The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) Chasco Fiesta Bowling Tournament will take place on March 19 at Lane Glo Bowl South, 8631 Old County Road 54 in New Port Richey. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.; bowling starts at 6:30 p.m. Each team registration includes rental shoes, multiple games including cosmic bowling, and a pizza for the team. Team registration is $180. The event is open to the public. For information, visit GreaterPasco.com.
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Pasco chamber golf tournament
The GPCC (Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce) Chasco Fiesta Annual Golf Tournament will take place on March 21 at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., in Trinity. Check-in begins at noon, followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost is $550 per team, which includes dinner, a goodie bag, eight drink tickets (two per person), two carts, and 18 holes of golf. For more information or to register, call 727-842-7651.
Roller Derby Rookie Rumble
Revolution Roller Derby will present a REMX vs. Swan City/Bunnies vs. Eggs Doubleheader Rookie Rumble on March 24 at Spinnations, 8345 Congress St., in Port Richey. Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by the first whistle at 6:30 p.m. For information, visit RevolutionRollerDerby.com.
Free youth fishing derby
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced a free youth fishing derby at the Tenoroc Fish Management Area in Lakeland on April 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-registration began on March 1 and is required. A fishing license is not needed for this weekend because it falls during the state-designated license-free freshwater fishing period.
The Derby Lake Recreational Facility is a 16-acre former phosphate pit stocked with a variety of freshwater sport fish and catfish. It has seven fishing piers and a 200-foot boardwalk that is accessible to anglers of all abilities.
There will be a casting contest, exhibitors and other outdoor activities for youth participants. A free lunch will be provided by Publix Supermarkets and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
Bait and a limited number of loaner rods and reels also will be provided free of charge to youth ages 15 and younger. A parent or guardian must accompany youth participants.
To pre-register, call the FWC at 863-648-3200, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pre-registration ends at 5 p.m., on April 5.
Local cheer team wins national title
The Cypress Creek cheer program has two competition teams: Game Day and Traditional. The latter won the prestigious America’s Cheerleading Cup Championship, while the Game Day team placed second in the nation. The national competition is held at Universal Studios Orlando and attracts teams from coast to coast. The Cypress Creek team has made school history by winning the Best of Pasco, placing second at FHSAA Regionals — securing its spot in the State Finals, and now winning its first-ever national title.
Little League celebrates opening day
Land O’ Lakes Little League celebrated its opening day on Feb. 24, at its headquarters at the fields of the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway. More than 600 families registered for the event, which included games, concessions, food trucks, a parade of all stars and an opening day ceremony.
Saddlebrook tournaments
Saddlebrook recently hosted the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tour $25,000 men’s event, which was won by University of South Florida graduate Roberto Cid Subervi, according to information provided by Christopher Rosenke, a teacher, college advisor and print and digital media coordinator at Saddlebrook.
The facility also hosted the ITF’s women’s event, which Leoni Kung won.
This is the first time Saddlebrook has hosted the men’s and women’s events in the same year, and the women’s event was the first in the partnership between Saddlebrook and Pro Tennis Registry (PTR), which just moved its headquarters to the Saddlebrook property, according to an email from Rosenke.
Elite sports training program sets up in Trinity
Student athletes will soon find world-class instruction and facilities supporting 10 different sports disciplines in Trinity, as part of the Generations Christian Academy (GCA) at Trinity Commons, according to a news release.
G-Sports will offer facilities, instructors, and programming to support a wide array of sports including basketball, football, volleyball, golf, hockey, figure skating, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and mixed martial arts, the release says.
Many of the sports programs are already in place and operating or in space being temporarily used for their respective G-Sport training; additional buildings and facility preparation continues as part of the ongoing construction work at the school expansion site, the release says.
“Incredibly exciting to see the growth in Pasco County with this tremendous program extension of GCA in the new G-Sports program,” Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, said in the release.
Head of School Josh Hoag, anticipates increased capacity in time for the coming school-year enrollment season and is pleased with the ongoing construction, the release says.
G-Sports facility expansion plans include a full-size ice rink to support the sports of hockey and figure skating.
Ice rink developer, Gordie Zimmermann with IceMann Development will lead the new ice facility and program operations, the release says.
“It’s great to provide available ice for student athletes – finding a program and partners that can help develop and facilitate the changing needs of athletes as they grow and improve is so important,” Zimmermann said, in the release.
A key partner in helping establish G-Sports’ programs is AdventHealth, which has signed on to serve the needs of G-Sports Athletes as medical provider.
Wiregrass Marching Bulls honored
The Pasco County Commission on Feb. 6 honored the Wiregrass Ranch High School Marching Bulls for winning the Florida Marching Band 2023 Class 4A State Championship. The county board adopted the resolution, by title only, which may mean a future appearance at a board meeting for band members to be honored in person, or could mean a presentation at the school or some other venue. The resolution highlights the program’s many accomplishments.
Lutz athlete is among paralympic hopefuls
Dani Kanas, of Lutz, is one of eight student-athletes from the University of Alabama’s Adapted Athletics program who are hoping to compete in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.
Kanas, who was a standout at Steinbrenner High School, hopes to compete in the Para Track and Field events. She is expected to find out in June whether she has been selected, according to a University of Alabama news release.
This wouldn’t be Kanas’ first international competition.
The one-arm javelin thrower has demonstrated her skill both locally and abroad, and besides enjoying the challenge, she welcomes the chance to be a role model for other athletes.
In a previous interview with The Laker/Lutz News, she said: “My goal is to show others — who may have a similar story to mine, who may be in a similar situation as me — that they shouldn’t let their disability stop them … I want them to know that this community (of adaptive athletes) exists and they shouldn’t just assume they can’t do it because they’re not able-bodied.”