Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

After the 10 game football season, the best teams have risen to the top and have a chance to extend their football dreams in the playoffs. Area teams advancing include Sunlake and Gaither.

Sunlake Seahawks

Sunlake (9-1) is playing in its first postseason in the program’s five-year history. The Seahawks finished as the Class 6A-District 6 runner-up, losing only to district champion Hernando.

Bill Browning, the only coach in program history, said making the playoffs is no small feat for a team that won just one game during its first two seasons.

“It’s really special for us to break through and make the playoffs, but we’re not happy just getting there,” Browning said. “We want to keep playing as long as we can. We were so close to making the playoffs last year and we want to make up for that.”

The Seahawks went 8-2 in 2010, but missed out on the postseason because of losses to district champion Pasco and runner-up Land O’ Lakes.

Sunlake lost 17 seniors after 2010, including quarterback Jacob Jackson and his single season program record 30 total touchdowns and 2,316 total yards.

Cameron Stoltz, a senior, took over under center this year, going 75-of-127 passes for 1,353 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 146 rushing yards and another three scores.

Rashaud Daniels, Eddie Burgos and Jamal Jones have been Stoltz’s favorite targets.

Burgos has the most catches — 17 for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Daniels’ 366 yards is the most on the squad while posting six scores. Jones has 354 yards and found the end zone nine times.

The strength of the Seahawk offense has been its running game since the program started. Browning said there is no “every-down running back,” but several players who do certain things well.

“We’ve got a bruising runner like Jerome (Samuels), Rashaud with a lot of speed and Mike (Lopez) who is a really tough runner,” Browning said.

Samuels leads the squad with 68 carries, 417 yards and five rushing scores. Lopez has added 286 yards and three touchdowns, while Daniels has posted 332 and two TDs.

Sunlake’s offensive line is one of the strongest in the area. The unit is led by 6-foot-1, 300-pound Nate McCoole, who moved from tackle to center and posted a team-high 17 pancake blocks. Canon Clark has kicked in 13 pancakers.

On defense, linebacker Nick Morrison leads all Seahawks with 111 tackles, five fumble recoveries and four sacks. Fellow linebacker Kyle Fraser has added 44 tackles and two sacks.

The secondary leaders of Jones, Burgos and Daniels have combined for five interceptions, 14 passes defensed and three caused fumbles.

Along with those players, Browning said there are five members of his staff who have helped make Sunlake a contender.

Defensive coordinator Matt Smith and assistants Nick Carrol, Jimmy Bragg and Brandon Browning have been with the program since it opened. In addition, inside linebackers and tight ends coach Trey Burdick joined the staff in Year 2.

“They’ve all been instrumental in helping us get to where we are today,” Browning said.

Gaither Cowboys

Gaither (7-3) returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The Cowboys went 4-1 in Class 7A-District 7 play to advance as the runner-up. Their lone league loss was to district champion Tampa Bay Tech 17-14.

Gaither first-year coach Jason Stokes said he knew the squad could make the playoffs even though the Cowboys won just four games the previous two seasons combined.

“I knew the talent was here,” Stokes said. “It’s a credit to the kids for coming in and practicing hard every day. Without them putting in the work we wouldn’t be going to the playoffs. … At first I think the kids were expecting a lot of the same, but when the wins started coming I could see the kids started to believe.”

The Cowboys have been a team led by their defense the last few years. Stokes said the team’s strength is still the D, but added the disparity is not as great as in the past.

“I’m happy with the different ways we’ve won,” Stokes said. “We’ve won with offense, with defense. We’ve won close games and we’ve won games by a lot. You need to be able do different things to win.”

The defense is led by linebacker Josh Scarberry. His 14 sacks are the most in Hillsborough County, while adding 94 tackles. The senior has also blocked a field goal and caused three fumbles while recovering four, including one he returned for a touchdown.

“He’s a great leader — not just in games but in practice too,” Stokes said. “He always brings a lot of energy and effort to everything he does and it pushes everyone to work harder.”

The secondary has picked off 17 passes this year, led by safety Eddie Pastrana’s six interceptions and cornerback Tyler McCollum’s three.

The offense has become more versatile under Stokes, who took over play calling duties after Week 2, and is averaging 27.1 points per game.

Shug Oyegunle, who was Gaither’s quarterback the last two years, has moved all over the field to use his explosive speed. He has two passing touchdowns while going 11 of 26 for 107 yards, while adding 481 rushing on 64 carries and 160 receiving on 12 catches and eight total scores.

Moving Oyegunle around was made possible when quarterback Alex McGough transferred from Wesley Chapel High. McGough has completed 42 of 86 attempts for 633 yards and 11 touchdowns.

—All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) volleyball team took a big step toward claiming back-to-back national championships by winning its regional tournament.

The No. 6 ranked Conquistadors (31-9) defeated Surry Community College 25-10, 25-14, 25-10 to claim the regional title and earn a berth in the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division II national tournament in Toledo Nov. 17-19.

“We were on a mission from the moment we walked into that gym at regionals,” said sophomore rightside hitter and team captain Jessica Imbimbo, who has 332 kills, 328 digs and 31 aces this year. “We were all business. Getting there was almost expected of us because we were the national champions last year.”

PHCC has been reminded all season what is expected when the players and coaches look on the wall and see the championship banner in their home gym.

“It was definitely daunting on us from the very beginning of practice,” Imbimbo said. “Looking at that banner every day and knowing that’s the expectation we have to live up to.”

Conquistadors coach Kim Whitney said the real challenge was getting the team back to a championship level after losing six graduating sophomores.

“Going into the season there were a lot of new things,” Whitney said. “We had a lot of freshmen coming in who were going to be starters, and you’re not sure how they are going to react. How they are going to respond to our practices and our team.”

One of those freshmen is outside hitter Victoria Ashley, who leads the squad with 417 kills and 50 aces.

“I was a little bit nervous because high school and college levels are completely different,” Ashley said. “The pace of the game is just so much faster in college. There are girls with more height at this level, everyone hits harder, the defense is a lot better. Everything is improved by 10 times. I knew I was coming to a winning team, so I was confident we would have a good season.”

Ashley said she has tried to assume a leadership role while working on her game.

“I’ve been loud and tried to encourage people,” Ashley said. “I wanted to be leader as a freshman to let the other freshmen know there shouldn’t be a divide between the sophomores and the freshmen. We’re all the same on this team.”

Whitney is not worried with having a large number of her starters that are freshmen playing in their first national tournament. She said each team has to find its own identity even if it has many returning players.

“We’ve never wanted them to compare themselves to the team last year,” Whitney said. “Every team is different and to put that pressure on yourself that we have to do things the same way, that’s not how things work. We have to do things our own way with this team and this group.”

Imbimbo said she and the other sophomores let the freshmen know what to expect at nationals.

“We told them it’s just like any other match,” Imbimbo said. “We don’t want them to think we got here last year and won. We try not to bring up last year with them as much so they don’t get paranoid with trying to live up to last year. We just tell them to be confident, they’re good players and we earned this spot for a reason. If we play the way we know how to play, then we’re going accomplish our goals.”

And while Imbimbo is playing in her second national tournament, she said she finds herself as excited as when she was a freshman last year.

“I’m extremely anxious,” Imbimbo said. “After the last match at regionals I was ready to get on a plane and go to Ohio then, but I think it was good that we had a full week to prepare in between to work out the kinks as coach says. I think we’re ready physically, but this helped us all get mentally prepared.”

Whitney added the week between regionals and nationals has allowed them to fine tune everything from technique to chemistry.

“Our focus this week has really been on the team emphasis,” Whitney said. “It’s all about who the best team is at the right time. It’s not always the best players who win — it’s the best team that wins. That’s our focus going out there. We need to find ways to support each other so we can be the best team we can be when we step on the floor.”

By Kyle LoJacono

First-year Steinbrenner girls soccer coach Robert Woodard is a bit in awe when he looks out at the talent on his team.

“It’s scary,” Woodard said watching the Warriors warm up before their first practice of the season. “I’m used to a team having three or four talented people and a bunch of hard-working players. This is top to bottom talent here. There were a lot of girls we had to cut who would be easily playing for other schools. It’s phenomenal and they have great attitudes too.”

Woodard isn’t talking about a team with decades of history behind it. Steinbrenner (3-2) won the Class 4A state championship last season in the just the program’s second year of existence. It took junior forward Alexis Bredeau some time before that reality sank in.

“It went by really fast and we didn’t expect it to happen,” Bredeau said. “It wasn’t a shock, but it was more like did that really just happen. When I started watching it on TV over and over again it finally sunk in.

“I haven’t been able to wait for the season to start,” Bredeau continued. “Now that it’s here — I just can’t put it into words.”

The Warriors went 21-2-2 en route to winning the state title, defeating Merritt Island 2-1 in overtime in the final game.

“I had the opportunity to watch the state championship game about five times and broken it down, and I’ve shared it with friends I have in the coaching fraternity and they’re just amazed,” Woodard said. “Their approach to the game is very professional and the way they go about playing, a lot of them are already mentally ready to play at the next level.”

Woodard steps in for Teresa Patterson, who coached the Warriors since the school opened in 2009 but resigned the post early this year to start her family.

Steinbrenner senior forward Cici Gonzalez said Woodard has brought a new approach to the squad’s preparation.

“He’s really big on watching film on ourselves to see what we’re doing well,” Gonzalez said. “He’s really knowledgeable about soccer and he’s really fired up for us.”

The coach has changed, but most Warriors starters return including the players who scored 98 of the 105 goals tallied by the squad last season. Steinbrenner does lose three seniors.

“We’re all close and know how each other plays,” Gonzalez said. “We did lose three seniors who were all starters, but we gained back some players who were injured last year and have some new young players. We haven’t replaced those seniors in everything they did for the team, but our positions are filled.”

Gonzalez led the Warriors with 33 goals and 34 assists last season, making her the only Hillsborough County girl with a 30/30 season. She was named the All-Laker/All-Lutz News Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Steinbrenner also got double-digit scoring seasons from Bredeau and sophomore midfielder Danielle Eule, who posted 24 and 11, respectively.

“Cici is an amazing player, Danielle is an amazing player,” Bredeau said. “To have those players on your team is an honor to play with them. It’s not all the pressure on one player.”

Eule said it was a little daunting early on playing in an offense system as productive as Steinbrenner’s as a freshman last year, but she added the way her teammates work together made it easy by season’s end.

“It’s such a fast-paced game and everyone is always in the right place,” Eule said. “We just play so well together and the goals just seem to come naturally.”

Woodard plans on having even more players contribute offensively.

“I’m looking to get more people in double digit goals or five goals this season,” Woodard said. “I really want to spread it around this year. If you’ve got one player, anyone can gameplan for you and shut that player down.”

The Warriors had a high-power offense, but the defense held opponents down on a regular basis. They allowed only seven goals in their 25 games. The only team to score twice against Steinbrenner last year was Osceola in a 4-2 contest in the regional quarterfinals.

“It’s a relief knowing that if it gets past us we have strong people behind us,” Eule said. “They always do a great job of stopping the ball and moving it back forward.”

Woodard said defenders like sophomore Miranda Gonzalez and junior Kaitlyn Huntzinger will be major factors in preventing goals again this year.

Steinbrenner travels to Alonso on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. The Warriors open up district play at Freedom on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.

By Kyle LoJacono

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Steinbrenner senior defensive back Andrew Feldhaus started to realize he and all his classmates would never again suit up in a high school football game.

Feldhaus and the 18 other seniors on the Warriors (7-3) football team ended up winners in their final football game after defeating Middleton 43-0 at home on Nov. 10.

As Feldhaus finished shaking hands with the opposing players and coaches he wandered around the field. He didn’t want to leave.

Many of the seniors stayed on the turf long after the stands had emptied for the final football game of the season. Feldhaus even left his helmet on the entire time, delaying taking it off for the last time in his high school career.

“I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now,” said Feldhaus overcome with emotion after the game. “I’m just overwhelmed.”

Feldhaus, who attended Gaither as a freshman before coming to Steinbrenner when it opened in 2009, picked off his sixth pass of the season in the fourth quarter to halt a Tigers’ (0-10) drive deep in Warriors territory to help preserve the fourth shutout of the season.

“When the ball was in my hands I just knew it’s the last interception I’m going to have in high school,” Feldhaus said. “To get it here in Warrior Stadium, it felt great. I’m really sad that it’s over.”

Fellow senior Brain Gainer had a team-high 110 rushing yards, his first 100-yard game of his high school career. The running back also posted touchdown runs of 38 and 20 yards.

Gainer, who transferred from Sickles as a junior, was forced into action when starter Kendall Pearcey left the game with a right ankle injury in the first quarter.

“Kendall went down and coach came to me and said ‘Gainer you’re going to run the ball until we tell you otherwise,’” Gainer said. “I didn’t know I was going to get the ball like that, but I did.”

Steinbrenner coach Floyd Graham added, “Brain Gainer is a kid who practiced his butt off every single day. He runs our scout team and he was always the first one in working in the weight room. He’s the one who’s always running track. He’s the one who’s always here for 7-on-7 practice. All of a sudden tonight he just turned it on with those two touchdowns and it was amazing to see.”

Warriors senior running back Cody Cazin had a first of his own in the victory. He ran for 78 yards, including a 4-yard run into the end zone in the fourth quarter to score his first touchdown on Steinbrenner’s final drive of the season.

Cazin played linebacker as a sophomore and missed all of his junior year because of injury.

“It was incredible to score a touchdown,” Cazin said. “To be able to get my first touchdown in my first year playing offense, and after I missed my whole junior season, is just incredible. Best feeling I’ve ever felt.”

Warriors senior defensive lineman Zack Boryla scored the squad’s final points of the season when he fell on a Middleton fumble with 2:18 left in the season.

Steinbrenner’s seven victories are the most in the program’s three-year history, amazing considering the less-than-ideal way things started during the summer of 2009.

“Our first full day we were at Martinez (Middle) because they wouldn’t let us on the field yet,” Graham said. “We had no football equipment and most of the kids had never set foot in a weight room before. We were doing calisthenics in lieu of weights. We didn’t have helmets because they were still in storage, so we had to pick them up. We didn’t have knee pads, so we had to go to Sickles and they let us borrow some.”

Graham said they didn’t even have goal posts to practice with, so the Warriors had to go for two-point conversions every time they scored touchdowns during their first game at Strawberry Crest.

Steinbrenner went 3-6-1 in a split varsity/junior varsity season in 2009. The record improved to 5-5 last year.

“So we had some massive lumps, but they went through it,” Graham said. “Kids like Cody Cazin who scored his first touchdown tonight — you see the tears in his eyes and that speaks a thousand words. I’m very proud of them.”

Things turned around on both sides of the ball for the Warriors this year. Steinbrenner allowed just 12.9 points per game this season while scoring 27.9.

The squad came up just short of making the playoffs, but the departing seniors helped make the Warriors winners for the first time.

“I’ve been here all three years and everything we’ve put in has been worth it,” Cazin said. “All that building up to this winning season was an amazing thing to go through.”

By Kyle LoJacono

The Wiregrass Ranch boys cross country team claimed its third straight regional championship on Nov. 12 at Lecanto High.

The Bulls’ average finish was 16:46.42 at the Class 3A regional meet to total 57 points, 34 less than runners-up Sarasota and Chamberlain. Fourth-place Steinbrenner had 104 points, while Land O’ Lakes captured sixth, the last advancing spot, with 193.

Wiregrass Ranch was able to complete the trifecta of regional titles in a more competitive region than the previous two years. Steinbrenner, the reigning Class 2A state runner-up, moved up in classification and Chamberlain moved down.

“The last few years we were very confident in what the outcome of the meet would be,” said Bulls coach Chris Loth. “This year we knew we couldn’t afford to have an off day, so it was one of the most rewarding days we’ve had as a program.”

Wiregrass Ranch was led by Sam Hippely’s fourth-place pace of 16:24.9. The senior has constantly set the tone for the Bulls all year.

“Sam’s contributions are really immeasurable, from pushing everyone to be better at practices and leading us on Saturdays,” Loth said. “He’s had a hall-of-fame career.”

Ermias Bireda finished fifth, 3.81 seconds behind Hippely. Fellow Bulls runners David Hill and Tyler Mattera took 14th and 21st, respectively.

The Warriors were led by Tyler Lima, whose 16:44.9 on the 5-kilometer course was good enough for eighth place.

Land O’ Lakes’ Travis Nichols, who won an individual district title the week before, took 10th in 16:46.58. Fellow Gators runner Tyler Stahl’s 16:58.42 gave him 19th.

The Bulls girls squad also qualified for states by finishing as the regional runner-up. Wiregrass Ranch totaled 104 points, but was bested by St. Cloud’s 47.

“The girls finished as expected, as regional runner-up, overcoming an injury to Elise Cedre in the first half-mile that caused her to run about 45 seconds slower than she would have,” said Bulls girls coach Don Howard. “St. Cloud was the better team yesterday just as we have been the best team in our region the past two years.”

Wiregrass Ranch’s Nikita Shah finished as the individual runner-up by posting a 17:55.48, the second straight week she has cracked the 18-minute mark.

“Nikita’s time of 17:55 puts her in the conversation for medaling at the state meet for sure,” Howard said. “Very excited for her chance to run with the best girls in the state.”

Fellow Bulls runners Chelsea Ginn-Davis took 14th place in 20:11.55, followed by 28th-place Berlin Waters’ 20:42.46. Cedre managed to finish 33rd in 20:00.94 despite rolling her ankle.

The Steinbrenner girls, the only other area squad at the event, were unable to qualify for states. The Warriors, who claimed the first district championship in program history the week before, came in eighth place with 218 points. Only the top-six teams or anyone in the top-15 individually earned a state bid.

Steinbrenner’s Lauren Garris, who finished 16th in 20:17.94, missed out on advancing to states individually by 4.64 seconds.

The 3A state meet is at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City on Saturday, Nov. 19. The girls race starts at 8:30 a.m., while the boys run at 9:10 a.m.

Freedom, Wharton girls advance

The girls cross country teams from Freedom and Wharton high schools qualified for the Class 4A state meet with their performances on Nov. 12 at regionals.

The Patriots’ average finish of 21:17.6 gave them 109 points, good enough to take third behind second-place Riverview’s 88 and champion Plant’s 18.

The Wildcats placed sixth, the last qualifying spot for states. Wharton’s average time of 21:41.56 gave it 149 points.

Freedom was led by Ashley Smith’s 11th-place finish of 20:33.9, followed by 18th-place Lauren Arfaras’s 21:11.5 and 21st-place Annie Tedesco’s 21:17.4.

The Wildcats’ fastest runner at the event was Mariah Henderson, who took 19th with a time of 21:12.8. Teammate Taylor Griffith finished 25th in 21:21.3.

The day was not so kind to the Freedom and Wharton boys. Neither team, nor any individual qualified for the 4A meet. The closest to earning a berth was the Patriots’ Adam Urbaniak. The junior ran a 17:19 to finish 16th, but only the top-six teams or anyone in the top-15 individually earned a state bid.

The 4A girls state meet is at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8:50 a.m.

--All results as recorded by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner volleyball team has been one of the most consistent in the Tampa Bay area this season, but things went awry during the Class 7A regional semifinals.

The Warriors (24-5), who lost just 18 sets this season entering the contest, fell to Clearwater 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 24-26, 15-7 at home on Nov. 8. Steinbrenner coach Jennifer Graham said it was a tough loss because the squad committed a lot of mistakes.

“It wasn’t our best game, so as a coach it’s frustrating to see us go out when you’re supposed to be peaking,” Graham said. “They know it and that’s why it hurts them so bad right now.”

Graham said emotions were running very high during the match, which may have led to some of the 58 total errors.

“It was just an emotional rollercoaster,” Graham said. “Really I’m at a loss for words about what the emotion was.”

Things started promising for Steinbrenner. After taking the first set, the Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second thanks to five aces from senior outside hitter Miranda Powell and a kill by sophomore rightside hitter Rachel Mathison, but a plethora of errors derailed the chance to go up two sets.

Tornadoes (14-6) senior outside hitter Nikki O’Rourke, who finished with 22 kills and 21 digs in the contest, began to put pressure on Steinbrenner’s defense in the third set. On the flip side, the Warriors’ outside hitters Madison Seuzeneau and Powell posted 21 kills combined.

“Usually one of our outside hitters is on, and lately when they’re both on it’s a beautiful thing and I think we’re unbeatable,” Graham said. “Both of them were off. Our freshman middle hitter Lauren Heldt was on tonight for the first time. She was just connecting, and she’s going to be something to watch.”

Heldt finished with eight kills.

Steinbrenner rebounded to claim a hotly contested fourth set, but the momentum did not carry over. Clearwater jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fifth and was helped by six straight errors by the Warriors to stretch the lead to 13-3.

Steinbrenner’s season ended on a soft, fluttering kill by Tornadoes rightside hitter Sarah Case that just found the back right corner.

“We capitalized on their mistakes,” said Clearwater coach Kara Betourn. “We played them earlier this season and they are a very good team.”

Seuzeneau finished with 12 kills, while Powell and Mathison added nine and seven, respectively. Junior middle hitter Baylee Hooker posted five blocks.

Four Warriors recorded double-digit digs. Senior libero Cary Anne Bame led the way with 14, Mathison kicked in 12 and Powell and sophomore setter Casey McLean contributed 10 each.

Despite the way it ended, Steinbrenner did set a program record by winning 24 matches this season. It also showed the squad can maintain a high level of play even after losing seven seniors from last year.

“I’ve got so many sophomores and freshmen,” Graham said. “Physically they’ll just grow and get stronger. It’ll be nice to see them continue that during the next few years. It’s going to be a heck of a team when we get back together next August.”

The Warriors will have to find replacements for three graduates — Bame, Powell and rightside hitter Audrey Clifford. Graham said each brought something special to the team the last few years.

“Cary Anne brings a comfort to the team,” Graham said. “She’s a constant on the court. She’s our go-to player on defense. When she’s there we’re confident. She’s just a pleasure to coach and to have on the team. Miranda stepped up with leadership this year and really grew as a young woman. I think it was a great thing for her to help lead this team. Audrey didn’t get to play as much this year, but she really worked hard at being a leader. There’s not just the on the court, there’s the off the court she added to us there.”

Bishop McLaughlin falls in three

The Bishop McLaughlin volleyball team’s season was ended by familiar opponent Tampa Prep 25-8, 25-19, 25-19 on Nov. 8 in the Class 3A regional semifinals.

It is the third time the Hurricanes (16-9) have lost to the Terrapins (16-11) this season, following straight-set defeats in the regular season, district tournament and regionals.

Bishop McLaughlin was led by senior outside hitter Jess Johnson’s 10 kills.