Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Wiregrass Ranch girls distance runner Nikita Shah is continuing to do things never seen before, but her latest effort didn’t involve a clock, championship or course.

The senior will become the first girl from Florida to run for Harvard University’s track and cross country teams. She committed to the Ivy League school Oct. 25, the same day she was accepted academically.

“It’s really exciting, and it’s definitely an honor to be going to such a prestigious school,” Shah said. “I’m really excited to be part of Harvard’s very well-respected team. … Harvard is arguably the top university in the world, so it’s really special.”

Shah finished fourth at the Class 3A state cross country meet last year and set her personal record of 17 minutes 48 seconds on a 5-kilometer course this season. She was also third in the 3,200-meter at the 3A track final as a junior.

“I contacted the Harvard coach, and they didn’t have Nikita on their radar,” said Bulls coach Don Howard. “As soon as they realized what she had done, they called me back and that’s when I got excited for Nikita. She told me when she was a freshman that she wanted to go there.”

Her ability wasn’t questioned by Harvard coaches, but the university makes potential student-athletes go through the regular admissions process.

Not that Shah’s intelligence was in question either.

Shah, who plans to pursue a premed degree, has a 4.65 weighted grade point average, which puts her on pace to finish in a three-way tie as Wiregrass Ranch’s valedictorian with cross country teammates Emily Payne and Hannah Eder.

Shah said she is ready for the rigors of life at Harvard.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Shah said. “I know it’s going to be a step up from what I’ve been doing here. The classes will be hard and the practice schedule will be difficult, but I know that I will be able to make the transition.”

Howard said Shah has plenty of motivation to stay on top of her grades and training.

“I don’t know how many people know this, but she has a dream of running for India’s Olympic team,” Howard said. “I told the Harvard coach that would keep her focused. … They’re getting a girl who is going to benefit them greatly in cross country and track and somebody who is going to do well academically.”

Howard said college plans appeared to be weighing on Shah, and even thought an illness she recently got over was linked to being anxious about being accepted at Harvard. He said she appears to be running easier now that her college plans are set.

“She just looks so much more relaxed, and it’s going to be beneficial to her,” Howard said. “I think she’s going to attack these next few weeks and go into the state met with a goal of winning a state title. … She just runs at a pace that I’ve never seen a girl run before. That’s why she runs in the 17s when almost no girl does.”

Shah committed just five days after capturing her first individual Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) cross country championship. She said she is excited for her last three weeks of her senior season.

“I’m really ready,” Shah said. “I’m going to do everything I can to win a state championship.”

Shah and the Bulls will run in the Class 3A-District 6 meet Nov. 2 at Crews Lake Park at 4 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

By Andy Warrener
The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

The Steinbrenner girls golf team continued its perfect season by running away with the first regional championship in the program’s four-year history at Countryside Country Club Oct. 22.

The Warriors rolled through the regular season 12-0 and claimed a district title the week before regionals. Steinbrenner shot 352, beating Palm Harbor University by 15 strokes.

Mark Mann, who has coached the Warriors since the school opened in 2009, said it was his squad’s depth that earned the crown rather than any one player.

“My top three or four golfers are all right there,” Mann said.

Steinbrenner does not have a player who carries the rest of the team like Freedom sophomore Terese Romeo, who won the individual regional title by shooting 75.

The young Warriors were paced by sophomore Kelsy Holbert, who carded the fourth-best round of the event with a 79. Junior Brooke Deal and sophomore Claire Becker shot an 85 and 86, respectively.

“If they play up to what they’re capable of, they have a good shot at states,” Mann said.

Romeo, who won districts the week before, turned in the lowest round of the event just three months after surgery on her right wrist, besting her nearest competitor by three strokes. The operation forced her to golf with just one hand for most of this season.

Romeo’s bad wrist contributed to her not advancing out of districts last year. She has gone through a pair of surgeries since then to correct a painful form of tendonitis and remove a piece of protruding bone.

“I’m pretty happy,” Romeo said. “I played well, hit well, putted well. It’s kind of what I wanted to accomplish.”

Romeo said her putting game, which suffered most during rehab, is starting to come back.

If not for the sand traps on the final hole, Romeo would have really separated herself from the competition.

“My main focus in practice last week was getting back to where I can give myself a cushion to make mistakes later on the course,” Romeo said.

She did just that. Romeo triple-bogeyed the first hole, but recovered enough to finish 3-over on the front nine. She hit back-to-back birdies early on the back nine and was at even par heading into the final hole.

“Going into the last hole I was hoping I wouldn’t mess it up, and then I shanked one to the right,” Romeo said.

That’s when her ball got swallowed up by the sand, adding three strokes to her score. The traps played havoc all day.

Wiregrass Ranch senior Heather Muse shot an 82 last week at districts, but fell to a 96 at regionals mainly because of the sand.

“I was all in the sand,” Muse said. “I got in the sand a lot. I have sand in my hair.”

The Bulls managed to qualify for regionals for the first time in the program’s seven-year history, but could not take the step to states.

The Warriors coronation was not without controversy.

Steinbrenner sophomore Kayla Poff, a Plant transfer who shot an 88 the week before at districts, originally turned in the lowest round of the event with a 74. She and her playing partner agreed to the score and signed the card.

One of Poff’s competitors questioned her score. Warriors athletic director Eddie Henderson disqualified Poff after doing an internal investigation Oct. 23 and said she will not be competing with Steinbrenner at the Class 2A state final this week.

Dale Klaus, director of athletics for golf with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), said it is “very rare” for an athletic director to disqualify a competitor in such a way. He added that he was “proud of the way” Henderson conducted the investigation, met with all affected parties and came up with his decision.

The Warriors and Romeo play in the state tournament at Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake Oct. 30 and 31.

—Sports Editor Kyle LoJacono contributed to this report.

Saddlebrook claims regionals

Saddlebrook Prep returns to states for the second time in three years by winning the regional meet at its home course Oct. 23. The Spartans shot a 307 at the event, besting second-place Crystal River by just four strokes. They will compete at the Class 1A state tournament at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills Oct. 30 and 31.

Claudia Rami earns state berth

Carrollwood Day School girls golfer Claudia Rami advanced to the Class 1A state tournament by finishing sixth at regionals Oct. 22 at The Eagles Golf Club. Rami shot an 80 to qualify individually. She plays at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills Oct. 30 and 31.

By Jeff Odom

With a late lead slipping through his hands, Gaither boys golfer Jimmy Stanger kept his cool and held nothing back.

After settling for a bogey on the 14th hole, the Cowboys’ lone playoff representative Oct. 22 in Temple Terrace birdied two of the final four holes to clinch his first individual regional championship and second states appearance in as many years.

Stanger, a University of Virginia commit, won the individual title by one stroke with his 71.

“I didn’t want it to end here; not at this course,” said Stanger, who won districts the week before at the same site. “I just knew that I had to finish strong and I would get (to states).”

Stanger, who was recently named a Junior All-American by the American Junior Golf Association, was challenged for the title by Davenport Ridge Community’s Sam Horsfield (72) and Groveland South Lake’s Derrick Drozdyk (73), but he managed to stay ahead of his two group mates by keeping a sharp focus.

Stanger’s ball found its way into the bunker on the seventh, giving his opponents a chance to pounce, but he shut the door by chipping onto the green. Gaither’s ace saved par on the next putt.

Stanger flashed a big grin before heading to the next hole.

“He’s one of the most accomplished athletes I’ve ever been around,” said Cowboys coach Dwayne Olinger. “To do what he did is absolutely tremendous. I could coach the rest of my life and never have another player like him ever again. He’s one of a kind.”

Fighting a blustery breeze against him, especially on the back nine, Stanger stayed consistent with his shots.

“I didn’t really feel the pressure,” Stanger said. “I just knew I had to stay hungry. I’ve been friends with Sam awhile, and for him to have a day like today is pretty incredible.”

Stanger said he owed the victory to his parents and 88-year-old grandfather, Raymond, who he called his good luck charm.

“It’s been really special to have my grandpa with me here and to get the win for my parents,” Stanger said. “I can’t say enough about what they do. (Raymond) was with me when I won at the Outback Invitational, then districts and now here. … He’s definitely going to states with me.”

The 2A boys state tournament is Oct. 30 and 31 at Deer Island Golf and Lake Club in Tavares.

Etcheberry keeps winning

Academy at the Lakes senior Mallory Etcheberry won the first individual regional championship in program history Oct. 22 at Black Bear Golf Course in Eustis.

“I was actually really calm,” Etcheberry said. She added, “I’m normally nervous at the start of a round, but that day I was really calm.”

The University of Akron commit carded a 75, nine strokes better than Bishop McLaughlin’s Brooke Dalton. Both advance to states individually. Etcheberry also won districts the week before.

Etcheberry came to the academy last year, but was unable to compete with the Wildcats because she played in one match at her previous school in Mount Dora.

“I’m used to playing by myself,” said Etcheberry, who has been playing competitive golf since age 9. “It was different because I wanted to do well for my school too, so it was for more than just me.”

Kevin Crowley, who leads the boys and girls programs at the academy, said Etcheberry’s work ethic has been exemplary despite being the only female Wildcat golfer.

“She pretty much hits balls seven days a week, Crowley said. He added, “She’s always the first one at practice and the last one to leave. She’s a great role model for the boy golfers, and of course her talent speaks for itself. … She wanted to play high school golf here her senior year, and she’s doing a bang up job.”

Wesley Chapel junior Hana Lee shot an 88 to miss qualifying by four strokes.

Etcheberry and Dalton will compete at the Class 1A state tournament at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills Oct. 30 and 31.

–Kyle LoJacono

By Cameron Valdez

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

The Land O’ Lakes boys and girls swim teams successfully defended their district championships by sweeping the Class 2A-District 5 meet Oct. 25.

The Gators boys also sent off 13-year coach Barbara Hayes with another district crown, beating second place Lecanto by a 380-309 margin.

“They are all great,” said Hayes, who recently announced she is stepping down as coach after this season. “It has just been an incredible run for me. I can’t tell you how much I’ll miss this. Coaching (this team) has meant a lot to me.”

Hayes has led Land O’ Lakes to 12 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) championships, seven district titles and a regional crown while completing 13 straight perfect regular seasons in dual meets.

“It was truly a blessing to coach so many amazing athletes over the years,” said Hayes as she fought back tears. “I’m sure they have enriched my life much more than I have enriched theirs. I hope I have left them with some wonderful memories as they have left for me.”

Cam Hilgenberg, who set the school record at districts in the 50-yard freestyle (22.2 seconds), said what Hayes has done for the program won’t be forgotten.

“(Hayes) has been great,” Cam said. “She has done a lot of work here.”

The Gators were led to victory in large part by Cam’s district title in the 50 freestyle and Jordan Wheeler’s first-place performance in the 200 individual medley.

“Winning this for (Hayes) is a big deal and a great way to send her off,” Wheeler said. “She has done a lot for us.”

The girls won by an even more comfortable margin, dominating second place Mitchell 506-346.

“These girls are the strongest girls I have ever coached,” said 11-year Land O’ Lakes coach Robin Hilgenberg, Cam’s mother. “I have high hopes for them. This was our year to do well here and we did.”

The Gators were paced by dominate performances by Jocelyn Williams, who took gold in the 100 breaststroke, and Kristen Dempsher, who claimed individual titles in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle and as a member of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

“It means a lot (to win districts), Dempsher said. “I’ve worked really hard this year to get where I am today.”

Advancing Land O’ Lakes swimmers compete at regionals Nov. 1 at the Orlando Aquatic Family Center starting at 10 a.m.

By Jeff Odom

The Gaither girls soccer team made a run to the regional finals two years ago, and this year’s group is confident it can go far.

Despite losing their top scorer Taylor Meek (12 goals, two assists), who transferred to Mitchell in New Port Richey before the season, the Cowboys return junior goalkeeper Amanda High and senior defender Angela Andersen, both of whom played on that playoff team.

Andersen said despite the strength of top-tier district opponents like Steinbrenner, Freedom and Wiregrass Ranch, the team believes it can capture the magic of 2010-11 and surprise a lot of people.

“We are a close team,” Andersen said. “We’re not intimidated by (our district). The underclassmen have been working really hard to fill (Meek’s) void, but they’ve been playing well. … We’re just trying to get a fit, and I think we’ll be pretty good.”

One team the Cowboys have had their eye on is three-time district and 2011 state champion Steinbrenner, the same squad that knocked Gaither out of playoff contention in the Class 4A-District 8 semifinals last season.

High said beating the Warriors would be a tremendous boost to the squad’s morale. She added, the Cowboys could make a run past districts.

“Steinbrenner, definitely,” High said. “We’re pretty close (to them). We’re putting out our best effort to work hard to get ready and get physically fit. We want to get to states.”

Gaither coach Trevor Scott isn’t thinking that far ahead.

“I’d like to win districts first before regionals or states,” Scott joked.

He added, it will not only take consistency and talent to build a program back to the 2010-11 level again, but also team chemistry.

“The thing about that team that went to regionals is they gelled together,” Scott said. “If the girls gel, they can get anywhere. We have a strong core group of girls, and I think if we can sneak up on everyone then they’ll see that we have quality girls. … I don’t mind them overlooking us.”

Gaither opens the season at home against Alonso Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. The 4A-8 tournament is at Steinbrenner Jan. 15 to 18, with the final Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.

By Jeff Odom

The Carrollwood Day School (CDS) girls soccer team is in rebuilding mode after losing seven seniors, including leading scorer Taylor Tippet.

The Patriots, who had their playoff hopes dashed in the Class 1A-District 7 semifinals by Bishop McLaughlin last season, are looking toward their underclassmen to fill the space left behind by last year’s graduating class.

“It is a tough void to fill,” said CDS coach Donna Holyman. “We do have three returning midfielders with experience, which is great. Once we have the entire team together, we will begin to figure out positions and see where we are at.”

Holyman, who has worked with the Patriots on a part-time basis this offseason because she is on maternity leave, added that seven of her 17 players start the season late because they were competing in fall sports.

Junior defender Alex Schweitzer, who is being recruited by Princeton and Florida Gulf Coast universities, said Holyman has done a great job putting players in the right positions.

“It’s a big loss losing Taylor and our complete backline, but we have a bunch of great freshmen that are building up what they left behind,” said Schweitzer, who scored 13 goals last year. “They’re all learning their positions and coach has been really vocal, helping everyone out.”

Holyman said their main goal is to beat the Hurricanes and get to the district championship game for the first time in program history.

“I think the competition every year is so different with high school teams because you have one or two players that can make a huge impact,” Holyman said. “I believe (Bishop McLaughlin) graduated Spencer (Valdespino) and she was definitely an impact player. I would like to see us come out and create scoring opportunities while shutting down their chances on goals.”

CDS opens the season at Academy at the Lakes, which plays its games at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. The 1A-7 tournament is at Calvary Christian Jan. 15 to 18, with the final Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.

–Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

Since Academy at the Lakes football coach John Castelamare took over the program in 2010, the event of giving his seniors The Last Hit before the final regular season game has grown into a yearly tradition.

This year’s crop of seniors lined up before the Wildcats’ practice Oct. 24 to shake hands and wish final goodbyes to fellow teammates and coaches before, one by one, getting into a three-point stance and taking down the tackling dummy.

Castelamare brought the tradition with him when he left Wesley Chapel three years ago. He had two seniors his first season and four the last two years.

The academy (5-0) defeated New Port Richey’s Solid Rock Community 45-26 Oct. 25. The Wildcats open the playoffs at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center Nov. 2 against Fort Pierce Gold Rule at 7 p.m.

—Jeff Odom