Local Sports

Local teams compete during Spring Break

March 28, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Spring Break typically is a time for beach trips or relaxing, but not for everyone. Several high school baseball and softball players skipped working on their tan — at least for a few days — so they could compete in annual tournaments in March.

Here are the results of teams and individual performances of players in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

2023 Saladino Tournament
It was the 42nd edition of the prestigious tournament started by Tony Saladino and now run by his family and foundation. This year, the tournament expanded to have more divisions, from Gold, Silver and Bronze. Steinbrenner, Gaither and Wharton competed in the Gold Division, while Freedom played in the Silver. Each team was guaranteed four games.

Freedom: The Patriots, coming off a historic season in 2022, are struggling this season, including going winless in Saladino’s Silver Division. Freedom dropped games to King, Hillsborough, Leto and East Bay, respectively, while only scoring runs in the 9-7 loss to Hillsborough. In that game, Joey Wey drove in three runs, Brayden Nanns two runs, and Tommy Bradley and Ryan Acord both had an RBI.
Gaither: The Cowboys went 1-3 in Saladino play, with the only win being 10-3 over Wharton on March 11. Losses to Plant, Plant City and Jesuit (the eventual Saladino champion) were by a combined score of 16-6. In the win over Wharton, Jackson Mirza and Scout Simpson both drove in two RBI, while Josh Choe, David Pina, Nico Lopez and Jeffery Cavicchi all drove in a run apiece.
Steinbrenner: The Warriors went 1-3 in their Saladino games, losing to Bloomingdale 7-2 on March 11, 14-4 to Strawberry Crest on March 14 and 5-0 to Jefferson on March 15. The team’s lone win came in a close 5-4 win over Newsome on March 13. Dominic Sardegna drove in three RBI over those four games, while Joshua Stephens went a combined 4-for-11 with a two-run homer vs. Strawberry Crest. Bryce Andrews picked up a save in the win over Newsome.
Wharton: The Wildcats also went 1-3 in the tournament, losing to Gaither, Jesuit and Robinson, but then trounced Plant City 15-7 on March 14. Senior David Ascano went 7-for-11 with five RBI over the four games, while Caden Long drove in four in the blowout vs. Plant City. Justis Meadows and Jariel Garriga both drove in two RBI in that game, as well.

2023 Farm Bureau Classic
The annual baseball tournament featuring Pasco and Hernando county teams came down to a couple of Pasco County teams, with the Land O’ Lakes Gators walking away as runner-up and Mitchell, once again, taking the crown. The Mustangs won the championship game, with a score of 6-3 on March 17, which may very well foreshadow how the Class 6A-District 5 shakes out the rest of the season and into the postseason.

Bishop McLaughlin: The Hurricanes, coming off a stunning upset of nationally ranked Clearwater Calvary Christian on March 9, went 1-2 in the Classic, topping Fivay on March 14, but dropping matches to Hernando and Nature Coast on March 13 and March 15, respectively. In the 11-1 win over Fivay, Logan McGann went 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Tyler Pizzo, Keither Jacobs and Christopher Rodriguez all drove in two RBI apiece. Freshman Zorre Wright notched the walk-off hit vs. Springstead, while vs. River Ridge, senior Jake Carrillo drove in two RBI.
Cypress Creek: The Coyotes went 1-2 in the tournament, and while they grabbed a big 13-1 win over South Sumter, they dropped back-to-back games to Land O’ Lakes and Hernando by a combined score of 22-0. In the Coyotes win, sophomore Evertt Burgess went 3-for-3 with three RBI and a triple, while Ryan Maggy, Max Menendez and Braden Alexander all drove in two RBI each.
Land O’ Lakes: The Gators, the aforementioned runners-up, dominated in their wins on the way to the final vs. Mitchell, outsourcing Weeki Wachee, Cypress Creek and Wesley Chapel, respectively, a combined 25-8. In those wins, William Colon drove in five in two of the games, Gavin Jusino drove in two vs. Cypress Creek, and Brad Bloxsom and Dylan Makowski both drove in two RBI vs. Wesley Chapel. Anderson Gutierrez struck out 11 in the Cypress Creek game.
In the championship game vs. Mitchell, the Gators grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, but saw it slip away throughout the game despite six hits, an RBI by C.J. Chalk and pitcher Sutton Christie striking out seven over four innings.
Wesley Chapel: The Wildcats were able to go 2-1, including facing Land O’ Lakes in the semifinals, though dropped that game 10-5. In their back-to-back wins, the Wildcats eked out a couple of one-run wins: first 7-6 over Springstead in nine innings and then 8-7 over River Ridge.

2023 Bay Made Fastpitch Elite Invitational
In just its second year, the popularity and competitiveness of this tournament has already grown. Organizer Will Turner hosted three days of games at Greco Softball Complex in Temple Terrace, but also returned all but one of the competitive teams from last year’s inaugural tournament, while expanding the field to 16 teams.

Gaither: The Cowboys, at 9-2 this season, picked up the team’s first loss in the tournament, coming at the hands of Bloomingdale 7-2, as well as a second loss: 12-2 to Parrish Community. On March 17, Gaither had back-to-back wins over Lakeland George Jenkins and Palmetto, respectively. The Cowboys are led by seniors Mimi Gooden and Alexsandra Wilkes, who have a combined 20 RBI through nine games.
Land O’ Lakes: The Gators went winless in their four games at the Invitational, losing to Hernando, Sickles, Palmetto and George Jenkins. The Gators managed 15 runs in two of the losses, but were shut out 22-0 in losses to Hernando and Palmetto. Against Sickles, sophomore Jaila Mitchell went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while vs. George Jenkins, junior Kiersten Stevens went 4-for-4 with seven RBI and two runs scored.
Steinbrenner: The Warriors made it to the semifinals, one of the four teams left in the Gold Bracket, with wins over George Jenkins 8-3 and River Ridge 3-2. The Warriors lost the semifinal match vs. eventual champ Clearwater Calvary Christian 9-2, and the Gold Bracket Consolation game vs. Hernando 8-3. In the Warriors’ two wins, Lily Holtje drove in four RBI, while in the team’s two losses, Saige Simpson drove in two runs. Emma Kindle also had a two-RBI game in the win over George Jenkins and Jaily Bellamy had an RBI on a 2-for-3 game vs. River Ridge.

Published March 29, 2023

2022-2023 Sunshine Athletic Conference Winter Awards

March 21, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The Sunshine Athletic Conference, which is made up of the 14 public high school athletic programs in Pasco County, announced its 2022-2023 Winter All-Conference Teams and Players, voted on by the sports’ respective coaches.

The awards are split into East and West divisions of the county. Here are the East Division First Teams and the players and coaches of the year.

Wiregrass Ranch High School forward Alex Rodriguez led the 18-6 Bulls with 21 goals. (Courtesy of Dave Wilson)

Boys Soccer
Team Champion: Sunlake High School
Offensive Player of the Year: Alex Rodriguez, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Reece Jamieson, Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Sam Koleduk, Sunlake
First Team
Forward – Alex Rodriguez, Wiregrass Ranch
Forward – Will Fotopulous, Sunlake
Midfield – Matias Gonzales, Sunlake
Midfield – Alexei Leon, Wiregrass Ranch
Midfield – Juan Sanchez, Pasco
Defense – Jeremy Caruso, Wiregrass Ranch
Defense – Reece Jamieson, Wesley Chapel
Defense – Paul Grzelczyk, Sunlake
Goalkeeper – Nate Nobl, Sunlake
Utility – Dylan Ortiz, Sunlake
Utility – Mykall Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch

Sunlake High School junior Taylor Campbell tied the team record for most goals (26) and assists (15) in a season, propelling the Seahawks to its first state tournament appearance. (Courtesy of Sunlake Athletics)

Cypress Creek High School senior soccer player Abbie Pittman. (Courtesy of Jessica Herzek)

Girls Soccer
Team Champion: Cypress Creek High School
Offensive Player of the Year: Campbell Taylor, Sunlake
Defensive Player of the Year: Abbie Pittman, Cypress Creek
Coach of the Year: Jami Finan, Sunlake
First Team:

Forward – Campbell Taylor, Sunlake
Forward – Allison Souers, Cypress Creek
Midfield – Nemesis Arroyo, Wesley Chapel
Midfield – Maya Hinz, Sunlake
Midfield – Lex Mangione, Wesley Chapel

Midfield – Isabella Wood, Sunlake

Defense – Hannah Fulop, Cypress Creek
Defense – Bianca Martinez, Sunlake
Defense – Abbie Pittman, Cypress Creek
Goalkeeper – Alex Capocy, Cypress Creek
Utility – Emily Doonan, Wesley Chapel

Boys Basketball
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Player of the Year: Trey Murray, Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Jeremy Calzone, Wiregrass Ranch
First Team:
Trey Murray, Wesley Chapel
Landy Colyer, Land O’ Lakes
Amon Whitlow, Cypress Creek
Kennen Ayala, Land O’ Lakes
K.J. Smith, Wiregrass Ranch

Girls Basketball
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes High School
Player of the Year: Jaylin Neder, Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Peter Livingston, Wesley Chapel
First Team:
Jaylin Neder, Land O’ Lakes
Dayla Christopher, Wesley Chapel
Allison McCullough, Zephyrhills
Amaiya Potter, Wiregrass Ranch
Alexandria Gonzales, Sunlake

The Land O’ Lakes High School wrestling team won its third-straight SAC title this season. (Courtesy of Eddie Marley)

Wrestling
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes High School
Boys Wrestler of the Year: Cassidy Grubbs, Pasco
Coach of the Year: Eddie Marley, Land O’ Lakes
Boys First Team:
106 – Francesco Alagna, Cypress Creek
113 – Ashton Horvath, Sunlake
120 – Marco Rivera, Sunlake
126 – Jet Griffis, Land O’ Lakes
132 – Brandon Austin, Land O’ Lakes
138 – Charles Griffis, Land O’ Lakes
145 – Wyatt Green, Land O’ Lakes
152 – Leomany Casado, Land O’ Lakes
160 – Nicholas Iserino, Wesley Chapel
170 – Hudson Merkle, Cypress Creek
182 – Brunco Ingalls, Pasco
195 – Brody Switzer, Zephyrhills
220 – Cassidy Grubbs, Pasco
285 – Garry Gilbert, Land O’ Lakes

Girls First Team:
100 – Kohana Martinez, Zephyrhills
105 – Gabrielle Thompson, Wesley Chapel
110 – Brooke Pickering, Land O’ Lakes
115 – Izabella Kullman, Sunlake High
120 – Gabrielle Asabi, Wesley Chapel
125 – Sofia Palacio, Wesley Chapel
135 – Kristy Moore, Sunlake
140 – Nicollette Watson, Wiregrass Ranch
145 – Nevaeh Tdedman, Pasco
155 – Alliyah Trahan, Wesley Chapel
170 – Megan Preston, Wiregrass Ranch
190 – Paisley Murphy, Wesley Chapel

Sunlake High School state champion lifter Elena Kulubya brought home the gold medal in the 169-pound weight class, performing a 165-pound snatch and a 215-pound clean and jerk. (Courtesy of Brett Hodros)

Girls Weightlifting
Olympic Team Champion: Zephyrhills High School
Traditional Team Co-Champions: Sunlake and Zephyrhills
Olympic Lifter of the Year: Elena Kubuya, Sunlake
Traditional Lifter of the Year: Makiyah Nickerson, Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Brett Hodros, Sunlake
Olympic First Team:
101 – Gabriella Gonzalez, Cypress Creek
110 – Sienna Silvest, Cypress Creek
119 – Peyton Leidy, Zephyrhills
129 – Arianna Manzano, Cypress Creek
139 – Makiyah Nickerson, Sunlake
154 – Morgan Stewart, Wiregrass Ranch
169 – Elena Kulubya, Sunlake
183 – Carolina Crim, Sunlake
199 – Bella Patrias, Zephyrhills
Unlimited – Kennedy Arnot, Zephyrhills

Traditional First Team:
101 – Gabriella Gonzalez, Cypress Creek
110 – Sienna Silvest, Cypress Creek
119 – Peyton Leidy, Zephyrhills
129 – Sharibel Vazquez, Zephyrhills
139 – Makiyah Nickerson, Sunlake
154 – Nicole Bouserhal, Sunlake
169 – Elena Kulubya, Sunlake
183 – Autumn Spoon, Zephyrhills
199 – Bella Patrias, Zephyrhills
Unlimited – Kennedy Arnot, Zephyrhills

Cheerleading
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Cheerleader of the Year: Mia Allen, Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Ashley Linden, Land O’ Lakes
First Team:
Mia Allen, Land O’ Lakes
Katy Quandt, Land O’ Lakes
Gianna Ocasio, Land O’ Lakes
Lariah Coraham, Zephyrhills
Calli Catalanotto, Cypress Creek
Lauren Rossman, Cypress Creek
Hailey Gouldbourne, Wesley Chapel
MaJenna Frontado, Wesley Chapel
Bella Hicks, Pasco
Mackenzie Piotrowski, Pasco

Published March 22, 2023

Golf league promotes competition among amateurs

March 14, 2023 By Mike Camunas

These players are into the competitive swing of things.

Players of all caliber compete on the Golfweek Amateur Tour, and they’re not just there to hack away on the golf course for four-plus hours — they want to compete.

“We’re out there competing for trophies, prizes, money and other stuff, so it brings the competitiveness out of us when we play,” said Lutz resident Hank Holt, who has been on the amateur tour for 13 years. “It’s more so than just going out and playing —there’s something at stake.

Dale Missildine, of Tampa, tees off at Brooksville Golf & Country Club on Feb. 18 during a tournament presented by the Tampa Chapter of the Golfweek Amateur Tour, as Robert Ruel, left, and A.J. Joiner track the ball. The Tour provides amateurs of all ages, sexes and handicaps the opportunity to compete in stroke-play golf tournaments on a regular basis in their local area all over the country. (Mike Camunas)

(“It’s) just something to do, something different than going out shooting what you shoot,” he added. “It’s about getting on this tour and meeting guys from all walks of life and becoming friends with them.

“We’re just like the PGA Tour, except we’re not winning as much money (laughs).”

With the Golfweek Amateur Tour, there are various area chapters throughout the country that provide amateurs of all ages, sexes and handicaps the opportunity to compete in stroke-play golf tournaments on a regular basis. Each tournament follows USGA rules and places golfers in one of five flights based on their handicaps.

The Tampa Chapter covers a wide area, from Hernando County, even down to Sarasota County, and of course, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties in between. This chapter is based out of Land O’ Lakes, stationed out of Plantation Palms Golf Club in Land O’ Lakes. It’s also the home course of the chapter’s director, Shane McAdams.

McAdams says there are about 130 players on the Tampa amateur tour this season, with most of them being men. The number of women on the roster fluctuates, with as many as seven one season.

Golfweek Amateur Tour Tampa Chapter director Shane McAdams prepares to tee off.

There also is a senior circuit of the tour, however, it is currently on hiatus, as Golfweek and other tournament directors look into revamping that tour’s rules and logistics.

Scoring and integrity are vital to the tour, McAdams said.

“We’re really trying to build up the Land O’ Lakes/Lutz area of this (tour),” McAdams said. “We go by the honor system (when it comes to players’ handicaps), so if you come to your first tourney, and we put you in the flight that is for the score you told us, but that person just dominates that flight, then we’ll disqualify that golfer. We don’t have time for guys trying to be ringers.

“And knockaround guys who think they might be good, but then the competitiveness shows them just how good they are — not that we’re looking to knock anyone down a peg, but it gives the golfers who think they’re good an idea of just how good they are.

“And a lot of them use it to get better.”

The entire tour has about 9,000 members nationwide, and at the end of the season, the top players in the five flights compete in regionals and then, possibly, the National Tournament, which is then held in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Local amateur golfers, of all ages, sexes and handicaps, work on the driving range before a Golfweek Amateur Tour event at Brooksville Golf & Country Club on Feb. 18.

This would include the top flight winner from the Tampa Chapter: Land O’ Lakes resident Zack Holiday.

Throughout the season, members get to play on a variety of courses, such as Brooksville Golf & Country Club or Lake Jovita or Carrollwood Golf Club or even the Ritz Carlton down in Sarasota.

“It takes dedication, but it’s a lot of fun to play all over the area and state and then meet a lot of different golfers, because with that comes the camaraderie,” said Theoren Smith, of Lutz, who is a two-year member of the tour. “We are competitive guys who want to come out and love playing and try to win to go for the money.

“But, all-in-all, it’s fun.”

“I really just wanted to compete again,” said Land O’ Lakes resident Andrew Gastley, who played collegiately at the University of Tampa. “It gets the adrenaline flowing when you’re got a live leaderboard (on your phone) you can look at and you’re coming down the stretch and in contention. Even if you’re not doing well, you can sit back and watch the leaderboard and watch someone you know contend.

“It’s not a lot of (prize) money, but it is some money and it gets you to really take your game seriously.”

The competitiveness is always on display, too, as McAdams said at the Feb. 18 tour event at Brooksville Golf & Country Club, two D Flight members had a hole in one: Zach Williams on hole nine and Matthew Robinson on hole 17.

Andrew Gastley, of Land O’ Lakes, watches his ball during his follow-through during an event presented by the Tampa Chapter of the Golfweek Amateur Tour at Brooksville Golf & Country Club on Feb. 18.

“Well, the better you are, the further back you go (on the tee box), right?” McAdams said. “So, really good players are tough to come by, but that’s okay, because we’re just out here to have some fun, competitive golf. When a tournament starts, we have 60 (players) or so, and not everyone plays each time, as they have families.

“But we’re close, like a family, and it is a lot of fun for a lot of golfers.”

Golfweek Amateur Golf Tour
Details: Established in 1995, the purpose of the tour is to provide amateurs of all ages, sexes and handicaps the opportunity to compete in stroke-play golf tournaments on a regular basis in their local area. The tour concludes with a National Tour Championship featuring top players in each flight who test their skills against other amateurs from around the country. Through this competition, the Golfweek Tour promotes the sport of golf by providing an atmosphere of friendly, fair, and well-managed competition for amateur golfers in the pursuit of excellence.
Cost: $105 annual membership fee, cost per tournament varies; Golfweek Amateur Tour allows all members to compete in any Golfweek Amateur Tour event across the country.
For more information on the Tampa chapter of the Amateur Golf Tour, visit www.amateurgolftour.net/tampa_tour_pages/default.aspx, call Shane McAdams at 813-789-5988 or Marie McAdams at 813-727-8960, or email .

Published March 15, 2023

Lutz resident Hank Holt hopes his ball hangs on and stays in the fairway after his early morning drive at Brooksville Golf & Country Club.

Jon Blum, of Tampa, watches his ball during his follow-through during a tournament presented by the Tampa Chapter of the Golfweek Amateur Tour at Brooksville Golf & Country Club on Feb. 18.

Amateur golfers get in some final putting touches prior to a Golfweek Amateur Tour event at Brooksville Golf & Country Club on Feb. 18.

Single-handedly throwing her own way

March 7, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Dani Kanas only needs the one arm.

To throw the javelin, to train, to drive a car, to go to school.

This is how she lives her life.

Dani Kanas is a senior javelin thrower for the Steinbrenner High in Lutz, but her journey started on the other side of the world. Kanas, 17, was abandoned at a train station as a baby, then taken to an orphanage, where an infection required the amputation of her arm. After being adopted and brought stateside, she took up field events at age 8 and it spurred a love for the sport. In November, she competed in the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games in Portugal, where she won a gold medal in javelin. (Mike Camunas)

“I just feel like an athlete,” the 17-year-old Steinbrenner High track and field thrower said. “There are times where I’m thinking I’m not able to do this or do certain workouts, but I am able to adapt — because you don’t always have to do it like everyone else. There’s a way to do it that works for you.

“I was able to find this sport and I’m so glad I did.”

She’s been successful in throwing the javelin, the discus and shot put.

Kanas has been so successful, she was selected as one of 30 athletes to represent Team USA in the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games. And on that world stage in November, in Portugal, Kanas did not disappoint.

She brought home three medals — a gold in javelin, a silver in discus and a bronze in shot put.

“It was a different experience because I’m used to being in the states,” Kanas said. “It was such a cool experience to see what it was like competing against people from different countries, and I enjoyed meeting other adaptive athletes from the states there, so it was a great experience to get to travel there and compete.

Dani Kanas also competes in the shot put and the discus. She brought home a silver in discus and a bronze in shot put from the IWAS games.

“Bringing back a medal was great, too!”

Javelin to the top
When Kanas was just a baby, she was abandoned at a train station in China.

She was rescued and taken to an orphanage, but an infection developed in her left arm, requiring amputation for her to survive.

She was adopted and brought to the states when she was about 18 months old.

As she grew older, she joined in all of the same games and activities as her able-bodied peers. She tried various sports, such as soccer, that didn’t require the use of both arms, but then attended an adaptive track and field camp until she was 8.

Once she had the chance to throw a javelin, the rest was history.

Dani Kanas hasn’t decided which college she will be attending, however, will go on a scholarship to programs such as Michigan or Alabama, both of which have adaptive sports and athletes.

“When I was younger, I thought my amputation was going to limit me, but as I started to compete, you learn that as an adaptive athlete, you kind of learn that it’s just another competition — no matter what.

“I was playing soccer at the time and just saw all these people at my school doing those things and I just thought that I would never be able to do certain things that other kids were doing,” she added.

“But now I’ve grown used to competing with able-bodied athletes.”

Besides competing in adaptive track and field competitions, she also competes for Steinbrenner against able-bodied student athletes from neighboring schools and teams. She is given no advantage, yet still holds her own, including taking the javelin event in the Steinbrenner Invitational this season.

Dani Kanas, a senior javelin thrower at Steinbrenner High, says she always wears her prosthetic while competing, as it helps with balance. She hopes to advance out of the district tournament in her final high school season.

“It takes a tough mindset to shrug all that off and compete against regular kids,” said Steinbrenner’s throwing coach Andre Washington, a 2016 grad and former thrower himself. “You see that in Dani, that there’s the want — it’s a want mindset — ‘I’m not going to let this one arm take anything away from me. I’m going to go out there and give it my all and win.’ … She thinks of herself as a regular person — which she is — and it’s her determination to be great that has gotten her to where she is today.

“(Her throwing with one arm) — blows my mind. It’s an incredible thing to watch.”

Ably determined
It’s hard not to notice Kanas’ determination, her drive, her desire to compete at the level she knows she’s capable of. It’s also hard not to notice that a one-arm thrower — wearing a prosthetic for some balance — is out there competing at a high level, already carrying around international medals.

“She’s one of our top throwers — obviously,” Steinbrenner’s longtime track and field coach Ladd Baldwin said. “She can throw for her size, too, because you’re not going to be wowed by her size — she’s not a big kid, at all, but her form is incredible and that’s what helps her to compete.

“She’s been wonderful here (at Steinbrenner) and she’s a great thrower — she’s just one of those kids who loves it and gets it.”

Her passion to compete is creating new opportunities, as collegiate adaptive sports programs in Michigan and Southern California have offered her scholarships. Kanas, however, is leaning toward an offer from Alabama.

“I never thought that would be a possibility,” Kanas added.

The possibilities are endless for this determined, yet still fully abled thrower, who can reach all those, and her goals, even with just the one arm.

“My goal is to show others — who may have a similar story to mine, who may be in a similar situation as me — that they shouldn’t let their disability stop them.

“I want to, and hope,” she continued, “I inspire them to go out and compete. I want them to know that this community (of adaptive athletes) exists and they shouldn’t just assume they can’t do it because they’re not able-bodied.”

Published March 08, 2023

Seahawks girls soccer makes history this season

February 28, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Believe it or not, the Seahawks have never won a district championship.

That’s quite remarkable because the girls soccer team just made program history with its first state tournament appearance.

“I have five district runner-up trophies,” said longtime coach Jami Finan, who just finished her 12th season at the helm. “But this year, we got redemption.”

In program history, the team tends to lose out to nearby rival Land O’ Lakes. The Gators have taken the title, over Sunlake, five times.

The Sunlake Seahawks girls soccer team made history this season by making the program’s first state tournament appearance, and by winning its first-ever regional game. The Seahawks, led by longtime coach Jami Finan, went 13-3-1, including a 3-0 dominant win over nearby rival Land O’ Lakes High School in the region final on Feb. 14. (Courtesy of Cristian Ortiz)

This year’s redemption for the Seahawks (13-3-1), however, was historic because in the past, they’ve made the region tournament, but always bowed out in the quarterfinals — the first round.

“We’ve had a lot of great players come through the program,” Finan said, “but this season they played very well together and when they got the tactics down of playing together, that got them through to the next round.”

Despite a 2-1 loss to the Gators (15-6-3) in the district final match on Jan. 31 — but a 4-4 regular season tie on Dec. 13 — Sunlake finally made it out of the first round, thanks to a resounding 4-1 over Fort Myers Riverdale on Feb. 7.

This led to a home match hosting Sickles on Feb. 10, with the Seahawks winning 3-2 in dramatic, penalty-kick fashion.

“I think that, 100%, the student body, family members and our followers made it a totally different atmosphere (against Sickles),” Finan said. “Girls soccer has been good, but having some regional games on campus really let people see how next level we can be. … Because of (those games), the players became stars on campus or even when they were out and having dinner and people would congratulate them.

“Maybe, at a regular season game, we’d have about 20 (people) in the stands,” Finan added, “but with the regional games, there were so many more kids than I had ever seen at a soccer game.”

That atmosphere was also a factor in the region final — the rematch vs. Land O’ Lakes.

Finan knew she and her players would have to attack the game differently, especially against coaching legend Vicky King.

“We switched it up against Land O’ Lakes and moved people around (at positions and matchups) and just really capitalized on that,” Finan said. “We outplayed and out coached them.”

Not only did Sunlake beat Land O’ Lakes for the first time in five years, the Seahawks beat them by halftime, 3-0, which was the final score.

“That’s unheard of against them,” Finan admitted.

The win — fueled by two goals from junior Taylor Campbell, who tied the team record for most goals (26) and assists (15) in a season — propelled the Seahawks to their first state tournament appearance.

However, Sunlake would run into a gauntlet of a team in Miami Lourdes Academy, which is ranked eighth in the nation and sixth in Florida. Despite it being just 2-0 at halftime, a couple of quick goals — including one in which the referees didn’t check to see if goalkeeper Samantha Barnes was ready before kickoff — took the wind out of the players sails.

It was a tough game, but Sunlake did manage a goal, coming from sophomore Adia Symmonds, and her goal was the first scored against Lourdes in 11 games.

“It was a very stressful situation, not just because of the game and the opponent, but we didn’t know how we were getting there until the last minute,” Finan said. “But the whole school came to clap us out to the bus, and once on there, we were able to enjoy the trip down and the experience of being in the state tournament.

“Of course, we wanted it to go differently on the field, but it was very rewarding to see our team go to states.”

Now, having made history, Finan, and her team, have no plans on taking a step back. The Seahawks lose just three starting seniors, but return Campbell, Barnes (109 saves), Symmonds (16 goals) and Inna Neves (10 goals).

Besides, they have unfinished business.

“We have a very young team, so we’re locked and loaded for next year,” Finan said. “Now, it’s time to finally get that district title (laughs).”

Published March 01, 2023

Coyotes girls soccer make first state appearance

February 28, 2023 By Mike Camunas

They believed in themselves.

That’s all the Cypress Creek girls soccer players — and their coach, Jessica Herzek — had to do, including drawing inspiration from the Apple TV+ hit show, Ted Lasso.

In the show, Ted Lasso, played ever-optimistically by Jason Sudeikis, is an American football coach hired to coach an English Premier League soccer team. Lasso will constantly tell his players, who don’t have faith in him since he’s never coached soccer, homespun anecdotes and inspirational quotes, as he points to a small, yellow-and-blue sign he has hung in the locker room

The sign just says, ‘Believe.’

The Cypress Creek girls soccer team became the first team in school history to advance to a state tournament since the school opened in Wesley Chapel, in 2017. The Coyotes (15-6) then faced state powerhouse Plantation American Heritage, losing 6-0. (Courtesy of Jessica Herzek)

That’s all Lasso, and also Herzek, wants the players to do, to believe in themselves and each other.

“When I watched that show,” Herzek excitedly recalls, “I was like, ‘He coaches like I do!’ … So yeah, it’s about (we) ‘Believe,’ so let’s go get it. We’re doing it the way that we believe in ourselves, so with a big game, I’m sending (my players) texts and telling them what to expect and getting mentally prepared for that game, and we come out better for it.

“The biggest thing I found in girls’ sports is you have to have unity — there can’t be bad attitudes,” she added. “They can’t be mad at each other or have animosity, which can cause discontinuity as a mental unit. This year, I focused a lot on the mental aspect of the game because we needed to focus as being one unit. That can be hard in high school.

“But it paid off.”

Channeling her inner Ted Lasso certainly paid off, as Herzek led the Coyotes (15-6) to becoming the high school’s first varsity team to advance to a state tournament since the school opened in 2017 in Wesley Chapel.

“It’s pretty awesome — it’s a really good feeling,” Herzek said. “Girls’ sports don’t get a lot of accolades or a lot of attention, and this girls soccer team is quite amazing. We knew it was a big deal, and we were very excited about it.

“It’s nice for them, for the players, to feel as though they’ve accomplished something and deserve the accolade that they worked very hard for.”

Unfortunately, the Class 5A state final four appearance most definitely didn’t go as the Coyotes would have liked, as they ran into one of the best teams out there: perennial state powerhouse, Plantation American Heritage.

Cypress Creek lost 6-0 on Feb. 17.

“From Day One, I told them we were a final four team,” Herzek said. “I told them they have the abilities of a final-four team, but they have to work for it. When they did, they finally believed they were a final-four team.

“But they never gave up (in the state semifinal). That’s one of the best teams in the nation, and they never gave up.”

The Coyotes have had a strong run in the postseason the past four seasons.

Starting in 2020, they broke through for their first regional tournament appearance, but lost to Englewood Lemon Bay in the first round. In 2021, Lemon Bay ended the Coyotes’ season again, but this time the loss came in the region finals. In 2022, after jumping up to Class 5A, Merritt Island knocked out the Coyotes in the first round.

Herzek began coaching the team three years ago. However, she’s been coaching some of the players, including three senior starters, since seventh grade. They are: goalie Alex Capocy (114 saves), Abby Pittman (defensive stalwart) and Brooke Evans (five goals, five assists).

The Coyotes leading scorers were junior Allison Souers (30 goals), junior Ashley Olds (22 goals) and Avery Blevins (12 goals). All three had a team-high 10 assists.

As Herzek looks ahead, she “believes” the team will build on what’s become its yearly success.

“It was amazing going to states and really fun to experience it with the girls,” Herzek said. “I loved seeing how excited they were, especially because they really accomplished something. … What we did was historical, but like Ted Lasso, I try to also instill in them to not take it so seriously. If we can’t have fun in soccer, then why are we even doing it?

“That’s the neatest part about coaching.”

Published March 01, 2023

Coyotes out to prove they’re not a fluke

February 21, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The Coyotes lost their best player ever — in their best season in just their short six-year history.

Yet, the Cypress Creek High baseball team has no plans to take a step back in competitiveness.

“Actually, our group, and myself, we’ve come in with high expectations,” said Coyotes coach Joe Neale, who is 64-43 since starting the program. “I think we’ll be very competitive, and we’re going to compete every night, but I don’t think there’s anyone that thinks that if we need a win, that we can’t go get it.

Senior outfielder and pitcher Ryan Buelk returns to the Cypress Creek High baseball team after the Coyotes had its most successful season in 2022. The team, entering its sixth year, finished 16-8 and advanced to the Class 5A Regional Semifinals, losing 5-4 to Melbourne Eau Gallie. (Mike Camunas)

“The district (Class 5A-8) is wide open, so there will be close ballgames, but we’re deeper (on the roster) than a year ago, so we’re happy about that.”

That is something of itself since the Coyotes saw the departure of two-way player Ethan Petry, the 2022 Sunshine Athletic Conference Player of the Year and now budding freshman at the University of South Carolina.

Petry, a third baseman, batted .479 on 34 hits with 18 RBI, nine doubles, two triples and a team-high six homers. On the mound, Petry was 5-2 with a 1.97 ERA and a team-high 60 strikeouts.

Also now playing collegiate ball is Caden Kwiat at East Georgia State College after going 4-3 with a 1.71 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 2022 and catcher Nick Sanchez at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina after batting .306 with 22 hits, 14 RBI, two doubles and two triples.

Sophomore third baseman Ethan Morris flips the ball home on a bunt drill during a Coyotes practice.

But Neale is expecting big things from senior pitcher and first baseman Max Menendez, who was 3-0 with a 3.15 ERA and 43 strikeouts on the mound and who drove in a team-high 20 RBI last season.

“It feels great (to step into the No. 1 pitcher role), but now it’s time to show,” Menendez, a Thomas University (Georgia) signee, said. “I know (Petry’s) shoes are big to fill, but I’m going to do my thing and make my own big shoes to fill for next year.”

Helping fill in for Petry is transfer Ryan Maggy. The junior shortstop will take over for Petry not only in the infield, but at the plate, where he batted .534 with 39 hits, 47 RBI, four homers, 48 runs scored and had 16 stolen bases for Peru High in New York.

Coyotes coach Joe Neale enters his sixth season at the helm, with an overall record of 64-43.

“I’m just glad to get here and play baseball everyday, nothing beats that, because we’re shoveling snow off the fields in February,” said Maggy, a University of West Virginia commit. “I’m just trying to contribute just as much, if not more, than any of the previous teammates we’ve had, like the seniors that left last year. It’s not that I’m the new guy or thinking about the previous seasons — I’m thinking about this season and how I can make it a good one.”

Others looking to make it a good season will be Ryan Buelk, who will step into a closer role and “can be lights out on the mound,” Neale said. Plus, Derek Carson will become a starting pitcher after throwing just 7.2 innings in 2022.

“We expect big things out of Derek,” Neale said. “As a lefty on the mound, he doesn’t throw too hard, but has great command and really keeps guys on their heels. If we give him three or four runs a game, we’re going to win those games.”

While the Coyotes might be experienced and have depth, they are still young — but ready to return to the postseason after winning their first playoff game in the regional quarterfinals: a 6-4 win over Okeechobee.

“I think since it’s always so competitive, that the guys are never comfortable,” Neale said. “They’re never complacent and humble enough that they know they have to work hard. When you see these guys want to work enough so they can get the starting spot and work hard to climb over each other, it just makes everyone better.

“So, we don’t feel like last year was a fluke.”

Districts
Class 7A-District 7
Alonso
Palm Harbor University
Plant
Riverview
Steinbrenner
Sumner

Class 6A-District 5
Land O’ Lakes
Mitchell
Springstead
Sunlake
Wiregrass Ranch

Class 6A-District 9
Armwood
Gaither
Hillsborough
Leto
Tampa Bay Tech
Wharton

Class 5A-District 8
Cypress Creek
Fivay
Lecanto
Pasco
River Ridge
Wesley Chapel
Zephyrhills

Class 5A-District 9
Braden River
Brandon
Freedom
Jesuit
Parrish Community
Southeast
Spoto

Class 2A-District 5
Bishop McLaughlin
First Academy
Hernando Christian Academy
Redeemer Christian
Seven Rivers Christian

Class 2A-District 10
Academy at the Lakes
Cambridge Christian
Carrollwood Day
Foundation Christian Academy
Seffner Christian
Sports Leadership & Management

Independent
Zephyrhills Christian

*Bolded teams are Pasco County teams and teams in the publication’s coverage area.

Published February 22, 2023

They just keep ‘shuffling’ along

February 14, 2023 By Mike Camunas

They mingle as singles — single players, that is.

At the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club, the longtime recreational staple in East Pasco, shuffling members can be found there daily, in the morning, in the afternoon and even in the evenings, sliding their discs away.

Chuck Moulton, the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club treasurer and webmaster, elegantly slides a disc to the other side of the narrow court. Moulton, like many other members, such as Fred Litzman, behind, who leans to see the shot, can be found almost daily at the club, either practicing slides, enjoying afternoon frolics or participating in the many tournaments at the club. (Mike Camunas)

Some are prepping for tournaments, others are just there for some fun, low-impact activity, while making new friends on the courts.

Some gather at the club’s Mingles/Singles event held every Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

“We always have a good turnout on these mornings,” said Frank Pogel III, event leader and a member on the club’s board. “There are both amateurs and the professional players here, and mixing it up just benefits the amateurs.”

During Mingles/Singles, players are randomly paired with a partner during each of the four games they play before lunch. Then each will go after the 50/50 pot, as Pogel, and treasure Chuck Moulton, say that this bi-weekly event, alone, raises about $6,000 each year.

“As you can see, we get plenty of players here for these morning sessions. It’s always a good time,” Moulton said.

During play, friendly banter will ensue, with plenty of laughs, fake trash talking, and, of course, great play — even by players in their 90s.

During a Wednesday session of Mingles/Singles, Jerry Branham prepares to make a slide down the court, with his miniature playbook of the shuffleboard pyramid in hand.

“Yeah, we’ve got a few of those, including a guy who comes out and he’s 96,” Pogel said. “Sometimes, you just can’t keep these people from shuffling.”

Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club Mingles/Singles
When: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.
Where: 5209 Eighth St., Zephyrhills
Cost: $5
Details: Open to amateur and professional-level shufflers, Mingles/Singles is a draw-of-the-hat-pairing bi-weekly play that has players team up with a random partner for each of the four games played. The buy-in is put into a 50/50 pot split with the winners and the club.
History: Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club (ZSC) was formed on April 4, 2007 after member Bob Perkins purchased the facility from the Zephyrhills Tourist Club. On Feb. 27, 2011, Perkins decided to transfer the deed title over to the ZSC members through the newly formed not-for-profit corporation, ZSC Inc. Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club is the only member-owned and open shuffleboard facility in Zephyrhills with no resident restrictions and welcomes all shufflers to join.
Membership: Single – $50; Couple – $85; Monthly (2 month minimum) – $20
Info: Visit ZephyrhillsShuffle.com.

Published February 15, 2023

Dave Stoops completes a big slide of the disc at Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club.

Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club member Joanne McLean intently studies her slide of the disc during a session of Mingles/Singles.

Guy Rose makes a sly slide of the disc down the shuffleboard court.

Neta Den Otter, left, and Joel Bostin are all smirks during some shuffling at Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club.

While awaiting her turn, Linda Marshman monitors discs on her side of the court and indicates to her playing partner where the shot landed.

Don Hiar diligently marks down the score during a shuffleboard match.

Love serving little ones a tennis program

February 7, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Ryan O’Connor was a preemie.

He required lots of physical therapy due to hypertonia: a condition of too much muscle tone, making arms or legs stiff and hard to move.

Sophomore Ryan O’Connor gives a lob to a young tennis player during a session of Adaptive Tennis, a program he started at Land O’ Lakes High School. (Mike Camunas)

The Land O’ Lakes High sophomore International Baccalaureate (IB) student also took up youth tennis, which, in turn, helped him develop his muscles “where they needed to be.”

Now, O’Connor has turned his childhood adversity, and training, into a passion project that has been endorsed both by his school and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

O’Connor created Tennis Starts With Love, an after-school adaptive program for children 10 or younger, which provides equipment and drills to work on hand-eye coordination, balance, dexterity or foot coordination issues.

All of this comes at no cost to the parents.

“This has been a passion project of mine,” said O’Connor, who is the No. 2 seed on the Gators boys tennis team. “I always wanted to bring my training in tennis to a place where I could make a difference. I worked on this proposal for almost a year and through the generosity of the USTA and my school’s blessing, this program finally has come together.

“I think, over time, it will definitely become more organized, but it is getting better each and every time we come out and run around and work on drills.”

Maxim Cohen, a 5-year-old from Land O’ Lakes, prepares to return a volley during a session of Adaptive Tennis at Land O’ Lakes High School. On Friday afternoons, Land O’ Lakes sophomore Ryan O’Conner, with the help of a few volunteer friends, leads less than 10 tennis players, ages 10 or younger, through drills to help them work on hand-eye coordination, balance, dexterity or foot coordination issues. It was a passion project of O’Connor, a sophomore tennis player for the Gators, and thanks to a generous donation and backing from the United States Tennis Association, he provides the program for free.

The program started in November and has had great success so far. O’Connor and other volunteers work with about a half-dozen players at the weekly, hourlong training session held Fridays at the courts on campus.

The kids run through warm-up and ball drills before putting in their hands the racquets provided by the USTA.

Parents watch from mini-bleachers as their kids overcome apprehensiveness and take to the physical activity and tennis instructions.

“He loves it,” said Rhona Fox, a Land O’ Lakes, whose 5-year-old son, Maxim Cohen, takes part in the program. “He’s home-schooled and starts kindergarten in August, so we’re using it as an opportunity to see what he likes — soccer, baseball, swimming, and now it’s tennis, which we love, too, because it’s ongoing. We’ll plan to be here as long as the coach keeps doing it.”

O’Connor noted: “We’re just trying to teach the coordination and dexterity of it all while incorporating a little bit of tennis. We go very slowly, step by step and then move forward with tennis. I really just want to focus on coordination and I know tennis will come to them.”

O’Connor said the program will run through the school year (end of May), and will accept more kids, but no more than eight to 10 because of his limited help. The program welcomes more volunteers.

The kids, however, are loving Tennis Starts With Love.

Alex Hackney, 4, of Land O’ Lakes, isn’t razzing the tennis ball, but gearing up to make a big return over the net during a session of Adaptive Tennis at Land O’ Lakes High School.

“It’s fun to be able to do this,” said player Merina Paulson, a 9-year-old from Lutz. “I like being out there and playing and then we can hit the ball. That’s been a lot of fun.”

“I’ve learned how to hit the ball and get it over the net,” her brother, J.D., 6, added. “And, when I did (hit) it, it went over the net and that was pretty cool.”

The parents see their kids’ desire for the program.

“(This is) pretty much the only thing he gets in the car for, (laughs),” Fox said. “Usually, we have to chase him around, but he is always ready to come to tennis.

“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see him play this sport and also be with other kids.”

In the end, nothing makes a passionate project more worthwhile than, well, the passion for it.

“They are very passionate about it,” O’Connor said. “Tennis is an expensive sport and there are not many programs that are taking on younger children who might benefit from the muscular movements involved with tennis.

“So, when parents say that when Friday comes and their kids are very excited to come here, that’s, obviously, something that makes us very excited.”

Tennis Starts With Love Adaptive Program
When: Fridays, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes High, 20325 Gator Lane
Cost: Free
Details: A weekly, hourlong tennis program that benefits children, ages 10 or younger, by providing equipment and drills to work on hand-eye coordination, balance, dexterity or foot coordination issues. The program will run through the rest of the school year (end of May) and has a few openings available. Volunteers to help coach are welcome, too.
Info: Contact Ryan O’Connor at or 813-997-4613.

Published February 08, 2023

Merina Paulson, 9, of Lutz, works on her returns of soft volleys while working hard during the Adaptive Tennis Program at Land O’ Lakes High.

Land O’ Lakes High freshman Haily Salas works with 6-year-old J.D. Paulson during an hourlong Adaptive Tennis session.

Violet Swift, 7, of Land O’ Lakes, drives forward to return a volley during Adaptive Tennis.

Parents happily and proudly watch from the small stands at the tennis courts at Land O’ Lakes High School, as their kids run drills during Adaptive Tennis, which is after school on Fridays.

Seniors are strolling and striding

January 31, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The seniors are stepping on up.

The Senior Walking Club makes its way around the more than 2 miles of paved trails and pathways around the Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex. The group meets weekly. (Mike Camunas)

They are getting in their daily steps with the Senior Walking Club. It’s a new weekly activity at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex, 7727 Boyette Road, that meets in the mornings, stretches and walks more than a mile or 30 minutes, as a low-impact workout and a social meetup.

“We just thought it would be a good way to get in exercise in under an hour,” said Recreation Specialist Shannon Saracena, who leads the group each Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. “We get a lot of walkers here at the park and we figured, why not get them together?”

The club will meet and stretch for a bit and then head out onto the more than 2 miles of paved pathways and trails at the district park.

Recreation Specialist Shannon Saracena, left, shares a laugh with Wesley Chapel resident Monica Locke, while leading the weekly meetup of the Senior Walking Club at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex. Several local seniors meet on Tuesday mornings at the pavilion, next to the gymnasium, to stretch, and then they walk on the complex’s paved trails for 30 minutes or more. It’s an easy, free way to get in a low-impact workout.

The club has walkers of all abilities and they come from various parts of Pasco County. They have this in common, though: They’re looking for a brisk walk and a nice conversation.

“It’s a great social aspect,” Saracena said. “I love that people come and meet new people and get to know one another better.”

The club has no real official members or memberships. All are welcome and so are leashed pets.

However, the best part?

It’s a free, great way to take a stroll with new friends.

“They can walk as much as they want with us, or go further without us, but we’re not restricting anyone or saying this is what we do each and every week,” Saracena added. “All we want to do is to provide a nice weekly get-together for residents and people who love this park to join in and have a great walk to get their steps in.”

Senior Walking Club
When: Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex, 7727 Boyette Road
Cost: Free
Details: A weekly meetup of seniors looking for low-impact exercise and some friendly conversations. Participants can walk as much or as little as they like throughout the complex’s paved trails. There will be 15 minutes of stretching, 30 minutes or more of walking and a 15-minute cooldown. Pets on a leash are welcome.
Info: Call 813-345-3145, or email .

Published February 01, 2023