Local Sports

WESLEY CHAPEL – September recognized nationally as Suicide Prevention Month, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for raising awareness around men’s mental health. 

In response, Dadz in Motion is hosting its inaugural fundraiser, Fight for a Cause, on Sept. 27, bringing together local fighters, families and the Tampa Bay community for an evening with a life-saving message.

Dadz in Motion points to statistics showing that men are less likely to seek help for depression and anxiety, yet they account for nearly four out of five suicide deaths in the U.S. 

Fight for a Cause is tackling this crisis head-on by combining the excitement of live sparring matches with meaningful access to mental health resources and community support.

“Too many men suffer in silence,” said LeAnn Flores, founder of Dadz in Motion. “This event is

about breaking the stigma, sparking conversations and showing men they are not alone. If even

one life is saved through awareness and connection, it’s a fight worth having.”

The evening will feature:

• Sparring matches showcasing strength and resilience.
• Community resource booths offering tools for mental health support.
• Recognition of local mentors making a difference in men’s lives.
• Opportunities to give back, with proceeds benefiting Dadz in Motion’s programs for

fathers and families.

Tickets are available at eventbrite.com. 

Dadz in Motion, a program of The Vecina Café Empowerment Center, uplifts men and fathers through mentorship, resources and events that encourage physical health, mental well-being, and family engagement.

TAMPA – Tampa Bay will be the epicenter of college basketball as Florida State University and Texas A&M University face off in The Battle in the Bay.

The marquee non-conference matchup, organized by Russ Potts Productions Inc., will take place at Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena at 7 p.m. Nov. 28.

The Florida State Seminoles, representing the ACC, will go head-to-head with the SEC’s Texas A&M Aggies in a showdown that’s sure to be a must-see for fans of both schools and college hoops.

Zach Franz, president of Russ Potts Productions, said his team is grateful to work with partners like Benchmark International Arena, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Vinik Sports Group and both universities to deliver an exciting day of basketball. 

“Our community is excited to welcome back the upcoming edition of NCAA Men’s March Madness and this event will help our community partners prepare so that we’re ready to put our best foot forward in March,” said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. 

The matchup features two head coaches leading their programs in their first season: Luke Loucks of Florida State and Bucky McMillan of Texas A&M. Here is what each coach had to say about the game: 

 

Luke Loucks, Florida State Seminoles coach

We’re working tirelessly to build a championship-caliber program for our great Florida State fans. Every game we play against a quality opponent helps us grow and become a better basketball team. 

Playing Texas A&M is great for us in so many ways. They were ranked in the Top 15 nationally, a No. 4 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament and finished fifth in the SEC, making this matchup a powerful test for us. 

Playing in Tampa also gives us the chance to showcase our team in one of Florida’s largest cities, home to a vibrant community of Seminole supporters. 

This game strengthens our program and provides our players with valuable experience as we prepare for the rest of our non-conference slate and the upcoming ACC schedule.

 

Bucky McMillan, Texas A&M Aggies coach

“We’re looking forward to participating in the Battle in the Bay in Tampa this November versus a strong basketball program in Florida State University. 

I have great respect for their athletic accomplishments and am excited to be starting this series. 

I think this year and next year’s games will be something that both fan bases can rally around. I just hope our fans leave happier than theirs.”

TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Sun Football Club weren’t able to overcome a late three goal scoring spree by Sporting JAX in their return to Suncoast Credit Union Field. 

The match was scoreless after the first half, but Sporting JAX scored three goals in the second half to put the visitors up 3-0. The Sun had two late second-half goals to make it 3-2.

Sporting JAX broke the deadlock in the 50th minute when Meg Hughes unleashed a strike from outside the box to the bottom right corner to give the visitors the lead.

Ashlyn Puerta had the second and third goals for Sporting JAX to put them up 3-0, but the Sun made it a game with two late goals.

Sandrine Mauron ignited a late push for the Sun with a well-placed goal in the 70th minute. Just two minutes later, Carlee Giammona netted her second of the season, cutting the Sun deficit to one.

The Sun couldn’t get it done, losing 3-2 in the home opener. The game was the home opener for the Sun, kicking off their Gainbridge Super League championship defense, and culminating in a fireworks show for fans along the Hillsborough River.

The team falls to 0-2 to start the season.

The next match was scheduled at Carolina Ascent on Sept. 6, past the newspaper’s deadline. The next Sun home game is a rematch of the 2024-25 playoff semifinal on Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Dallas Trinity FC.

 

TAMPA – The wait is over for bull riding fans in the Tampa Bay area. 

For the first time since 2012, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) will bring its elite Unleash The Beast to Tampa. The best riders and baddest bulls in the world will meet on Jan. 23 and 24, 2026 at Benchmark International Arena.

Organizers describe the event as “the most unpredictable and explosive 8 seconds in sports wrapped in a rock-show, family-friendly production.”

The trip to Tampa will be the sixth event of the 18-event 2026 Unleash The Beast season.

Over two days, the riders and bulls will go head-to-head with the action starting at 7:45 p.m. Friday night and continuing 6:45 p.m. Saturday to announce an event champion.

When the tour last came to Tampa in 2012, Guilherme Marchi walked away the event champion, edging out second-place Chase Outlaw by three-fourths of a point, riding three bulls on the weekend. Marchi, the 2008 PBR World Champion, would go on to become the most prolific rider in PBR history, registering 635 qualified rides.

Tickets are available at PBR.com and ticketmaster.com. PBR Rewards members can call 800-732-1727.

 

By the Numbers

• 750 tons of dirt (1.5 million pounds) are brought in to transform Benchmark International Arena into a bull-riding mecca.
• The dirt is a special clay-sand blend establishing a firm enough surface for the bulls to buck hard but soft enough so that every rider is not injured when thrown like a rag doll.
• It takes seven semi-trucks to haul in the equipment for the event.
• A crew of about 30 works around the clock to prepare the venue.
• Over 50 of the rankest bucking bulls on the planet will be on site.
• The average PBR bull weighs 1,800 pounds. The average bull rider? Just 140 pounds.

 

TAMPA, Fla. – A new traveling exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center casts a line into Florida’s fishing heritage, exploring more than a century of angling history from the Gulf to the Atlantic. 

“The Lure of Florida Fishing” opens Aug. 23 in the Wayne Thomas Gallery and will be on view through Jan. 11, 2026.

Featuring more than 50 locally made lures, vintage photographs, rare artifacts and “fish tales” from across the state, the exhibit brings Tampa Bay’s prominent role in Florida’s fishing legacy to the forefront. From early tarpon expeditions to modern charter operations, the display highlights how fishing helped shape Florida’s tourism and outdoor recreation industries.

The exhibit includes contributions from the Touchton Map Library, which holds dozens of historical fishing maps, many of which identify long-guarded “secret” spots.

“Secret fishing spots have been around as long as people have been fishing, and putting those ‘secret’ spots on maps followed soon after,” said Rodney Kite-Powell, director of the Touchton Map Library at the Tampa Bay History Center. “The Touchton Map Library collection has dozens of fishing maps and this exhibit gives us a great opportunity to share them – and those secret spots – with our visitors.”

Art also plays a key role in the exhibit, with a dedicated section featuring 22 original paintings by Southern artist William Aiken Walker. Found in a shipping box labeled for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, the paintings include images of tarpon, grouper, Spanish mackerel and other Florida game fish.

“There is wonderful art in The Lure of Florida Fishing exhibit, including a section on William Aiken Walker’s fish paintings, painted carvings by artist Conrad Brayman, and artworks by Lamar Sparkman and Kent Hagerman,” said Michelle Hearn, director of curatorial affairs at the Tampa Bay History Center. “There are 59 lures that were designed and crafted in the Tampa Bay area.”

The Lure of Florida Fishing also examines the rise of sport fishing clubs, fishing guides, techniques, tackle and tournaments throughout the 20th century, including notable personalities such as Ernest Hemingway, Ted Williams and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It concludes with a look at conservation efforts and Florida’s modern role as the top fishing destination in the country.

The exhibit will be on view in the Wayne Thomas Gallery through Jan. 11, 2026, and is included with regular museum admission. The Tampa Bay History Center is located at 801 Water St. in downtown Tampa and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On the web: tampabayhistorycenter.org

ST. LEO – The Saint Leo University Lions will number close to 600 this year as student-athletes take to the fields, courts and track. 

The university is relaunching men’s and women’s track and field as a varsity sport. The program will be phased in with 30 student-athletes being welcomed this fall. In 2026, an additional 30 student-athletes should join the teams, and by the third year, there should be a total of 80 competitors.

As part of this relaunch, the university is making a significant investment in its athletic facilities. A new eight-lane, 400-meter track is under construction, to not only support Saint Leo, but also to provide the university with the ability to host local high school and collegiate track meets. Construction should be completed in fall 2025.

The new track and field teams will compete in six categories: sprints, jumps, hurdles, throws, multi and distance.

Saint Leo also is welcoming a new sport as women’s flag football joins its intercollegiate athletic programs, and the team will begin this fall as a club sport housed under the Athletics Department. 

Coach Eli Taliaferro has been actively recruiting since April, reaching out to high schools across the region, and there will be tryouts for the team this fall.

The focus for the fall will be on skill development, training and team building. Competition will begin in the spring semester. Saint Leo’s flag football team will compete against other collegiate and club teams in the region and plans to participate in the Women’s College Flag Football League, which brings together teams from across Florida for structured competition.

Students, faculty, and staff can celebrate the Saint Leo University Lions at an event in the spring when the athletics department  and partners host an all-campus spirit event, Lions Fest. 

On the web: https://saintleolions.com

 

ZEPHYRHILLS – Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson and the Zephyrhills City Council recognized state champion weightlifter Malachi Woodard during the July 28 meeting. 

Woodward, who recently finished his senior year at Zephyrhills High School, was the subject of the following proclamation Monson read into the record:

 

WHEREAS, Malachi Woodard, a senior at Zephyrhills High School, began his journey in powerlifting as a freshman and has since demonstrated extraordinary dedication, discipline, and perseverance in the sport; and 

WHEREAS, Malachi earned his first state title as a sophomore and concluded his high school career with another state championship, solidifying his legacy as one of Florida’s premier high school weightlifters; and 

WHEREAS, during the 2025 Class 2A Boys Weightlifting Olympic-Snatch competition, Malachi Woodard broke the state record in the 154 lb. division by lifting an astounding 240 lbs., surpassing the previous record of 230 lbs.; and 

WHEREAS, Malachi’s achievements have not only brought pride to Zephyrhills High School but have also earned him a scholarship to Lindenwood University in Missouri, where he will continue his academic and athletic pursuits; and 

WHEREAS, surrounded by his family, teammates, and coaches – including Coach James Aguilera – Malachi signed his national letter of intent in the ZHS weight room, expressing heartfelt gratitude to those who supported his journey and helped him realize his dreams; and WHEREAS, Malachi’s story is one of resilience and inspiration, as he found his purpose and passion in the weight room, using it as a source of motivation and strength to achieve greatness; and 

WHEREAS, standing at 5 feet 3 inches tall, Malachi has proven that determination and heart outweigh any physical limitation, and he now aspires to become a strength and conditioning coach to train future professional athletes; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Melonie Bahr Monson, Mayor of the City of Zephyrhills, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby recognize and commend Malachi Woodard 2025 State Champion and Record-Breaking Weightlifter for his outstanding accomplishments, unwavering dedication, and the pride he brings to our community. We wish him continued success at Lindenwood University and in all his future endeavors. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of the City of Zephyrhills, Pasco County, Florida, to be affixed this 28th day of July, 2025.

 

NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco County Manager Mike Carballa paid tribute to National Parks and Recreation Month during the 52nd episode of “Pasco Podcast.”

Carballa interviewed Parks Manager Rob Mahler and Assistant Recreation Manager Deanna Baltimore during the episode. 

“From maintaining our beautiful park spaces to hosting programs that bring neighbors together, our parks and recreation team works tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make Pasco County the perfect place to live, work and of course,” Carballa said during the episode. 

Baltimore said residents would be surprised to learn that the parks and recreation department serves more than 1,000 children through its summer day camp. Mahler mentioned another staggering stat: the department maintains 129 athletic fields, which are in high demand. 

They briefly touched on the parks and recreation department growth.

“The parks are changing so drastically,” Mahler said. “The amount of parks that are coming online – we were talking about this morning in our meeting – I think there’s five of them on the horizon. 

“A rec complex that’s going to be in Dade City and the partnerships that we’re doing to try to get those things there to where it’s going to be multi-use and and service individuals that are part of the city and not just just the county. I think that stuff is awesome, from trying to provide opportunities for people all across the county, whereas the west had been built up before and now the east side’s getting their turn.”

Listen to the rest of the podcast at https://www.youtube.com/@PascoCountyGovernment to hear more about the parks and recreation’s community-centered approach to programming.