Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Bulldogs get their wish

By Kyle LoJacono

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

By Kyle LoJacono

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.

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.”

By Kyle LoJacono

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.

Claim first at Best of Pasco, second at regionals

By Kyle LoJacono

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.

Land O’ Lakes girls show they can wrestle too

By Kyle LoJacono

Land O’ Lakes High traditionally has one of the top wrestling programs in central Florida with five state champions in its history, and a pair of girls just added to that tradition.

Senior Hillary Rodriguez and sophomore Shelby Roarks competed in the girls’ state wrestling competition Jan. 22 in Kissimmee, which had about 300 competitors. Roarks came in fifth in the 140-pound classification and Rodriguez took seventh in 125 pounds. Roarks received a medal for placing.

Roarks trained with the team last season, but did not compete in any matches. Rodriguez is new to the team this year. Gators first-year wrestling coach Pat Corcoran said it was very rewarding to see them battle in states.

“We have a really young guys team this year and we’re building to get back to the days we were sending wrestlers to states regularly,” Corcoran said. “To see the girls do as well as they have, they made us all proud.”

Roarks said she started wrestling because her father Kenny Tudor, who is a Land O’ Lakes graduate, went to states in the sport. Another reason is she does karate and was always too rough when sparing with other girls.

“I didn’t mean to,” Roarks said. “It just kind of always happened. In wrestling you’re supposed to be aggressive, so it was a good fit for me.”

Roarks said her friends tease her about being a wrestler sometimes, but she does not let that get in the way of her passion for the sport.

“I can’t think of not wrestling,” Roarks said. “I’m always so nervous before I compete, but then I get into it and it’s a lot of fun.”

The two girls train with the boys on the team and are not treated any different.

“The guys accepted them like any other teammate,” Corcoran said. “They wrestled against boys on the other teams in meets and did everything our guys did.”

Roarks said it was hard to face off against boys, who were usually a lot stronger than she is. To make up for the difference in strength she had to use good form and technique.

Rodriguez is graduating, but Roarks has time to get better the next two seasons.

“I did really well at states and that makes me want to put in even more work,” Roarks said. “I’ll train hard in the summer and hopefully do better than fifth next year.”