Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Jeff Odom

Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

For a squad that has taken home a pair of district titles in its first two years, the word rebuilding is unfamiliar to the Steinbrenner girls tennis team.

The Warriors (8-1) lost their No. 2 Kaleigh Wagner and Taylor Brennan to graduation. However, the team adds a handful of new players and returns its No. 1 Grace Korta, who finished as a state semifinalist and was the All-Laker/All-Lutz News Player of the Year as a freshman.

Second-year coach Domenic Colangelo said the program is competitive across the board, and his team is buying into the necessary changes made after losing so many key players.

“I’ve really focused this year on bringing all the girls up, experience wise,” Colangelo said. “We’re trying to push them beyond what they thought they were possible of, and they’ve all reacted positively and have seen some great results.”

Korta adds that while the matches won’t get any easier, the family-like atmosphere around the team is enough to keep them in the hunt for victories.

“It’s amazing to be able to be No. 1 and support the team,” said Korta, a sophomore. “As a high school tennis player it’s mainly an individual sport because you’re out there by yourself, but having the team to come together and support one another it’s definitely a good experience.”

It will be a tougher road to the district crown, as the Warriors move into Class 4A-District 6 with Gaither, Freedom, Wharton and last season’s state champion Plant. Colangelo said the standards of success are set for the program, but knows the cards will have to fall in the team’s favor to claim the three-peat.

“Our goal is always going to be a district title,” Colangelo said. “But in the end, it’s all about the girls gaining experience and (the school) continuing to get recognized in the district and countywide that we are a force to be reckoned with.”

The fight that Colangelo sees in this team to get the big wins is something he said he’s never seen before.

“Every time girls have been out, the other girls have stepped up and saved the day,” Colangelo said. “We had a match against Tampa Prep that was rain delayed and was only halfway over and we were down. When we finished the match one week later, Erika Smitten our No. 3 and Kiernan O’Keefe our No. 4 both came from down sets and won their matches and we won the day. It was my Disney miracle. … That’s been the story throughout the season, and I’m so proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

Colangelo said even if the squad is denied its third consecutive district championship, the season will still be special to him.

“I have to say, out of all the years I’ve coached different sports, this squad is the squad that I’m most proud of,” Colangelo said. “I like to make a difference with the athletes that I coach and these girls have gelled, bonded and pretty much done whatever I’ve asked them to do and then some. If I had to retire today, I would say I had the best squad ever and that’s the one right now.”

Wharton hosts the 4A-6 tournament at Hunters Green Country Club starting on Monday, April 4 at 8 a.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

Two years ago the Wiregrass Ranch girls tennis team made the state tournament for the first time in program history, but could not get past districts last season.

The early exit has spurred the returning Bulls (8-2) to redouble their efforts, and two freshmen have added new talent to the squad looking to get back to the postseason.

“I’ve been practicing since the end of last season because I want the team to go really far this year,” said senior Leilani Cubero. She then added, “I think states is a possibility. I’m very confident in our team. I’ve seen how we all play, and I think we can go far.”

Fellow senior Jordanyné Fye was on the team with Cubero that reached states, and said the current squad is similar to the one that made a deep playoff run two years ago.

“I feel like we’re a step above last year,” Jordanyné said. “We’ve got three seniors in the top five, so we know what to expect. We’re helping the freshmen so they know they can do it and we can do it to get past districts.”

Freshman Star Makarome is a big reason Wiregrass Ranch has confidence. The 5-foot phenom is the Bulls No. 1 player, winning all five of her singles matches while dropping only one game. She has helped replace last year’s top player Hannah Still, who is playing at Huntingdon College in Alabama on scholarship.

Makarome announced her presence on Pasco County’s tennis scene on March 8 when she won 6-0, 6-0 against three-time state qualifier from Zephyrhills’ Sarah Vande Berg, who has lost only two regular season singles matches the last two years.

Makarome plays many national junior tournaments. She said she enjoys the team format in high school tennis.

“I just go out and try to have fun,” said Makarome, who started playing around age 4. “Tennis is such an individual sport, but in high school you get to have a team. Here you get to cheer people on. … I don’t have any sisters, so I think of the team as my sisters. They’ve made the experience really fun. I love them all.”

Also adding youth is freshman Tiffany Garner.

“The older girls have been really welcoming,” Garner said. “A lot of times freshmen get treated badly in high school, but on this team they don’t care.”

Third-year Bulls coach Jewell Fye, Jordanyné’s mother, is thrilled for the future of the program.

“Two freshmen, No. 1 and No. 4, and they’re both great additions to the team,” Jewell said. “We really needed that after losing Hannah. I’m really excited about what they can do.”

Makarome has given Wiregrass Ranch a strong punch at the top, but it’s the overall depth of the Nos. 1-5 that gives the Bulls a chance in every match.

“You need to have a strong one through five,” Jordanyné said. “One cannot carry the match for the team. Even if you lose one, the others are there to back them up.”

The team’s depth is illustrated by the fact that Makarome has only been able to play in half of the team’s matches while working around her national tennis schedule. When she cannot attend her teammates play one spot above their normal rankings, giving them experience against tougher players while still winning consistently.

Only nondistrict Pasco and the Academy of the Holy Names have beaten Wiregrass Ranch, and both losses were 4-3.

The success has given the Bulls confidence playing in Class 4A-District 5, a grouping with five Hillsborough County schools. Wiregrass Ranch beat district rival Newsome, a team that has made the playoffs three of the last four years, 5-2 in the fourth match.

The win against the Wolves mixed with improvement in practice has the Bulls excited for the 4A-5 tournament.

“I think we can do really well,” Makarome said. “We’ve been working on our weaknesses and getting better every day. If we keep doing that and play hard we should all do really well.”

Newsome hosts the 4A-5 meet at Riverhills Golf & Country Club, 3943 New River Hills Parkway in Valrico, April 2-3.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner flag football team missed making the playoffs for the first time last year by chance — literally.

The Warriors finished in a three-way tie for the last two spots in the district tournament. A chance drawing sent Gaither and Wharton to the postseason, while Steinbrenner had to wonder about what went wrong.

“It’s something we’ve thought about a lot since then, and it’s the ultimate goal for the girls to get to the playoffs,” said first-year Warriors coach Gregg Puskas. “We were very frustrated with how it ended. The team this year has put forth the idea of being the first team to make the playoffs.”

One reason the postseason is in sight for Steinbrenner is it returns all but one player. Turnover is high in flag football as most girls don’t pick it up for a couple years or forgo their senior season if they have a college scholarship for other sports to not risk injury.

“I feel like we’re 10-times better than we were last year,” said junior linebacker Alysaa Dawson. “We’ve got a lot of players back who know the defense and the plays. We don’t have to learn things for the first time. We just have to polish things up.”

Other key returners include all-Western Conference selections Morgan Melatti and Cary Anne Bame, along with junior quarterback Alexandra Fernandez.

“Last year I was figuring out the rules and learning the plays,” said Fernandez, who threw for 1,157 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011. “Last year I’d go to the sidelines and coach Puskas would call the play and I wouldn’t get it. I’d have to think about what to do. Now I’ve called the plays so many times I know exactly what to do.”

Puskas is also accustomed to the program, spending last year as an offensive assistant.

The Warriors also add young talent, including freshmen starters Remi Brantley and Jessica Taylor.

“We have a bunch of girls who are really committed,” said Taylor, a wide receiver. “A lot of people think it’s a joke because it’s girls, but we’re a team and we care a lot about winning and each other.”

The squad had 45 girls attending 6 a.m. conditioning before school to prepare for the season.

“It was an awesome thing to have girls that committed to the sport,” Puskas said. “You know it means something to them. They aren’t out here going through the motions. They want to win.”

Steinbrenner has created a winning tradition in the school’s three-year history, including four district championships this year alone. That competiveness is rubbing off on the flag football program.

“I saw the girls basketball team win districts for the first time this year,” Dawson said. “I thought we can do the same thing this same year. We can put our year up there on the banner and come back in 20 years and see that we’re the ones who started it.”

Taylor added, “I think we have a good enough team for that to start this year. We just have to keep our heads up, grow as a team and strive to be the best. If we do that we will be the best.”

The Warriors have to navigate one of the toughest districts in the state. District 16 includes Freedom, which has two district championships and has made the playoffs every year since Hillsborough County sanctioned flag football in 2007. Gaither has also never missed the postseason.

District 16 also includes Alonso, which finished as the state runner-up the last two years.

“I talk a lot with Alonso’s coach (Matt Hernandez), and I use that opportunity to learn from him because he’s the best in the area,” Puskas said. “We want to get to that level not just this year, but every year.”

Fernandez said the tough district will make them stronger.

“If we played bad teams we won’t get better,” Fernandez said. “Playing the hard teams sets the bar high, and we have to keep going up and up to meet that.”

Steinbrenner opens the season hosting Plant on Tuesday, March 20 before traveling to district rival Leto on Thursday, March 22. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Land O’ Lakes girls tennis team entered last year’s district tournament with an 8-4 record and rode late-season momentum to a runner-up performance.

It was the only time in the last 10 years the Gators have made the postseason. The squad is currently 7-3 and appears ready for another surge as the crunch time nears.

“I feel like we have a better skill level this year,” said sophomore Cori Arndt. “We have some freshmen who are really good, and we work well together.”

One of those freshmen is Kavya Avancha, who has risen to the No. 2 position on the squad while showing an aggressive mentality not normally seen in high school tennis.

“Once you get a chance you should take it,” Avancha said. “You might hit a couple out, but you’ll beat better players by going for the shot.”

The squad is without last year’s No. 1 Wenyi “Wendy” Gu, who has graduated. Linzi Arndt, Cori’s sister, has taken over the top spot.

“Linzi has taken on that role as the leader,” said Land O’ Lakes third-year coach Samantha DelValle. “She just shows that leadership quality that Wendy had as a senior. I don’t think anyone can replace Wendy, but Linzi has done a wonderful job at No. 1.”

Linzi isn’t used to her spot on top of the Gators’ rankings.

“I have butterflies; I’m nervous,” Linzi said. “I’ve never been No. 1 before. We have a really talented group of girls, so if we stay strong and keep it together as a team we have a good shot.”

Linzi said the squad’s depth is what may allow them to make back-to-back postseasons.

“I think our lower number players are even stronger than before,” Linzi said. “Wendy was really good at No. 1 but this year we have a really good 2 through 5 and that might push us over the edge. … We had a lot of heart last year, and this year we still have that and the bonus of some very talented freshmen.”

Land O’ Lakes’ record is similar to a year ago, but all three losses have been 4-3. Those close decisions, added to the squad’s late-season run a year ago past higher seeded teams, give the Gators confidence as districts approach.

“We lost two district matches to Central and Zephyrhills, but it was really close,” DelValle said. “Then we beat River Ridge 5-2, and we hadn’t beaten them in forever, so we talk about how things change every day. … Last year taught us to not underestimate ourselves. We went in (to districts) thinking the powerhouses from the year before were still going to be in place, so it showed us we can beat anyone. Don’t think we’re going to lose going into any match.”

Linzi said the team’s closeness helps them pull out tough matches. That togetherness is something created by DelValle’s methods.

“She’s very encouraging and fosters a team spirit,” Linzi said. “A lot of other teams don’t have that because tennis is a sport that you can really easily start competing against each other. You’re fighting for rankings, but with coach it’s about the team and cheering the team on. If one of your teammates is down they need you to help them get through. It’s not about you — it’s about fighting together.”

DelValle said she works to bring the squad together to battle the sometimes individualistic nature of tennis. It also helps relieve pressure created by competing for team rankings.

“Challenge matches can be uncomfortable trying to beat your teammates to climb in rank, so I try to make sure we’re all having fun, we’re laughing and I’m laughing with them,” DelValle said. “We don’t have to be serious all the time. I can laugh at myself, so they need to be able to laugh at themselves too to make it a fun atmosphere.”

The Class 3A-District 6 tournament is at River Ridge High April 2-3 starting at 8:30 a.m. both days.

By Kyle LoJacono

Freedom flag football has been one of the most consistently successful programs since Hillsborough County adopted the sport in 2007.

The Patriots have reached the playoffs every year, won two district championships and also finished as runner-up twice. The program went 9-1 last season with the only loss coming in the district finals.

The expectation to win is constant for Freedom, but this year the positive pressure falls on a new cast of characters. The Patriots bring back one fulltime varsity player, junior slot receiver/defensive back Ashle Thompson.

“I have to be more of a leader,” said Thompson, who caught two touchdowns with three interceptions last year.

Thompson is used to being on successful teams at Freedom, playing for the volleyball and girls basketball programs that both made the playoffs the last two years.

“You don’t want to let your school down,” Thompson said. “You have to be on top of your game. We don’t lose much in flag football, so when we do people talk about ‘oh you lost.’ They expect us to be the best.”

One of the biggest voids the Patriots must fill is the production of Briahanna Jackson, the reigning All-Laker/All-Lutz News Player of the Year. In her senior season last year she racked up 18 passing and 18 rushing touchdowns while adding a program-record 1,023 rushing yards and 23 interceptions.

One option at quarterback is junior Missy Dunbar, who moved up from junior varsity at the end of last year.

“Bri was really good,” Dunbar said. “She focused on making us a team by working with everyone.”

Dunbar developed her ability to throw while playing softball with the Lutz Leaguerettes. She said she won’t be able to move the way Jackson did and will instead work to get the ball to her playmakers.

“She was really good, so I’ll just have to do my best and not try to be Bri,” Dunbar said.

Dunbar will have many young options to get the ball to.

“We haven’t had the quantity of freshmen with this kind of athleticism since one of the first years,” said Dennis Derflinger, the only coach in program history. “It’s interesting to see how they get used to the game pulling flags, running routes and the speed.”

Freedom has 11 underclassmen, including four freshmen, on the 15-member varsity roster. The Patriots will need those new options to replace graduates like Jackson, along with leading receivers Katie Cerillo and Lindsay Taggart who had 524 combined yards and nine touchdowns.

“We lost a lot of talent, but we tend to do that every year,” Derflinger said. “This year will be different because we only have three seniors on the roster, so this group should be around for a couple years. … We’ve got a lot of girls who can catch, and they seem to have a knack for getting open by running their routes. I don’t know if we’ve had that before to this level. Before kids would get open by just running away from defenders. I see them thinking about the routes.”

One of the new options is sophomore Hanna Seybold, who is playing flag football for the first time.

“The school has a good reputation for flag football,” said Seybold, who will likely play wide receiver and defensive back. “I hope we can continue that so more girls will come out and play too. Making the playoffs every year is a great accomplishment. We have such good coaching and our athletes are giving it everything we have to keep that up.”

Freedom lost key players from last year, but so did District 16 opponent Alonso including quarterback Carlee North. The Ravens made the state finals the last two years.

Derflinger sees the district, which includes area schools like Steinbrenner, Gaither and Wharton, as very competitive.

“Last year Alonso was the team to beat in our district, and we came on strong as the year went on,” Derflinger said. “There weren’t many extremely close games for either of us throughout the year. This year we’re looking at a lot of one-touchdown games, two at the most, with most of the teams in the district.”

Freedom kicks off the season hosting Lennard on Tuesday, March 20 followed by home games against Leto and Gaither on March 26 and 29, respectively. The Patriots’ first road contest is at Steinbrenner on April 2. All matchups start at 7:30 p.m.

By Eugenio Torrens

Land O’ Lakes soccer players Josh Davis and Nathan Dalton watched on March 15 as friends and family filtered in to see them make their college plans official.

“It’s great that I finally get to sign and I have everything off my back,” Davis said. The speedy forward led Pasco County with 33 goals and signed with St. Leo University. He then added, “I’m really, really happy to be signing with St. Leo and become a Lion. I’m really happy I get a chance to play college soccer, because it was coming in December and I was just like ‘Man, there’s no school looking at me.’”

Gators coach Mark Pearson was integral in setting up the relationship between Davis and the Lions late in the recruiting process.

Davis plans to study sports business, but ultimately hopes college can serve as a stepping stone to professional soccer.

Pearson said Dalton, a midfielder, also got a late final push thanks to his performance in a 3-1 loss to Plantation American Heritage in the Class 3A state title game. He said Jacksonville University, which is where Dalton will play, was interested in Dalton, but finals was where the Dolphins bought in.

“It’s amazing,” said Dalton, who will study money management and finance. “You finally get the weight off your shoulders. You don’t have to worry about calling college coaches all the time when you’re going to play.”

Now Dalton and Davis can enjoy the remaining months of high school.

“It’s never off your mind when you’re trying to get recruited,” Dalton said.

Dalton and Davis join teammates Jake Frahm and Andy Garcia as part of Pearson’s latest group to sign with colleges.

“So many players come through over the last 15 years,” Pearson said. “They all have different aspirations and different goals, and to see them realize them all individually, it’s great.”

By Kyle LoJacono

Three years ago Ravin Gilbert had never run a track race, but now her talents have secured her a full scholarship at Georgia State University.

Gilbert switched from basketball as a sophomore and will now run with the Panthers, a Division I program in the Colonial Athletic Association.

“It’s unreal,” Ravin said. “I just can’t believe it’s happening. I think about it every day. I just can’t wait.”

Division I women’s track programs can offer 18 full scholarships, most of which get split to attract more athletes to a program, making it rare for someone to get 100 percent of their education paid for.

“If you take a look at my arms I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about what she can do in college,” said Steven Rivers, one of Gilbert’s AAU coaches. “To see her grow is going to be awesome.”

Wesley Chapel 12-year coach Brian Colding said Georgia Southern was wise to make the investment.

“They’re getting somebody who has high morals and ethics, and a student who cares about school,” Colding said. “Somebody who also has a level head on her shoulders and knows what it takes to succeed. She isn’t scared of hard work and isn’t looking for special treatment.”

Gilbert is Wesley Chapel’s record holder in the 200-meter race at 24.89 seconds and is five hundredths of a second away from the 100 record of 11.98. She will likely run the 100, 200 and 4×400 relay in college.

Gilbert will study physical therapy. She said academics were the first thing she looked at when picking a school.

“I looked at the academic side of things, and their academic team made me feel like they’ll have my back,” Gilbert said. “From there the team and coaches made me feel the vibe that it’s the right place.”

By Eugenio Torrens

Everything seems like business as usual for the Bishop McLaughlin baseball team.

The Hurricanes are coming off a 21-8 season that included a regional semifinals appearance and have started this year 9-4.

First-year Bishop McLaughlin coach Tom LoSauro has to be content with how his team has come out of the gates.

“It’s been a tough year for all of our guys being that I’m so new,” LoSauro said. “Everyone’s learning the system. The seniors are learning the system. The way it’s supposed to work is the older guys bring the young guys along slowly because they’ve been through it before.”

LoSauro came from Fort Myers Bishop Verot Catholic, where his team won the Class 3A state championship in 2011.

The new coach’s credentials aren’t questioned, and, along with his resume, LoSauro has brought a more cerebral approach to the game.

“A lot of strategies. He’s very smart in the game,” said senior infielder Ty Cooler.

New terminology, signs, quirks, tendencies, likes, dislikes and a new personality that 13 varsity players have to mesh with in the roughly two months leading up to the season.

“There’s some things we’re still learning, but I think we’re pretty comfortable with him,” said senior pitcher Andy Olaniel.

Luckily for the new man at the helm, LoSauro is coming into a stable baseball program at Bishop McLaughlin.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” LoSauro said. “I don’t feel like there’s as much pressure to win and not miss a beat as much as I feel a comfort level that these guys have a certain expectation level of themselves. They know how to win; they’ve experienced winning. That is a good feeling as a coach to come into.”

Even a team full of experienced winners can’t dull the growing pains that accompany a change in coaching staff.

“I like how we’re starting to play as a team now,” said junior pitcher Tanner Koch. “We’re starting to gain some team chemistry. At the start of the season not everyone was together. I feel like everyone was trying to impress him at the start. Now, I feel like everyone’s starting to settle down.”

The Hurricanes have two quality starting pitchers in Olaniel and Koch, with Colton Nussel and Josh Falk coming in as reliable relief.

“The area we thought we’d need to work the greatest on has proved to be a little bit of Achilles heel — our defense isn’t where we want it to be,” LoSauro said.

He wasn’t too worried his defense would shore up. His bigger concern out of the starting blocks is hitting.

But LoSauro knows not to get too worked up after a 13-game sample size because there is plenty of time for improvement.

“You win championships — in high school — you win those in April and May,” LoSauro said. “You’re not going to win them in February and March. No matter how good you are in February, you have to be better in April.”

Bishop McLaughlin hosts Key West on March 20 at 7 p.m.

The Weightman Middle seventh-grade boys basketball team finished a perfect 8-0 on March 8 by defeating John Long 37-21.

The Wildcats outscored their opponents 320-148 on the season while winning by an average of 21.5 points.

“The team was blessed with a lot of natural talent but had to learn to work together to win,” said coach Wayne Ackett.

Weightman had already clinched the Eastside Athletic Conference championship. Other teams in the middle school league include Centennial, John Long, Pasco, Pine View, Rushe and Stewart.

The team includes Ellrie Allen, Aaron Beardsley, Kyle Brown, Mykh’ael Chavis, Thomas Cogan, Jamison Cohick, Kyle Gardner, Reggie Jennings, Aidan Mitchell, Raymund Reddick, Bryan Sangar, Sam Schneidmiller, Devin Singletary, Kalin Timmons and Danny Zagone.