The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Charter league champs

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(Courtesy of Adriana Williams)

The Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes Dragons middle school varsity volleyball team recently won the Tampa Charter Athletic League (TCAL) championship. The squad went 8-2 in the regular season, then defeated Terrace Community Middle School (Thonotosassa) and Classical Preparatory School (Shady Hills) in consecutive playoff games. The team is coached by Adriana Williams.

Solid haul

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(Courtesy of John Medvid)

Land O’ Lakes resident Randy Hoedt teamed up with Paul Daniels (not pictured) to win the South Pasco Bassmaster Club Classic Tournament last month in Lake Okeechobee. The duo hauled in a total weight of 24.72 pounds, including a big bass weighing 5.68 pounds. The fisherman caught their haul flipping and pitching buggy whips and cattails, as well as junebug colored plastics. For more information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

National Signing Day

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Eight athletes from Land O’ Lakes High School took part in National Signing Day earlier this month, charting the greatest number from any local school. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School athletics department)

Several local high school athletes on Nov. 10 ceremoniously signed their letters of intent to play college athletics — the beginning of the fall national signing period for every sport, with the exception of football.

Here is a roundup of known student-athlete signings within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Carrollwood Day School

Volleyball

Laney Higgins, Oglethorpe University (Atlanta, Georgia)

Land O’ Lakes High School

Cycling

Mallory Bryan, Milligan University (Elizabethton, Tennessee)

Lacrosse

Chloe Norman, University of Montevallo (Montevallo, Alabama)

Softball

Kaitlyn Buckley, Webber International University

Ayla Horne, St. Petersburg College

Nehanda Lewis, University of Central Florida

Emma Nixon, University of West Georgia

Volleyball

Jasmine Christian, Pasco-Hernando State College

Kaitlyn Klemm, Pasco-Hernando State College

Steinbrenner High School

Baseball

Evan Cuervo, Presbyterian College (Clinton, South Carolina)

Softball

Emily Chiarella, Florida Gulf Coast University

Madison Frey, Florida State University

Ashley Mantei, University of Tampa

Beach Volleyball

Madison Espy, University of North Florida

Volleyball

Carter Mogridge, University of North Carolina

Sunlake High School

Baseball

Trey Jorge Santana III, Hillsborough Community College

Gymnastics

Hannah Drielick, Northern Illinois University

Wharton High School

Baseball

Evan Chrest, Jacksonville State University

Elijah Dukes, San Jacinto College (Pasadena, Texas)

Ryan Frye, University of Miami

Cross-country

Brooke Reif, University of Richmond (Richmond, Virginia)

Softball

Izzy Rittle, Lynn University

Volleyball

Bella Bonatakis, Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island)

 

 

Boxing classes

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The Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex, 7727 Boyette Road, is offering boxing classes for ages 14 and over on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Family discounts are available. The first member is $60 per month and additional members, $30 per month. Required equipment includes hand wraps, mouth guard, 16-ounce boxing gloves and boxing head gear. Register online at Secure.rec1.com/FL/Pasco-County-FL, or call 813-345-3145.

FCSAA Hall of Fame

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Steve Winterling

Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) athletic director Steve Winterling recently was inducted into the Florida College Systems Activities Association (FCSAA) Hall of Fame.

FCSAA Hall of Fame nominees are comprised of members that have contributed a minimum of 10 years to FCSAA or one of its member institutions. Selections are made by peers on the merits of community and state college contributions, achievements and significant accomplishments.

Winterling started PHSC’s first intercollegiate baseball team in March 1991.

He coached the program for 27 years, which included finishing fourth at the 2014 NJCAA Division II College World Series.

He has also served as FCSAA state chair for cross-country, pollster for NJCAA DI cross-country and coordinator for the Atlantic Division.

Winterling moved into the role of PHSC’s full-time athletic director in 2018, and is credited with helping launch the school’s women’s soccer program this year.

Prestigious accreditation

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Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation has received accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NPRA).

The county’s parks and recreation department first earned the CAPRA accreditation, which stays in effect for five years, in 2016.

To pass the reaccreditation process, the department had to demonstrate compliance with more than 150 standards, from quality of operations to management to service to the community. CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies, and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community.

Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation manages 167 parks, 53 recreation centers and 118 playgrounds. It serves an area encompassing 1,020 square miles.

Its programs and accomplishments include:

  • Afterschool and summer programming for more than 10,000 participants in the last three years
  • More than 350 recreational and education programs serving nearly 6,000 children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities
  • Improving turf at more than 100 high-use sports fields in at-risk communities
  • Converting decommissioned wastewater treatment plant into Carrollwood Village park. The park’s playground, splash pad, pump truck, fitness challenge course and walking trail attract more than 71,000 visitors annually.
  • Tree management program that includes the evaluation of 11,000 trees and planting 27,000 by 2024 to mitigate the impacts of urbanization.

CAPRA is comprised of representatives from the NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network and the Council of State Executive Directors.

Soccer stars

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(Courtesy of Colin Eke)

The Goal Diggers claimed the NewAPSL (Adult Premier Soccer League) women’s recreation summer season title at Wesley Chapel District Park. Members of the winning squad include: Katie Assaf, Shelley Cox, Amber Elrom, Kristy Flaughter, Sarah Gelinas, Stephanie Kominiak, Karryn Matthews, Claire Owen, Taylor Reiss, Alicia Szilagyi, Charleen Wilson and Lindsay Zullo. Registration is now open for the league’s fall season, which begins Nov. 7. For information, visit NewAPSL.com.

Conference champ

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(Courtesy of Aimee Williams)

Sunlake High senior Cody Williams won the 2021 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) individual champion last month at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, firing a 77. Williams’ efforts also helped pace the Seahawks to a conference team title. Williams, left, is pictured with coach Bob Kamps.

Winning haul

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(Courtesy of John Medvid)

Jim Felice, left, and Joe Felice won the South Pasco Bassmasters (SPBM) October tournament in Lake Toho on the Kissimmee Chain, hauling in five bass for a total weight of 14.72 pounds. The duo caught their fish flipping and pitching buggy whips, cattails, and grass edges with assorted creature bait and soft plastics. The next SPBM tournament is scheduled for Nov. 16 at Lake Okeechobee. For information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Wiregrass Ranch golf tournament

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The Wiregrass Ranch High School lacrosse program will host its first annual golf tournament fundraiser on Nov. 6 at 8:30 a.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Cost is $80 per player or $300 per foursome. The event will feature hole contests, raffles, lunch banquet and multiple sponsorship packages. To sign up, visit Wiregrass-lacrosse-golf-fundraiser.perfectgolfevent.com.