Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Zephyrhills has season for the decade in 2010

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

It had been quite some time since the Zephyrhills High girls tennis team took home a district championship, but the 2010 Bulldogs ended that streak and did much more.

Zephyrhills’ last district title was in 1999, when all of the current players were in elementary school.

“I was 7-years-old then,” said Zephyrhills player Amber Morgenstern.

The Bulldogs took the Class 2A, District 6 crown by defeating Gulf High. Zephyrhills then won its regional semifinals match against Nature Coast Technical High before being eliminated by Crystal River High.

“It’s been great,” said Lorraine Hinkle, who has coached the team for six years. “I’m very happy with the way the season has gone. I was hoping for a district title and instead we’ve made a playoff run. My No. 1 singles player has also qualified for states and so has my No. 1 double team.”

The Bulldogs top doubles team consists of No. 1 player Sarah VandeBerg and No. 2 player Chelsea Smith. The two played their first-round matches in the state tournament April 26, but results were not available by press time.

“I think we really got people paying more attention to the team,” VandeBerg said. “A lot of people at our school didn’t even know we had a team before this year.”

Zephyrhills’ No. 5 player Debbie Herlan not only experienced her first district championship, but also her first and only season of tennis in the United States. She is a foreign exchange student from Düsseldorf, Germany.

“It’s been the best experience here playing with my team,” Herlan said. “…I’m just so glad to be a part of this team. I love my teammates and it’s been a great year.”

Herlan said she regularly tells her parents, Christine and Thomas, in Germany how she and the team are doing. She added that high school sports are not nearly as big in her home country  and the pressure of playing for Zephyrhills hits her before each match.

“I get really nervous and afraid before each time out, but I’m always really excited too,” Herlan said. “I’m afraid of letting my team down and afraid of losing.”

She might be afraid before each match, but the junior did let that bother her all season. She was a perfect 10-0 individually.

Winning the first district championship for Zephyrhills girls tennis in 11 years as a big step for the Bulldogs, but knocking off Nature Coast in the regional tournament was also an important win. Nature Coast reached the 2A state tournament last year, but Zephyrhills managed to win four of the five singles matches to take the victory.

“Beating Nature Coast was a big win because they are a top team each year,” Hinkle said following the win against Nature Coast April 20. “Things were looking good for us all day and they sealed the deal early.”

In high school tennis, the top five players for each team play against each other in a singles match. Then the schools’ two doubles teams play. Whichever squad takes the most contests wins the team matchup. By winning four of the five individual matches against Nature Coast, Zephyrhills made doubles play irrelevant.

One of the leaders for Zephyrhills is Morgenstern, who is just fully recovering from four fractures in her arm and wrist. She suffered the injury while playing soccer for the Bulldogs as a junior.

“A girl and I got into it a little bit and I fell on my wrist,” Morgenstern said. “I played with it for a while before I knew it happened.”

Morgenstern broke her wrist during the 2008 winter break from school and did not learn of the injury until April. The previous year she was Zephyrhills No. 1 girls tennis player.

“The doctor said if I’d waited two weeks they would have needed to take bone from my hip to fix my arm,” Morgenstern continued. “I had to wear a cast that went halfway up my arm and I looked ridiculous.”

The former No. 1 regained her form for her senior season.

“I kept telling myself all year to give it everything I have,” Morgenstern said. “I didn’t want to look back and say what could I have done. As the season went on I felt stronger and just wanted to get as far as I could.”

The season did not end with a team trip to the state tournament, but Zephyrhills made the deepest playoff run in recent memory.

“I hopeful this will get more people to try out for the team and increase the interest at the school.” Hinkle said. “We showed we can field a very good to great team here and I think we can build on that.”

Land O’ Lakes makes first state tournament trip

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

The Land O’ Lakes High boys’ tennis team completed a perfect regular season (12-0), won the Class 2A, District 6 championship and has reached its first appearance in the state tournament.

“We set goals for ourselves before this season,” said Gators’ No. 1 player Colin Roller. “We wanted to have a perfect regular season, a district title and go deep into the playoffs.”

Roller, sophomore, was also the No. 1 player on the 2009 Land O’ Lakes team that finished 11-1, but missed the regional tournament. Roller and his doubles partner, Chris Story, are also competing as a team at states, which started April 26. Results from the state tournament were not available at press time.

“When we lost to Wiregrass Ranch (High) last year I told the rest of the team that I hate to lose and we need to do whatever we can to have a perfect regular season the next year,” Roller said. “It feels so good to have a perfect season.”

The Gators were projected to have another strong year in 2010, but a coaching change at the start of the season threatened to derail Land O’ Lakes.

“We lost our coach (Shawn McGee) before the season and it was tough,” said Land O’ Lakes No. 5 player Henry Jaime. “He took a full-time job at Saddlebrook, but coach (Shannon Aitken) and the other coaches have done a great job…It’s been a great season.”

Aitken graduated from Land O’ Lakes, but never played tennis. She was a member of the Gators girls soccer team that won a state title in 2003. The first-year coach has brought her winning mentality to the team.

“She put us through a lot of conditioning drills and it was pretty tough,” Jaime said. “We did a lot of running last year, but we did even more this year because of her background in soccer. She knows what it takes to win that’s for sure.”

Aitken officially took over for the Gators in the third match of the season. Prior to that she was coaching the Pine View Middle girls soccer team.

“The school approached me about the opening and I told them I’d do what I could to help,” Aitken said.

Several of the parents, including Felicia and Bob Roller, stepped in and helped the first-year coach transition to tennis. That mixed with a highly rated team allowed the Gators to adjust quickly.

“I got very lucky getting a team that was as athletically talented as this one,” Aitken said. “A lot of the time I don’t have to do anything but support them…Sometimes I just have to tell them to stop messing around in a match. Guys like these can almost coach themselves, so I just step in when needed during games.”

Aitken has not had to worry much about Roller this season. Last year he was undefeated individually before being eliminated in the first round of the state tournament. He was once again perfect through the regular season and districts this season.

“The whole team came in ready to win every match this year,” Roller said. “Tim Falcon came through big for us many times. Henry played his best match when we needed it against Wesley Chapel. Chris (Story) put in a lot of work over the summer and got so much better and it’s really shown all year.”

In that match against Wesley Chapel, Jaime started down 0-3 and fought back to win 8-5 in an eight game pro set. The Gators and Wildcats finished tied at the 2A-6 tournament, which forced a winner-take-all match the following day for the second straight year. Both seasons it was Land O’ Lakes that came out on top.

“It was really hard to come back and win the match,” Jaime said immediately after the comeback victory April 16. “Two days ago I had really bad cramping in my leg in a long match and I’m still feeling it. I just had to focus on each game and each point and not worry about how bad my leg hurt.”

Regardless of how the Gators do in the state tournament, Land O’ Lakes has still had one of the most successful years in program history. Next year the Gators will lose four of their top five players, but that does not seem to deter Aitken from sticking with the team.

“I’d like to stay with them,” Aitken said. “If the school wants me to I’ll be back next year. I want to be a (physical education) teacher and I can’t imagine a better place to do that then my old school.”

By Joe Potter

Laker Correspondent

When you put eight adults, a volleyball, a net and the East Pasco YMCA together and blend thoroughly you have a recipe for the beginning of a spring adult coed volleyball league.

The YMCA is trying to determine if there is enough interest for a spring league to happen for the first time this year said Shawn Brown, the YMCA’s program director for adult sports, youth sports and summer day camp.

The YMCA usually has its adult coed volleyball leagues in the fall. Some people expressed an interest in possibly having a spring league, Brown said.

Open nights will be each Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. during the next few weeks to give interested adults an opportunity to play pick-up games of volleyball. If enough interest is shown the league could be formed. It would have a six to eight-week season.

Normally there are eight to 10 teams during the fall with six to eight people on each. There is no way to predict how many teams there might be if a spring adult coed volleyball league is formed, Brown said. It would depend on how many people turn out and show an interest, he continued.

Eight adults showed up on April 20 to check it out.

Jeff Dicken of Zephyrhills said he had been playing volleyball for only a week. He added he was trying to find a sport he and his wife, Molly, could play together. She played volleyball in high school, so he decided to try it Dicken said, adding, “It’s a lot of fun.”

Heather Morris, of Dade City, also previously played volleyball in high school. She has never been a member of an adult coed volleyball league, but has played volleyball “for fun.” She said she might be interested in playing in the new league if it were formed.

Neil Libby of Wesley Chapel said he thought it would “be fun” if the YMCA decided to have a spring adult coed volleyball league. Libby previously played volleyball both in high school and college. He also played in some of the leagues at the East Pasco YMCA.

It looked like all of those playing April 20 were having a good time as the volleyball soared over — and sometimes under — the net. An occasional serve resulted in the ball hitting the net head-on. Other loftier serves placed some of the overhead lights in the gym in jeopardy, but there were no casualties.

Close up action at the net was intense at times as team members tried to get the ball past adversaries whom they might embrace after the game was done. The battle lines were clearly drawn, but they did not overlap the lines of friendship between the players.

For more information about the possible spring coed adult volleyball league at the East Pasco YMCA, either call (813) 780-9622 or visit the YMCA at 37301 Chapel Hill Loop in Zephyrhills at 7:30 p.m. on a Tuesday.

Two Warriors make Florida Olympic Developmental Team

Steinbrenner High freshmen Alexis Bredeau and Marley Opila were each selected to the Florida Developmental Team for girls born in 1995, according to Warriors coach Teresa Patterson.

The top 30 girls players in Florida in the age group made the squad, which is part of the feeder system for the U.S. national team.

Opila and Bredeau were selected April 25 and will compete against teams from other states to see which players will eventually make the national team. The girls will also travel with the team to Alabama for a week of training this July.

The two Warriors are part of the Steinbrenner team that went 17-1-2 and won the Class 4A, District 10 championship for the first-year school. Opila plays midfield and recorded 16 goals and 17 assists last year. Bredeau is also a midfielder and had 23 goals and 16 assists for the Warriors.

“I’m so proud of both of them,” Patterson said. “They are hard workers and very talented. They’re going to show what they can do against the best in the age group.”

New Bulldgos basketball coach

Zephyrhills High principal Steve Van Gorden announced April 26 that Dustin Rowe will coach the boys basketball team next season.

The position opened after the retirement of coach Alan Reed, who was part of the committee that selected Rowe. The rest of the committee included Van Gorden and athletic director Bruce Cimorelli.

“Coach Rowe brings a lot of energy and discipline to a solid program,” Van Gorden wrote in an e-mail. “I have a lot of confidence in coach Rowe and look forward to an exciting season coming up for 2010-2011 school year.”

Bulls receive free mouthguards

Dr. Zack Kalarickal, of Wesley Chapel Dentistry, will be giving free athletic mouthguards to Wiregrass Ranch High School football players.

Those interested should call (813) 991-5100 to set up an appointment to make models of the player’s mouths, which will be made May 1. The mouthguards will be delivered to the players at Wiregrass Ranch at 4:30 p.m. May 14.

The mouthguards are usually $350 and help prevent mouth injuries and concussions.

Muhammad signs with Dean College

Wiregrass Ranch High School senior Solomon Muhammad has signed to play at Dean College in Massachusetts. The school is a junior college and the football team has a 28-4 record during the last three seasons.

Muhammad is a 6-foot, 175-pound outside linebacker who had 82 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble last season.

“Solly is a tenacious hitter and hard worker who loves the game,” said Wiregrass Ranch football coach Jeremy Shobe. “Our team will miss him next season.”

Eagles charity golf tournament

Land O’ Lakes Christian School is having a charity golf event at 1 p.m. May 14 at Plantation Palms Golf Club to raise money for the Eagle’s athletics department.

Those interested in participating in the event should sign up my May 1 by e-mailing pastor Joey Quilty at . Perspective players can sign up as a foursome or individual.

Registration for the event starts at 11:30 a.m. May 14 and there will be a putting contest from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. For more information, call Land O’ Lakes Christian at (813) 995-9040.

-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches as of April 23. Kyle LoJacono can be reached at or (813) 909-2800.

Baniszewski picks Mount Olive

Zephyrhills High senior Sarah Baniszewski signed her letter of intent to play golf at Mount Olive College in North Carolina April 21 at Silverado Golf & Country Club.

Seen with Baniszewski from left are Fred Bender of Pasadena Hills Golf Driving Range, Silverado owner B.E. Smith and Zephyrhills girls golf coach Kenny Burgess.

Baniszewski said the three were important to her learning the game, which he she began playing her sophomore year. She went as far as to call Smith her “golf grandfather.”

The senior reached the regional tournament individually last season. She was the only Pasco County golfer from Class 2A, District 6 to make the playoffs.

Hot Shots win pair of tournaments

Lutz Leaguerettes Pixie team Hot Shots recently won the Early Bird and Spring Break tournaments in Brandon and Town ‘N’ Country respectively. The team has players from Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel and are from age 5 to 9-years-old.

The Hot Shots went 4-0 in Brandon and 3-0 Town ‘N’ Country.

From left back row are coach Russ Perciavalle, manager Jennifer Hudson and assistants Johnny Hudson and Junior Whaley. Middle row from left are Sarah Perciavalle, Kayla Cruz, Natalya Asteasuainz, Danielle Whaley, Isabelle Thompson and Danielle Greif. Front row from left are Payton Hudson, Natalie Johnson, Mae Horne, Shaniyah Pope, Jillian Hudson and Skylar Barnes.