Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Last year, Paul Barrett’s track season ended with a ninth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles prelims, one spot from making the finals.

The Gaither senior’s goal was to make the finals. He didn’t expect to be standing on top of the medal stand with the Class 3A state championship around his neck.

“It wasn’t my smoothest race, but it was my fastest,” Barrett said.

He broke his own school record by finishing in 37.29 seconds May 4 at the University of North Florida. He is the second state champion in the program’s 27-year history following Scott Lavell’s 3,200 5A title in 1995.

“Paul had unfinished business from last year,” said second-year Cowboys coach Jeff Ditman. “He’s been on a mission.”

Barrett was seeded first following a regional championship the week before but said he didn’t feel like the favorite. His track season started several weeks late because he was on Gaither’s soccer team that reached the state semifinals. The 6-foot-1.5, 175-pounder was also a wide receiver on the Cowboys football team that made the regional finals in November.

“It just goes to show you that you don’t have to specialize in one sport to shine,” Ditman said. “He shines in all three. For him to be able to do this on the track in his last high school event is amazing. It shows what a complete athlete and individual Paul Barrett is. He’s going out on top, and that’s exactly where he deserves to be.”

Barrett’s journey toward a state crown started at Alonso as a freshman. He started doing the hurdles because the Ravens were loaded with talent.

“I went to hurdles so I’d get to compete,” Barrett said.

Barrett didn’t run hurdles when he came to Gaither as a sophomore, but returned to it last season. He said the big difference this year was he was pushed by freshman Samson Moore.

“If I didn’t have someone like Samson I don’t think I would have gotten this far,” Barrett said. “I’d always try to get a better time than him because I’m a senior and he’s a freshman.”

Moore placed second in the 110 hurdles by breaking his own school record of 14.29, 0.58 off the championship pace set by Miami Northwestern junior Artie Burns. He echoed Barrett’s sentiments.

“It’s great having Paul to help me,” Samson said. “I can’t put into words what it’s been like this year.”

Ditman was pleased both athletes showed maturity and composure on the biggest stage.

“It’s this type of thing that gets a program jump started,” Ditman said. “It really shows that track is such a unique sport because you get out exactly what you put in. These two have a lot of natural ability yes, but they have the work ethic to capitalize on that ability that allows them to do things like this. Hopefully it opens people’s eyes to track and field at Gaither, and the potential and possibilities it has for them.”

Warriors claim four state medals

Steinbrenner track and field athletes left the Class 3A state meet May 4 in Jacksonville with four medals.

The boys 4×800-meter relay team set a new school record by finishing in 7 minutes 57.82 seconds, good enough for fourth place.

“I was happy we ran a new school record,” said Zach Lima, who ran the second leg. “We wanted to medal; we wanted to place on the medal stand, but it’s bittersweet because of course we were hoping to win.”

Tyler Lima, Zach’s twin, said they had a plan for the race.

“It’s all about pace,” said Tyler, who ran leadoff. “We’re all cross country guys, so we’re used to running on pace. If you get off pace in the first 200, you’re going to be off the whole race. We did that and then went all out on our last laps.”

Tanner Biles, who ran the third leg, transferred from Freedom this season. It was his first trip to states.

“I love these guys,” Biles said. “It’s great to go his far with them, and it’s great that the school is becoming known for its distance runners.”

Matt Magee closed the race, passing Miami Central on the final lap. All the runners are juniors, giving them another year to improve.

“We’re going to train hard to get back here next year,” Magee said. “We want that state championship.”

Three of the four competed again more than six hours later. Magee ran the 800 (11th place, 1:57.87) and the twins competed in the 3,200, where Tyler medaled (seventh place, 9:35.71) and Zach took 10th (9:42.64).

Senior Alexis Wright earned the other two medals, finishing fifth in the girls triple jump (38 feet 4 inches) and the 100 hurdles (14.75). Each performance is better than what she did last year when she placed second in the 2A triple (36-11.75) and won 100 hurdles (15.05).

“It’s the state meet,” Wright said. “You can either wake up or just slouch over, and at least I can say I didn’t slouch over today. I gave my best in everything I did, and if this is what I receive I’m totally grateful.”

The University of Miami bound Wright wanted a second state crown but is happy to have five medals in her high school career.

“It’s been great to have some time to reflect back on where I was when I started with the hurdles and the triple to where I’m at now,” Wright said. “I never thought I’d be here. Being able to say I made it here to represent not only Steinbrenner High School, but even Hillsborough County is an honor.

“I’m blessed and grateful for coach (Bob) Ennis,” Wright continued. “He’s my hurdles and triple jump coach, and he helped get me here. Coach (Ladd) Baldwin, our head coach, helped us find the right spots. … I’m proud, but a little depressed because it’s my senior year; my last event.”

Four medals for Akachukwu

Freedom junior Sandra Akachukwu earned medals in all four of her events at the Class 4A track and field state meet May 5 at the University of North Florida.

The King transfer took third in the high jump (5 feet six inches), fifth in the long jump (18-3.75), seventh in the 200-meter (25.06 seconds) and eighth in the 100 (12.33). It is Akachukwu’s second trip to states after making it in the high last year where she placed sixth (5).

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Wiregrass Ranch juniors Nikita Shah and Alisha Henry each left the Class 3A state track and field meet May 4 at the University of North Florida with their first medal.

Shah took third in the 3,200-meter (two miles) by finishing in 10 minutes 49.62 seconds, while Henry placed sixth in the pole vault by clearing 10 feet six inches.

Shah was ninth at states a year ago, one spot away from medaling. She said her main goal was to stand on the podium this season.

“I’m really happy,” Shah said. “It’s one place better than what I did in cross country at states.”

Shah had to make up some distance to finish third. She was 10th after 600, but moved into second by the start of the third lap.

“I ran my race,” Shah said. “I ran as hard as I could.”

Shah also qualified in the 1,600 but decided to focus on the 3,200 to improve her time and placing. The run to a top-three finish has given her more motivation to work during the next 12 months.

“I want to get a state title next year,” Shah said. “That’s what I’m looking for. I’ll train as hard as I can for cross country the next half a year, and then back to the two mile. I’m hoping to win it. I want to win a state title before I graduate.”

Henry managed to earn a medal in her first trip to states. She only started pole vaulting a little more than a year ago and said she will use the experience to get better.

“I think I can get over 12, maybe 12-6,” Henry said. “I’m going to train through the whole summer and do everything the right way so I can. … I’ve really got to work on my nerves. I definitely did not do the vaults the way I’m capable of. My form was not good.”

Despite being her own biggest critic, Henry was able to smile about how far she’s come in the event. She is also happy to bring her school a pole vault medal for the third straight year following the pair earned by Wiregrass Ranch graduate Alex Kazanzki.

“Alex drew my attention to pole vault in the first place, so if it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t have ever done it,” Henry said. “I didn’t know what it was before. I’m definitely going to recruit kids from Wiregrass to do it too so that when I graduate we have others doing it.”

It appeared like the Bulls boys would earn a medal from Ermias Bireda in the 1,600. The junior, who won regionals the week before, was last on the first straightaway, but moved forward into third place on the final turn.

Disaster struck with less than 100 remaining as Bireda tripped and fell. He did recover enough to finish 12th in 4:34.05 in his first appearance at states.

Wharton hurdles claim two medals

Wharton juniors Mikayla Barber and Tyler Watson each earned a medal at Class 4A state track and field May 5 at the University of North Florida.

Barber placed fourth in the girls 300-meter hurdles (44.5 seconds) while Watson took eighth (45.79). The week before it was Watson who won a regional title with Barber finishing second.

Wharton girls also picked up a medal in the 4×800 (fifth place, 9:31.27), which includes Erin Kocher, Mariah Henderson, Taylor Griffith and Watson.

By Kyle LoJacono

Two Land O’ Lakes track and field athletes capped off their seasons on the medal stands at the Class 3A state meet at the University of North Florida May 4.

Senior pole vaulter Ian McKenzie earned his first spot on the podium by tying for fourth place after clearing 13 feet 6 inches.

Sophomore Hallie Grimes earned her second medal with a sixth-place performance in the 400-meter by finishing in 56.93 seconds, 2.67 off the championship pace set by Hallandale senior Kyri Tabor. She also set a new personal record (PR) in the prelims by running a 56.87, beating her previous best time of 57.43 set in the state prelims a year ago.

“I was so excited to see 56 in the prelims, but I think it kind of tired me out,” Grimes said.

Grimes placed one spot lower than she did as a freshman, but her time in the finals was 1.37 faster than a year ago. She said she felt pressure all year to live up to the standards she set in her first high school season, and that stress mounted in the hours leading up to states.

“I’ve been so nervous all day,” Grimes said. “I was probably more nervous than ever before. All of the times were so close. It was anybody’s race.”

Grimes had held back until the final 200 of races all season. She planned to turn on the speed earlier at states but couldn’t break from her normal routine.

“I tried going out faster, but my nerves always get me,” Grimes said. “I just can’t come out fast because I’m thinking I’ll tire out. For next year I’ll work on doing that.”

She also plans to run in AAU meets for the first time this summer to build her speed and endurance.

“I’m excited to see how far I can go,” Grimes said. “My time is 56 as a sophomore. Hopefully by senior year it’ll be a lot better than that.”

As for McKenzie, the journey to a state medal started four years ago when he failed to perform as a sprinter.

“It just wasn’t going to happen,” McKenzie said with a laugh. He added, “I was too slow for the 100, but I wanted to compete and get points for the team. I thought I could do it, and I just kept at it.”

A former coach suggested the pole vault, but things didn’t take off until he got a vaulting instructor this year. He began this season clearing 12-6 and now has the school record of 13-7.

“It’s been an incredible year,” McKenzie said. “I’ve been hoping to get to states. It’s my first year with coach Bob Leidel of the Florida Pole Vault Academy, and I added a foot to my PR. I got the school record, got to states; it’s just been a wild ride.

“It’s what I was hoping for,” McKenzie continued. “I could say I expected it, but in my wildest dreams I never thought I’d be on the medal stands, much less at states. There’s a lot of good vaulters in our class. This is easily the toughest class in all of Florida.”

McKenzie will continue vaulting in college after accepting a preferred walk-on spot with the United States Naval Academy

“I know I can get 14 or 14-6 with just another few months of work before I go up there,” McKenzie said. He added, “It’s so fun. You put in so much work, and to know that I get to continue to do it in college and get better is great. One day I want to get in the 16-foot club.”

McKenzie couldn’t stop smiling when talking about competing in college or about what this season has been like. The Gators boys have dominated the local track season, claiming eight meet Ws after going winless a year ago. They also won a Sunshine Athletic Conference championship for the first time and also earned only the third district title in program history.

“It’s been something to really be proud of,” McKenzie said. “We got a new coach this year (Bill Schmitz), and it’s the first year we’ve ever won districts and conference championship in the same season. We’ve had a lot of great athletes. We brought a lot of kids to regionals. We had a lot of sophomores really step up and have good showings. They’re going to be people to watch. Land O’ Lakes track is going to dominate for the next couple of years.”

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Academy at the Lakes softball team’s playoff run ended May 1 at home, losing 3-1 in the Class 2A regional finals to Quincy Munroe.

The Wildcats (14-5) were able to get runners on against the Bobcats (15-6), recording 10 hits, but stranded 11 including six in scoring position. The academy loaded the bases twice, but failed to capitalize on either chance.

Munroe had only six hits but managed to score three times in the third without one. The first run came off a double steal and two more crossed home after errors were committed during a rundown created after a fielder’s choice.

“Errors killed us in this game,” said sophomore shortstop Lauren Evans. “We just could not get the bat on the ball when we needed it.”

Those three runs were all Bobcats pitcher Haleigh Corbally would need. The senior used 134 pitches to strike out 13 batters with one walk in her seven innings of work.

“There’re no cupcakes at the regionals,” said Wildcats coach Jerry English. “These are some of the eight best 2A teams in the state. You can’t have an off day, and we didn’t have an off day. They had a good day.”

Evans drove in the academy’s only run in the fifth inning. She finished 2-for-4, as did freshman first baseman Talia Pardo. Freshman center fielder and leadoff hitter Skyler Boynton had four hits and two doubles.

Skyler’s sister, junior Sydney Boynton, pitched seven innings of six-hit ball for the academy, posting eight strikeouts and two walks.

The Wildcats did get deeper in the postseason than any other team in program history while also winning their first district championship. The academy will likely have most of its players back as only one player, Amelia Oliver, is a senior.

“We had a good season,” Evans said. “We fought hard all year. We’re a young team and most of us will be back next year. I think we’ll use this to come back and get even farther next year.”

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Wiregrass Ranch football team reached new heights two years ago, winning a district championship and finishing better than .500 for the first time.

Then 2011 happened.

The Bulls suffered through a 0-10 campaign last season and were outscored 410-46. The players are out to show the sixth-year program is more like what was on the field in 2010.

“We all have that internal drive to go out and prove what we’re all about,” said sophomore wide receiver Tyre Creary.

Junior quarterback Jake Day added, “Not that we wanted to go 0-10 at all, but it’s something that motivates every one of us. The guys who will be seniors want to get us back on top.”

The falloff was great, but not completely unexpected. Wiregrass Ranch lost 49 combined seniors after the 2009 and 2010 seasons, but bring back most of the core this year.

The Bulls return leading rusher Eli Galvan, a freshman, who had 317 yards on 59 carries and a touchdown.

Wiregrass Ranch also brings back its leading receiver in junior Ryan Shea, who snagged 15 catches for 191 yards and a score. Also adding to the receiving corps are towering 6-foot-9 sophomore James Jackson (three catches, 40 yards) and the speedy Creary (14 catches, 182 yards).

Day began last year as the Bulls starting quarterback, but a concussion in Week 1 against Wesley Chapel and another against Gaither in Week 4 derailed any chance for him to get settled under center. He completed 14-of-58 passes for 226 yards and two scores, and said he is completely healed.

“I feel so much more comfortable now,” Day said. “I’ve been going to football camps and doing everything to get better as a quarterback and player.”

Wiregrass Ranch also has three players competing for the quarterback spot in freshmen Zach Davidson and Shane Bucenell and sophomore Zack Drury.

The defense graduated its top four tacklers and top two sackers, but get a talent infusion from inside linebacker Xavier Wilson. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior moved from Virginia last December; too late to play but soon enough to be a part of winter workouts.

“I’ve already seen a lot of improvement,” Wilson said.

He said the defense is working to win games on its own.

“I’ll put it the way coach says it: ‘We’re going to try and outscore the offense,’” Wilson said. “We’re not just making turnovers. We want to score.”

All the players want to get their first win since Nov. 5, 2010, a 35-7 victory against Hudson, but fourth-year coach Jeremy Shobe said the focus is on smaller goals this spring.

“We’ve talked about eliminating mistakes and focusing on the here and now,” Shobe said. “We want them to look at every rep and every drill. We talked about the process before this spring. We’re not talking about winning and losing. We talk about what we are doing in the process to get better. If you worry about those small things the wins will take care of themselves.”

Creary added, “Our receivers coach says look the ball all the way into your hands. Sometimes last year we’d just try and catch it, and we had a lot of drops. You forget to do everything to make the catch before you start running. We’re trying to get all those things down perfect.”

Shobe has seen improvements with the simplified approach and drive to redeem the program.

“We’re probably already ahead of where we were at the end of spring last year,” Shobe said. “If we play to our potential it does not matter who we’re playing.”

It won’t be easy competing in Class 7A-District 7. The grouping includes reigning district champion Tampa Bay Tech (8-4) and runner-up Gaither (9-4), which made the regional semifinals and finals last season, respectively. Steinbrenner (7-3) is also in 7A-7, along with Freedom (2-8) and Chamberlain (1-9).

–Stats/results as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches

By Andy Warrener

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

It was a memorable morning at Freedom High May 3 when a school-record six student-athletes signed to play their sport in college.

It wasn’t just the number that surprised principal David Sheppard, but the diversity of the signees.

“We want to get the message out that no matter what sport they do, athletes at Freedom have a chance to be successful beyond high school,” Sheppard said.

The signees are Kyle and Eric Schindler (baseball), Michael Sacco (soccer), Nicole Seybold (cheerleading) and Devin Turner and Jon Economou (football).

The Schindler twins helped guide Patriots baseball to its most successful season this year, including the first winning season (15-10) and first playoff berth. They will continue their careers at St. Pete College.

Sacco also made major contributions to Freedom sports this year. He recovered from an ACL tear in time to help the Patriots go 12-6-1 and make the postseason. He now moves on to Eckerd College, where he will likely play midfield or defense. He was impressed with the college’s facilities.

“You can tell they’ve put a lot of money into their new fields, plus there’s a lot of other signees that should give us a good chance to compete in the NCAA tournament,” Sacco said.

Seybold will attend the University of Oregon. Seybold will always remember helping Freedom reach new heights as a senior when the program won a county and regional championship for the first time.

Turner and Economou will add an entirely new chapter to their playing careers together after playing for the New Tampa Wildcats in middle school. They will both compete at Becker College in Boston.

“It feels good knowing there’s someone on your team that you are familiar with,” Economou said.