The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Gardening through the year

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By BJ Jarvis

When you have a few minutes to spend in the garden, it helps to be prepared with a month-by-month calendar of gardening to-dos. Here are a few tips to make 2011 a little more organized.

January: Cold protection is critical for plants not well suited to our occasional freezes. Apply horticultural oil while plants are dormant that have insect problems. Adjust irrigation to run no more than every other week. Too much water while plants are dormant can be harmful.
February: Start warm season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and melons indoors this month, giving you a head start on March planting. While grass is dormant, give the mower a general overhaul. Especially sharpen blades for a healthy cut. Prune azaleas as soon as they finish blooming to avoid cutting off next year’s blossoms.
March: As plants start to grow, control weeds before they control the garden. Reapply mulch to maintain a two to three-inch layer. With warmer weather, grass should be cut at 3.5 to four inches for Bahia and St. Augustine. Watch for hummingbird activity this month.
April: Patience is a virtue and finally it’s time to prune. Winter weary plants should be showing signs of life. Prune back to living tissue. Watch for oleander caterpillars and treat with Bt or remove and destroy.
May: Lawn grasses often need fertilizer during fast growing periods. Use a turf fertilizer with 50 percent nitrogen in a slow-release form. Mow no more than 1/3 of grass blade off at a time for optimal health. Keep blades sharp.
June: Black spot is a fungus that is prevalent in hot, rainy weather. With the onset of the summer rainy season, a weekly fungicide spray on hybrid tea roses may be necessary.
July: Watch for black coating on plant leaves of crape myrtle, gardenia, citrus and other plants. This is a sign that insects are over the darkened leaves. Insecticide, not a fungicide, is the key to controlling.
August: Insects of all sorts thrive in the heat of summer. Practice integrated pest management by regularly scouting plants for caterpillars, grasshoppers, scale and other pests that may be munching on garden plants.
September: Month’s end is the last chance to fertilize and prune before allowing plants to go dormant for the winter.
October: Dig and divide perennials, such as amaryllis, daylily and ornamental grasses that have gotten compacted. Plant strawberries for December through March munching.
November: Halloween is a good time to start a cool-season vegetable garden. Lettuce, spinach, sugar snap peas and broccoli work best.
December: Christmas trees need to be kept wet so needles don’t drop and trees won’t become a fire hazard. Poinsettia, pansies, calendula and other colorful plants brighten the garden and prefer the cooler temperatures.
For more information about gardening in Pasco, visit the Pasco Extension website, www.Pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/gardening. There you’ll find a month-by-month gardening calendar.
BJ Jarvis is Pasco Extension Director and horticulture agent. She can be reached at or by calling (352) 521-4288.

New Year provides another chance to begin anew

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By Samantha Taylor

Here we are in 2011 — and doesn’t it seem like it was just the new millennium? And now, another 11 years. Are you still struggling with some of the same things you said you wanted to overcome then?  I am, too.
One of the categories is honestly trying to keep my closet free of clothes on the ground.  But there are some things I have overcome and below are some tips for how to make your goals happen in 2011.
I learned these from personal experience and from coaching thousands of people to success with their health. The first four are the most critical, so if you want to keep it simple and just focus on those, it will help you.
Be clear on what you want — to start on a goal you need to know exactly what you want.  Don’t be vague, be very clear.  If your goal is weight loss, get specific.  Don’t just say, “I want to lose weight.”  Instead, say “I want to lose 30 pounds by March 31.”
1. Make a decision that the outcome of the goal is important to you. You need to have purpose behind that goal to drive you and propel you when things get challenging.
2. Write them down. I know, I know. This seems cliché, but there is some kind of power in writing it down when you take it from your mind and put it to ink on paper.
3. Look at them daily. What good is it if you write it down but don’t look at it?  I don’t know how many goal-setting workshops I went to, only to find the goals I had written down in a drawer a year later. I realized then that I was no closer to accomplishing those priorities because I keep them in front of me.
4. Break them down into more manageable goals. Having short-term and long-term goals helps.  If you have 100 pounds to lose, start with a long-term goal of 100 pounds and a short-term goal of losing the first 10 pounds.
5. Set a deadline. It helps to have a deadline of when you want to accomplish something. Make sure you are realistic so that you do not set yourself up for failure.
6. Track your progress. You need to know if what you are doing is working so you can change it if it’s not.
7. Adjust your method if it’s not working. If you notice you are not progressing, you need to change your method.  Why keep doing something if it’s not working?
8. Have accountability. This can be a huge part of success. Some of the greatest accomplishments I have had in life are when I had accountability.  Make sure it’s someone that is not going to just let you off the hook and say, “Awe, forget it, let’s go pig out at the movies!”
9. Focus on the positive, believing you can do it. You need to have a positive attitude about your ability to accomplish the goal. A negative, defeatist attitude can propel you to not succeed. Believe in yourself and focus.
10. Celebrate your success; reward yourself. This is the fun part.  Set a reward for yourself when you accomplish your goals.  Have mini rewards for your short-term goals and big rewards for your long-term goals.  When you lose the first 10 pounds, reward yourself with a massage, facial or golfing — whatever you would normally put off for a special occasion.
11. When you actually apply these tips, you will see results, possibly more than you ever have before.  Then when 2012 comes, you won’t be looking at the same obstacles in life but can conquer new ones.  You can look in the mirror and say “Oh YES, I did it!”

Famous quotes or company graffiti? Either way they guide us.

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By Diane Kortus

My favorite part of the week is Wednesday morning when I get together with my group of 14 employees to reflect on what we’re doing well and what we could be doing better.

We talk about what we like best about that week’s papers and Monday-morning quarterback on how they could have been better. Reporters tell us about their stories for the next issue and the rest of us add our two bits to their ideas.

We recap our sales numbers and talk about the challenges and opportunities our sales people face in this difficult economy. We go over production deadlines and how we plan to cover when someone is planning time off.  Before we end with our recognition awards, we share personal and family news.

We have been meeting every Wednesday for more than a year. Everyone attends, including part-time employees and student interns. We’ve learned that the best ideas often come from colleagues outside our area of expertise because they offer valuable perspectives we may have failed to consider.

It is somewhat unusual for a small business like ours to be so diligent. We never cancel our weekly staff meeting and we adhere to the rules that it starts on time and is kept to an hour.

I’ve talked to many business owners who have the same good intention of conducting weekly employee meetings. But they tell me their meetings often run out of momentum and wane after just a few months.

So why does our staff meeting have such staying power? One reason is because we begin each week with a quote. In the course of a year these quotes have helped to define our vision of who we are as a company and what we hope to become.

Everyone is encouraged to bring quotes to our meeting. Some weeks several employees bring quotes and other weeks there is just the one from me.  We post our quotes on a wall that’s on the way to the restroom, so they get plenty of visibility.

This wall has become thick with what I’ve come to think of as our company graffiti. As I pulled them down to select the best quotes to share with you this week, I was struck by how well they capture the beliefs and values that bind us together as colleagues and friends.

Our quotes fall into three main areas of thought:
— The attainment of goals is possible only if people care deeply and believe in a shared vision.
— Nothing is more important than kindness and abiding by the Golden Rule.
— You can only live in the present, so make the most of it.

Of the 18 quotes on the facing page, three have been guiding principles as I lead this company.

“Determination, energy and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are unimaginable in any other context.”
Margaret Wheatley

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
Mother Teresa

“Stop a minute, right where you are. Relax your shoulders, shake your head and spin like a dog shaking off cold water. Tell that impervious voice in your head to be still.”
Barbara Kingsolver

These wise words help me lead our company to produce community newspapers that make a difference. We want to connect you to your community through the stories we tell about your neighbors and the businesses who reach out with their advertisements.

Some weeks it is easier to make these connections than others. It is the weeks that we struggle that I turn to these quotes to give me courage to overcome adversity, to find the kindness that surrounds me and to reflect on the peacefulness that only the present can provide.

Tentative new districts to reshape area football

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Steinbrenner defensive back Tyler McClain sends Gaither quarterback Shug Oyegunle flying last year. When the two teams play this season, it will likely be as a district match-up.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has released preliminary new football districts for the next two seasons.

The FHSAA redistricts all prep sports every two years to account for new schools opening and changing population. Seth Polansky, FHSAA spokesman, said schools with a similar amount of students are grouped together by location.

“It isn’t very fair for a school with 2,500 kids to play against one with 50,” Polansky said. “Also, this year we’ve added a classification for rural schools to level the playing field. Instead of the old classes, now it’s 1A through 8A. There isn’t a 1B or 2B anymore to simplify the numbering.”

The larger the number of the class, the more students at the school. In Pasco and north Hillsborough counties, the new alignments if upheld will in some cases keep traditional rivalries, split others up and create new ones.

If new alignments stand, Land O’ Lakes and Pasco will be in different districts in 2011.

One of the biggest changes from the redistricting would be the splitting up of Pasco’s longest running rivalry — the 9-Mile War between Zephyrhills and Pasco. Despite both being in Class 5A, Zephyrhills has been grouped with three Polk County schools in District 9. Pasco is in 5A-6 with Wesley Chapel.

“I did submit a letter for appeal,” said Zephyrhills principal Steve Van Gorden. “We asked to be moved into 5A-6 as our first choice with Pasco and Wesley Chapel and the other county schools, or into 6A-6 as our second choice. We’ve played Pasco for a long time and it’s a very important match-up for our community here.”

Zephyrhills and Pasco have played each other 53 times. Van Gorden also said the travel for road district games would be another burden that would be alleviated if the Bulldogs were put in 5A-6.

Polansky said all appeals have been submitted and will be addressed in the coming weeks. Finalized districts will be released the last week of January.

Central Pasco rivals Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes will remain district opponents in 6A-6. The two squads were also in 3A-7 last year with Mitchell, who will move into the new district with River Ridge, Central and Springstead.

The Gators reached the playoffs last season as the district runner-up, the 14th straight appearance for the program. The Seahawks finished 8-2 and just missed out on a postseason berth after losing to Land O’ Lakes.

The Seahawks and Gators will likely have an easier time making the regional tournament in the new district alignment as Pasco, which as four straight district championships including 3A-7 last year, is now in 5A. Additionally, the only other new 6A-6 school to make the postseason last year was Springstead as the district runner-up with a 5-5 record.

Moving to the new 7A-7, four area schools have been grouped together — Freedom, Gaither, Steinbrenner and Wiregrass Ranch.

The Patriots and Cowboys were in the same district last year, but this alignment moves fellow north Hillsborough newcomer Steinbrenner with them.

“It’s nice to be moving up,” said Warriors coach Floyd Graham. “2A district we were in with Jesuit and Robinson was a tough one. We think we’ll be able to compete in the new district.”

Jesuit finished 10-0 in the regular season last year, while Robinson was 8-2.

Gaither and Steinbrenner played last year, a 20-7 win for the Cowboys, and Graham said the two programs wanted to continue to play even before learning they would be district rivals. He did say his team still wants to play Strawberry Crest, which had been a district opponent the last two years.

“I don’t really know why, but that’s the team we think of as our main rival,” Graham said. “Maybe it’s because we started the same time two years ago, maybe because that was the first game we played, maybe it’s because we played them two times that first year. I don’t know, but we want to keep playing them.

Wiregrass is the only Pasco school in the tentative 7A-7, but that does not phase the Bulls.

“My philosophy is we’ll play anyone,” said Wiregrass Ranch coach Jeremy Shobe. “We’ll prepare for anyone on our schedule.”

Carrollwood Day has also joined a district for the first time in school history. Last year it was an independent, but will move into 2A-5. Patriots coach Lane McLaughlin said the team wanted to move into a district to have a chance and an FHSAA state championship.

Six-man football teams like Academy at the Lakes and Zephyrhills Christian play in a league not affiliated with FHSAA, so redistricting does not affect those programs.

All the new districts can be viewed at www.fhsaa.org.

Florida colleges full of Pasco, north Hillsborough talent

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Local athletes continue excellence at next level

By Kyle LoJacono

Each year, the best prep athletes sign letters of intent to show off their skills in college and Florida’s largest schools are benefiting from the talent of Pasco and north Hillsborough County high schools.

The Laker and Lutz News checked with the sports information departments from the four most populated public colleges in Florida. Currently, 18 students from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Odessa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City are on athletic teams at Florida State University (FSU), the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of Florida (UF) or University of South Florida (USF).

Gaither High leads the way with five athletes on teams from the four biggest Florida institutions, followed by Land O’ Lakes with four and Zephyrhills and Freedom with two apiece.

Basketball player Kayli Keough, a forward and guard, knows what it is like to be on not one, but two teams of major Florida universities. She graduated from Land O’ Lakes High and started her college career playing at FSU.

“I was really excited,” Keough said of signing with FSU. “It was a great opportunity. It opens doors to things a lot of people don’t get a chance to do and you get to meet a lot of new people.”

Keough, a junior, moved to UCF this season and has to sit out the year because of NCAA transfer rules, but still has two years of eligibility left with the Knights. She has yet to take the floor with her new team in a game, but Keough has already seen the big differences between high school and college athletics.

“The speed is the biggest thing,” Keough said. “There isn’t time to think in college. You just have to go and react. High school has a much more relaxed nature. A lot of the girls in high school just play basketball for fun, but in college you have a group of girls who were all the best players in high school and are very into the game. Everyone is constantly working to get better.”

Keough helped the Gators go 25-4 and reach the second round of the playoffs in her senior year, the 2007-08 season. She averaged 18.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 3.3 steals and 1.9 assists per game her last campaign in high school.

“I loved it,” Keough said of playing at Land O’ Lakes. “I have a lot of close friends from playing there. … You want to go out and represent your town well in college. I’m still really close with a lot of my teammates from Land O’ Lakes and you want to show that we know how to play ball.”

Tyler Guy when he was the starting quarterback at Freedom High.

Moving to the gridiron of the football field, Tyler Guy also has experience at two schools, but on the high school level. He played football at Zephyrhills High for three years before transferring to Freedom High for his senior year.

Guy, a high school quarterback, helped lead the Patriots to a program record seven wins in 2009 and reach its second playoff appearance ever. He had 1,640 passing yards and 11 touchdowns and added another 317 rushing yards and five more scores his senior campaign.

“I loved playing high school football,” Guy said. “Moving to Freedom was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I loved playing there.”

Guy, who is the older brother of current Pasco High quarterback Jacob Guy, took a redshirt year this season after walking on at USF. He has switched to tight end and worked on the Bulls practice squad a lot this season.

The Patriots ran a version of the spread offense during Guy’s senior season. The Bulls also use a spread system, which was one of the reasons Guy picked USF.

Making the pros

While many area kids have managed to sign on with Florida’s biggest schools, a few have made it even a step farther. The most tenured professional athlete is Kevin Cash, who graduated from Gaither High. The catcher went on to FSU and then signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1999 as a rookie free agent.

Cash, who is currently a member of the Texas Rangers, has played eight MLB seasons as a member of six organizations. He has a .183 career batting average, 38 RBI and eight home runs in 246 MLB games.

Also from Gaither, Carlton Mitchell was a wide receiver with the Cowboys and then played at the University of South Florida (USF) from 2007-2009 after redshirting in 2006. He had 105 catches for 1,648 yards in three seasons as a Bull, including nine touchdowns. He also set the USF record for receiving yards in a season with 706 in 2009.

Mitchell was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round in 2010 and made the club’s final roster this season. He has no catches and only one rush attempt for nine yards through the Browns first 14 games, but is still in the NFL.

A new professional is former Pasco High student Dominic Brown, an outfielder. He was called up by the Philadelphia Phillies halfway through last season and batted .210 in 62 at bats with 13 RBI, eight runs scored and a pair of steals and homers.

Staying on the baseball field, Zephyrhills graduate Geoff Parker played at Florida State University the last three seasons, helping the Seminoles reach two College World Series (CWS) tournaments. He went 4-1 with three saves while posting a 4.69 earned run average in 32 appearances, 10 of them starts, his junior season in Tallahassee.

Parker signed with the Colorado Rockies last August after being drafted. He will likely spend the 2011 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery he had last September after tearing an elbow ligament pitching in the CWS.

Also representing east Pasco in the pros is 10-year NFL veteran defensive lineman Ryan Pickett. He graduated from Zephyrhills and was a first-round draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2001, playing in the Super Bowl as a rookie. He has spent the last five years with the Green Bay Packers. During his NFL playing career, he has compiled 447 tackles and 9.5 sacks.

NASCAR racer David Reutimann also graduated from Zephyrhills and is amazed at the number of east Pasco County people in professional athletics.

“I didn’t know about all those guys. I guess that shows the whole country where the best athletes are from,” Reutimann with a laugh. “We can really churn out those stud players out in east Pasco.”

Reutimann has a pair of NASCAR wins in four seasons, his latest coming last year in the LifeLock.com 400.

All-Laker/All-Lutz News fall teams

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The Laker and the Lutz News has named its inaugural All-Laker/All-Lutz News teams for the 2010 fall high school athletic seasons. Members of the team were selected based on their skill, value to their team, final statistics and head-to-head matchups. Teams in the coverage area include Academy at the Lakes, Carrollwood Day, Freedom, Gaither, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Saddlebrook Prep, Steinbrenner, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills and Zephyrhills Christian. Only sports sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) are eligible for the team, not recognized sports. Sports Editor Kyle LoJacono selected the team. All stats were as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches and all playoff performances are as recorded by the FHSAA.

Girls golf

–Ellen Crowley, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. Leader of the team that won the first district championship in school history.

–Hana Lee, Fr., Wesley Chapel. Only a freshman, but was the No. 1 golfer on the squad and shot an 86 to qualify for regionals as an individual.

–Kellianne May, Jr., Pasco. Shot a 79 in districts, helping the Pirates earn runner-up in Class 1A, District 8. She followed up with a 79 in regionals, good enough for third place.

–Alex Milan, Sr., Steinbrenner. Won her fourth straight individual district championship.

–Lauren Riehle, Jr., Saddlebrook Prep. Won her second straight individual district championship despite being the only member on the team.

Player of the Year: Alex Milan, Steinbrenner. Milan brought home her fourth straight district tournament and competed in states for the third consecutive season, but for the first time, her team came with her. Milan was the leader of the first Warriors team to reach states and was like a second coach for the squad. She has already signed her letter of intent to play at Florida State University next year.

Coach of the Year: Mark Mann, Steinbrenner. Mann became the Warriors coach when the school opened last year. Most of his new players at Steinbrenner came over with him from Sickles and he has helped turn the second-year school into a girls golf contender. His team will likely return four players who competed in this year’s Class 1A state tournament and the squad will likely be a factor for years.

Boys golf

–Jacob Fleck, Sr., Wesley Chapel. No. 1 golfer on the first Wesley Chapel boys team to reach the state tournament in program history.

–Jon Kopsell, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Was the individual runner-up in districts and helped the Gators reach the regional tournament.

–Dylan Larson, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Leader of the first boys Bulls team to win a district championship in program history and was also the individual champion.

–Brandon Mumaw, Sr., Wesley Chapel. Four-year member of the Wildcats team and finished as the individual runner-up in districts with a 76.

–Jimmy Stranger, So., Gaither. His 77 was tied for the lowest in districts and helped the Cowboys finish as the runner-up in the event.

Player of the Year: Jacob Fleck, Wesley Chapel. Besides being the No. 1 golfer of the first team in program history to reach the state tournament, Fleck won the individual Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament. His 78 was good enough for third lowest in districts and followed that up by winning the individual crown in regionals with a 70.

Coach of the Year: Alan Black, Wesley Chapel. Black has been the only boys golf coach at Wesley Chapel since it opened in 1999 after coaching at both Pasco and Land O’ Lakes and he saved his best team for his last year. While he had taken individuals to states before, including Cameron Knight who won the 2004 Class 2A state title, this was the first time he had taken a team to the event.

Volleyball first team

–Libero: Cary Ann Bame, Jr., Steinbrenner. Led the Warriors with 217 digs while adding 43 aces and helped the squad win its second district title and first regional match.

–Middle hitter: Chelsea Violenes, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Her 1.5 blocks per game was 11th most in the state. Had 138 blocks, a team-high 152 kills and 103 digs.

–Middle hitter: Nicole Woodard, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Her 136 blocks was tied for third most in Florida. She also added 186 kills and 20 aces.

–Outside hitter: Morgan Crescent, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Named the Sunshine Athletic Conference East Co-Player of the Year after putting down a team-high 221 kills and adding 97 aces.

–Outside hitter: Natalia Ortiz, Sr., Steinbrenner. The co-captain put down 84 kills while adding a team-high 31 blocks.

–Outside hitter: Teresa Della Penna, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Played both outside hitter and setter this year and led the Gators with 284 assists and 112 aces while adding 208 kills.

–Setter: Erin McMurtry, Sr., Steinbrenner. Along with her 613 assists, she had 79 digs, 70 aces, 37 kills and 17 blocks.

Volleyball second team

–Libero: Helen Marte, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Finished the year with 371 digs and also contributed 19 aces.

–Middle hitter: Megan Moyer, Sr., Steinbrenner. Led the Warriors with 128 kills and contributed 25 aces and 22 blocks.

–Middle hitter: Tori Quaglia, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. Led the Bulls with 83 blocks and also added 135 kills and 41 digs.

–Outside hitter: Kaylee Gaskin, Sr., Zephyrhills. After losing three key starters to graduation, Gaskin stepped up and was the frontline leader for the Bulldogs.

–Outside hitter: Ashley Wilson, Fr., Freedom. Led the Patriots with 295 kills and chipped in 205 digs and 25 aces.

–Setter: Kelly Schaller, Fr., Freedom. Racked up 645 assists and a team-high 82 aces. Also had 97 digs, 39 kills and 18 blocks.

Player of the Year: Erin McMurtry, Steinbrenner. McMurtry had not played setter since middle school but had to relearn the position this summer to fill a team need. She did not miss a beat and helped guide the Warriors to their second straight district championship and first regional tournament win. McMurtry was also a co-captain and was a leader on and off the court.

Coach of the Year: Laurie Fitzpatrick, Land O’ Lakes. The first-year coach came in and made a mark on the program quickly. The Gators were 11-9 last season, but improved to 19-4 this year. Land O’ Lakes was knocked out of the district semifinals in a four-set match against Hernando, but were headed in the right direction. Given a few more years she will likely end the Gators 21-year district tournament drought.

Girls swimming

–Nicholette Clark, Sr., Zephyrhills. Qualified for states in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:00 and won the race in districts in 2:01.

–Lindsay Gorgen, Sr., Zephyrhills. Won the 100-yard freestyle in districts with a time of 56.71 seconds.

–Megan Huynh, Sr., Sunlake. Won the 50-yard freestyle race in districts with a time of 27.44 seconds.

–Rebecca Pindral, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Came in sixth in the state in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:07.

–Makayla Strickland, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Key member of the Bulls 200-yard freestyle relay team that took first in districts in 1:49.

Swimmer/Diver of the Year: Rebecca Pindral, Wiregrass Ranch. Besides being a part of the Wiregrass Ranch 200-yard freestyle relay team that took first in districts, Pindral came in sixth in the state in the 100 breaststroke. She also won the 100 backstroke in districts. Pindral has been on the team for four years and was also a leader of the team that started to make a name for itself in the school’s fifth year.

Coach of the Year: Jennifer Ordetx, Steinbrenner. Despite coaching a program in its second year, Ordetx took several swimmers to regionals. She was only the girls coach in name, but did everything she could to help the boys as well. Given a couple more years Ordetx will likely add some banners in the Warriors gym.

Boys swimming/diving

–Alex Hill, Sr., Wesley Chapel. Came in second overall in the Class 2A state diving finals with 17 points.

–Nick Keach, Sr., Sunlake. Finished second in districts with in the 100-yard freestyle in 50.05 seconds and part of the 200 freestyle relay team that finished second in the event.

–Matt Menendez, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch. Placed second in the 100-yard butterfly event in districts with a time of 59.32 seconds. Also came in third in 200-yard free in 1:54.

–Giorgi Meyer, Jr., Steinbrenner.    Took first place in diving in the Class 1A, District 7 and followed that up by finishing third in regionals.

–Kyle Shaffer, Sr., Sunlake. Won the 200-yard individual medley in districts with a time of 2:11 and part of the 200 freestyle relay team that finished second in the event.

Swimmer/Diver of the Year: Alex Hill, Wesley Chapel. Coming in first in diving in the Class 2A, District 5 tournament was just the beginning for Hill. He followed that up by placing second in regionals and matched that finish in states. Unfortunately for the Wildcat senior, he was runner-up to Cole Maffeo in both events, but made his mark on state diving in his last year.

Coach of the Year: Tanner Schmitz, Wiregrass Ranch. Schmitz had never coached swimming before this season, but he handled the Bulls team like a seasoned professional. He played and coached football and brought a new level of work and commitment to the boys and girls squads’ practices this year.

Girls cross country

–Lauren Garris, So., Steinbrenner. Finished seventh in the regional event with a time of 20:24.

–Ariel Grey, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Came in 12th place individually in regionals with a time of 19:20.

–Evyn Moon, Fr., Steinbrenner. Her 20th place finish helped the program advance to their first state tournament.

–Nikita Shah, So., Wiregrass Ranch. Helped lead the Bulls to conference, district and regional championships.

–Nicole Solmonson, Jr., Zephyrhills. Made it to the regional tournament as an individual this year.

Runner of the Year: Nikita Shah, Wiregrass Ranch. Despite being only a sophomore, Shah became the Bulls No. 1 runner this season. Her times helped Wiregrass Ranch win the Sunshine Athletic Conference, the Class 3A-3 district and 3A-2 regional championships. She ran the 10th fastest time in regionals, finishing in 19:51. She has plenty of time to get even faster.

Coach of the Year: Don Howard, Wiregrass Ranch. Howard led the Bulls to conference, district and regional titles this year, but also showed his leadership in rallying the team behind a fallen teammate. Lexi Ulrich would have been a junior on the team, but was killed with her family in a plane crash earlier in the year. He and the team dedicated the season to her.

Boys cross country

–Kenneth Fessel, Jr., Sunlake. Was the only member of the Seahawks to advance to states with a time of 16:12 in regionals, good enough for fifth place.

–Hendrix Lafontant, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. No. 1 runner on the Gators team that ended up second in both districts and regionals.

–Alex Newby, Sr., Steinbrenner. No. 1 runner on the Steinbrenner team that won its district and finished second in Class 2A state event.

–Anthony Plourde, Sr., Pasco. Qualified for states individually and came in 35th place with a time of 16:49.

–Joshua Reilly, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Finished third individually in regionals with a time of 16:08.

Runner of the Year: Alex Newby. Newby went out with a bang this year, helping the Warriors program win its first district title in surprising fashion. After taking first in Class 2A, District 5, Steinbrenner came in second in the state event. Newby posted a time of 16:26, good enough for 15th fastest in the state.

Coach of the Year: Bobby McConnell. McConnell came to Steinbrenner from Gaither and won a district title in his first campaign. Even more surprising, the Warriors leader got the squad in good enough shape to finish second in the Class 2A state finals. Things look good as Steinbrenner races into the future.

Football offensive first team

–Quarterback: Stephen Weatherford, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Led Pasco County with 2,136 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while adding another eight rushing and one receiving score.

–Running back: David Emmanuel, So., Pasco. Racked up 1,046 rushing yards on 145 carries and 16 scores.

–Running back: Josh Roberts, Jr., Zephyrhills Christian. Was the leading rusher and scorer on a Warriors team that won the six-man football championship.

–Wide receiver: Trey Dudley-Giles, Jr., Pasco. Led the Pirates with nine receiving touchdowns while adding 547 yards on 24 catches.

–Wide receiver: Will Irwin, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Brought in 18 touchdowns and 46 catches for 1,018 receiving yards.

–Tight end: Jason Tello, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Was the underneath threat for the Gators, catching 58 passes for 846 yards and five scores.

–Offensive line: Sunlake. The unit includes junior right tackle Nate McCoole, junior right guard Matt Sanders, senior center Josh Nobles, junior left guard Randy Silverwood and junior left tackle Canon Clark. The big five helped the Seahawks win a program record eight games and complete their first winning season.

Football offensive second team

–Quarterback: Jacob Guy, Jr., Pasco. Completed 106 passes for 2,014 yards and 27 touchdowns while guiding the Pirates to the regional semifinals.

–Running back: Rashaud Daniels, Jr., Sunlake. Gained 543 yards on 78 carries and found the end zone 11 times.

–Running back: Nick Lomba, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Had 670 yards on 71 carries and 11 touchdowns in helping the Bulls win their first district championship.

–Wide receiver: Mike Clower, Sr., Pasco. Had a team-high 658 receiving yards on 23 catches, including eight for touchdowns.

–Wide receiver: Robert Lohnes, Sr., Freedom. Probably the fastest player on the All-Laker team, racked up 596 yards on 37 catches and five touchdowns.

–Tight end: Kent Taylor, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Was second on the Gators with nine receiving touchdowns and added 571 yards on 35 catches.
–Offensive line: Carrollwood Day. The unit includes junior right tackle Chance Furman, sophomore right guard Collin DeBossier, sophomore center Jarrod Smith, sophomore left guard Adam Morsel and senior left tackle Mak Djulbegovic. Opened up holes for running back Robert Davis to gain 1,523 yards through.

Football offensive honorable mention

–Quarterback: Jacob Jackson, Sr., Sunlake. Stepped up as a passer this season, throwing for 1,258 yards on 82 completions and 18 touchdowns while adding a team-high 1,058 rushing yards on 138 carries and another 12 scores.

–Running back: Robert Davis, So., Carrollwood Day. Ran for 1,523 yards on 124 carries and 15 touchdowns.

–Running back: Janarion Grant, So. Pasco. Picked up five touchdowns and 434 rushing yards on 41 carries and added another seven receiving scores.

–Wide receiver: Tobi Antigha, Sr., Steinbrenner. Most reliable target on the Warriors team that finished 5-5 after not winning a varsity contest the year before.

–Wide receiver: Jamal Jones, Jr., Sunlake. Came up with 19 catches for 308 yards and led the Seahawks with seven touchdowns.

–Offensive line: Wiregrass Ranch. The unit had six players who rotated as starters, including senior tackle Noah Ravenna, junior tackle Justin Scamardo, junior tackle Jacob Sniezyk, senior guard Frankie Walther, senior guard Jared Cameli and junior center Travis Whiddon. The unit returned just one starter from last year, but came together in the second half to help the Bulls reach their first playoff game.

Offensive Player of the Year: Stephen Weatherford. Despite missing the Gators last two games for undisclosed reasons, Weatherford’s 30 passing touchdowns was still tied for third most of any quarterback in Florida to only eight interceptions. His 237.3 passing yards per game was also the eighth most in the state. He added a team-high 476 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 62 carries and brought in one catch for five yards and another score.

Football defensive first team

–Linebacker: Jackson Cannon, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Led the Gators with 123 tackles and 15.5 sacks.

–Linebacker: Josh Scarberry, Jr., Gaither. Led the Cowboys with 75 tackles, nine sacks and three forced fumbles.

–Linebacker: Shadow Williams, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Had 121 tackles, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles from the weakside spot.

–Defensive line: Chadd Hannah, Sr., Gaither. Had 48 tackles and seven sacks this year and has several scholarship offers from Division I schools.

–Defensive line: Mark Landry, Sr., Pasco. Recorded 61 tackles coming off the end with seven sacks.

–Defensive line: Spencer Michelson, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. The team captain moved to the line to help the team and still had 82 tackles and 9.5 sacks.

–Defensive line: Nick Wilson, Jr., Pasco. On a Pirates team that put constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks, he led Pasco with 9.5 sacks.

–Defensive back: Tyler McCollum, Jr., Gaither. His five interceptions and three passes defensed made quarterbacks throw to the check down option.

–Defensive back: Max Pautler, Jr., Gaither. Pautler had four interceptions, but could easily have had many more if opposing quarterbacks threw his way.

–Defensive back:  Eddie Burgos, So., Sunlake. Had four interceptions and 13 passes defensed.

–Defensive back: Justin Tello, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Came up with five interceptions and 45 tackles from the strong safety spot.

Football defensive second team

–Linebacker: Alex Bombino, Sr., Steinbrenner. Was the heart and soul of the Warriors defense, making big plays and not allowing any teammates to quit.

–Linebacker: Jake Fisher, Sr., Wesley Chapel. Recorded 120 tackles, 50 more than any other Wildcat.

–Linebacker: Dale Smith Jr., Zephyrhills Christian. Was the leader of the state championship team despite taking a year off from the sport the previous year.

–Defensive line: Craig King, Sr., Sunlake. Led the Seahawks with seven sacks and added 42 tackles.

–Defensive line: Frank “Duke” Morrison, Sr., Zephyrhills. Probably the most respected by his teammates, Morrison’s leadership was evident in practice and games.

–Defensive line: Noah Ravenna, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Recorded 31 tackles and two sacks while drawing double teams all year.

–Defensive line: Angel Alvarez, Sr., Gaither. Had 36 tackles and was named to the All-Western Conference Football American Division first-team.

–Defensive back: John Ayers, Sr., Wesley Chapel. The safety came up with four interceptions and 70 tackles.

–Defensive back: Chris Reaves, Sr., Zephyrhills. Reaves’ play in the secondary was one of the bright spots for the Bulldogs.

–Defensive back: Wesley Moore, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Led the Gators with seven interceptions while adding two sacks and 92 tackles.

–Defensive back: Raymond Powell, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Led the Bulls with four interceptions and added 48 tackles.

Football defensive honorable mention

–Linebacker: Levon Brookins, Jr., Gaither. Brookins had 71 tackles and forced a fumble.

–Linebacker: Keith Lewis, Sr., Freedom. Lewis had some injuries this season, but still managed 104 tackles and three sacks.

–Defensive line: Jose Santana, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Had 6.5 sacks and 54 tackles as a senior.

–Defensive line: Max Osnos, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. Osnos played at many positions, but made the biggest difference up front.

–Defensive line: Cornell Wilson, So., Pasco. The sophomore contributed 62 tackles and three interceptions.

–Defensive back: Dillon Floyd, Jr., Carrollwood Day. Had a team-high six interceptions while adding six passes defensed and 35 tackles.

–Defensive back: Jordan Michelson, So., Land O’ Lakes. Picked off two passes, but had 15 passes defensed to lead all defensive backs on the All-Laker team.

Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Scarberry. The Gaither defense was the squad’s strength and Scarberry was the leader of that unit. He shined with both his play on the field, but also because of his leadership. Opposing coaches spoke of how he never takes a play off. The scary thing is he has another year of growth in high school.

Football special teams

–Kicker: Adrian Krupka, Sr., Sunlake. Had 32 touchbacks out of 63 kickoffs and 40 made extra points.

–Punter: Jacob Guy, Jr., Pasco. Along with running the Pirates high powered offense, Guy averaged more than 40 yards a punt.

–Returner: Robert Lohnes, Sr., Freedom. Averaged 12 yards a punt return and 33 yards per kick return.

Coach of the Year: Bill Browning, Sunlake. In the program’s fourth season, Browning guided the team to an 8-2 record, the first winning season in program history. The competition in Class 3A, District 7 was so tough that the Seahawks just missed the playoffs, but the growth in the program is evident. Sunlake should have more eight-win seasons as long as Browning is patrolling the sidelines.

New travel team comes up ‘golden’

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By Kyle LoJacono

While the high school softball season is still many weeks away, travel ball with Tampa Bay Velocity Gold has been in high gear for months.

Velocity Gold catcher Nikki Sedivy tags a runner out at home.

The new competitive travel team was created about a year ago by Saint Leo University graduate and former Gaither High coach Heather Castle. The team practices at Roy Haynes Park in Forest Hills, but players come from around Tampa Bay to learn from Castle.

“We’ve got players from east Pasco, west Pasco, Lutz, Brooksville, Tampa, Riverview, Clearwater,” Castle said. “Really from all over the place and they are all good, let me tell you. We’ve got some players on this team.”

Castle has been a travel ball coach for five years and also coached high school for four seasons. She created Velocity to help increase the interest in the sport across Tampa Bay and also as a way to get local players noticed by colleges.

“Basically to get schools interested in you, you have to play travel ball in showcase tournaments,” Castle said. “That’s the only way to get a lot of places to see you. That’s what I want is to make them better and get them signed.”

Center fielder Lauren Thompson has already seen the benefit from playing on the team.

“High school softball is really political,” Thompson said. “Here it’s about just playing and I’ve already had Columbia and Virginia show some interest in me from the exposure from the team.”

Thompson and Velocity catcher Nikki Sedivy both said Castle is a very tough coach when it comes to practice, but only because that is the best way to get better.

“They aren’t easy practices,” Sedivy said. “It’s not like she’s mean or anything like that because she’s easy to talk to and listens. She just wants to make you better.”

Castle said of her style in practice, “I make sure to push them. I’ve seen other practices where the players and coaches mess around more than practice. That’s not going to help them get better.”

Thompson has been a part of the program for several months and said she has seen improvement in her hitting. Sedivy said she most wants to improve her speed and footwork behind the plate to better at throwing out base stealers.

“We’ve still got a very young team,” Castle said. “I mean Sedivy is only 14, so right now we’re still working on the little things and then we’ll really start going to the big tournaments in Las Vegas, Georgia and Texas.”

Along with the goal of getting players signed, the squad was established to help children who cannot afford the sometimes very pricey travel ball season.

“It can be thousands of dollars to play travel ball now,” said Velocity president and assistant Bob Gambino. “With us it’s just $135 for the year. We’ve always found a way to help kids who want to play.”

Gambino added the team is looking for playing sites in Pasco County for a softball complex. He said there is no such area big enough for large softball tournaments in Hillsborough County, but thinks there is a chance something could happen in the northern area.

Castle has also worked with the players to better the community. They recently did several charity drives to collect new teddy bears they then gave to All Children’s Hospital in Tampa.

“Being active in the community is something I believe,” Castle said. “We want to show them making a difference is the right thing to do.”

For more information on Velocity Gold, e-mail Castle at .

Velocity Gold with teddy bears they collected and donated to All Children’s Hospital in Tampa.

Ground broken for Wesley Chapel hospital

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Porter family sees dream for community taking shape

By Kyle LoJacono

When Don Porter was growing up in what is now Wesley Chapel, his family was one of six living in the area. Today it has nearly 60,000 residents and will soon have its first hospital.

Don (left) and J.D. Porter throw flower seeds resembling confetti into what will become one of several healing gardens at the Wesley Chapel Medical Center. (Photos by Kyle LoJacono)

The groundbreaking for the Wesley Chapel Medical Center was Dec. 14 and Don vividly remembered what healthcare was like in the area decades ago.
“Our family bought the land for Wiregrass Ranch in 1941,” Don said. “In 1943 a B-26 (airplane) crashed and the whole crew died because there were no doctors or hospital out here. Then when I was growing up on the ranch we had a rider who was thrown from his horse and he broke his neck. That happened at 9 in the morning and it took until after 9 that night for doctors to get here to see him.
“Our family is proud to be a small part of the hospital coming to Wesley Chapel,” Don continued. “It’s been part of a dream to see this whole area develop.”
J.D. Porter, Don’s son, agrees with his father.
“We love this area and it’s time we had a hospital,” J.D. said. “This is a necessary and important step to give the self-fulfilling need to have a place to live, work and play.”
John Harding, president and CEO of Adventist Health System’s (AHS) Tampa Bay Region, said talks to build the hospital got going three years ago as a joint venture between University Community Hospital (UCH) and AHS. The two companies merged Sept. 1.
“In the mid ’90s, UCH and Adventist started talking and moved forward with this a few years ago,” said Harding, of Lutz. “I never thought we would have merged before the hospital was built. It was back then when we figured out it is better to work with each other instead of against each other. I want everyone to know it was actually Norm Stein. He took the first critical steps to make this happen.”
Stein retired as the president and CEO of UCH when the companies merged.
“If you take a helicopter ride above here, and I did two times, and fly over, you see a Super Target and Super Walmart,” Stein said. “I said that area needs a hospital for sure if it has those two.”
Stein added that he will soon be living just north of the facility and jokingly said it was nice for AHS to build him a hospital.
After the groundbreaking, Harding said, “I’ve been working on this for three years and was responsible for putting the design together. It is just a beautiful day that is finally here. Not only for Adventist Health System, but really for the community. Even though we have a hospital in Zephyrhills, it’s about 15 miles away, and UCH in the south, when it comes to any kind of injury, time is extremely important. Having this hospital for the community of Wesley Chapel, we just couldn’t be more glad to be here and serve this area.
Brian Adams will become the facility’s president and CEO in January. He is currently the chief operating officer of Florida Hospital Altamonte, part of AHS.
“Not everyone in a community uses the library,” Adams said. “Believe it or not, not everyone goes to the malls. But at some point everyone is touched in a community by the hospital.”
“This is a really exciting project for the Wesley Chapel community to have the doctors and physicians they want right by their homes,” Adams continued. “We’re actually right across the street from Seven Oaks where my home will be. Just having opportunity to be part of what’s happening in Pasco County, I’m thrilled to be part of it.”
The hospital will take from 18-24 months to build and will use a design that brings a natural element to healthcare while keeping loved ones close by.
“Studies prove patients recover better in an environment that allows them to relax,” Adams said. “Nothing is more relaxing than nature. The rooms in the hospital are also designed so the family can stay with the patient. That’s the other piece that’s important to healthcare today — to have rooms that are designed to be a part of the care. So in addition to a great view, families will have the ability to stay with together.”

Wesley Chapel Medical Center
Location: just north of SR 56 on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Size: 200,000-square-foot facility, 52 acres
Project length: 18-24 months
Proposed cost: $121 million
Beds: 80 initially with plans to expand to 300
Services: obstetrics, pediatrics, women’s and men’s services, general surgery, an emergency department with helicopter pad, a comprehensive medical fitness program, orthopedics and sports medicine.

3 area teens earn distinction as heroes

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Gaither’s Colton Shepard wins hospital contest

By Kyle LoJacono

As the names of the children up for Kids are Heroes award were read Dec. 13, Gaither High senior Colton Shepard was calm because he was not expecting to win.
“We got to hear all the stories of the kids who were nominated and I didn’t think I had a chance,” Shepard said. “They read the names in alphabetical order, so when they skipped my name I was surprised because it meant I was in the top three.”

Colton Shepard with his JROTC uniform and award he won for placing first in the Kids are Heroes competition. (Photo by Kyle LoJacono)

Then they announced Lutz resident Geena Allen came in third for the 13 to 18-year-old category, followed by Odessa resident Jonathon Bermudez in second. St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital has been awarding the honor each year since 1996, and Shepard is the first Gaither Cowboy to take first place.
“I was blown away,” Shepard said. “The really cool thing is patients at the hospital judge it. It’s a jury of your own peers who pick you instead of adults.”
Shepard was up for the award because his actions saved a mother and child from a burning vehicle. He was walking home from a friend’s house in June when he saw the aftermath of a car accident near the intersection of Dale Mabry and North Lakeview Drive, just south of Lutz.
The car was on fire, but that did not stop Shepard. He ran across the road, kicked in the windshield and got the mother and child out safely.
Shepard is a member of Gaither’s JROTC and he credits his quick actions with what he has learned through the program.
Shepard’s JROTC instructor Senior Chief Ed Donohue submitted Shepard’s name for the honor after learning about the award from principal Marie Whelan.
“I thought what he did was heroic,” Donohue said. “For him to put himself out like that; a lot of people wouldn’t have done that, especially a teenage kid.
“He’s done a great job for us,” Donohue continued. “He’s responsible. Volunteers a lot of his time to the unit. Makes good grades. He’s a real good kid.”
Gaither’s JROTC commanding officer Joseph Scott, a senior, said no one in the unit believed Shepard when he told them about what he did.
“We’re all really surprised when we heard what he did for that family,” Scott said. “We didn’t expect it out of him. To be that courageous to jump into action like that. When he first told us we had our doubts. We just thought he was messing around with us. He’s a comical kid and likes to joke around all the time.”
The award Shepard received for winning is sitting in one of Gaither’s trophy cases.
Shepard said he plans on attending the University of Tampa and join its ROTC program. After graduating he wants to join either the Navy or Air Force for a four-year term, and then become a law enforcement agent.
Bermudez, a senior on the Sickles High cross-country team, was nominated for the honor after he bought new running shoes for Abdin Fator, a sophomore on the squad. Fator was born in Sudan and moved to the United States in 2003. Bermudez used the money from his 17th birthday to buy Fator the new shoes and acted as a mentor for him all year.
Allen, an honor roll student, was up for the award for helping turn another child’s life around. She was asked be a teacher to check on an upset student in the restroom, and found a child had taken a large amount of medication. Allen stayed with the other girl and convinced her not only to get the medicine out of her system, but also to seek help.
More than 1,000 children from across Tampa Bay have been honored through St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Kids are Heroes program. About 100 nominations were received for the honor this year.

Dade City Chamber names new director

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By Tammy Sue Struble

Former Tampa Convention Center leader John Moors is the new executive director of the Dade City Chamber of Commerce. He started the job last week, replacing Nita Beckworth, who was relieved of the position last month.
During the Thanksgiving holiday, the office struggled a little with staffing. However, according to Joey Wubbna, the current chamber president, everything has been running smoothly since.

John Moors

“About nine chamber board volunteers took turns on different days working in the office,” Wubbna explained. Along with three full-time staff in the office, they have handled Beckworth’s absence.
Wubbna said the chamber received about 20 applications for the position. The chamber board interviewed the top three selected from the group Dec. 6.
Moors, from New Tampa, has a strong background in the hotel/hospitality business. Although the former Tampa Convention Center head, Moors has ties with Dade City. He was an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University and has served on the Advisory Council for hospitality and tourism at the university for about five years.
“So, I am not unfamiliar with the area,” Moors said.
After about a decade at the convention center, he left in March citing health reasons — which Moors said have not slowed him down. He expressed confidence that health issues will not affect his work at the Dade City Chamber.
At 58, Moors states that the Dade City position, “Doesn’t feel like it’s any less pressure” than the convention center job. In fact, he has been busy doing different things since he left the Tampa job.
Moors has been very active in business associations and charity organizations. “I most recently just finished as volunteer coordinator for Moving Hillsborough Forward,” he said, referring to a recent transportation initiative for increased transportation services throughout the county that voters defeated.
He remains involved with the Paint Your Heart out Tampa project where approximately 3,000 volunteers paint 100 houses in one day.
“It is primarily for fixed income seniors who couldn’t afford to do it otherwise,” Moors explained.  He has also been involved with the United Way and chaired Leadership Tampa Alumni through the Greater Tampa Chamber.
Moors is looking forward to his new position as executive director at the Dade City Chamber of Commerce; he was ready for a change.
“It is a new and exciting challenge,” he said. “I certainly buy into a focus on the past with an eye to the future. I believe this community is moving in the right direction.”