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Land O’ Lakes unveils 2020 football schedule

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The Land O’ Lakes High varsity football program has announced its schedule for the 2020 season. The Gators, finishing 2-8 last season, will be led by new head coach Trac Baugh.

2020 schedule

Aug. 18 — vs. Zephyrhills High (Exhibition)

Aug. 21 — at Pasco High

Aug. 28 — vs. Countryside High

Sept. 4 — vs. Mitchell High

Sept. 11 — at Tampa Catholic High

Sept. 18 — vs. Sunlake High

Sept. 25 — at Freedom High

Oct. 9 — vs. Gaither High

Oct. 16 — at Wiregrass Ranch High

Oct. 23 — vs. Fivay High

Oct. 30 — vs. Calvary Christian High

Tennis player garners national honor

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(Courtesy of Saint Leo University athletics department)

Saint Leo University’s Kristyna Jurkova has been named the 2019-20 International Tennis Association (ITA) National Most Improved Senior — awarded to a senior who has showed the most improvement over the course of his/her collegiate career.

Jurkova, a native of Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic, was chosen among eight finalists for the national honor.

Jurkova closed out her career with a 7-3 record in singles this season and a 9-3 doubles record. She finished the shortened 2020 campaign ranked inside the top 10 in both singles (9) and doubles (5) in the South Region, and ranked 31st in the nation in singles.

PHSC volleyball celebrates signings

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(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Three sophomore members of the Pasco-Hernando State College women’s volleyball program have announced signings with various four-year colleges and universities:

  • Alyssa Lake, middle hitter — Coker University (Hartsville, South Carolina)
  • Arianna Colon, opposite hitter — Catawba College (Salisbury, North Carolina)
  • Morgan Bullinger, opposite hitter/setter — Northwestern Oklahoma State University (Alva, Oklahoma)

The Bobcats, led by former Sunlake High girls volleyball coach Deann Newton, are coming off an 11-15 campaign in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Division II ranks in 2019.

Saint Leo men’s golfer earns All-American honor

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David Longhini (Courtesy of Saint Leo athletics department)

Saint Leo University sophomore golfer David Longhini has been tabbed a DII PING Honorable Mention All-American selection, by the Golf Coaches Association America.

The native of Asiago, Italy, competed in six events on the year, compiling a team-best stroke average of 72.61 and ranking 47th overall in Division II on GolfStat, with an adjusted scoring average of 72.83.

Longhini finished inside the top-10 three times with two top-five placements. That included a best-of tie for second in the final tournament of the season, the Southeastern Collegiate in Valdosta, Georgia, carding a 54-hole score of three-under, 213.

Solid haul

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(Courtesy of John Medvid)

Paul Daniels, left, and Randy Hoedt teamed up to win first place at the South Pasco Bassmasters (SPBM) May tournament on Lake Reedy, hauling in five bass for a total weight of 20.80 pounds. The haul also included the tournament’s biggest bass, at 6.07 pounds. The fishing duo caught their haul using assorted plastics and worms around docks and shoreline grass. The next tournament is scheduled for June 20 on the Lake Harris Chain. For information on membership, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Lacrosse standout named All-American

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Senior defender Ashley Salvett recently made history — becoming the first Saint Leo University women’s lacrosse player to garner an All-American nod.

Earlier this month, Salvett was named to the 2020 Inside Lacrosse Women’s Maverik Division II Media All-America Team, as a defensive honorable mention.

Ashley Salvett (Courtesy of Saint Leo University athletics)

Salvett wrapped up this year’s shortened seven-game season with 43 draw controls, eight caused turnovers and 27 ground balls. In 24 career games, she caused 38 turnovers, picked up 74 ground balls and won 93 draw controls.
The All-American title rounds off a personal stack of accolades for the native of Syracuse, New York, who transferred to Saint Leo for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

In addition to being part of the Lions to back-to-back nationally ranked season finishes, Salvett has been named an All-Sunshine State Conference (SSC) First Team selection and Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-South Region Second Team selection. She’s also been named to the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, where a student-athlete must post a minimum grade-point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00.

“I am so happy that Ashley’s efforts this year have earned her national recognition,” Lions head coach Caitlin Hansen said, in a release. “She has been a game changer for us since she arrived on campus and her contributions to the program in just two seasons has been tremendous. One of her greatest assets is her ability to always play at 110% in both practices and games, which, not only made herself better but her teammates better every day. Ashley is an exciting player to watch and I’m grateful I had an opportunity to coach and work with her!”

Locals commitments and signings

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  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High senior outside hitter Gabby Koenig signed with Johnson & Wales University, an NAIA volleyball program in Miami
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High senior middle blocker Kayla David at State College of Florida, a junior college volleyball program in Bradenton
  • Steinbrenner High senior running back Jonathan Mallen committed to Baldwin-Wallace University, an NCAA Division III program in Berea, Ohio
  • Sunlake High senior defensive lineman signed Hunter Feiden signed with Culver-Stockton College, an NAIA football program in Canton, Missouri
  • Sunlake High senior linebacker Damian Riewold signed with Warner University, an NAIA football program in Lake Wales
  • Wiregrass Ranch High senior receiver/safety Dorien Green committed to New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college football program in Roswell, New Mexico
  • Pasco-Hernando State College men’s baseball landed a commitment from Josh Pigozzo, a senior outfielder/first baseman from East Lake High
  • Former Carrollwood Day School basketball standout Malcolm Whitlow committed to Tallahassee Community College. He played last season at Division II Eckerd College, in St. Petersburg

Local schools rank among top programs

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Several area programs topped the list of the FHSAA’s (Florida High School Athletic Association) 2019-2020 Academic Team Champions standings — for having among the highest cumulative team GPAs across all sports for their respective classifications, for the entire school year.

Academy at the Lakes (Class 2A) and Steinbrenner High (Class 7A) both finished second overall among all schools in their respective classifications, while Carrollwood Day School finished 15th in Class 3A and Land O’ Lakes tied for 26th in Class 5A.

The academic program recognizes teams in each of the FHSAA’s sanctioned and recognized sports. For the 2019-2020 school year, the state’s 699 member senior high schools were divided into seven classifications for administrative purposes based on the enrollments submitted to the FHSAA. All team members listed on its varsity roster (or those who participate in at least one district game in football) are considered in compiling its cumulative team grade point average.

Local commitments

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  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High baseball product Manny Sado committed to NCAA Division II Saint Leo University. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound right-hander, who graduated from high school in 2017, most recently pitched for the College of Central Florida in Ocala.
  • Steinbrenner High senior right-handed baseball pitchers Cameron Kenny and Cameron Lee committed to Division I NJCAA Pasco-Hernando State College. Kenny posted a 1.62 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched in this shortened season, while Lee registered a 4.06 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched.
  • Wharton High senior left-handed pitcher Carson Caso committed to Division II University of Tampa. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Caso posted a 0.34 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched this shortened season.
  • The Saint Leo University men’s basketball program landed a commitment from Hillsborough High 6-foot-5 senior forward Cantia Rahming. Rahming averaged 20.8 points, 17.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game this season, helping the Terriers to a 22-8 mark and Class 6A regional finals.

Wharton High product declares for NBA Draft

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Wharton High School product Darin Green Jr., now a freshman at the University of Central Florida (UCF), has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, while maintaining his college eligibility.

Darin Green Jr. (Courtesy of University of Central Florida athletics department)

The 6-foot-4 guard played in 30 games for UCF this season, averaging 10.1 points per game and pacing the team in 3-point percentage (41.7%) and 3-pointers made (68).

He made the draft announcement on his social media accounts.

Green Jr. — like other underclassman who declare for the draft — has the option to return to the college hoops ranks if he withdraws his name for the draft by June 15.

The 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25 at the Barclays Center in New York City, but this is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Green Jr., played four years of varsity hoops at Wharton, becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer and named the 2018-2019 Hillsborough County Player of the Year, among other accolades.