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The awards keep coming for the 2017 8-man state championship-winning Academy at the Lakes Wildcats.

Players and coaches alike were well-represented on the 2017 Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) All-State and All-Conference selections, which were recently announced.

Nine players earned either All-State or All-Conference selections, including senior running back/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez, who was named the FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner award.

Gonzalez put up exorbitant numbers in 2017, leading the Wildcats in rushing (1,125 yards, 28 total touchdowns) and tackling (138 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception).

Meanwhile, Wildcats head coach Shawn Brown was named FCAPPS Coach of the Year and was recognized at the Nike Coach of the Year Clinic on Feb. 23.

In December, Academy at the Lakes defeated Jacksonville Old Plank Christian Academy 30-9 to win the FCAPPS state championship and finish 11-1. The football program’s last state title came in 2006, when Academy at the Lakes played in the six-man ranks.

Here’s a list of Academy at the Lakes’ FCAPPS honorees:

• Head Coach Shawn Brown – FCAPPS Coach of the Year
• Jalen Brown — All-Conference Quarterback
• Denzyl Downing — All-State Sportsmanship Award
• Daniel Gonzalez — FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner/All-State Linebacker
• Andrew Kilfoyl — All-State Offensive Lineman
• Evan Lutz — All-Conference Center
• Zachary Moore — All-State Special Teams
• Jordan Oladokun — All-State Defensive Back/Corner/Safety
• Dylan Price — All-State Defensive Lineman
• Isaiah Smith — All-State End

Each will be recognized at the FCAPPS Players’ Awards banquet on April 14. The Wildcats also will host an in-house banquet on April 28.

The 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All-Region selections were recently released and The Laker/Lutz News coverage area is well-represented.

Led by Steinbrenner High School senior outfielder Jordan Lala, who was named to the All-Florida second team, more than a dozen other players earned honorable mentions.

The Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-Region teams are made up of top players from nine regions around the country.

Perfect Game is considered to be the elite amateur baseball scouting organization in existence, producing more than 100 tournaments and showcases each year across the country.

Below is a listing of players from local schools. Each is listed by name, school and position.

Local Honorees:

Second Team

• Jordan Lala, Steinbrenner, outfielder

Honorable Mention

• Anthony Alvarez, Gaither, pitcher
• Orlando Arevalo, Gaither, infielder
• Britton Baxter, Land O’ Lakes, pitcher/utility
• Cody Dillard, Land O’ Lakes, second baseman
• Frank Furey, Carrollwood Day, pitcher
• Julio Goncalves, Academy at the Lakes, third baseman
• Danny Gutcher, Gaither, shortstop
• Andre Hevesy, Carrollwood Day, pitcher
• Julian Lopez, Gaither, third baseman
• Noah Luke, Steinbrenner, catcher
• Bailey McFatridge, Steinbrenner, pitcher
• Rodrigo Montenegro, Carrollwood Day, catcher
• Duncan Pastore, Wharton, third baseman
• Andrew Spencer, Steinbrenner, outfielder
• Grant Walford, Steinbrenner, pitcher

For the second straight year, Land O’ Lakes-based Florida Premier U10 Girls Soccer Club bested a group of eight teams to win the 11th annual Largo March Madness Shootout. The club shined defensively, allowing just one goal in four games played, defeating the St. Petersburg Raiders 2-0 in the final. For information on the club, visit WestPascoSoccer.com.

Wharton High School junior Tre Rivers set a new school track and field record in the 3,200-meter run, with a 9:31.61 mark at the 2018 Florida State University relays on March 23. The previous school record (9:32.50) was set in 2007 by Pedro Carela, who later ran at Division I University of South Florida. Also a standout cross country runner, Rivers set the school’s 5K record (15:53) at the state meet in November.

The fishing team of Tom Moore, left, and Scott May won the South Pasco Bassmasters (SPBM) March tournament on Lake Istokpoga by hauling in five bass for a total weight of 10.96 pounds. The duo caught their bass using a combination of Senko bait and jigs lily pads. The next SPBM tournament is April 21 on the Lake Harris Chain. For information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Saint Leo University athletic director Francis X. Reidy has been named one of 28 Under Armour Athletic Directors of the Year. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the honor on March 5.

Reidy has earned the honor for the third time in the past six years, and is one of four Division II AD’s to be recognized. The others are Josh Berlo of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Dave Marsh of Northwood University, and John Planek of Lewis University.

Reidy, who is in his 19th year as Saint Leo athletics director, was a recipient for the award for the 2014-2015 and 2011-2012 seasons. Under his direction the past two years, Saint Leo athletics won its first individual national champion (men’s golf in 2016) and team national title (men’s golf 2016). It also added the women’s individual national champion (women’s golf in 2017).

Meanwhile, Reidy has guided the Lions into the top 20 of the Learfield Director’s Cup, including the program’s best finish of second place in 2015-16, while overseeing the addition of the newest sport, beach volleyball. Reidy also has directed the growth of success of 25 All-Americans and six total CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.

The Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

Under Armour is in its 10th year of sponsoring the award. During that time, more than 220 different athletics directors have received the award.

Sunlake High School junior golfer Jordan Sarhaddi fired a combined 7-under par (68—Round 1, 69—Round 2) to finish third among 84 players at the Florida Junior Tour at Stone Creek Golf Club Boys 16-18 tournament in Ocala last month. One of the top prep golfers in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, Sarhaddi tied for 16th in the 2A boys state meet back in November. Sarhaddi’s next Florida Junior Tour meets are April 14 and April 15 at Cypress Creek Golf Club in Ruskin, and May 19 and May 20 at Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club in Sarasota.

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  Academy at the Lakes senior quarterback Thomas Kramer committed to play football at Division II Brevard College (Brevard, North Carolina). The 5-foot-9 Kramer threw for 372 yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2017, as a member of the Wildcats 8-man state championship team.

• Pasco High School senior midfielder Jennifer Luna committed to play soccer at Florida College, a USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) program in Temple Terrace. Luna, a four-year varsity player, tallied 28 goals and 68 points this past season.
• Pasco High School senior midfielder Taylor Boyd committed to play soccer at NAIA Division II Warner University in Lake Wales. Boyd is a three-year varsity player and was a team captain this season.
• Zephyrhills High school senior infielder Chase Booker committed to play softball at St. Johns River State College, a junior college program in Palatka. Booker has a .305 career batting average and .414 on-base percentage through 20 varsity games.
• Zephyrhills High School senior offensive lineman Omar Estrada committed to play football at Division III Aurora University (Aurora, Illinois). The 6-foot, 235-pound Estrada 14 pancake blocks in nine games in 2017.
• Zephyrhills High School junior wide receiver Cartrell Strong picked up a scholarship offer from Division I Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia). The 5-foot-10 Strong posted 25 catches for 410 yards and seven total touchdowns.