Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

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.”

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

 

 

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.

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.”

 

 

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.

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

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Freedom coach Autum Hernandez was worried spring break might disrupt her softball team’s momentum.

Her Patriots (11-1, 5-0) were anything but rusty March 19 at Class 7A-District 9 rival Steinbrenner in their first game after the break, piling up 15 hits, including five doubles, en route to an 8-0 win. Hernandez said the offensive onslaught allowed the defense and senior pitcher Katlin Hall to focus on execution.

“I was concerned about scoring runs, but we were able to score two runs in the first inning, which allowed us to relax a little bit,” Hernandez said.

Freedom had a little more motivation for its first meeting of the year with the Warriors (9-6, 2-3), who ended the Patriots season last year in the district semifinals.

“It was a big boost for us coming out of break because we were thinking about what happened last year,” said senior second baseman Caroline Whiteside, who had three hits and scored three runs. “We beat them twice last year, but we fell short one run in districts. Not to rub it in their face, but it was about redemption and proving ourselves.”

The victory over Steinbrenner was the eighth win by at least six runs for Freedom this season, three more than the Patriots totaled all of last year.

Five Freedom batters had multiple hits in the contest, led by Katlin’s three doubles and two RBI.

“If our top of the lineup doesn’t score runs, then the bottom does or the middle,” Hernandez said. “They usually even each other out. There hasn’t been one person who’s carried us. Katlin Hall has been stroking the ball, so if there’s been one person who’s been hitting consistently it’s her.”

The Patriots were also aggressive on the bases with four steals.

“We’ve been working on making the other team play more,” Hernandez said. “We seem to do better with our hit and run and being aggressive on the bases when they can react instead of thinking. We had a hit and run that was successful, several steals and a bunt that worked, so we looked good all around. It was definitely a team effort tonight.”

Katlin, a Wharton transfer, tossed a four-hit shutout with six strikeouts. She said she felt very focused pitching and at the plate.

“When I’m in my game I get in a zone,” Katlin said. “I don’t know exactly how I get there, but when I’m in that zone I’m in it.”

Freshman catcher Maddy Hall said Katlin (4-1) had all her pitches working, especially her curveball.

“Her curveball is a really good pitch,” said Maddy, Katlin’s sister. “When she throws that it’s really hard to hit. It’s powerful.”

Hernandez said Katlin has been a big addition to the pitching staff and the entire team.

“She’s meant a great deal to us,” Hernandez said. “She brings the type of competitiveness that we might have been lacking a little bit in the past. She competes every day, and that makes everyone else want to compete harder.”

Katlin faced only one true jam in the contest, which came in the final frame. Steinbrenner senior third baseman Taylor Morrow’s single up the middle to lead off the seventh struck Katlin in the leg, followed by Lindsay Boynton reaching on an infield error.

Katlin struck out Annmarie Scios for the inning’s first out before Kellee Ramsey loaded the bases with a single, but junior center fielder Rachel Carlson caught a line drive ripped by Brittany Rasmussen and doubled up Boynton at second to end the game.

Steinbrenner hosts Gaither March 28 at 7 p.m.

Freedom plays at home against Chamberlain March 26 and at Gaither March 27, both at 7 p.m. Wins in both contests would clinch the No. 1 seed in the 7A-9 tournament for the Patriots.

“We have a good team this year,” Whiteside said. “Tons of potential and tons of talent. We just have to put that in use and work as a team.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The playoffs and Freedom flag football have been synonymous since Hillsborough County fully adopted the sport in 2007.

The program has reached the district tournament, reserved for the top-four teams, each season, a fact that is not lost on the Patriots (1-0).

“It’s like an expectation for us to make the playoffs,” said senior receiver/linebacker Ashle Thompson. “We’ve never missed it, and we don’t want this to be the first team to miss it.”

But for all its winning, something has been noticeably absent from Freedom’s resume since 2008 — a district championship.

“We’re trying to keep that playoff streak going, but now we want to go even further and get past districts,” said senior quarterback Missy Dunbar.

Dennis Derflinger, the only coach in program history, said they fully expect to be one of the top-four teams in the district, but added a deep playoff run will depend largely on how quickly his new players progress.

“We’re relatively young when you look at the roster, so gaining experience and confidence throughout the year is going to determine how far we go,” Derflinger said.

Roster changeover in flag football happens quicker than in most high school sports in part because colleges don’t offer scholarships for it. In some seasons that keeps many of the best athletes away, but the Patriots have seen an infusion of talent this season.

The principle additions have come from the girls basketball team, which was the first in program history to make the state final four during the winter. Among the new crossover athletes are seniors Monet Williams, Whitney Turntine-Ivy and Lauren Repp.

“Everyone out here can help us in one way or another, and having these new girls is going to help us a lot,” Derflinger said. “These new girls, especially Lauren Repp playing soccer growing up and focusing on basketball the last few years, she has skills that translate over. She’s smart and aggressive, so it shouldn’t take her long to get used to the type of things we’re doing.”

Repp, a wide receiver/linebacker, had no flag football experience, but said she always wanted to give it a try.

She said the biggest adjustment is the precision required when executing plays.

“The first time I came out I had trouble running routes exactly right,” Repp said. “In basketball you go as you see the play happening, but in football it’s set and you have to do it exactly. It’s different, but it’s probably a little easier because you don’t have to read anything and just run it.”

Derflinger has had an additional challenge this year to go along with coaching.

He is enrolled in the Future Leaders Academy, which trains people to become assistant principals. Teaching at Riverside Academy in Central Tampa, instead of on Freedom’s campus, forced him to resign as the boys soccer coach.

“The time commitment is a little bit less than with soccer, so I thought I could still handle coaching flag,” Derflinger said. “With soccer I knew there was someone ready to take over because Charlie (Haueter) had been with me as an assistant for two years. This, I don’t know of anyone who was ready to step in and take over, and the truth is this is still a lot of fun.”

Derflinger said he’s relied on his experienced players, like junior wide receiver/cornerback Hannah Seybold, Thompson and Dunbar, who became the starting quarterback last year, to help teach the inexperienced players.

“I’ve been on the team for four years, and I’m trying to help the new girls just coming in,” Dunbar said. “Last year it was all new to me becoming the quarterback, but now I have the feeling of it.”

Thompson said Dunbar’s experience at quarterback is a big plus.

“Every year the team is so different, so you have to readjust,” Thompson said. “Having Missy back at quarterback is a big help this year because she knows what she’s doing and we know her.”

Freedom got the season off to a winning start with a 26-6 victory at Lennard March 19. Dunbar threw two touchdowns and ran in another in the season opener.

“We’re pretty pumped up to get that first win,” Dunbar said. “It’s given us some confidence, and we’re hoping to stay strong.”

The Patriots play in District 16 with Steinbrenner, Gaither, Wharton, Sickles, Leto and two-time defending league champion Alonso. The Ravens host the district tournament April 22 to 24.

Freedom played at Leto March 25, but results were not available by press time. The Patriots travel to district rival Gaither March 28 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

An experienced quarterback is almost an essential for any football team, and Steinbrenner has one of the most seasoned in the area.

The Warriors’ signal caller has seen nearly everything the last three years starting under center and is the program’s all-time leader in passing yards (3,740) and touchdowns (22).

She’s Alexa Fernandez, and she is the unquestionable leader of the offense for the Steinbrenner (1-1) flag football team.

Fernandez, who is also known as Trigger by her teammates, started playing football in her backyard with her older brother Danny, who played for the Warriors’ football team before graduating in 2012.

“I would always help him practice,” Fernandez said. “I would be the receiver to run routes when he was trying to be quarterback, and then when he wanted to be a receiver I’d throw to him. A lot of it came from practicing with my brother.”

Fernandez said she tried out for the squad because she’s always loved sports.

“I just wanted to play, but I couldn’t have told you I expected to be a three-year starting quarterback,” Fernandez said. “It truly is a blessing from God to be a three-year starter. After I started that first year I didn’t want to give up the spot, and I’ve been fighting to stay as the starting quarterback.”

Second-year Steinbrenner coach Gregg Puskas was an offensive assistant during Fernandez’s first year starting and has seen steady progression.

“She’s seems to be a lot more comfortable from that first year,” Puskas said. “She’s, as a player, come a lot way in a sense that she can read defenses a lot better. She understands why plays are being run and when they’re being run. She understands the game a lot better. When she comes to the sidelines she sometimes can tell me the play that I’m wanting her to run because she knows the reasons why we’re running that play.”

Fernandez had a breakout season in 2012, completing 130-of-253 passes for 2,433 yards and seven touchdowns. She was named The Laker/Lutz News Flag Football Player of the Year following the campaign.

Senior Justice Thigpen joined the squad this year and has been impressed with Fernandez’s work.

“I’ve known Trigger since my freshman year,” Thigpen said. “I knew she was a great quarterback, and she’s really shown it with what she’s done. I mean, more than 2,000 yards last year, that’s more than probably 95 percent of the boys in the county.”

Fernandez said she’s been helped by several additions to the squad this season.

“We have a lot more athletes who came out, and that’s really helped me out,” Fernandez said. “Paige Cimino came out from the softball team, and Justice came out from the basketball team, and they’re just so quick and so fast.”

She has also worked to improve her own game.

“The biggest thing I’ve been working on is making the right decisions in certain situations,” Fernandez said. “I tended to sometimes panic here and there and just throw up a crazy ball or something. If I can just keep that calm and make the right play I think I’ll be able to help my team a lot this year.”

Fernandez hopes the combination will help her accomplish one more goal before she graduates.

“I’m really thinking we can win districts this year,” Fernandez said. “We’ve got a lot of talent and really good coaches, so if we keep doing what we’re doing I think we can win our first district championship.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Steinbrenner boys soccer player Jason Collister has committed to play at the University of Tampa (UT), a Division II program in the Sunshine State Conference.

The senior forward said he made the decision March 16.

“I toured the campus, and I really liked everything about it,” Collister said. “I knew a lot of the players through club soccer, and it just felt like the right fit for me.”

Collister, a four-year member of the Warriors squad, set a program record for goals in a season as a senior with 28 while adding eight assists and was a first team The Laker/Lutz News and Western Conference selection.

His offense helped the fourth-year program finish as the Class 4A state runner-up in his final high school season.

“What really helped me was us playing as a whole team,” Collister said. “We played together from the defense to the midfielders to the forwards, and that helped set me up to score. Playing together was the reason we got to the state championship game.”

Collister said UT was at the top of his list for colleges from the start of the season.

“I had talked to a couple other schools, but this was the one that gave me my first offer,” Collister said. He added, “They told me that I could fit in right away with what they’re trying to do.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker