Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

Bulls boys take third

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Wiregrass Ranch girls cross country team had little trouble claiming their third regional championship in four years Nov. 10 at Lecanto High.

The Bulls totaled 71 points, 36 better than second-place Sarasota. The seventh-year program earned the crown without freshman Madison Conway, one of its top four, because of bronchitis.

Wiregrass Ranch was paced by senior Nikita Shah. The Harvard University commit won her first individual regional title by completing the 5-kilomter course in 18 minutes 32 seconds.

“Not a half-bad time,” Shah said. She added, “There’re some steep hills on this course, and those do take a lot out of you and you have to recover after the hills. It’s all about who can recover first and continue at a race pace. I won’t say it’s the toughest course in the world, but it’s a pretty tough course; one of the harder in Florida I’d say.”

Shah will be one of a handful of girls with a legitimate shot at hoisting the Class 3A state title Nov. 17 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. Her best time this year is a 17:48, which is her personal record (PR) and the second-fastest performance in the classification this season.

“Today I just wanted to set the pace and not worry about the time,” Shah said. “Next week at states I’ll be going for maybe a PR and hopefully beating all the other girls there. … I have a positive attitude going into that race. I’m going to go into that race just being confident knowing I’m going to put my hardest race in (and) see where that gets me. I’m going to go for a state championship hopefully.”

Fellow Bulls senior Berlin Waters took sixth at the meet by running a 19:41. Waters was 28th at the same meet last season.

“I was hoping for top 10 at least,” Waters said. “Knowing that I got sixth, I’m just so proud of myself.”

Waters started running with the program last season and said she had little expectations other than it improving her cardiovascular performance for soccer, her primary sport.

“I didn’t think I’d come close to being top 10 at regionals, especially after last year,” Waters said. “When I was third at conference I saw that I could really step it up. Now that I’m getting sub 20s I’m really confident.”

Waters played a soccer game the night before regionals and still managed the sixth-place showing.

“This was the first meet she hasn’t had to leave right after to go to a soccer game too,” said seventh-year Wiregrass Ranch coach Don Howard. “She played last night, came here this morning and finished sixth place in the cross country regional running a sub 20. That’s not any easy thing to do.”

Besides Shah and Waters, Howard said the 23rd and 30th finishes by sophomore Addie Cornwell (20:39) and senior Chelsea Davis (20:49), respectively,  helped carry them to victory.

Howard said the goal is a top-five performance at states, which would be the best finish in program history.

“I have really high hopes for Wiregrass this year,” Shah said.

As for the boys, the Bulls finished third with 113 points, 72 behind the championship pace of Sarasota.

Wiregrass Ranch ends a string of three straight regional titles, but the squad lost two of its top runners Ermias Bireda and Patrick Hill for most of the first half of the year with shin inflammation. Ben Hall also missed the Sunshine State Conference meet in October after undergoing surgery.

“It was the first time we had everybody run in their correct slots with Ermias one, Ben (Hall) two, Thor (Alastre), Patrick (Hill) and Andy (Hippely),” said sixth-year Bulls coach Chris Loth. “It’s taken us awhile to get there. … We’re as healthy as we’ve ever been, and it’s at the right time. Everybody worked hard enough during the summer to where we missed some time during the year and we’re fit at the end.”

Bireda, the squad’s top runner, finished seventh with a 16:19. The senior pulled a muscle in his back at districts the week before.

“That back still isn’t healed,” Bireda said. “The last mile it started acting up on me.”

Bireda finished 15th at states last year when he set his PR of 16:09.

“This season is not where I wanted it to be, but it’s not bad,” Bireda said. “I still have one more meet to make up for everything. I want to go out big. It’s my last race of high school. Cardio is great and my legs feel strong. As long as my shins and back hold up I should have a good run. … We have a physical trainer at our school Ms. Jen (Stollery), and I’ll be seeing her every day this week.”

Loth said Bireda’s ability to return after a tough season shows the kind of talent he has.

“To miss so much time and still be seventh at a very tough region shows he’s an elite athlete,” Loth said. “He’s the highest caliber kid I’ve ever coached, aerobically.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Steinbrenner boys cross country team finished as a regional runner-up for the first time in the program’s four-year history Nov. 10 at Lecanto High.

The Warriors took three of the top-10 spots to total 55 points, 14 behind Sarasota.

“We really wanted to beat Sarasota,” said Tyler Lima. “We wanted to try and get between their top two guys. Matt (Magee) had a good chance to win it because he was out front late, but he fell back with about a half mile left. When I saw that I started to push and moved from eighth to fourth. I wasn’t going to let that second Sarasota guy beat me.”

Tyler took fourth by completing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes 11 seconds. It is the best personal performance at regionals for the senior, who placed eighth at the same event last year with a 16:44.

“That shows you how much this region has progressed,” Tyler said. “Chris Cerreta, who was our fourth guy today, he ran about what I did last year and was out of the top 15. That shows you how tough this region is, which is good because you want competition. There are some really good teams here like Sarasota, Wiregrass and Land O’ Lakes.”

Magee (16:15) finished sixth, Tanner Biles (16:31) was 10th, Cerreta (16:51) placed 17th and Zach Lima (16:59) took 20th.

The runner-up honor is the best performance at regionals for the program, which finished fourth the last two years.

“Region has never been our meet,” Tyler said. “Sarasota is a good team. It’s not like it was an upset that we didn’t win, but we really wanted to win. Now we’re going to states with confidence. … There have been teams, like us two years ago, who finish fourth at regionals and step it up a lot at states. We were state runner up two years ago, and we’re going to go all out.”

It will be the last meet for Steinbrenner’s top five, who are all seniors. Except for Biles, who transferred from Freedom last year, the group helped start the program in 2009.

“You don’t want to get too emotional,” Tyler said. “These guys are like my brothers and we want to win for each other. If you think about it being our last race too much you won’t run your race. Plus, we’ve still got track.”

The Class 3A state meet is Nov. 17 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

 

PHOTO: Travis Nichols

Land O’ Lakes junior Travis Nichols took third at regionals with a 16:09. He and his teammates are wearing a patch in support of their teammate Steven Barnabei.

 

//Land O’ Lakes runs for Steven Barnabei

The Land O’ Lakes boys cross country team made states for the seventh time in eight seasons, and did so without No. 5 runner Steven Barnabei.

Barnabei, a junior and team captain, had surgery to remove a brain tumor the week before regionals, which was Nov. 10 at Lecanto High.

“We’re pretty shook up after what happened to Steven,” said junior Travis Nichols. “We’re trying to bounce back from that, not just with people moving up a spot, but mentally too. Hopefully we can do well at states for him.”

Nichols said the team learned of Barnabei’s diagnose Nov. 2, the day of districts. They are wearing a patch with his initials on their jersey.

“We’re running for him the rest of the year,” Nichols said. “He’s doing better now. He’s starting to walk. He’s having trouble gripping things and with slurred speech, but he’s a lot better.”

The Gators took fifth place at regionals by totaling 146 points. Nichols finished third in 16:09 behind Sarasota’s Zackery Summerall (15:54) and Sickles’ Abdin Fator (16:00).

“I’m happy with 16:09,” Nichols said. “My place, I wish I could have competed better with those top two. Wish I was there to try and outkick them at the end.”

Land O’ Lakes junior Tyler Stahl (16:35) and senior Jake Poore (16:37) placed 11th and 12th, respectively.

Nichols also gave credit to freshman Austin Dotson, who ran an 18:27 to finish 70th.

“Austin is really coming on at the end of the year,” Nichols said. “He’s running his best races right now.”

 

//Tedesco advances to states

Freedom girls cross country runner Annie Tedesco placed 12th at regionals Nov. 10 at McIntosh Middle in Sarasota by completing the 5-kilometer course in 20:47. The performance earned the junior a spot at the Class 4A state meet.

The Patriots girls totaled 181 points to place seventh, one spot and nine points away from advancing to states. Freedom’s boys and the Wharton girls were also unable to get beyond regionals.

 

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Steinbrenner volleyball team was swept at home for the first time in two years, but that didn’t stop first-year coach Laura Stegenga from smiling.

The Warriors (19-9) fell 25-12, 25-11, 25-16 against Venice in the Class 7A regional finals Nov. 10, ending their season one match shy of the state tournament.

It was Steinbrenner’s first trip to the regional finals in the program’s four-year history after being knocked off in the semis the previous two seasons.

“I’m just extremely proud of them, and that’s what I told them in the huddle,” Stegenga said. “I said to them, ‘You have never gotten this far and it’s going to take more than one time getting here to just be able to pull it out like that.”

The Indians (26-3) dominated the first set without trailing. Steinbrenner was no match for their offense, giving up 19 points before taking back-to-back points.

The Warriors kept it closer early in the second thanks to senior outside hitter Madison Seuzeneau (12 kills) before Venice pulled away with 11 of the final 12 points.

Stegenga said there was some nervousness, especially facing a team like Venice.

“There were those first-game jitters, absolutely,” Stegenga said. “In the second game, they started pulling it together.”

The Warriors’ best shot at winning a set came in the third. They got off to a 6-4 lead, but Venice crept back in with three straight points.

Another five-point streak put Steinbrenner into a deep hole and the Indians closed it out by scoring eight of 10 to advance to states.

“The third game was the team that we’ve been working in practice,” Stegenga said. “I’ve got a young team. … We can only go up from here. They did a great job. I know there’s some tears out there, but I want them to be proud of themselves.”

To earn a berth in the regional finals, Steinbrenner won at Clearwater 27-25, 25-11, 25-14 Nov. 6, but it was not without drama.

The Tornadoes (21-8) pounced early in the first set against the Warriors, forcing Stegenga to call two key timeouts.

Stegenga said she promised her team doughnuts if it could find a way to win.

“I swear they’re just like kids, still,” Stegenga said. “Even at the competitive level they play, they still get excited about doughnuts.”

The small bribe paid off as Rachel Mathison (10 kills) and Seuzeneau (17 kills) led Steinbrenner to a come-from-behind victory, scoring seven of eight points and then the final two for the opening set.

“Our rotation was a little messed up in the beginning,” Mathison said. “We were like, ‘Oh no,’ but we just did what we know how to do and we just clicked and we were focused on finishing.”

That’s exactly what the Warriors did.

Steinbrenner dominate the second set and didn’t let up in the third.

The Warriors had scoring streaks of six, five and five points to finish off the Tornadoes, who ended Steinbrenner’s playoff run in 2011 with a five-set win in regional semis.

Seuzeneau, the only four-year varsity player on the squad, said it was remarkable to reach a goal four years in the making.

“It’s honestly incredible,” Seuzeneau said. “I’ve stepped back and watched us lose this game (before), and it was absolutely amazing to finally win.”

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Blank stares and silence told the story of the night for the Academy at the Lakes seven-man football team as the clock ticked down Nov. 8.

Despite a seven-point halftime lead at home, the Wildcats (7-1) gave up six touchdowns after the break en route to a 60-26 loss to Kissimmee City of Life Christian Academy in the state quarterfinals.

Academy coach John Castelamare told his players to be proud of what they accomplished this season, especially after facing adversity before it started with multiple opponents cancelling games.

“We met our match,” Castelamare said. “It wasn’t about who’s the better team here. It was about who wanted it more, and I think (City of Life) wanted it a little bit more. … I’m proud of them. I just wish we were practicing on Monday though.”

After fumbling on first down to open the game, the Wildcats hit their stride as quarterback Max Stepanents used his legs to move the ball.

Following consecutive runs of 16 and 13 yards, Stepanents found wide receiver DeAndre Williams for an 18-yard gain to set up Ahkil McGill’s rush from 18 yards out to get the academy on the scoreboard first.

Then, after the Warriors (10-3) tied the game at six apiece, Stepanents hit Jack Fishman for a 48-yard touchdown streak to regain the lead.

Stepanents (3-for-10, 75 yards, two touchdowns) would come through again with a 37-yard run in the second quarter to set up a 9-yard scoring strike to Williams to extend the lead to 13.

City of Life answered with another touchdown in the second quarter, before the Wildcats defense sacked quarterback Kolin Funk in his own end zone for a safety.

Castelamare said everything seemed to be clicking going into halftime.

“We had them for a while; we had a good first half,” Castelamare said. “I think the kids played hard enough, but then they started to play a little harder than we did.”

The Warriors turned momentum — and the lead — to their side by scoring on every possession after halftime.

The City of Life defense forced the academy to punt on its first two drives of the third quarter, while its offense racked up points with touchdowns of 65 and 75 yards for running back Michael Santiago to take its first lead of the game.

The lone score for the Wildcats after halftime came off of a 3-yard run from Fishman to draw his squad within six, but that’s as close as it got.

The Warriors scored four more times in the fourth quarter, all on long runs, to pull away with the victory.

“We definitely had a great trip, a great season,” said Stepanents, who finished with 66 rushing yards on nine carries. “This was pretty tough for everyone. We pretty much gave up in the second half and shouldn’t have done that.”

Castelamare credited City of Life for making the adjustments it needed to win.

“They’ve lost a couple games over there and we hadn’t lost any and they didn’t know what that tasted like and we now know what it feels like,” Castelamare said. “They’ve got some horses over there and we didn’t do a good job of wrapping up and tackling, but they’ll be alright.”

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Two years ago, the Wharton girls soccer team captured the program’s first postseason berth and district championship.

“That was probably the best experience of my life,” said senior defender Sam Lawrence. “It was crazy. We were just unstoppable at that point I feel like. We were on a high. We want to repeat it.”

The Wildcats (4-0-1) were agonizingly close to making it back-to-back playoff appearances last season. They lost 3-2 in penalty kicks to Newsome in the Class 5A-District 7 semifinals.

“When I think about the game, it brings back all the feelings of how we just put everything we had out there,” said senior forward Ashni Deschenes, a Stetson University commit. “Sometimes it’s just not enough. For me, it drives me to work harder this year and encourage my teammates to work harder so that maybe if we’re put in the same situation it’ll be another outcome.”

That determination to get back shows how far the program has developed since Denis Vukorep became the coach seven years ago.

“As the years have gone by, we’ve slowly gained confidence each season,” Vukorep said. “I think the girls believe that they can win, and I think that across the county and state we’re a lot more respected. The girls feel that, and the confidence has helped us get better.”

Wharton lost seven seniors from the 2011-12 squad, six of whom were starters. Deschenes (14 goals, six assists) said she looked up to those players.

“Our captains last year (Emily Belanger and Baylee Dozark) were kind of like the moms of the team,” Deschenes said. “You could go to them for anything. Now that Sam and I are captains this year, I can only speak for myself, and I hope to be in that same mom role and be a great leader for my teammates.”

Vukorep said the loss of those seniors will hurt the squad, but is confident in the players still wearing Wildcats blue.

“It sounds weird to say when you lose six seniors who were starters, but I feel like with the kids who have gotten better and the new players we can potentially and should be even better than last year,” Vukorep said. “I guess it’s odd, but I think we will be better. You look at girls like Ashni, Leah Chisolm, Laura Johnson, Lexie Oeth, they’re going to be a formidable attack. We’ve got good senior leadership with Sam Lawrence in the middle of the field, and she’s going to be able to calm down the freshmen.”

One of the places that was hit most by graduation was goalkeeper.

The Wildcats lose three-year starter Heather Montgomery, who allowed 21 goals in as many games with 107 saves and six shutouts last season.

Stepping into the net is senior Courtney Bodamer, who was on the squad two years ago and said she learned a lot from watching Montgomery.

“She helped me with everything,” Bodamer said. “Confidence is a big thing, and then with skill and (she) taught me more about the game in high school. I was really thankful to have her. … I’m a little nervous, but I think we’ll have a good team. I just have to bring my game.”

Vukorep has a plan to help ease Bodamer into the mix.

“From what we’ve seen, Courtney will be able to make the saves that we need,” Vukorep said. “We’re hoping that the other 10 girls on the field limit her exposure to some of those shots. Try to force them to take shots that are savable and not giving up breakaways and set pieces.”

Vukorep said playing in 5A-7 with teams like Newsome, Plant and Bloomingdale will force them to get better quickly. He added, that, mixed with their new winning mentality will benefit them this season.

“Everyone in our district understands if you get out of our district, then you have a chance at a state championship,” Vukorep said. “I think that within our group we don’t look at it as we almost beat someone. There’s an expectation that we are going to go to regionals. Four years ago we didn’t have that expectation, and I think now it’s not a matter of if we make regionals. It’s, OK, we are going on to regionals. I think that expectation is one of the biggest difference.”

The 5A-7 tournament is at Plant Jan. 15 to 19, with the final Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.

Wharton hosts district rival Durant Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

A 16-4-2 record, a district championship and a second-round playoff appearance.

It would be one of the most memorable seasons for most girls soccer programs.

Steinbrenner is not most girls soccer programs.

The Warriors (2-3) won the 2011 Class 4A state title in the program’s second season and graduated only three players from that championship squad. Losing 2-0 at Lakeland George Jenkins in the regional semifinals felt like a disappointment.

“We didn’t go as far as we wanted to last year,” said senior forward Alexis Bredeau, a University of North Florida commit. “I think it’s time again to prove ourselves. We’re a better team than what happened.”

Along with fuel to regain the mountain top is a new voice preaching structure, purpose and discipline.

Former Durant and University of Tampa (UT) defender Angela Gillisse was named the fourth-year program’s third coach in July, replacing Robert Woodard, who resigned after one year at the helm.

“I wanted them to know I’m the coach, and we’re playing by my rules,” said Gillisse, who has coached for 14 years. “My rules will always be for the betterment of the team. I’m looking out for their best interests, but we have to have structure if we want to go far in the playoffs.”

Many returning players said the regimented style has been a plus.

“It’s much more organized, and everything is much more set,” said senior midfielder Marley Opila, a Jacksonville University commit. “We don’t have to worry about if everything is set up. It’s going to benefit us a lot to just practice and play. … She came in and laid down all the rules. She didn’t second guess herself. That really set the tone.”

That’s not to say Gillisse has been a drill sergeant.

“I want them to have fun, and the more they enjoy the game, the more they’re going to want to play,” Gillisse said. “I talked with them about the disappointments, and we said we’re moving on to this year. They want to move on, and they have a lot of goals.”

Gillisse has also worked on team building.

“She’s taking time out of her day to come and see us at our lunch and stuff like that to talk with us,” Bredeau said. “We’re doing meals this year before games, which we haven’t really done in the past. We’re also taking bus rides together. … We need that team bonding.”

Junior defender and UT commit Miranda Gonzalez added, “Last year we were like a group of this and a group of that. It’s a lot better than last year.”

Junior midfielder Dani Eule said the entire attitude has changed.

“There’s so much excitement and intensity to get into the season,” Eule said. “We’re so ready and prepared. We’re looking at the road to success.”

The Warriors were mostly spared from graduation numberswise, losing three seniors, but two departures leave a huge production hole.

Gone are leading scorers Cici Gonzalez (16 goals, four assists*), Miranda’s sister, and Taylor Valley (13 goals, six assists), who signed with UT and Armstrong Atlantic State University, respectively. The duo accounted for 53 percent of the squad’s tallies last season.

Among those Gillisse expects to fill in up top are Bredeau (eight goals, six assists) and Jessica Taylor (six goals, two assists), who started most of last year as a freshman.

“I was really nervous,” Taylor said. “I didn’t know what the competition would be like, but I knew it would be aggressive. I just had to do my best and play my hardest to prove I earned that spot.”

Bredeau said the squad has gotten several new players, such as freshmen Danielle Darius and Kirsten Russell, who will add to the offense.

“Cici and Taylor were amazing athletes and team leaders,” Bredeau said. “They had great personalities on and off the field. It’s hard to replace players like that, but I think we’re going to do even better this year.”

Gillisse said midfielders like Opila (one goal, three assists) and Eule (two goals, one assist) will be as key in creating offense.

“It’s a good balance in the middle,” Gillisse said. “Dani is physically really strong. Marley is quick. They balance each other out really well in the center of the field, and they like to use the corner flags, so they create runs and offensive opportunities.”

Taylor added, “Productionwise, it’s a lot about our mids controlling the whole game. … They win all the loose balls and the 50/50 balls.”

And if the offense takes a few weeks to get settled, the defense is ready to pick up any slack with Miranda and Co. on the backline.

“We never even worry about Miranda; we don’t have too,” Opila said. “It’s such a relief to have someone you can always 100 percent rely on. We don’t have to worry about that half of the field.”

Gillisse said the talent is there to make a run at a state crown as long as the effort remains.

“The quote for this team is, ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,’” Gillisse said. “They want to win a state championship, so that’s going to be our goal. They have the talent, the desire and the heart to win. It’s theirs to lose right now. They just have to work hard every game.”

Steinbrenner hosts the Class 4A-District 8 tournament Jan. 15 to 18, with the final Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.

The Warriors host 4A-8 rival Freedom Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.

*All stats from last season

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Land O’ Lakes boys soccer team got within striking distance of the ultimate goal last season — hoisting a state championship.

The Gators (0-1) went 23-4-2 and reached the final four for the third time in program history before falling 3-1 to Plantation American Heritage in the Class 3A state title game.

“It was one of the best experiences in my life,” said senior midfielder Sean Young. “I’ll never forget it. Losing is unfortunate, but to make it that far doesn’t happen very often.”

In fact, it was the first time Land O’ Lakes had made the final four since 2000. The squad lost 10 seniors two years ago and another 10 after last season, eight of which were starters.

Among the graduates are five of its top six goal scorers, including those who accounted for 108 of the Gators’ 129 tallies.

The defense, which allowed only 26 goals in 29 games last year, lost several players, including the 6-foot-2 Jake Frahm.

Mark Pearson, who is entering his 16th year coaching the Gators, said the biggest focus early on is bringing the team together.

“You’re trying to not only replace those players who graduated, but you’re looking to build the same type of chemistry that allowed you to make the final four and the championship game,” Pearson said. “Sometimes it takes a little bit of a slow start. Sometimes it starts right away. The two previous times we’ve gotten that far we graduated eight to 10 seniors, and the players who came in the following year responded and did well. I don’t see us not doing well this year. We just have to get our communication in order.”

Pearson said they are trying several things to develop team chemistry and communication, such as watching Champions League games or getting food at area restaurants after school to get to know each other off the field.

Another weapon is the program’s tradition. Land O’ Lakes has made the playoffs 14 of the last 15 years, including seven district titles the previous eight seasons.

“We have high expectations we carry from season to season, year to year,” Pearson said. “Every senior class has that same expectation to take over.”

Young, who had six goals and 18 assists last year, has been a part of those expectations since joining the varsity team as a freshman.

“It is pressure having to live up as Land O’ Lakes,” Young said. “We’re expected to win games and make the playoffs every year, but I’d rather have that then people thinking we’re going to lose.”

Senior forward Patrick Lawson (nine goals, 10 assists) said there is enough offensive talent to be as productive as last year when they put up 4.4 goals per game.

“If we put in our work we’ll get better through the year,” Lawson said. “We have a solid foundation of guys, so I believe we can keep those positions strong and still be productive.”

As explosive as the Gators were last year on offense, they have been a squad that preaches team defense since Pearson took over the program.

“Everything starts with defense,” Pearson said. “If you don’t have the ball, you can’t attack. Going forward is also a key component. We’re trying to get everything to mesh and gel in a short time. It’s a work in progress always, but I’m confident we have the talent to go far. It might not work out right away, but I’m patient.”

Senior Yanci Algarin became one of Land O’ Lakes’ starting defenders during the second half of last year. He said it will take some time for the backline to come together as a unit, but thinks it will happen.

“We didn’t have a preseason, so right now we’re still learning about the chemistry,” Algarin said. “We’re still learning what our strengths and weaknesses are. Soon we’ll get together and start playing really well. … Once we start to understand each other, our defense will be really strong. You’re going to see us start winning a lot of games really soon.”

Pearson said he will lean on players like Young, Lawson and Yanci for their experience because the Gators are very young.

“We have some freshmen on the squad this year, and they are definitely deserving to be playing varsity, so some really good players in that regard,” Pearson said. “Then we have a lot of players who’ve been waiting in the wings, and that tends to happen when you’re senior laden.”

Young is confident they will be headed in the right direction, especially because of the man guiding the squad.

“(Pearson) knows how to get us going,” Young said. “He’ll say that one thing that gets our heads in the game.”

Land O’ Lakes will play in the Class 3A-District 7 tournament at Pasco Jan. 22 to 25, with the final Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.

The Gators played at Pasco Nov. 12, but results were not available by press time. They host district rival Sunlake Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Steinbrenner girls basketball player Bailey Hooker will be staying close to home as the forward/guard committed Nov. 12 to Southeastern University in Lakeland.

Hooker led the Warriors with 19.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.1 blocks per game last year en route to a 22-3 record and their first district title and playoff berth.

The Fire, an NAIA program in the Sun Conference, finished 11-17 last season, losing in the first round of the conference tournament.

Hooker will sign her letter of intent at an early signing day ceremony at Steinbrenner Nov. 15.

 

Freedom’s Godwin picks Minnesota

Freedom football player Nate Godwin will be sporting the maroon and gold of the University of Minnesota next year, as the senior defensive back/running back committed to the Big Ten conference school Oct. 31 after an official visit.

Godwin, who also received Division-I offers from West Virginia, Iowa State, Alabama-Birmingham and South Florida, made his choice public on Twitter: “I have officially committed to the University of Minnesota!”