Story and photo by Tammy Sue Struble
Robert Johnson of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office wanted a Bat Mobile since he was 6. In September 2001, Robert flew out to San Diego and got the body shell. His wife, Donna, helped him work on the caped crusader’s car. The couple, from Odessa, mounted it on a 1977 Lincoln Continental chassis. They molded it and started selling it as a kit.
It didn’t stop there. They also made a Bat Boat, Bat Cycle and The Black Beauty from the Green Hornet series.
They’ve only had the Bat Mobile on the road for about a month and they feel like instant celebrities.
“It is a people magnet,” Robert said. They’ve already been invited to a 50-year Batman anniversary party this February in West Palm Beach.
Next, a Ferrari Daytona Spyder from the Miami Vice television series will go on a Corvette chassis. For more information, e-mail futuraproductions@tampabay.rr.com.
Pita’s Republic wraps up healthier options
By Samantha Taylor
What I learned to love about eating healthy is that good feeling I get after I eat. Knowing that what you eat is something you aren’t going to regret gives you a good feeling, which isn’t only physical, but also psychological and emotional.
Knowing that the decision you made moved you closer to your goals instead of farther away, it shows yourself that you do care about your health. Now, aren’t those great reasons to learn to eat better?
Believe me, this took me some time to learn, but it’s totally worth it because know I really enjoy eating healthy.
My next adventure was a trip to Pita’s Republic in Lutz on SR 54 and Collier Parkway, but there are many more around if that one is not close to you.
After eating there, I could not believe I had never been there before!
The place aims at offering healthier options, which I love.
They use low-fat sour cream and cheese. Also, the chicken is baked, never fried. This is my kind of place! I also love that the menu’s nutrition info is online on the corporate website. You know me; I am all about knowing what is in what we eat. So what did I get?
I ordered the Tex-Mex Wrap on a wheat tortilla that was as huge on flavor as it was on size. For people who are practicing what I have been talking about in these articles and learning to discipline themselves by eating only half of what they order, this is definitely a wrap you can eat half of and then have a side of their Tabouli salad or a bag of Baked Lay’s.
As is my habit, I got their delicious chipotle sauce, on the side, so I can control how much of it goes on my wrap. This tasty sauce is not low fat, so make sure you control how much you use, especially if you’re eating the whole wrap. The whole wrap plus sauce equals about 600 calories, so if you leave off the sauce and have the whole wrap, it’s about 420 calories. If you eat half the wrap with some of the sauce, it’s about 300 calories. For a main meal, you can have up to 300-600 calories, but I would shoot for the lower end of that number. If you’re in the mood for a smoothie instead of a wrap, they use all fresh fruit, not like some of those smoothie shops that use fruit canned and drenched in sugary syrup. Oh, and if you have children, kids eat for free on Mondays and Tuesdays. You got to love Pita’s Republic — that place is awesome!
Joy of gardening with kids
By BJ Jarvis
Home vegetable gardening remains one of the nation’s favorite pastimes. Home, community and container gardens are popping up across Florida’s landscapes. Even the White House has a garden that kids like to toil in, growing cucumbers, beans and tomatoes.
With more than7 million households raising vegetables last year, the benefits are many. Whether for exercise, for the joy of raising something or the tremendous flavor of fresh off-the-vine taste, gardening is good for kids as well as adults.
Children like to garden and may discover vegetables they like that they haven’t loved at the dinner table. There is something about putting a seed or transplant in the ground, watering it, nurturing it and watching it grow that has a way of opening eyes to new tastes. The best thing is to make it fun and manageable.
Start with unique vegetables or unusual colors or plants with fun names, such as Easter egg eggplant, purple potatoes, white carrots, black tomatoes, multi-colored sweet corn and all sorts of miniature or giant vegetables too.
Go to a garden center seed shelf or pour over a seed catalog for unique plants to try. Make the choices simple to grow for quicker success, but be cautious. Radishes and spinach are easy to grow and sprout within two days, but do kids really want to eat them? Lettuce, squash, beans and onions are also reliable growers from seed. For some of the slow-to-sprout plants, you may want to choose transplants.
A themed garden can also make it fun. Consider a salsa garden with peppers, onions, tomatillos and cilantro. A pizza garden can include tomatoes, peppers and basil.
Making a manageable garden depends a bit on the age of the child. Suffice it to say that even older youth will benefit from starting small — even just a few in containers. Nothing is worse than filling the backyard with row upon row of veggies that sprout with the weeds to discourage a new interest in gardening.
Engage other senses by adding fragrant herbs to the mix. Dill, oregano, parsley and rosemary are all easy for beginners.
As the children tend their garden, they’ll learn that not all bugs are bad, what part of the plant is eaten and that weeds grow really fast. They’ll also enjoy the sunshine, get some exercise, appreciate nature and maybe along the way learn to appreciate all the hard work that goes into filling our grocer’s produce shelves.
When I worked at Brooklyn Botanical Garden, we had a large kid gardening with two youth pairing up in each small garden. As the summer progressed, we’d make a stir-fry lunch using whatever the kids wanted from their gardens. If they loved carrots, there were lots of carrots. Hate onions? No onions in your stir-fry. Add rice (or noodles) and you have a healthy, garden fresh meal. It assures everyone enjoys their harvest, uses whatever is ripe and was the highlight of the summer.
Consider starting a vegetable garden this spring with your children and rediscover the joys of gardening through a pair of fresh eyes. For more information, check out the University of Florida’s vegetable gardening publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/vh/vh02100.pdf.
-BJ Jarvis is the Horticulture Agent and Extension Director at Pasco Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at bjjarvis@ufl.edu.
Zephyrhills football moved into Pasco County district
Bulldogs get their wish
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Zephyrhills High principal Steve Van Gorden thought it was a mistake when he first saw the tentative new football districts for next season.
Not only did the proposed alignments have the Bulldogs in a different district than east Pasco County rivals Pasco and Wesley Chapel high schools, it had them with three Polk County schools.
“It wasn’t what we were expecting,” said Van Gorden, who became Zephyrhills’ principal in 2009.
Van Gorden sent an appeal to the Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA), which redistricts all high school athletics every two years. The appeal was originally denied, but late action moved the Bulldogs into a district with its traditional county rivals.
“We hear a lot of appeals during redistricting and most of them are denied because it’s hard to make everything work perfectly for everyone,” said FHSAA executive officer Roger Dearing. “Things worked out that another team moved into that district, giving them four teams.”
Dearing explained they try to have at least four teams per district because the top two in each group advance to the playoffs. Mulberry High moved into Class 5A-District 9, allowing Zephyrhills to shift into 5A-6, which includes both Pasco and Wesley Chapel.
“It’s really good for us,” Van Gorden said. “Any time you can keep your natural rivals, it’s a good thing. These kids have played against each other for years in youth football and it’s community versus community when they get together. It’s a fun thing.
“Then there’s the financial issues too,” Van Gorden continued. “It’s about an hour drive one way to those Polk County schools and that’s a lot of money in transportation. It would have been hard for fans to travel, so you don’t get the gate fees. Last year the stands were packed when we played our area teams, so we can look forward to that again.”
Pasco principal Pat Reedy said he agrees the rivalry is good for the area.
“You see grandfathers watching their grandchildren playing in the game they played in years ago,” Reedy said. “It’s really a special thing to see.”
Van Gorden and Reedy have placed a friendly wager on the winner of the annual meeting between Zephyrhills and Pasco. The match up is known as the 9-Mile War, which the Pirates have won three of the last four years. Two years ago the bet was for a Blizzard at Dairy Queen, and last year Van Gorden had to wear Pirates colors and read the highlights of the game on Pasco’s morning show.
Pasco and Zephyrhills have been in the same district the last five redistricting cycles, while Wesley Chapel has for four of the last five.
Zephyrhills only appealed its placement in football, not other sports.
Class 5A-District 6
- Anclote (2-8)
- Fivay (1-4)*
- Gulf (6-4)
- Hudson?(0-10)
- Pasco (11-1)
- Ridgewood (4-6)
- Wesley Chapel?(3-7)
- Zephyrhills (2-8)
*Played a split varsity/junior varsity schedule in 2010
Wiregrass Ranch defeats Gulf 2-0 in 4A regionals
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
The Wiregrass Ranch High girls soccer players overcame the butterflies in their stomachs entering the first regional tournament game in program history to beat Gulf High at home 2-0 Jan. 27.
Wiregrass Ranch (22-2-2) hadn’t even won a district tournament game before this season, and now they are district champs with a regional tournament win.
“It almost felt like it was a state of disbelief,” said first-year Bulls coach Erin Dodd of the team’s mindset entering the regional quarterfinals. “Wow, we’re here. We’re really here. This is it. I think a lot of people on the team itself are starting to realize that we are a very good team and that we can go far.”
Wiregrass Ranch sophomore Anne Cypriano described it as more of a fantasy.
“It’s really a dream,” Cypriano said. “We talked about trying to win districts from day one. It was just win the next game at the start, but then it became more try and get to districts and win it. Then to do this and win in regionals. It’s just amazing.”
The Bulls also had to overcome several injuries to starters in the contest, including losing senior midfielder and team captain Nicole Esposito before the 10-minute mark to a lower leg injury.
Wiregrass Ranch shook off the damage and scored with 15:13 left in the first when sophomore forward Berlin Waters put home a pass from junior midfielder Christina Wojaczyk. Fellow sophomore forward A.J. Blount added an insurance goal less than four minutes later with an assist from Cypriano.
“We’re not lucky,” Blount said. “We’re very blessed to be able to come out here and do what we did. It’s amazing. It just feels good to help the team get here.”
The sophomore forward combination of Waters and Blount has accounted for 59 of the Bulls’ 101 goals on the season, but Blount deflected all praise onto the team.
“I don’t think it’s our combination,” Blount said. “I think it’s just how the whole team works together. When the whole team works together, you can do more than any one or two players can alone.”
Dodd agreed with Blount’s sentiment.
“I think we have a very strong midfield to feed the ball into the forwards to control the flow of the game,” Dodd said. “But also we have two very fast forwards and very skilled forwards and it’s hard to double team both of them or to put that much pressure on two people. Eventually space is going to open up and it did.”
Even though the Bulls defeated Gulf (17-3-1) in shutout fashion, Dodd sees room for improvement. Wiregrass Ranch had 18 shots in the game and the coach hopes to see more of those turn into goals in the regional semis.
“I felt confident that we were capable of winning,” Dodd said. “I still don’t think we played our best soccer. I think we could have played better. I give a lot of credit to Gulf because they are a good team. They kept us on our toes.”
But for a team still forging its name in soccer, the bigger picture is they will always have that first regional victory.
“It’s just a whirlwind,” Dodd said. “Going from winning the first district game in school history to now hosting a regional game and I think we get to host another one; I don’t know if any of us have been able to wrap our minds around it. This has been a great season and the girls and I want to carry it as far as we can.”
The Bulls next play at home against district rival River Ridge High Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. The Bulls and Knights have played three times this year, with Wiregrass Ranch winning two including a 3-2 win in the district finals.
Warriors come from behind to beat Osceola
By Zack Peterson
Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
Just as she had done all year, Steinbrenner High girls soccer coach Teresa Patterson stood confidently on the sidelines and cheered on her Warriors to a grueling 4-2 win against Osceola High in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals Jan. 27.
“I think we stayed calm,” Patterson said. “Osceola is a physical, well-organized team, and our kids kept their composure.”
Following an 8-0 victory against Strawberry Crest High in the district finals, the Warriors (17-2-2) faced a much tougher matchup against Osceola (12-6-1) in the first round of the regional tournament.
Although Steinbrenner struck first with a goal by sophomore Alexis Bredeau in the fifth minute, Osceola quickly recovered, scoring the next two goals. After only allowing eight goals all season, the deficit came as a shock to the Warriors.
“It was really hard to react to,” said Bredeau, who had two goals on the night, one coming at a crucial moment in the second half to break a 30-minute stalemate. “But we came back strong, bit it and put it away.”
Steinbrenner stopped the bleeding with a goal by sophomore Morgan Melatti in the 36th. At the end of the first, both teams remained locked at 2-2. The score remained tied 20 minutes into the second half.
The Warriors mainly controlled the flow of control, striking time and time again at Osceola’s goal. Eventually, Bredeau’s high-floating goal found its way into the upper left-hand corner, giving Steinbrenner a 3-2 advantage.
“It was great to have that rushing feeling knowing that something was going to happen,” Bredeau said of the Warriors’ relentless siege. “We just knew we had to keep pounding them.”
With 10 minutes left, the Warrior’s bolstered their lead with a goal by freshman Danielle Eule in the last two minutes of the game.
“They have huge hearts,” Patterson said. “I’m so proud for what they do for Steinbrenner’s program.”
The Warriors advance to the semifinals at Lakewood Ranch on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. Steinbrenner was eliminated by Lakewood Ranch in last year’s regional semis 4-2.
“I’m really excited,” Patterson said. “We’re looking forward to playing them. I feel that last year we weren’t as tested (in regionals) and this game will be a great one.”
Gaither earns first regional win since 2005
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Every one of Gaither High’s girls soccer players was in either middle or elementary school the last time the program won a regional tournament game.
The Cowboys (11-5-2) overcame their lack of experience and a near 100-mile drive south to beat Venice High 2-1 in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals Jan. 27. Gaither last won a regional tournament game in 2005.
“I told them we need to get off to a good start,” said Gaither second-year coach Trevor Scott. “We needed to get on the scoreboard first to help take some of the pressure off. None of these girls have even been in a regional tournament game before. We scored the first two goals and didn’t let up in the second half.”
The Cowboys got the opening tally in the seventh minute when senior Lauren Moore, who will sign Feb. 2 to play with the University of Tampa, headed in a corner kick from junior Kaycee McGuire.
A McGuire pass again set up the second score, this time to sophomore Jessica Lawless.
Venice (12-4-1) had several scoring chances in the second half, including hitting the post in the opening minutes. The Sarasota squad converted to make the score 2-1 with less than 19 minutes remaining in the game, but Gaither freshman goalkeeper Amanda High closed the door from there. High finished with eight saves.
Gaither advanced to the regional tournament as the runner-up in districts. Scott said the team was very disappointed with the loss to Freedom High in the district finals, but the regional win wiped way that feeling.
“They really wanted to win districts,” Scott said. “It was at our field and they were very sad to lose. This just erased that. It was a big game and the girls fought hard all the way.”
Strangely enough, the Cowboys have a better record on the road than at home this season. Gaither has gone 7-1-1 away and 4-4-1 at home. Scott attributes that to scheduling tough teams like Bloomingdale, Plant and Newsome high schools at home this year. He expects his Cowboys to be much more comfortable when they take on Naples Gulf Coast High at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1 at home.
“There is always less stress playing at home,” Scott said. “You don’t have to worry about getting to the game on time and you’re more familiar with your own field. It’s the luck of the draw that we get to host in the second round, but we’ll take it.”
Freedom’s season comes to an end
What was supposed to be a home regional game turned into a long night of frustration for the Freedom High girls soccer team, losing to Naples Gulf Coast High1-0 in penalty kicks Jan. 27.
The Patriots (11-2-3) learned their lights were not working about two hours before the game. The contest was moved to the University of South Florida, but the lights failed there too after regulation. The two squads took the 4A regional quarterfinals match up back north to Wharton High for the overtime, which did not begin until 10:30 p.m.
Gulf Coast came out on top by converting on four penalty kicks to Freedom’s two.
-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
Pasco claims regional tournament appearance
Caceres’ seven tournament goals not enough for the Wildcats
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Hudson High took down a pair of giants in the Class 4A-District 7 tournament, taking down No. 2 seed Wesley Chapel High in the semifinals and No. 1 Pasco High in the finals.
The Cobras won the district championship in shutout fashion against the Pirates 2-0 Jan. 28.
Pasco (20-2) had been hoping for a rematch with the Wildcats (17-6) in the district finals after being upset in last year’s semifinals by Wesley Chapel. This time it was Wildcats who were upset in the semis in a 2-1 loss to Hudson. The Cobras got a goal in the 80th minute by Scott Ewing to seal the win.
Wesley Chapel’s lone goal in the semis was headed in by senior center midfielder Max Caceres off a corner kick by freshman Nestor Ponce. Caceres set a program record with six goals in a game in the Wildcats’ 8-1 win in the quarterfinals against Gulf High Jan. 24. He scored three goals in the first half and matched that in the second, including the last score of the game.
“It was actually really special,” said Caceres, who is a team captain. “I’ve practiced with the team since I was in eighth grade at Weightman (Middle). My brother (Max) played here too. It’s really great to know no one else has done it.”
Caceres moved to Tampa from Honduras when he was in second grade. He moved to Wesley Chapel while in middle school.
Brian Dorkowski has been Wesley Chapel’s coach the last nine years and was not surprised Caceres put up six goals.
“He’s a strong player,” Dorkowski said. “He can play very defensive or offensive depending on the game. We mentioned it briefly at halftime that it could happen because he scored four in a game last year. The last one went in with almost no time left and it was a great ending.”
The Wildcats lost four starters before the district tournament for various reasons and Dorkowski said they needed scoring from Caceres to do well in the event. He put up seven goals in the event, but it was not enough to get past districts.
Last year, the Wildcats went 10-14-1, but advanced to the regional tournament as the 4A-7 runner-up. This season, the squad had more wins, but will not return to regionals.
As for Pasco, the Dade City team dropped only one game in the regular season, a 3-2 loss to Sunshine Athletic Conference champion Land O’ Lakes High. The Pirates won their opener in the district tournament, a 7-0 victory against Anclote. Junior Dillon Dunbar and senior Jose Flores each had two goals in the opener, while Luis Salas, Orlando Alcocer and Carlos Riojas added one apiece.
Pasco then defeated Fivay High in the semifinals, winning the contest 4-1. Dunbar and Flores added two more goals apiece in contest.
The Pirates now get another shot at the Gators, as the county rivals will play in the regional quarterfinals at Land O’ Lakes on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
Wachtel tapped to lead Land O’ Lakes football
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Brian Wachtel has been picked as the fourth football coach in Land O’ Lakes High history. Gators athletic director Karen Coss confirmed the move Jan. 28.
Wachtel, 32, was Mitchell High’s coach the last two years, but was dismissed after last season. He was originally hired by current Gators principal Ric Mellin, who was at Mitchell before moving to Land O’ Lakes in 2009. Wachtel joined Land O’ Lakes as a varying exceptionalities instructor, someone who teaches special needs students, Jan. 24. As of Jan. 31 there had been no word on who any of Wachtel’s assistants would be.
Mellin said Wachtel was hired in part for his organizational skills and his character. He beat out nine other candidates, including former Gaither High coach Mark Kantor and former Wesley Chapel High and current Pasco High assistant Brian Colding.
Wachtel became the head coach for the Mustangs after the 2008 season when Scott Schmitz retired from the post. He compiled a 13-7 record at Mitchell, but never reached the playoffs in part because Land O’ Lakes, a district opponent, has a Pasco County record 14 straight postseason appearances.
Wachtel was also the defensive coordinator for three seasons at Ridgewood High before moving to Mitchell. He graduated from University of Nebraska-Keamey and was a linebacker on the football team.
The Land O’ Lakes job came open when former coach Matt Kitchie was relieved of his duties just before the winter break from school by Pasco School District Superintendent Heather Fiorentino. He had a 17-3 record with the Gators.
Kitchie, along with former defensive coordinator Jason Hatcher and former cheerleading coach Celisa Cook, were dismissed for the way they handled an off the field incident involving an unnamed student. They missed the Gators final two games last season, including a playoff contest, as did senior quarterback Stephen Weatherford.
Kitchie brought a high-powered spread offense to Land O’ Lakes, which averaged 248.1 passing yards and 38.3 points per game in 2010.
Wachtel has historically had a run-heavy offense, but the ground game was an afterthought for the Gators the last two years. Weatherford was the Gators leading rusher last season with 476 yards and a team-high eight scores. Ryan Lane had the most rushing yards for a running back with 290, but he is a senior.
-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
Wiregrass Ranch cheerleading squad headed to states
Claim first at Best of Pasco, second at regionals
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
The Wiregrass Ranch cheerleading team has had to prevail against difficulties this year, including losing coach Kara Babij for the Region 2 competition.
“I had my baby (Kaylee) two days before the competition and couldn’t be there,” Babij said. “I have a great assistant (Nicole Minott) and my mom (Pennye Garcia) stepped in for me and the girls performed like champions.”
Kaylee is Babij’s first child, born at 11:04 p.m. Jan. 6 and chances are she will follow in her mother’s and grandmother’s footsteps in cheerleading. Garcia currently coaches at Hudson High and has been leading Pasco County teams for many years.
Babij was a cheerleader at Land O’ Lakes High. She has also been an assistant with the Gators, Sunlake High, Mitchell High and Hudson and also a coach at Bishop McLaughlin. Now she is in her second year as an instructional assistant at Wiregrass Ranch.
Despite being pregnant for the entire cheerleading season, Babij did not cancel one practice.
“I knew we had a good team when we had summer workouts and I wasn’t going to let me being pregnant hurt their chances,” Babij said.
Senior Brittany Cox, who is one of three team captains, said Babij made it easy for the team when she had to miss a
practice.
“She’s so organized with what were supposed to do,” Cox said. “She has everything written down for us and her mom fills in a lot too. It’s made it easy.”
Babij said her captains, along with her mother and assistant, are the reason the squad has been able to succeed.
“They’ve taken on a lot of responsibility as leaders,” Babij said.
The squad also had to work with an influx of new, young talent. There are currently six freshmen on the team.
“We weren’t even allowed on varsity when I was a freshman,” said senior and team captain Emily Denbo. “It’s a little different because a lot of them didn’t have much experience, but they’ve all picked it up fast and are a big part of the team.”
Fellow senior and team captain Kelsie Brunke added about the new talent, “At the start of the year I wasn’t sure how we’d do because we had so many new girls. Now it’s like they aren’t even freshmen.”
The Bulls worked through growing pains, and their coach’s occasional trips to check on her new arrival, to come in first place in the Best of Pasco all girl division earlier this season, the first time the squad has won the event. The victory also made them Sunshine Athletic Conference champions.
“That has been the best part of this year so far,” Brunke said. “We’ve never finished first in any competition before.”
Wiregrass Ranch followed up that win with a second-place finish in the large varsity division at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Region 2 meet Jan. 8.
The Bulls will next compete in the state meet Feb. 4-5 in Orlando. It is the second state finals appearance for the squad, who made the event during the 2007-08 season.
“It’s really exciting,” Denbo said of reaching states. “You get to meet new people on other teams and the road trip helps you get closer to your own teammates. Plus, the crowds are huge and that’s really cool to perform in front of so many people.”
The Bulls beat out Seminole High in Sanford by less than four points at regionals. Only the top two teams advance.
“It’s the first time FHSAA has had regionals for cheerleading like other sports,” Babij said. “I grew up with cheerleading the old way, so I guess I’m biased toward that, but in another way it creates that interest with other sports.”
Babij did not have any predictions for the state meet, but said nothing the team does surprises her.
“They are so amazing,” Babij said. “They work as hard as any other sports team at the school. We practice three times a week and we work the whole time. You can see how much they want to do well by their effort, and hard work usually pays off.”
-All results as recorded by the FHSAA.
