The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Community groups benefit from Lutz Guv’na money

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Nearly $12,000 raised

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

LUTZ — Suzin Carr wears the sash as Lutz Guv’na, but she is far from the lone winner in that annual fun-filled race that benefits community organizations.

Carr said the fund-raiser total of nearly $12,000 surpassed the expectations of many, including the Lutz Civic Association, which organizes the annual race.

Lutz Guv’na Suzin Carr, pictured with Marilyn Bedke of the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Women’s Club, recently signed a proclamation for United Nation’s Day. Special to The Laker/Lutz News.
Lutz Guv’na Suzin Carr, pictured with Marilyn Bedke of the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Women’s Club, recently signed a proclamation for United Nation’s Day. Special to The Laker/Lutz News.“They were happy for $5,000 because of the economy,” Carr said. “They got 12, which was close to previous years.”Carr, who won the race, helped raise money for the community with candidates Kay Taylor, Michelle Mitchell and Shael Morgan. Carr lauded the 65 businesses that contributed to the cause.

“Those local businesses know they’re important and that the Lutz community supports them,” Carr said.

The money was recently dispersed to numerous community and nonprofit groups. The largest amounts of $2,500 were doled out to the Old Lutz School and Lutz Fire Department. Volunteers man both organizations.

“We are grateful that so many of the local businesses helped us out,” said Eleanor Cecil, of the Lutz Civic Association. “Actually, many local businesses get excited about the Lutz Guv’na race because it is local and adds a lot of fun in the community.”

As for the remaining money, increments of $300 went to several Cub Scouts and Girl Scout troops, as well as the Civil Air Patrol, Friends of the Lutz Library, Joshua House, Junior Master Gardeners, Learning Gate Community School, Little Women of Lutz, Lutz Leaguerettes, Lutz Patriots, Lutz Elementary and Maniscalco Elementary.

The Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Women’s Club, Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Lions Club and Sports Support Association each received $250.

Additionally, each candidate designated an organization to receive a percentage of money they generated. Taylor gave additional money to the Lutz Fire Department and Old Lutz School House; Carr chose Learning Gate; Mitchell contributed to Joshua House; and Morgan picked Martinez Middle School.

Sister Stroll to benefit new Cancer Center in Zephyrhills

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Public invited to learn about breast cancer and support the cause

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — Dr. Danielle Albritton, Doctor of Osteopathy, has never had breast cancer, but she will be thinking of all her patients who have on Oct. 17, during the Sister Stroll for Breast Cancer.

“Too many of my patients have had breast cancer because even one is too many,” Albritton said. “When I’m walking at the Sister Stroll, I’ll be thinking about all the women and their families that have been touch by this disease. If me walking gets more women to get tested and take steps to prevent it, then it is worth it.”

For the last six years, Albritton has been with Medical Group of Tampa, partners with the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, and is based out of Dade City. She is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association and is a board certified family physician.

Albritton, along with many other doctors, nurses and workers from the hospital and the medical group, will be participating in the Sister Stroll, which will benefit the new Breast Center at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

“This is the third year we have done the Sister Stroll,” said Erin Nieves, 10-year assistant director of imaging services at the hospital. “Anybody that wants to come out and support those they know who’ve had or have breast cancer, breast cancer survivors or people that just want to help can all come and participate. And the entire hospital staff has challenged each other to come out and help support the stroll.”

Nieves said the reason they started the stroll was they know some people want to participate in walking events like “Making Strides,” which also helps raise money and awareness for breast cancer, but could not because of the distance and time. So, they started the stroll, which is only two and a half hours of walking.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin with a presentation outside the hospital’s main entrance, located at 7050 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills, from 8 to 8:30 a.m.

Albritton will deliver the first part of the presentation. As a D.O., Albritton does not specialize in cancer treatment but rather deals with patients as a primary care practitioner to screen for cancers and to help people prevent cancers altogether.

“I’ll be speaking about the role of primary care in preventing breast cancer,” Albritton said. “I’ll start by saying that breast cancer is one of the most significant health concerns in the United States. It is the most common form of diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death. Then, I will tell people that the risk of breast cancer increases with age, being overweight, with alcohol and tobacco abuse and that white women have an increase risk, and I’ll close by giving people tips to reducing their risk factors.”

The second half of the presentation will be about diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer.

Then the stroll will begin at 8:30 and will run through 11 a.m. at the hospitals fitness trail.

“Brighton has donated 250 gift bags that will be given to the first 250 walkers,” Lyn Acer, hospital spokesperson, said. “There will be certificates for $49 mammograms and/or $20 bone density tests. We’ll also be raffling off one limited edition Brighton breast cancer bracelet.”

Those attending will also be able to buy event T-shirts for $15 and water and trail mix will be available for the walkers.

There is not a date set for the opening of the new center now, but it will be at the hospitals main building.

“I won’t be working in the new Breast Cancer Center, but I’ll be referring people there” Albritton said. “My goal is to prevent people from ever getting breast cancer, but if women are ever diagnosed with the disease, they will have good resources to get the best treatment.”

Everyone attending the stroll will be asked to sign a banner that will be brought back to the stroll next year to add more names.

“The banner will also be hung up at the ‘Hospital Gala’ on Nov. 19 at Saddlebrook Resort, and all the proceeds will be presented to the hospital foundation there,” Nieves said.

The resort is located at 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.

To register for the event or for more information on the hospital or the new Breast Cancer Center, call (813) 783-8378.

If you go

What: Sister Stroll
When: Oct. 17, 8:30 to 11 a.m. A special presentation will begin at 8 a.m.
Where: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
Benefits: the new Breast Center at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills
More information: (813) 783-8378

Football – Record-breaking season for third-year Sunlake

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Seahawks get back-to-back wins

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

LAND O’ LAKES — Sunlake has won two games for the first time in its brief history. Another school record fell when the victories came back-to-back.

Quarterback Jacob Jackson, throwing a pass to teammate Leeroy Thompson in a game against Wesley Chapel, took great pleasure in leading Sunlake to an upset win over Gulf, his former team. Photo by Anthony Masella Jr., www.OurTownFLA.com.
Rashaud Daniels, taking a handoff from quarterback Jacob Jackson, is a workhorse in the backfield for the Seahawks. The 5-foot-8 sophomore ranks among Pasco County’s most productive running backs. Photo by Anthony Masella Jr., www.OurTownFLA.com

The Seahawks, who had just one win in two previous seasons, nearly made it three in a row on Oct. 9. A 27-21 overtime loss to Wesley Chapel, however, left the third-year team with a 2-3 record halfway through the season.

“Sunlake came ready to play,” said Wesley Chapel coach John Castelamare, whose team went undefeated in its third year. “They did a good job. This is an experience for them. They’ve never been through that.”

Sunlake, which debuted in 2007 at 0-10 and opened last season by defeating River Ridge for its lone win, has clearly shown signs of a turnaround. It all started with a 35-14 upset of playoff contender Gulf. Then came the largest margin of victory in school history, 47-0 over first-year Anclote.

“We’re much improved from last year,” Sunlake coach Bill Browning said. “If this team works hard, we should be a team to be reckoned with in the future.”

The victory over Gulf was especially rewarding for Sunlake quarterback Jacob Jackson, who in the 2009 playoffs was Gulf’s signal-caller in place of injured starter Madison Burr during a playoff loss to Pasco.

“I loved it,” Jackson, a junior, said of beating the Bucs.

With a shot at the coveted .500 mark, Sunlake took a 14-7 halftime lead on Wesley Chapel. Jamal Jones became the school’s first player to return a kickoff for a touchdown when he ran back the opening kick 84 yards.

Wesley Chapel’s Keegan Turner scored on a quarterback sneak, but the Seahawks countered with a 3-yard scoring run by Rashaud Daniels. Turnovers, along with a touchdown pass from Jackson to Jones that was called back on a penalty, kept Sunlake out of the end zone for the remainder of regulation play.

Jon Mahan’s 26-yard touchdown run for Wesley Chapel, along with a two-point conversion by Tanner, led to overtime.

With each team getting a shot at the end zone from 10 yards out on four plays, Sunlake lost by converting once while the Wildcats scored twice. Wesley Chapel’s Damon Bagwell and Sunlake’s Alex Rodriguez traded touchdown runs in the first overtime.

QB-JacksonA
Quarterback Jacob Jackson, throwing a pass to teammate Leeroy Thompson in a game against Wesley Chapel, took great pleasure in leading Sunlake to an upset win over Gulf, his former team. Photo by Anthony Masella Jr., www.OurTownFLA.com.

In the second overtime, Jackson’s pass to Jones on fourth down fell incomplete and the Wildcats won it on a Chris Pierre-Charles scoring run.

“It was hard-fought,” Browning said. “You’ve just got to grow from it. We’ve got to dust ourselves off an come back.”

While the entire team has contributed, Daniels could be the poster child for Sunlake’s resurgence. The sophomore tailback had a breakout game against the Buccaneers with 139 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He added 120 yards and three scores against the Sharks.

Rodriguez has also figured prominently in the offense. The junior running back had a school-record 92-yard touchdown run in the Anclote game.


    Central Pasco Chamber – events for mayoral race

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    Central Pasco Chamber

    events for mayoral race

    LAND O’ LAKES — Fund-raisers for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s mayoral candidates dot the calendar this month.

    The three-way race features Bill Pearce, of Knight Pest Control, Salon at the Lakes’ Rita Greco and Amanda Malhoit, of Gateway Chiropractic Clinic. The winner will be announced Nov. 14 at the Family Fun Bike Ride Day.

    Events, listed by dates and candidates, are as follows:

    Oct. 15 — Pasco Bingo, Greco. Lake Padgett Estates East clubhouse, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Buffet, $5; bingo card, $5; three cards for $10.

    Oct. 17 — Tea & Fashion Show, Malhoit. The Groves Ballroom, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

    Oct. 18 — Mommy & Me Tea Party, Greco. Salon at the Lakes, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $20, $5 for each additional family member.

    Oct. 23 — Golf Scramble, Pearce. Tournament at Heritage Harbor in Lutz had a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Registration is at noon. Cost is $75 per player.

    Oct. 24 — Family Barbecue, Malhoit. Fraternal Order of Police lakeside campground off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Costs are $20 for adults, $10 for kids.

    Oct. 31 — Family Fun Festival, Greco. Hungry Harry’s Barbecue, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pony rides, live music and more. Cost is $10.

    For more details, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722.

    Mitchell defeats Zephyrhills 21-7 to remain unbeaten

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    By Steve Lee

    Sports Editor

    TRINITY — Two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum clashed at Mustang Stadium with host Mitchell remaining unbeaten after a 21-7 victory over Class 3A, District 7 rival Zephyrhills.

    Ricky Trinidad, Pasco County’s leading rusher, gained 140 yards and scored twice for the Mustangs (6-0). Matt Michaels added a touchdown pass to Brandon Mundy.

    Zephyrhills avoided a shutout when returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

    PASCO 38, GULF 0: Both teams had playoff hopes at the beginning of the season, but the Bucs are out of it after being held scoreless in a pivotal 3A-7 matchup. The Pirates are tied with Mitchell and Land O’ Lakes atop the district.

    D.J. Clower threw touchdown passes to Mitch Wozniak, Janarion Grant and Hakeeme Ishmar. The defense chipped in with Trey Dudley-Giles scoring on a fumble recovery and Chase Sellers bringing back an interception for a touchdown.

    LAND O’ LAKES 42, ANCLOTE 0: Alex Robinson and Justin Tello did just fine as backups for suspended starter Stevie Weatherford. Tello ran for a touchdown and had two scoring passes to Will Irwin. Robinson had a touchdown run and Tyler Peak ran for two scores.

    HUDSON 43, RIVER RIDGE 28: Kenny Toce passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in a career-game, but it was not enough for River Ridge in a district loss. Toce found Trevor Hooker twice and Zack Ford once for those scores.

    Zack Wynn had three touchdown passes and Dylan Luke ran for three scores to lead Hudson. Brandon Jones, Dontaie Collins and James Tello each had a touchdown catch.

    BISHOP McLAUGHLIN 39, HERNANDO CHRISTIAN 14: The Hurricanes took a 19-0 halftime lead at home and finally won a game in their fifth try.

    Giovanni Perone and Mitch Ritter, who replaced the injured Perone at running back for the second half, each gained more than 100 yards. Ritter ran for three touchdowns and Perone two with Jordan Betancourt adding a scoring run.

    WIREGRASS RANCH 14, CRYSTAL RIVER 7: After spotting the Pirates a 7-0 lead, the Bulls got a 90-yard punt return from Antwan Prince for one score and a 10-yard run from Josh Johnson for another.

    TARPON SPRINGS 35, RIDGEWOOD 14: Cameron Rodriguez and Scott Kujack had touchdown runs for the struggling Rams, whose defense shined with five turnovers.

    Former Ridgewood and Gulf standout running back Adrian Golden ran for two scores for the Spongers.

    Carrollwood Day Prep routs All Saints’ Academy 54-0

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    Patriots dominate homecoming game

    By Kyle LoJacono

    Staff writer

    CARROLLWOOD — Carrollwood Day Prep is still a newcomer in 11-man football, but it managed to dominate Winter Haven All Saints’ Academy 54-0 to stay a perfect for the season.

    Patriots quarterback Billy Embody passed for two touchdowns in a lopsided 54-0 win. Carrollwood Day Prep improved its record to 5-0. Photo by Kyle LoJacono.
    Patriots quarterback Billy Embody passed for two touchdowns in a lopsided 54-0 win. Carrollwood Day Prep improved its record to 5-0. Photo by Kyle LoJacono.

    The victory was the third home shutout for the Patriots, who have outscored their opponents 206-22 and have not allowed a point at home.

    “Everything has been going so well and I just can’t believe this is happening, because I’ve been waiting my whole life for this,” said Darius Bing, who rushed for more than 200 yards.

    Billy Embody echoed Bing’s sentiment.

    “We are just working together really well,” Embody said. “We have to keep working, because it won’t mean anything if we don’t keep playing hard and winning.”

    The Patriots (5-0) scored on their opening drive. Bing, who ran it in from 27 yards out, added three more rushing touchdowns, including one for 80 yards, and scored again on an interception return.

    Embody threw two touchdown passes, one to Matt Monteilh and the other to Deuce Gruden. Monteilh also had a 37-yard punt return for a score for the only points in the second half.

    “I’m so proud of the players,” Carrollwood Day Prep coach Lane McLaughlin said. “They didn’t get too distracted by all the homecoming festivities. Now we need to get ready for (Orlando) First Academy.”

    SICKLES 31, BOCA CIEGA 28 (OT): While turnovers have been Sickles’ biggest problem this year, it was a turnover that led them to an overtime win against Boca Ciega. The Gryphons have thrown five interceptions and given up 16 fumbles, including two more against the Pirates. But Sickles’ Chris Nahat intercepted a pass from Shaquille Bradford that set up the game-winning field goal.

    Sickles was facing a 22-7 halftime deficit, but made a comeback on the arm and legs of John Melvin Hendrick, who threw a touchdown to Nahat and ran for another. Brieann Dollard added two more rushing touchdowns.

    Hillsborough County leading rusher Carey White did not find the end zone for Sickles, but had 132 yards on the ground.

    WHARTON 27, BRANDON 25: Wharton held off a fourth-quarter comeback by Brandon to pick up the road win. Wharton was up 27-12 entering the final quarter and stopped a game-tying, two-point conversion to seal the win.

    Wharton’s Shane McEwen had a rushing score and 80 total yards, while Ryan Hatter ran and threw for two more scores. Marvin Murray caught that touchdown and David Larry ran for a 39-yard score.

    TAMPA BAY TECH 21, FREEDOM 3: Freedom scored on a 46-yard field goal, but could not change the scoreboard after. The Patriots had a chance to score just before halftime, but Tyler Guy was intercepted by Greg Hickman.

    Offense was hard to come by for Freedom, which managed just 28 yards rushing and 133 passing. T.J. Mutcherson had four catches for 48 yards.

    PLANT 49, GAITHER 0: Gaither was shut out for the second straight week. Last week, the Cowboys lost 68-0 against Hillsborough before falling to Plant.

    Gaither’s offense was thought to be the weak link coming into the season, but the Cowboys have scored just 25 points on offense.

    Plant got four touchdowns from Phillip Ely, who passed for 221 yards.

    ST. PETE CATHOLIC 40, STEINBRENNER 10: After going 2-0 in junior varsity play, Steinbrenner has lost its first two varsity contests.

    The Crusaders opened the scoring on an interception return by Julian Smith and added another in the second half by Evan Holmes that put the game out of reach.

    Steinbrenner’s Christian Carriere passed for 135 yards passing and one score, while Tobi Antigha had five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

    Nothing can stop John’s Butcher Shop

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    Owners James Smith, Donny Duncan and Mike Lacy love their work

    By Diane Kortus Mathes

    Staff Writer

    LUTZ — They have worked together for more than 20 years and call themselves brothers. The banter between the three men is relentless, but underneath the gentle rubs is an unspoken bond that has gotten them through personal despair and professional disasters.

    Owners of John’s Butcher Shop in Lutz are Donny Duncan, James Smith and Mike Lacy. Photo by Anthony V. Masella Jr., www.OurTownFLA.com.
    Owners of John’s Butcher Shop in Lutz are Donny Duncan, James Smith and Mike Lacy. Photo by Anthony V. Masella Jr., www.OurTownFLA.com.

    Nothing has stopped these owners of John’s Butcher Shop in Lutz — James Smith, 55, Donny Duncan, 49, and Mike Lacy, 34. Not a fire that burned their building to the ground in 1996. Not the challenges of this recession that has broken many small businesses. Not the seven divorces these men share between them and helped each other through.

    “We love what we do and we love each other,” said Duncan, the most gregarious of the trio. “Customers come here for the personal service, and we’re as personal as it gets.”

    In addition to service so personal that the owners greet 90 percent of customers by name, John’s Butcher Shop is known for its top-rated USDA meats that are of better quality and priced 10 percent less than meats in supermarkets, said James Smith, whose father, John Smith, started the company in 1973 in a strip center at Bearss and Florida avenues.

    Duncan was the first of the three to start work at the shop. He was hired by John Smith in 1973 when he was just 13 and a student at Buchanan Middle School. That was 36 years ago, and Duncan can still be caught singing behind the counter at a job he obviously loves.

    Joining Duncan and “Dad,” as Smith fondly called his boss, was Smith’s real son, James, who began working at the shop in 1976 after four years in the Army.

    Lacy, the third partner came along in 1990 when he was 15 and learned the butcher trade from the Smiths and Duncan.  He became John Smith’s third “son” and “brother” to James and Donny.

    Not long after it opened, John’s Butcher Shop moved to Chapman Road and Florida Avenue in Lutz, where it remained until 1996 when an electrical fire burned the building to the ground in less than 10 minutes.

    They started over again four months later, this time 10 miles north at Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and Hale Road. It was here that John retired and his three boys, Donny, James and Mike, became co-owners.

    John’s Butcher Shop’s last move was two years ago when it came back to Lutz, relocating to a building owned by Lacy next to Carolyn Meeker Dogpark, just off Lutz Lake Fern Road and US 41.

    To work at the same business their entire adult lives has brought continuity to John’s Butcher Shop. The men know their customers much like a bartender, but instead of knowing a customer’s preferred drink, they know his or her preferred cut of meat.

    “They walk in the door and we know what they want,” said Lacy. “We’ve watched our customers kids grow up, and now these kids are our customers ordering the same things their parents did.”

    Each owner loves the art of butchery and each has a specialty. Lacy is proud of his turducken — partially de-boned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed with a small de-boned chicken. Duncan makes a beautiful crown roast ordered for the most special occasions. And Smith makes homemade sausages — brats, smoked and Italian — and uses no fillers or preservatives found in commercial brands.

    About 60 percent of the meat they sell is beef, mostly steaks. Ribs make up another 20 percent and boneless and skinless chicken breasts the remaining 20 percent. Much more chicken is sold today because customers are more health conscious than ever before.

    “That is also why so many people shop at a butcher shop, because they want meat that has no hormones, preservatives or steroids,” said Smith. The shop is also one of few in the area that butcher game.

    An owner at John’s Butcher Shop always greets customers, since Duncan, Smith and Lacy are the shop’s only employees. And almost always the three “brothers” are there waiting to help three generations of families from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes with meat they never tire of preparing for their customers.

    If You Go
    What: John’s Butcher Shop
    Where: 102 First Ave., Lutz
    More information: (813) 909-9746

    Detect this, he said

    By

    Randy-Grantham-MUG

    “I don’t want to wait in vain
    For your love.”
    – “Waiting in Vain,” Bob Marley

    By Randall Grantham

    Community Columnist

    A few weeks ago, I wrote about security checkpoints and their occasional overuse. I agree that there is a need for enhanced security at some places and admit I’m over-sensitive about excessive use because of my titanium hip, which causes me to be pulled out of line every time.

    A recent episode in one of the courthouses I frequent made me wonder what guards have to put up with and what kinds of weird stuff they see. It’s bad enough in Dade City that guards wear gloves to grab people’s stinky shoes out of the machine, but it is more interesting in New Port Richey.

    I was behind a squat, middle-aged woman, who after emptying the pockets of her jeans still beeped when she walked through the checkpoint.

    “Oh, it must be this,” she said as she took off her baseball cap and removed a piece of tinfoil that had previously been lining the top of it.

    The guards and I looked at each other, shaking our heads. But the fact that they were unfazed by this woman who apparently believed the tinfoil lining might protect her — from what, aliens or the government’s secret mind control experiments — made me think.

    So I asked officers manning various security points what kind of weird or funny stuff they see while X-raying people’s stuff all day and checking them out if they beep when walking through the metal detectors. It was a learning experience.

    Piercings obviously rate high on the list. Just as my bionic hip sets off the machines, people with enough metal objects, inserted in various locations on their body, will also cause quite a ruckus.

    Verifying the fact that they are, in fact, piercings and not some other sort of metal can be, shall we say, challenging in some cases.

    One time, a metal container caught the attention of a screener in Tampa. After questioning the woman whose purse it was in, they found it contained the ashes of her father. And, weirdly dissimilar from my tinfoil lady in New Port Richey, there is the homeless guy who wraps himself in barbed wire and regularly visits the courthouses in Tampa. He’s explained that it’s just his “fashion statement.”

    Speaking of fashion statements, there was a guy in Tampa who set off the walk-through alarm. As the guard passed the wand across his lower torso and asked him to raise his shirt to see the belt buckle, the guard was stunned to see that the man had his fly open and his “junk” hanging out! He was told to take that back out to his car.

    But, after extensive interviews and research, the overall winner is … drum roll, please … women with battery-powered sex toys in their purses. You might think that they wouldn’t show up because they’re plastic or rubber, but deputies see the batteries and the wires and have to ask the owner what it is.

    They are, to say the least, embarrassed in having to pull them out and dispel any concern. Guards, however, after establishing that there is no threat from that “friendly” weapon, spend more time wondering why these gals are carrying the things around in the first place.

    Randall C. Grantham is a lifelong resident of Lutz who practices law from his offices on Dale Mabry Highway. He can be reached at . Copyright 2009 RCG

    Girls Swimming – Low numbers, but high performance for Sickles

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    Gryphons one of the top teams in Class 2A

    By Kyle LoJacono

    Staff writer

    CITRUS PARK — Katie Cook is not the first from her family to swim for Sickles, but she may be the best.

    Swimmers Katie Westbrook (left) and Katie Cook (right) hope to make this season one to remember for the Gryphons. Photo by Andrew Hendrickson.
    Swimmers Katie Westbrook (left) and Katie Cook (right) hope to make this season one to remember for the Gryphons. Photo by Andrew Hendrickson.

    Her sisters, Megan and Amanda, swam with the Gryphons, but neither won a state title.

    “It would be nice to have the bragging rights over my sisters, if I was able to win a state title,” Cook said.

    In the past, the successful Sickles boys team demanded attention, but this year the girls are shining in the pool with a 3-1 start. The opening of Steinbrenner has taken many students away and the swim team has not been immune. However, the drop in numbers has not hurt the quality.

    “I’m very proud of my girls,” third-year coach Fay Went said. “We have a very small team this year with only 14. I like to say I was able to keep my superstar swimmers, but lost all my depth. We had a lot more girls than normal swimming in meets for the first time ever this year.”

    One of those superstars is co-captain Cook, who swims the 50-yard freestyle and 100 free. She won the 50 free and placed second in the 100 free at districts last year, and owns school records in the 50 free (24 .15 seconds) and 100 free (52.02 seconds).

    Cook2A
    Sickles junior Katie Cook is hoping to claim a state title this year. Photo by Andrew Hendrickson.

    “I swim year-round on a club team, so I’ve been really working to get better for this season,” said Cook, a junior. “We do a lot of dry-land training and we also did a training camp over the summer with my club team. So that has really benefited me.”

    Cook’s club team is Tampa Bay Aquatics, which includes numerous state qualifiers and trains in New Tampa.

    “Last year, I learned that I can reach states and my goal has always been to be a state champ,” Cook continued. “That has been on my mind all through workouts in the summer. I really want to go far this year, so that has been driving me.”

    Other top swimmers for Sickles include seniors Katie Westbrook, Christina Decisneros and co-captain Alex Valder.

    The Gryphons lost their first meet to Academy of Holy Names by nine points, but won their next three. That included a one-point victory against Berkley Prep.

    “The difference between the first meet and now is tremendous,” Went said. “I wish I could go back and do the Academy meet again. I didn’t really know what events were best for which girls to swim, but now we have a better feel for that and we are getting more experience.”

    Went is the success center lab manager at Sickles as well. The center gives students information to help them make decisions about college and careers. It seems like Went’s interest in swimming and seeing young people succeed has rubbed off on her son.

    Trey Went, a senior who swims the 50 and 500 free for the boys, has a 4.80 weighted grade-point average and would like to stay in state for college.

    “It’s nice to have a mom that can help me with swimming, but we really don’t work together on my swimming,” Trey said. “People might think it’s an advantage for me to have a mom that is a swimming coach, but it isn’t that big a deal.”

    Trey reached states last year in the 500, and despite the boys team’s down year he is still working hard to go further this season.

    “It kind of stinks that we lost a lot of our good swimmers to Steinbrenner opening, but we are all still working hard,” Trey said. “I’m just trying to go faster in the pool and try to touch the wall before everyone else.”

    Sickles girls team’s next big event is Oct. 17 in South Tampa. Many of the girls prep teams in Hillsborough County will be competing at the meet.

    “It will be a real test for the team,” Went said. “But I think we are ready.”

    Boys Golf – Mustangs sport perfect record at 11-0

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    Lake Jovita hosted SAC tourney

    By Steve Lee

    Sports Editor

    TRINITY — The Mitchell boys golf team surpassed last year’s 8-2 mark by going 11-0. The Mustangs clinched a perfect record on Oct. 6 with a 153-172 win against Land O’ Lakes.

    Wesley Chapel’s Jacob Fleck, squatting to line up a putt, competed in the Sunshine Athletic Conference Boys Golf Tournament at Lake Jovita. Photos by Tammy Struble.
    Wesley Chapel’s Jacob Fleck, squatting to line up a putt, competed in the Sunshine Athletic Conference Boys Golf Tournament at Lake Jovita. Photos by Tammy Struble.

    Now, the unbeaten team has high hopes for the postseason.

    The Mustangs, ousted in last year’s regionals, are aiming for a state berth. Last fall, they came within four strokes of that elusive goal.

    “That was tough to take,” Mitchell coach Rick Hyatt said.

    First, however, is pairing the Sunshine Athletic Conference regular-season title with the tournament championship. The overall SAC crown takes both facets into account and Mitchell has won one or the other in each of the past three seasons.

    The SAC tourney took place Oct. 13 at Lake Jovita, but results were unavailable at press time.

    “We’re halfway there,” Hyatt said. “That was our goal for the year, to put it all together.”

    Chaz Heinz, a senior, leads a talented squad that includes four golfers who recently shot in the 30s during a 151-178 defeat of Gulf. Heinz and Dylan Strout shared the lead at 37.

    A pivotal battle came in the season’s fifth match with Mitchell and Wiregrass Ranch sporting identical 4-0 records. The Mustangs remained unbeaten with a 157-166 victory at Crescent Oaks.

    Mitchell’s dominant season came despite the graduation of 2008 SAC Player of the Year Kenny Cavender and five other seniors. Talent and depth, however, figured prominently in this year’s performance as five of the team’s 10 golfers shot in the 30s.

    Heinz headed into the SAC tourney with a team-leading 37.6 average, Richardson was right behind at 38 while three others — Strout, Sterling Bash and Dominick Dithmer — were tied at 39.

    “That carried us,” Hyatt said of the team’s depth. “When someone had a bad day there was someone else to pick them up.”

    BULLS NEARLY PERFECT: That lone loss to Mitchell kept Wiregrass Ranch from an undefeated season. The team finished 10-1, closing out the regular campaign with a 161-177 win over River Ridge.

    Wiregrass Ranch’s Logan Horrigan shot a 38 in that match and was followed by teammates Dylan Larson (39), Chris Kluender (41) and Nick Stutt (43).

    As for Hillsborough County teams, Gaither had four golfers — Josh Black, Jimmy Stanger, Clyde Meadows and Shawn Sirignano — break 40 in a 146-164 win over Wharton.

    The Cowboys improved to 9-1 with recent wins over Plant and Hillsborough. Stanger turned in a season-low of 35 in that Oct. 1 match.

    GIRLS GOLF: Wiregrass Ranch has a girls team to be reckoned with. Senior Anna Caldwell, junior Taylor Upchurch and sophomore Bianca Scimali are the top three on a team that started 6-2.

    In Hillsborough, Alex Milan of first-year Steinbrenner set a school record with a round of 33 at Heritage Harbor in a 196-230 win over Sickles. She also had rounds of 34 and 36 in previous wins over Sickles and Gaither, respectively.

    The Warriors continued to impress by winning eight of their first 10 matches.

    Freedom’s Caroline Sorrick led her team to a 198-218 win over Newsome by shooting a 35.