Many of us will be shopping this week for Christmas and a nice break from the hustle and bustle is to go see a movie, so that is exactly what I did. But what do you do when you are hungry and you walk in and smell all the aromas like buttery popcorn that seems to “go with” the movies? You better be prepared! I honestly never used to go to the movies without gorging on a large popcorn, chocolate covered peanuts and a large soda to the tune of 2,493 calories!
I used to use it as an excuse to ‘pig out’ until one day I saw a woman during the previews, stuffing her face full of popcorn and she probably would have been done before the movie even started — just like me. I realized that was just an excuse to gorge and I needed to change my habits. I first learned how to walk into a theater and breathe through my mouth and not through my nose, so I didn’t even smell the popcorn. I remember the first day I ever watched a movie without eating anything and it was like a miracle!
Recently, I visited the Cobb Theatre over in Wesley Chapel. I didn’t have time to stop and grab some dinner before the movie (which is what I normally do so I am not tempted) so I found something to eat there. We all know there aren’t the most nutritious things to eat at a movie theater. I didn’t feel like eating popcorn since I eat air-popped popcorn all the time at home, so I got a pretzel. Yes, “Miss Eat Whole Grain” wherever you can but there was no option for whole grain, so you do the best with what you have, right? It was 583 calories and 14 grams of fat including the small side of nacho cheese sauce. I used some discipline, consuming only half of the cheese sauce. I sometimes use mustard but I didn’t. I eat so healthy most of the time that you need to let yourself have stuff like that every once in a while. For you avid moviegoers who enjoy eating popcorn at the movies, let’s look at the calories:
-Small popcorn with NO added butter: 225 calories and 11 grams of fat (Best choice)
-Small popcorn with added butter: 630 calories and 50 grams of fat! (Whoh momma)
-Medium popcorn with NO added butter: 434 calories and 20 grams of fat (Not too bad)
-Large popcorn with NO butter: 664 calories and 31 grams of fat (Pretty high)
-Large popcorn with butter: 1,640 calories and 126 grams of fat (Yikes! Run away)
The other challenge with popcorn is the salt, which can make you retain lots of water, hence, more weight gain. If you must have something to drink, grab a water or do I like I did and get the hot tea with honey. That helped get my mind off munching on food while watching the movie “Tangled” (which, by the way, was a great movie)
Keep it simple in the garden
By Jeannie Hayes and BJ Jarvis
At the end of the year, life is very hectic running around decorating, shopping, visiting with friends. We all need to shorten our “to do” lists not just at the holidays, but also during the rest of the year. Here are a few things that can help make gardening a little simpler.
Gardeners can’t help wanting to add more garden gems to the landscape only to realize later there isn’t enough time to establish them or keep up with weeding. Sometimes, plants may not even make it into the ground.
It is time to step back and find some ways to make garden life easier. Here are a few simple and inexpensive ideas from Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ to keep our landscapes looking good without further stress:
–Plant groundcovers that generally require less fertilizing, mowing and maintenance once established.
–Add instant garden color by sinking an entire pot of colorful annuals into the ground. When plants start to fade, just pull out the inner pots and replace. When chrysanthemums fade, plant cheerful poinsettias.
–Mount rain gauges at eye level for easy reading. Mailboxes and fence posts are ideal.
–Add a rain barrel at your roof downspout to collect water for container plants when it is dry. No guttering? Just place an open barrel at the valley where two house sections meet. Rainwater usually gushes down there. Make sure the barrel has a screen on the top to prevent mosquitoes and a spigot at the bottom for easy access to water.
–Container plants in the sun dry out fast and may need daily watering. Cut the maintenance time by adding wetting agents, such as hydrogels, to your planting mix. Many major brands offer potting mixes with moisture holding gels.
–Stop the spread of invasive weeds by vacuuming the seeds with a dust buster or shop vacuum. These work well to collect desirable wildflower seeds too. Clean the unit well between uses.
–Strips of old carpeting two-foot-wide for instant weed-free garden walkways. Turn carpeting over with the backing on the top for a more natural look.
–Piles of utility mulch from the power company have many uses besides suppressing weeds and moderating soil temperatures. Create an instant berm that can become a holding area for container plants by sinking the pots. The containers will not blow over and require less watering. Use it to make compost on a big scale for your veggie garden. If you have children or grandchildren, running over mulch piles is a great way for children to run off some of that candy-driven energy.
If you find yourself with a few extra minutes this holiday season and aren’t sure what exactly to do in the garden, visit the University of Florida’s gardening calendar. It is broken down by region and Pasco County tasks can be found in central Florida section at http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/calendar/.
-BJ Jarvis, horticulture agent, and Jeannie Hayes, Florida yards and neighborhoods assistant are a part of the Pasco Cooperative Extension, a free service of the University of Florida and Pasco County government. Jeannie and BJ can be reached at (352) 521-4288 or bjjarvis@ufl.edu.
Shawn Brown helps rally Wesley Chapel girls basketball
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
A few weeks ago it was uncertain who would lead the Wesley Chapel High girls basketball team, but new coach Shawn Brown has brought the team together despite having no summer workouts or preseason.
“We didn’t know what was going on with the program,” said senior Hannah Noble. “We were lucky to get such a good coach so late in the game.”
The Wildcats (5-4) reached back-to-back regional finals the last two seasons with Karim Nohra as coach, but he was not retained after the season. He is currently coaching at Academy at the Lakes.
Stepping in for Nohra is Brown, who is the sports and camp director at the East Pasco Family YMCA. He has also coached the Orlando Magic’s youth basketball camps since 2005, but this is his first head coaching position in high school.
“It’s pressure right off the bat,” Brown said of taking over a successful program. “The girls expect a lot and want to continue to win. Part of the challenge was a lot of girls transferred to other schools. We basically have just one player who played in significant game action last year in Hannah. I commend her for staying her senior year when others left.”
For Noble, the choice to stay was easy.
“This is my school and I thought it would be like me betraying my school to go somewhere else,” Noble said. “I’ve grown up here and played middle school basketball at Weightman (Middle), so this is the only place I wanted to play my senior year.”
Brown said Noble will be leaned on a lot this year.
“She has to be our leading scorer every night for us to be successful,” Brown said. “That’s a lot of pressure, but then she also has to be our leader as well because she’s the only one with any experience. She’s already shown she’s able to do both.”
Noble has been a point guard for most of her playing career, but has moved to shooting guard this season to free her up to score. Now running the point for the Wildcats is Tiffany Echevarria, a sophomore. She has played point guard since the fifth grade and learned a lot from watching Noble play last season.
“When I watched her last year calling the plays I wanted to be like her,” Echevarria said. “I’ve learned so much from her.”
It was a little daunting running the offense, but a talk with Noble before the season let Echevarria know she could do it.
“She told me we were in this together,” Echevarria said. “It made me feel like I wasn’t alone in the backcourt. I know we can rely on each other.”
The Wildcats will be a guard-oriented team because they do not have a lot of height. The tallest player is 5-foot-11 junior center Brittany Byrd, who almost did not play this season.
“I’d decided I didn’t want to play to focus on volleyball, but I went to a game at the start of the season,” Byrd said. “I was sitting in the bleachers watching them play and it just hit me that I should be playing with them.”
At first glance Byrd does not seem like the kind of player who would like the rough and tumble action near the net, but when asked about playing the position her eyes lit up.
“I love playing down in the post,” Byrd said. “I’m not the kind of girl who likes playing guard and shooting from on the perimeter. I love being down there and fighting for rebounds and blocking shots. It’s why I love basketball.”
Down by the net with Byrd is sophomore forward Sara Hordges. She missed the end of last season with a slight tear to her ACL, but she is nearly 100 percent.
“Really it’s just trusting my knee,” Hordges said. “It’s basically healthy and coach just said I have to believe I can stop and change directions without having a problem.”
Hordges has been working with Brown to get her knee strong again and she believes his training is the reason she has been able to return to the court so fast.
Another player who enjoys Brown’s presences is Sapharianece Reynolds. She said she believes in staying positive even when things are not going her way.
“If I put my head down because I’ve missed some shots, then I’m not thinking about the game,” Reynolds said. “… I learned that from my mom. I always try and keep the rest of the team positive even when we’re down and so does coach. He has that same belief in staying positive.”
Wesley Chapel had a game against Nov. 14 at Ridgewood High, but results were not available by press time. The Wildcats next play at Sunlake High Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Two Gators teams win PPAL super bowls
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
The Land O’ Lakes Gators were well represented in this year’s Pasco Police Athletic League (PPAL) super bowl, sending four of their five teams to the event and claiming two championships.
The Gators mighty mites and junior varsity teams reached the title games, while the flyweight and varsity squads took home PPAL crowns.
For the flyweights (13-0), it was the second straight championship.
“Last year I was really excited because I didn’t think we’d win,” said tight end and corner back Grant Henderson, a co-captain. “This year I knew we’d be great because of all the good players we have.”
Both flyweight titles came with Ed Campbell as the coach.
“At the start of the season I never thought we’d go through undefeated,” Ed said. “Quickly I saw the boys had something special, but not just because of their play and ability to listen to the coaches. Football is like a brotherhood and that’s what they became. They stuck together and wouldn’t let one kid get picked on in a game. They truly came together.
“Football is different from every other sport in that way,” Ed continued. “After going through all the heat and pain in practice and games, you have to come together as one.”
Ed’s son Hunter is a guard, fullback, defensive end and special teams player for the Gators. While he enjoys playing all the different positions, what he really loves about playing with the team is spending time with his family and friends.
“I get to be with all my team each week and have fun,” said Hunter, a co-captain. “My dad can be tough as a coach, but he does it to make you a better player.”
The offensive MVP for the flyweights, which is for players 7-8 years old, was running back Keith Walker. The co-captain scored 22 total touchdowns in the 13 games, including 19 rushing, two interception returns and a kick return for a score. He gained 935 yards rushing as well.
“We have a lot of guys who couldn’t be stopped in games,” Walker said. “We have players who can do special things at any time.”
Walker was also the offensive MVP of the Gators 37-7 super bowl win against West Hernando. Taking home the
defensive MVP honor in the title game was linebacker Mason Matzke, who had an interception in the final contest.
“It was a hard game,” Matzke said of the super bowl. “It wasn’t that close, but it was a hard game to win. Our coach really helped us all year and did a great job in the super bowl.”
Joining Matzke in the linebacking core was co-captain Jimmy Sandifer, who is also a center. Playing two of the roughest positions on the field does not faze him.
“I like the hitting,” Sandifer said. “I get to do it every play.”
The last of the co-captains is fullback Dawson Place.
“It’s been a lot of fun being a captain,” Place said. “You have more to do. … The season has been even better than last year because we never lost.”
All players received trophies and other gifts at the end of the year event at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, but one player was given a special award. Last year, Jalen Williams was right at the 100-pound weight limit for the flyweight division. Ed said he expected him to be more than the limit at this year’s weigh in, but Williams put himself on a diet and running program and made the squad.
“We gave him the Warrior Award for doing that,” Ed said. “That takes dedication for a young kid to go on a diet and work hard to make weight like he did.”
Ed thanked the flyweight cheerleaders for always easing his tension during games with their routines. He also thanked the parents of the players for allowing him to coach the boys and his wife Lisa, who he said is the, “glue of the team that made everything happen.”
Players on the Gators come mainly from Land O’ Lakes and Lutz. For more information on PPAL, visit www.pascopal.org.
Ryan Horne helps college win national soccer championship
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Young athletes across the country dream of one day winning a national championship. Most never make it a reality, but Odessa resident Ryan Horne did as a freshman.
He is a member of the Clearwater Christian College soccer team that just won the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II title. The forward and midfielder helped the Cougars (15-5) defeat Ohio Christian University 2-0 in the championship game.
“I’ve never won a soccer title in high school, even a district title, so it’s insane having this happen my first year in college,” Horne said. “I knew we were good, but being the best in the country, you don’t expect that.”
It is actually the second straight national title for Clearwater Christian.
“We had people coming after us with everything they had all year because the team won it all the year before,” Horne said. “That made it hard because you can’t sneak up on anyone.”
James Whitaker became the Cougars coach three seasons ago and knew it would be hard to repeat this year.
“Last season we flew under the radar all year because our program hadn’t ever won a national championship,” Whitaker said. “Actually, it was the first men’s national championship at the school. This year, I wouldn’t say we expected to win, but we would have been disappointed if we didn’t because we know what it takes now. We returned most of our players and added a lot of young talent.”
Horne was among those additions. He went to Citrus Park Christian High and was the squad’s leading scorer as a senior. He cited three reasons for attending the school, including its Christian atmosphere, its emergence as a soccer power and its proximity to home, a location close enough for parents Sid and Diane to attend matches.
“I know this is the place for me,” Horne said. “Coach Whitaker cares about you off the field and makes sure you’re doing the right thing. … The players, we all get along. During games we’re really serious, but we have a good time between games. It’s like a big family.”
Horne started playing soccer around age 3. He also played football, basketball and baseball in high school, but was drawn to the grass on the pitch.
“I just love playing soccer,” Horne said. “I like the other sports, but I love soccer.”
After winning the NCCAA Southern Region, the Cougars advanced to the eight-team championship tournament. In the title game, Clearwater Christian scored its two goals in the first half to win in the crown. It was the 11th shutout of the season.
While Horne did not start often his first year, he was valuable to the Cougars coming off the bench.
“He would bring energy to our lineup,” Whitaker said. “He is a very attack-minded and fast player who forces the other team to play up-tempo soccer. … He also had a great attitude in practice because he always worked very hard. He was one of the hardest players to defend in practice and made our defenders get a lot better from going against him.”
The Cougars will lose seven seniors to graduation this year and Whitaker said there is a good chance Horne will move into one of those starting positions next season.
“We’ll need to have several new starters step up,” Whitaker said. “We’ll lose our leading scorer Tyler Spraul, but we’ll bring back our goal keeper Anthony DeRosse and I’m confident we’ll still have a strong team.”
Horne has three more years of eligibility, giving him plenty of time to improve his game. He is majoring in business, but said he wants to get a chance to play professional soccer.
“I’d love to have that shot,” Horne said. “Playing the game I’ve been around since I was 3 for a living. That would be a dream.”
Sunshine Athletic Conference fall all stars
The Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) has released its complete list of all-conference fall teams. Coaches in the 13 public high schools in Pasco County vote on whom they think deserve the honor. All information is as recorded by SAC executive secretary Keith Newton. The all-conference volleyball team was already released. The Laker and the Lutz News will release its own list of all-stars in the Dec. 29 edition. Local students who made the SAC list include:
SAC girls golf first team
–Kellianne May, Jr., Pasco
–Hana Lee, Fr., Wesley Chapel
Second team
–Jordan Lane, So., Pasco
–Taylor Upchurch, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
Third team
–Tiffany Bahr, Jr., Zephyrhills
–Bianca Scrimali, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Sydney Owens, Fr., Zephyrhills
Honorable mention
–Shelby Jenkins, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–Rachel Palenik, Jr., Sunlake
SAC boys golf first team
–Jacob Fleck, Sr., Wesley Chapel
–Logan Horrigan, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Jon Kospell, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–Dylan Larson, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Brandon Mumaw, Sr., Wesley Chapel
Second team
–Cory Bahr, So., Zephyrhills
–Chris Kluender, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Rob Nieman, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
Third team
–Nicolai Atkinson, Sr., Sunlake
–Cody Nichols, Jr., Zephyrhills
–Nick Stutt, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
Honorable mention
–Austin Riddaugh, So., Pasco
Co-Player of the Year: Dylan Larson, Wiregrass Ranch; Jacob Fleck, Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Nick Cuviello, Wiregrass Ranch
SAC football offensive first team
–QB Jacob Jackson, Sr., Sunlake
–OL Jamall Carter, Sr., Pasco
–OL T.J. Chamberlin, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–OL Zach Hutcheson, Sr., Pasco
–OL Matt Sanders, Sr., Sunlake
–RB David Emmanuel, So., Pasco
–WR Trey Dudley-Giles, Jr., Pasco
–WR Will Irwin, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–TE Kent Taylor, Jr., Land O’ Lakes
–Returner Chris Reaves, Sr., Zephyrhills
Offensive second team
–QB Jacob Guy, Jr., Pasco
–OL Stephen Cottrell, Sr., Zephyrhills
–OL Nate McCoole, Jr., Sunlake
–OL Sage Stephens, Sr., Pasco
–OL Check Wood, Sr., Pasco
–RB Janarian Grant, So., Pasco
–WR Mike Clower, Sr., Pasco
–WR Jason Tello, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–K Adrian Krupka, Sr., Sunlake
–Returner Rashaud Daniels, Jr., Sunlake
Offensive third team
–QB James Tringali, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–OL Mark Landry, Sr., Pasco
–OL Noah Ravenna, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–RB Nick Lomba, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–WR Janarian Grant, So., Pasco
–WR Antwan Prince, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–K Carson Brock, Jr., Pasco
–Returner Janarian Grant, So., Pasco
SAC football defensive first team
–DL Craig King, Sr., Sunlake
–DL Mark Landry, Sr., Pasco
–DL Spencer Michelson, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–LB Jackson Cannon, Jr., Land O’ Lakes
–LB Jake Fisher, Sr., Wesley Chapel
–LB Shadow Williams, Jr., Land O’ Lakes
–LB Cornell Wilson, So., Pasco
–DB Jamie Byrd, Sr., Pasco
–DB Trey Dudley-Giles, Jr., Pasco
–DB Wesley Moore, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–P Adrian Krupka, Sr., Sunlake
Defensive second team
–DL Matt Terry, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–DL Nick Wilson, Jr., Pasco
–LB Cordale Baldwin, Sr., Pasco
–LB Nick Morrison, Jr., Sunlake
–DB Mike Clower, Sr., Pasco
–DB Chris Reaves, Sr., Zephyrhills
Defensive third team
–DL Jamal Carter, Sr., Pasco
–DL Chason Connell, Sr., Sunlake
–LB Jackson Johnson, Sr., Pasco
–LB Frank “Duke” Morrison, Sr., Zephyrhills
–DB Rashaud Daniels, Jr., Sunlake
–DB Darin Patmon, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–P Jacob Guy, Jr., Pasco
Offensive Player of the Year: Jacob Jackson, Sunlake
Defensive Player of the Year: Jamie Byrd, Pasco
Coach of the Year: Tom McHugh, Pasco
SAC girls cross country
–Elise Cedre, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Chelsea Davis, So., Wiregrass Ranch
–Ariel Grey, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Taylor Hixson, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Nikita Shah, So., Wiregrass Ranch
–Kelsey Sturman, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Marissa Tomei, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
Second team
–Katlyn Eble, Sr., Pasco
–Nicole Solmonson, Jr., Zephyrhills
Third team
–Alea Basulto, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
–Allison Richey, Sr., Pasco
Honorable mention
–Rachel Dodds, So., Sunlake
–Alyssa Turner, So., Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Don Howard, Wiregrass Ranch
SAC boys cross country first team
–Ermias Bireda, So., Wiregrass Ranch
–Kenneth Fessel, Jr., Sunlake
–Sam Hippely, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Anthony Plourde, Sr., Pasco
–Ryan Pulsifer, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Tyler Mattera, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Josh Reilly, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Logan Selzer, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
Second team
–Travis Nichols, Fr., Land O’ Lakes
–Dillon Oergel, So., Land O’ Lakes
Third team
–Ian Cassette, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
–Brendan McNellis, So., Sunlake
–Jake Morken, Sr., Land O’ Lakes
Honorable mention
–D.J. Leto, So., Wesley Chapel
–Robert Starnes, Sr., Zephyrhills
Runner of the Year: Josh Reilly, Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Chris Loth, Wiregrass Ranch
SAC girls swimming first team
–Kristen Demsher, Fr., Land O’ Lakes, 500-yard freestyle
–Lindsey Gorgen, Sr., Zephyrhills, 100-yard freestyle
–Megan Huynh, Sr., Sunlake, 50-yard freestyle
–Rebecca Pindral, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch, 100-yard breaststroke
–Kaylin Sylvester, Sr., Sunlake, 100-yard backstroke
–Makayla Strickland, Rebecca Pindral, Fern Powell and Toni Tomei; Wiregrass Ranch 200-yard medley relay
–Chelsea Hernandez, Fern Powell, Makayla Strickland and Rebecca Pindral; Wiregrass Ranch 200-yard freestyle relay
–Kaylin Sylvester, Nicole Harder, Carigan Albert and Megan Huynh; Sunlake 400-yard freestyle relay
Second team
–Nicolette Clark, Sr., Zephyrhills, 200-yard freestyle
–Kristen Demsher, Fr., Land O’ Lakes, 100-yard butterfly
–Meredith Diamond, Sr., Land O’ Lakes, diving
–Lindsey Gorgen, Sr., Zephyrhills, 100-yard backstroke
–Nicole Harder, So., Sunlake, 500-yard freestyle
–Chelsea Hernandez, So., Wiregrass Ranch, 50-yard freestyle
–Megan Huynh, Sr., Sunlake, 100-yard freestyle
–Haley Long, Sr., Land O’ Lakes, 100-yard breaststroke
–Rebecca Pindral, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch, 200-yard individual medley
–Kristin Dawson, Jocelyn Williams, Kristen Demsher and Andrea Mapugay; Land O’ Lakes 200-yard medley relay
–Lindsey Gorgen, Taylor McNeal, April Durrett and Nicolette Clark; Zephyrhills 200-yard freestyle relay
–Haley King, Dona McDonald, Kristin Demsher and Jocelyn Williams; Land O’ Lakes 400-yard freestyle relay
Third team
–Carigan Albert, Fr., Sunlake, 100-yard butterfly
–Nicolette Clark, Sr., Zephyrhills, 500-yard freestyle
–Courtney Meyer, Fr., Sunlake, 100-yard backstroke
–Elise Herbert, Fr., Land O’ Lakes, 100-yard breaststroke
–Andrea Mapugay, So., Land O’ Lakes, 50-yard freestyle
–Courtney Smith, Fr., Zephyrhills, diving
–Jocelyn Williams, Fr., Land O’ Lakes, 200-yard individual medley
–Courtney Meyer, Grace Johnson, Delaney Suarez and Savannah Mattox; Sunlake 200-yard freestyle relay
–Mallory Grant, Sam Kopriva, Chelsea Hernandez and Katie Murphy; Wiregrass Ranch 400-yard freestyle relay
Honorable mention
–Kara Inversso, Pasco
–Lindsey Blanset, Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Robin Hilqenberg, Land O’ Lakes
SAC boys swimming first team
–Alex Hill, Sr., Wesley Chapel, diving
–Matt Menendez, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch, 500-yard freestyle
–Nick Keach, Devin Anderson, Kyle Shaffer and Austin VanVliet; Sunlake 400-yard freestyle relay
Second team
–Matt Menendez, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch, 100-yard butterfly
–Kyle Shaffer, Sr., Sunlake, 100-yard breaststroke
–Kyle Shaffer, Sr., Sunlake, 200-yard individual medley
–Austin VanVliet, Jr., Sunlake, 100-yard freestyle
–Austin VanVliet, Jr., Sunlake, 200-yard freestyle
–Austin Wachsman, Jr., Sunlake, diving
–Zac Serota, John Michael Grant, Alex Kovalenko and Michael Hernandez; Wiregrass Ranch 200-yard freestyle relay
— Nick Keach, Devin Anderson, Kyle Shaffer and Austin VanVliet; Sunlake 200-yard medley relay
Third team
–Devin Anderson, Fr., Sunlake, 200-yard freestyle
–Patrick Gray, Sr., Land O’ Lakes, 200-yard individual medley
–Grant Pawlak, So., Land O’ Lakes, 500-yard freestyle
–Zac Serota, Sr., Land O’ Lakes, 100-yard breaststroke
–Patrick Gray, Austen Johnnessen, James Adams and Grant Pawlak; Land O’ Lakes 200-yard medley relay
Honorable mention
–Peter Mercadawte, Pasco
–Cody Yingling, Zephyrhills
Diver of the Year: Alex Hill, Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Barb Hayes, Land O’ Lakes
New Bulls on the block ready for run at districts
Wiregrass Ranch off to best start in program history
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
The Wiregrass Ranch High girls soccer team has started better than any squad in the school’s five-year history and seems poised to make a run at the Class 4A, District 8 title.
The Bulls have started 11-0-1 through their first 12 contests, including wins against the reigning district champs and runner-up in River Ridge High and Land O’ Lakes respectively. Prior to this season, Wiregrass Ranch had never beaten either of those opponents in nine opportunities.
“It’s really exciting because we weren’t expecting it,” said senior co-captain Nicole Esposito, a midfielder. “We’ve been coming together more as a team this year when in the past we weren’t as in sync with each other.”
Other teams have taken notice of the Bulls fast start.
“They’ve had several graduating classes now and you can see their progress,” said 24-year Land O’ Lakes girls soccer coach Vicky King. “A lot of their girls play on club teams and they have a good middle school program that feeds into the school. They’re a much improved team.”
Senior midfielder Camille Wilson is honored other coaches are speaking highly of them, but does not want the squad to get ahead of itself because the season is only half complete.
“A fast start is one thing, but we’re looking to be the best at the end of the season going into districts,” said Wilson, a co-captain. “We’ve never won a game in the district tournament and we want to change that.”
Only two teams from each district advance to the postseason — the tournament champ and the runner-up. Land O’ Lakes has made the playoffs every year since 2000 and River Ridge since 2006.
“It’s a really tough district,” said senior midfielder Sierra Monday, who played at Land O’ Lakes as a freshman and sophomore. “Really, the difference between this year and last year is our great coach. She’s brought a new level to our team we didn’t have before. She knows all the little things to take us from an ok team to a playoff team.”
First-year Bulls coach Erin Dodd took over the Wiregrass Ranch program after coaching four years at Dr. John Long Middle. Her Longhorns teams had a combined record of 30-3-3, including winning 26 straight games the last three seasons.
While Dodd is no longer coaching middle school soccer, she still teachers at John Long and understands the importance of staying connected with the Longhorns and other feeder schools.
“I want this to be a program that has a good relationship with the middle school and a program that people want to come out and be a part of,” Dodd said. “I want it to be a place that other schools model after because we do things the right way.
“I’ve coached 70 percent of the kids out here in middle school, so that made coming in new a lot easier,” Dodd continued. “It’s easier to learn a couple of kids than them all. It’s been a big help in the transition.”
One member of Dodd’s undefeated John Long team has moved up with her on the Bulls varsity squad. Freshman defender Grace Olsen was on the last two Longhorns teams that went undefeated. Add those seasons to the Bulls current run and she has not tasted defeat in either middle or high school through the first 12 games of this season.
“The biggest difference in middle school and high school is people are a lot more competitive in high school,” Olsen said. “… I was really surprised I made the varsity team because of how good all the players are. I was sure I’d make (junior varsity), but making varsity was special.”
Olsen played on the FC Tampa Lutz Rangers, a new competitive soccer program, during the summer to help prepare for the tougher high school season. Her work paid off as she is the only freshman on the Bulls varsity team.
Olsen has been key contributor to a defense that has allowed just 10 goals in the Bulls first 12 games. Sophomore goalkeeper Dayton Wetherby has gotten most of the time in net, recording two shutouts and 29 saves.
Sophomore forward A.J. Blount has a team-high 19 goals and nine assists, followed by sophomore forwards Berlin Waters and Anne Cypriano with nine and five goals respectively.
Monday has added four goals and four assists to the Wiregrass Ranch offense, while Esposito checks in with a goal and three assists.
The Bulls had a game against Citrus High Dec. 6, but results were not available by press time. The squad will next play in a rematch against River Ridge in New Port Richey Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. The winner will have the inside track at the No. 1 seed in the 4A-8 tournament, which is at Land O’ Lakes this season.
-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
Kantor out as Gaither football coach
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Mark Kantor’s term as the Gaither High football coach came to an end Dec. 2 after a meeting with administrators. He will remain at the school as a social studies teacher.
“Administration wants to go in another direction with the football program,” Kantor said. “I was a little surprised that they felt that way, so I’m stepping down.”
Kantor, who came to the program in 2002 from Hudson High, is not only the longest tenured football coach in Cowboys history, but also has the most wins for the program with a record of 42-55. He guided Gaither to three straight playoff appearances from 2006-08 including a district championship in 2007, but went a combined 4-16 the last two seasons.
Second-year Gaither principal Marie Whelan said the football position will be advertised with Hillsborough County soon and no timetable for getting another coach has been set.
“We appreciate what (Kantor) has done here at Gaither the last nine seasons,” Whelan said.
The football team started its offseason workouts on Nov. 29. Kantor said he broke the news to the squad after school Dec. 2.
“They were sad,” Kantor said. He then added. “I’ll still be working to get the seniors signed with colleges because they deserve it. Those are the kids who’ve put in the work for years and I’ll do whatever I can to help them play on the next level. This won’t change that.”
Kantor’s coaching has helped 68 Gaither players reach the college level. This season, senior defensive lineman Chadd Hannah seems the most likely to receive a scholarship. He already has offers from the University of Cincinnati, Rutgers, the University of Illinois and Western Michigan University and has received interest from the University of South Florida and North Carolina State University.
The Cowboys did not end the season on a high note. They were defeated 33-7 by district rival Alonso High, a game which included a bench-clearing scuffle in the final minutes. The incident led to 19 Gaither players receiving one-game suspensions for next season, the school being fined $3,200 and the program being placed on probation for one year.
“I don’t know if that had anything to do with this,” Kantor said. “They told me it didn’t and I really can’t say if it did or didn’t.”
Kantor said he is unsure if he wants to coach in the future, but said he still loves football.
“I’ll get to spend more time with my family right now while I think about if I want to coach again,” Kantor said. “It’s still kind of a shock, so I’m not sure what I want do from here on out. Football has always been a passion of mine and we’ll see if that stays the same, but I think it will.”
Conquistadors bring home national championship
Title may bring more success
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Each year Kim Whitney sets out to win a volleyball national title, but this season that goal seemed a little more likely from the start.
“When we were coming up with our goals a couple months ago everyone said win a national championship,” said Whitney, who has been Pasco-Hernando Community College’s (PHCC) coach for seven years. “We usually have a couple players say that, but this year they all said it. I knew we were talented, but that’s when I knew we had a real chance because they were focused on that goal.”
The Conquistadors (36-7) won the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division II national championship in Wisconsin Nov. 20 in five sets against the Kansas-based Johnson County Community College (JCCC). PHCC is the first Florida team to win the title Division II title, the first athletic championship of any kind for the school.
The match was a close one at 26-24, 13-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12. JCCC actually scored more points in the contest with 107 to PHCC’s 102. Sophomore middle blocker Marlie Temple scored the winning point on a block.
“When I saw that ball hit the court it was the best feeling,” Temple said. “You think about winning a national title, but I didn’t think about being the one who put down that winning point.”
Whitney said the squad had lost the only other two five-set matches this season. She said the players really started focusing on finishing out long matches and actually worked on five-set and first to 15 drills in the week of practice leading up to the championship tournament.
The Conquistadors were also well represented on the All-Tournament Team, with sophomore outside hitter Desiree Ates and sophomore middle hitter Tazra Pitts earning spots. Team captain Ashley Seal was named the tournament’s MVP and Whitney was named Coach of the Tournament.
“It was a lot of hard work by everyone,” said Seal, a sophomore setter. “As the setter you have to work with everyone to set up a kill, so I know it takes everyone to win. The MVP should actually go to everyone on the team.”
PHCC is a junior college with players graduating after two years, which makes it difficult for a team to establish itself on the national stage with so much turnover in the roster. Whitney thinks the national championship will help the program maintain its momentum.
“When we talk with kids about coming here we’ve told them about what we’re building, but now we can tell them about the championship we’ve won,” Whitney said. “I think that will help us get more good players to come to PHCC and hopefully that means more championships.”
Whitney and the program have already been able to reach outside central Florida for recruits. Of the 14 players on the roster, five are from out of state including three from Canada.
“I wanted to play in the United States against the best players,” said Temple, who is from British Columbia, Canada. “When coach Whitney told me they wanted me to come to PHCC I knew I wanted to go there. … It’s a little weird to have three players from Canada on the same Florida team, but we play a lot more volleyball in Canada.”
Along with winning, the Conquistadors helped raise awareness about breast cancer and raised money to research cures for the disease. Players sold pink shirts during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and also accepted donations for the cause.
“They understand there are things more important than volleyball and wanted to be thought of as more than just a volleyball team,” Whitney said. “We’ve done this in the past and I’m sure we’ll do it again next year. It fits in with the kind of young ladies here and the type of program we want to have in the future.”
Gators poised for seventh straight district crown
10 seniors return for another title run
By Kyle LoJacono
klojacono@lakerlutznews.com
Land O’ Lakes High is known for its Pasco County record 14 straight football playoff appearances, but when the season shifts to winter the boys soccer team has its own streak.
The Gators (6-0) have won six straight district championships and reached the postseason the last seven seasons.
“We should be in good shape because we lost only three starting seniors,” said 14-year coach Mark Pearson. “The majority of our players were sophomores and juniors last year. We’ll miss the guys who graduated, but our goal is to get number seven in a row and go farther than we did last year.”
Land O’ Lakes finished last season 19-4-2 and reached the regional semifinals, losing to eventual Class 4A state champion Mitchell High 3-2.
“We were right there with them that whole game and had chances to jump ahead,” Pearson said. “They wound up state champs and I think that shows the level we can be at come playoff time this year.
“The biggest thing is gelling together and peaking at the right time,” Pearson continued. “The last couple of years I feel we peaked too early and you always want to be playing your best at the end of the season. We have enough talent, but we need to bring it all together.”
Senior goalkeeper Kody Parker said Pearson is the reason for the program’s successful run.
“He’s made it everything it is,” Parker said of Land O’ Lakes boys soccer. “He makes it like a professional atmosphere. He pays close attention to everything and won’t settle for just ok. He’s tough, but that’s how you learn and get better.”
One of the biggest losses from last year is midfielder and defender Frankie Villar, who is currently playing at Florida Atlantic University on a scholarship. He was named to the All-Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) first team last season, as did his sister Alexis for her play on the Gators girls team. SAC executive secretary Keith Newton said it is extremely rare for siblings to make the team the same year and does not remember it happening before.
Frankie tore his ACL near the end of last year, but Alexis said he has recovered fully and is enjoying playing in college.
One of those players who will be replacing Frankie is co-captain and midfielder Jake Frahm.
“I was pretty close with (Frankie) and it was a pleasure to play with him,” said Frahm, a junior. “It’s changed our lineup. I think we can still get back to the playoffs even without him.”
Frahm was also the football kicker for field goals and kickoffs this season after not playing the sport since middle school. He said he liked his time on the gridiron for the most part, but is happy to return to the pitch.
Parker, who is also a co-captain, will be a key player if the Gators are to extend their streak. He already as five shutouts this season, the last coming in a 4-0 win against Wiregrass Ranch High Dec. 1.
“This is my last season and we haven’t gotten past regionals since I’ve been here,” Parker said. “We want to get to states and if you get there, anything can happen.
“We need to play as a team and always think about getting better,” Parker continued. “You can’t mess around in any game or any practice if we want to get to the top.”
Parker pointed out that underclassmen like junior midfielder and forward Andrew Garcia and sophomore midfielder Sean Young have worked very hard to improve their game this season.
Pearson, who is also an English honors teacher at Land O’ Lakes, said Frahm and Parker are not only team leaders but also very good students.
“They take a lot AP and honors classes,” Pearson said. “All I know is I don’t have to worry about them in school because they work just as hard at their grades as they do on the field.”
Pearson is also a youth coach with the first-year FC Tampa Lutz Rangers, which plays out of Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz. Pearson said he hopes to someday see some of his younger Rangers play for the Gators.
Land O’ Lakes had a game at home against Lecanto High Dec. 6, but results were not available by press time. The Gators next play Zephyrhills at home Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.
