The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

FDA revamps food labeling

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By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revising nutritional labels to help people more easily make decisions about what they eat.

FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor said the new labeling system will not only change the information presented to be more useful for consumers, but it will also create more realistic serving sizes. The FDA’s new labeling system will also put a bigger emphasis on calories, while reducing the prominence of the daily percent value numbers for elements like carbohydrates, fats and sodium.

Taylor said the department has been working with doctors, nutritionists and every-day people since 2003 to find the best way to present information about food. The goal is to help stem the tide of obesity in this country.

“There’s no question obesity is a central public health concern that the nutrition facts panel can play a role in,” Taylor said. “It’s obviously not a magic wand, but it can be an informative tool.”

Taylor said the new labeling system could be put in place as early as the year’s end, but more likely will be unveiled sometime in the first half of 2012. Emily Mark, one of three dietitians with Pasco County School’s Food and Nutrition Services Department, said the changes will help children make better choices as well.

“I think the best change would be the serving size,” Mark said. “Some of the time serving sizes of food are nowhere near the amount the average person eats.”

Two popular sweet treats that will see their serving sizes change are soda and ice cream. Currently, the serving size for ice cream is a half cup, while 20-ounce soda bottles contain 2.5 servings of the carbonated drink.

“I’d say that most people drink those soda bottles by themselves and people who eat ice cream have a lot more than a half cup of ice cream,” Mark said. “The problem is they look at the label and see the number of calories and assume that’s how many calories they’ve eaten. It gets people into trouble.”

Taylor said other servings for food commonly eaten in one sitting by a single person, such as a can of soup, will also be altered.

The current food labels were designed about 20 years ago as a way to give a glance at what nutritional information is in food. Taylor said they were not meant to help people manage their weight, but the FDA has learned that is exactly what many people use them for.

Taylor said the new labels will allow people to better determine if food is healthy for them based on their own health situation.

For more information on the FDA’s food labeling system, visit www.fda.gov.

 

 

 

 

Pow Wow shares and celebrates Native American culture

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By B.C. Manion

If this year’s event mirrors those of the past, somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 people will gather at Starkey Ranch in Odessa to celebrate Native American culture this coming weekend.

They’ll be gathering for the sixth annual American Indian Pow Wow, presented by Spirit People Intertribal Family Inc.

The event will feature dancing, singing, flute playing and items available for purchase from about two dozen vendors, including art work, bead work, leather crafts, jewelry and dream catchers.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork, Indian tacos, ice cream and other foods also will be available for purchase.

The event gives Native Americans a chance to gather with old friends and meet new ones, while others join in to get a glimpse into the Native American way of life.

The idea is to have an event where people can come together and have a good time, said Sue Langlais, treasurer of Spirit People Intertribal Family Inc.

The three-day event includes a ceremonial grand entrance, which is a procession that is led by flag bearers followed by military veterans. They march to the dance circle, where the Native American equivalent to the national anthem will be performed, Langlais said.

After that, the dancers will enter the circle for a performance, she said.

The pow wow provides a venue to help carry on Native American traditions, while sharing them with the broader community, she said.

In addition to the grand entrance, there also will be stories about the Native American way of life, a drawing for a kayak and some good old-fashioned Indian trading.

The way the trading works is, you bring an item you no longer want to the “trade blanket,” Langlais said.

“Say you have a coffee or a tea kettle you no longer want,” she said. You bring the item and put it in the center of the blanket, then people around the blanket offer an item they want to trade for it.

The person trading the item walks around the blanket, looking at items being offered for trade. Once they select an item, the traders shake hands and the deal is concluded.

Often, the people trading items will tell a story about it. “Sometimes they’ll tell wild stories about their items,” she said. It doesn’t have to be true – the idea is to just have fun, she said.

Some people bring items to trade and others just enjoy watching, Langlais said.

Those attending the pow wow are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blankets to sit on because seating is limited, Langlais said.

She also recommends they wear a big-brimmed hat to keep off the sun.

“You have to make your own shade,” she said.

 

At a Glance

When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, with a grand entrance at 7 p.m.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, with grand entrances at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, with a grand entrance at 1 p.m.

Where: Starkey Ranch in Odessa, at the corner of Gunn Highway and SR 54. The Pow Wow entrance is across SR 54 from the flea market. (13139 Gladstone Drive, Odessa, 33556)

Cost: $3 per person, with children under 12 free. Parking is free.

Keeping up appearances: The smart way

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By B.C. Manion

While beautifully maintained landscapes can help create a good impression in any neighborhood, keeping up those appearances can prove costly.

That’s why the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations (PACA) recently invited Chris Dewey of the Pasco County Extension Service and Paul Woods of OLM Inc., to its meeting to discuss the issue of what to consider when hiring a landscape management company.

Woods is the Florida regional consultant for OLM, a company that has worked for communities and property managers since 1988 to help homeowner associations and property managers to prepare landscape management contracts, to ensure that the contracts specify what it needed for particular properties and to assist in administering such contracts.

Dewey coordinates the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program in Pasco County and advises homeowners, homeowner associations and businesses on Florida yard and landscaping standards and goals.

“Landscapes are capital investments,” Woods said during PACA’s meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center.

The idea is to protect that investment, while keeping the financial interests of the homeowner associations in mind, Woods added.

“The things that happen, happen by contract,” Dewey noted.

So, it is critical that contracts spell out specific standards, he said. “Be detailed.”

Avoid phrases such as “as needed” or “as determined,” Woods advised. That language is too loose.

The contract should spell out such things as the height at which the grass must be maintained, Dewey said. He’s seen instances when the grass has been scalped, which damages its health.

The contract should contain the appropriate standards and should address such things as fertilization, mowing and pesticide use, Dewey said.

“One size does not fit all,” he noted. “I’m always available to help the HOA (homeowners’ association) board to develop the specifications for a good lawn maintenance contract.”

It’s a good idea to look for companies that can handle all aspects of the landscaping service, Woods added. They should be able to do the landscape maintenance work, handle irrigation and do pest control, he said.

If you divide the duties up among different contractors there’s too much opportunity for blame shifting, Dewey said. He calls that the “circular firing squad” effect.

Once you have a contract that specifies what must be done, it’s also important to verify that it is being carried out properly, Woods said.

“There is no substitute for verifying that people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said. The keys to effective inspections are frequency and detail.

There are published materials that can assist community associations in their planning. Two guides that may be helpful are: “The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design,” produced by the University of Florida IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and, “The Community Landscape, An Environmental Approach: Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guidelines for Community Associations,” produced by the University of Florida IFAS.

Ground covers for Florida-friendly living

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By BJ Jarvis

The summer of 2011 has been brutal to area landscapes. High heat alternating with downpours has made it hard to keep up with lawn mowing. Quick-growing lawns need to be cut every 4-5 days, but life’s schedule only allows for once-per-week mowing.
One way to reduce this chore is to minimize turf areas down to what is practical for the occasional game of tag or crochet. Once established, groundcovers require little-to-no additional fertilizer and are typically drought tolerant. Weeds have a very hard time competing when groundcovers connect. Groundcovers cover a lot of territory with a minimum of plants, so select hardy ones to minimize the number that need to be replaced from year to year.
Perennial peanut is a colorful favorite. Grown by farmers as a forage crop, homeowners will enjoy the bright yellow flowers. Quite adaptable in a large bed with little organic matter, hot afternoon sun and no supplemental irrigation, perennial peanut will out-compete turf. Perennial peanut are somewhat aggressive and are best grown in beds that are bounded by a hardscape such as a sidewalk.
There is a stand of perennial peanut along US 301 in downtown Dade City. This ever-blooming display will cause any good gardener to want to locate the nearest retail source.
Powderpuff mimosa is another adaptable groundcover. In addition to being a Florida native, mimosa will completely cover an area in short order. Pink puffball flowers sit atop the foliage in a showy display from summer through fall. While winter may nip it back a bit, mimosa comes on strong when temperatures warm in the spring.
You can’t beat ajuga in partial sun sites. Once established, this purple-leaved groundcover is very drought tolerant and will produce a nice small blue/purple flower held above the foliage. Although landscapes irrigated with reclaimed water will want to make another selection due to low salt tolerance.
For those living in a deed-restricted community that specifies the amount of traditional lawn you must maintain, check with your rules to assure compliance or learn of an appeals process.
Replacing a portion of the lawn will save time from maintenance and will add interest to most any landscape. Consider the many attractive low maintenance ground covers that will continue to add curb appeal while reducing the lawn-mowing burden.
BJ Jarvis is Horticulture Agent and Director for Pasco Cooperative Extension, a partnership between the County and the University of Florida / IFAS.  For more information about groundcovers or other gardening questions, visit: pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/gardening or email at .

 

Pasco makes it five straight against Land O’ Lakes

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By Kyle LoJacono

The Pasco football team defeated Land O’ Lakes for the fifth consecutive season, the longest winning streak in the 36-year rivalry.

Pasco senior Trey Dudley-Giles brings in a catch over a Land O’ Lakes defender in the Pirates 39-6 win on Sept. 9.

The Pirates (2-0) took a 7-6 halftime lead against Land O’ Lakes (1-1), but the Dade City squad put up 32 points in the second half to win 39-6 as the injury depleted Gators seemed to wear down.

“Land O’ Lakes has always been a good team,” said Pasco coach Tom McHugh. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and they’ve always been a very good team.”

The Gators were without five starters to begin the home contest on Sept. 9; four because of injury and defensive back Jordan Michelson was out for off-the-field reasons.

Tight end Kent Taylor broke his left hand in Land O’ Lakes’ kickoff classic against Anclote, and linebacker Shadow Williams broke his left hand against Zephyrhills on Sept. 2. Center John Kranendonk and safety Darin Patmon were also hurt against the Bulldogs, with a cracked sternum and injured knee respectively. The injury bug continued to bite the Gators against Pasco, as wide receiver Ricky Boyles left the game after halftime with a concussion.

Pirates junior running back David Emmanuel ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns against Land O’ Lakes.

Gators coach Brian Wachtel did not use losing six starters as an excuse.

“Pasco’s a good football team,” Wachtel said. “In the second half of the game they made some big plays. Our kids fought hard. I’m so proud of our kids for everything that they did out there tonight, and man it was exciting at half 7-6. We’re just going to have to go back and evaluate the film and move forward.”

The game started promising for the Gators, as they forced a fumble on the Pirates second play from scrimmage, but Land O’ Lakes was unable to come away with any points.

Pasco got on the board first when quarterback Jacob Guy hit running back Janarion Grant for a 61-yard touchdown pass with 10:29 left in the second quarter. The Gators answered with 1:15 left before halftime when quarterback Ryan Bird found wide receiver Nico Watts for a 59-yard strike.

The Pirates came out from halftime on fire, scoring touchdowns on their first four drives to take a commanding 32-6 lead.

“Coach had a good speech at halftime,” said Pasco running back David Emmanuel. “We were a little bit down because it was a very close game. Normally we would be ahead by a mile, but he told us the right things and we came out and did what we had to do.”

Pasco started running the ball more with the 6-foot, 175-pound Emmanuel in the second half to take advantage of the short-handed Gators.

Gators senior linebacker Jackson Cannon sacks Pirates quarterback Jacob Guy.

“Our offensive coordinator found a weakness in their line, and we capitalized on it and made big plays,” Emmanuel said.

Emmanuel finished with 221 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Grant had three scores of his own, all receiving.

Emmanuel said of sharing a backfield with Grant, “He’s like my brother. There’s competition between us every game. He normally comes out on top first, but I guess I tied it up in the end tonight.”

Emmanuel had to miss the Pirates’ first regular season game with a shoulder injury, but the junior showed no lingering effects against the Gators.

“David runs the ball hard,” McHugh said. “If you don’t bring everything you have to tackle David, then it doesn’t work.”

Guy finished 14-of-23 for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Trey Dudley-Giles had four catches for 84 yards and added another 28 on kick returns.

The Land O’ Lakes defense did cause some problems for the Pirates, recording six sacks for -29 yards.

Bird went 12-for-23 for 192 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The Gators signal caller added another 40 rushing yards.

The victory increased Pasco’s lead in the all-time series against Land O’ Lakes to 20-16. The Pirates host Wiregrass Ranch on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The Gators have a bye next week, and then host district rival Hernando on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunlake tops Wiregrass Ranch 36-0

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By Eugenio Torrens

Sunlake didn’t match its offensive output from week one, but the defense posted its second shutout of the season in as many games to beat Wiregrass Ranch 36-0.

Sunlake senior Jerome Samuels rushed for 50 yards in the first half against Wiregrass Ranch.

The Seahawks (2-0) have outscored their opponents by a combined 84-0, a fact not lost on Sunlake coach Bill Browning.

“Defense did a good job,” Browning said. “It was a good effort by everybody.”

The Bulls (0-2) gave the Seahawks good field position throughout the contest. Sunlake started its first drive from its own 43-yard line. Senior quarterback Cameron Stoltz completed 4-of-5 passes on that drive, including a screen pass that senior Jamal Jones took 19 yards to get the Seahawks on the board.

Wiregrass Ranch fumbled the ball on its own 17 on the ensuing drive. Sunlake recovered, and Stoltz bulleted a pass to senior Rashaud Daniels to go up 13-0.

Jones then picked off Bulls quarterback Ricky Weisbrodt, who started in place of a concussed Jake Day, and ran it back 31 yards into the end zone.

On the next Bulls’ drive, sophomore athlete Tyre Creary came in for Weisbrodt, but it did little to solve their offensive woes as they were unable to get a first down. Weisbrodt was brought back later in the game.

The Wiregrass Ranch defense held Sunlake to its first three-and-out series, but a Bulls’ muffed punt resulted in more prime field position — 30 yards out — for the Seahawks. A 22-yard field goal from Thomas Koen made it 23-0. Senior Mike Lopez added another touchdown for the Seahawks before the half on a 26-yard run.

Wiregrass Ranch running back Eli Galvan fights for yards against Sunlake’s Rashaud Daniels.

Despite the pair of touchdown passes, Stoltz only threw for 60 yards in the first half on 6-of-11 passing. He finished with 132 yards and three touchdowns.

The favorable field position for Sunlake continued in the second half, when the Seahawks recovered an attempted onside kick on the 50-yard line. Stoltz connected with Jones again for a 31-yard score — Jones’ third trip to the end zone.

The Sunlake ground attack was led by senior Jerome Sanmuels, who piled up 50 rushing yards in the first half.

“Our defense plays well at times, but we battled field position all night,” said Wiregrass Ranch coach Jeremy Shobe. “It’s tough when you’ve got a short field to work with.”

The Bulls sorely missed their starting quarterback, Day, and starting running back Jamie Berone, who also suffered a concussion the week before.

“That throws the rhythm off,” Shobe said. “We got a couple of kids we feel are ready, but it’s hard in three days to change the whole rhythm of an offense when you’ve got a guy like your QB that goes down.”

Wiregrass Ranch didn’t get a first down until 4:44 left in the third quarter, and the offense was only able to generate 41 yards.

Sunlake has a bye next week, and then travels to district rival Springstead on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The Bulls travel to Pasco on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Zephyrhills Christian football builds anew

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By Kyle LoJacono

Last year the Zephyrhills Christian six-man football team reached all of its goals, including completing a perfect 13-0 record and winning a state title.

The majority of those players from that Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) championship team graduated, while others choose to play on public school squads like Zephyrhills or Pasco.

However, the 2011 Warriors season will go on, but as a middle school squad.

Sixth-grader Javan Smith carries the ball during one of Zephyrhills Christians six-man football practices.

Zephyrhills Christian will compete in the FCAPPS middle school division. The goal is to build the program back up to the high school level as the Warriors get older, stronger and more experienced.

“It’s fun because we get to teach football to a lot of kids who are new to the game,” said Zephyrhills Christian coach and principal Mike Smith. “Here it’s a lot more about fundamentals. We can’t do a lot of things like we did last year, but we’ll get to build on this new foundation.”

Mike has found a few more differences teaching sixth and seventh graders from the juniors and seniors.

“The first day I had four kids crying because they didn’t want to run because it was hot, which is very different from the high school kids, but that has changed and by the fourth practice they were all ready to go,” Mike said.

The Warriors will have a familiar name at quarterback to start the year — sixth-grader Javan Smith. Javan is Mike’s youngest son and the brother of Mikey Smith, who was Zephyrhills Christian’s signal caller in 2010.

Javan had a front-row seat to the Warriors 2010 perfect season.

“I saw every game,” Javan said. “I was the announcer. It was a great experience. … We have the talent to do a lot here, but we’re still working on some things.”

Seventh-grade linebacker Nevada Taylor (No. 34) tackles Robert Keldie in the backfield during a recent Warriors practice.

One of the biggest players on the squad is ninth-grader Devon Grannis, an offensive lineman. He relishes the chance to build the program to that championship level.

“I feel honored to help build the program back,” Grannis said. “Maybe next year we can get back to that state final.”

Another player who Mike predicts will help return the Warriors to greatness is seventh-grader Nevada Taylor, a linebacker and running back.

“I really wanted to play, and this team has great potential,” Taylor said. “We’ve got a great coach who has helped us come a long way in a short time.”

Taylor said he looks up to Josh Roberts, who was the Warriors running back last year. The story is similar with seventh-grade linebacker Josh Wilcox, who looks up to Dale Smith Jr., last year’s starting linebacker.

“Watching (Dale) taught me how to be a linebacker,” Wilcox said. “He’s a great player.”

Dale graduated last year, while Roberts and Mikey decided to be home schooled and play on the Zephyrhills football team this season.

“Mikey and Josh both thought it was the right time to try and play with the public school,” Mike said. “They both want to play in college and wanted a chance to get a little more attention.”

Mikey is still around the program on a daily basis. He helps coach the offense during the team’s practices, held during the student’s normal physical education class in the afternoon. The timing allows the former Warriors quarterback to help the program before leaving for Zephyrhills practice.

It seems coaching runs in the Smith family.

“I love the sport, but I love helping the kids and impacting their life,” Mike said. “I believe with all my heart that football kept me in school. I believe it kept me away from drugs and alcohol. Those things were there, but I knew if I did those things I wouldn’t be able to play on Friday night.

“I try and translate everything we do into life for these kids,” Mike continued. “When things are difficult, I tell them lots of things in life will be difficult. But at the end of the day you don’t quit because things are difficult. You get up on your feet and keep fighting. I want to it be an impact on their life spiritually and mentally for years after they take off the pads for the last time.”

The Warriors play at Hernando Christian on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. They will close the season at home against Jacksonville Eastland Christian on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.

Young Gators poised to leave mark in area cross country

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By Kyle LoJacono

The Land O’ Lakes boys cross country team may be one of the youngest squads in the area, but they are not lacking in race experience or confidence.

The Gators will be led by junior Dillon Oergel along with Travis Nichols, Tyler Stahl and Jake Poore, all sophomores. Oergel, Nichols and Stahl were all part of the 2010 Land O’ Lakes squad that placed 15th in the Class 3A state meet.

“It meant a lot getting to states last year because we had so many seniors,” Nichols said. “It was a great experience.”

The Land O’ Lakes Gators boys cross country team is very young, but still has experience competing at the state meet.

Two of the biggest seniors from last year were Chris Dotson, who signed a cross country scholarship with Lee University in Cleveland, and Hendrix Lafontant, who came in third in districts in 16:29 and earned a spot on the All-Laker/All-Lutz News cross country team in 2010.

Despite the subtractions, the Gators do not feel like it is a rebuilding year.

“This year we’re hoping to get in the top-10, but it’s not going to be easy,” said Land O’ Lakes coach Kris Keppel. “What’s important is our three top sophomores really feed off each other. When you have that you can have a strong team. Not every year do you have that, but these three have really gelled together.”

Keppel said the team has the talent to be one of the top teams in the Tampa Bay area, especially because the younger runners have started taking on leadership roles.

“Tyler and I have been leading the runs, and that’s a lot different from what we did last year as freshmen,” said Nichols, whose personal record (PR) in a 5-kilometer race is 16:52. “We had all that senior leadership who pushed everyone to finish. Now we know we have to do some of those things because the seniors aren’t here anymore.”

Nichols said his goal is to get his time less than 16 minutes by the end of the year, and he has taken steps during the summer to help make it happen. He has given up fast food and replaced it with pasta and lean protein, while also keeping hydrated and focusing on stretching.

“I feel better on runs,” Nichols said. “It helps me be more productive.”

Stahl, whose PR is 17:25, has his own methods for slashing his times. He has run for 50 straight days and plans to run every day throughout the season.

Oergel, whose PR is 16:58, has not been able to do as much training during the summer as he would like. He has been suffering a small injury to his left knee that happened during the offseason because of too much running and weight training. While his conditioning is not where he would like it, he said he is almost completely healed and ready for the year.

“We have a couple injuries, but I think the prospects are still very, very good,” Keppel said.

Keppel is entering his 18th year as Land O’ Lakes’ coach. His Gators squads have qualified for states seven times, including the last three seasons.

The road toward a fourth-straight trip to states will not be easy for the Gators. They are in Class 3A-District 6 with Wiregrass Ranch. The Bulls won a district and regional championship last year, forcing Land O’ Lakes to live with runner-up finishes in both events.

“There’s a lot of competition,” Nichols said. “Wiregrass is in our district and were really good last year. I know all their runners and I think myself, Tyler and Jake are stacked right there with their guys, but it’s not going to be easy to get where we want.”

Wiregrass Ranch is coached by Chris Loth, one of Keppel’s former assistants.

“He started the program there, and we’ve always had that friendly rivalry,” Keppel said. “These guys know all of their runners by name. It’s not like we go and spray paint their house or anything, but we don’t want them to beat us. It just adds something more when we run against them.”

If they get to regionals, Land O’ Lakes will likely face perennial powerhouse Chamberlain as well as Steinbrenner, which finished as the 2A state runner-up in 2010.

“Wiregrass has been beating us for years and it would be great to finally beat them,” Stahl said. “We want to get first at districts and regionals and beat them at states. With Steinbrenner, they’re new and we haven’t faced them, but we’re pretty confident we can beat them. As long as we feel that way we should be able to.”

Marla Oliver to guide academy volleyball

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By Kyle LoJacono

Marla Oliver was recently named the new volleyball coach at Academy at the Lakes and has a goal of bring a winning tradition to the Wildcats program.

New Wildcats volleyball coach Marla Oliver speaks with her team during a break in the action in the squads' win against Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate on Sept. 8.

The challenge is large for Oliver, as the academy is seeking its first playoff appearance and is coming off a 2-12 season.

“This is a great school and is the reason why I accepted the challenge,” Oliver said. “I know that I have a support system that will help me and pick me up when I fall down.”

Coaching is nothing new to her, having spent more than 20 years coaching basketball and softball from elementary school to the college level, but this is her first time leading a volleyball program.

“I accepted the challenge,” Oliver said. “I have many years of coaching experience in other sports and figured that it wouldn’t be much different. Well, I was wrong. Volleyball is definitely a sport in its own category.”

Oliver said she did a lot of research on how to lead a successful volleyball program during the last few weeks.

Academy at the Lakes senior Alexis Holler in the Wildcats three-set win on Sept. 8.

Either Oliver is a quick study or she has a natural gift to coach volleyball, because the Wildcats won their first match of the year at home against Hernando Christian Academy, a district opponent, on Aug. 30 in four sets 19-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18.

“After we lost the first set Tuesday night, the competitiveness came out in me,” Oliver said. “Now I’m on a mission to get the girls better day by day so we can compete with anyone.”

The academy made it two wins in a row by defeating Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate 25-6, 25-10, 25-3 on Sept. 8.

Oliver and her family moved to the area from Michigan a year ago. Academy athletic director Tom Haslam said she started working as a part-time substitute teacher during last school year.

“We offered her a full-time physical education position at the end of the year,” Haslam said. “She had a four-month audition you could say, and we really enjoyed what we saw from her. We liked her personality, she has great energy and knows how to coach. The girls really respond to her.”

Oliver said her key players will include senior outside hitter Mary Power, senior outside hitter and setter Alexis Holler and junior setter Rachel Allen.

“(Mary) is a true leader and great motivator,” Oliver said. “Alexis knows the game very well and is athletic. Rachel is a great setter and knows when and where to be at all times. She is another great leader on the court.”

Marla said there are also a lot of players who haven’t played the sport before, but are “working hard and catching on quickly.”

Volleyball may be new to Marla, but she does have a familiar face in the Wildcats lineup. Her daughter Amelia is a senior outside hitter and defensive specialist.

Marla is also the middle school athletic coordinator at the academy. Haslam said she will coach middle school girls basketball in the winter.

“I played college basketball, so that will be a little more familiar to me,” Marla said.

The academy plays in Class 2A-District 8 with Bayshore Christian, Cambridge, Citrus Park Christian, Hernando Christian and Tampa Bay Christian. The 2A-8 tournament is Oct. 24-27 at Citrus Park.

The Wildcats host Cambridge Christian on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.

John Clapp leads two Gators programs

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By Kyle LoJacono

John Clapp was named the Land O’ Lakes softball coach just a few weeks after taking over the Gators girls golf program.

Land O’ Lakes athletic director Karen Coss said Clapp’s experience with the Gators softball program made him the clear choice.

“(John) has been the junior varsity coach for the last nine years and has built a great relationship with the girls while teaching them the game,” Coss said. She then added, “He knows his way around the team, field and players better than anyone. There were great candidates for the head varsity position, but John’s experience with the program gave him the advantage.”

Coss also said Clapp “is committed to Land O’ Lakes High School athletics, and is willing to put the time in to help the girls learn, but also have fun while they’re doing it.”

Clapp was honored to take over both Land O’ Lakes programs.

“Being involved in two programs is exciting,” Clapp said. “I believe it is an honor and a privilege to coach these young ladies, making a difference one athlete at a time. I truly love coaching.”

Clapp said he has experience coaching softball, baseball, football and hockey, but this is the first time he has led a golf program. The squad is very young, with three freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors.

Despite a lack of experience, the Gators girls golf team has hit the ground running, earning a victory 208-233 against Gulf in their first match of the season.

The Land O’ Lakes softball team went 4-16 in 2011. The program loses seven players to graduation from last year, including second-leading hitter Emily Austin who averaged .328 as a senior.

The Gators will likely return catcher and infielder Meghan Sfraga, who led the squad with a .444 batting average, 18 RBI, 15 runs scored and nine doubles.

“My goal for both programs is to build strong successful long-term teams that the girls are proud to be a part of,” Clapp said. He then added, “We have a few months until softball begins but have great plans in place.”

Clapp is replacing Jamie Martin, who resigned her softball position but will remain as the Gators girls weightlifting coach and a physical education teacher at Land O’ Lakes.

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