The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Land O' Lakes Sports

Sunlake wary of Land O’ Lakes ahead of rivalry game

By

The Sunlake Seahawks have had a strong start to the 2014 season. They’ve given up a total of just 26 points in seven games, including four shutouts.

Their 6-1 record includes a district loss, but the team is still in good position to capture a playoff berth if they take care of business the rest of the way.

If the Gators want to take this year’s rivalry game from the Seahawks, they’ll have to find a way to stop running back Nathan Johnson. (Fred Bellett/Photo)
If the Gators want to take this year’s rivalry game from the Seahawks, they’ll have to find a way to stop running back Nathan Johnson.
(Fred Bellett/Photo)

Toward the bottom of the Class 6A-District 6 standings is Land O’ Lakes. The Gators are just 3-3, including an 0-1 district record. They have given up the second-most points in the district. In fact, in three of their contests, they’ve surrendered more points than Sunlake has given up all year.

But if you think those statistics mean the Seahawks will have an easy time when they visit the Gators on Oct. 17, you should probably keep that opinion to yourself. That’s because Sunlake head coach Bill Browning doesn’t want to hear any talk about taking games for granted.

“Oh, no. Absolutely not,” Browning said. “Land O’ Lakes has a good football team. They obviously have a very good throwing game, so we have to be able to get lined up right and be able to defend the pass against them.”

Browning recognizes there’s more to the Gators than a .500 record. Their quarterback, James Pensyl, already has thrown for more than 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns. They’ve scored 192 points, which is more than Sunlake and everyone else in the district. And while they’ve lost three times, two of those defeats were by a touchdown or less.

Sunlake might be catching the Gators at a bad time, too. Their running game — supposedly a weak spot of their offense — came alive for nearly 300 yards versus Hudson on Oct. 10 in a convincing 55-30 victory that snapped a two-game losing streak.

Sunlake boasts its own offensive weapons, of course. Running back Nathan Johnson paces the offense, and receiver Naejaun Jackson has been a reliable receiver for the passing game while mixing in several carries as well.

And road games haven’t been a problem for Sunlake this year: They’re a perfect 4-0 so far when playing in hostile territory.

But records don’t mean much when you’re talking about Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes, according to Browning. There’s another word that begins with an “R” that means a lot more.

“It’s a rivalry game, so you can throw the records out of the book when it’s a big rival,” he said.

The rivalry wasn’t much of a competition when it first started. Browning has been with the Seahawks since its program began in 2007, and admits his teams had a “little brother” mentality when it came to the Gators in those early years. They didn’t even score the first two times the teams played, and didn’t register a victory until their fourth meeting.

But Sunlake hasn’t lost since, and now holds a 4-3 edge over their rival.

When two schools are less than 10 miles from each other, both teams can expect fans in the stands and an opponent who is ready to play hard regardless of record. But throw in an important district contest with playoff implications on the line, and it’s easy to predict a hard-fought contest with both schools doing everything they can to come out ahead Friday night.

“All the players know each other,” Browning said. “We’re right in each other’s backyard. It makes for a great rivalry game.

“You approach it the same way as any other game, but it always means a little bit more when you face your rival … for both sides.”

Published October 15, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Sunlake volleyball collecting wins, gaining fans

By

When Deann Newton took over as coach of the Sunlake High School volleyball team, the Seahawks had never had much success with the program. So if you wanted to see them play, you could sit pretty much anywhere you wanted.

Sunlake volleyball coach Deann Newton huddles with her team during a match at Land O’ Lakes High School Oct. 2. The Seahawks won the match to remain undefeated in district play. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Sunlake volleyball coach Deann Newton huddles with her team during a match at Land O’ Lakes High School Oct. 2. The Seahawks won the match to remain undefeated in district play. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“I think we maybe had five kids in the stands,” Newton said of her first games coaching. “And some of them might have been siblings.”

Now in her second year, good seats are harder to find. She estimates between 50 and 75 students go to their games, and they even had a strong turnout for a recent road contest against Land O’ Lakes High School.

The sudden interest in girls volleyball at Sunlake isn’t a coincidence. Newton has turned around a program that spent its first seven seasons in what seemed like a continuous losing streak. Their best record during that span was a 6-18 season, with multiple years where they won just one or two games. They even had a winless season.

But things changed in 2013. Under Newton, the Seahawks went 16-10, winning more games in one season than in all previous years combined. But a 5-2 record in Class 5A-District 8 wasn’t good enough for the postseason, so Sunlake had to be satisfied with a great turnaround and a bright future.

This year the team picked up where it left off, marching out to a 14-4 record so far, including a perfect 6-0 district mark. And while having four losses is no reason to be ashamed, it should be noted that all of those defeats came in tournament play, which Newton scheduled so they could get experience playing a variety of teams. The team is 11-0 outside of their tournaments.

The difference in the Seahawks before Newton came aboard and now comes down to how they approach the game from a mental standpoint.

“The attitude was like, ‘We’ll kind of try to win,’” she said of the team she inherited. “You have to go in with the (proper) mindset. It’s a very mental game.”

Now the Seahawks expect to win and focus on playing up to their capabilities.

But there were more than mental changes. The team started improving their conditioning and began working out together back in May to prepare for the upcoming season. It was a new schedule for the team, but the additional work was necessary to show that they were serious about improving on last year’s record, and becoming a stronger, fitter and more dangerous squad.

It was clear from the beginning that Newton was bringing something different to the team, said Gianna Basulto, a junior who has been on the team for three seasons.

“Before it wasn’t as serious,” she said. “But when Coach Newton showed up, it was like game on. This is how we’re going to do it.

“She was very straight-forward, and I love that about her because that’s the type of coach that I and the whole team need.”

The earlier conditioning has not only made the team more effective in long rallies, Basulto explained, but also helped the team develop important chemistry before the season even began.

That chemistry will be important as the season progresses toward the last few games of the regular season. While Newton said the team is taking things one game at a time, they haven’t forgotten their goals. They want to make the playoffs for the first time in school history, and they want to keep winning when they get there.

In order to keep getting better, Newton sets different goals for the team when they play, in addition to simply winning the match. They’ve been working on blocking and defense, for example, because the coach considers them areas where improvement is needed and will be required as they face stronger competition.

A strong mental attitude also will be required, and there’s plenty of confidence that didn’t exist a couple of years ago. As a result, if the team continues to improve, the school’s first postseason appearance could become a reality.

“I think we can go to (the district tournament) and I think we can win,” Basulto said. “Our coach is really pushing us, and we’re pushing ourselves.”

Newton, while still focused on fixing areas of weakness and getting better as a team, shares that optimism.

“Our goal is to get out of district with the one or two seed, preferably the one seed,” she said, which would qualify Sunlake for a first-ever trip to the regional tournament. “I think when we get to that point, I think good things are going to happen.”

Published October 8, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Land O’ Lakes looking to build on last year, reach playoffs

By

Nobody can accuse Land O’ Lakes High School of having a poor season in 2013.

They went 8-2 and held half their opponents to 14 points or less — including two shutouts — while scoring more than 30 points in each of six games. In many respects, they were a dominant team.

An improved offensive line is giving the quarterback more time to make plays in practice, Land O’ Lakes’ James Pensyl said. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
An improved offensive line is giving the quarterback more time to make plays in practice, Land O’ Lakes’ James Pensyl said.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

For most schools, those results might be good enough for a district title, or at least a playoff berth as district runner-up. But the Gators stayed home for the postseason because their two losses were to district foes Springstead and Sunlake, who finished ahead of them in Class 6A-District 6.

Head coach Brian Wachtel expects his team to remember what happened and apply some of those lessons from last season.

“It’s like being in a 100-meter race and the last 20 yards just not being able to kick it in,” Wachtel said. “And I think they’ve grown from that and worked hard and learned a lot from it. And they’re going to put a lot of that into this upcoming season.”

And the upcoming season should feature a good number of those players back in the huddle. Land O’ Lakes will return eights starters on offense from last year, including several skill positions. Having that many players return on one side of the ball is an asset for a team looking to build on last year, the coach said.

“I think it’s great for consistency when you have guys back that know what they’re doing, they’ve been in the system, they’ve got game experience, they’re more seasoned,” Wachtel said. “I think that definitely helps you when you’re going into the season.”

One of the returning players is quarterback James Pensyl. He was one of the area’s top passers last year with a nose for the end zone and a knack for limiting turnovers.

Pensyl, who has made an oral commitment to Oregon State University, can tell the offensive line has improved just by having more time to execute in practice compared to last year.

“Going against our defense in practice (last year), I barely had any time to throw the ball,” he said. “This year I have time. I have the time I’m supposed to have. I can make my drops and make the reads.”

The receivers also are showing more experience, with good knowledge of the routes and where they’re supposed to be on the field, Pensyl said.

Wachtel, now in his fourth year coaching the team, acknowledges that they play in a competitive district with difficult opponents. But the Gators already have proven they can win games, and are looking to finish stronger than last season, when they went 2-2 over their final four contests after beginning the year with six straight wins.

How they finish will once again be critical to their playoff fortunes, but right now the team is more focused on how they’ll start their 2014 campaign. Their schedule is back loaded with district games — they don’t face a team that defeated them last year until mid-October.

But the Gators aren’t looking past Week 1. Wachtel doesn’t want his team worrying about future opponents when they have other teams to face first.

“There’s no sense in looking down the road because you’ve got to take care of everything in the beginning,” he said. ”We just go week by week.”

The players have bought into the system, aren’t looking ahead, and are making progress toward the kind of focus and consistency required to be successful, Wachtel said. He also credits the coaching staff with helping build a strong foundation for a winning program.

But in the end, it’s not the assistant coaches nor Wachtel himself who will determine the team’s outcome in 2014. For all the preparations, game plans, workouts and practices, it’s the players who will have to take care of business when the games count.

“Those are the guys who’ve got to pull it off out there on Friday night,” Wachtel said. “We can put them in a position to be successful, but they’ve got to pull the trigger.”

And Pensyl is eager to do just that, by leading a team that will try to limit mistakes and play up to its potential.

“We’re definitely a playoff-caliber team,” he said. “We’re the only team that can keep ourselves from the playoffs.”

LAST YEAR: 8-2
2-2 in the district
third place in Class 6A-District 6

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
James Pensyl, quarterback
Ethan Weilant, wide receiver
Anthony Hendrix, safety

PLAYER TO WATCHConor Heaney, defensive line
“He’s a talented kid. When he cranks it up, he moves well. It’s a matter of getting out there on the field on Friday night and going 100 miles an hour.” — Coach Brian Wachtel

Gators 2014 Schedule
8/29 — at River Ridge
9/5 — Anclote
9/12 — at Ridgewood
9/19 — Mitchell
9/26 — Gulf
10/10 — at Hudson
10/17 — Sunlake
10/24 — at Fivay
10/31 — at Springstead
11/7 — Lecanto

Published August 27, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Browning, Sunlake eye district title in 2014

By

Sunlake High School has come a long way since head coach Bill Browning led the Seahawks onto the field for their inaugural season back in 2007.

They started out by losing 21 out of their first 22 games, and didn’t win a district contest until their third season.

Running back Nathan Johnson, left, and linebacker Austin Yeloushan will be key to Sunlake’s fortunes in 2014. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Running back Nathan Johnson, left, and linebacker Austin Yeloushan will be key to Sunlake’s fortunes in 2014.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Now they’re enjoying a run, which includes two playoff appearances and just five regular season losses in the past four years. They have playoff appearances, plenty of wins, and a reputation as a tough team to beat in Class 6A-District 6.

But something’s missing.

In all that time, the Seahawks have never won a district title. Three times in their history — including last year — they lost just one game during the regular season, but that game was to the eventual district champion.

And the players want that title for themselves in 2014.

“We’re planning on doing that this year,” said Austin Yeloushan, a senior who plays middle linebacker and tight end. “We’ve been working hard in the weight room.” The team also got in a good deal of game experience against quality opponents at a recent football camp at Stetson University, he said. Those performances give Sunlake confidence heading into their first game, an Aug. 29 road tilt against the talented Pasco Pirates.

While it’s not the only thing on his mind, Browning also wants to see a district title on the team’s resume.

“It’s missing right now, but it really just provides more motivation for us,” he said.

Since last year’s losses were so close — the total time remaining when their opponents took the lead was less than one minute for both games combined — Browning feels the Seahawks are on the right path.

To continue, Sunlake will have to overcome some heavy losses due to graduating seniors. Their defense will be retooled, with nine out of last year’s 11 starters gone from the team.

But Yeloushan, one of the two remaining starters from last year’s defense, believes the changes in personnel won’t hold them back. In fact, he expects them to surprise their opponents with their ability once the games start, and that includes contributing on the scoreboard.

“I think a lot of defensive touchdowns are going to happen this year. We have a lot of playmakers,” Yeloushan said.

Sunlake’s running game should continue to be a strong point, with star running back Nathan Johnson returning for duty. Johnson is ready to build on last year’s successful season — in more than 250 attempts, he lost just one fumble. But Browning believes a good running game is about more than a skilled runner in the backfield.

“He’d be the first one to tell you that the offensive line will be key, of course, in determining the kind of season he has,” Browning said.

Turns out, that’s exactly what Johnson said.

“I love my offensive line. I had 1,500 yards last year, and I couldn’t have gotten any of that without them,” he said.

While the line lost two starters from last season, Johnson believes their replacements are actually better players, and is excited to see what they can accomplish in 2014.

While Sunlake might be considered a run-first team, Browning said they have enough skill at quarterback and receiver to avoid being one-dimensional. The team will welcome back quarterback Dayton Feidon, who went down with an injury last October.

The coach also expects big things from returning receiver Nick Valdes, who has had an impressive offseason.

While Browning can look back at his tenure at Sunlake and note the considerable progress, it’s not in his nature to be happy just winning a lot of games and having a respectable finish each year.

“You always want to take it to the next step,” he said. “As a coach and as a competitor, you’re never satisfied where you’re at.”

SUNLAKE SEAHAWKS
LAST YEAR: 9-2
3-1 in district play
Second place in Class 6A-District 6, lost in first round of playoffs

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Austin Yeloushan, middle linebacker/tight end
Logan Wolfe, outside linebacker and fullback
Nick Valdes, wide receiver

PLAYER TO WATCH
Nathan Johnson, running back
“He was our workhorse last year. Very rarely goes down on first contact. A physical football player.” – Coach Bill Browning

2014 Seahawks Schedule
8/29 – at Pasco
9/5 – River Ridge
9/12 – at Anclote
9/19 – Springstead
9/26 – Ridgewood
10/3 – at Mitchell
10/10 – at Wesley Chapel
10/17 – at Land O’ Lakes
10/31 – Fivay
11/7 – Zephyrhills

Published August 6, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

These athletes are ready to take on the world

By

After claiming the gold at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games in May, a group of athletes from Land O’ Lakes will trek to Los Angeles next summer to compete at the 2015 Special Olympics Summer World Games.

The team got the word on July 21 via Skype during a surprise announcement in a mini-auditorium at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Ordray Smith advances the ball during a soccer game at Wesley Chapel High School during the Pasco County Special Olympics Games on Feb. 28. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes High School)
Ordray Smith advances the ball during a soccer game at Wesley Chapel High School during the Pasco County Special Olympics Games on Feb. 28.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Coach Vicky King corralled members of the team to the meeting under the guise they would be talking about their gold-medal performance in the state competition at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in May.

But the athletes were really there to hear about their selection as an 11-member contingent of the 15-member Team Florida.

They compete in Division 2 soccer, with seven athletes on each side of the ball. It is a unified team, meaning there are four Special Olympics athletes playing along with three partners, who are there to provide help and support.

The team will join thousands of Special Olympics athletes from 170 nations to compete for international medals for a week beginning July 25, 2015. The games include 21 Olympic-style sports.

School principal Ric Mellin, who answered the Skype call, is delighted by the news.

“Words can’t express how excited I am for these students,” he said. “They put a tremendous amount of effort into preparing for the local games and the state games, and I think the grittiness that they showed impressed the selection group.”

The details regarding costs aren’t yet in, so it is unclear how much the team may need to raise, Mellin said. Besides the trip to L.A., the team also is expecting to spend a week in Indianapolis in a couple months to help prepare.

“If we do need to do some fundraising, that’ll be a wonderful opportunity for the locals here in Land O’ Lakes to provide some additional support,” Mellin said. “We would greatly appreciate it. Our community has always been wonderful when we’ve asked for things in the past, and I’m sure they would step up and help support these students as well.”

Coach King is excited about the experiences that await her athletes.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.

King is happy the team is being rewarded for its dedication.

“We worked really, really hard this year,” the coach said.

Valerie Lundin, one of the directors for Pasco County Special Olympics, said Land O’ Lakes High has an exceptional Special Olympics program. The unified teams give athletes with disabilities and those without them a chance to gain a better understanding of each other.

“The premise is they get to know one another, they partner together, they travel together,” she said. “So, when they’re in the mall or the cafeteria, they’re friends.”

Ghaida Shehab said her son, Hassan, who plays on the team, is “very happy” that the team has been selected to compete. After hearing the news, he told Shehab: “See mom? Are you proud of me?”

“I think it’s good for him,” Shehab said, adding she plans to go the games, as well.

Tommy Guglielmello, one of the team’s partners, said he enjoys the role he plays on the team.

“The partners help the game move along,” Guglielmello said. “It’s awesome being out there when they score.”

Published July 30, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Seeking seniors: Sports group offers fun times, friendship

By

Seniors might live a less-active lifestyle than they did when they were younger, but Walt Bockmiller thinks they still have time for softball, golf, tennis, bowling and maybe volleyball.

If not all of those activities, maybe one or two of them.

Whatever sport a senior might enjoy, Walt Bockmiller probably has something on the schedule for them. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Whatever sport a senior might enjoy, Walt Bockmiller probably has something on the schedule for them.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Bockmiller, a Land O’ Lakes resident, started Senior Sports in 2011, and he organizes regular events for older residents that include a wide variety of activities. Whatever people choose to do, there are plenty of benefits in getting out and being active, he said.

“It’s an opportunity for them to get out and start doing something rather than just being home shopping or watching TV,” Bockmiller said. ”It gives them an opportunity to meet people in a different kind of environment.”

Bockmiller began Senior Sports by setting up softball leagues, since many people have some experience with baseball or softball in their youth. That starting point proved extremely popular, and he now has around 90 participants for those games. Counting tennis, bowling and golf, Senior Sports boasts more than 150 participants, and he said that tennis could prove to be the most popular of them all.

While softball is designed for men and women ages 60 and older, the other sports don’t have an age limit. He said players could be in their 40s through their 80s. The oldest softball player turned 90-years-old last month.

At 71 years old himself, Bockmiller might be expected to ease up on his schedule, but it’s simply not in his nature. He worked in recreation and leisure services management, and over his 47-year career, Bockmiller organized several activities, both with and without sports themes.

While he expected the participants to enjoy Senior Sports, he didn’t expect them to have quite as much fun as they’re having. He said people are “finding their smile,” and area residents who normally didn’t get out much are making friends and planning get-togethers off the field or court. Participants often go out to dinner, plan outings to see the Tampa Bay Rays, and even go on cruises together, Bockmiller said.

Senior Sports is about sports, naturally, but without a focus on the competitive side. Instead, Bockmiller keeps the focus on having fun, giving out awards that are earned by good sportsmanship instead of athletic skill. Softball might appeal to more physically fit participants, while bowling is available for those who might not have that level of ability. Or, people can simply sign up to play whatever appeals to them.

The activities are designed to be inexpensive and occur during various dates and times, allowing more seniors to participate. But whether a person plays every available activity or selects their favorite, or simply wants to meet new people, Bockmiller said they’ll come away with some fun memories and good people to share them.

“There are a lot of friends that come out of this stuff. Some of my friends in tennis and golf, especially tennis, are friends for life,” he said. ”There’s a commonality that you have, and because of that you have a lot of laughs over the years. It’s just a lot of fun.”

Co-ed slow-pitch softball is played from September through December, and again from mid-January through mid-April. Golf is played on a variety of courses year-round on Wednesdays. Bowling is played year-round in Lutz on Thursdays. Tennis and volleyball are new to the schedule.

For more information about Senior Sports, contact Bockmiller at (813) 527-8211.

Published July 16, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Local soccer teams earn gold in Special Olympics

By

While soccer fans around the world are watching the World Cup, two teams from Land O’ Lakes High School already are basking in victory.

Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes High School)
Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Two squads, the Grey Team and the Gold Team, each claimed the gold medal in their respective divisions at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games, May 16-17 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.

The Grey Team is a Division 2 team with seven players per side, while the Gold Team is a Division 3 team with five players per side. Divisions are set up based on team skill levels.

Each team is unified, meaning athletes play alongside partners to help them and provide support. The Gold Team has four players and three partners playing at one time, while the Grey Team has three players and two partners.

While the players are happy to have achieved their goal, their longtime coach, Vicky King, is equally proud.

“It was a great accomplishment. Our teams have trained really hard this year,” she said.

The Gold Team had little knowledge of soccer before they started playing together a few years ago, King explained. For their first two years playing soccer, they didn’t score a single goal. Now they understand the game, talk about it, and claimed the gold medal in their division.

And the Grey Team has a chance to continue playing at an advanced level. They’re eligible to compete at the World Games, and if selected, they’ll go to Los Angeles to take part next July.

The keys to success are the same as they would be for any championship team, King said. Hard work, a balanced squad, and an emphasis on fitness and skills led the teams to victory.

But the Special Olympics is about more than competition. Land O’ Lakes resident Terry Ahearn said his son, Andrew, truly enjoys being a part of the team and competing in the games.

“He loves it. It’s been really good for him, too,” Ahearn said.

Andrew has participated in Special Olympics for years, and plays soccer for the Grey Team. He has autism, and is high-functioning. His father said that playing has given him more confidence, and even though he can be hard on himself, he always has praise and support for his teammates.

While playing on a unified team allows the athletes to get on-field support, it doesn’t affect the team dynamic. Ahearn said once they start playing, everyone is working toward the same goal.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re playing basketball, if they’re bowling or playing soccer, you really can’t tell the difference between any of the kids,” he said. “They’re just like any other team.”

And like any other athlete, Andrew is happy to have claimed the gold for his team.

“It feels good,” he said. “We did our best.”

The midfielder said participating in various sports — Andrew also competes in bowling, basketball and flag football — and having fun are the best things about the games. He was named Athlete of the Year for Pasco County.

For his father, coaches like King are some of the real highlights of participating in the Special Olympics. The teachers and coaches make the experience more valuable for the participants, he said.

“I’m proud of (Andrew) and how he competes and what he’s learned, but I’m also proud of the teachers and the coaches,” Ahearn said. “Because he would not be where he is right now if he didn’t have the teachers and coaches that gave so much of themselves.

“To do what these kids are doing and to reach them takes a special person. I could not say enough good things about them.”

For more information about the Special Olympics, visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org.

Published July 9, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Sunlake’s Skye Nichols signs on to acrobatics and tumbling in Connecticut

By

Athlete signings are common for high school players. If someone excels at their sport, they often get a chance to continue competing at the next level.

Football, basketball, soccer and baseball are just a few sports where graduating seniors continue playing as college freshmen.

Skye Nichols takes part in a ceremonial signing with Sunlake principal Steve Williams, left, cheerleading coach Pennye Garcia and Nichols’ mother, Sheri. Nichols will enter Quinnipiac University with championship cheerleading experience, and she’ll use it to compete on the school’s acrobatics and tumbling team. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Skye Nichols takes part in a ceremonial signing with Sunlake principal Steve Williams, left, cheerleading coach Pennye Garcia and Nichols’ mother, Sheri. Nichols will enter Quinnipiac University with championship cheerleading experience, and she’ll use it to compete on the school’s acrobatics and tumbling team.
(Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Cheerleaders, however, are now becoming part of that group.

Skye Nichols, a captain for Sunlake High School’s state championship cheerleading team, will attend Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, and compete for the school.

But technically, it won’t be cheerleading. The Bobcats have an acrobatics and tumbling team, and Nichols was recruited to be a member of the squad.

“I feel very blessed. That’s the only way I can describe it,” she said. “I only dreamt about it, and I still can’t believe it’s reality.”

The Bobcats do have a spirit squad, but Nichols isn’t planning on participating. That group performs more of the traditional cheerleading functions, but the acrobatics and tumbling team is part of a sport, which suits her better.

They’ll have a schedule where they square off against other teams in group and individual categories, and do extensive traveling to compete in different locations around the country.

While Nichols is excited to be part of the competition, she realizes it will mean a lot more work. Rigorous practices and weight training are just part of the schedule, and she’ll have to balance that with pursuing her studies in sports management.

But her cheerleading coach at Sunlake, Pennye Garcia, believes Nichols’ time as a cheerleader has her well-equipped to succeed.

“It’s her drive,” Garcia said. “When she really wants something, she will keep working at it.”

Nichols was a team captain, and was called upon to not only study technique and offer corrections, but also motivate her teammates when they were losing focus, Garcia said. Her ability to remain motivated while also motivating others helped separate her from less-driven athletes.

Nichols believes the leadership role helped her as well.

“I definitely think it gave me experience how to work with people, and how the best way in working with people is leading by example,” she said. “Also, being friends with them makes a big difference. If you’re just strict all the time, I feel like you kind of lose respect, but you’ve got to care about them to earn respect.”

But there’s also a physical aspect to cheerleading, and Garcia said it revolves around strength. As a base — someone who stays at the bottom of the formation and helps support others — Nichols needs good leg strength. Those physical skills helped her get recruited by Quinnipiac.

And while Nichols feels the school is a perfect fit for her, it wasn’t part of her original plan. Her first choice of school didn’t work out, and her path wasn’t shaping up the way she wanted.

But when she visited the Quinnipiac’s campus, she realized that the new opportunity was actually better than her planned one.

“Right when I went to the school I was like, this couldn’t have been any better for me,” she said. “It just felt so right.”

School also is important to Nichols, whose GPA is 4.05. She considers herself to be competitive and something of a perfectionist, and while that’s translated to success in the classroom and on the mat, she believes that self-confidence and hard work will help her face the coming challenges of a new city, new school and a new level of competition.

“I think anything you do that’s really new is a little nerve-racking, but I just believe in myself that I can handle it,” Nichols said. “I pushed myself really hard these four years, and I think that definitely conditioned me for the next four years.”

Published May 28, 2014

Back to back: Nikki Carroll repeats as state pole vaulting champ

By

When you’re an athlete in your junior year of high school, there are few titles better than “state champion.”

But “two-time state champion” is one of them.

Land O’ Lakes resident Nikki Carroll won her second state pole vault title as a junior by clearing 12 feet — her personal best. She’s already eyeing a shot at a third title next year. (Courtesy of Carol Carroll)
Land O’ Lakes resident Nikki Carroll won her second state pole vault title as a junior by clearing 12 feet — her personal best. She’s already eyeing a shot at a third title next year.
(Courtesy of Carol Carroll)

Land O’ Lakes resident Nikki Carroll earned that designation by claiming her second straight Class 2A pole vaulting title earlier this month at the state meet, on the University of North Florida campus in Jacksonville. She cleared an even 12 feet to best her closest competition by six inches.

“It feels amazing doing it twice,” Carroll said. “I really wanted to win it again and I knew that a lot of people were expecting me to win. It was definitely my goal to win again and to jump 12 feet.”

That mark — a full foot better than last year’s winning height — not only gave the Tampa Catholic High School junior a second state title, but a new personal best as well.

While it was the perfect ending to another year of track and field for Carroll, it didn’t happen under perfect circumstances. Pole vaulting, is the kind of competition where the weather can make or break an athlete’s day. Since participants are using a long pole to propel themselves above and beyond a set bar, anything that makes it harder to run, set and grip can mean the end of the competition.

So when it was raining on the day of the meet, and didn’t stop when she had to perform, Carroll had every right to be concerned. But her coach told her that holding the pole lower makes it less likely that an athlete will slip, and Carroll naturally has a lower grip than many pole vaulters.

While it wouldn’t help in good weather, she said the lower grip might have helped succeed in the rain.

But Carroll had to overcome her own miscues as well, and the pressure that came with them. A pole vaulter has three chances to clear each height. After the third miss, they’re out of the competition — and, in this case, the running for the state title.

Twice in Jacksonville, Carroll found herself down to her last try.

“I was on my third attempt at 10 feet, 6 inches and at 11 feet, so that definitely freaked me out a little bit because I was almost out,” she said.

But Carroll was able to stay focused, keep her grip and clear the hurdle both times to stay alive in the competition and eventually claim the title.

Successfully clearing a certain height and being successful at pole vaulting in general is harder than it looks, Carroll said. On television, such as during the Olympic Games, the athletes make it look easy. But it takes a lot of training and practice to get it right.

As a state champion, Carroll definitely puts in the time to be the best. She does gymnastics every day (a sport she’s been doing for several years) except Sundays, and said the skills she hones at those practices are a natural fit with pole vaulting.

But Sundays aren’t a day of rest. She travels across the state to Melbourne, where she practices at Pole Vault City to stay prepared for the actual competitions.

Bobby Haeck, co-owner and head instructor of Pole Vault City, said Carroll’s skills give her an immediate advantage over the competition.

“It’s speed and tremendous gymnastics,” he said. “If you put those two things together, you get a really good pole vaulter.”

Height also can be important for an athlete, he said. While Carroll isn’t tall, her quickness and ability to clear the bar more than compensates for a lack of height.

Haeck, who has trained pole vaulters for nearly 15 years, was there to see Carroll defend her title, and he was impressed with her ability to succeed in the rain and convert her third attempts. He believes she has a bright future continuing the sport in college.

Carroll said she’d like to continue pole vaulting after she graduates high school, and will pursue a pre-med course load in college in order to become a doctor. But before any of that happens, she still has her senior year ahead of her. And that means another chance to defend her title.

“Not a lot of people can win it back-to-back, and then even less can win it three times,” she said. “I’m definitely going to go for three.”

Published May 14, 2014

LOL’s Poore closes out track career with trip to state

By

Land O’ Lakes High School senior Jake Poore added several titles to his track and field resume this past season: Conference champion. District champion. Regional champion. State qualifier and sixth-place finisher for Class 3A for the two-mile run.

But a late-season injury almost prevented it from happening.

Jake Poore’s hard work has paid off in his senior season, entering state competition as a conference, district and regional champion. His two-mile time at state was good for sixth place. (Courtesy of Tedd Thomas)
Jake Poore’s hard work has paid off in his senior season, entering state competition as a conference, district and regional champion. His two-mile time at state was good for sixth place.
(Courtesy of Tedd Thomas)

“I hyper-extended my knee, and that was five days before the district meet. I couldn’t even walk after the race,” Poore said. “The doctor was saying that I might not be able to run, and I was telling her, ‘I’m going up to the starting line no matter what because if I don’t, my season is over.’”

His knee improved, and he went on to win district and regional competitions and compete in his individual category as well as the 4-x-800 relay.

That Poore was able to recover so quickly is a testament to his work ethic and rigorous training regimen. This season he broke down his workouts into what he labels “easy,” “medium” and “hard” days.

A day of gym workouts with cross-training and maybe a light run is what Poore considers “easy.” They only get more difficult from there, with a warm-up, off-track runs, interval workouts with short rests, and another run and cool-down making up a “hard” day.

The idea was to make practice so challenging that actual competition seemed easier by comparison, he said. Only once every couple of weeks did he allow himself a day with absolutely nothing on his schedule, and Poore admitted his dedication to track had consequences outside the sport.

“I was working so hard,” he said. “Even on my easy days I was so tired and had to get my sleep in, and made sure I did my schoolwork whenever I had a chance. I lost some friends, I guess, because I couldn’t go hang out.”

But he said the results in competition made the sacrifice worth it.

Those results included a strong showing in state competition. Although he finished sixth, that ranking is deceiving due to the caliber of competition in Class 3A. If Poore had been in one of the other divisions, he would have been state champion.

And while the 4-x-800 team finished 15th, he was thrilled with his time of 1 minute, 57 seconds.

Another motivator for his successful year — and for the entire team, which enjoyed conference and district titles — was the memory of Bill Schmitz, a track coach at Land O’ Lakes High School, who died last year. Poore and his friends wore “We Run For Schmitz” T-shirts during the year, and followed through on team goals the coach set before he died.

As captain, Poore used the coach’s expectations to help motivate his teammates, and he would reference Schmitz during his regular prayers before meets.

He credits the coach with helping him improve his abilities and become a more successful athlete.

He wasn’t the best track runner earlier in his track career, Poore admits. But his hard work and dedication paid off, and he’ll leave Land O’ Lakes a conference, district and regional champion. But that’s not the end of his running career: He’ll attend the University of Tampa in the fall with an athletic scholarship, a new challenge in collegiate-level track, and a desire to reach the Olympic Games in 2016, held in Rio de Janeiro.

Away from meets, he’ll take a pre-med course load with a goal of becoming an anesthesiologist when he graduates. And since college doesn’t start until later this year, he’s looking forward to a long break from his regular regimen before his summer training — long by his standards, anyway.

“I have two weeks off, and then I start working out for college,” he said. “I’m going to get right back in it. It’s just another day at work for me.”

Published May 7, 2014