Land O' Lakes Sports

Land O’ Lakes softball primed for deep playoff run

April 20, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Land O’ Lakes High School softball coach Mitchell Wilkins is taking things “one game at a time.”

Despite wrapping up a marvelous regular season (24-2-1), the third-year coach is trying not to get ahead of himself in looking at the pathway to a state title, though he knows his team matches up well against most opponents.

Head Coach Mitch Wilkins has led the Gators to two straight 20-win seasons. The team will compete in the Class 6A FHSAA regionals, starting April 20. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes Football) — Head Coach Mitch Wilkins has led the Gators to two straight 20-win seasons. The team will compete in the Class 6A FHSAA regionals, starting April 20.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Football)

The Gators are rolling into the playoffs as one of the state’s hottest teams—reeling off 15 straight wins, many by large margins of victory.

“I think we’re set,” the third-year coach said. “I have in my mind how I want to approach as we go through regionals.”

To win the Class 6A FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state title, the Gators will have to win five straight games in the process, starting on April 20.

But, Wilkins is careful not to look too far ahead.

“I can’t be distracted by that, because we know what happened last year—we lost in the second round at the districts semifinals and didn’t get to go any further — so we have to look at each game and figure out what’s the best approach for that game before we start looking at a state championship.”

After finishing 24-3 last season—district semifinals’ hiccup aside— Wilkins knew he had an established team with lofty expectations entering the 2016 season.

“We knew we had good players, but we wanted to see how they matched up — and so far so good,” Wilkins said. “We’re really happy with what we have, not only one through nine, but we’ve got weapons on the bench that I can put in and feel just as comfortable having play.”

One player that Wilkins is always comfortable playing is senior ace pitcher Shannon Saile (four no-hitters, 0.66 ERA), who’s struck out 221 batters —which ranks fifth in the state. Her ability to throw all her pitches—fastball, curveball, screwball, riseball— in each quadrant of the strike zone has made the FIU (Florida International University) softball commit a nightmare for opposing hitters.

“She’s been a monster,” her coach said. “She hits both sides of the plate. …She loves to pitch at the bottom of the strike zone.

“She gets a lot of swinging strikes—pitches out of the zone—because the (opposing) girls know they have to be ready and swing early, because she throws so hard.”

Averaging more than two strikeouts for every inning pitched, Saile’s presence in the circle has taken a significant burden off of the team’s defense, Wilkins said.

“Defensively, when I only have to account for one out an inning — that is such a blessing,” the Gators coach said. “That takes a lot of stress off our defense. The most stressful thing they have is waiting to see if somebody’s going to hit the ball and put it in play. …They have to stay on the balls of their feet the whole time, if somebody does hit it.”

Giving the Gators additional assurance heading into the postseason is the emergence of several young players, including two-way freshmen Callie Turner and Shelby Westbrook, and sophomores Brianna Lindner, Ashley Smith and Tia Williams.

“We have a good mixture of youth and veterans,” Wilkins said, noting eight of the team’s 14 players will earn their first varsity letter. “This year, we are better pitching, but we haven’t hit quite as well as we did last year—but we haven’t needed to. In the same respect, we’ve played better competition this year.”

That “better competition” includes Springstead (24-1)— a team the Gators fell to 1-0 in extra innings in the season opener—whom Land O’ Lakes may rematch if both teams reach the regional finals.

“We know they’ve made some improvements since then, and we’ve made some improvements since then, so it’ll probably be a little bit different game,” Wilkins said, adding, “we’re confident we can play with them.”

“We feel — especially with Shannon pitching and our defense, and the emerging offense from our sophomore starters — that we can compete with anybody in the state.”

Land O’ Lakes Gators softball
Head Coach: Mitchell Wilkins (3rd year)
Record: 24-2-1
Player to watch: Senior pitcher Shannon Saile (15-2 W-L, 0.66 ERA, 221 Ks, four no-hitters)

“Shannon’s been great. She’s done everything we’ve asked her to do and more. She elevated her game a couple summers ago when she realized she had the opportunity to be the No. 1 pitcher. She added some miles per hour to her pitching speed and worked on her different pitches to be that dominant pitcher. She has worked hard to become that.” –Coach Mitchell Wilkins

Sophomore sluggers: Brianna Lindner (.375 avg., 4 HRs, 26 RB)
Tia Williams (.463 avg., 4HRs, 30 RBI)
Ashley Smith (.443 avg., 2 HR, 16 RBI)
X-Factor: Freshman Shelby Westbrook (29 runs scored, 16 stolen bases)

“Shelby has really emerged as a weapon just with her speed. She creates a lot of havoc when she’s on base. All she has to do is put the ball in play, and it’s a really good opportunity for her to get on base.” –Coach Mitchell Wilkins

Published April 20, 2016

Sunlake softball returns to 2012 form

April 13, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

After five seasons at the helm, Sunlake softball coach Nelson Garcia finally has “the system” in place.

That system has helped guide the Seahawks to their best record (16-8) since 2012 (17-6), Garcia’s first season as coach. That year, he had the fortune of leading a team that featured several standouts with post-secondary softball talent — Stephanie Francis (Jacksonville University), Courtney Durbin (Rollins College) and Amy Szymanowski (Florida State University).

The Sunlake softball team is having its best season in four years with a 16-8 record. It recently clinched the No. 2 seed for the Class 7A, District 10 tournament. (Courtesy of Nelson Garcia) — The Sunlake softball team is having its best season in four years with a 16-8 record. It recently clinched the No. 2 seed for the Class 7A, District 10 tournament.
(Courtesy of Nelson Garcia)

Rebuilding years in 2013 (9-11) and 2014 (9-16) have paved the way for a team that currently stands at 15-8 and recently clinched the No. 2 seed for the Class 7A, District 10 tournament.

Despite a key injury to an already youthful pitching staff, the Seahawks have stayed afloat with a potent lineup that has a combined .393 batting average and .479 on-base percentage.

With a bevy of .400 hitters, including one of the area’s top power threats in senior Gianna Basilone, Garcia likens the stacked order to those of the old New York Yankee teams, where opposing pitchers are worn down by the time they’ve gotten through the lineup.

“I like to try to do to people what the Yankees used to do from a few years ago,” he said. “I want them to be tired by the time they get through our order. Then we can go small ball.”

A combination of an offseason weight training program and “a lot of detail work” including station-to-station hitting drills has facilitated an increase in the team’s offensive output.

“The biggest thing is the team has got to buy into the program, and they’ve got to really want to be there,” Garcia said. “And this group, this is probably the best. They’ve really all gelled together.”

Facing some of the top teams within the district — Mitchell and Osceola — and outside the district — Land O’ Lakes and Gulf— has battle-tested Garcia’s group for a deep playoff run.

“We try to keep the attitude of: ‘Whoever shows up on the other side of the dugout, that’s the one we want to beat,’” he said.

“I think we can compete against anyone, especially if we’re playing our game.”

For Garcia, “playing our game” means everyone on the roster handles the job they are assigned, whether that’s making plays in the field, laying down a bunt to move a runner over or driving in runs.

The Seahawks are getting hot at the right time, and could be poised to be a bigger threat than just a few weeks ago as a previously injured pitcher returns to the starting rotation.

Freshman pitcher Morgan Boudreau was slated to be the team’s second arm in the rotation alongside sophomore workhorse Mariah Melendez (2.94 ERA in 21 starts), until she broke her ankle during a preseason game.

“That changed a lot of things,” Garcia said about Boudreau’s absence. “The pitching staff was supposed to be a little different. We had two very good pitchers coming in, …and she was also supposed to be our starting first baseman.”

“We’ve taken adversity and have done well with it,” he added.

Boudreau appears to be working her way back to the lofty expectations the coaching staff set upon her before the season, striking out three in two shutout innings in a 15-0 win over Fivay on April 1.

Now armed with a fully stocked pitching staff to complement a deep lineup, the Seahawks ought to be able to “compete against anyone.”

Published April 13, 2016

Senior nears Sunlake home run record

April 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

From Courtney Durbin to Stephanie Frances, Sunlake softball coach Nelson Garcia has seen his fair share of power hitters in his five seasons at the school.

Perhaps none is more powerful than senior catcher/third baseman Gianna Basilone, who leads all Tampa Bay area hitters with seven home runs, through 19 games. One more dinger and she’ll tie Sunlake’s single-season home run record set by Samantha Dittman in 2009. In addition to her home run total, Basilone has 28 RBIs to go along with an eye-popping .448 batting average.

Sunlake senior Gianna Basilone is one of the top power hitters in the Tampa Bay area. She has a scholarship offer on the table from Oklahoma State University.
(Courtesy of Nelson Garcia)

The senior’s performance, both at the plate and behind the plate, has led to a scholarship offer from Oklahoma State University, which is coached by Kenny Gajewski, a former assistant with the Florida Gators.

The Sunlake slugger is still waiting on a financial package from the university before she commits.

Coach Garcia called Basilone a “coach’s dream” because of work ethic, leadership and, of course, on-field results.

“You get these certain players, I won’t say every year, but you get these players, you can’t replace them. They’re irreplaceable,” Garcia said. “Somebody can come in and say they can hit eight home runs or nine home runs, but it doesn’t replace these players. As people, they’re awesome, and as teammates and leaders. It’s the same thing with (former players) Stephanie Francis or Courtney Durbin.”

While Basilone has always been known for the pop her in her bat—she mashed six home runs last season—she’s become an even more imposing slugger after Garcia implemented a team weight-training program in the offseason.

The program has helped Basilone get stronger and quicker — aspects that are imperative for making an impact at the Division I level.

“There’s always things I can like improve on,” said Basilone, who started attending Sunlake as a sophomore after moving from Pittsburgh. “It’s such a higher pace up in college.”

As Basilone has filled up the stat sheet, some opposing teams have started to approach her at-bats differently. Instead of giving her pitches to hit, teams have resorted to giving her a free pass to avoid facing her.

“After my first few at-bats, they try to find a weakness that I have. Or, some people just walk me or hit me,” Basilone said.

“There was one game (against Hudson on Feb. 26) she had two home runs. …I was surprised they pitched to her the second time,” Garcia said, adding, “I wouldn’t have pitched to her.”

The strategy of avoiding Basilone’s bat only works so well, as Sunlake (13-7) features a lineup with seven everyday players batting over .350.

In his lineups, Garcia opts to place senior Cassidy Roberts (.435 batting average, 16 RBIs) ahead of Basilone, and freshman sensation Shelby Lansing (.438. 20 RBIs) behind her in the lineup.

“I like to try to do to people what the (New York) Yankees used to do from a few years ago,” Garcia said. “I want (teams) to be tired by the time they get through our order. Then we can go small ball.”

With a 7-3-district mark, the Seahawks have aspirations of winning their district, and making a deep run into the postseason.

“I’ve told these girls from Day 1 when we started practicing that I’m very confident that if we play our game, and stay within ourselves, we can go out and compete against anybody out there,” Garcia said.

Basilone added this year’s team is “definitely” the best one she’s been on in her three seasons at Sunlake.

“All the girls that I’m playing with want to go to college, and they all are here for a reason,” she said. “They give their full effort…and they’re just all really competitive.

“That’s how we all click, too.”

Published April 6, 2016

Big player, bigger game

March 30, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Darin Kilfoyl has been on a tear this season.

The Academy at the Lakes junior right-hander is sporting a 1.84 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched — statistics buoyed by an incredible performance on March 3, when the 6-foot-8 flamethrower fanned 19 batters in a complete game, one hit shutout against Victory Christian (Lakeland).

“All my stuff was working,” said Kilfoyl, who once recalled throwing a one-hitter (which turned out to be a home run) in Little League. “I was throwing really, really hard in that game…and the batters couldn’t catch up to it.”

Equipped with a four-pitch arsenal — fastball, curveball, changeup and cutter — the rangy righty has the ability to keep even the area’s top hitters off-balance.

Academy at the Lakes junior ace Darin Kilfoyl is in the midst of a breakout season, sporting a 1.84 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. The 6-foot-8 right-hander is drawing interest from several Division I college baseball programs. (Courtesy of Thomas Haslam) — Academy at the Lakes junior ace Darin Kilfoyl is in the midst of a breakout season, sporting a 1.84 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. The 6-foot-8 right-hander is drawing interest from several Division I college baseball programs.
(Courtesy of Thomas Haslam)

Despite having a sturdy assortment of pitches, Kilfoyl powers the strike zone mainly with his fastball, which ranges from 86 mph to 88 mph.

His pitch speed has jumped considerably since his sophomore year, when inactivity and recovery from a broken leg led to his primary pitch topping out at “only” 79 mph.

“Before last season…I hadn’t done anything for a few months, so all my (pitching) mechanics weren’t how they were supposed to be,” Kilfoyl explained. “I went back to my pitching coach after the school season last year and got everything back set. In the summer, I was getting back into the low 80s, and at the end of the summer, I was throwing mid-80s; it’s been going up since.”

His performances on the mound have started to catch the eye of several Division I college programs from all over the country.

Blue bloods like the University of Virginia and the University of Florida have shown interest in the towering righty. Academic powerhouses like Dartmouth University and Stanford University are also intrigued by Kilfoyl’s size, potential and GPA.

“They said they know that I can already get so much better because of how big I am,” Kilfoyl said about college coaches’ interest. “They also like that I have really good grades, so the academics will help their team GPA, or help me get more scholarship money for school.”

His high school coach, John DiBenedetto, noted Division I coaches were fascinated by Kilfoyl’s stature and his ability to further develop.

“He’s still extremely raw,” DiBenedetto said. “He can grow; he’s going to get better. That’s the scary part about it. He’s finally starting to grasp certain things…on the mound, where he’s starting to thrive.”

Kilfoyl’s long stride and release point from his 6-foot-8 frame makes it difficult for opposing batters to catch up to his pitches or make solid contact. As opposed to shorter pitchers, Kilfoyl’s length allows him to release pitches closer to home plate from the mound, causing throws to jump on hitters more quickly.

“When I was at the (University of) Virginia camp, coaches were saying how because of my length and how weird the (pitching) angle was, my fastball — even though it was only about 84 or 85 when I was there —played out at 89 to 90,” Kilfoyl said.

Currently, Kilfoyl is working to fine-tune his accuracy, and improve his athleticism with the hope of getting stronger to increase his velocity. He said coaches at the Academy have given him tips along the way that have helped him “a lot” in those areas.

This summer, Kilfoyl will have the opportunity to showcase his skills in travel ball. The pitching standout is set to play for the Atlanta Blue Jays, an elite travel club for 15 year olds to 18 year olds.

The experience should buoy Kilfoyl’s development and help him become noticed by more college programs, especially since he plays prep baseball at a smaller school.

Since it’s inception in 2003, the travel club, led by Anthony Dye and Steve Loureiro, has produced several first round picks in the MLB Draft, including Tim Beckham (2008), Delino Deshields Jr. (2010) and Touki Toussaint (2014). According to its website, 90 percent of Blue Jays’ players have either received collegiate scholarships or signed to play professional baseball.

“Their (travel club) is different…because they have only one team per each age group,” Kilfoyl said, “because they want to focus on those players and get those players to be the best they can be, whereas other (travel clubs) will have multiple teams for their different ages.”

Kilfoyl is also a standout basketball player for the Academy (9.1 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game in 2015), but said he prefers America’s pastime, knowing his college future is likely tied to the latter sport.

“Baseball has the edge. I feel a lot more confident, and I feel I know the game of baseball much better than basketball, because I started basketball later,” said Kilfoyl, who’s major growth spurt occurred after he started high school. “Baseball is just who I am and what I excel at.”

Published March 30, 2016

Sunlake cheerleaders heading to Hawaii

March 30, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

A summer trip to Hawaii has become an annual tradition for the Sunlake High varsity cheer team.

From June 22 to June 29, Sunlake cheer coach Pennye Garcia and five of her cheerleaders will participate in the 15th annual Cheer Hawaii USA Summer Invitational at the University of Hawaii.

For three consecutive years, Sunlake High has sent cheerleaders to Cheer Hawaii. This picture is from the 2015 camp. From left: Nicole Calderin, Amanda Slozer, Sunlake coach Pennye Garcia, Penn State coach Curtis White, Mariah Berberich and Mallory Mock. (Courtesy of Pennye Garcia) — For three consecutive years, Sunlake High has sent cheerleaders to Cheer Hawaii. This picture is from the 2015 camp. From left: Nicole Calderin, Amanda Slozer, Sunlake coach Pennye Garcia, Penn State coach Curtis White, Mariah Berberich and Mallory Mock.
(Photos courtesy of Pennye Garcia)

Coach Garcia will be joined in Oahu by Sunlake cheerleaders Taylor Broderick, Lauren Gobea, Maddie Frazee, Hailey Parks and Mikiah Peeples.

About 100 cheerleaders from all 50 states are selected to participate in the prestigious camp each year.

Since 2006, Garcia has sent at least five of her cheerleaders — at every school she’s coached — to the weeklong college-prep cheer camp. She is one of just eight coaches that will be attending to provide additional instruction and guidance.

Each year, Cheer Hawaii focuses on developing four main competitive cheerleading areas: cheer motion and spirit, dance, stunting and leadership skills.

Typically, nominations for the camp are open to current high school sophomores and juniors that exhibit certain qualities such as basic cheer skills, leadership abilities, a positive attitude, and a desire to learn and improve.

Sunlake senior Amanda Slozer, who attended the camp last year, said the weeklong affair benefits cheerleaders who aspire to be team captains and role models for younger teammates.

“It’s a really good experience,” she said about the camp. “I had a good time.”

With a limited number of spots, Garcia opts to nominate cheerleaders that have shown her leadership-like qualities during their career at Sunlake.

“I choose the ones…that show me individual characteristics that I would be proud of to send to Hawaii to represent our skills,” said Garcia, the 2016 East Pasco Coach of the Year. “If they have any disciplinary issues, they probably won’t get selected, and they know why.”

Several Sunlake cheerleaders will be participating in the 15th annual Cheer Hawaii USA Summer Invitational at the University of Hawaii from June 22 to June 29. The camp is organized by Alan Akina each year. From left: Pennye Garcia, Amanda Slozer, Nicole Calderin, Akina, Mallory Mock and Mariah Berberich.

With camp instructors such as Penn State’s Curtis White, both high school cheerleaders and their respective coaches learn about advanced-level techniques and cheers they can take back to their prep squads.

“Coach White brings his male cheerleaders and teaches everyone how to coed stunt,” Garcia said. “They all are college coaches that come in and teach high schools how to do sideline cheers and chants.”

Garcia added that Sunlake has altered its entire cheer format based on what they’ve learned at Cheer Hawaii, aligning their squad to perform cheers similar to some of the premier Division I cheer programs.

“It has been really beneficial for us in competition and for sidelines,” Garcia said.

The results at Sunlake speak for themselves. This past season, the Seahawks had the highest scoring average in Pasco County — 74.51— and finished third in the Class 1A Small Division FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state finals. In 2014, Sunlake won the Class 1A Medium Division state title.

According to Garcia, the weeklong camp also benefits high school cheerleaders who have aspirations of cheering in college, by teaching them the steps needed to make that drastic leap.

“There’s a lot of Cheer Hawaii kids that go on to cheer in college, and they get a lot of pointers from them,” she said.

Additionally, high school cheerleaders and coaches alike learn several positive reinforcement techniques to use during the season. For example, after every practice, the Sunlake cheer team will do an activity called ‘Celebrations and Reminders,’ where teammates will ‘celebrate’ each other’s accomplishments— like a perfect stunt in practice — and provide ‘reminders’ of what they need to do for their next practice.

Garcia noted the activity is beneficial for empowering her team.

“It’s kind of like a ‘grab you, hug you’ type of thing,” she said, noting that teammates remember each other’s kind words to one another. “It’s just a positive way to say everything.”

For Sunlake, the camp kicks off the summer season, and serves as a kick-start in trying to remain as one of the top competitive cheer teams in Pasco.

Published March 30, 2016

Sunlake cheerleader, coach receive county honors

March 23, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Sunlake High School’s competitive cheerleading season may be over, but the awards are tumbling in.

Senior cheerleader Amanda Slozer and head coach Pennye Garcia recently received the Sunshine Athletic Conference’s (SAC) Cheerleader of the Year and Coach of the Year for the East Pasco division, respectively.

Slozer, 18, said she was “shocked” when she found out she was being awarded for her individual performance.

“I just wasn’t expecting it,” she said, humbly.

From left, Sunlake High senior Amanda Slozer, Sunlake Principal Michael Cloyd and Sunlake cheerleader coach Pennye Garcia. Slozer was named East Pasco Cheerleader of the Year and Garcia won East Pasco Coach of the Year (Photos courtesy of Pennye Garcia) — From left, Sunlake High senior Amanda Slozer, Sunlake Principal Michael Cloyd and Sunlake cheerleader coach Pennye Garcia. Slozer was named East Pasco Cheerleader of the Year and Garcia won East Pasco Coach of the Year
(Photos courtesy of Pennye Garcia)

However, her coach wasn’t the least bit surprised that Slozer, one of the team’s captains, was recognized — due to the cheerleader’s diverse skillset.

“Stunting—she’s as strong as anything; I can always put her anywhere,” Garcia said. “Whenever I needed to have the most strength in (a routine), that’s where she would go.”

Slozer had the perfect combination of skill and character needed for a team to be successful, added Garcia, who has been a cheerleader coach for 13 years, the longest-standing in Pasco County,

“When you have (a cheerleader) that has the quality that you want in a kid and the skill level, it’s great,” said Garcia, who is fascinated by Slozer’s tumbling ability. “She’s very responsible, dependable, caring; just a great individual.”

Slozer, who’s been cheering since she was 7 years old, realizes a lot of people don’t understand the challenges and sacrifices of being a competitive cheerleader — especially when it comes to being a part of a Garcia-coached team.

“I feel like a lot of people just think we stand on the track at football games…but they don’t understand the competition season is the most serious thing that we have to do,” she explained. “We practice for several weeks and several hours at a time, and the work we do while we’re at practice is not just standing around.”

The Sunlake competitive cheer team finished the year with the highest scoring average in the county—74.51— and advanced to the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state meet in late January, placing third in the Class 1A Small Division.

Garcia, who helped guide Sunlake to a state title in the 2013-2014 season, was hoping for a first or second place finish at this year’s state championships, knowing the squad’s high ceiling going into the season.

“This team had a little bit more talent than my state (title) team. They got some skills a lot quicker,” said Garcia, who also won Pasco County Coach of the Year in 2014.

“This team was a lot more laid back than my state team. They were not, as a whole, as ambitious until the last minute, where it has to be ambitious from the get-go,” Garcia said.

Under the guidance of Coach Pennye Garcia, Sunlake has reached the state finals for three consecutive years.

As one of the premier cheerleading coaches in the area, Garcia has maintained a successful track record at Sunlake — three consecutive state appearances — by instilling discipline, consistency and purpose, and maintaining the quality of cheerleaders she selects for her varsity squad.

“I have to stick to my guns and be tough,” the head coach said. “If I would not be tough like I am, it would be very easy for the kids to lay back and want everything, but not want to work for it. I can’t function like that.”

Slozer has witnessed the grind firsthand, whether it’s attending 6 a.m. practices or participating in countless post-practice reps.

“She is tough, but she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to this program, I feel like,” Slozer said about Coach Garcia. “She cares a lot about it, so that helps.”

“I feel like over the past three years we’ve had different rivals every year, because the teams are all different every time, but we’ve stayed pretty consistent,” she said.

To perform a seamless 2 ½-minute routine, which consists of standing and running tumbling, transitions and stunting, Garcia ensures her squad is fully equipped to earn high scores in competitions.

“I practice them until it’s ready,” Garcia said, pointing out that stunting is the most important part of a routine. “If it’s not ready, I will have them do whatever we need to do until I feel like it’s done.”

While the season is over, Garcia’s mind is focused on the program’s next step, whether it’s organizing clinics and camps, or designing future pyramids and routines.

With Slozer’s impending graduation and the exodus of several other “crucial” seniors, Garcia will once again have to find a way to lead her crop of cheerleaders to the top.

Published March 23, 2016

Young coach leads Academy at the Lakes baseball

March 16, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Just a few years removed from playing college baseball, John DiBenedetto already is thriving in his first varsity baseball head-coaching gig.

Over the summer, DiBenedetto, 24, was hired as the new coach for the Academy at the Lakes baseball program.

Previously, he assisted Carrollwood Day School’s varsity baseball program.

Twenty-four-year-old John DiBenedetto is the new baseball coach for the Academy at the Lakes Wildcats. (Courtesy of John DiBenedetto) — Twenty-four-year-old John DiBenedetto is the new baseball coach for the Academy at the Lakes Wildcats.
(Courtesy of John DiBenedetto)

DiBenedetto heard about the job opening when he was helping out at a baseball clinic last summer.

“I didn’t even know what Academy at the Lakes was, to be completely honest,” DiBenedetto said, “because I’m a Hillsborough County guy, all the way.”

“It was a long two-month (hiring) process, but it worked out great. I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

In high school, DiBenedetto was a standout catcher at Newsome High and Blake High. His skills afforded him the opportunity to earn a college baseball scholarship, where he spent two years apiece at Division II Saint Anselm (New Hampshire) College and Division III Rivier (New Hampshire) University.

With his playing days nearing an end in college, DiBenedetto had an interest in coaching.

“At the end of my junior year, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I kind of got into it my senior year,” he said, noting he started analyzing game situations more closely and talking to others about the profession.

Being the Academy’s fourth head coach in as many years, DiBenedetto quickly realized he had a massive challenge on his hands, since the program recently suffered from instability and coaching turnover.

Even at the varsity level, several players still hadn’t yet grasped some of the game’s fundamentals — such as knowing how to run bases, how to bunt or take a sign from third base.

The young coach said the biggest initial struggle for him has been changing the culture of the once “broken” program.

For DiBenedetto, changing the culture consists of having players “buy in” and show up to practice every day ready to work.

“Before I came in, practices just consisted of warming up, throwing a little bit, hitting some BP (batting practice) and going home,” said DiBenedetto, whose father, John Sr., also helps out with the day-to-day program operations.

“Now we have the organization where we’re working on specific situations all the time, and everything we do at practice is for a reason. It’s not like we’re just out there just to hit. Everything is very structured, time-based.”

The results are beginning to show.

The Wildcats already have three wins, which ties as many as they had all of last year.

With a 3-6 record as of March 14, DiBenedetto hopes the team can finish close to .500 by season’s end.

“Our main goal from day one is to give us a chance in April in districts,” DiBenedetto said. “It’s very reasonable. It can be done.”

Though it takes time to build a sustainable high school program, DiBenedetto is excited about the team’s prospects over the next few years.

This year’s squad features a unique mix of youth — four seventh-graders and an eighth-grader have played in a varsity game — and experience, highlighted by seven seniors.

“All of these kids had been going to school here, and I had to kind of go in and recruit them,” DiBenedetto said. “A lot of them just played travel ball, and had no interest playing on the high school team because of the struggles and the coaching turnover. When I was able to be here every day…I was able to have conversations with kids.”

Perhaps the most intriguing player on the roster for this season and next season is junior pitcher Darin Kilfoyl, a towering 6-foot-8 right-hander who sports a 1.84 earned run average.

In the team’s most recent win on March 3 against Victory Christian, Kilfoyl struck out 19 batters in a complete game, one-hit shutout.

While still “extremely raw,” Kilfoyl is drawing interest from several Division I coaches due to his lengthy frame and skillset.

“He’s got a very good curveball,” DiBenedetto said. “He throws 86 to 88 (miles per hour). He powers the strike zone.

“The thing the D-I coaches have seen is that he can get better; that’s the scary part about it,” the coach said.

Offensively, Kilfoyl leads the team in home runs (two) and RBIs (eight).

But, it’s Kilfoyl’s intangibles that really stand out to his head coach.

“He’s a great teammate,” DiBenedetto said. “He’s a leader. He works hard every day. He shows up, and he communicates.”

For Kilfoyl and the rest of the team, “the success is starting to come,” DiBenedetto said.

Published March 16, 2016

Sunlake’s Anderson captures weightlifting title

February 24, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

After finishing third at the state weightlifting meet in 2015, Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson set her sights on winning a state title in her senior year.

That’s exactly what she did on Feb. 6, when she placed first in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships.

Anderson recorded a 165-pound bench press and a 220-pound clean-and-jerk for a total of 385 pounds — 20 pounds more than the second place finisher, Kendall Chavarria of Charlotte High.

Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson, right, is pictured alongside weightlifting coach Denise Garcia. Anderson won first place in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships on Feb. 6. (Photos courtesy of Denise Garcia) — Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson, right, is pictured alongside weightlifting coach Denise Garcia. Anderson won first place in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships on Feb. 6.
(Photos courtesy of Denise Garcia)

“I was really emotional, because it was like I finally accomplished a goal that I had since sophomore year, and all the hard work just paid off,” Anderson said about the result.

In addition to the state title, Anderson’s 220-pound clean-and-jerk was her highest mark ever recorded.

“It took her four months to go from 190 (pounds) to 220 (pounds),” said Denise Garcia, head coach of the Sunlake weightlifting team. “I think she probably would’ve had 230 (pounds), but she did her personal best, and she went out with a bang.”

Over the past three years, Anderson made significant gains in the clean-and-jerk once she was being taught the front squat method of lifting.

She also got used to the feeling of falling down after a failed attempt.

“Most people are afraid of falling or getting hurt, so if you get used to falling, that’s really half of it,” Anderson said about being successful in the clean-and-jerk.

“It’s all about dropping under the (bar) and getting your elbows up.”

As she prepared for the state meet, Anderson lifted twice a day during the school week, and mixed in some weekend training sessions, as well. When she wasn’t lifting, Anderson could be found at basketball practice or working on homework.

“I don’t even know how I did that,” Anderson said about managing two sports simultaneously. “I just put my mind to it. I knew that since I wanted to play both sports, that’s just something I had to do.”

Garcia admired Anderson’s ability to keep her composure and juggle her busy schedule all season long.

“Even as tired as she was, she went with it,” the coach said. “Sometimes, she would come to practice, looking at me, and I’d say, ‘Take 15 minutes. Have a little snack, regroup and get your mind set.’ The hard work she put into it paid off.”

Anderson credits Garcia for her development since joining the team as a sophomore, when she could barely clean-and-jerk 100 pounds due to spotty fundamentals.

“She taught me all I know about weightlifting,” Anderson said about Garcia’s influence on her success. “She’s pushed me. She’s really caring, and she knows how to win. She knows what workouts to do, and she knows how to teach good technique.”

Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson won first place in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships. She recorded a 165-pound bench press and a 220-pound clean-and-jerk for a 385-pound total.

For Garcia, replacing Anderson’s combination of production and leadership will be a tall task, as the decorated senior leaves behind a legacy similar to former Sunlake weightlifter Alexandra Ruiz, who won a state weightlifting title in 2013 at 119 pounds.

“Brianna is one of those student-athletes that you don’t get all the time,” explained Garcia, who’s in her 10th season coaching at Sunlake. “She’s so good, and everybody loves (her). She’s well-liked and respected by everyone — teachers, administration, peers — and she’s a leader.”

Garcia hopes someone on the roster can step up and become a leader for next season.

“Every year, you have girls that will come up to the plate, just like Brianna and Alex Ruiz did,” Garcia said. “I’m sure there’ll be someone else.”

Perhaps that girl is junior Hailey Parks, who finished in fourth place in the 169-pound division at the state championships.

The three weightlifters who bested her 335-pound total—Navarre’s Olivia Brahms and Hanna Vernetti, and Lake Mary’s Courtney Coyle—are all seniors, pegging Parks as a likely favorite in 2017.

Garcia believes a state title for Parks is within reach, as long as “she’s willing to put the work in.”

“It all depends on (her) work ethic,” the weightlifting coach explained. “She needs to challenge herself every meet, set goals and not worry about whatever another girl is lifting.

“I know she can. It’s about her wanting to do it,” Garcia said.

Published February 24, 2016

Academy falls short in state final

February 24, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

A sluggish start was too much for the Academy at the Lakes girls basketball team to overcome in the Class 2A state championship, as it fell to Tallahassee FAMU Developmental Research School 55-40 at The Lakeland Center on Feb. 17.

The Baby Rattlers’ full-court pressure proved to be problematic for the Academy early on, as the Wildcats faced a 20-6 deficit after the first quarter.

The Academy at the Lakes girls basketball team finished runner-up in the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A Finals, losing 55-40 to Tallahassee Florida Agricultural & University University (FAMU) Developmental Research School. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — The Academy at the Lakes girls basketball team finished runner-up in the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A Finals, losing 55-40 to Tallahassee Florida Agricultural & University University (FAMU) Developmental Research School.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

“In the first (quarter), we were really out of our element. That’s not how we play,” said Wildcats coach Karim Nohra, whose team committed 13 turnovers in the first quarter. “Once we settled in, we broke the press and got layups, even though we missed a few layups.

“Had we come out in the first quarter like we did the third and fourth, it would’ve been a totally different game,” Nohra said.

The Wildcats double-teamed FAMU’s top player, senior Jazmine Jones, the entire game, but it wasn’t enough to stop her from collecting a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds).

“Jazmine Jones makes all the difference in the world,” Nohra said. “You take any 2A team that was here and you put Jazmine on that team, that team wins state. She is the difference-maker.”

Jones, a University of Louisville basketball commit, was also a pest on the defensive end, collecting seven steals.

“(Coach Nohra) told us not to throw the ball towards Jazmine Jones, and some of the mistakes were because we did throw the ball towards her, and because she’s (lengthier) than all of us,” said Wildcats junior forward Imani Thomas. “She got the ball and that (led to) quick fast breaks for them.”

Making matters more difficult for the Wildcats was losing Thomas (7 points, 13 rebounds) for most of the second quarter after she sustained a blow to the stomach.

“You’re talking about Imani and (sophomore) Audra (Leipold) being the leaders of the squad in terms of scoring and people relying on them, so when one goes out, it works on the psyche a little bit,” Nohra explained.

“It was definitely tough,” said Leipold, who led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points. “She’s like my go-to girl, and I’m her go-to girl. “But, it was good to learn the leadership in a way and how to take (the team) in control.”

The Academy (26-4) has reached the state tournament five consecutive years, only to fall short of a title, losing to FAMU four times during that span.

“It’s a nice squad,” Nohra said about FAMU, which has won four state titles since 2012. “Not many 2A teams have beaten them. Do they deserve it? Absolutely.”

Leipold added that FAMU’s “athleticism and the way they run the floor” has been the challenge in facing them in recent years.

While the Academy will lose seniors Janise Cassanello and Lulu Santiago, they’ll return their top four scorers in Leipold, Thomas, Loren Wells and Nini Chester.

“It’s very exciting,” Nohra said about next year’s prospects. “My goal is always to get to state. I tell my kids, ‘We’re going to win our district. We’re going to be one of the best teams in our county, and I want to get to state.’”

With FAMU’s top player graduating, Thomas is confident the Wildcats will have a better showing next season.

“I think it’s going to be a great experience, and next time, we’ll win the whole thing,” Thomas said.

In preparation for next season, Leipold plans to work on “pretty much everything” to take her skills to the next level.

“I need to get more shots up, so I can get prepared for the depth perception at (The Lakeland Center). And, definitely finishing, creating off the dribble more, creating space,” she said.

Published February 24, 2016

Land O’ Lakes coach notches 400th win

February 10, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Land O’ Lakes boys basketball coach Dave Puhlaski got his 400th career win when the Gators defeated Sunlake High 76-40 on Feb. 3.

Many expected the longtime coach to reach the milestone on Jan. 29, when his team held a sizeable 20-point halftime lead over River Ridge, but the Gators collapsed and ultimately lost in overtime, 57-55.

Land O’ Lakes boys basketball coach Dave Puhlaski won his 400th career game on Feb. 3. He’s been coaching at the school for 27 years. (Courtesy of Ted Poore) — Land O’ Lakes boys basketball coach Dave Puhlaski won his 400th career game on Feb. 3. He’s been coaching at the school for 27 years.
(Courtesy of Tedd Poore)

“I thought we might get it then and could focus on the district (tournament) totally, but it didn’t work out,” said Puhlaski, who’s in his 27th season as head coach at Land O’ Lakes.

While a 400th win is an impressive coaching milestone, Puhlaski deflected credit for his accomplishment —instead praising his players, assistant coaches and his wife, Erika.

“It’s just been the combination of a lot of good players over a lot of years and a lot of good assistant coaches,” he said. “And, my wife — she’s been at every win and every loss — she’s been an integral part of it.

“It just means I’ve been around for a long time,” he added.

While Land O’ Lakes (14-9) enjoyed a 36-point victory over Sunlake (0-17), the Gators trailed 15-12 at the end of the first quarter in the Class 6A, District 8 semifinal.

“We were trying to do too much in the first quarter,” said senior guard Taddeus Dixon. “The team just came together and said, ‘We have to (work) together and not individually.’”

Puhlaski said both defensive breakdowns and turnovers were to blame for the early deficit against an overmatched Sunlake squad.

“They hit a few shots on us, and usually we try to live off our defense, but we weren’t collapsing or pushing the ball to the middle of the floor,” he explained. “We were not gelling.”

After the initial back-and-forth, the Gators pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Seahawks by a 39-15 combined margin in the third and fourth quarter.

“It felt really good for the whole team,” Dixon said about the win and his coach’s milestone. “We always say it’s never over ‘til it’s over.”

Land O’ Lakes athletic director Karen Coss said Puhlaksi’s 400th career win “definitely shows his dedication and his commitment to the school.

“That is one heck of a milestone, that’s for sure,” Coss said.

Puhlaski’s success over the years also can be attributed to his passion and his ability to motivate, said Tedd Poore, who’s had three sons — Max, Jake and Nick — coached by Puhlaski.

“Everybody ‘s real excited for Dave. He’s been an institution in this community for over 20 years,” Poore said. “A lot of kids have come through his program, and he’s been instrumental in advising and guiding boys when they needed it the most.

“He really cares.”

Puhlaski didn’t say how much longer he plans to coach at Land O’ Lakes, but there’s some indication he may stick around at least until his son David Jr., who’s a sophomore, graduates from the school.

Coaches in Pasco County serve on annual contracts, but Coss said she doesn’t foresee any changes occurring with Puhlaski’s role with the program “as long as he’s teaching (physical education) here and wanting to coach here.”

Prior to being named the Land O’ Lakes head coach in 1989, Puhlaski served as an assistant at Ocala Vanguard for three seasons. That was followed by a one-year stint as an assistant at the University of Tampa.

Published February 10, 2016