Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Zack Peterson

Special to Lutz News/The Laker

They call it Little Everglades Ranch, but the site of the state cross-country finals was anything but little. With a massive stretch of green pasture-like grass and a subtle, but vicious hill that runners had to battle for the last half mile of the race, the ranch was a giant of a course.

But for the Steinbrenner High Warriors, the reward was sweet.

The Warriors, representing their second-year school, placed second in the state for Class 2A.

Only Estero High topped them with 87 total points.

By the time the sun had fully risen into the sky, the day’s races were concluded and the awards were announced. While some teams groaned in agony over their losses, the Warriors leapt with joy.

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Zachary Lima, a sophomore on the team who finished with a time of 17:09.

“I didn’t think we would do this well. But our coach was right. He said, ‘Run what you can run and you’ll do something big.’”

Coming into the state finals, the Warriors were ranked 11th and were hoping for a top-five finish in the overall team

rankings.

“We expected anywhere from 12th to second place and we would’ve been very happy for a top five [finish],” said Dan Sarver, a senior on the team. “All the hard work helped, and every day paid off.”

Lima said the team finished last in the region in its inaugural season. So what were the significant changes between last year and this year?

According to sophomore Matt Magee, it was the hard work and coaching.

“Between last year and this year, we got separate coaches for the girls’ and boys’ teams.” Furthermore, the varsity team ran roughly 500 miles over the summer.

“After that, we were pretty much committed,” Magee said.

Coach Bobby McConnell shares the sentiment. As the coach for this young squad, he assumed the team had an “outside shot” at ranking like they did.

“It’s a little bit of a surprise,” McConnell said. “But it’s these kids’ work ethic. They do what it takes to win. They’re always there, whether it’s an early morning practice at six or an evening practice that runs until eight.

“I’ll never coach a group of kids who worked as hard as they did.”

Steinbrenner girls take positive step

For the Lady Warriors, their experience at the states finals was just another stepping stone in a positive direction for their young team.

“They did really well,” said head coach Ladd Baldwin. “We’ve got a good, strong future. States was a nice building bock [for the team].”

Between this year and last year, the Warriors emphasized more tempo workouts and more weekend runs, some that ranged up to eight miles long. Also, the team traveled to the Florida State University Invitational, and took a trip up to Brevard Community College for an exclusive running trip to bring the team together.

“Last year was about having fun. This year we still wanted that fun element, but we stepped up the training,” Baldwin said.

But the turning point was this year’s Hillsborough County Freshmen/Sophomore Meet. “That’s where out girls started realizing, ‘we can do this,’ ” Baldwin said.

Ultimately, they finished 22nd as a team, with Lauren Garris, the team’s leading sophomore, finishing at a time of 19:28.

“I wanted a top-20 finish,” said Garris, who finished 21st overall. “But we’ve been bonding so well this year with team activities and I think we’re moving to new places with this young team.”

The rest of the girls finished at assorted times, mainly between 19-22 minutes. Together, their point values added up to 440.

At this stage, the next thing on the Warriors check list is the AAU National Race scheduled for Dec. 4.

“My goal is to always keep them motivated with what’s next,” Baldwin said.

Sunlake’s Fessell in 3A

Little Everglades Ranch isn’t just composed of steep, rolling hills or grassy green flats. In the wide open pasture, the sun had the chance to shine on the whole event with its scorching rays. By the time several 3A runners took off at the sound of the gun, the sun hung high in the sky, at its most blaring temperature.

For junior Sunlake High runner, Kenneth Fessel, who’s advanced to states the past three years, it was tough not only on his body, but his time.

“I trained hard and hoped for the best,” Fessel said. “It just didn’t all come together; but it was a good experience.”

Overall, Fessel finished with a time of 17:10, while he was instead hoping to “break 16 [minutes].”

Sickles at the meet

Others, like David Piatt of Sickles High, noted the challenging aspects of the course.

“We put all we had into our workouts and gave it our all to get here,” Piatt said. “But I’m not really sure what happened. We did a lot worse than I thought. Maybe it was the heat or maybe the course was a little loose.”

Sickles coach Gail Bottone offered a different theory.

“I think about, ‘what did I do personally to prepare them?’” Bottone said. “I think they were prepared mentally, but we hadn’t done a lot of hill training.”

“In hindsight, hill preparation is something to work on [for next year].”

Sickles ultimately finished 24th in the team rankings after what seemed to be a miracle run to states. According to Piatt, “just being here alone was a big thing for us.”

However, Sickles didn’t just send its boys’ squad. They sent Sarah Hartman as well, a sophomore runner for the girls’ team who was the only individual to advance from regionals.

For Hartman, the experience was incredibly gratifying. Juggling soccer and cross country, she pushed herself to excel in both, making it her ultimate goal to make it to the state finals.

After finishing with a 20:49 minute 5K, the athlete was pleased.

“I think I did pretty decent. I’m going to tell everyone how amazing states is and hopefully they’ll be inspired from it,” Hartman said.

Gator runners climb the hill

Inspiration at the state finals wasn’t as simple to come by as it may seem, though. The last portion of the course — the most important — was all an up slide. Runners started off the race up-hill and at the end had to push themselves back up the steep monster.

In particular, the boy’s at Land O’ Lakes High noticed this.

“I didn’t want to do it,” said Dillon Oergel, jokingly, of the last up-hill segment. “But I didn’t — and couldn’t — let my team down.”

Oergel and the rest of his teammates combined their efforts to finish 15th in the team rankings at states.

“We ran the best we could,” said senior Jacob Morken. “I’m proud of all of us. I know we left nothing out there.”

By Kyle LoJacono

The Wiregrass Ranch High football team reached the playoffs for the first time in program history, but its time in the Class 4A postseason was brief after a first-round 40-8 loss to Springstead High.

“We will take this into the offseason and learn from this experience,” said Bulls coach Jeremy Shobe.

Shobe then added about Wiregrass Ranch (6-5) making its first playoff appearance: “It’s a great feeling. I hate to go out like this, but we’re establishing that we’re a contender. People will take us serious now and we’re going to learn and build from here.”

Along with that playoff appearance, the Bulls won their first district championship and posted the first winning season in the program’s fifth year. After the game, assistant Jeremy Brooks reminded the Bulls of all they have accomplished this year, especially to the seniors.

“All you seniors, you made history here,” Brooks said. “You’re the ones who got us our first district championship.”

Shobe agreed with Brooks.

“They’ll go down for us forever in history,” Shobe said. “First champions, first playoff team Wiregrass has ever had. I’ve been with these kids for a long time and I knew they had the potential in them. They will forever have a special place in my heart. They enabled us as a football program to win our first championship.”

Quarterback James Tringali is one of those seniors. He has been the Bulls starter since halfway through his freshman year.

“He’s had a tremendous senior season,” Shobe said of Tringali. “We couldn’t ask anything more from what he’s been able to do and improve as a football player and a leader. He’s gotten better each and every season, and he’s not finished playing football yet.”

The Eagles (6-5) defense pressured Tringali all night, sacking him six times, one of which caused a fumble that Dylan Gearheart recovered in the Bulls end zone for a touchdown.

The Wiregrass signal caller also threw an interception, but recorded 142 passing yards, including a 52-yard strike to senior Nick Lomba. Tringali then connected with senior wide receiver Antwan Prince for a two-point conversion.

The Bulls defense had trouble reacting to the Springstead option offense. Shobe said it was the first time they had seen the system all year.

The Eagles option attack was led by running back Devean Huff, who had 159 rushing yards on 19 carries and one touchdown. Quarterback Brian Beeker added 155 rushing yards and 85 passing yards, including an 11-yard connection to Taylor Minter. Jeremy Junod added two more scoring runs.

Gators season has familiar end

For the second straight season, the Land O’ Lakes High football team is eliminated from the 3A playoffs at Jefferson High. The Dragons (11-0) put up the game’s first 31 points in route to a 54-19 win against the Gators (9-2).

Land O’ Lakes was again without senior quarterback Stephen Weatherford for undisclosed reasons. Junior Ryan Bird filled in and threw for more than 200 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, both to senior Will Irwin. Senior Justin Tello added a 67-yard interception return for a score, but it was not enough to match the Jefferson attack.

Pasco keeps playoff dreams alive

Pasco High mounted a furious second-half comeback to advance past Lakewood High 27-20 in the 3A first round. The Pirates (11-0) were down 20-0 at the break, but four rushing scores brought the Dade City squad back and avenged a first round loss to the Spartans in last year’s postseason.

Pasco swept through the 3A-7 regular season and was only really tested by Land O’ Lakes, the only team to play the Pirates within one score. Pasco had only trailed twice before the home playoff contest.

Trey Dudley-Giles put the Pirates on the scoreboard with a 64-yard touchdown run. David Emmanuel then kicked in two scoring runs of three yards. Pasco took the lead on a four-yard run by Janarion Grant.

By Kyle LoJacono

For the last three seasons the Zephyrhills Christian Academy six-man football Warriors were knocked out of the playoffs in the state semifinals, but something was different about this team.

The Warriors (13-0) completed a perfect season after defeating Lakeside Christian High 71-41, claiming the program’s first state championship.

“This team was definitely more of a family,” said junior defensive end Josh Dudeck. “We were just more together and more willing to listen to what our coaches had to say. We all wanted to win and did everything we could to do that.”

Senior defensive lineman Sean White has been on the team for five years back when the Warriors played flag football.

“Every year we felt like we had it, but something would happen to stop us,” said senior defensive lineman Sean White. “Then this year to be the best all the way to the end, it’s an awesome feeling.”

White can point to one game where he and the team knew they could win the title.

“After we played Academy at the Lakes, that was our first tough game, but we managed to beat them,” White said. “Most games we’d score first and not give up a point all night, so that showed us we were mentally tougher.”

Coach Mike Smith felt the same about the matchup with the Wildcats, which the Warriors won 54-13.

“That’s where we’d have problems in the past,” Smith said. “We’d get scored on or get behind and then we’d just collapse. They’ve learned this year that you can be down and still win if you stick together.”

To finish the season perfect, the Warriors had to take down two undefeated teams, the defending state champs Clearwater Academy International in the semifinals and then Lakeside for the crown.

“It was a great feeling,” Dudeck said. “Just everything you worked so hard for has happened. Coming out during the summer and sweating and hurting, it was all worth it.”

The Warriors have three seniors and could lose another two players to early graduation. Given that a loss could have ended five of the Warriors’ high school careers, it is ironic the team’s quarterback is its youngest player.

“I know I’d want to go out my senior year on top, so I was trying to help them get that title,” said eighth-grade quarterback Mikey Smith, who just turned 15.

Mikey threw three touchdown passes in the title game, including a 75-yard score to junior running back Josh Roberts.

Roberts, who is the brother of Zephyrhills High football player Jamal Roberts, had eight touchdowns in the championship game, while senior Joel Mobley had three. Roberts got the bulk of the touches in the game, gaining more than 400 yards, while Mobley kicked in 150.

The Warriors defense was led by linebacker Dale Smith Jr., who had a team-high 14 tackles and two sacks. Dudeck also had two sacks, while Mobley and junior Jacob Ferrington each had interceptions.

Dale had an interesting set of mixed feelings after winning the title.

“I didn’t know what to think,” Dale said. “You’re upset that you don’t get to play anymore that year. You’re done preparing and playing every week, but obviously it’s great because you’re the best. So it’s a good but bad feeling that football is over.”

Dale had not played football since his freshman year.

“I guess it just comes natural,” Dale said of how he picked the sport back up. “We had a lot of great coaching and good teamwork. It just all came together perfect.”

Eastside Bombers take third

By Kyle LoJacono

After professional teams win a championship, the star player will step to a microphone and proudly announce they are going to Disney World. For the ‘Cats and Dogs that is where they claimed their crown.

The team won the state Special Olympics softball championship at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. It is the squad’s first softball title. The team is made up of players ages 22 or younger. All are students at either Zephyrhills High or Moore-Mickens Education Center.

“It was quite a celebration afterwards,” said ‘Cats and Dogs coach Belinda Brown, who leads the team with co-coach Judy Brunner. “Judy and I were very proud of this team. They all wore their medals to school after winning. They are walking a little taller that’s for sure.”

The squad did win a state soccer championship in May. Brunner has said that showed the team’s athletic ability, but softball is a much different game.

“To me softball is the most difficult team sport for these athletes to learn,” Brunner said previously. “They have to catch a small ball, throw to the right base and hit, which is hard for anyone to do.”

The ‘Cats and Dogs have mastered those fine-motor skills and won both games in the tournament after winning all their contests leading up to the event. They defeated a team from Miami 15-5 to get to the title game and had to beat that same opponent 12-10 to win the championship.

“The second game was very exciting,” Brown said. “We came out a little flat and we were losing until the fifth inning, but then we started hitting and had some great defensive plays that were the difference. They were very nervous and excited, so I was trying to keep them focused and calm.”

Pasco had another team represented at the event, the Eastside Bombers who are also coached by Brown and Brunner. The team has players older than 22 and also come from east and central Pasco.

The Bombers took home the bronze medal for their efforts in the state tournament.

By Kyle LoJacono

Wesley Chapel High athletic director Steve Mumaw cannot remember another occasion when at least five of his student athletes signed with colleges at the same time.

He could not say for sure if the school set a record Nov. 12 when Gabi Brown, Miles Britton, Geoff DeGroot, Marcus Crescentini and Brandon Mumaw made their college commitments official, but it is the most in many years.

Brown signed with the University of Purdue to play softball and had few but direct words to describe what it was like to put her name on the letter of intent.

“Wow, I did it,” Brown said. She then added, “The Purdue coaches and players won me over. They have a family environment and their facilities are the best.”

The outfielder led the softball team with a .468 batting average, a .500 on base percentage, 15 runs scored, 20 steals and the Wildcats lone homerun. She enjoys playing so much she takes extra batting practice with the baseball team whenever she can.

Brown’s team finished 2-21-1 last year, but she thinks they can turn it around this season.

“If we all do our best we can do much better,” Brown said. “The seniors have to give everything we can to the program to go out on top.”

Britton decided to sign on with the first-year lacrosse program at Lenoir Rhyne University. He has played the sport for eight years.

“I started playing because my dad put a lacrosse stick in my hands and I couldn’t put it down,” said Britton, an attacker.

Britton was born in Pennsylvania and lived in many places along the East Coast where lacrosse is very popular.

“Lacrosse is still growing in Florida, but it is growing,” Britton said. “It’s really a lot of fun and I’m happy I was good enough to be able to play in college.”

The last three signees play baseball, Crescentini and Mumaw as pitchers and DeGroot at shortstop. The three helped the Wildcats finish with a 24-4 record, the first winning season for the program. They also claimed another district championship and won the first regional tournament game in Wildcats baseball history.

“It was a lot easier with pitchers like Brandon and Marcus on the mound for us,” said DeGroot, who signed with the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. “We just needed a couple of runs and that was it.”

The pitching staff was the Wildcats’ strength, posting a team earned run average (ERA) of 1.73. Brandon was primarily a started and finished with a 6-0 record, a 0.50 ERA and 47 strikeouts as a junior. Several schools were looking at Brandon, but he chose to stay close to home at Saint Leo University.

“It’s close to Wesley Chapel and they have a good baseball program that is building up,” Brandon said. “I’m honored to be a part of that growth.”

Brandon missed the playoffs last year with a broken finger, but he said he is 100 percent and ready for his senior year. Brandon was also the No. 2 golfer on the Wildcats team that reached the state tournament this year for the first time in program history. He does not think he will be able to do golf and baseball in college, but will continue to play it for fun.

Crescentini, who signed with Indian River State College, pitched mainly out of the bullpen last season. He had a 3-0 record with a 2.24 ERA and 43 strikeouts featuring a fastball and changeup while working on a curveball.

“It was the curveball that killed me last year, but I’ve been working on it a lot and it’s 10-fold improved,” Crescentini said. “It’s really important for a pitcher to have three pitchers to be a starter. It gives hitters something else to look for and I want to be a starter.”

Steve said he is very proud of all the athletes who signed.

“This is what high school athletics is about,” Steve said. “They used their talents and now get to go to college because of their skills.”

Steve added several more athletes will likely be signing in the spring.

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

By Kyle LoJacono

Most high school athletes’ playing days end after graduation, but a trio of Sunlake High softball players beat those odds and signed with colleges Nov. 10.

Pitcher Tyler Riendeau signed with Landers University, outfielder and shortstop Alex Rogers with University of North Carolina-Charlotte (UNC-Charlotte) and catcher Amanda Solar with the University of Tampa (UT).

“Walking into a program that has three athletes gifted enough to sign with college tells me how good the team is,” said first-year coach Jami Finan, who spent two years coaching junior varsity softball at Wesley Chapel High before moving to Sunlake.

“We played against this team last year, so I knew they were good and this just proves that,” Finan continued. “We’ve had a good fall program getting to know the girls and their skills and I think the upper classmen will step up this year.”

Solar picked UT for its journalism program. She wants to work in sports broadcasting for ESPN. She batted .265 and threw out 11 of 25 potential base-stealers last year.

“I’m so happy to have my letter of intent signed because now I can relax,” Solar said. “I was actually really nervous about it last year, but now that I know I’ve signed I’ll be able to relax and just play.”

Riendeau came to Sunlake last year. She throws a fastball, dropball, knuckleball and cutter. Last season she led the team with 10 wins while adding a save with an earned run average of 2.50. She also had a .349 batting average, 22 hits and nine RBI.

“I’m just ready to go out this season and make it my best,” Riendeau said. “I’ve been working to make my pitches better and I can’t wait to get back on the mound.”

Rogers made a selfless act for the team last season when she switched from playing outfield to shortstop for the good of the team last year.

“I’ll play wherever coach wants me,” Rogers said. “I just want to play wherever it most helps the team win.”

Despite being new to the position, she still made the All-Sunshine Athletic Conference first team. She batted .378 with a team leading 35 runs scored while adding 28 hits and 12 RBI. She also led the team with 14 steals.

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

By Kyle LoJacono

A pair of Steinbrenner High students signed athletic scholarships to compete in college Nov. 12, the first in Warriors history.

Alex Witt signed to compete in gymnastics at Penn State University, while Alex Milan picked Florida State University (FSU) for golf.

“Their abilities have allowed them to get a free education, which is very hard to come by,” said Steinbrenner athletic director Eddie Henderson. “These are the definition of scholar athletes.”

Milan was actually the first from the school to commit to a college about a month ago.

“I went there and I fell in love with it,” Milan said of FSU. “I got to go to the (football) game against BYU and it was so amazing. FSU won and I had the best time. The coaches and team are fantastic and the facilities are great too. It’s the perfect combination of a great program and incredible atmosphere.”

The senior golfer was also a part of the first Warriors team to reach a state tournament this year. She won her fourth straight district championship this season, two at Sickles High and the last two at Steinbrenner. For that whole time her high school coach has been Mark Mann.

“She’s been such a hard worker since I meet her four years ago,” Mann said. “She has that rare combination of great talent and work ethic to make herself even better. Then she also worked with the other golfers to make them better too and you don’t have to worry about grades with her.”

Mann said it will be hard to replace Milan next year, but he feels she has established a strong tradition of Warriors golf.

“It has been great to be part of a new program,” Milan said. “I’ll always remember it and whenever I can I’ll come back and visit the team.”