Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

When the Gaither High football team begins spring practice in May, Jason Stokes will be their new coach.

Stokes, who led Middleton’s program the previous two seasons, was named the Cowboys new head man Jan. 14. He takes over a program that went 3-7 in 2010.

“We felt he is a great fit for our football program,” said Gaither principal Marie Whelan.

Stokes was not available for comment before press time, but Whelan said he is excited about the chance to lead the Cowboys program. He met with his team for the first time the day he was named coach.

Whelan was an assistant principal at Middleton when Stokes was hired as coach in 2009. She left that summer to join her alma mater at Gaither before Stokes started as a teacher at Middleton.

Middleton went 10-10 with Stokes as the coach, but he was let go in November following the season. Last year his team went 5-5, 3-3 in Class 2A-District 5 including three of the last four contests to end the year. He also coached at Bloomingdale High before moving to Middleton.

Stokes will finish this year as a driver’s education instructor at Middleton while coaching the Cowboys during spring practices and workouts. He will be a teacher at Gaither next year, but his department has not been decided

Gaither athletic director Henry Strapp said about 30 people applied for the position. One of those was former Land O’ Lakes High coach Matt Kitchie. Stokes was one of five finalists for the job along with former Gaither assistants Brian Emanuel and Kirk Karsen, current junior varsity coach Bob Griffey and former Armwood High assistant Ron Johnson.

Stokes takes over for Mark Kantor, who stepped down from the program in December after learning administration wanted to go in a different direction. He remains as a social studies teacher.

Kantor led the program for nine years, the longest of any coach in Cowboys history, compiling a 42-55 record and three straight playoff appearances from 2006-2008. He is a finalist for the Mitchell High head football opening and has applied for the same position at Land O’ Lakes High.

By Kyle LoJacono

With 5:56 remaining in the first quarter, Land O’ Lakes High senior point guard Shanel Sweet stole the ball, drove to the basket and sunk an uncontested layup with her right hand.

Those points helped Gators (16-3) defeat Pasco High 65-27 Jan. 13, but those specific two points meant more than just their place on the scoreboard to Sweet. They moved her past the 1,000-point mark for her high school career.

“As soon as I got the steal, I knew that I’d get it,” Sweet said. “I was just all emotions.”

Sweet had a chance to reach 1,000 points earlier in the quarter when she got two foul shots. She missed the first, but hit the second.

“I talked to my mom before and said watch it be some free throws that I have to make to get 1,000,” Sweet said. “I didn’t want it to be free throws, but I missed the first and thought, I have another chance.”

She finished the game with 21 points, three steals and three assists. She sits at 303 points with three regular season games to go.

Sweet’s journey toward 1,000 started as a freshman at Gaither High, where she scored 65 points. She came back in her sophomore year and scored a career best 354 points, followed by 297 as a junior. Then her family came north of the Hillsborough County line into Land O’ Lakes.

“Playing at Gaither was fun, but it was also hard because we had three different coaches when I was there,” Sweet said. “We had some good players, but we were never able to bring things together.”

To make the regional tournament, a team needs to reach the finals of its district tournament. Jackie Eisenhauer coached Sweet as a freshman, where the Cowboys went 6-14. Andy Alwood led Gaither to a 10-13 season in 2008-09 and J.D. Barreda was her coach last year when the squad went 12-12.

Winning has come easier for Sweet in Land O’ Lakes, which has already clinched a winning season despite having to adjust to her fourth coach in as many years.

“I was hoping for a winning season because I’ve never had one,” Sweet said. “Now we’re going for districts and I think we have what it takes to go far in regionals. Coach has really done a great job with the team.”

Laurie Fitzpatrick became the Gators coach this year and knew the squad would be good when she saw Sweet in her first practice.

“She was passing the ball from behind her back and doing things you don’t expect from a high school player,” Fitzpatrick said. “She’s had some injuries that have made it harder for her to score, but she’s fought through them all. She has a lot of heart and goes for rebounds like a post player. You can see she loves the game.”

Sweet has never been on a team that won a game in a district tournament, but thinks that will change this year

“We’re ready for the districts,” Sweet said. “I know we have what it takes to be district champs.”

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

By Kyle LoJacono

The Land O’ Lakes High girls basketball team thinks last season was the exception and not the new rule.

The Gators (16-3) went through a 4-12 season in 2009-10, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2003. In steps Laurie Fitzpatrick as the new coach with a pair of new starters and Land O’ Lakes seems set to get back to regionals.

“Our goal is to get past districts,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’d like to get to states and I know the girls believe they can do that.”

Fitzpatrick and the Gators are on track to enter the Class 4A-District 8 tournament as the No. 1 seed. Their toughest challengers for the district championship will likely come from Wiregrass Ranch High (13-9) and Citrus High (15-3). Land O’ Lakes have already beaten both the Bulls and Hurricanes this year.

The Gators appear to be hitting their stride at the right time, winning their last 11 straight games. However it has not been easy for the central Pasco County squad.

Fitzpatrick and her new team not only needed to get used to each other, Land O’ Lakes also has two new players who transferred from other schools — Shanel Sweet from Gaither High and Simone Brown from Wesley Chapel High.

“At first it was tough getting to know a new team, but I had to do the same thing last year at Wesley Chapel as a freshman,” Brown said. “Now we’ve meshed a lot together.”

That transition was a little more difficult for senior Shanel Sweet because she is the Gators point guard. She had to learn all new names while being responsible for calling out plays and setting up her teammates with precise passes.

“I’m used to the position,” Sweet said. “I’ve been a (shooting) guard too, but I really like being point. I live for tight games. I love having the ball in my hands.”

Making things even more difficult was the number of injuries and illnesses the squad had early on. Sweet had a badly jammed thumb and a sprained ankle that limited her for the first half of the season and made her miss two games, both losses for the Gators. Seniors Megan Thurston and Nicole Woodard also missed time early.

“I’m hoping the injury bug is out of our system now,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ll need to be playing our best in the district tournament, and then if we get through to regionals we know we’ll have to go through Gulf.”

Gulf (18-3) reached the regional semifinals last season and do not play the Gators in the regular season.

One thing that helped make the transition easier is Fitzpatrick also coached three of her basketball players on the Gators volleyball team, which include Julia Della Penna, Kendra Sheets and Woodard.

“She’s been the same from when she became our volleyball coach this year,” Della Penna said. “She pushes us sometimes, but then she also lets us chill and relax when she thinks we need it. She’s a great coach.”

Both Della Penna and Woodard said they prefer basketball to volleyball for similar reasons.

“In volleyball you have to wait to hit,” Woodard said. “In basketball you can go get the ball and do what you need without waiting.”

Woodard may prefer basketball, but she keeps the same defense-first mentality in both sports. She led the volleyball team with 136 blocks, tied for the fourth most in Florida. She is also one of the top blockers and rebounders for the basketball squad, leading the team with 43 blocks while adding 83 boards. Sheets has also contributed in the post, adding 96 rebounds and 5.4 points per game.

Della Penna is more of an outside shooter, averaging 8.2 points per game while adding 35 assists and 39 steals. Brown is the Gators second leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points while contributing 33 blocks and a team-high 259 rebounds and 70 steals.

Sweet is the top score with 18.9 per game plus a team-leading 94 assists. Her average of 5.9 per contest is tied for the 14th most in the state.

The district tournament is at Lecanto High beginning on Jan. 31. To make the regional tournament the Gators must reach the championship game.

“I got to play in regionals my sophomore year and I want to get back as a senior,” Della Penna said. “When we started I was hoping to have a winning season. Now I think we have the speed and talent to get past districts and play with Gulf in regionals. We have a great group of players and a great coach.”

The Gators next play against River Ridge High at home Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

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

By Kyle LoJacono

There are 10 candidates will have a chance to be the fourth coach in Land O’ Lakes High football history, and one applicant will soon join the faculty.

Brian Wachtel was Mitchell High’s coach the last two years, compiling a 13-7 record, but was dismissed from the position at year’s end. He was originally hired with the Mustangs in 2008 by current Land O’ Lakes principal Ric Mellin.

Additionally, Pasco County School District spokeswoman Summer Romagnoli confirmed Wachtel is joining the Gators staff Jan. 24 as a varying exceptionalities instructor, or someone who teaches special needs students. He had the same job at Mitchell.

Other candidates submitted by Mellin include:

–Luke Chichetto; former University of South Florida’s strength coach from 2003-2004 and current strength coach in the Texas Rangers’ minor league system.

–Brian Colding; former Wesley Chapel High and current Pasco High assistant.

–Ryan Gallogly; coach at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory in Indianapolis since 2007.

–Mark Kantor; coached Gaither High’s program the last nine years. Stepped down from the program following last season.

–Joe Midulla; former Jefferson High and current Alonso High defensive coordinator.

–Stan Robertson; no information provided.

–William Schmitz; former Jesuit head coach from 2003-2004.

–Tim Stevens; coached River Ridge High the last five years. Was dismissed from the program following last season.

–Joshua Weber; current assistant at Alonso High and teacher at Farnell Middle.

The Gators job became vacant after Matt Kitchie, a physical education teacher, was informed before the winter break he would not be rejoining the program. Former cheerleading coach Celisa Cook is also not returning next year, but both remain as teachers.

Kitchie had a 17-3 record leading Land O’ Lakes the last two seasons, but was suspended for the squad’s last two contests including the first round of the playoffs after an off the field incident involving a student. Former defensive coordinator Jason Hatcher and Cook were also suspended for those contests for the same incident. Senior quarterback Stephen Weatherford was also absent as well.

Mellin has said he wants a coach in place well before the start of spring workouts in May, but gave no further timetable.

By Kyle LoJacono

None of the Sunlake High girls weightlifters grew up dreaming of pumping iron, but the Seahawks all agree the activity has positively changed their lives forever.

“I was very timid before joining the team,” said senior Celina Romera, who has been on the squad for three years. “I wasn’t very confident in any part of my life. As I grew and got stronger I realized what I can do when I set my mind to it.

“It’s not just the physical benefits,” Romera continued. “It’s knowing I can do something that is really hard. It makes me feel like I can do anything.”

Senior Meagan Huynh agrees with Romera despite only joining the team this season.

“I wish I’d found out about it before,” Huynh said. “I love it. I’m very competitive and this is exactly the kind of thing I love doing. You push yourself to be better than the other team.”

Huynh was also on the Seahawks swimming team and is the reigning district champion in the 50-yard freestyle event. She said she tried weightlifting because she has friends on the squad.

“I’m kind of addicted to it now,” Huynh said. “… I’m sure it would have helped with swimming and I’ve had people ask me

that, but I never really lifted at all before the season.”

There are two Seahawks who not only have been on the team for all four years, but also made the state meet last season — seniors Nichole Bolt and Melanie Lehmkuhl.

“I’d never heard of girls weightlifting when I came to Sunlake,” Lehmkuhl said. “I wanted to play softball and figured weightlifting would help me make the team. The funny thing is I never played on the softball team. I broke my ankle before my freshman year, but really liked the weightlifting.”

Girls weightlifting was first offered by the Florida High School Athletic Association as a recognized sport in the 2003-04 season. Bolt and Lehmkuhl are the only Sunlake girls to make the state meet since the school opened in 2007.

Denise Garcia has been the Sunlake coach for the last three years and is confident many Seahawks will be represented in states this season.

“I’m expecting at least 50 percent of the team will get to states,” Garcia said. “I’m very confident in them. They’ve put in the work to get better and you can see from their results.”

Romera competes in the 139-pound weight class and is maxing out at 125 and 130 pounds in the bench press and clean and jerk lifts respectively. Huynh is in the 119-pound classification and is at 100 in the bench press and 105 in the clean and jerk. Lehmkuhl is in the unlimited class and can lift 150 in the bench press and 145 in the clean and jerk.

Garcia said she was very into athletics while attending Leto High, playing both volleyball and softball. She decided to become the weightlifting coach because she knew she could help the athletes.

“Being the girls weightlifting coach comes with different challenges from coaching other sports,” Garcia said. “You have to be a mother first. Girls, especially high school girls, take a certain touch to work with, but this team has been great.”

Garcia seems to have that certain touch as all of her athletes speak very highly of her coaching.

“She helps you understand where your potential is and how to get there,” Romera said.

Huynh said of Garcia, “She is so helpful. Anything she can do to help, she does.”

Unlike most sports, girls weightlifting has very few meets and instead teams have to push themselves in practice without much outside competition. Sunlake has completed their regular season with a 3-0 record and will next participate in the Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament Jan. 22 at Fivay High, followed by the sectionals.

-All results as recorded by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

One makes hall of fame, nine become pros

By Kyle LoJacono

Gus Bondi is leading a group of 10 Zephyrhills shuffleboard players holding up the city’s strong reputation on the courts.

Bondi, who has lived in east Pasco County for one year, earned enough points this season to qualify for the Florida Central District Hall of Fame, while nine others can claim professional status.

“I actually got enough points at a tournament in Winter Haven in December where I used to live,” Bondi said. “I played doubles with an old friend I have down there (Jim Thurston).

“It was really hard to get,” Bondi continued. “You need 100 points to go in, so you have to play a long time. There are some really good players, a lot much better than me, who aren’t in because they stopped playing before they had the points. I love playing and if you play long enough you’ll get in.”

While Bondi enjoys the social aspect of shuffleboard, the game itself keeps him interested. He said he still plays every morning.

Bondi is most proud of being the only person in the world to be a part of two international gold medal winning teams. He also won the Central District Master’s Tournament, which is for the top-eight players in the district, in 2005 and was invited to play in the Florida Master’s Tournament in 2006.

Bondi has also done a lot to grow the game around the world. He served as the International Shuffleboard Association president from 2007-2008, taking trips to places like South America, England, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Scandinavia to teach more people the activity.

While shuffleboard is mainly thought of as something for senior citizens, Bondi is working to change that perception. He helped organize the first youth team to play internationally for a tournament in Germany last year. He said he also plans to reach out to the schools in Zephyrhills to try and get a club going.

“If we have kids playing here, then maybe we can call the athletic director for Pasco County and have it all over,” Bondi said. “That’s my main goal now that I’m in the Hall of Fame.”

It has also been a special year for Susan Dungey, who moved up in classification from state armature to professional. She has been playing for 20 years and has no plans to give up the game any time soon.

“I’ll keep playing for as long as I can,” Dungey said. She then added. “I’m a sports person. I love competition. As the game goes along, the pressure builds. I love that.”

Dungey said she would someday like to be in the Central District Hall of Fame, but will not be worried if it does not happen.

“I’m happy with being a professional now and if I get enough points to make the Hall of Fame that would be great too,” Dungey said.

Joining Dungey as a pro is Walt Shine, who has lived in Zephyrhills all year since 2002. He played for the social aspect for a long time before making the jump to tournament play.

“The first one I played in was a novice tournament at Oak Side (Mobile Park),” Shine said. “I came in first and was so drained I thought I’d never do one again. It was just a beating over two days. …The next time I did one, I was much more relaxed and had a wonderful time.”

Shine qualified as an instant professional last March. Growing up he played basketball and also did some golfing and bowling in recent years, but he said those activities are nothing like shuffleboard.

“In bowling and golf your opponent is right next to you, but you’re not really playing against them,” Shine said. “In basketball it’s a team. In shuffleboard you can have a partner, but it’s more you against your opponent.”

Joanne Allen compares shuffleboard to another activity.

“My husband (Buddy) and I think of it like chess,” Allen said. “You have to look several steps ahead and set your opponent up. It takes a lot of strategy.”

Allen has lived in Zephyrhills all year for about three years and has played the game for five. She earned instant professional status at an event this season, but is choosing to take the new status at the start of next season.

Allen said her biggest win was in the state amateur tournament in November in Lakeland. Much like the other new professionals, her main goal now is to improve her game while enjoying the activity she loves.

“It’s a great social event to go to the courts,” Allen said. “Anyone who hasn’t given it a try really should.”

For more information on shuffleboard in Florida, visit www.fsa-shuffleboard.org. To learn more about the game in Zephyrhills, visit Zephyrhillsshuffle.com.

By Kyle LoJacono

Land O’ Lakes High boys soccer players Justin Lyles and Kody Parker committed to play college ball on Jan. 9 and 10 respectively.

Lyles, a midfielder/forward, signed with Thomas University in Georgia, while Parker, a goalkeeper, picked the University of Tampa. Both are team captains.

“They’ve been big leaders for us the last few years,” said Land O’ Lakes coach Mark Pearson. “Their schools will be getting great players and outstanding young men.”

Lyles has been on the varsity team since his freshman year and has five goals and 10 assists this season. He plans on majoring in business and marketing.

“It’s like a big weight off my shoulders,” Lyles said of making his commitment. “I’m happy I’ll get to play in college. Playing here with guys like Kody and with coach Pearson has been amazing for me and I’ll always remember it.”

Parker has been a near impenetrable wall of the Gators (18-1), allowing only five goals in 17 games this year including 58 saves. Last season he had 15 shutouts and 129 saves.

“It’s a good feeling because honestly it’s a horrific process,” Parker said of being recruited. “It’s just not a fun process, but now it’s done and I’m going to play for one of the top schools in Florida and top Division II schools in the nation. It’s so much stress just gone.”

Parker, who has been on varsity for three years, said part of the frustration came from not knowing what coaches and scouts thought of him during games. He plans on majoring in international business and said he may get a minor in sports management.

The Gators will begin play in the Class 4A-District 8 tournament at River Ridge High Jan. 24. Land O’ Lakes has won the district championship the last six years.

“We’ve got the three district championships since we’ve been here,” Parker said. “Hopefully we can get a fourth and keep that going, but the goal is to make it further than we ever have. We want to make it the best season possible.”