The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Sports announcers sought

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The Saint Leo University athletics department is accepting applications for public address announcers and play-by-play announcers to help out during the course of the 2021-2022 athletic seasons for all sports. Each applicant is required to send in recordings read from multiple sport scenarios that will then be screened. All students and outside applicants are encouraged to apply. To be considered for any of the roles, the submission process must be completed for each sport in its entirety. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/4wbmfptu.

New basketball coach

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Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School has announced Doug Greseth as its new boys basketball head coach.

Greseth has coached basketball at the high school and college level for over 36 years, including the past 17 years at Wesley Chapel High School. He also spent time as an assistant at the University of Tampa, then led Okeechobee and Jefferson high schools.

Greseth has registered over 500 career wins in his prep coaching career. He’s a three-time FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) district coach of the year, three-time Treasure Lakes Conference coach of the year and two-time Sunshine Athletic Conference coach of the year.

Greseth played collegiate hoops for Rochester Community College and Augsburg University in Minnesota, before launching his coaching career.

Run with the Bobcats 5K

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Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host its annual 5K Run with the Bobcats on Nov. 7, at the college’s West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

The 5K race start is 8 a.m., followed by a 1-mile Bobcat Trot at 8:10 a.m.

The event is sponsored by Dr. Rao Musunuru, vice chairman of the PHSC District Board of Trustees.

A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony will dedicate the newly completed Mrs. Prameela Musnuru Health and Wellness Trail in honor of Dr. Musnuru’s wife.

The paved, wheel-chair accessible path rims the campus’ tree-lined perimeter road, also to be dedicated as Rao Musunuru, M.D. Circle Blvd. All walkers and runners are welcome to participate in either race, regardless of fitness levels.

The 5K and Bobcat Trot registration fees begin at $25 and $10, respectively. There is no charge for children ages 12 and under to take part in the Bobcat Trot. Middle school and high school students, as well as PHSC faculty, staff and students, can register for the 5K race at a discounted rate of $15.

All registered participants will receive medals, T-shirts and PHSC swag. Free refreshments also will be available.

For more information and registration, visit tinyurl.com/2zby7av8.

Run for Justice 5K

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Saint Leo University’s Social Justice Committee is sponsoring the inaugural Saint Leo Run Toward Justice 5K to benefit local organizations that promote social initiatives throughout the community.

The virtual 5K race is Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 17, 2022). Participants may run, walk or use any mobility assistance device to complete the 3.1 miles.

All skill levels and abilities are welcome. The goal is to complete the 3.1 miles in one session, and participants will monitor their own completion time.

Participants may use a watch or any timekeeping/race-tracking app on their phone. Participants must send their completion time to , after completing the race.

Registration fee is $30 through Oct. 31, then increases to $40 beginning Nov. 1. Participants will receive a Saint Leo Run Toward Justice 5K T-shirt and certificate of completion.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the Hillsborough County Public Schools Migrant Education Program, which provides services to migrant students and their families.

Visit SaintLeo.edu/runtowardjustice5k for more information.

Executive director to retire

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Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) executive director George Tomyn has announced that he plans to retire following the 2021-2022 school year.

George Tomyn (Courtesy of Florida High School Athletic Association)

Tomyn has spent the past four years in the top leadership role for the FHSAA, which is headquartered in Gainesville and serves as the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.

Before that, he worked for the Marion County school system for 26 years, including a stint as school superintendent from 2012 to 2016.

Serving as the organization’s chief executive officer, Tomyn is tasked with supervision of FHSAA staff and office; interpretation of bylaws, guidelines, regulations, policies and procedures; and corporate sponsorships, among other duties.

“Serving as executive director of the FHSAA has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience,” Tomyn said, in a release. “I look forward to continuing the role for the 2021-22 school year.”

Moving forward, the FHSAA’s board of directors will outline a timeline for choosing Tomyn’s replacement and make that hiring decision, following the succession process.

The FHSAA supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools.

The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at almost 800 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide.

YMCA Corporate Challenge

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The Tampa Bay Area YMCA’s annual Corporate Cup Challenge is scheduled for Oct. 16 at the James P Gills YMCA, at 8411 Photonics Drive in New Port Richey.

Check-in begins at 8 a.m., with the event running from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Olympics-style coed competition — described as an adult field day — invites companies of eight to 15 employees to compete in obstacle courses, team-building challenges, a climbing wall, inflatable challenges, and tug-of-war.

Proceeds from the event benefit the YMCA’s financial assistance program, which provides opportunities for more than 5,000 people who could otherwise not afford the organization’s programs and services.

Email Randy Nilsson at , or call 727-467-9622 for more information.

Women’s soccer tournament

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The New APSL (Adult Women’s Soccer League) will host its first-ever ladies soccer tournament on Oct. 16 at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel.

The daylong event will be a six-on-six format.

Registration is $250 for a team of eight players.

The tournament will allow teams to have one player under 18 years old, provided she has a family member on the team and is included in the eight rostered players.

The tournament’s winning team will earn $250, while second place will receive $100.

To register, visit NewAPSL.com.

For more information, contact Colin Eke at 813-610-2278 or .

Spooktacular Golf

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The Spooktacular Golf Tournament hosted by Tampa Crossroads will be on Oct. 17, at the Bay Palms Golf Complex on MacDill Air Force Base, 1803 Golf Course Ave., in Tampa.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Golfers can register for the tournament for $380 per foursome or $95 per individual player, which includes greens fee, cart, range balls, breakfast and lunch.

The event also will feature raffles, prizes for top finishers, and contests for longest drive, closest to pin, putting and hole-in-one.

Non-golfers also can attend for $25, which covers breakfast and lunch, and additional donations can be made online.

Registration deadline is Oct. 4.

Proceeds from the event will fund and support Tampa Crossroads’ programs and services in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties. The organization strives to remove barriers in accessing behavioral wellness, housing, and employment services in the community.

For information, call 813-238-8557, ext. 100, or email .

Saint Leo athletics K9 club

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(Courtesy of Saint Leo University athletics department)

The Saint Leo University athletics department has announced the return of its “Pups in the Pride” K9 club for the 2021-2020 sports season. The annual membership serves as the official dog club of the Saint Leo Lions.

The Pups in the Pride K9 Club allows dog-loving fans to show their Lions’ pride at home and on the Saint Leo campus at designated athletic events.

For $25, dogs will receive a membership package with exclusive club items including a member certificate, dog bandana, name and photo included on the university’s Pups in the Pride webpage, and special offerings at all Pups in the Pride athletic events.

Membership also includes a pup of the month spotlight on the Lions’ social media platforms.
For more information, visit saintleolions.com/sports/2020/9/30/pups-in-the-pride.aspx.

Solid haul

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(Courtesy of John Medvid)

Jashua Dunn, left, and Calvin Crowe won the South Pasco Bassmasters (SPBM) August tournament on Lake June-In-Winter, in Lake Placid, hauling in five bass for a total weight of 17.17 pounds. The duo caught their fish with offshore drop-offs and brush piles using assorted plastics and crankbaits. The next SPBM tournament is scheduled for Sept. 18 at Crooked Lake in southeast Polk County. For more information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.