Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Freedom girls basketball team showed it is more than a two-player team in a 63-40 blowout of Clearwater at home Feb. 7 in the Class 7A regional quarterfinals.

The Patriots (23-3) had four players score in double digits, led by senior forward Faith Woodard’s 21 and sophomore guard Taylor Emery’s 15. Senior guards Whitney Ivey and Monet Williams added 13 and 10, respectively.

“We can all score the ball,” Williams said. “We don’t rely on just two people because we can all score, and we need to in case anyone falls down. We got to rely on everyone to pick us up, and that’s what we did.”

The balanced attack comes six days after Freedom won the Class 7A-District 9 championship with Woodard and Emery scoring their squad’s first 48.

“We work on that every day in practice, spreading the ball around, and we’re getting back into it in the game,” Ivey said. “We’re showing people it’s not just two people. Everybody can play.”

The Patriots put that practice into play against the Tornadoes (23-5), who opted to double Woodard in the post while leaving the perimeter mainly unguarded.

“That’s what people fail to realize about that,” said Freedom coach Laurie Pacholke. “Yes, Taylor and Faith are going to put up their points, but you can’t just focus on them. Everyone else I put out there can go off, and that’s exactly what happened. Really, we’re a dangerous team. We’re not a two-headed monster that everyone says that we are.”

Ivey quickly shattered Clearwater’s strategy by hitting 3-pointers on the Patriots’ first two possessions.

“By her hitting the early 3-point shots opened up the middle on me,” Woodard said. “They tried to collapse on me, and you just can’t do that. We’re a well-rounded team.”

Pacholke said it was good to see Williams “come out of her shell” and score her season high, especially considering she was forced to the bench for much of the first half with three fouls.

“She really stepped up,” Woodard said. “She didn’t even let the three fouls affect her. She came in the second half and really got the job done and did what we needed.”

Woodard picked up an offensive milestone with 2:03 left in the game by hitting a free throw to reach 2,000 career points. She picked up her 1,000th rebound earlier this season.

“I’m happy to have 2,000 (points) and 1,000 rebounds, but I’m even more happy that I was able to do it with such a great team,” Woodard said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Freedom’s press defense frustrated the Tornadoes into many poor decisions, wild passes and shots from way behind the 3-point arc.

“Our key coming in was to disrupt them,” Pacholke said. “The key is to get kids to understand that when you’re putting a lot of defensive pressure on them, you might not get the steal right there, but you’re going to get a rushed shot, a travel, a bad pass, because they’re not accustomed to facing that. It’s great that it happened tonight because we can go back and watch it, and I can show them what consistent defense will do.”

The Patriots also won the rebound battle by pulling down 31, 11 from Woodard and five from Williams. Emery added four boards and four steals.

The victory comes a year after the Tornadoes eliminated Freedom from the playoffs in the regional quarterfinals 42-39. Emery said that shows the progression they’ve made the last 12 months.

“We got new people, the people we had coming back developed and we got a lot better working as a team,” Emery said. “We showed them what we’ve been doing the last year.”

Pacholke said it wasn’t a perfect game, but she was happy with the outcome.

“We had some ups and downs, but to come into a regional quarterfinal and win by 23, that’s a pretty big deal,” Pacholke said. “You don’t normally see games like that.”

The Patriots host district rival Steinbrenner Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. It is the fourth time the squads will meet this year, with Freedom winning the first three.

“Both teams will be ready, and this gym will be packed,” Pacholke said. “It’s great for Hillsborough County to have this matchup.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Don Trello

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

Academy at the Lakes girls basketball coach Karim Nohra knows his team will face a challenge when hosting undefeated Winter Haven All Saints’ Academy in a Class 2A regional semifinals Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.

The Wildcats (23-2) defeated Avon Park Walker Memorial (23-2) 66-29 on Feb. 7 to set up the matchup.

“I’ve scouted them, and they have two 6-footers in the lineup,” Nohra said. “You have to give (All Saints) respect.”

Academy advanced to the 2A final four last year, losing in the state semifinals to eventual champion Florida A & M University. The Wildcats lost four starters from that squad, and third-year academy coach Nohra said his players are still rounding into form.

“Last year’s team was a better shooting team; defensively we are about the same,” Nohra said. “We are better off depthwise this year.”

Seniors Tatiana Manuel, Andrea Mauger and Timecia Cohen, who each scored in double figures against Walker Memorial, are the team leaders.

It is the first time the 6-foot-2 Manuel has played in the postseason after transferring from Brooks-DeBartolo this season.

“I actually thought I’d never make it this far,” Manual said. “I wasn’t always the best player. I played varsity at Blake in the ninth grade, and I realized I needed to work harder.”

Manual is averaging a team-high 8.9 rebounds and 6.0 blocks while scoring 14.5.

“I love playing defense, and I’m a pretty good shot blocker and rebounder,” she said. “I look at myself as kind of an all-around player. I’m kind of a perfectionist.”

Mauger said getting Manuel this year was like a “sigh of relief” in the post.

“She blocks a lot of shots and is a tremendous all-around player,” Mauger said.

Manual’s inside game is complemented by Mauger, who leads the team with 38 3-pointers and 18.6 points per game.

“My strongest point is that I’m versatile,” Mauger said. “I can shoot, grab rebounds and take it to the hole.”

Cohen, who missed last season with a torn ACL in her right knee, leads the team with more than 300 steals and 170-plus assists while averaging 13.0 points.

“This is my first season at point guard,” Cohen said. “Seeing the floor is the hardest part. You have to read the defense and make sure the offense goes like it’s supposed to go.”

The Wildcats play swarming, full-court, pressure defense and have held opponents to around 23 points per game.

“You have to be mentally tough to handle it,” Mauger said about the demanding Academy defense. “We start running in September every day, miles and miles, and every week it goes up.”

Nohra was effusive in his praise of Mauger, who transferred from Wesley Chapel her sophomore year.

“Andrea has been with me all four years,” said Nohra, who previously coached at Wesley Chapel. “I actually followed her from Wesley Chapel. She’s absolutely grown as a player. … Andrea is a workaholic and wants to get better. She’s the captain and responsible for the offense and defense on the floor. She brings intrinsics to the table, and is totally the brightest girl.”

Freshmen Janice Cassanello and Luz Santiago round out the Academy starting lineup, and seventh-grader Taylor Polasky has played in all but one game, including 10 starts.

“Santiago just came back from breaking her hand Dec. 27,” Nohra said. “Taylor started for her and averaged 6.0 points a game.”

Nohra left little doubt he is a demanding coach that seeks Bobby Knight-like perfection from his team when he vacated the bench along with Manual, Mauger and Cohen and went to the locker room with one minute left in the Walker Memorial game.

“We didn’t play very well,” he explained about leaving an assistant in charge. “Our press wasn’t up to my standards. I wanted to talk with the Big Three. It was important for me to give them a message.”

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Steinbrenner girls basketball team earned its first postseason win in the program’s four-year history with a 51-40 victory at St. Petersburg Feb. 7 in the Class 7A regional quarterfinals.

It was payback for the Warriors (21-6), who were dealt a loss in the quarters by the Green Devils (18-11) in their first trip to the playoffs last season.

“I told them they had an opportunity to stake the claim that they were the first playoff winning team in the history of the program,” said Steinbrenner coach JR Allen. “They had something special in their heart, and they bought into it and I’m happy for the girls.”

The Warriors were led offensively by forward Rachel Briere (15 points, nine rebounds) and forward/guard Bailey Hooker (15 points, seven rebounds).

Despite foul trouble, Steinbrenner jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, thanks to a trio of 3-pointers from guard Olivia Unger (nine points, eight rebounds), and led at halftime.

“We got out to a great start with Olivia hitting a couple quick ones from outside, and when she did that it really made a spark for our team,” Allen said. “That got everybody’s mojo going and got our juice flowing a little bit, and we were able to jump out to a big lead.”

St. Petersburg crawled back in the third quarter with a 10-2 run out of halftime and overwhelmed the Warriors’ offense with their press defense to grab a 27-23 lead, their first of the night.

Hooker said the team knew it had to stay focused on finishing.

“We had to realize that we still had the game, and were still controlling the game,” said Hooker, a senior. “We kept pushing even though we lost the lead, and we never put our heads down, and that was really important.”

Steinbrenner cut St. Petersburg’s lead to one heading into the fourth quarter after guard Taylor Thigpen hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Allen said he talked to his team about standing tall in midst of all the pressure between the third and fourth quarters.

It worked.

The Warriors’ success on the free throw line (14-of-19), along with Hooker’s 3-pointer with four minutes left, recaptured the lead, which they would not relinquish.

“Instead of talking about weathering the storm, I said let’s go dance in the rain and make it the best, and they did,” Allen said. “Our offense really came up clutch, and we did just that — we danced.”

The Warriors did suffer a loss as leading rebounder Lauren Shedd, a senior center, left the game in the first quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return. Tests revealed she has torn ligaments that will most likely end her high school career.

Allen said the loss of Shedd is “heartbreaking.”

The victory sets up a fourth meeting with district rival Freedom Feb. 12 at 7 p.m., which beat Steinbrenner in the first three meetings including an 18-point win in the 7A-9 final.

“They have great athletes, but can they step up as a team when they have to for the fourth time?” Allen said. “We’re going to put them to that test.”

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Wharton boys basketball coach Tommy Tonelli told his seniors in the days leading up to the Class 8A-District 7 final against Alonso that a fourth straight title would not be handed to them.

Sir Patrick Reynolds took those words to heart.

The top-seeded Wildcats (22-4) played from behind against the No. 2 Ravens (15-12) for nearly three quarters, but rocketed back behind the forward/guard’s 10 fourth-quarter points to knock off Alonso 71-61 at Bloomingdale Feb. 8.

“They gave us everything we could handle, and I can’t credit enough how Alonso competed and how well they pushed us,” Tonelli said. “I’m just proud of our guys, and most of all I’m happy for our players to enjoy district championships. They’re not easy to come by, and we don’t take them for granted.”

The 6-foot-4 Reynolds, who finished with a team-high 23 points, said he knew he had to be the one to give his team a boost.

“Coach told me to just take over and do what you do best; he told me to take over, and that’s what I did,” Reynolds said.

Alonso opened the game with a press defense that forced Wharton to settle for outside shots while using the 3-pointer effectively to the tune of a 14-6 lead.

The Wildcats got into a groove offensively in the second quarter, opening on a 10-4 run to go ahead for the first time with 3:18 left, but Alonso regained the lead going into halftime.

“We knew they were going to come in hard at us, and they had us shocked,” said senior point guard CJ McGill, who tallied 22 points. “We had to keep our heads up and get back into it in the second half.”

That’s when Reynolds and McGill caught fire.

The duo paced Wharton on an 8-2 run to open the third and accounted for 24 of 41 second-half points to pull out in front of the Ravens.

The gap widened in the fourth as Alonso began to wear down and pile up fouls.

The Wildcats forced Ravens guard Malachi Christopher (25 points) to the bench with his fifth foul and reaped the benefits with a dominating 13-2 streak in four minutes that included a 3-pointer from Virgil Crump (five points) with 4:35 left to escape with the victory.

“I told them they get what they earn, especially in the second half,” Tonelli said. “(Reynolds) played like a senior and three-year varsity guy. They had some foul trouble, and we kind of attacked that a little bit, and he was smart about how he handled it. He’s a tremendous player, and it doesn’t surprise me he stepped up the way he did.”

Tonelli added that it was extra special for the seniors to go out on top, but there’s still work to do.

“They don’t come easy,” Tonelli said. “I’ve had some good teams that didn’t get to taste it, and nothing makes me happier than to see these guys enjoy the moment. We’ve got to enjoy it, but we’ve got to get ready for the next test and the next challenge.”

Wharton hosts North Port in the regional quarterfinals Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The seven-year district title drought is over for the Wesley Chapel boys basketball team.

The top-seeded Wildcats (24-4) never trailed after the opening basket and dominated No. 3 Anclote 65-46 Feb. 9 for the Class 5A-District 8 championship.

It is Wesley Chapel’s third trip to the finals in as many seasons, but this one didn’t end with the heartbreak of years past.

“This is the year we finally pulled it off, man,” said senior forward Erik Thomas, who finished with a game-high 25 points, seven rebounds and six steals. “It feels great, and we all wanted it. We all played hard, and it turned out that we came up on top.”

Wildcats coach Doug Greseth said the biggest difference this time around was his team’s maturity level.

“We’ve just got a ton of experience, and it really shows in games like this,” Greseth said. “Our kids were really hungry, and at the beginning of the year we wanted to do three things — win a conference championship, which we did, win the district tournament and our last one is advance to the final four. We’ve got a good chance to do it.”

The Wildcats were relentless offensively in the first quarter, opening with a 17-4 run behind junior guard Carson Emery (15 points) and Thomas.

Emery said the team knew it would be a tough test going up against the Sharks (17-9), which dealt Wesley Chapel its only district loss.

“I feel like we have five players that can do it, and we wanted this so bad,” Emery said. “Our mindset was different, and we just came into it ready to play. Our head was in the right place, and we just got the job done.”

After taking a 14-point lead at halftime, Wesley Chapel continued to roll in the second half as Emery nailed a pair of 3-pointers to stop a 6-2 run by Anclote and ended the third ahead 50-30.

Wildcats junior center Marcus Hayne, who picked up eight rebounds, credited his team’s poise at the free throw line (26 for 34) and said they weren’t going out without a title.

“With the talent we have on our team, we could have done it a long, long time ago, but I guess today was the day that we just broke out,” Hayne said. “This is our year. We were hungry, and we needed it. We really did great.”

Greseth pulled his starters with less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and Thomas was welcomed with a loud, standing ovation from the fans.

The senior clapped his hands, waved to the crowd and wrapped his arms around the 10th-year coach for a long hug before taking a seat on the bench.

“It’s about time,” Thomas said with a deep breath.

When the final buzzer sounded, the 6-foot-5 senior grabbed the championship trophy, kissed it and held it high in the air.

“We’re part of history now,” Thomas said. “There’s not anybody else that’s going to come back and do what we did in these past four years, and I’m just glad we could do this for my coach, and it’s a great accomplishment.”

Wesley Chapel hosts Eustis in the regional quarterfinals Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

It took all 32 minutes, but the Wiregrass Ranch boys basketball team earned its third straight playoff berth with a 63-59 win over Freedom in the Class 7A-District 9 semifinals Feb. 6.

“It’s only our seventh year, so three out of seven years is pretty impressive for a new school,” said Bulls coach Jeremy Calzone, the only coach in program history. “It’s all about the kids. I just stand on the sidelines and yell like a crazy person. They did a great job making plays down the stretch.”

The squads split their regular-season meetings, with the No. 2 seed Patriots (14-6) taking the first 66-57 and third-seeded Wiregrass Ranch (20-7) responding with a 68-46 victory. Calzone knew they’d be in for a tighter matchup in districts.

“Coach (Cedric) Smith is a great coach; he does a great job with those guys, and this is kind of a neighborhood game,” Calzone said. “They all know each other, so we knew they were going to play with pride.”

The Bulls fell behind 18-11 late in the first quarter, but chipped away throughout the half and closed with an 8-2 run to enter the break ahead 28-25.

“We just weren’t playing Wiregrass basketball,” Calzone said. “We don’t play slow down, play with the basketball-type tempo. We go, go, go. For some reason in the first quarter we were trying to play their game, not our game.”

The Patriots got a small victory near the end of the half by forcing Wiregrass Ranch leading scorer and rebounder Rico Kerney to the bench with three fouls. The senior forward said he had one thought as he sat for much of the third quarter.

“I was just thinking I don’t want my senior season to end,” Kerney said.

Kerney responded with 11 of his 17 points in the fourth while adding eight rebounds.

“He didn’t get his head down,” Calzone said. “Earlier in the season if he got in foul trouble he’d put his head down a little bit. Tonight he kept his head in the game and kept his team in the game, and I was proud of that.”

The Bulls got a boost from the return of senior point guard Dimarco Burgess, who missed the previous seven games with a sprained ankle.

“Today was my first game back,” said Burgess, who put up five of his six points in the fourth. “I was in practice yesterday and I was iffy, but I knew I had to forget about the ankle and just play. … It was just play through it because, if we lose, it’s my last game.”

Wiregrass Ranch senior guards Chris Parra and Larrentz Manora had 13 and 11 points, respectively, while senior forward Ricky Ramirez scored 12 while adding five rebounds.

Freedom was led by senior guard Antwan Bradley’s 27 points. Senior forwards Brandon Patchan (11 rebounds) and Stephen Odunna (nine rebounds) added 12 and 10 to the Patriots’ offense.

The Bulls came up short of the district title, falling to the top-seeded Chamberlain 66-56 Feb. 8.

Wiregrass Ranch plays its regional quarterfinals Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Petersburg.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

There are times this season where youth and inexperience has hurt the Land O’ Lakes boys basketball team.

That wasn’t the case in the Class 6A-District 10 tournament.

The No. 2 seed Gators (11-12) defeated No. 4 Tarpon Springs 48-46 in the semifinals Feb. 6 and hung with top-seeded Mitchell in the finals before ultimately losing 64-40 Feb. 8.

Land O’ Lakes coach David Puhalski said it will be a benefit for his younger players to have a taste of what the postseason is like.

“Just for these kids to have an opportunity, whether it’s on the road or at home, and to get in this atmosphere will be good,” Puhalski said. “Only two or three guys have seen it, so it’ll be a good eye-opener for them and we just hope to play well.”

Sophomore guard Mike Obi led his team with 11 points against the Mustangs (20-7) in the finals.

In the semifinals, both teams failed to muster much on the scoreboard to open the game, shooting a combined 2 for 19 from the field with the Gators up 4-2 at the end of the first quarter.

“We’re not a very good team offensively anyways, so the sloppier the better,” Puhalski said. “We just don’t have scorers yet, and we’ve got to manufacture points defensively with some steals and try to get out on a run a little bit.”

Land O’ Lakes hit its stride in the second quarter by turning multiple Spongers (12-12) errors into points and having success at the free throw line, where the Gators finished 22-of-35.

Obi (13 points) said he knew Tarpon Springs would defend him hard, but he kept his composure.

“We had to spread the ball and be patient,” Obi said. “They have young guys out there that also worked hard, and I think we’ll be fine.”

The Spongers couldn’t stay out of foul trouble in the second half as Land O’ Lakes opened the third with two quick trips to the line. Still, Tarpon Springs held tight as the two teams traded leads five times in the period.

“We’re so young,” Puhalski said. “We started a freshman and two sophomores, and they were our main players. … Offensively we don’t have anything to speak of, but we’ll win ugly.”

The Gators entered the fourth quarter with a one-point lead, but once again the Spongers stayed on their heels and took the lead back with 1:21 to go.

That’s when Land O’ Lakes sophomore guard Tommy Guglielmello stepped up.

Down by one with one minute to play, Guglielmello took one step outside the arc and nailed a 3-pointer to take back the lead.

“I just caught it, saw the rim and shot,” said Guglielmello, who finished with seven points. “I was a little off balance, but it went in. Knowing it was close, yeah, I was nervous. I just overcame it.”

The Gators travel to Winter Haven Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. for the regional quarterfinals.

—Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Academy at the Lakes boys basketball team is basking in the playoff spotlight for the second straight season.

The Wildcats (14-12) upset second-seed Cambridge Christian 73-68 in the Class 2A-District 8 semifinals to earn a spot in the postseason, but fell to No. 1 Tampa Bay Christian 80-40 in the final Feb. 8.

Offensively, the academy has performed well with sophomore guard Ethan Haslam averaging 17.4 points and 5.0 rebounds, along with junior point guard Malik Hall (11.0 points) running the offense.

However, the inability to put together four consistent quarters has plagued the team at times throughout the season, and coach Tom Haslam wants to change that.

“It’s getting better,” Tom said. “Not where we want it to be, but it’s better. We had spells (against Cambridge) where we got down by 10 twice in the first half. … You can’t do that against good teams, and we can’t keep fighting from behind every game.”

Ethan has been one of the biggest keys to the academy’s success, especially when the team has needed a scoring boost.

The 1,000-point career scorer said his teammates are getting hot at the right time and hopes the momentum boost from the win over Cambridge, a team that has won multiple district titles, turns into another trip to the region finals and beyond.

“This is what we’ve been looking forward to the whole time,” Ethan said. “It felt great to beat them this time, and it’s really motivated us to go further, and it just pumps us up and gives us lots of energy. … This is been a good experience for everybody, and it’s going to carry over into regionals.”

While the record may not stand out, Tom said he wanted to make the regular season schedule as hard as possible to give his squad a taste of playoff-type talent around the area.

“Kids from other schools see a little 2A school, barely a winning record, and think we can’t be that good, but if you look at our schedule we’ve had close games all year,” Tom said. He added, “There was a point at the beginning of the season where our opponents were 27-1. … Every game we’ve had, with the exception of maybe three games, have been close one way or the other. I think that helps us and it helped us beat Cambridge.”

Senior guard Tony Arrington (5.1 points) added that he feels like the team is better than last year because of the tough schedule.

“Everybody’s contributed to the effort, whether it’s defense, offense, rebounding or just cheering from the bench,” Arrington said. “We’re trying to start a winning tradition at this school. We just have to get back to where we were last year and hopefully go far.”

The Wildcats travel to Lake Wales Vanguard for their regional quarterfinal Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Nine Steinbrenner seniors sat at the same table, waiting to make their college plans official Feb. 6, National Signing Day.

Three football, two soccer, two softball and one volleyball player, along with one swimmer, participated in the event, ensuring they will continue competing the next few years while setting a new record for signees at one ceremony in the school’s history.

“It warms my heart to see them rewarded for their achievements, not only as an athlete, but also as scholars,” said Warriors athletic director Eddie Henderson. “It’s interesting to see how this has grown in four years. I remember the first one we had two athletes signed, so to see this grow to a large number is a great thing.”

The signees are not only part of Steinbrenner’s first four-year graduating class, but the nine have spent all their high school years as Warriors.

 

Gridiron trio go Division-I route

Running back Kendall Pearcey, corner back Trey Johnson and wide receiver Jon Marc Carrier started their football careers together, so it was fitting that they signed on the same day, all with Division I programs.

Pearcey signed with Fordham University in New York, Johnson inked with Villanova University in Pennsylvania and Carrier picked Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

“I’ve known these guys since we were in elementary school,” said Pearcey, who will major in engineering/physics. “The fact that we all kept playing, became successful and now we’re playing in college for a sport that we love is amazing.”

The three picked up the game with the Carrollwood Hurricanes at age 6 and helped build the Warriors football program from the ground up.

“When we started we couldn’t even practice at the school,” Johnson said. “We had to workout at Martinez (Middle) without a weight room doing Army workouts outside.”

For Carrier, signing with Dartmouth was bigger than signing to play for the Ivy League program. He started this school year with a 5.41 weighted grade point average and said his parents stressed education.

“I know going to Ivy League makes my parents really proud,” said Carrier, who will study biomedical engineering. “To go Ivy League is a dream.”

Pearcey and Johnson said the academics were also big in their college choices.

“My parents have always said if the NFL doesn’t work out, you have to have something to fall back on,” Johnson said. “Going to Villanova gives me a really good Plan B.”

 

Bredeau, Opila sticking together

Girls soccer player Alexis Bredeau couldn’t contain her excitement during the hours leading up to Signing Day.

“I was actually running around the house this morning; I was so excited,” said Bredeau, who will study nutrition. “When I was walking from the parking lot normally I’m dead tired, but I was hanging all over my friends. I’m really excited to start my next four years.”

The program’s all-time leader with 89 goals signed with her teammate Marley Opila to play at the University of North Florida (UNF), a Division I program in Jacksonville.

Opila, a midfielder, originally committed to Jacksonville University, one of UNF’s rivals in the Atlantic Sun Conference, but switched to the Ospreys near the end of her senior season.

“I’m looking forward to it so much because we know each other and can rely on each other,” said Opila, who will study nursing. “Before we joked around about playing against each other, but now we don’t have to worry about that.”

Bredeau, a forward, added, “If she would have been at Jacksonville I would have just messed with her the whole game, but because she’s my teammate I can mess with her the whole year. That makes it even better.”

The duo is part of a senior class that made the playoffs four times, won three district titles and claimed the 2011 Class 4A state championship.

 

Signed, but still out for more

Softball players Annemarie Scios and Taylor Morrow echoed the same message at Signing Day.

While they are both relieved to have their college plans official, both are out to work even harder to make their senior season the program’s best.

“We want to win districts,” said Morrow, who will study sports medicine. “We won it our freshman year and made it to regionals last year when we finished second.”

Morrow signed with Central Florida Community College in Ocala, while Scios will play first base/designated hitter at Brevard Community College in Cocoa.

“I was so excited this morning, but also a little nervous,” said Scios, who will study pediatric physical therapy. “When I was sitting up there I was just thinking I get to really do this. … I’ve only played for five years, so I had to work really hard to catch up to some players who’ve been playing their whole life.”

Morrow started playing at age 6 and has always been a utility player.

“It’s very enjoyable to be able to play every position,” Morrow said. “I like being able to fill in for whatever position is needed — catcher, infield, outfield, wherever.”

 

Defense powers Seuzeneau

Volleyball player Madison Seuzeneau entered her senior year with the goal of becoming an all-around player.

The outside hitter was already the program’s all-time leader in kills, but she was regularly subbed out when she rotated to the back row because of her defense.

“A lot of colleges need for an outside to be an all-around player, so I definitely focused on defense this year,” Seuzeneau said. “That really helped me get this scholarship.”

Her skills have improved to the point that she may see time at defensive specialist at Springhill College, an NAIA school in Alabama, with the plans to minor in business and major in communications.

Seuzeneau is the only four-year varsity player in program history. She helped Steinbrenner win four district titles and make the regional finals in November.

 

Volz becomes program’s first

Emma Volz became the first swimmer, boys or girls, from Steinbrenner to sign with a college when she inked with Florida Atlantic University, a Division I program currently in the Sun Belt Conference.

“It’s pretty cool being the first one to ever sign,” Volz said.

Volz said swimming in college has been a dream since she first hit the pool at age 4.

“My breakthrough in swimming was in fourth or fifth grade when I got my first Olympic cut, which is something you qualify for with certain times,” Volz said. “That’s when swimming became my ultimate passion.”

Volz will compete in the distance events while studying marine biology.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Seven Wiregrass Ranch student-athletes sat at the same table, waiting to make their college plans official Feb. 6, National Signing Day.

Three soccer, one tennis, one softball and one football player, along with a distance runner, participated in the event, ensuring they will continue competing for the next few years while setting a new record for signees at one ceremony in the school’s seven-year history.

“In our senior class we definitely have a lot of athletic talent,” said distance runner Nikita Shah. “We’ve had a lot of really strong athletes, and I’m glad that our school is very dedicated to our athletic programs. All our coaches are really great … and help us be a really good school.”

The Bulls’ No. 1 boys tennis player Courage Okungbowa signed with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), a Division I program.

“I played a tournament in Tallahassee, and one of the guys I was playing knew the FAMU coach; he told him to come watch me play, and he really liked what he saw,” said Okungbowa, who will study computer engineering. “I went on an official visit, and when I did it was the week of their homecoming. That was a really good experience to see everything and hang with the guys on the team. I really liked everything and the offer that the coach gave me.”

Okungbowa earned his second straight The Laker/Lutz News Boys Tennis Player of the Year honor following his junior season when he went 21-1 in singles play to help the Bulls win a district team title. He also finished as the Class 4A state singles runner-up.

Wiregrass Ranch athletic director and boys tennis coach Dave Wilson has high hopes for Okungbowa this season.

“I expect him to lead us to a state championship as a team,” Wilson said.

Okungbowa said not having to worry about where he’ll play in college will let him focus on the court.

“I can just go out there swinging,” Okungbowa said. “To win states would be the perfect way to kick off my next career in college.”

Softball player Rachael Heath had similar sentiments about inking with Saint Leo University, a Division II program, where she’ll play catcher.

“It’s not as nerve-racking not having to worry about where I’m going and talk with college coaches,” said Heath, who will study sports business. “It really takes the pressure off, so I can just play.”

The soccer trio of Dayton Wetherby, A.J. Blount and Berlin Waters helped raise Wiregrass Ranch girls soccer from doormat to dominating program.

Waters transferred from Academy at the Lakes as a sophomore, a season that saw the Bulls make their first playoff berth. They would win two district championships and three playoff games while averaging 20 victories per season.

“We had such great chemistry together from the start,” said Waters, who will study veterinary medicine while playing at Saint Leo. “To play together the last three years has been great, and signing together is a great way to end that.”

Blount scored a program record 94 goals in her career despite missing her entire junior season with a torn ACL in her right knee. She signed with The University of South Florida to study criminology or communications.

Blount played forward in high school, but may move to outside midfielder or defender in college.

“I’ll play wherever my coaches think I’ll help the team the most,” Blount said.

Wetherby also signed with a Division I program — Navy. She is the first Wiregrass Ranch athlete to play for one of the service academies on scholarship.

“I didn’t know that before today,” Wetherby said. “Going to Navy means I’ll have more to do after I graduate, but for me, I knew it was right.”

Wetherby, who will study political science or physics, signed eight days before traveling to Panama to train with the Women’s National team to prepare for the Central American Games.

Waters played on the academy’s boys team while an eighth-grader and a freshman because the private school didn’t have a girls squad. She scored 73 goals while at Wiregrass Ranch, the second most in program history.

She also signed a cross country scholarship to run with the Lions to go along with her one for soccer, becoming the first dual athlete from Wiregrass Ranch to compete in college.

“They first talked with me about it during regionals for cross country, but didn’t really know if I could do both,” said Waters, who finished 24th in the Class 3A state meet in November. “I talked to the cross country coach, and she said they have had dual athletes run cross country; we talked again a few days ago, and I said yes.”

Waters said staying close to home was a big draw with picking Saint Leo.

“I wanted to stay in state and not go too far,” Waters said. “Saint Leo is like 20 minutes from my house.”

Proximity was also key in offensive tackle Ben Botteron signing with Webber International, a Division I program.

“It was close enough, but still far enough away,” said Botteron, who will major in criminal justice. “Good distance.”

Shah will have to travel the furthest for college after picking to run cross country and track at Harvard University, a Division I program in Massachusetts.

“The school is arguably the best in the world, the campus is great, they have a really low injury rate and I just really liked the team,” said Shah, who will major in premed.

Shah, a three-time defending The Laker/Lutz News Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, turned down offers to run at the University of Florida, Florida State University, Colombia University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), among others.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker