Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner volleyball team gave Plant a serious scare on Sept. 1, but the five-time defending state champion survived against the host Warriors 25-17, 18-25, 12-25, 25-21, 15-12.

“It was right there in our hands,” said Steinbrenner coach Jennifer Graham. “We had a game plan all along and I think we played well. I had nothing really to say at the end to them except if you’re not upset then you’re not an athlete because that was a hard fought match between two good teams.”

Steinbrenner (1-1) had played Plant (2-0) three times in the last two years, all straight-set victories for the Panthers. However, a pre-season scrimmage between the two squads showed the Warriors they could play with the Panthers.

“We beat them in a scrimmage this summer, and I think that’s what took the fear away for us coming in,” Graham said. “The last two years we’ve come in scared. We weren’t scared. We came in with confidence and we showed them that we meant business.”

The start of the first set was fairly even between the two squads, with Plant having a slim 10-9 lead. Then the Panthers scored nine of the next 10 points to stretch the advantage out for good.

Steinbrenner appeared to be a different team from the start of the second set through the third. The Warriors took early leads they never gave up in those sets, but Graham said they didn’t change much after the first.

“Things just started to click,” Graham said. “I think they might have needed a little warm-up to feel out their blockers and the speed.”

The Warriors were bothered by illegal rotational calls in the contest. They were called for six in the match, including two in the final set.

Two Warriors set single-match records for the third-year program in the contest.

Senior outside and right side hitter Miranda Powell’s 20 kills are the most for any Warrior in a match, as were sophomore setter Casey McLean’s 48 assists.

Senior libero Cary Anne Bame posted 20 digs in the match, while junior outside and middle hitter Madison Seuzeneau had 18 kills.

The Warriors play at Sickles on Wednesday, Sept. 7 after the junior varsity (JV) match. They will play their first Class 7A-District 9 contest on Thursday, Sept. 8 at home against Wiregrass Ranch after JV plays.

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

By Kyle LoJacono

Most cross country teams that lose their top three runners expect to take a step back, but the Steinbrenner boys are not like most teams.

Last year, the Warriors won the Class 2A-District 5 championship and finished as the state runner-up in the program’s second season.

“Right after the season we had an award ceremony in the gym and we left with a goal from that night — one better,” said second-year Steinbrenner coach Bobby McConnell, who coached at Gaither in 2009 following eight years at Leto. “The goal for this year is to win state and I think we’re right in the conversation. I think we have a shot because of what the kids have done this summer.”

The squad lost team-captains Alex Newby and twin brothers Matt and Dan Sarver to graduation. All three runners consistently finished 5-kilometer courses in less than 17 minutes.

“There’s been a rumor that we’re rebuilding, but we’re basically reloading,” said junior Zach Lima. “We’re expecting to do well at state. I think we’ve had a great summer. We have eight really great runners and I think we can win state. That’s my goal.”

Zach, whose personal record (PR) is 16:38, is one of the Warriors’ current captains along with twin brother Tyler.

“We got second, so we tasted what it’s like to be on the podium, but we want to take that next step up,” said Tyler, whose PR is 16:35. “This summer there was more getting up early every morning and working harder.”

Rounding out the captain spots this year is junior Chris Cerreta, who has that same confidence as the Lima twins.

“Coming off my freshman year we didn’t do as much running,” Cerreta said. “Last year we did a lot more, and I feel a lot stronger now than a year ago.”

A lot of the confidence comes from a more difficult training regimen this summer.

“This year our coaches have preached to us if you want to win, you have to do the uncommon,” Zach said. “We’ve had a lot of guys out there doing uncommon things and giving it their all. I think it speaks to what our program can be to have 15 kids out there all summer in the heat.”

Zach said some of those workouts stressed running as a team to build camaraderie. It also included running to meet specific times on certain days, going on 10-mile runs on others and also mixing in more workouts to build strength.

Tyler said every one of the runners bought into the increased workload during the summer, with at least 15 of them logging more than 500 miles.

“Last year we couldn’t do the things we’re doing right now,” Tyler said. “We’re pushing that up and we’re also making sure we come back together as a team. We lost a lot of seniors, so we want to make sure we’re a tight team.”

McConnell gives all the credit for the summer program to his new captains.

“I thought we had three solid captains last year,” McConnell said. “I think what we have with these captains is a little bit different style. The other guys were very hard workers, but these guys are all about the running and getting the whole team better. They got the team training this summer, and that’s a big part of being a good captain.”

One challenge for the Warriors is adjusting to a new district and classification — 3A-8 with schools like Gaither, Sickles and Chamberlain.

“Last year we were a large-population school in 2A because of where they put us,” Zach said. “Now we’re running with schools that are just as big as us. It adds to the pressure, but we want to run against the best competition in the state.”

The pressure also comes with expectations from the squad’s state runner-up performance last year.

“It’s really exciting, and it puts a positive type of pressure on you,” Cerreta said. “You’re expected to do well, and it gives you more of a competitive edge. You want to give your school more of a name.”

McConnell relishes that opportunity to make Steinbrenner a place known for its runners.

“It’s been a real joy and I’m happy for the opportunity,” McConnell said. “Coming in I knew the team had a chance to be very good. We probably exceeded my expectations last year. We’re going into it with a totally different attitude this year. I really think this team has the potential to compete for state. We have a great group and that really makes it rewarding.”

The Warriors’ first race is on Friday, Sept. 9 at Ed Radice Park in Odessa.

Sheriff says league growth also on the horizon

By Kyle LoJacono

The Pasco Police Athletic League (PPAL) explored a merger with a larger organization this year, but Sheriff Chris Nocco made it clear any possibility is off the table.

“The Pasco Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League is going to stay intact,” Nocco said. “We’re not going to merge with any other league and from this point forward we’re going to try and expand even bigger.”

Nocco cited adding a team in the Wiregrass/Wesley Chapel area. Then in a few years PPAL might include other sports for the first time in the league’s 38-year-history.

“When times get better and we have the opportunity, we would like to go to another sport,” Nocco said. “Maybe it’s basketball, maybe it’s baseball and softball, but we want to expand this opportunity for our kids.”

Talk of a merger started in the spring. Right around that time, the Wesley Chapel Bulls and West Hernando Cougars, which had been part of PPAL, joined the Mid Florida Football and Cheerleading Conference. In addition, several adult leaders from the Dade City Pirates split off to form a program with the same name that now plays in Mid Florida.

Despite the small setback, league executive director Tim Couet is confident about the future of the Pirates.

“That program has a lot of community support and backing from businesses in the area,” Couet said. “That’s an area that can really use a league like PPAL and we’re excited about offering it to those kids.”

Couet said the league has received approval from the county to build a secondary football field at the Pirates home at Stanley Park.

Merger talks involved making sure the league would continue in some form while also giving kids the chance to play in regional and state championships within Mid Florida.

“The overwhelming desire of the parents to keep the league local killed those talks,” Couet said. “The parents, coaches and league directors wanted to keep things local.”

That idea of keeping teams local has been a major emphasis for PPAL for years.

When Lutz Chiefs moved from PPAL to the Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL) in 2010, it dropped the number of PPAL teams to nine. Couet said the league looked at adding a team from Clearwater to give them an even 10 clubs, but decided against it because of the distance. Travel would have been even greater with Mid Florida.

“It goes back to community,” Nocco said. “The fact that our parents would have to travel 30 miles, 50 miles, maybe even two-hour trips outside of Pasco County. People want to stay within the county.”

Couet said PPAL also wanted to maintain its very strict background checks, something Mid Florida could not provide.

“We probably have one of the highest standards for background checks for coaches and for anyone who participates in the league adult-wise because we want our children to be safe,” Nocco said. “So there were some other leagues that we explored, but they did not have the higher standards that we do.”

As the sheriff, Nocco sees a connection with sports and keeping kids away from trouble.

“From our standpoint there’s no better way to do crime prevention than to get these kids early and give them a skill, learn about teamwork, learn about competition and learn just how to succeed in life,” Nocco said.

Nocco also has a special connection to football. He was an offensive lineman in high school and played left tackle for the University of Delaware. While at the Division I program, he was one of the biggest members of the Blue Hens at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds.

Nocco, who was an academic All-American in college, said he learned about hard work and coming together as a team while at Delaware. Couet said it is “huge” for PPAL to have a sheriff with experience in football.

Nocco has fond memories playing football at Delaware — that is except for one game in 1997 against Marshall University. He said he gave up at least three sacks in the contest while a redshirt junior.

“And it may have been more,” Nocco said with a laugh. “The Marshall game was really bad.”

The competition on the Marshall squad was tough, including long-time NFL players Randy Moss and Chad Pennington.

“That team was loaded,” Nocco said.

Nocco attended PPAL’s annual preseason jamboree and plans to make it out to several more games this year to offer more support to the clubs.

PPAL now has seven teams, which include the Land O’ Lakes Gators, Zephyrhills Bulldogs, New Port Richey Buccaneers, Crews Lake Cowboys, Hudson Cobras, Trinity Mustangs and the Pirates. Couet said the group has about 1,200 football players and cheerleaders ages 5-14. Couet said the sheriff’s office contributes about $5,000 a year to the league.

The PPAL Super Bowl will be in Hudson on Nov. 19. For more information on the league, visit www.pascopal.org.

Cary Anne Bame builds legacy with Steinbrenner volleyball

By Kyle LoJacono

When the Steinbrenner volleyball team played its first match two years ago, Cary Anne Bame was the libero. Fast-forward to 2011 and the senior is still the Warrior with the off-colored jersey patrolling the backline.

Bame’s play has made penciling her into the lineup easy for coaches, but she brings more to the table than just digs.

“I’ve coached Cary Anne for two different sports now, and it’s a coach’s dream having a player like her,” said Steinbrenner volleyball coach Jennifer Graham, who also coached Bame in flag football. “I can give her any task on or off the court, and I know it’s going to get done.”

Graham assigned Bame to handle many of the details at the Warriors golf event before the season.

“She gave everyone jobs and walked around and made sure they all were accomplished,” Graham said. “She’s going to be a great CEO or manager of something because she has the skills for that, and it’s the same on the court. She loves the game and loves to play. She knows how to win and she brings that spirit to the team. She’s just a great teammate to have. I don’t think she has a negative bone in her body, and all the girls look to her leadership.”

Sophomore setter Casey McLean is one of those players who look up to Bame.

“She always says the right thing at the right time in practices and matches,” McLean said. “She’s our leader, but she doesn’t do it in a bossy way. It’s just natural for her.”

That natural command is one of the things that drew Bame to the libero position.

“I love that pressure of having the ball coming right at me and it’s all up to me to dig it out,” Bame said. “When it happens, it’s like nothing else. I love everything about it.”

Bame’s high school career started at Sickles in 2008. She saw major playing time despite being a freshman, posting 170 digs.

Bame has taken her game to the next level at Steinbrenner, where she has put up a program-record 430 digs while adding 98 aces. Her production and leadership helped the Warriors win two district championships and reach the regional semifinals in 2010, but she wants more out of her senior campaign.

“This is my last shot,” Bame said. “I’ve been a captain the last three years, but it’s completely different as a senior. I’m really trying to influence the younger players to make sure we build up the program for the future too. I really feel like it’s my job to really push the team because I know we’re good enough to make states. It’s just making sure we’re putting in everything we can to get there.”

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

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner volleyball team has only known district championships during the program’s first two seasons.

The Warriors won the Class 4A-District 9 crowns in 2009 and 2010 with a 14-0 record against district opponents. Now Steinbrenner moves into 7A-9 with new teams, but similar expectations.

“There is a lot of pressure,” said senior libero Cary Anne Bame. “The last two years we’ve had that excuse that we’re a new team. Now there’s an expectation for us. So there’s pressure, but we want that pressure because it means people expect us to win.”

If the Warriors, who finished 18-10 in 2010, are to make it three district titles in as many years, they will have to do it with a different cast of characters. The squad lost six seniors to graduation, including two of its top-three kills producers and setter Erin McMurtry, the All-Laker/All-Lutz News Volleyball Player of the Year.

Despite those losses, Warriors coach Jennifer Graham said the 2011 squad may be even better.

“This year we have a young team at a lot of positions, so a lot of people look at that as a rebuilding year,” Graham said. “I don’t see it like that. We have a really strong and fast offensive team. We’re quick defensively, and we have smart players. I don’t think we’ve skipped a beat.”

Sophomore Casey McLean steps in at setter. She has played for some time with several of the Warriors hitters, including sophomore outside hitter Rachel Mathison.

“Casey has been playing with Rachel and some of the other hitters for a while and that relationship shows,” Graham said. “Casey is our quarterback. Not everyone has the talent to run an offense.”

McLean said her time on varsity last year gave her confidence and also let her learn from McMurtry.

“She had to change positions from right side hitter and for her to take on so much pressure made me really look up to her,” McLean said of McMurtry. “She introduced me to new techniques.”

One of the few senior frontline players is Miranda Powell. The outside and right side hitter posted 86 kills, 38 aces and nine blocks in 2010 and said she is “excited to be a bigger part of the team this year.”

The Warriors may be young, but have a lot of depth. Graham said they are two or three players deep at every position.

“It’s very competitive because everyone is fighting to prove that they deserve to play,” Powell said. “It’s making us play harder. Anyone can step up and take charge.”

Steinbrenner will likely need that depth to get through matches in its tougher district, which includes Chamberlain, Freedom, Gaither and Wiregrass Ranch. Freedom made the playoffs last year as a district runner-up, while Gaither won a district title in 2009.

“I told a lot of the parents to expect to be at matches until 10:30 because it may go five (sets),” Graham said. “But we want that and we’ve got that. It’s going to prepare us for the end of the season. We’re in a lot of big tournaments too and that’s going to get us farther this year because tough teams won’t shock us.”

Bame added, “We’re expecting longer matches, so we’ve been really working on our conditioning every day. We’re expecting to go to five, so we want to be able to play with anyone all night because that’s what it’s going to take in this district.”

Those tough matches may prepare Steinbrenner for the playoffs come November. Two years ago the Warriors were knocked out in the first round by Lakewood in five sets. In 2010 they won a four-set match at home against Palmetto in the regional quarterfinals, but lost their next match at Braden River 25-23, 25-15, 25-21.

“I’ll never forget the feeling after we lost to Braden River,” Bame said. “It was a long drive all the way home because we all knew we could have beaten them. Feeling the loss, it’s so much motivation for me. It’s that feeling, it makes me cringe. I don’t want to feel that again.”

McLean said they will use that disappointment as fuel.

“Last year it was sweet 16, and I think this year we can go even farther,” McLean said.

Steinbrenner will host its first match of the season on Thursday, Sept. 1 against perennial powerhouse Plant after the junior varsity match. Graham is challenging the community to come out and support the Warriors. The match will start around 7 p.m. and the first 100 people receive a free T-shirt.

“I won’t say what it’ll say yet, but it will be something special,” Graham said.

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

By Kyle LoJacono

Even during the glory years of Zephyrhills football, the Bulldogs have perpetually had one of the smallest rosters in Pasco County — that is until this season.

Zephyrhills has 72 kids competing for spots on the varsity and junior varsity team this year, a fact that has second-year coach Reggie Roberts excited for the season.

“It helps us to really build the foundation,” Reggie said. “We’ve got a lot of really young kids who will be around for four years. About 70-80 percent of our kids are freshmen who were very successful in middle school.”

Many of those freshmen came from Stewart Middle, which amassed a 10-2 record the last two years and a pair of conference championships.

“They have only known winning the last few years,” Reggie said. “I’m excited we have these young kids with that expectation.”

Freshman Jaylan Pickett was a starting running back on those Stewart teams. He relishes the chance to bring that winning tradition back to the Bulldogs.

“It’s a lot of pressure, but I welcome it,” Pickett said. “It makes me want to work even harder to live up.”

Zephyrhills has also gotten reinforcements from the Zephyrhills Christian six-man football team, including the Warriors quarterback Mikey Smith and running back Josh Roberts.

Zephyrhills Christian went 13-0 last season en route to claiming the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) state championship.

“I wanted to be a part of something big like this,” said Smith, who will be a linebacker and backup quarterback this year as a freshman. “I feel like there is something good building here.”

Josh was one of the biggest offensive playmakers for Zephyrhills Christian last year, but has moved to defensive end with the Bulldogs.

“It’s a little different, but I’ll play wherever coach wants me,” said Josh, a senior.

Josh is the brother of senior Jamal Roberts, who has played for Zephyrhills the last few years as a wide receiver, running back and quarterback.

“It’s fun because we play on opposite sides of the ball,” Josh said. “We can tell each other our mistakes.”

Reggie has seen a difference in the players’ resolve during preseason practice.

“A lot of times last year we’d face some adversity in a game and we’d give up,” Reggie said. “I don’t see that in these kids now, even the older kids who have been around. There’s no give-up in these kids.”

The Bulldogs have gone 2-8 in each of the last two years, but Reggie has seen renewed vigor caused by players fighting for roster spots.

“There’s going to be some places where the younger kids are higher on the depth chart than the older kids,” Reggie said. “The state of competition is back and nobody has a lock on any position. Everybody has to work for that spot everyday. It makes our jobs easier and we don’t have to go above and beyond to motivate. The play on the field motivates.”

Reggie also made an addition to his coaching staff. He hired Pasco High graduate Darrell Davis as his wide receivers coach. The Pirate turned Bulldog played at North Carolina State from 2007-10.

“He was a star at Pasco and just joined our staff from the arena league,” Reggie said. “He’s already an asset to our team.”

Like most coaches, Reggie takes losses very hard, but for him it is also personal. He played at Zephyrhills from 1986-89. Tom Fisher was his defensive coordinator his first three years before taking over the helm when Reggie was a senior.

Reggie and the Bulldogs reached the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) playoffs for the first time in his final year and won a district championship. Zephyrhills has made the playoffs seven more times since 1989.

“Winning is not new to Zephyrhills High School,” Reggie said. “We’re not a new school. Tom Fisher won football games here, but recently the expectation to win has been very low. We have to change that, and I think the mentality has changed.”

The Bulldogs will get a chance to see how much that mentality change has helped when they host Land O’ Lakes on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. for their season opener.

“People might not see it yet, but on Friday nights I think you’ll see it,” Reggie said. “I think we’re going in the right direction. We’re the little dogs on the block. We understand that people think we’re not going to do so well this year, and rightly so because we only won a few games last year, but I can tell you we have a bunch of players who are ready to play football.”

Sickles got the better of Gaither during the squads’ kickoff classic football game on Aug. 26. The Gryphons topped the host Cowboys 17-2 in a game that included 324 total penalty yards.

Sickles got on the board with a 43-yard field goal by Andres Vasquez. Gaither cut the lead to 3-2 when its special teams chased Vasquez out the back of the Gryphons’ end zone while in punt formation.

Sickles quarterback Nate Mills scored on a 2-yard run near the end of the second half and added a 19-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Gaither’s defense held Mills to 7-of-19 passing with just 77 yards. The Cowboys next host Alonso on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. for their season opener.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Freedom volleyball team made the playoffs for the first time in the school’s nine-year history last season, something the 2011 squad plans on making a trend.

The Patriots went 13-9 last year, reaching the regional quarterfinals as the Class 5A-District 9 runner-up. Freedom is not resting on the laurels of that playoff squad and is working harder to make it two in a row.

“There are some new things we started this year,” said Freedom coach Kerry Short. “We played in the HCC summer league this year, so we were touching a volleyball earlier in a tournament setting. We also started our conditioning program earlier. I had the girls hitting the weight room, doing jumping and agility drills, running the track and bleachers. That shows their dedication.”

The Patriots must overcome losing five seniors, four or which saw time at outside, right side and middle hitters. The Freedom frontline is also without outside hitter Ashley Wilson, who led the squad last year with 295 kills while adding 205 digs as a freshman, but decided to focus on softball.

“We did lose five seniors, so that is tough with just a few returners, but luckily my junior varsity kids progressed and filled in some of those spots,” Short said. “Really I think we’re ready to go. Having such a new squad is fun because they want to do what all those seniors did last year.”

Freedom does return sophomore setter Kelly Schaller, who had a team-high 82 aces and 645 assists last year while adding 97 digs, 39 kills and 18 blocks. Her work made Schaller a first team all-conference player, and also put her on the PrepVolleyball.com’s list of the top freshmen nationally.

“I was actually expecting to be an average team last year,” Schaller said. “I was a freshman and expected everyone else to be so much better than me. I knew Freedom wasn’t known for volleyball, so coming into it my eyes opened to what we could do.”

Short said having an experienced setter who is also a team leader will help the squad get over losing those six players.

“She has a certain presence on the court with how she carries herself,” Short said. “The confidence she has when she runs plays, you can just see the girls really look up to her and she’s able to read them. It’s quite nice to have someone like Kelly.

“Setter is like the quarterback of a volleyball team,” Short continued. “She was here all last year, so she already understands how we do things. Plus she’s such a good athlete, so she can set from anywhere on the court. Now we can call a lot of different plays, and that lets us use a lot of our hitters.”

One of those hitters who will benefit from Schaller’s assists is Jasmyn Perry. The junior played mainly outside while at Tampa Bay Tech last year, where she averaged two kills per set, but has moved to middle hitter with the Patriots.

“We have come together like we’ve played forever,” Perry said. “Playing with a setter who’s one of the best in the nation, that’s pretty special. … It’s a good experience for me to come to a team at a much higher level. They have experience winning and in the playoffs.”

Perry’s comments illustrate how far the team has come since Short took over the program four years ago. Before that, Freedom had a new coach every season, eliminating any chance to build momentum.

“To think that this school wasn’t thought of for its volleyball team is hard to believe,” Perry said. “They’re really good. Better than any team that I’ve played on and better than most I’ve played against.”

The Patriots will likely have a more difficult road toward the playoffs this year with their new district that includes Gaither, Wiregrass Ranch, Steinbrenner and Chamberlain. Steinbrenner won two district championships the last two years, while Gaither won a title in 2009.

“We definitely have a tougher schedule this season with the district change,” Short said. “We’ve added Steinbrenner and Wiregrass Ranch in the district, plus we play Plant. Playing these tougher opponents lets our players see how good they have to get to play with those talented teams and get beyond them.”

Freedom will play at home against rival Wharton on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

“That is always our most intense match of the year and the girls are really looking forward to it,” Short said. “We call it the battle on Bruce B. Downs.”

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

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Wesley Chapel football team lost a pair of starters to transfers during the last month, but the Wildcats are not scrambling to fill the void going into their first game on Friday.

Sophomore quarterback Alex McGough and senior athlete Devon Henry left for Gaither and Freedom, respectively. McGough had 418 passing yards with one touchdown last year, while Henry posted 481 rushing and 230 receiving yards with six total scores.

Second-year Wesley Chapel coach Ben Alford has found the players to fill in and feels comfortable with the 80 players he has.

“We still have a lot of talent,” Alford said. “Alex leaving, I don’t think we fall off under center with Keegan Tanner. He’s a senior and has all the leadership characteristics you want and will bring something different to the table.”

Tanner played quarterback on the junior varsity squad as a freshman and on varsity as a sophomore, but moved to cornerback last year. Tanner said he plans to use his experience as a defender to his advantage.

“When I’m at quarterback I can think about what I was trying to do when I was a cornerback,” Tanner said. “I know what coverages look like and what the defensive backs are going to do.”

Alford is also happy with the playmakers.

“Devon Henry was a big player, but we’ve got Devin Piper who has done great work this offseason and should fill in at running back,” Alford said. “Then we’ve got DeQuane Anderson, Sasha Mentor and some other guys who can make things happen.”

The transfers also forced Anderson, a junior, to change positions.

“When Devon left I just thought wow, we need somebody to step up on offense,” said Anderson, who will play running back. “I didn’t think it was going to be me because I was going to play defense this year. When coach asked me to move back to offense I knew I would have to work even harder.”

Mentor, a senior wide receiver, also relishes his chance to have a bigger role on the squad this year after having three catches for 14 yards last season.

“We’re really confident, especially because our quarterback is Keegan Tanner,” Mentor said. “He was our quarterback two years ago, so it’s nothing new to him. We don’t miss a beat because he knows all the wide receivers, how fast we are and how we run routes.”

Tanner has similar sentiments about the playmakers around him.

“We’re not going to worry about the transfers,” Tanner said. “We’re just going to concentrate on who we have here, and the guys we have here are really good players. I think the offense can take the next step even without them.”

The Wildcats lost two important parts of their offense, but the defense remained nearly untouched by transfers.

“Defensively I feel really confident,” Alford said. “We’ve got a lot of seniors on the defense with Angel Locicero, Angel Ramos, a cornerback named Chris Matter who is 6-foot-3 and can really cover guys. He’s the real deal at corner.”

Another reason for the team’s confidence is the players have a year of experience with coach Alford.

“Now he doesn’t have to stop and explain what every word in a playcall means,” Mentor said. “We just know what to run. Everyone isn’t confused, and that means we can get more done in practice.”

Things may be easier mentally, but Alford has not been light on the workouts and discipline.

“I came in last year, and I don’t want to say I took it easy on them, but we did a little bit because I thought that would be unfair to the seniors to come in and lay down the law on them,” Alford said. “This year they understand and are in line.”

Alford has been asking for little things to see which players pay close attention to detail. One example was he asked everyone to wear their shirts inside out the day before a practice.

“Every one of them did it without the coaches having to ask them to do it today,” Alford said. “It sounds silly to them, but they didn’t ask why. If you can follow simple directions like that, it shows discipline and togetherness.”

Alford said the team is “100 times better than this time last year.”

The Wildcats will host cross-town rival Wiregrass Ranch to open the regular season on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County resident at Saddlebrook member John Isner won his second title of the year at the Winston-Salem Open in N.C, giving him momentum entering the U.S. Open starting this week.

The 6-foot-9 Isner, who was seeded fourth, used his big serve to record 19 aces en route to defeating Julien Benneteau 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Aug. 27 for his third career ATP championship. His fastest serve of the match was recorded at 139 mph. The performance comes less than two months after he took the crown at Newport, R.I.

Isner said this has been the best summer of his career and feels “ready to go” for the year’s final grand slam tournament in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

“It means I’m going into (the U.S. Open) feeling some confidence,” said the 26-year-old Isner. “I really couldn’t ask for a better couple of months going into it. I feel really good right now and the preparation has been perfect for me heading to Flushing.”

Craig Boynton, Isner’s coach for the last two years, said he has been pleased with the constant improvement of his pupil’s all-around game.

“People like to focus on his serve, and rightly so because it’s a big weapon and an important part of his game,” Boynton said. “But the thing I’m most happy with is how much better he’s moving and his fitness level. Now he can play in long matches and not wear down. He also has the mental strength to overcome problems.”

Boynton’s point was illustrated in the fashion Isner defeated Benneteau. He fought back from dropping the first set after having 23 unforced errors to claim the championship. Isner said the strong wind during the finals, caused by Hurricane Irene, was a bit of a challenge, but he adjusted to it by the second set.

“That’s the kind of match he might have lost in past years,” Boynton said. “He didn’t let the elements get to him and he fought right on through.”

Isner said he felt his serve get better as the match progressed. He delivered another big serve to Benneteau’s backhand on match point. The French qualifier needed everything he had just to return the serve, which left him out of position to stop Isner’s forehand winner to claim the title.

Isner defeated fellow American Andy Roddick in the semifinals 7-6(7), 6-4. He picks up 250 ATP ranking points to move up to No. 28 in the world for winning the tournament, along with $74,630 in prize money.

Isner has a 28-18 record this year, including winning 17 of his last 21 matches. He is scheduled to face Marcos Baghdatis, of Cyprus, on Wednesday, Aug. 31 for his opening round match of the U.S. Open.

Isner is seeded 28th in the U.S. Open. If he gets by Baghdatis, he would match up with the winner of the match between Brazilian Joao Souza and American Robby Ginepri.

Isner is seeking his first grand slam title in his four-year ATP career. His best finish at the U.S. Open was making the fourth round in 2009.

“It’s going to be very tough,” Isner said. “Obviously all the best players in the world are there trying to win. Every match is intense. It would be a dream to win it, but I need to focus on my first match and go from there.”

The championship match of the U.S. Open is set for Sunday, Sept. 11 starting at 4 p.m.