The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Fire rescue honored for heart attack prevention

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By Kyle LoJacono

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has taken several steps to help treat sudden heart conditions, and the department was recently recognized for its efforts as one of the best in the country.

The department was given the 2011 Heart Safe Community Award at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) national award ceremony in May. Hillsborough won the top honor for large communities, population of more than 100,000 people.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue was recently given the 2011 Heart Safe Community Award. (Photo courtesy of the David Travis)

It is the first time the department has been given the honor, making it even more rewarding for interim fire chief Ron Rogers.

“I am proud of our Fire Rescue team for their commitment to train on and teach the latest techniques to save those with heart problems,” Rogers said. “The relationships we have built in our community benefit the patient from before we get to the scene through the definitive care they receive in the hospital.”

The annual award ceremony focuses on departments that have used creative approaches to increasing safety by treating and preventing cardiac-related diseases. Hillsborough Fire Rescue also had to show how it improved the quality of its out-of-hospital intervention techniques.

In a release, the IAFC states that, “Hillsborough County Fire Rescue stood out by developing and implementing several creative elements to their program, including a community-wide bystander CPR training program that resulted in 10,000 Hillsborough County ninth-grade students being trained in CPR.”

The IAFC, which is made up of representatives from fire rescue and EMS departments across the country, also pointed to the department’s use of technology to track and review heart attack outcomes while cataloging the attacks and their locations in the county. During the last year, more than 1,000 cardiac-arrest related incidents were reported and that data was shared with area hospitals to improve response time in the future.

David Travis, interim assistant fire chief, said the department has worked for years to improve its response time and treatment of heart attacks within the county.

“The citizens of Hillsborough County should take pride and be reassured that cardiac care in our community is among the best anywhere in the nation,” Travis said. “This award represents years of work that has truly been a community effort with the local physicians, hospital personnel and most recently the school board.”

Travis said the board allowed the department to teach CPR to public school students, which was one of the elements that separated Hillsborough Fire Rescue from other groups in the country. The training has been adopted as part of the curriculum for county schools.

“We couldn’t have done it without the school board’s help,” Travis reiterated. “Not only did we teach 10,000 students how to properly give CPR, but it was young people who will grow up with the knowledge and can teach it to others.”

The department covers all unincorporated areas of Hillsborough, which include Lutz and Odessa. Hillsborough Fire Rescue’s 42 stations serve 909 square miles, 84 percent of the county, and 832,340 citizens.

For more information on the department, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/firerescue/ or call (813) 272-6600.

Planning for Lutz Independence Day celebration in high gear

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Wanted: Wood pallets for barbecue

By B.C. Manion

Most of the time, these guys are prepared to put out fires, but as the Fourth of July approaches, they’re gearing up to start one.

A barbecue fire, that is.

Members of the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association Inc., get up in the wee hours of the morning every Independence Day to cook up barbecue dinners for the hungry masses at the community’s Fourth of July celebration. It’s a tradition that’s been going on for more than 50 years.

Former Lutz volunteer firefighter John-Michael Morin spreads barbecue sauce over chickens. The Lutz volunteer station sells the dinners each year at the celebration. (File photo by Kyle LoJacano)

Proceeds from the chicken dinners they serve help to cover expenses for the volunteer fire department.

But cooking more than 1,100 dinners, like they did last year, requires lots of wood to stoke the grill.

They figure they need about 100 more oak pallets to do the trick.

If you can donate pallets, please call Jay Muffly, president of the volunteer association at (813) 949-2224.

Other organizers also are gearing up for the annual celebration. This year’s theme is “Lutz: Home Sweet Home.”

Lutz Fourth of July Info

For information about the parade, the 5K race, booth rentals, the cake decorating contest and other general information, please call the following people:

5K Race Sponsorship and Entry: Terry Donovan, (813) 949-6659

General parade information: Phyllis Hoedt, (813) 949-1937

Float information: Shirley Simmons, (813) 949-7060

Booth rental: Annie Fernandez, (813) 784-4471

Cake decorating, contest entries: Terri Burgess, (813) 690-5790

Volunteers: Suzin Carr (813) 453-5256

 

Lutz community meeting

The public is invited to a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. to discuss parks and recreation issues in Lutz. Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist and Mark Thornton, director of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department are expected to be there. The meeting will be in the Lutz Community Center, 98 First Ave., N.W.

A quiet place in a busy world

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By B.C. Manion

It’s not exactly secluded, but the makers of this garden hope that visitors will find it to be a respite from the rush of daily life – a place to contemplate and relax.

The “Peaceful Reflections Garden – Native American Medicine Wheel” covers a square swath of ground in a courtyard a bit west of the new school of business building now under construction at Saint Leo University.

Heather Castle, left, a recent graduate of Saint Leo University, was one of the social work students who helped assistant professor Veronika Ospina-Kammerer create a garden honoring the Native American culture at the college. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The garden features a series of stones laid out in a circular pattern. Strategically placed boulders provide seating in the garden, and wildflowers and stone benches help to convey a welcoming tone.

The garden was created by students and Veronika Ospina-Kammerer, an assistant professor of social work, as an outgrowth of a diversity class at the university.

It pays tribute to the Native American culture and it seeks to be a place that inspires love, respect and gratitude for nature, Ospina-Kammerer said.

“Diversity is all about different cultures,” Ospina-Kammerer said. Learning about different cultures is important for social workers whom encounter people from diverse backgrounds in their line of work.

In researching various cultures, Ospina-Kammerer learned that the most impoverished group of people in the United States are Native Americans. She also learned that the life expectancy for female Native Americans is 52. It is just 48 for males.

“That was shocking to me,” Ospina-Kammerer said. “That is unacceptable.”

In an attempt to help raise awareness about the Native American culture, Ospina-Kammerer wrote a grant proposal for a garden with a Native American theme.

She envisioned working with students to create the garden and using the garden as an outdoor classroom to help enhance lessons about the culture of Native Americans.

University officials saw the merit of the project and approved the funding for the $6,000 project.

Social work students Heather Castle and Adrianne Vyasulu drew a design for the garden. Both women recently graduated from the university with their bachelor’s in social work.

The university’s operations department cleared the scrubby plot and laid down a limestone bed, Castle said.

Next, a truck dumped a pile of gravel, which was then shoveled by social work students into the garden space, where they smoothed it out. The students also placed stones in a circular pattern.

University crews used bobcats to place the huge boulders into their pre-ordained spots.

The circle is symbolic of the never-ending cycle of life, Ospina-Kammerer said.

“In the Native American culture, the medicine wheel has a sacred meaning. The Native Americans use spirituality in their healing.”

They also use the medicine wheel in their traditions and ceremonies, she said.

The garden is for the use and enjoyment not only by students, but by the public as well, Castle and Ospina-Kammerer said.

“This was made by students for students and the community,” Ospina-Kammerer said.

“We’d like people to come out here to visit it,” Castle said.

 

Helping others helps student earn scholarship

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By B.C. Manion

When Cameron Burris went searching for potential college funding, she had no idea that her Google search would lead to a $20,000 scholarship.

The 17-year-old, who founded “Today’s Teens with a Cause,” said she was stunned when she heard she had been selected as a KFC Colonel’s Scholar, which carries a $5,000 annual scholarship for four years.

Chris Mook, whose family owns the KFC franchise in Land O’ Lakes, presents a scholarship check to Cameron Burris, one of 75 national winners in a KFC scholarship program. (Photo courtesy of J&A integrated thinking)

The Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation awards 75 of these scholarships annually.

The scholarship recognizes the young woman from Land O’ Lakes for her community involvement and commitment to education.

Burris, who plans to attend the honors program at Florida State University, said the scholarship helps her to fulfill her dream to study abroad for a semester. Now, she just has to decide – which will it be, Italy or Spain?

The recent graduate of Land O’ Lakes High has been involved with community service efforts for years, first becoming acquainted with a variety of community service organizations when she was participating in National American Miss and American Coed beauty pageants.

Her exposure to the community service organizations enabled her to help her peers when they were seeking ways to fulfill community service requirements, Burris said.

Burris created her own community service organization called “Today’s Teens with a Cause.” Essentially, Burris said she helped teenagers who wanted to fulfill community service requirements to find organizations needing their help.

Those student volunteers have created cards for terminally ill children, made cookies and cards for veterans and have performed an assortment of other good works.

Burris said teenagers often are overlooked when groups are seeking volunteers.

Instead, she said, “a lot of times you see really, really young children who think it’s fun, or you see a lot of older people.”

The KFC Colonel’s Scholar Program, sponsored by the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, is an independent charity supported by KFC. The scholarships are awarded based on students’ financial need and the impact they have in their school and community. The program has awarded more than $8 million since its inception in 2006.

The KFC scholarship puts a premium on volunteerism.

It requires recipients to complete 300 community volunteer hours within the school year. It also requires recipients to maintain a 2.75 grade point average.

Burris said she expects to be a lifelong volunteer.

It’s something she’s passionate about because there are so many others in need, Burris said.

Chris Mook presented the scholarship on behalf of KFC at a Celebration of Excellence ceremony on May 19.

“When you look at how many students in today’s economy are scrambling for scholarships, I was thrilled when I heard one of the (scholarship) winners was from our local area,” said Mook, president of Phil Mook Enterprises, which owns 10 franchises including one in the Village Lakes Shopping Center at 21617 Village Lake Shopping Court.

Although not involved in selecting Burris for the honor, Mook said once he met her, he understood why she was chosen. He senses the young woman will go on to accomplish great things.

In addition to the scholarship from the foundation, Burris also received a gift from Mook’s company.

“We bought her a laptop,” Mook said, noting he comes from a family that prizes the value of education, and they wanted to help provide Burris with tools she needs to succeed in college.

June is perennial plant month

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By BJ Jarvis

Gardeners looking for plants that survive year after year and produce spectacular flowers should consider perennials.

Unlike annuals that die after just one season, there are many perennials that give perpetual pizzazz and also tend to be lower-maintenance garden members. June is the perfect time to plant new perennials that will flower summer through fall.

Choose the flower color that will complement your garden best. Consider combining flower and foliage colors or textures. For example, purple salvias mixed with silvery foliage of Artemesia (wormwood) provide a wonderful combination.

A planting bed filled with a ground cover of bright yellow perennial peanut will knock your gardening socks off. Of course, daylily is the backbone of a perennial garden, flowering in yellows, salmon and russet orange.

Other drought-tolerant species include rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan), coreopsis (tickseed), gaillardia (blanket flower) and sedums. One of my favorites is bulbine, a South African native that really excels in Florida’s droughty weather and poor soils. Fall’s chrysanthemums provide consistent floral shows as well.

Two plants that bloom most of the year are purple or white-flowering Angelonia and a euphorbia called diamond frost. As its name implies, it is loaded with white flowers from spring through fall.

Relatively harsh summer weather conditions dictate the addition of organic matter such as well-rotted manures or other humus. As a result, soil moisture retention will increase and will also encourage beneficial microbes that are often lacking in our near-sterile sandy soils.

In summer’s heat, watering is necessary to get plants well established. Once well rooted in the landscape, one deep watering per week is far more beneficial than frequent or shallow irrigations. If Mother Nature provides rain, skip watering entirely.

Finally, mulch perennials and other landscape plants with a 2 to 3-inch layer of chipped or shredded plant material. Mulch maintains soil moisture, moderates soil temperatures, slows weed growth and generally gives landscapes a great finished look. Keep mulch off of plant crowns and tree trunks to avoid rot. No rubber or rock “mulches” please! They provide none of the benefits mentioned.

These practices will keep perennials blooming year after year while they beat the heat.

For more information about perennials, check out this detailed perennial publication from the University of Florida/IFAS at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG03500.pdf.

–BJ Jarvis is horticulture agent and Pasco County Extension Director. She can be reached at .

 

 

 

 

 

Gators top Bulls 55-12

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By Kyle LoJacono

Just two weeks ago at practice, Land O’ Lakes football coach Brian Wachtel rated his team’s play at two out of 10, but he had little to be disappointed about after the Gators spring game.

The Land O’ Lakes football team takes the field during its spring game against Wiregrass Ranch.

Land O’ Lakes defeated Wiregrass Ranch 55-12 at home on May 26. The Gators looked nothing like the team struggling to put in their new coach’s offensive and defensive schemes early in May.

“I’m thrilled,” Wachtel said. “I’m thrilled with where we’re at as a football team. I’m thrilled with the effort that these players have given all spring for the past four weeks, and I’m just thrilled to death with my coaching staff and the effort and just everything they’ve done. It’s a team effort and we’re all working together, the coaches and the players. The community has been terrific with their support.”

Junior Wesley Moore agrees: “We were going uphill the entire spring season. We’ve come a long way. We’ve put in a lot of hard work and the proof is out there on the scoreboard.”

Land O’ Lakes scored on the game’s first play from scrimmage when Moore scooped up a fumble and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. The Gators scored their final points on a seven-yard run by freshman Javin Tandy as time expired.

Land O’ Lakes junior quarterback Ryan Bird went 10 for 14 for 272 yards and three touchdowns in the contest, showing little hesitation switching from the spread to a more pro-style offense.

“We feel more comfortable,” Bird said. “We have room to improve, but we feel more comfortable with the new system.”

Bird found junior tight end Kent Taylor six times on the night for 159 yards and two scores, one of 55 and another of 62 yards.

Wiregrass Ranch quarterback Jake Day was under constant pressure from the Land O’ Lakes defense.

Bird also hit Moore twice for 53 yards including a 48-yard touchdown. Moore was a defensive back in 2010, but is likely to see more time on offense as a senior.

“This is definitely a success for us,” Moore said. “We came out and worked really hard leading up to the game. We weren’t really sure how it was all going to work, but in the last week we really nailed it. We put everything where it should be and this is a good showing for us.”

Both Wachtel and Bird gave a lot of credit to the Gators offensive line of Jason Ryan, Justin Claxon, Will Fairchild, Frank Hegedus and Justin Fortune. Wachtel described them as the “unsung heroes” of the game.

“They work so hard every day,” Bird said of the offensive line. “They try to get all the stunts in and everything down here in the spring. I think they did really well.”

Junior Shadow Williams had six carries for 32 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two sacks and put pressure on Bulls sophomore quarterback Jack Day all night.

“We feel pretty comfortable,” Williams said. “That’s with offense, defense and special teams. When we first got the coaching change it was a little shaky with the new stuff, but we have great coaches and it’s showing.”

Junior Jordan Michelson’s 64 return yards helped the Gators start with good field position most of the game.

As for the Bulls, Junior Jamel Nunéz had 52 yards on seven carries and added another 52 kick return yards.

Day had little time to make decisions behind the Gators defensive pressure. He was sacked four times and intercepted once. He did connect with freshman wide receiver James Jackson for a five-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

“We’ve got to get back to work and learn from this,” said Bulls coach Jeremy Shobe. “We’ve got a long way to go to get to where we want to be in the fall. We didn’t want to see the score like that, but it might help light a fire under everyone to work even harder.”

While Shobe is predicting the disappointment will spring the team, Bird said the win could catapult the Gators to new levels of success while continuing their Pasco County record streak of 14 straight playoff appearances.

“We felt good,” Bird said. “We have a lot more to get done and I think this will get us rolling into summer and the fall season. Hopefully we will do better than last year and just continue the streak.”

 

Pair of aces picked for state honor

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Gant and Mumaw picked as FACA baseball all stars

By Kyle LoJacono

Wesley Chapel is still a relatively new town, but its two public schools are fast becoming a hotbed for baseball talent.

Brandon Mumaw

In fact, the only two Pasco County high school baseball players selected for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s (FACA) Baseball All Star Classic are from Wesley Chapel based facilities.

Wiregrass Ranch senior pitcher John Michael Gant and Wesley Chapel senior pitcher Brandon Mumaw each made the cut for the event, which was May 26-28 in Sebring.

“I was surprised to hear that I’d even been nominated,” Mumaw said. “I didn’t expect to be selected, but I was. It was really a shock and it’s a great way to end my time playing high school baseball.

“When I heard that there was only two kids from Pasco, I knew the other was John Michael,” Mumaw said. “He’s a dominating pitcher.”

Mumaw is the first in Wesley Chapel’s 12-year baseball history to be selected, making the nomination even more special.

“There have been a lot of great players that have come through here,” Mumaw said. “Last year Cole (Miraglia) was our top starter, and I think he was good enough to make the game. It makes me very proud to be the first from Wesley Chapel High School.”

It is the second straight year a Bulls player has been picked for the game, following former Wiregrass Ranch and current Saint Leo University catcher Spencer Bowles.

“I think that shows how much the area has grown,” said four-year Wesley Chapel baseball coach Chuck Yingling. “When I first moved out here 14 years ago, there were no youth baseball programs. Now the kids have the youth clubs to start teaching them the game and over the years, the competition and respect for the high school programs have grown.”

John Michael Gant

Yingling said Wildcat senior shortstop Geoff DeGroot was also selected as an alternate for the game. Additionally, Miraglia was nearly being picked as an all star in 2010.

“We were very close with Cole last year,” Yingling said. “I think he was talented enough to make the game, but we were just starting to take off as a program. This year with what we did drew some attention.”

Wesley Chapel has won 49 games the last two years, including a 25-3 record in 2011. Mumaw was the Wildcats No. 1 starter, compiling a 10-1 record with four complete games, a 1.33 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work. When he was not on the mound, he fielded first base and batted .271 with 21 runs scored, 19 hits and 18 RBI.

Wiregrass Ranch had 38 victories since 2010, 18-9 in Gant’s senior season. Gant was also his squad’s ace, compiling a 6-0 record with two saves, four complete games, a 1.90 ERA and 107 Ks in 62.2 innings. Like Mumaw, Gant played first base when not pitching and batted .305 with 25 hits, 21 runs scored, 14 RBI and three homers as the Bulls’ cleanup hitter.

Mumaw said he has two favorite memories while playing at Wesley Chapel; making it to the Class 4A regional semifinals as a junior and winning the inaugural RBI Pasco Varsity Tournament this spring. The Wildcats defeated Wiregrass Ranch to claim the spring break tournament title.

Gant said his best moment as a Bull was throwing a no hitter against Lecanto in his first start this season on Feb. 15. He needed only 100 pitches to complete the game, striking out 14 of the 23 batters he faced.

Both Gant and Mumaw have signed letters of intent to play in college.

Gant will pitch with Division I Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus while studying athletic training and sports medicine. The 6-foot-4 righty uses a fastball, curveball and a changeup.

Mumaw will stay closer to home for college at Saint Leo, a Division II program. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound left hander uses a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup.

Both have said they would like to play professional baseball, but will take the next challenge in college before thinking about a career with the sport.

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

 

Zephyrhills graduate Chris Fern signs with Virginia

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By Kyle LoJacono

Zephyrhills graduate and current St. Johns River State College (SJR State) pitcher Chris Fern has signed a letter of intent to play next at the University of Virginia.

Pitcher Chris Fern signs with the University of Virginia as SJR State baseball coach Ross Jones (left) and SJR State president Joe Pickens look on.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Fern said. “The University of Virginia is the perfect place for me to continue my baseball career and complete my education.”

Current Bulldogs athletic director Bruce Cimorelli was Zephyrhills’ baseball coach when Fern was in high school and has high praise for his former pupil.

“He’s a great athlete and very hard worker,” Cimorelli said. “Great student and will do very well at Virginia. Chris has worked very hard to get where he is today and I wish him all the success in the world.”

Fern signed with SJR State after his Bulldogs career and recently graduated with an associate’s degree from the junior college. He was Vikings closer the last two years, where he set the program record with 17 career saves and nine in a season as a sophomore. The lefty posted a 7-3 record with a 2.70 ERA in college.

He also helped the Vikings earn a trip to the Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) state tournament for the first time in 21 years as a freshman.

Fern was a two-time All Mid-Florida Conference selection and was named conference and FCCAA Fireman of the Year in 2011 as the best relief pitcher. He was also the SJR State Male Student-Athlete of the Year for the 2009-10 school year.

“We are so proud of Chris,” said Ross Jones, SJR State baseball coach and athletic director. “He put himself in position to be highly successful because of his character and work ethic. Chris is one of the most dedicated young men I have ever coached. Chris is also one of the most complete, well-rounded young men I have ever coached. He’s as dedicated to being a great student as well as a baseball player.”

Fern begins classes at Virginia in August and will have two years of eligibility left with the Cavaliers, a Division I program in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Virginia has reached the NCAA tournament the last seven years, including an appearance in the College World Series in 2009. The Cavaliers were ranked a unanimous No. 1 team in the major national rankings during this season.

“The strength of their baseball program and their academic tradition was the deciding factor,” Fern said. “This is really the best of both worlds for me. I’m going to play baseball for the number one ranked baseball team in the nation and will get a degree from the number one ranked public institution in the nation.”

 

Henderson to catch with the Panthers

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By Kyle LoJacono

Sunlake football player Zac Henderson signed an athletic scholarship on May 13 with Florida Institute of Technology despite missing four games with a broken leg his senior season.

Sunlake’s Zac Henderson signs to play football with Florida Institute of Technology as his parents (sitting) Tim and Lisa, coach Bill Browning (back right) and athletic director Russ Schenk look on.

“I had a lot of other offers, but I got hurt and Florida Tech was the only Florida school that stayed interested in me,” Henderson said. “There were others up north, but I’m from here so I wanted to stay here with the warm weather. The coach said they wanted me to be one of the first kids recruited by them. I liked the campus and my parents can make all the games.”

Florida Tech, located in Melbourne, will have its first football season in 2013 as a Division II program.

Henderson played wide receiver and safety as a senior at Sunlake, but will likely focus on offense with the Panthers.

He had 14 catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns while adding five tackles and two passes defensed as a senior despite missing four games with a broken fibula. Henderson was a threat to catch the long pass as he averaged just less than 15 yards per reception.

“When he came back, he wasn’t 100 percent,” said Sunlake coach Bill Browning. “He came back and gutted it out until it was stronger. He made some really big catches for us. He’s a huge reason we did what we did this year.”

Henderson moved up to varsity as a sophomore and started playing regularly as a junior. The Seahawks went 1-9 in 2008, but that total grew to 4-6 in 2009 and a program record 8-2 last season.

“It’s been tough the first few years, but it felt like home here,” Henderson said. “All the seniors stuck it out and wanted to stay here. We knew we could be good, it was just going to take a couple years.”

Henderson said he plans to study forensic science while playing at the next level.

“It’s a big opportunity,” Henderson said. “Not too many people get to do this, so you take the chance God blesses you with.”

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

 

 

Josh Tanner picks JU

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By Kyle LoJacono

Freedom’s Josh Tanner will not have to look far to find a former Patriot on the Jacksonville University (JU) football team next year.

Josh Tanner

The linebacker and defensive end signed with the Dolphins on May 20, making him the fourth Freedom graduate on the current JU roster, including wide receiver Larry Thompson, defensive lineman Rolando Fines and offensive lineman Carl Saunders.

“My friends and mentors from high school are there, so that is a big benefit,” Tanner said. “It’s also a private school, so I get a private school education for free. It just seemed like the right choice because the coaches were very interested in me playing there and it’s a beautiful campus. I have some family that lives in Jacksonville, so it’s just the most opportune spot.”

Tanner started playing football at age 6 and has been on Freedom’s varsity squad the last four years. He had 60 tackles, seven sacks and two fumble recoveries as a senior.

“Josh ran a 4.5 in the 40 (yard dash) at the Nike Combine last year,” said Freedom coach Tchecoy Blount said. “With his versatility and strength, he can be either a linebacker in the 3-4 scheme to rush the passer, or he can put his hand down in the dirt as a down tackle.”

Blount said his value goes beyond his stats and skill set.

“He may not be a vocal leader, but he’s going to always be one of the first guys out on the field, in meetings and in the weight room,” Blount said. “They’re getting a guy who is a workhorse. A guy who will work his butt off wherever they need him. Whether that’s on defense, special teams, practice squad. Academically they won’t have to worry about him, so they’re getting an all around student-athlete.”

Tanner measures in at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds.

“They run the 3-4, so I’d be more of a pass-rushing defensive end,” said Tanner, who will study either aviation or psychology. “If I put on some more weight, which I’m planning to do, I think I can play the run as well.”

His favorite memory while playing at Freedom was beating close rival Wharton 16-7 as a junior. It was one of a program record seven wins for the Patriots in 2009.

“I’ve had a lot of other great memories from playing here and being here is the reason I can play at the next level,” Tanner said. “It’s everyone’s dream to play in college. I’m just lucky enough to be able to do it. I’m very grateful for that.”

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