The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz Sports

‘Climbing’ to a Mr. Olympia title

By

Winston Sullivan took a gamble on himself.

And because of it, he’s now headed to Las Vegas.

Not for casinos and especially not the all-you-can-eat buffets, but for the 2022 Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend starting Dec. 15, where he will compete as one of the top bodybuilders in the world.

Lutz resident and bodybuilder Winston Sullivan works out at Esporta Fitness in preparation for the Mr. Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend starting Dec. 15 in Las Vegas. Sullivan, who has been doing professional bodybuilding for about eight years, qualified for the pinnacle of bodybuilding events in October and did so without the guidance of a trainer. (Mike Camunas)

“Here I am going to the biggest and best show in bodybuilding,” the Lutz resident said. “I never thought I’d ever be on the biggest stage. I’m very grateful for it all, especially when you take all the hard work you put in — you set a goal and go out and accomplish it.

“I never thought I’d be in Mr. Olympia — I really still can’t believe it.”

Sullivan’s disbelief stems from the fact that he’s doing competitive bodybuilding for just a short time — only eight years. He did so after a friend, who also used to bodybuild, egged him on to give it a try.

Initially, Sullivan, standing at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, was skeptical because he wasn’t “trying to get big — I didn’t want to get too big, but he told me about the Men’s Physique Division.

“We don’t wear speedos, we wear board shorts,” he added. “It’s more about an aesthetic look — a beach body, so (my friend) kept pushing me and I finally said why not, but in my first competition I came in fourth. In my second I came in sixth.

“I was hooked then.”

Sullivan, a 37-year-old security guard, will compete for Men’s Physique Olympia. He is one of 60 competitors in this division and just one of 23 from the United States, with the others hailing from all over the world, such as Spain, France, Brazil, Iran, South Korea, Morocco, Australia, China and more.

However, what’s even more remarkable is Sullivan accomplished this feat, and his sculpted body, without the guidance of a trainer. He did it with just hours of working out at Esporta Fitness in Lutz, a meticulous dietary regimen and two gallons of water a day.

All that hard work, and strict diet, paid off: He won the 2022 Daytona Pro/Am Championships, which is what qualified him to compete at Mr. Olympia.

“The hardest part is being hungry,” Sullivan said. “Having two kids, they go to a party and come back with cupcakes, and I’m like, ‘Come on!’ Or, they’re like, ‘Daddy, we want McDonald’s,’ but then I get it for them, and my whole car smells like French fries!

“And I missed Thanksgiving — I didn’t get to eat any of that. I’m sitting at the table with tuna fish and sweet potatoes and they’re passing around pies in front of me! But the alternative is I don’t spend Thanksgiving with my family?! No thanks.”

Winston Sullivan, left, seen here with his fiancée, Tiffany Rudd, holds up the medal awarded to him for winning the Daytona Beach Pro/Am, the event that qualified him for the Mr. Olympia competition. (Courtesy of Winston Sullivan)

Despite no trainer and no one at his gym knowing he could become Mr. Olympia, Sullivan hasn’t been doing this alone.

His fiancée, Tiffany Rudd, and his two kids — Gabriel, 13, and Skylar, 8 — have been there every step of the way. They’ve been supportive — even though they do eat good food in front of him.

Rudd didn’t quite understand what bodybuilding was about, at first.

“It was hard for me to comprehend at first,” Rudd said. “It was a lot more gym hours, multiple times a day, so in any relationship, everyone has that moment: Is he really going to the gym? It takes a lot of trust in your partner, to trust they are where (they say) they are.

“Of course, I was supportive, but I didn’t understand it — not until I saw (him compete in a show). And it’s crazy to tell people, too. ‘What does he do?’ and tell people he’s a professional bodybuilder, but I have to tell them, ‘Yeah, what Arnold Schwarzenegger did!’ (laughs).”

Sullivan and Rudd, who are getting married this New Year’s Eve, understood the lifestyle change when he first started competing. The workouts, the different foods, the trips to shows — but they embraced all of it, which has paid off.

Now, they’re both going on their first trip to Las Vegas, excited to see what comes of what all the hard work may bring.

It was a gamble, but one very much worth making.

“It was a lifestyle change, which is tough, but we adjusted for him and love and support him,” Rudd said. “At first, I didn’t realize the dedication it would take, but admire him for his dedication. This opportunity is amazing for him, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

“It’s kind of fun to see how far you can push yourself and your body,” Sullivan added. “I look back at myself before (bodybuilding) and I’m like, ‘Wow.’”

“To see thousands of competitors, and they say you’re one of the top 60 guys in the world, that’s an accomplishment within itself, and I’m very excited to be a part of that.”

2022 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend
When: Dec. 15 to Dec. 18
Where: The Venetian Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas
Details: Men and women bodybuilders from all over the world will compete in various categories, from the traditional Mr. and Ms. Olympia, Men’s and Women’s Physique Olympia and even Wheelchair Olympia.
Info: Visit MrOlympia.com.

Published December 14, 2022

Adapting to the right fit

By

There are no physical limits.

Especially for these Adaptive CrossFit athletes.

At CrossFit AERO in Lutz, trainers have developed a modified program allowing individuals with permanent physical disabilities or severe injuries to complete the Workout of the Day, or WOD, and become comfortable with the fundamentals of functional movement.

Stephanie Beaver, of Wesley Chapel, does a deadlift at CrossFit AERO during a session of Adaptive CrossFit. The program provides sessions for people with permanent physical disabilities or severe injuries to help them become comfortable with the fundamentals of functional movement. (Mike Camunas)

“The way we see it, with CrossFit, everything is scalable,” said Ellaine Sapin-Ancheta, the AERO Adaptive CrossFit director and head trainer.

“So, if there is a workout of the day — say its rowing — every single person that walks in the door, we want them to be able to do that, no matter what your ability or disability is,” Sapin-Ancheta said.

“As soon as they walk through the door, we try to modify it from what we see and what they tell us — that’s the beauty of CrossFit: to have functional fitness, safety for longevity, and to have fun with it.

“It may look different when they’re doing it, but they’re still working the same muscle groups,” she added.

Stephanie Beaver, a Wesley Chapel resident born with spina bifida, works handles connected to a fan bike at CrossFit AERO to get in her cardio during a session of Adaptive CrossFit.

Wesley Chapel resident Stephanie Beaver always thought she was in shape, until she tried Adaptive CrossFit, modified for her body.

“I’ve come a long way,” said the athlete who was born with spina bifida.

“The movements we do here translate into the things I have to do every day, from moving around at home or to picking things up. It just translates into everyday life for me, so that really helps a lot,” Beaver said.

“Never in a million years I thought I would ever be doing the things I am doing today while at CrossFit,” she added.

Sapin-Ancheta explained: “She thought she was fit, but she was always falling to the side with a certain move, so we worked really, really hard on core strength and she worked really, really hard to improve that.

Wesley Chapel resident Stephanie Beaver, who was born with spina bifida, gets in her wall ball reps with a medicine ball at CrossFit AERO.

“Sure, she looks good and she’s ripped, even now, but getting back into the chair from the floor is way easier for her than before, too.

“So, she has no function of her legs, so we just modify (workout moves) for her or all of our adaptive athletes. They might be doing something different, but we’re still trying to simulate the same function and growth as any other athlete.”

Indeed, Adaptive CrossFit athletes will perform traditional CrossFit moves — such as deadlifts, overhead presses, wall balls, even rowing — however, the modifications are individually customized for each athlete.

Beaver, for example, will use special handles attached to a fan bike that allow her to perform cardio exercises.

CrossFit AERO head coach and Adaptive and Inclusive Certified Trainer Ellaine Sapin-Ancheta watches intently as Stephanie Beaver works during a one-on-one Adaptive CrossFit session.

“When people see the things that I am doing here, they immediately want more information and, unfortunately, it is not at every gym,” Beaver said.

“And the community here is really nothing I’ve ever been a part of before,” Beaver added. “I don’t feel any different when I’m here, not like other gyms where I feel like I stand out. Everyone just sees me as another athlete here.”

With CrossFit, inclusivity is — and always has been — key. It’s no different with Adaptive CrossFit.

“I think that, like all of CrossFit, that really it’s about inclusivity,” AERO CrossFit owner Josh Willis said. “CrossFit is really about everyone being able to do it, so that means those with disabilities, too, and they are always welcomed into a CrossFit community.”

“I’m a physical therapist,” Sapin-Ancheta said. “I have always loved working with (people with disabilities), but (CrossFit) was not available to them and why not? They want to work out and be part of the community, as well.”

And it’s true — they just want to work out, too.

“It’s still CrossFit,” Beaver said, with a sly smile. “We still get our WOD in like anyone else.”

Adaptive CrossFit
Where: CrossFit AERO, 4450 Pet Lane, Suite 102, Lutz
Details: An athletic program that focuses on individuals with permanent physical disabilities or severe injuries. Sessions provide additional support and experience so impaired individuals can become comfortable with the fundamentals of functional movement. Sessions are open to every type of physical disability: amputation, limb salvage, neurological damage, sensory impairment or traumatic brain injury, and with or without mobility aids such as wheelchairs, hand crutches and so on.
Info: Email trainer Ellaine Sapin-Ancheta at ./">, or visit CrossFitAero.com.

Published September 21, 2022

Always so controlling

By

These racers are always, even remotely, in control.

Lake Park in Lutz has always had an R/C, or remote control, race car track. It’s a little slice of clay dirt tucked toward the back of the park, providing an outlet for R/C enthusiasts to get outside and do a little racing.

Racers expertly maneuver their cars on the R/C race track at Lake Park in Lutz. (Mike Camunas)

“I would say it’s video game people — definitely hobby enthusiasts,” said Ryan Eckert, a Lutz resident who has been R/C car racing at Lake Park since 1997 and runs monthly weekend races at the track.

“Instead of playing video games, you’re out for a couple of hours, having a little fun and it’s kind of, techy, but it’s not a toy,” he said.

He continued: “Back in the day, you couldn’t buy R/C cars just anywhere like you can now. You can get an R/C car at Pep Boys, actually. It had to be specialty stores, but now that you can buy them anywhere, it’s a much easier hobby to get into.”

Lake Park R/C hosts races once a month except for during the summer because of the rain; however, the race track is open and available for use whenever Lake Park is open. Anyone can use the track at any time, but Eckert and the group maintain it when they can. It’s a dedication to a hobby, and sport, that starts at a young age.

Kurt Stephan, left, and Mitch Zeck, right, examine an R/C car following a race at Lake Park in Lutz.

“I think what got me into it was I wanted to race real cars, but my family couldn’t afford it,” Eckert said. “For sure, it is a lot safer to race remote control cars than real cars.

“Everyone has a blast, I think,” he added, “or I hope they do. I’ve always enjoyed this hobby and I’d like to see more kids, fathers and sons, and even novice drivers come out. All you need is a personal transponder to race.”

That personal transponder hooks into the car and allows Eckert to track lap times, provide stats and, of course, announce the winner. At the races, there are meets for both electric and nitro, or gas-powered, R/Cs. The latter requires actual pit stops to be fueled, which the length of the race also factors in.

Lake Park R/C already sees its fair share of families camp out for the day and make it an outing. Tampa resident Michael Abrahams does this with his son, Nixon, who just got an R/C kit for his birthday after showing an interest in racing.

A remote-controlled car makes a big jump on a hill obstacle at the R/C race track at Lake Park in Lutz.

“He’s into a lot of engineering, so he gets to work on the car, tinker with it and get his hands dirty,” Abrahams said. “It’s a great experience for him and he’s even learning a little something. … But the father/son bonding aspect? For sure. I’ll take that every weekend.”

Odessa resident, 13-year-old driver and the aptly named Ember Dirt, grew up around the R/C track, being “dragged” there by her father. So eventually, she wanted to get her hands on a controller.

“Since my dad has always done it, I wanted to get into it as well — it’s fun,” she said. “It’s not just out here playing with toys. It takes practice and some strategy. My friends think that it’s just toys, but I try to get them to come down and see it’s more than that — I bet they will one day.”

Even if R/C racing is more than toys, it is, indeed, still fun for the drivers.

And that’s all Eckert wants, too.

“I think some people can be a little scared to race — hesitant about those who are too competitive,” he said. “I wish that wasn’t the case because I think people want to come out, race and just have fun. Yes, it’s a race, but it shouldn’t scare people away. I want it to be fun — that’s the whole thing about R/C racing.”

Lake Park R/C
Where: 17314 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz
Details: The organization hosts races monthly, except during the rainy summer months. Most races are on the weekends, but the R/C track at Lake Park is available for visitors, as long as the park is open.
Info: Visit Lake Park R/C on Facebook.

Published July 13, 2022

The aptly named Ember Dirt, 13, of Odessa, expertly works her R/C race car around the track at Lake Park in Lutz.
Racers expertly maneuver their cars on the R/C race track at Lake Park in Lutz.
The R/C race track at Lake Park in Lutz is available for anyone to use at any time the park is open, but is primarily used and maintained by Lake Park R/C, which hosts monthly races on the weekends.
R/C car ‘crashes’ are just as common as their life-sized counterparts and that’s why several helpers will man the track, to straighten out the cars and put them back on track to race.
A remote-controlled car makes a big jump on a hill obstacle at the R/C race track at Lake Park in Lutz.
Ashton Offutt, left, and Mateo Amaya, both of Lutz, work on their remote-control race cars in the ‘garage,’ or tent situated near a pickup truck and table, during a weekend race at Lake Park in Lutz.

Local driver has the right ‘Formula’

By

Robin Bonanno isn’t about to slow down.

At 59, as a breast cancer survivor and winner of multiple Formula racing championships, she isn’t ready to pump the brake just yet.

“Growing up in New Jersey, I always restored cars with my dad and just knew that I loved driving and wanted to do that,” said Bonanno, who now lives in Odessa.

“So when we moved to Florida, we bought a Ferrari and it just happened that my neighbor was a retired race car driver (Amos Johnson).

Robin Bonanno, of Odessa, has been around cars since she was young. Now, at age 59, she’ll be racing her new Formula Atlantic race car in June. (Fred Bellet)

“It kind of all just snowballed from there, and I have no plans to stop racing now,” said the woman, who has been racing for 22 years.

During that span, she’s been getting progressively skilled and faster.

She also has switched to more powerful cars, starting with a Triumph Spitfire, moving to a Radical race car, and eventually deciding to move to the open-wheel cars that are used in Formula racing.

Bonanno races in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the South Atlantic Road Racing Championship (SARRC), which is held in seven different states. Running in those leagues has yielded 14 championships: three in the SARRC and 11 regional titles in the SCCA.

In June, she’ll unveil her newest ride: a Formula A car that can hit speeds up to 150 mph. She’ll debut that car at Sebring International Raceway.

Carl Lunderstadt has been married to Robin Bonanno for 15 years. His knowledge of racing is an asset to the team.

“I just knew, as a driver, I wanted to and had to go faster with a bigger, badder car — and that’s the Formula A.

“It’s harder and meaner to drive, so there’s a learning curve, but I’m looking forward to getting it out there,” she said.

As much as she enjoys the speed and the challenge, Bonanno wants everyone to know that there’s more to her than simply racing cars.

She’s also a pilot, a guitar player, a teacher, a wife and an aspiring inspirational speaker.

She hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams — whether that be young girls at the race track who are looking up to her, or helping others to find their way in life.

“Women just line up and say, ‘I always wanted to do this or that’ and I say to them, ‘Well, why aren’t you doing these things?’ I want to be a role model and help young women, girls, men — help anyone do what I’m doing. I know it’s not for everyone, but I can help people do a lot of things they’ve always dreamed of doing.”

Robin Bonanno is accustomed to a race car’s speed. Here, she shows off the engine in her ‘Other Car,’ a Ferrari.

Bonanno’s husband of 15 years, Carl Lunderstadt, who also doubles as her crew chief and manager, knows she can be inspiring.

“I’ll say this about my wife, she is the best driver I’ve taught and I’ve taught a lot of drivers,” Lunderstatdt said.

They’re on the lookout for sponsors, which not only would benefit their race team, but also the sponsor, Lunderstatdt said.

“We could get any sponsor tremendous exposure because she’s good and a female driver,” he said.

They also can be beneficial to charitable causes, he said.

“We can draw an awful lot of attention to someone’s charity because we’re not in it to make a lot of money. We’re in it to do good, help promote a good charity, and enjoy it because it is a very enjoyable sport,” he said.

Bonanno agreed.

She’s not looking for just any sponsor.

She wants one who “wants to build something.

“I’m not looking for someone to throw money and say, ‘Go race,’ but to build something bigger and better. Because it’s nice to be looked up to, and if I can help someone, that’s all I want to do,” Bonanno said.

Published April 27, 2022

Sunlake boys finish third at state cross-country championships

By

The Sunlake High School varsity boys cross-country team continued to show itself as among the state’s elite distance running programs and tops in Pasco County, and in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Seahawks finished in third place out of 32 schools in Class 3A at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Cross Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.

The Sunlake High School varsity boys cross-country team finished third in the Class 3A state championship meet, representing the best finish among all local schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. From left: Nathan Lee, Cason Meyer, Cade Culpepper, Alex Pena, Colby Robbins, Maximillian Goserud and Cody Smith. (Courtesy of Randal Reeves)

The 3A team crown went to Miami’s Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, which tallied 42 points after its top five runners went second, ninth, 10th, 14th and 17th place, respectively. It represents that private school’s fifth-consecutive state title and 13th all-time.

Second place went to Fort Myers High School, who tallied 132 points after its top-five finished seventh, 22nd, 37th, 44th and 50th.

Sunlake wasn’t far behind.

They tallied 151 points, as its fleet went third, 16th, 23rd, 58th, and 76th in the 3.1-mile course on Nov. 12.

Rounding out the top five team finishers were Fort Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas High School (201 points) and Naples High School (235 points), respectively.

Junior Alex Pena — who paced Sunlake with a third-place individual finish — broke the 16-minute mark by clocking a 15:46.8, a 5:04 per mile pace.

The lone runners in the 3A meet who finished ahead of Pena were Leon High School sophomore Patrick Koon (first place, 15:23.8) and Belen Jesuit sophomore Joshua Ruiz (second, 15:37.4).

Following Pena for Sunlake were seniors Colby Robbins (16:21.3) and Cason Meyer (16:21.3); freshman Cade Culpepper (17:03.1); and, senior Maximillian Goserud (17:16.9).

The Seahawks sixth and seventh varsity runners — whose scores aren’t tallied in the results — were junior Nathan Lee (17:47.7) and senior Cody Smith (18:16.7).
The timed average for the Sunlake boys was 16:36, equating to an average pace of 5:21 per mile. There was just a 1:31 gap between its No. 1 through No. 5 runners.

The Seahawks, coached by Randal Reeves, racked up a number of other accolades during the season — altogether sweeping conference, district and regional team titles.

Robbins took individual crowns at each of those three meets. This included recording the fastest time in county history (and setting a new Sunlake record) with a 15:14 mark on the school’s 5K home course at the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) meet on Oct. 20.

The 2021 (FHSAA) Florida High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Championships was held Nov. 12 at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.
(Courtesy of Florida High School Athletic Association)

Other individuals from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area also fared well in the 3A boys meet.

Cypress Creek High School junior Zack Poekert finished sixth overall, timing 16:05.

Zephyrhills High School sophomore William Poe took 26th, clocking 16:35.

The meet featured 234 runners.

Several local teams and individuals exhibited solid showings at the state finals across other classifications, too.

The Wharton High School varsity girls yielded the next best local team showing — finishing 10th in the Class 4A meet.

The Wildcats were paced by senior Brooke Reif — a University of Richmond signee — who finished fourth among all individual 4A girls, after running an 18:49.2, an average pace of 6:03 per mile.

The Sunlake girls went 14th in the 3A meet, while the Land O’ Lakes High School girls collected a 26th place finish.
The Steinbrenner High School boys program went 24th in the 4A contest.F
Land O’ Lakes native Elli Black — a home-schooled seventh-grader who runs for Tampa Cambridge Christian School — finished state third overall in the 1A girls meet, posting 18:26.4. The other state qualifying girls individual was Wiregrass Ranch freshman Ava Schmitt (48th, 20:27.3, 4A girls).

Roundup of local teams and individuals at the 2021 FHSAA Cross Country State Championships:

Boys

4A
Steinbrenner (24th)

Ronald Aeschleman, senior (57th, 16:52)

Sawyer Raveling, senior (111th, 17:37.1)

Jaden Simpson, senior (124th, 17:46.0)

Jacob Smith, junior (169th, 18:25.4)

Joaquin Abanses, freshman (170th, 18:26.3)

Brady Peifer, freshman (172nd, 18:28.3)

Eion McDarby, senior (212th, 19:49.7)

3A
Sunlake (third)
Alex Pena, junior (third, 15:46.8)

Colby Robbins, senior (16th, 16:21.3)

Cason Meyer, senior (23rd, 16:31.8)

Cade Culpepper, freshman (58th, 17:03.1)

Maximillian Goserud, senior (76th, 17:16.9)

Nathan Lee, junior (110th, 17:47.7)

Cody Smith, senior (148th, 18:16.7)

Indvidual(s)

Cypress Creek: Zack Poekert, junior (sixth, 16:05)

Zephyrhills: William Poe, sophomore (26th, 16:35.5)

 2A

No local teams or individual runners

 1A
No local teams or individual runners

 Girls

Class 4A
Wharton (10th)

Brooke Reif, senior (fourth, 18:49.2)

Alexi Amer, senior (51st, 20:30.8)

Alexandria Frye, senior (81st, 20:56.5)

Olivia Hammill, junior (109th, 21:18.3)

Aubrey Raile, junior (127th, 21:46.6)

Keira Moody, freshman (191st, 23:27.7)

Dana Robinson, senior (209th, 24:22.9)

 Individual(s)

Wiregrass Ranch: Ava Schmitt, freshman (48th, 20:27.3)

3A
Sunlake (14th)

Sara Ellingson, senior (54th, 20:15.7)

Shelby Viseur, senior (77th, 20:39.9)

Avery Pham, sophomore (78th, 20:41.1)

Abigail Williams, sophomore (89th, 20:49.8)

Jaiden Wickert, junior (128th, 21:35.8)

Emma Burleson, senior (145th, 21:57.8)

Ally Moyer, sophomore (165th, 22:22.6)

Land O’ Lakes (26th)

Maranda Hildebrand, senior (88th, 20:48.9)

Sara Ashley, senior (133th, 21:39.2)

Aileen Castillo, sophomore (152nd, 22:04.0)

Dixie Blessing, freshman (169th, 22:43.5)

Ava Adriana, sophomore (171st, 22:47.0)

Grace Connoy, sophomore (200th, 23:38.6)

Alli Laffler, freshman (202nd, 23:40.9)

 1A
Individual (s)

Elli Black, Cambridge Christian (Land O’ Lakes resident), eighth grade (third, 18:26.4)

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Sports agency in Lutz building reputation, clientele

By

When conjuring up an image of a sports talent agent, the mind might wander to a sharp-tongued individual donning an expensive suit, wheeling deals and barking orders from an expensive downtown high-rise in Los Angeles, Miami or New York.

Think movies and television shows like “Jerry McGuire,” “Ballers,” and “Arliss.”

DNA Sports Management is a boutique sports agency firm situated off of State Road 54 in Lutz. The firm primarily represents professional football and hockey players. (Courtesy of DNA Sports Management)

But, David Walkowiak and Andre Kirwan aim to defy that stereotype. They operate a boutique sports agency firm out of Walkowiak’s law office, off State Road 54 in Lutz.

Walkowiak and Kirwan partnered around 2014 to form DNA Sports Management, a full-service sports agency that primarily works with professional football and hockey players.

Kirwan jokes the firm’s name sometimes gives the impression the duo is in an entirely different line of work — with people frequently asking if it’s a medical tech company.

The DNA moniker takes on multiple meanings.

For one, it ties in the first initial of Dave and Andre.

And, like the biological DNA, the firm asserts the tagline: “With You for Life.”

It also signals the team is available to help their clients even after their athletic career — providing guidance into the public and private sectors.

They’ve helped clients break into coaching and scouting, have written law school recommendations, and have helped another launch a rap career and establish contacts in the music and entertainment industry.

They regularly assist with housing issues, financial literacy, athletic training programs and are just there, sometimes, to lend an ear.

“We stay with these guys, whether they’re making millions of dollars or nothing, because we take this seriously,” Walkowiak says.

Kirwan asserts the firm’s priority is “do the right thing by players and not compromise integrity.”

In essence, Kirwan and Walkowiak are on call  24/7, Kirwan says.

“It’s just a matter of when life happens, so when they need us, they need us,” he says of DNA’s athletic clientele. “We’re taking calls on weekends, on evenings. If they had a bad practice, they’ll call us for a pep talk, so really, we’re family. We tell the parents, ‘We’re an extension of you…’”

David Walkowiak

Modest beginnings
DNA Sports started from humble beginnings.

The very first negotiated deal was on behalf of a player for the Triangle Torches, a little-known and now defunct professional indoor football team based out of Raleigh, North Carolina.

It was far from a headline-grabbing, multimillion dollar deal.

League players made around $150 per week and were given a couple food vouchers.

Now, the pair is working with several athletes who’ve gone on to have stints or extended action in both the NFL and CFL.

A new addition to the DNA roster is former USF record-breaking quarterback Quinton Flowers, who plays in the Fan Controlled Football league. Flowers also enjoyed stints with the Cincinnati Bengals (2018), Indianapolis Colts (2019) and XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers (2020).

Another familiar face is former USF outside linebacker Nigel Harris. The former Hillsborough High standout is now on the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders negotiation list and has previous experience with the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans.

Walkowiak estimates DNA Sports has represented “close to 100 players” since its inception. He  acknowledges many initial signings were reaches to have a legitimate shot in the pro football ranks, coming from the Division II and NAIA collegiate football ranks.

With time and experience, the firm now can be more selective with its client list.

“I think we learned a lot in the early years,” Walkowiak says. “We realized it’s not quantity. It’s not that you just sign everybody and hope one sticks, you know, it’s that we want to be a boutique agency, and one that really caters to all the needs.”

The firm has gone global to procure talent, too.

DNA Sports in November tabbed three Russian hockey player prospects to contracts — defenseman Artur Karmashkov, goaltender Ivan Veremchuk, and center Yuri Zholobov, respectively.

Karmashkov and Veremchuk have played in the KHL, the Soviet Union’s equivalent of the NHL, while Zholobov has had action in the Czech Republic’s premier professional leagues.

The signings were made possible with the help of former Tampa Bay Lightning winger Alexander Selivanov, the agency’s Director of European Scouting/European Agent.

Andre Kirwan

Further beefing up its ice hockey portfolio, DNA Sports recently hired Adam Bennett,  the No. 6 overall pick in the 1989 NHL Draft, to an advisory role.

Bennett, who bounced around professional leagues for six years, including playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers, will be consulting primarily Florida-based hockey talent, helping them latch on with junior teams, colleges and so on.

The numbers guy
Walkowiak and Kirwan each bring their own set of unique backgrounds and experiences to the sports management firm.

Walkowiak is a self-professed “geek that loves numbers,” and describes himself as “the guy behind the scenes.” He previously worked closely with the Lightning’s former ownership group led by Henry Paul and Phil Esposito, assisting on tasks like arbitration, trades and player contract evaluations.

His career feats include facilitating the trade of then forward Jason Bonsignore and handling the arbitration case of then goaltender Daren Puppa.

On negotiating player contracts, Walkowiak calls the process “very similar to doing a comparative market analysis in real estate.”

With a passion for sports growing up and hockey in particular, Walkowiak “always wanted to be an agent.”

A practicing attorney since 1997 who specializes in real estate law, circuit civil and family law, Walkowiak figured he’d revisit this dream knowing pro athletes have landed larger and larger deals in recent years.

The tipping point came when Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog in 2013 signed a seven-year contract extension worth $39 million.

The report piqued Walkowiak’s interest.

Someone he never heard of was now “making Wayne Gretzky money,” he said, referring to arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, who retired in 1999.

Former USF record-breaking quarterback Quinton Flowers is one of the Lutz-based sports agency’s more prominent clients. (Courtesy of University of South Florida Athletics Department)

“For a period of about 15 years, to go from the greatest player that ever played the game, to almost the same amount of money for a guy that I had never heard of,” Walkowiak says. “I wanted to revisit that.”

The mentor
Kirwan, meanwhile, takes on more of the role of relationship-builder and athlete mentor. He often reminds clients and others to “stay humble, stay hungry and prayed up.”

Kirwan was a decorated athlete in his own right. He played nearly nine seasons with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, where he won a Grey Cup Championship as a starting wide receiver in 1997. He even had an NFL training camp stint with the San Francisco 49ers after graduating from Stanford University.

Kirwan understands the importance of an agent being forthcoming, and transparent, with athletes.

He once had to fire an agent from a high-profile firm for lying to him about sending his highlight film to NFL teams who’d expressed interest at the height of his CFL career. It could’ve been what Kirwan needed to break into the NFL at the time.

Kirwan often ponders if he would have been better served by a smaller, more personable firm like DNA Sports.

“I’ve sat on both sides of the table now.

“The No. 1 question I’d always ask an agent when I was interviewing them was, ‘Who else do you represent?’ and a lot of times you go for the shiniest objects, the biggest names and that’s what I ended up doing,” Kirwan explains.
“In essence, I should’ve gone to a boutique firm like us that really fought for my cause. Having had to fire an agent for lying to me, it’s even that more personal to me to do what we say we’re going to do,” he said, noting athletes are placing their futures in the firm’s hands.

Keeping momentum
So, what does the future holds for DNA Sports?

Perhaps the firm will venture into additional professional sports, such as basketball, soccer or track and field.

“We’re not opposed to branching out,” Kirwan says, but, “we don’t want to be a jack-of-all trades and a master of none.”

Whatever path they take, Kirwan and Walkowiak are bullish on the agency’s future prospects.

“It’s just a matter of time before we start having those first-rounders, those second-rounders,” Kirwan says, referring to top-flight NFL Draft prospects.

Says Walkowiak: “We’re excited. We have a lot going on. We’ve picked up quite a bit of traction lately.”

For information on DNA Sports Management, visit DNASportsManagement.com, email , or call 813-962-3176.

Published February 24, 2021

Steinbrenner boys cross-country wins first state title

By

After finishing runner-up at the past two 4A state championships, Steinbrenner High’s varsity cross-country team won it all this year — defeating 31 other teams.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) 4A state championships were held on Nov. 9 at Tallahassee’s Apalachee Regional Park.

The Steinbrenner Warriors were paced by senior Josh King, who finished in sixth place overall, crossing the finish line in 15:52.32 The rest of the team’s top five runners were senior Blake Walker (19th,16:05.88), senior Gabriel Lara (32nd, 16:19.79), junior Zachary Harrigan (45th, 16:26.18) and senior Rama Jonnalgadda (56th, 16:30.95).

The Steinbrenner High varsity boys cross-country team won its first state championship earlier this month. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High Athletics)

Steinbrenner’s 129 points were enough to edge out second-place team finisher Nease High (140), despite the latter having three of the race’s top five finishers.

Steinbrenner’s showing marked the program’s first-ever state title.

After falling just short of that elusive crown in 2017 and 2018, winning it all meant that much more.

“You see how hard these guys work, and for them to have that moment, it’s unreal, you can’t really describe it,” Warriors head coach Allison Szponar said. “It was kind of surreal to be a coach…and you really appreciate all that goes into it and how hard that these guys have worked day in and day out in their absolute, unyielding commitment to the team and our mission.”

That was especially the case for King, who battled injuries each of the last two years. He missed all his sophomore year with a stress fracture, and only ran a few races as a junior before he was sidelined again.

Said King, “I kind of wanted to show who I am and prove my potential, and try to really lead the team because we’ve been runners-up for two years in a row, and we were really hungry for it and I wanted to contribute to it.

“I think ending on a high note is really great for me because this is really like all I wanted and this is what I worked for, for so many years.”

King worked to become the team’s No. 1 runner this season. His personal record of 15:50, in September at the Don Bishop Invitational, broke the school’s 5K record of 15:56 set in 2012 by Matt Magee, who went on to run cross-country and track at Florida State University.

Having his name attached to a state title and a school record humbles King: “I mean, that’s kind of crazy to me, because I thought we’d never be able to reach that record that’s been held for a long time now. Our school’s relatively young, but the guy who formerly had it was like a stud, so we all like thought it wasn’t reachable.”

Besides King’s running prowess this season, Szponar said the senior leader served as the team’s quasi-athletic trainer, offering recovery advice and encouragement to fellow runners who went through various aches and pains.

King’s own personal recovery also was a team motivator, the coach said.

“He leads by example, which is the most important part,” Szponar said, also noting King has a 5.7 weighted GPA. “He worked back from (injuries) to become an even stronger and better runner by finding what worked with him, and the younger guys will see that, so when they’re complaining of the shin splints or they tweak an ankle or something like that they know that, ‘Hey, all is not lost.’”

The team’s motto this season was “DNA: Doubt Not Allowed.”

Since the start of summer workouts, the team’s mindset for each practice and race was to push hard and not make excuses, Szponar said.

“We never give up and we don’t doubt what we’re doing,” the coach said. “If we gave up, we definitely would not have been state champions this year after coming off two straight years of being runners-up. A lot of guys would lose their focus and their drive, but our guys, it spurred them to work even harder and motivated them to achieve what they achieved this year.”

King echoed those sentiments, noting the program’s success comes from “a winning culture.”

King explained: “We have a team mentality here at Steinbrenner, and we have younger guys that look up to the seniors and kind of try to replicate what they do, and we have an incredible coaching staff.”

He added: “Cross-country is such a unique sport in that what you put into it is what you get out of. Like, you don’t line up to the line and (are) naturally 2 minutes faster. It’s literally the hard work that we put into it, and our team worked really hard this year to achieve our goals.

“We had a lot of talent and we worked really hard, so I think the outcome that we got was definitely something that we were looking for, and it was really great.”

Leading into the state meet, Szponar said the team was confident they could win the whole thing. After all, the Warriors swept its district and regional meets, and had the needed depth across its varsity squad.

“The message was, ‘This is y’all’s to lose, and the only team that can beat you are yourselves…so all you have to do is do what you’re supposed to do and you get to hoist that trophy at the end of this meet.’”

That, they did.

Here’s a roundup of all local teams and individuals at the 2019 FHSAA cross-country state championships:

Boys
4A
Steinbrenner (First place)
Josh King, senior (Sixth place— 15:52.32)

Blake Walker, senior (19th — 16:05.88)

Gabriel Lara, senior (32nd — 16:19.79)

Zachary Harrigan, junior (45th — 16:26.18)

Rama Jonnalgadda, senior (56th — 16:30.95)

Paul Foreman, senior (125th — 17:11.57)

Ethan Bhatt, junior (172nd — 17:37.16)

Wharton (26th place)
Jared Hamill, junior (10th — 15:55.30)

Jackson Blanchard, senior (111th — 17:05.96)

Thomas Walter, junior (159th — 17:27.20)

Alexander Olson, senior (208th — 18:16.55)

Amir Aboroomi, sophomore (232nd — 19:41.54)

Emanuel Camacho, sophomore (236th — 20:50.51)

Kevin Tran, junior (237th — 21.02.16)

Individual(s)
Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (49th — 16:28.06)

3A
Sunlake (Fifth place)
Colby Robbins, sophomore (19th — 16:29.59)

Gavin Kennedy, senior (44th — 16:51.30)

Drew Knobl, senior (49th — 16:55.06)

Alejandro Pena, freshman (60th — 17:06.29)

Kaden Knopp, senior (70th — 17:11.51)

Albert Lared, senior (82nd — 17:16.58)

Edward Scheid, senior (99th — 17:26.42)

2A
Cypress Creek (20th place)
Justin Ludwig, sophomore (59th — 17:15.49)

John Roswell, junior (102nd — 17:58.38)

Devin Payne, sophomore (106th — 18:00.27)

Lathen Falk, sophomore (18:35.88)

Sebastian Lebron, junior (18:41.55)

Zachery Poekert, freshman (18:52.56)

Dominic Fonseca, junior (19:45.29)

Individual(s)
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, senior (33rd — 16:54.85)

No local teams or individuals in 1A

Girls
4A
Wharton (26th place)
Brooke Reif, sophomore (91st — 20:15. 10)

Nia Rivers, senior (128th — 20:46.80)

Alexandria Frye, sophomore (136th — 20:54.30)

Callie Zack, junior (152nd — 21:14.20)

Jinia Johnson, senior (173rd — 21:42.70)

Jessica Perez, senior (199th — 22:29.10)

Michelle Sullivan, senior (203rd — 22:34.40)

Steinbrenner (28th place)
Reyna Simpson, freshman (105th — 20:27.60)

Anna Breede, sophomore (139th — 20:56.60)

Anne Sullivan, senior (150th — 21:11.20)

Ayden Krueger, senior (151st — 21:11.20)

Kaitlyn Arko, senior (183rd — 21:56.60)

Nina Pardo, freshman (191st — 22:10.20)

Rebekah Hurwitz, senior (212th — 23:17.40)

3A
Sunlake (Sixth place)
Liina Winborn, senior (Fourth place — 18:11.16)

Shannon Gordy, junior (25th— 19:39.29)

Ashley Spires, junior (56th — 20:16.99)

Emily Jenkins, senior (92nd — 20:49.42)

Emma Burleson, sophomore (113th — 21:22.12)

Annie Winborn, freshman (117th — 21:27.73)

Destiny Saltzman, senior (184th — 23:04.31)

No local teams or individuals in classes 1A and 2A

Published November 20, 2019

Youth league blends football, life lessons

By

In this youth football program, life lessons are just as important as fundamentals of tackling, blocking or catching.

Winning is nice and all, but the Keystone Bills youth football and cheerleading organization is more about developing tomorrow’s leaders, officials say.

Coach Jermaine Clemons shares pointers on blocking techniques with several of his offensive players during a recent practice at Keystone Park in Odessa. In addition to coaching, Clemons also serves as the current athletic director for the Keystone Bills Youth Organization. (Christine Holtzman)

“We’re really trying to build young men and young women,” said Bills president/athletic director Jermaine Clemons, who’s in his fourth year with the group.

“It’s bigger than just football,” said Bills U14 varsity coach Juan Long, who’s been with the organization for 13 years.

That theme is emphasized in the organization’s three pillars — respect, community development and education.

The Bills offer flag football, tackle football, and cheerleading for ages 5 through 14. The organization was established in 1976, serving northwest Hillsborough County and Odessa.

It currently has about 160 players across five youth divisions, plus dozens of cheerleaders.

The organization has enjoyed its share of success in recent years, especially at the higher levels.

Under Long’s watch, the Bills won Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL) varsity titles in 2013 and 2017.

The team of 13- and 14-year-olds is enjoying another solid season, with a 6-2 mark.

While holding onto a roster, Coach Dave Saunders observes his offense players run individual drills, as they perfect their deep routes. Saunders was an all-conference receiver at West Virginia University in the late 1990s who went on to play nine years of arena ball. He is currently the varsity wider receiver coach for Gaither High School in Tampa.

“Juan really coaches it,” Clemons said. “He coaches his players up, and he’s very detail-oriented. He runs a defense almost like a college team. They run an offense almost like a college team. It’s not, ‘Line up and run right, run left.’ There are small details.”

But Long, also an assistant at Steinbrenner High, isn’t out there simply to win ballgames.

“I really don’t care about a trophy,” he said. “I care about if (kids) want to come back because they had a great experience, a great time with us.

“Every year I tell the parents, ‘My job is to make them better brothers, better sons, better husbands for the future.’ That’s the main goal, to establish more of the characteristics of these kids, as opposed to just being a football player. I know if we’ve done the other things correctly, we’ve done our job.”

Parent volunteer Jennifer Green witnesses it first-hand with her three sons, who each play for the Bills.

Green explained Bills coaches stay on players about their schoolwork and even offer tutoring sessions before regular Tuesday and Thursday night practices at Keystone Park in Odessa. Coaches also require players to face their teammates if they miss a practice or game due to a behavior or off-the-field issue.

“They’re 100% not just here to make your child a better football player,” she said, “They’re here to build men.”

It’s something 14-year-old Tre Wilson has grown to appreciate.

On the field, Wilson about has it covered, as a versatile athlete who can play running back, receiver, quarterback and returner. The Gaither High freshman also has the bloodlines, as father Eugene Wilson II is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots who also played for the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an eight-year NFL career between 2003-2010.

But, it’s the mentorship from coaches that sticks out most to the younger Wilson.

Cheerleaders with the Midget Cheer Squad practice an extension pyramid, under the direction of Midget Head Coach Melissa Lindstrom. The squad is made up of girls, ages 11 and 12.

“They’ve shown me experiences about life, as I’m growing up,” he said. “Over the years, they’ve taught me not only about football, but being the best on and off (the field).”

Aside from life lessons of course, Bills coaches impart their fair share of football advice.

They’ve got the pedigree to do so.

Clemons was a running back at the University of South Florida in the late 1990s under head coach Jim Leavitt.

Long was a linebacker at Mississippi State University in the early 1990s, and had a brief stint in the NFL and played several years in the Arena Football League.

Another coach, Dave Saunders, was an all-conference receiver at West Virginia University in the late 1990s who has the third-most receiving yards in school history. He went on to play nine years of arena ball, including four season with the Tampa Bay Storm (2002-2005).

The experience resonates with players and parents alike, said Green, whose boys spent time in other youth football leagues in the Tampa Bay area.

“We’ve been drawn here by the level of coaching that is available,” she said. “The level of coaching here is a lot more intense. To have that level of experience out there, not every person can bring that out.”

The diverse and decorated football backgrounds help get kids to heed coaches’ principles, Long explained.

“You don’t need to be a former player in order to get credibility,” Long said, “but, at the same point in time, especially with today’s generation, you do at least get their attention.”

“We have that experience, so we can relate to the kids from that standpoint. They know, ‘Hey, these guys have been there and done it, they’ve seen things at the highest level, then maybe we should listen to them, because they’re trying to steer us in the right direction.’”

Published October 23, 2019

Prep football midseason review

By

The 2019 Florida high school football regular season has reached the midway point. Here’s a closer look at how teams and players are faring from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Gaither Cowboys are off to a blistering 5-0 start and are ranked among the state’s top 10 teams in Class 6A.
(Courtesy of Gaither Athletics)

Perfect performers
At the midway mark, there are three programs sporting undefeated records — Academy at the Lakes, Gaither and Steinbrenner. What do each have in common? Potent offenses backed by efficient, veteran quarterback play.

  • Academy at the Lakes is averaging over 39 points per game. Junior quarterback Jalen Brown, a fourth-year starter, has completed 55% of throws for 785 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also the team’s leading rusher (445 rush yards, six touchdowns).
  • Gaither is averaging over 38 points per game. Senior quarterback Tony Bartalo, a two-year starter, has completed 63% of throws for 1,320 yards, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. He currently boasts multiple Division I offers.
  • Steinbrenner is averaging over 48 points per game. Senior quarterback Haden Carlson, a three-year starter, has completed 64% of throws for 783 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. He is a FIU (Florida International University) verbal commit.

Also notable: Wiregrass Ranch (5-1) has received stellar quarterback play from sophomore Rocco Becht, who’s posted a 56% completion rate, 936 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators went 7-3 last year, but have struggled much of this season with a 1-5 mark thus far. (File)

Surprising struggles
Entering the 2019 season, Land O’ Lakes and Zephyrhills were expected to build off winning seasons and compete for a playoff spot in their respective classifications. But early season struggles has all dampened those hopes for both teams.

  • The Gators finished 7-3 last season — its first winning campaign since 2013. But, they’ve hobbled to a 0-5 start before finally securing a 44-0 win over Freedom last week. A team thin on seniors and an anemic running game has magnified the struggles.
  • One of the most consistent and dominant programs in Pasco County in recent years, the Bulldogs haven’t lost four or more games since 2012 and haven’t missed the postseason since 2013. But after losing 22 seniors from last year’s 11-1 squad, the Bulldogs have shown less bark this season. They lost their first three games, but have begun to show life with recent road wins against Wesley Chapel and Tarpon Springs, respectively.

New coaches finding their way

  • Sunlake has jumped to a respectable 3-3 mark under first-year head coach Trey Burdick, holding his own in assuming the role previously held by one of the county’s winningest coaches in Bill Browning. Under Burdick, the team is on pace to surpass the 4-6 mark the program has had each of the past two seasons. Better yet, Burdick, a longtime assistant under Browning, steered the Seahawks to a 34-23 victory over crosstown rival Land O’ Lakes in the annual ‘Butter Bowl’ showdown.
  • New Pasco head coach Jason Stokes already has led the struggling program to as many wins as it did all of last season. And while the 2-4 mark doesn’t seem all that great, the Pirates have battled hard in one possession losses to Sunlake and Springstead, respectively. With that, this year’s “9-Mile War” rivalry game against Zephyrhills should provide some more intrigue; Zephyrhills has won the past four contests. Stokes is no stranger to being a head coach in the Tampa Bay area — he steered Gaither to three playoff appearances between 2011 to 2016, and also had stints at Bloomingdale and Middleton, respectively.

Stat stuffers
Here’s a look at a top statistical performer from each high school in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Hillsborough County

  • Reggie Johnson II, Carrollwood Day, junior defensive end: 15 tackles, three sacks
  • Hussein Hafiz, Freedom, senior linebacker: 12 tackles (five for loss), three sacks
  • Deveon Knighton, Gaither, senior receiver: 28 receptions, 431 yards, six touchdowns
  • Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, junior tailback: 828 all-purpose yards, 11 touchdowns

Pasco County

  • Adrian Leverette, Academy at the Lakes, junior tailback: 379 scrimmage yards, five touchdowns
  • Jack Miller, Bishop McLaughlin, freshman receiver: 19 receptions, 502 yards, three touchdowns
  • Jehlani Warren, Cypress Creek, senior quarterback: 57% completions, 515 passing yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions
  • Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, senior quarterback, 39% completions, 790 passing yards, seven touchdowns, four interceptions; 336 rushing touchdowns, five touchdowns
  • Gabriel Barnes, Pasco, junior linebacker: 49 tackles, 20 hurries, three sacks
  • Mark Anderson, Sunlake, junior receiver: 475 all-purpose yards, three touchdowns
  • Brenden Maddox, Wesley Chapel, senior fullback/linebacker: 269 rush yards, four touchdowns; 45 tackles (six for loss)
  • Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior receiver: 735 all-purpose yards, 10 touchdowns
  • Tyler Davis, Zephyrhills Christian, senior tailback: 616 rush yards, six touchdowns
  • Zyree Roundtree, junior tailback: 483 rush yards, four touchdowns

Schools in Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their current 2019 records)

Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots (0-5 overall)
  • Freedom High School Patriots (1-4)
  • Gaither High School Cowboys (5-0)
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors (5-0)

Pasco County:

  • Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man) (4-0 overall)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (1-5)
  • Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (2-3)
  • Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (1-5)
  • Pasco High School Pirates (2-4)
  • Sunlake High School Seahawks (3-3)
  • Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (2-3)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (5-1)
  • Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (3-2)
  • Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (2-3)

Published October 2, 2019

Lutz softball continues to fine-tune its offerings

By

Following a successful spring campaign, Lutz Softball is gearing up for another season of fastpitch softball next month — with a number of recent additions and upgrades.

Formerly known as the Lutz Leaguerettes, the ages 4 to 18 recreational girls softball organization has expanded its fastpitch offerings since scrapping slowpitch play altogether a few years ago.

The league has introduced a five-on-five, infield-only 6U division to guide younger players through basic fundamentals, including the shift from T-ball to coaches’ fastpitch.

The Lutz Softball recreational fastpitch girls softball league featured about 200 players across 17 teams last spring. Those numbers are expected to remain steady in the fall season. (Courtesy of Jennifer Parry)

The new division had a test run last year for the first time — to beneficial results, said Jennifer Parry,  league president.

“It’s been pretty successful, so we’re going to do it again this season,” she said. “The girls that maybe have a shorter attention span, they stay more involved, they learn the basics of the game and hitting.”

The league also is finding ways to cater to more experienced players.

Lutz Softball implemented Xtreme Fastpitch divisions in conjunction with its parent program, Babe Ruth League, which is designed for higher-level players to have more organized competitive play against other Babe Ruth teams throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Parry said the Xtreme league “is for the girls that are either trying to get a little better for high school or that just are a little better than most, they can play there and kind of fine-tune some of those skills that they may not get to practice on a regular rec league.”

Introduced last year, Xtreme Fastpitch has helped “bridge the gap” between recreational and travel ball play as a more affordable option for families, the league president said.

She noted some former Lutz Softball players who previously left for travel leagues have since returned to participate in the league’s Xtreme divisions.

“It’s been pretty successful,” Parry said. “Travel ball really decimates rec ball, so it’s really kind of a step in the right direction to kind of keep girls locally, playing with the girls they go to school with and not put so much pressure on the parents to travel all over.

“We’ve had some girls that went to travel and where they might be girls that get more play in our Xtreme division, (but) in their travel team they don’t play or they maybe play one inning. “They’re all good players, but there’s just a difference in playing time and the community and who you’re playing with, friends with school,” she said.

Lutz Softball transitioned solely to fastpitch play in 2016. Dwindling registration figures forced the league to drop slowpitch, after 37 years. They were the last recreational league in the county to offer that style of the sport.

Parry acknowledged the drastic move to fastpitch has been challenging, particularly in terms of training players the methods of pitching and catching.

So, this season the league is offering free pitching lessons to all registered players, including clinics for beginners and advanced.

Parry put it like this: “It was a big change, especially for some of our older girls who had been pitching for a couple of years because the motion is different, and so we’re still trying to get through that transition. …I think still our biggest hurdle is just getting those girls trained in that area, because when you don’t have a pitcher or a catcher, those games can get really rough, because they’re just walking girls around. It was our biggest struggle in the transition and continues to be our biggest struggle.”

That aside, Parry said Lutz Softball’s registration numbers have been on the increase since the move to exclusively fastpitch.

The league is believed to be the county’s second-largest girls recreation softball league, behind FishHawk .

The Lutz league featured about 200 players and 17 teams in the spring — up from about 160 players a few years ago. Parry expects those numbers to remain steady for the upcoming fall season then “go up a little bit” next spring.

To generate more interest this season, the league is offering a $50 registration discount to families that bring new families and players to the league.

Said Parry, “We’re just trying to get some new families to our parks. We find that once they get there, they really enjoy it. We have a very family like atmosphere and try to include everybody.”

Performance-wise, Lutz Softball is coming off a spring season that saw three of its all-star teams compile strong showings in postseason play.

Its 8U team finished second in districts, third in regionals and fifth in states; 12U placed second at a Babe Ruth all-star warm-up tournament in FishHawk; and 16U won the FishHawk warm-up tournament and finished second at districts.

Besides on-the-field play, the league’s home base at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz is witnessing a makeover. The county’s parks and recreation department recently leveled and re-sodded the complex’s three softball fields with Bermuda grass; side field bullpens, parking lights and a new playground are some other additions.

Said Parry, “This will be our first season playing on the new sod. It’s looking good. Gone are the days of dirt patches and things like that.”

Player registration closes Aug. 24 for the fall season. The season runs from September through November.

For more information, visit LutzSoftball.com, or email .

Published August 21, 2019