older brother Marcus played on the squads that made three straight playoff appearances, attributes the resurgence to Yingling.

“He really expects us to play with perfection, and that’s what we expect too,” Crescentini said. “When we see things that aren’t up to our standards we make sure to work on them.”

Wesley Chapel hosts district rival Fivay April 2 at 7 p.m. The Wildcats play in the 5A-8 tournament at Pasco April 22 to 26, with the title game April 26 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker