The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Steinbrenner High linebacker commits to Air Force

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Devon Connors, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior linebacker at Steinbrenner High School, has committed to play football at the United States Air Force Academy, a Division I school. Connors previously committed to Florida International University on June 23. Through six games at Steinbrenner, Connors has 44 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one interception.

Pasco County Lacrosse sets concert/raffle for Dec. 3

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The Pasco County Lacrosse Alliance (PCLA) is hosting its first annual PascoLax Harley Jam on Dec. 3, at the Concourse Rotary Pavilion, 15325 Alric Pottberg Road in Spring Hill. The concert/raffle event will run from noon to 6 p.m. Raffle drawings will be conducted throughout the concert via a “reverse raffle” format.

Concert performers include three Tampa-based bands: Soul Circus Cowboys, Jaded and Phoenix. The “grand prize” to be raffled off is a 2017 Harley-Davidson SuperGlide, provided by Harley-Davidson Florida.

All net proceeds from the event will benefit the PCLA to help provide funding for Pasco County high schools to offer boys and girls lacrosse programs. Tickets for the concert/raffle are $100, while concert-only tickets are $10 per person.

Only 1,000 raffle tickets will be sold. Food trucks and other vendors will be present, and 98 Rock will provide a live remote from the concert.

For information, visit PascoLaxHarleyJam.com, or email .

Freedom High boys golf captures wins districts

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The Freedom High boys varsity golf team won its fourth consecutive district title on Oct. 10. From left, Cooper Smith, Matt Daniello, Cy Storlien, Nick Mitchell, Tyler Bray and Sam Smith. (File Photo)
The Freedom High boys varsity golf team won its fourth consecutive district title on Oct. 10. From left, Cooper Smith, Matt Daniello, Cy Storlien, Nick Mitchell, Tyler Bray and Sam Smith. (File Photo)

The Freedom High boys varsity golf team captured its fourth consecutive district title on Oct. 10 at Hunter’s Green Country Club in Tampa. The Patriots, which shot a 309 as a team, were led by junior Cy Storlien (73) who was the crowned individual Class 3A-District 10 champ. Freedom’s other tournament qualifiers were: Tyler Bray (77), Cooper Smith (77), Sam Smith (82) and Nick Mitchell (83).

Saint Leo player named preseason All-American

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Saint Leo's Marcus Dewberry (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)
Saint Leo’s Marcus Dewberry (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Saint Leo senior basketball standout Marcus Dewberry was named a preseason All-American and Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year by the Division II Bulletin.

After the 2015-2016 season, Dewberry was named a D2CCA (Division II Conference Commissioners Association) All-South region first team selection and an NABC All-South district first team selection.

Dewberry (19.7 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 4.7 assists per game) helped lead last year’s squad to the NCAA South Region tournament. The Lions’ 2016-2017 season begins on Nov. 12.

Wiregrass Ranch High girls golf wins conference tourney

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The Wiregrass Ranch High girls golf team won the Pasco County Girls’ High School Golf Conference tournament on Oct. 3. From left, assistant coach Tyler Finn, Alexa Cunningham, Alexis Lane, Morgan Powers, Lexy Frenchko, Loryn Finn, Karlye Finn and head coach Jeremy Calzone. (Courtesy of Meg Merritt)
The Wiregrass Ranch High girls golf team won the Pasco County Girls’ High School Golf Conference tournament on Oct. 3. From left, assistant coach Tyler Finn, Alexa Cunningham, Alexis Lane, Morgan Powers, Lexy Frenchko, Loryn Finn, Karlye Finn and head coach Jeremy Calzone.
(Courtesy of Meg Merritt)

The Wiregrass Ranch High girls golf team won the Pasco County Girls’ High School Golf Conference tournament on Oct. 3 at The Groves Golf and Country Club in Land O’ Lakes.

The Bulls shot a combined 343, defeating Land O’ Lakes High by two strokes (345). Pasco High’s Kacie Huber (76) won individual medalist honors; Wiregrass Ranch’s Morgan Powers (77) was the tournament runner-up. Eleven Pasco high schools participated in the event. There were a total of 52 players.

Big South Conference honor

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Former Wiregrass Ranch football standout Shane Bucenell is the starting quarterback at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. (Courtesy of Charleston Southern University)
Former Wiregrass Ranch football standout Shane Bucenell is the starting quarterback at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina.
(Courtesy of Charleston Southern University)

Shane Bucenell, a former Wiregrass Ranch High School quarterback, was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week for his performance in Charleston Southern’s 59-58 double-overtime victory over Coastal Carolina on Oct. 1. In his second career start, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound signal-caller threw for 149 yards and four touchdowns. Bucenell was a three-year starter at Wiregrass Ranch, where he holds the school record for career touchdown passes (17).

CDS Prep names Karim Nohra new girls basketball coach

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Karim Nohra is Carrollwood Day School’s new girls varsity coach. (File Photo)
Karim Nohra is Carrollwood Day School’s new girls varsity coach.
(File Photo)

Karim Nohra, a longtime girls basketball coach in the Tampa area, has been named the new girls varsity basketball coach at Carrollwood Day School.

In July, Nohra stepped down from Academy at the Lakes after six seasons, where he led the program to five state final four appearances.

Nohra’s other coaching stops include varsity teams at Cambridge Christian School, and Tampa Catholic and Wesley Chapel high schools. He’s amassed a coaching record of 534-159 in 24 seasons.

Nohra’s teams often play an up-tempo style, utilizing various defensive pressure systems to score in transition.

Carrollwood Day finished 5-14 last season. They compete in Class 3A.

Saint Leo runner earns national honor

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Saint Leo University junior Colett Rampf was named the Division II Women’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Week on Oct. 3 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Saint Leo’s Colett Rampf (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Saint Leo’s Colett Rampf
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Rampf, a Premnitz, Germany native, is the first Saint Leo women’s cross country athlete to earn the award.

Rampf is coming off a record-setting performance in the 43rd Annual Lehigh University Paul Short Run on Oct. 1. She finished 10th overall in the 6K College Gold race with a time of 20:23, slashing 31 seconds off the Saint Leo 6K record she set a year ago at the same event.

It was fastest time of any non-Division I runner.

“Colett has definitely earned it,” Saint Leo cross country coach Kent Reiber said, in a release. “She set very high goals coming into this season, and has hit every benchmark along the way. We’re very blessed to have her work ethic and leadership on our team, and I’m incredibly proud of her.”

Steinbrenner pitcher makes national team

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Steinbrenner High School’s senior right-handed pitcher CJ Van Eyk was one of just 20 players nationwide selected to the USA Baseball 18U National Team.

Steinbrenner’s CJ Van Eyk made the USA Baseball 18U National Team on Sept. 23. (File Photo)
Steinbrenner’s CJ Van Eyk made the USA Baseball 18U National Team on Sept. 23.
(File Photo)

The team, which was finalized on Sept. 23, is taking part in the COPABE Pan American Championships in Monterrey, Mexico, which runs through Oct. 9.

Prior to the selection, Van Eyk, a Florida State commit, shined during USA Baseball’s weeklong trial period in Houston, Texas. In two appearances, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound flamethrower struck out nine batters in six innings using a fastball-curveball combination.

Last season, Van Eyk was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state.

He was named the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 8A Player of the Year after ranking first in the class in strikeouts (130) and wins (12), and fifth in earned run average (0.77).

During a July interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Steinbrenner coach John Crumbley —who’s amassed four state titles and over 700 wins in his 25-plus career — said Van Eyk is “right up there with some of the top pitchers that I’ve coached in my career.”

Former Pasco football star out for year

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Former Pasco High standout Janarion Grant, a Rutgers (New Jersey) University senior wide receiver and top offensive player, suffered a season-ending ankle injury during a 14-7 loss to Iowa University on Sept. 24. Grant, the school’s all-time kickoff return yardage leader, injured his right ankle on a 76-yard reception.

Former Pasco High standout Janarion Grant suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Sept. 24. (Courtesy of Rutgers University)
Former Pasco High standout Janarion Grant suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Sept. 24.
(Courtesy of Rutgers University)

During a Sept. 26 press conference, Rutgers first-year coach Chris Ash said the program will petition the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) to give Grant a fifth-year of eligibility.

Through four games, Grant led the team in receptions (20) and receiving yards (210), and was second in rushing (138 yards, three touchdowns). The 5-foot-10, 180-pound speedster was also the team’s primary return man, averaging 32.5 yards on kickoff returns and 16 yards on punt returns.

Grant, who graduated from Pasco High in 2013, helped guide the Pirates to the Class 5A state semifinals in 2011 and region finals a year later. Coming out of high school, Grant was a consensus three-star recruit with more than a dozen college scholarships.