Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Coupon moms host workshop July 10 in Land O’ Lakes

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Sarah Whitman

Clipping coupons and cutting costs just got a little bit easier thanks to a group of Tampa stay-at-home moms.
Kati Kiefer, Kelly Willey and Susanna Collins are the thrifty minds behind the popular savings site Truecouponing.com. The trio will offer a free workshop at 10 a.m. July 10 at First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes, 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. All are welcome to come and learn.

“I’ve learned a lot from the site and I’ve heard you can learn even more from the workshop,” said First Church member Regena Sipiala. “I wanted our congregation and people in the community to be able to learn ways to save money.”
Truecouponing.com is updated daily with the latest tips on savings and deals. Everything from giveaways to extreme discounts appear on the site, which receives more than 400 hits a day. Stores featured regularly include Walgreens, Winn Dixie, CVS and Albertsons.
Katie Kiefer of Truecouponing.com started the site on a mission to spread the wealth. She is a home-schooling mother of four with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida. Willey and Collins, who later joined in helping with the site, are also well educated about finance. Willey has a degree in the subject and Collins has spent years trying to master the family budget.
The women do not charge for any of their services, including workshops. More than 100 people have already registered for the Land O’ Lakes class.
“Couponing is a blessing and I believe my ministry is to help others easily learn to save too,” Kiefer says on the site.
Willey was thrilled when Kiefer taught her the art of couponing.
“I have always been frugal with money and with grocery shopping,” Willey says. “When our youngest daughter was born our income decreased by 40 percent and we had to cut corners in new ways. With coupons, our grocery bill went from $650 a month to $200 a month, including diapers.”

Sipiala helped bring the workshop to Land O’ Lakes and is excited to meet the coupon masters in person. She can’t wait to find out what great deals are just around the corner.
“They post coupons for things you can get for free,” she said. “I try and look at the site at least once a day. I’m ready to learn.”
To register, go to www.truecouponing.com or call Laura Rolston at First Church, (813) 996-3533.
Truecouponing.com tips

Free kids meals: Kids eat free at IKEA through July 5
Swagbucks: Use Swagbucks as a search engine and be awarded with Swag bucks to trade for prizes and gift cards.
Coupon sites: Use coupons.com and redplum.com to sweeten your deals.
Stacking: Stacking is when you use two coupons for one item.

Have questions? Email

Massage therapist is trained to help the family pet

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Sarah Whitman

Visitors to Joyce McAlister’s Wesley Chapel home are greeted by two happy tail-wagging pups: Ralph, a husky mix, and Sophie Mae, a bloodhound.
The dogs’ lovable attitude may have something to do with the fact they get daily massages from McAlister, a certified animal massage technician and owner of Love N Hands Animal Massage, a new business serving Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

dogmassage — Animal massage therapist and acupressure specialist Joyce McAlister massages Ralph, a young Husky Dalmatian mix. (Photos by Sarah Whitman)

McAlister goes to people’s homes to perform massage and acupressure on animals suffering from muscular tension, injuries, depression and pains associated with aging.
“Massage enhances an animal’s overall wellness, comfort and quality of life,” McAlister said. “Some of the benefits of therapeutic massage are that it enhances the body’s immune system, increases blood circulation and reduces muscle tension.”
Growing up on an Indiana farm, McAlister began taking care of sick and injured animals at just 3 years old. She has always had animals around and has massaged her personal pets for years. After retiring from 21 years of service with Tampa Fire Rescue, she decided to go back to school to study small animal massage. She was trained and certified through Rocky Mountain School of Acupressure and Animal Massage to work on dogs, cats and other domestic animals.
She has provided therapy to several dogs, including a Shepard mix named Cody.
“Cody had hip problems and after Joyce worked with him you could tell a difference,” said Beverly Youngblood, Cody’s owner. “She helped him be able to go up and down the stairs again.”
When McAlister visits a client’s home, she does an assessment to find out what the owner wants from the service and to determine what the animal needs. If a medical issue is present, she meets with the veterinarian to find out what the treatment plan is and how she can help.
She said she meets clients in home because it is where pets are most relaxed.
“Even dogs that like car rides get excited and hyper on the ride,” she said. “It’s important that they be relaxed.”
McAlister requests that clients not feed their pet 30 minutes prior to the massage and that they prepare a quiet area. In addition, the animal must be walked afterward for exercise and a bathroom break. Owners are welcome to be present during the massage but are asked not to communicate with their pet.
Massages usually last 10 minutes, but clients can pay for up to an hour. The costs start at $30 for assessment and 10-minute massage. The cost goes up $10 for each additional 10 minutes.
McAlister uses different techniques depending on the pet’s problem areas.
“Animals, like people, are all different and have different needs,” she said.
McAlister has cared for countless animals in her life and believes all creatures require nurturing. When it wasn’t her job, she would take abandoned and injured animals into her home.

Jim, her husband of 33 years, wasn’t surprised at her decision to make helping animals a career. He’s seen everything from a parade of ducks to a three-legged cat named Yard Stick at his house.
“I think it’s great what she’s doing,” Jim said.
McAlister’s long-term goal is to work with police and fire dogs. The former firefighter and 911 dispatcher said combining her past work with current work seems only natural.
“Police dogs go through stress like officers do and they have special needs,” she said. “Massage can help them with muscle strain and soreness, and help ease depression.”
For now, McAlister hopes to build her business locally helping house pets.
For information, call (813) 312-2717 or visit www.lovenhands.com.

Gardening

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Growing culinary herbs

By B.J. Jarvis

Pasco Horticulture Agent and Extension Director

Edible gardens are gaining in popularity as Floridians prefer a landscape that is both functional and beautiful. Gardeners and cooks look to fresh culinary herbs to add a little spice to the dinner table as well as the garden.

As a group, herbs generally are not fussy plants and can be grown in the vegetable garden mixed into flowerbeds, in a separate herb garden or tucked into pots on a porch or balcony.

Edible-landscape- — An example of edible landscaping.

Culinary herbs adapt amazingly well to Tampa Bay area’s typically sandy soils, thriving in sunny locations. When grown in richer or wetter soils, flavorful essential oils are diluted, so consider our relatively poor soils a bonus when growing herbs.

Herbs thrive on neglect, preferring only moderate amounts of fertilizer. When grown in containers, herbs will need a bit more fertilizer than those grown in the ground, but don’t get carried away with fertilizer even for container-grown ones.

Potted herbs require ample drainage from a porous, but high quality potting soil. Herbs, like other plants in pots, need to be watered more frequently than herbs growing in the ground as they have limited access to moisture than those planted in the ground. A full herb grown in a bright sunny location will likely require watering every day. Just keep an eye out for water stress.

Be creative on where you can place for culinary herbs as they don’t have to be relegated to the vegetable garden or a garden of their own.

Adding herbs in containers can soften a porch or container planting with oregano spilling over the pot’s edge or as a centerpiece of bright purple-leaved basil. In the garden, parsley and chives make great border plants. Rosemary makes a beautiful, hardy evergreen shrub that tolerates regular clipping for kitchen use. Growing between 2 and 4 feet, culinary ginger makes an attractive plant for the back of the garden border. Harvest the root-like structure in the fall, dry and use as needed through the winter.

Another benefit of herbs is they are generally pest free. One exception is that dill, fennel and parsley are favorite foods of juvenile butterflies. Plant extras if you want to enjoy watching butterflies such as the elegant swallowtails and the brightly colored Julia flitting by, as they are expert at finding culinary herbs.

Fresh herbs can turn an ordinary meal into an extraordinary culinary experience. You can easily grow your own herbs at home even if you have limited space for plants.

Additional information about growing herbs in Florida gardens can be found at the University of Florida’s electronic database at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VH/VH02000.pdf.

-B.J. Jarvis is horticulture agent and director of the Pasco Extension Service, a part of the University of Florida and Pasco County government. She can be reached at .

Growing culinary herbsBy B.J. JarvisPasco Horticulture Agent and Extension Director
Edible gardens are gaining in popularity as Floridians prefer a landscape that is both functional and beautiful. Gardeners and cooks look to fresh culinary herbs to add a little spice to the dinner table as well as the garden.As a group, herbs generally are not fussy plants and can be grown in the vegetable garden mixed into flowerbeds, in a separate herb garden or tucked into pots on a porch or balcony. Culinary herbs adapt amazingly well to Tampa Bay area’s typically sandy soils, thriving in sunny locations. When grown in richer or wetter soils, flavorful essential oils are diluted, so consider our relatively poor soils a bonus when growing herbs. Herbs thrive on neglect, preferring only moderate amounts of fertilizer. When grown in containers, herbs will need a bit more fertilizer than those grown in the ground, but don’t get carried away with fertilizer even for container-grown ones. Potted herbs require ample drainage from a porous, but high quality potting soil. Herbs, like other plants in pots, need to be watered more frequently than herbs growing in the ground as they have limited access to moisture than those planted in the ground. A full herb grown in a bright sunny location will likely require watering every day. Just keep an eye out for water stress.Be creative on where you can place for culinary herbs as they don’t have to be relegated to the vegetable garden or a garden of their own.Adding herbs in containers can soften a porch or container planting with oregano spilling over the pot’s edge or as a centerpiece of bright purple-leaved basil. In the garden, parsley and chives make great border plants. Rosemary makes a beautiful, hardy evergreen shrub that tolerates regular clipping for kitchen use. Growing between 2 and 4 feet, culinary ginger makes an attractive plant for the back of the garden border. Harvest the root-like structure in the fall, dry and use as needed through the winter. Another benefit of herbs is they are generally pest free. One exception is that dill, fennel and parsley are favorite foods of juvenile butterflies. Plant extras if you want to enjoy watching butterflies such as the elegant swallowtails and the brightly colored Julia flitting by, as they are expert at finding culinary herbs. Fresh herbs can turn an ordinary meal into an extraordinary culinary experience. You can easily grow your own herbs at home even if you have limited space for plants. Additional information about growing herbs in Florida gardens can be found at the University of Florida’s electronic database at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VH/VH02000.pdf.
-B.J. Jarvis is horticulture agent and director of the Pasco Extension Service, a part of the University of Florida and Pasco County government. She can be reached at .

Commentary

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Randall Grantham

Community Columnist

Sorry about last week. Even though I was in a Central American country on vacation, I fully intended to get a dispatch off.

We were in Belize to celebrate my wife’s birthday and our 25th anniversary. With a totally different cell phone frequency in use, I knew I would be in “radio silence.” But, I was told there would be Internet access and I was fully prepared to cut into my time-off to get an article out. Until my laptop crashed. On the 3rd day. Bummer.

I’m back now, refreshed and reinvigorated and having scratched one more item off my “bucket list.”

You know Belize, even if you don’t know Belize. It’s at the bottom of the Yucatan Peninsula, below Mexico and next to Guatemala. It’s a country on the mainland with islands scattered through the Caribbean and protected by the second largest barrier reef in the world. It’s the country with “The Blue Hole,” for Pete’s sake! It also has mountains with extensive cave systems, rain forests and a unique history

We stayed on one of the “cayes,” or keys, off the coast. Ambergris Caye, named after a whale excretion, has come a long way in the past 20 years and there are upscale resorts all over it. No need to swelter in the heat, they have A/C and fancy drinks and golf carts are the preferred mode of transportation. The reef yields many scuba dive spots just minutes from the beach.

One of the spots is the scene of a regular shark feeding that can be witnessed “up close and personal” by divers. It was reputedly where fishermen of yesteryear would stop and clean their fish on the way in, and the sharks got used to it. Now the government allows it to continue by the dive boats for tourism. I checked it out.

Then there is the restaurant on the west side of the island. Named “The Sunset,” quite naturally, their hook is that the tarpon around the dock can be hand-fed. Years ago the fishermen cleaned their catches there (this is starting to sound familiar) and the tarpon came to feed. Now, the restaurant gives tourists fish scraps which you can dangle above the water’s surface until these five foot fish leap out of the water and snatch the bait from your hand. Breathtaking!

Of course there is “The Blue Hole.” a 480′ deep, 1/4 mile wide hole in the ocean. It’s visible from space and is the result of an ancient cave roof collapse. Stalagmites and stalactites taller than me can be seen at about 135 feet.

I dove it. At that depth, you can’t stay long without risking decompression sickness, but a quick dive is worth the trip. Sharks, turtles and whales are often spotted in the area and it’s an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

So, despite the crash of my computer, the hardships of clearing customs without any Cuban cigars and the 11-hour return trip via Dallas/Fort Worth, it was worth it. I got to cross another item off of my bucket list.

I fed the tarpon.

By the way, Billy Clyde wasn’t insane.

Players of all ages come to Lake Padgett Estates

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Karen Truman and Dean Colosimo both wanted an opportunity to spread their passion for tennis and they came up with a weekly round robin at Lake Padgett Estates.

“I tried starting something like this a couple of times at the (recreation) center on Collier Parkway, but this is working out much better,” Truman said. “Really we both just love tennis and want a chance to pass that on to other people…I’m hoping to coach the next Andy Roddick.”

Truman and Colosimo, both of Land O’ Lakes, are certified tennis coaches and conduct clinics at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center on Collier. Truman played tennis at Depauw University, while Colosimo picked up the game later in life.

“I played almost everything else but tennis as a kid,” Colosimo said. “One day I took my kids to a clinic and a coach asked me if I wanted to help. I said yes and as I got into it a found out how fun it is. It’s also great exercise, but it’s more than just physical. It’s like chess on the court.”

The round robins are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at the Lake Padgett Estates tennis courts, which are located a little more than one mile east on Parkway Boulevard from Collier. Those who attend play mixed doubles matches.

The first night of the event was June 8 when about eight people attended. That number increased to 12 for the third evening with people from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and even Hernando County.

One of those who came to the round robin for the first time June 22 was Land O’ Lakes resident Donna Lee. She said she regularly plays tennis, but usually on clay courts and is not accustomed to the faster hard courts of Lake Padgett.

“The ball comes at you so fast on hard courts for someone my age,” Lee, 67, said jokingly. “…I didn’t start playing until I was about 30-years-old, but I’m making up for lost time now. I really like the round robin format because you get to meet and play with a lot more people.”

In round robins people are randomly paired up and then rotated around.

Claudine and Rob Mipps, of north Hillsborough County, were attending their second round robin June 22 and the married couple said they would be coming back again. Both played tennis in high school.

“I grew up playing on these courts,” said Claudine, who graduate from Land O’ Lakes High. “It’s just fun to come out and play with people you know and people you’ve just met. There are some good players and some just starting, so it’s a real good mix.”

Rob went to Gaither High as a senior and graduated in 1991.

“It takes me back to playing in high school,” Rob said. “I didn’t play for a long time so I’m just getting back into the swing of things now.”

Claudine-Mipps — Claudine Mipps grew up playing tennis on the Lake Padgett Estates' courts and now plays each Tuesday in the round robin.

The evenings of tennis are not just for adults. Tim Falcon and Jordan Stewart, who both just graduated from Land O’ Lakes and were members of the Gators tennis team, also attend the round robins.

“We want anyone and everyone interested in tennis to come out and enjoy the game,” Truman said. “We’ve got nine courts out here, so we can accommodate more people than we could at the (recreation) center. Hopefully we can work on getting an adult and senior league going like (Colosimo) has with his youth league.”

Colosimo runs a junior tennis league from the Lake Padgett courts. Those interested in playing should come to the courts during the free practices each Friday morning during the summer. Children ages 8 and younger practice from 9 to 10 a.m., kids 9 to 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. and players from 14 to 18 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Anyone interested in attending the round robins who live in Lake Padgett only need to show up on Tuesday with a can of new tennis balls. Those from other places need to pay $3 to play as well.

“We’ve had good turnouts the first few nights and hopefully we can keep things going with fall round robins too,” Truman said. “I’d guess those would be each month instead of weekly, but we’d like to keep things going to spread the love of tennis.”

Former Bulldog reaches College World Series

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pitcher Geoff Parker’s Florida State experience

By Kyle LoJacono

When Geoff Parker signed to play baseball at Florida State University three years ago he had dreams of making the NCAA College World Series (CWS).

Parker, who graduated from Zephyrhills High in 2007 and is a pitcher, has now played in two CWS and started the game that sent the Seminoles to the final tournament. He also appeared in two games in the 2010 CWS, but Texas Christian University eliminated FSU June 23.

Geoff-Parker-Seminoles — Former Zephyrhills baseball player and current Florida State pitcher Geoff Parker helped the Seminoles reach the College World Series.

Even though Parker’s season did not end how he wanted, he still managed to see the positives of his junior year.

“I got to pitch in the CWS my freshman year and it was great to have a bigger role this time,” Parker said after the Seminoles were eliminated. “Obviously we would have liked to bring home the first championship in Florida State history and I’m disappointed by that, but we all gave it our best and hopefully we can win it all next year.”

The Seminoles have reached 20 CWS, the most ever for a team without winning a title. This year Parker made two appearances working 2.2 innings with one strikeout while giving up five hits and two earned runs in the CWS.

During the entire season he had a 4-1 record with three saves, a 4.69 earned run average (ERA) and 72 strikeouts to 40 walks. Parker said he throws a fastball and curveball. His fastball is consistently between 91 and 92 mph and tops out around 94 or 95.

Parker, who was born in Dade City and was first introduced to baseball in the city’s Little League, has had a large impact on the Seminoles pitching staff the last three years.

“He’s been a valuable member of our team on the field, in the weight room and off the field as a leader,” said FSU pitching coach Jamey Shouppe. “He made a bunch of starts in big midweek games and was always the first guy out of the pen during the weekend. We think of him as our big-game pitcher because he loves to compete.”

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Parker said of being on the mound in a big game, “I love having everything come down to me. I love those big pressure situations. It’s just me and the batter and I don’t plan on losing.”

The former Bulldog now plays hundreds of miles from Zephyrhills, but his time at the high school helped shape him into the player he is today. His high school coach was Bruce Cimorelli, who is Zephyrhills’ current athletic director.

Geoff-Parker-signs — Geoff Parker as he signed to play at Florida State. Seen with Parker are his parents, Richard and Cindy, and his baseball coach at Zephyrhills Bruce Cimorelli (standing).

“He was very talented and could play any position,” Cimorelli said. “He’s one of the top five players I had in my 13 years coaching baseball at Zephyrhills High School.”

During his senior season at Zephyrhills, Parker had a 9-2 record with two saves and a team-leading 96 strikeouts to 16 walks. He also had a team-leading 0.73 ERA.

He also played shortstop for Zephyrhills and led the Bulldogs with a .480 batting average, 38 runs scored, 36 hits, 34 RBI, seven doubles and nine homeruns.

“He was the hardest worker and was very humble,” Cimorelli said. “He never said a lot, but everyone liked him. As good as a player as he was, he was a better person off the field.

“I remember when Geoff was a freshman and we brought him up to varsity,” Cimorelli remembered. “He came late to batting practice and did not play that night. After the game his mom wanted to see me. She asked me why didn’t Geoff play and I told her he came late to batting practice. She told Geoff if he ever did any thing wrong again she would personally whip his behind. I knew then we had something special.”

That tough love has not prevented Parker and his parents, Cindy and Richard Parker, from having a strong relationship.

“His family is the biggest part of his life,” Shouppe said. “He just thrives around his parents.”

Parker is majoring in general human sciences, but may have a different career after being drafted in the ninth round of the MLB first-year player draft by the Colorado Rockies this year. Parker has until August to sign with the team or remain with FSU.

“I haven’t thought much about going pro yet.” Parker said. “The season just finished and I’ve got some time to think about that.”

Zephyrhills sports programs rise to challenges

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Joe Potter

Laker Correspondent

The 2009-10 school year at Zephyrhills High was a tumultuous one with 14 changes in the coaching staff, said Bulldog principal Steve Van Gorden.

“That’s unheard of,” Van Gorden told about 25 people attending a coaches summit at the school June 24.

The hiring spree of coaches was the result of one coach being released from his contract, some coaches retiring, others being promoted and one leaving to pursue other career opportunities, said Van Gorden, who just completed his first full year as Zephyrhills High’s principal.

Participation in sports, particularly at the high school level, is declining, Van Gorden said.

The conference was arranged to help make Zephyrhills High staff and leaders of community sports programs, such as Little League, Zephyrhills Police Athletic League (ZPAL), Zephyrhills Pasco Police Athletic League and others aware of the situation. Another purpose was to look for ways to revitalize area sports programs.

Several ideas on how to increase participation resulted from brainstorming between those attending the event.

Some of them included:

– Keeping the costs of participating in sports programs down.

It was noted that approximately 45 percent of Zephyrhills High’s students receive free or reduced price lunches because of their family’s income. Lower income families are also limited in the type of community sports activities in which their children may participate.

“It is really tough for some of those families to afford for their kids to participate in programs,” said Mark LaMonte, ZPAL’s president.

Budget cuts at the Pasco County level recently resulted in the pool at the Hercules Aquatic Center being closed. ZPAL mounted a successful effort to reopen the pool and to have volunteers perform many of the functions that had previously been the responsibility of paid county park’s department employees.

– Providing transportation so more kids can participate.

Some parents work too late to be able to take their children to or pick them up from practices and games. LaMonte said ZPAL recently acquired a bus and is helping to provide transportation for several of the participants in its programs.

– Having a code of conduct that parents, coaches, officials and players need to follow.

This would help to eliminate problems that occur when some parents loudly berate coaches, officials or players during games when they are unhappy about how plays are called, how often their child gets to play and similar situations. Having a code of conduct would help to maintain a higher level of sportsmanship, participants said.

– Doing a better job of getting the word out regarding community-sporting events.

Van Gorden said the high school could provide more information on its Web site. LaMonte said much of ZPAL’s activities are posted on its Web site. Van Gorden suggested area newspapers could help by publishing calendars of upcoming sporting events in the community.

Bruce Cimorelli, athletic director at Zephyrhills High, briefly discussed some issue regarding recruiting to wrap up the summit.

Cimorelli outlined how Jerrell Cogmon had been released as head football coach on Aug. 11, 2009 because an investigation disclosed one of his volunteer assistants reportedly had improper recruiting contact with some students from Wesley Chapel High.

The assistant, Abel Robinson, was teaching at Wesley Chapel High and had coached there the previous year. Robinson insisted he had not attempted to entice any Wildcats students to transfer to Zephyrhills High, but Robinson was also let go by the Bulldogs.

Cogmon insisted he told his coaching staff they were not to have contact with players from other schools and that he was unaware of Robinson’s actions.

Bulldog assistant coaches Greg Mathis and Troy Hochstetler ran the football program for the 2009 season. Reggie Roberts, a Zephyrhills High alumnus, was hired as head football coach Jan. 23.

Van Gorden said his decision to let Cogmon go was one of the hardest he had ever had to make. Handling the situation any differently would not have been the right thing to do, he added Van Gorden.

It was agreed another summit would be prior to the start of the new school year so more discussions could occur and some type of action plan could be put into place to increase participation in community sporting programs.

Saddlebrook member John Isner’s marathon match

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Several professional tennis players train at Saddlebrook Resort and one recently had to use his endurance gained at the Wesley Chapel facility to get through the longest match in the sport’s history.

Tampa resident John Isner recently won a five-set match at Wimbledon against Nicolas Mahut which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, making it the longest contest in professional tennis history. The previous record for a match was 6 hours and 33 minutes in 2004.

The final score was 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68. The fifth set alone was more than 8-hours long.

The first-round contest was originally scheduled for June 22 and it did not finish until June 24. Both players passed the previous record for aces in a match. Isner had 112 aces to Mahut’s 103.

After play was suspended June 23 because of darkness, Isner said in a courtside interview that nothing like this will ever happen again.

Isner, 25, became a professional in 2007 and has a singles record of 69-56 and one title entering Wimbledon, according to the Association of Tennis Professional’s Web site www.atpworldtour.com. He is currently ranked No. 19 on the tour and was ranked 23rd in the tournament.

“Watching that match was incredible,” said Howard Moore, program director of Saddlebrook tennis since 1986. “It just kept going on and on.”

Isner had little time to rest as he faced his second-round match the following morning. He fell to Thiemo de Bakker 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour and 14 minutes, making it the shortest match at Wimbledon to that point.

Other professional tennis players who train at Saddlebrook include James Blake, Mardy Fish and twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.

Saddlebrook member John Isner’s marathon matchSeveral professional tennis players train at Saddlebrook Resort and one recently had to use his endurance gained at the Wesley Chapel facility to get through the longest match in the sport’s history.Tampa resident John Isner recently won a five-set match at Wimbledon against Nicolas Mahut which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, making it the longest contest in professional tennis history. The previous record for a match was 6 hours and 33 minutes in 2004.The final score was 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68. The fifth set alone was more than 8-hours long. The first-round contest was originally scheduled for June 22 and it did not finish until June 24. Both players passed the previous record for aces in a match. Isner had 112 aces to Mahut’s 103.After play was suspended June 23 because of darkness, Isner said in a courtside interview that nothing like this will ever happen again.Isner, 25, became a professional in 2007 and has a singles record of 69-56 and one title entering Wimbledon, according to the Association of Tennis Professional’s Web site www.atpworldtour.com. He is currently ranked No. 19 on the tour and was ranked 23rd in the tournament.“Watching that match was incredible,” said Howard Moore, program director of Saddlebrook tennis since 1986. “It just kept going on and on.”Isner had little time to rest as he faced his second-round match the following morning. He fell to Thiemo de Bakker 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour and 14 minutes, making it the shortest match at Wimbledon to that point.Other professional tennis players who train at Saddlebrook include James Blake, Mardy Fish and twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.

Wesley Chapel dominates in T-ball

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The American and National T-ball all-star teams in the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) finished first and second in the district 6 tournament played in Wildwood.

Regional-Champs — The Wesley Chapel American all stars after winning the regional championship.

The Americans then advanced past the regional tournament, played in Bushnell June 19 to 23, and will play in states in Wauchula July 4.

Members of both teams are 5 to 6-years-old and play in the A division, which is the highest level of T-ball.

The two teams met in the tournament championship game June 12, with the American team coming out on top 18-5. The win avenged a loss to the National all stars from earlier in the tournament.

The American’s offense was led by Tyler Armstrong, Connor Hull and Jacob Rodriguez, who each had three hits in the title game. Axel Torrellas had two hits and Caden Kwiat had two doubles.

The American’s finished the tournament with a 4-1 record and outscored their opponents 121-52. During the event the champions also defeated teams from Ridge Manor, South Lake and Wildwood.

The win against their Wesley Chapel rivals advanced the American’s to the regional tournament in Bushnell June 21. The Americans went 5-1 in regionals, defeating teams from West Volusia, Okeechobee and South Lake again.

In the regional championship Wesley Chapel scored seven runs in the first inning in route to a 26-17 win.

The Americans include Hull, Armstrong, Kwiat, Torrellas, Rodriguez, Kyle Doran, Brenden Rappaport, Luke Fischer, Cole Callicoat, Brad Simpson, Seth Martinez, Evan Richter and Jackson Choinski. Coaches include Ed Richter, Rich Doran, Larry Callicoat and John Choinski.

-All stats provided by American all-star assistant Ed Richter

Wesley Chapel dominates in T-ball The American and National T-ball all-star teams in the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) finished first and second in the district 6 tournament played in Wildwood.The Americans then advanced past the regional tournament, played in Bushnell June 19 to 23, and will play in states in Wauchula July 4.Members of both teams are 5 to 6-years-old and play in the A division, which is the highest level of T-ball.The two teams met in the tournament championship game June 12, with the American team coming out on top 18-5. The win avenged a loss to the National all stars from earlier in the tournament.The American’s offense was led by Tyler Armstrong, Connor Hull and Jacob Rodriguez, who each had three hits in the title game. Axel Torrellas had two hits and Caden Kwiat had two doubles. The American’s finished the tournament with a 4-1 record and outscored their opponents 121-52. During the event the champions also defeated teams from Ridge Manor, South Lake and Wildwood.The win against their Wesley Chapel rivals advanced the American’s to the regional tournament in Bushnell June 21. The Americans went 5-1 in regionals, defeating teams from West Volusia, Okeechobee and South Lake again.In the regional championship Wesley Chapel scored seven runs in the first inning in route to a 26-17 win.The Americans include Hull, Armstrong, Kwiat, Torrellas, Rodriguez, Kyle Doran, Brenden Rappaport, Luke Fischer, Cole Callicoat, Brad Simpson, Seth Martinez, Evan Richter and Jackson Choinski. Coaches include Ed Richter, Rich Doran, Larry Callicoat and John Choinski.-All stats provided by American all-star assistant Ed Richter

Athlete of the week

June 29, 2010 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Lutz BMXer takes three Alabama state medals

Lutz resident Tyler Heinrichs, 14, participated in a National Bicycle League BMX race that was part of the 2010 Alabama State Games June 18 to 20. He won three medals at the event, competing in the 14-year-old expert class and the 13/14-year-old cruiser class. He earned a gold medal in the cruiser class and a gold and silver in expert. Heinrichs has been competing in BMX since he was 11 and trains at Tampa BMX Raceway at Lake Park in Lutz. In four years of competition he has represented the United States in China and Australia, held the No. 1 ranking in the southeast United States and was also No. 12 in the world. He attends Gaither High.

Lutz BMXer takes three Alabama state medalsLutz resident Tyler Heinrichs, 14, participated in a National Bicycle League BMX race that was part of the 2010 Alabama State Games June 18 to 20. He won three medals at the event, competing in the 14-year-old expert class and the 13/14-year-old cruiser class. He earned a gold medal in the cruiser class and a gold and silver in expert. Heinrichs has been competing in BMX since he was 11 and trains at Tampa BMX Raceway at Lake Park in Lutz. In four years of competition he has represented the United States in China and Australia, held the No. 1 ranking in the southeast United States and was also No. 12 in the world. He attends Gaither High.

Saint Leo graduate drafted by Los Angels

Saint Leo 2010 graduate Seth Fowler was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and has since signed with the club.

After Tommy John surgery forced Fowler to sit out a season, the 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher rebounded to play his final two seasons at Saint Leo, posting an overall record of 2-3 with one save in 30 appearances and added 66 strikeouts, according to the Lions’ athletic department.

He transferred to Saint Leo prior to his medical redshirt year after playing two seasons at Hillsborough Community College.

Fowler is now training at Tempe Diablo Stadium, where the Angels’ minor league team is.