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Rangers join youth soccer elite, take national showcase

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December’s Disney Soccer Showcase attracted teams from all over the country, including Ohio, New York, Texas, Tennessee and Michigan. But the winner of the Boys Under-16 division traveled less than 90 miles to get to the tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee. 

The FC Tampa Rangers, based in Lutz, won the Under-16 boys division at the Disney Soccer Showcase in December. The victory gave them national notoriety in youth soccer circles. (Courtesy of Mike Connell)
The FC Tampa Rangers, based in Lutz, won the Under-16 boys division at the Disney Soccer Showcase in December. The victory gave them national notoriety in youth soccer circles. (Courtesy of Mike Connell)

The FC Tampa Rangers, based in Lutz, won the U-16 tournament Dec. 27-30. They got past three other teams in their bracket, winning against all three while allowing just one goal in the process, and reached the finals to face the winner of the other bracket.

That opponent, Dix Hills from New York, is ranked No. 2 in the country and hadn’t allowed a single goal in their bracket play.

The end result? A 4-1 victory for the Rangers and more notoriety for an organization that’s becoming known for strong play and a competitive spirit on the national stage.

“I’m incredibly proud of the boys and the way they represented themselves and the club,” said Mike Connell, director of coaching for the Rangers organization. “It was a huge step for the club because the performance put the FC Tampa Rangers on the national soccer map.”

While he doesn’t think the team was taken lightly, Connell believes the Rangers played at a level their opponents probably didn’t expect, either. In just a few years, the players have become well educated in the game and have a good feel for their roles on the pitch; and Connell said that college scouts at the tournament took note of the team’s impressive play.

While the Rangers strive to be one of the best youth soccer clubs in the country, they have a global perspective regarding the game they play. Connell wants them thinking about winning soccer as its played in other continents like Europe, Africa and South America. The team takes a European-style approach to the game, which involves controlled passing and a patient tempo, as opposed to just kicking the ball and using speed to chase it down.

The style they emulate is being used by successful professional clubs such as Barcelona FC in Spain’s La Liga, AFC Ajax from the Netherlands and Arsenal from the English Premier League, Connell said.

And Connell knows a thing or two about winning soccer himself. As a member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies in their heyday, he was part of the team’s North American Soccer League championship in 1975. The two-time NASL all-star defender played for the Rowdies until 1984, and is now a big part of local youth soccer. His ability to teach beyond the fundamentals of the game, and provide insight to playing at a championship level, has had a positive effect on the team’s players.

“He’s probably the best coach I’ve ever had,” said Steve Rudderham, the Rangers’ center midfielder, who has been playing the game for more than a decade. Connell is popular with the players, but won’t hesitate to be tough on them if they’re not listening or showing proper respect for the game, he added.

The result has been a very successful youth club, and also a different experience than Rudderham has found on other teams. He lives in Pinellas County and plays for his school’s team, and says the Rangers play better soccer than he’s found at the high school level.

“You don’t get much training in high school. It’s just a thrown-together team, whereas in club you have good coaches and good players, and they all want to be there,” Rudderham said. “They all take it seriously.”

While a high school soccer team works with the players who attend the school and are interested in playing, a youth soccer club draws from an entire area, meaning more competition and better talent. Rudderham estimates between 50 and 60 athletes tried out for the Rangers, with only perhaps half of that number trying out for his high school soccer team.

The Rangers have parlayed that talent and coaching into a winning team with a new trophy on its mantle, but its season isn’t over yet. After more league play, the State Cup will begin this spring, which is considered the main tournament.

It’s also a chance for the Rangers to take another step forward: Last year (as Under-15 players) the Rangers reached the final four at the state competition. Now, with an extra year of experience and a confidence boost from successful play against opponents from around the country, Rudderham thinks the team can go even further and compete for a championship.

To do that, they’ll have to get past rival Sunrise, who won last year’s State Cup for U-15 boys. Like the old Tampa Bay Rowdies-Ft. Lauderdale Strikers battles from decades past, Connell believes that a healthy rivalry against a quality opponent makes a team better, and helps players focus on playing with a purpose.

“You can play soccer just for the sake of playing soccer, or you can play soccer with an ambition,” Connell said. “We try to strive that there’s always an ambition ahead of you.”

Published Jan. 29, 2014

It’s 1,000 and counting for Ke’Shawn Ingram

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On Dec. 19, senior point guard Ke’Shawn Ingram joined a pretty exclusive club: boys basketball players from Steinbrenner High School who have scored 1,000 points or more in their careers.

Steinbrenner High School has its first 1,000-point player in boys basketball, as Ke’Shawn Ingram earned those honors late last month. Despite being one of the top offensive teams in the region, it’s defense that’s hurting the Warriors, dropping them to a 6-11 record.
Steinbrenner High School has its first 1,000-point player in boys basketball, as Ke’Shawn Ingram earned those honors late last month. Despite being one of the top offensive teams in the region, it’s defense that’s hurting the Warriors, dropping them to a 6-11 record.

In fact, it’s so exclusive that he’s the only member.

Ingram reached that mark by scoring 25 points in a home game against Sickles. And while the end result was a 69-55 loss for the Warriors, who are going through a challenging season at 6-11 (3-4 in district play), that milestone is a definite bright spot for the program.

But the player who set a new standard for boys basketball excellence at Steinbrenner isn’t doing much celebrating. The team’s lack of wins weighs more on his mind than his personal accomplishment.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like it. I’m proud of myself, but it’s not my first concern,” Ingram said about setting the mark. “The main goal is for my team to go as far as we can.”

The Warriors are having no problem scoring points: With Ingram’s help, they lead their district in points favored by a comfortable margin. In fact, the next closest team is more than 150 points back.

Defense, however, has been a problem, as they also have the most points against — also more than 150 points ahead of the second-worst mark in Class 7A-District 8. Ingram acknowledges the defensive issues and says the team is working on techniques to improve for the rest of the season.

If it seems unusual that a high-scoring senior is more worried about team defense than his personal offensive records, it might be because Ke’Shawn Ingram is an unusual athlete. His 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame is well-suited to sports, but his 3.66 GPA shows that his focus is on more than racking up points on the court.

“School always comes first for me,” Ingram explained. If the team doesn’t have practice after school, homework is at the top of his agenda once he gets home, with extra basketball work coming later in the evening. His goal is to play college basketball (he hasn’t chosen a school yet, but would prefer to stay in the south) and study sports marketing, eventually working with a professional basketball team.

His coach, Reggie Anderson, believes Ingram has the ability to find employment with a basketball team, but not just in an office job. Maybe to actually hit the court.

“He does have that potential,” Anderson said. “He’s going to have to go to college and get bigger and stronger. But he has the natural tools, and definitely would have the opportunity to play at that level.”

Anderson isn’t just a proud local coach boasting about a star player. While this is his first year at Steinbrenner, he has 18 years of coaching experience. During that time, Anderson has coached a number of players who have advanced to the NBA, including current Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Jodie Meeks.

He said that Ingram shares many qualities that his best players have, even beyond sheer talent and ability to score points. They all have humility, a strong work ethic and a desire to always get better, and he believes those qualities are the ones that will help Ingram succeed.

“He’s a much better person off the court than he is a player on the court,” Anderson said. “He’s the total package.”

For now, Ingram will continue to focus more on team goals than personal accomplishments, even though he’s already extended his school-best record to beyond 1,100 points. He said that his best friends are on the team, and they didn’t even discuss getting 1,000 points before the game in which he set the mark.

And, just as Anderson indicated, Ingram will keep trying to get better both on and off the court. He said that achieving success in class has similarities to success in basketball.

“I would say you have to be focused and persistent,” Ingram said. “You have to keep at it. If you’re not understanding something, you can ask for help; just like on the court, you can ask for help from your teammates.”

Steinbrenner girls off to hot hoops start

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When a high school basketball team loses seven players — including three starters — to graduation, the following season will present some big challenges. One could probably call it a “rebuilding” year.

Just don’t use that word when talking to Steinbrenner girls coach J.R. Allen.

Olivia Unger, a senior point guard on the Warriors team, reaches for the ball, proving that a strong defense is necessary for success. Steinbrenner is 20-3, and currently leads Class 7A-District 8.
Olivia Unger, a senior point guard on the Warriors team, reaches for the ball, proving that a strong defense is necessary for success. Steinbrenner is 20-3, and currently leads Class 7A-District 8.

“That whole mindset, I don’t allow my kids to think like that,” Allen said. “To me, that’s kind of making an excuse to where you can have an average year.”

Allen’s team seems to have received the message because they aren’t having an average year: The Warriors are currently 20-3, and sit atop Class 7A-District 8 with a 6-1 record. The team began the season with a 12-game winning streak, and their three losses have been to teams with a combined record of 52-7.

Allen credits the team’s strong start to a suffocating defense: Just five teams have been able to reach the 40-point threshold against them. In fact, he said that the Warriors have kept almost every opponent to at least 20 points below their scoring average.

“That’s why we’ve had the success we’ve had, because this whole team has bought in, heart and soul, to what it really means to play team defense and shut people down,” Allen said.

Steinbrenner also is good at pulling out a victory in close contests: The team is 4-1 in games decided by six points or less. But that isn’t an accident, either. The team specifically practices late-game circumstances that put their players in pressure situations. Whether they’re down by one point with less than a minute left in the game, or they have a small lead to protect and no timeouts remaining — if they face that situation in a real game, odds are they’ve dealt with something similar in practice.

But when it comes to the one main factor in the team’s success, sophomore Courtney Hall agrees with her coach.

“I think definitely our strongest quality is our defense. We just can’t be stopped,” she said.

The team’s philosophy is to have everyone on the court provide pressure and make things difficult for the opposing offense.

Hall also played for Steinbrenner in her freshman year, though not as a starter. She acknowledges that the previous year’s team featured players who were on the court together for a long time and knew each other well, and the current team had to find their own chemistry. But they’ve done so with a stingy defense and a focus on not allowing the opponent to get second chances at scoring.

Hall is Steinbrenner’s leading rebounder, and said that a big team focus is on making sure there are no easy follow-ups when an opponent tries for points.

“If you’re going to take a shot, you’re only getting one shot, and all of us are crashing the boards,” she said.

While the team’s philosophy has earned them a strong record and the top spot in the district, it will be the district tournament and playoffs that will determine how far the Warriors go. And with more than a decade of coaching experience (including coaching boys earlier in his career), Allen has led teams with various skill levels and abilities.

But it’s this Steinbrenner team that has him confident in ways he hasn’t been in the past.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been able to say this in 12 years: This team could win a state championship,” Allen said. “Now will they? Obviously that depends on how we finish and me getting them to absolutely believe that unequivocally with no doubts, and we’re still working on it.

“But I truly believe this team could play for a state championship.”

Bonk finds peace in busy career as tennis official

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You always know when a professional tennis player is performing well. They’re defeating opponents, earning trophies and hearing cheers from the crowd.

The best players become popular and wealthy, and tennis enthusiasts know their name.

Kim Bonk enjoys her love of tennis as an official, working at all levels of the game — from amateur to professional. She was recently recognized by the U.S. Tennis Association for her work behind the scenes of tennis.
Kim Bonk enjoys her love of tennis as an official, working at all levels of the game — from amateur to professional. She was recently recognized by the U.S. Tennis Association for her work behind the scenes of tennis.

But what about tennis officials? They don’t hear any supporters cheer their success. They aren’t popular. They don’t endorse athletic shoes or equipment. And fans don’t know their name.

Usually when they’re recognized it’s because of an unpopular call or a verbal dispute with a player, like the famous court conflicts with player John McEnroe back in the 1980s.

Officials don’t get the accolades, the glory or the money that some players earn, but their job is just as difficult. A player makes several mistakes each game, but can forget about them and bounce back for a victory. But an official is expected to be perfect all the time, stay focused for every point of every game in every set of a match, and stay composed no matter what challenges they have to face.

And they do it sitting by themselves in a large chair overseeing the match, both an integral part of the contest and an invisible spectator.

But occasionally, the best officials will get some recognition for their hard work. On Dec. 7, the U.S. Tennis Association’s Florida section awarded Lutz resident Kim Bonk the Official of the Year award at its annual meeting in Orlando.

“It’s an honor and it’s very humbling,” said Bonk, who also was elected president of the Bay Area Tennis Officials Association in 2013. “After 10 years of hard work, it’s an honor to be recognized.”

Bonk’s desire to become an official stemmed partially from her late entry into the world of tennis. She didn’t start playing until her mid-30s — when many singles players would be retiring — so a lucrative professional career wasn’t in the cards. But after her husband (and avid player) Pete drew her into the game, she wanted to be part of the action.

When the opportunity came up to learn officiating, Bonk took advantage and excelled in the role. Now she works matches at the junior, collegiate and professional level, even serving as line judge at U.S. Open matches.

But regardless of the level of play, Bonk maintains the same attitude heading into the match: She wants to know everything about the rules, and almost nothing about the players.

“Unless I’m in the chair, a lot of times I don’t know who the players are,” she said. “I’ll recognize the face, but I don’t like to know their name, I don’t like to know their seeding, I don’t like to know their ranking. To me they’re just another player on the court. I try not to know anything about them or their playing history so that (the officiating) stays as a non-biased opinion.”

While Bonk remains non-biased, she realizes that those playing the game are naturally biased and emotional, and sometimes that emotion turns into anger and conflict with officials. But when coaches or players get upset, she responds calmly.

When they react unprofessionally, she doles out the appropriate punishment (such as warnings or point or game penalties). And when they later come back and apologize for their behavior — which they often do — she accepts and doesn’t take offense at the outburst.

“People can be upset at you, but it’s not necessarily that they’re upset with you,” Bonk said. “As an official, you have to be there and willing to listen to them, not take it personally and make a decision based on the rules.”

If it sounds like Bonk has an almost superhuman ability to stay calm, her background contributed to her officiating skills. As a former pharmaceutical sales representative, she learned how to interact with a wide variety of customers, read body language, and hone people and listening skills. Now, those same traits have helped her deal with players of different ages, abilities and personalities in her job as an official.

And while it’s a full-time job, being an official is not a traditional 40-hour a week position. She’ll spend many days on the road, then have some time off, then gear up for the start of different seasons. Currently she’s on break, but will have a full schedule from January until May, which will mean officiating junior, college and professional matches all in the span of just a few months.

When Bonk does get some free time, she doesn’t stray far from the court. She’s happy to grab a racket and play recreationally or in a league, and said that playing the game is an important activity for a good official because it allows them to better understand the players and their motivations. But when asked whether she would prefer a great day on the court as a player or as an official, she made a tough-but-decisive call befitting an award-winning official:

“That’s a draw,” she said with a laugh. “They’re both good.”

Better than ever: Steinbrenner Volleyball reaches state semis

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With their victory over Wiregrass Ranch on Oct. 25, the Steinbrenner Warriors can now say they’re Class 7A-District 8 volleyball champions.

Of course, they were able to say the same thing last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. In fact, in the five years the school has had a volleyball program, they’re a perfect 5-for-5 in district titles.

Junior Avery Bradshaw slams the ball over the net during Steinbrenner High School’s recent volleyball playoff run that named the Warriors regional champions.
Junior Avery Bradshaw slams the ball over the net during Steinbrenner High School’s recent volleyball playoff run that named the Warriors regional champions.

But while the district results were always the same, so were the regional ones: The previous four years found the team 0-4 when it came to an elusive regional title.

Until this year.

The Warriors finally claimed their first Class 7A regional crown by besting the Lake Nona Lions on Nov. 9 in three sets. That win took them to the state semifinals for the first time in school history, where they fell to Gulf Coast in a tough five-set match.

But while their season ended with a loss, the team is proud of their accomplishments in claiming a regional title and advancing farther than any previous Steinbrenner volleyball team before them.

“They were the first group in school history to attain that goal, and I think that was most exciting for them,” said Head Coach Laura Stegenga, who has coached for several years, but just completed her second season with Steinbrenner. This squad stood out, she said, because the school’s team historically is a young team. Yet they benefited from having a number of juniors and seniors to provide experience this season.

And with 10 juniors helping lead the way, Stegenga can also look forward to coaching a large portion of this year’s successful team again in 2014.

One of those players, Avery Bradshaw, admits the state semifinal was a tough loss after coming so far this season. But the junior, now in her third year with the Steinbrenner volleyball team, soon recognized the importance of the school’s first regional title.

“We wanted to be the first year (the 2013 squad) on the banner in the gym that said we are regional champions,” Bradshaw said. “That was a great accomplishment for us.”

She was also consoled by the outpouring of support the team received from the school. Originally unsure of the reaction she’d receive and hoping nobody was disappointed in the team following the loss, Bradshaw said she was grateful to see students and faculty — including some she didn’t know were even following the team’s success — offering congratulations and letting her know how proud they were of her and her team.

“That made everything a lot better,” she said.

While the team can look back on 2013 as the best volleyball season in school history, Stegenga knows that there will be new challenges next season. Each year the team wants to live up to the school’s history of claiming the district title, but she admits that winning a regional title and coming so close to the state finals has raised the bar when it comes to team expectations.

The matchups, Stegenga said, will determine how challenging their draw is in the postseason, but she believes that this year’s experience and the desire to improve will provide a lot of motivation for her returning players.

However, the moment they claimed the first regional title in school history is one that will stick with her.

“I remember that game point of the third set against Lake Nona (in the regional final) and the girls’ celebration and the tears. It was very powerful,” Stegenga said. “That’s really the reason why I coach, is to have moments like that with the players.”

Butash among local gridders competing in Orlando next month

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Christopher Butash’s life is filled with football, from his time on his squad with Academy at the Lakes, to his extra playing time recreationally with the Lutz Chiefs.

And he loves it. In fact, as long as the 13-year-old is not cooped up inside doing something, he’s happy.

Christopher Butash prepares to make a pass during a Lutz Chiefs football game this past season. Butash and three other teammates from the Chiefs are heading to Orlando next month to play among the best in recreational football. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Butash)
Christopher Butash prepares to make a pass during a Lutz Chiefs football game this past season. Butash and three other teammates from the Chiefs are heading to Orlando next month to play among the best in recreational football. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Butash)

“I love being outside,” Butash said after a recent practice. “I love going to my friend’s house who has an outside basketball court. When it’s basketball season, we play basketball. When it’s football season, we’re out there throwing the football.”

That throwing and catching has helped Butash a lot. As a quarterback for the Chiefs, he scored nine touchdowns this season, seven of them in the air. And that was before he moved to the wide receiver position, where he continues to excel.

And in December, he’ll have a chance to show those skills at a much more regional level through the Offense-Defense Youth All-American Bowl Week activities taking place at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The weeklong event includes a number of instructional camps as well as the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl game that features 88 of the top high school seniors in the country.

Butash joins teammates Jaxson Bless, Nick Testa and Sebastian Bove, all of whom were named All-Americans during a summer camp hosted by Offense-Defense, a South Carolina company that hosts such camps around the country.

Butash’s father, Michael, is a defense attorney in Lutz, while his mother Lisa works at her husband’s office, and spends a lot of time volunteering as well — especially for Christopher’s athletics.

Yet all of them work to make it to the dinner table each night, in what seems to be a dying tradition elsewhere, to share valuable time with each other.

“I’m very proud of my dad for keeping our family in shape,” Christopher Butash said. “My mom has to plan ahead of time for dinner, but she does it, and that keeps us together.”

In fact, Butash said he would like to follow his father’s footsteps and become an attorney as well, but seems more attracted to personal injury law like another football player-turned lawyer, Brad Culpepper.

Where he’ll go to college is a question he’s probably too young to answer. But Butash said he’s working hard not just on the field, but also in the classroom, maintaining an A average at Academy at the Lakes, especially in his favorite class, language arts.

“I need to work hard, because working hard and getting good grades gets you into college to play football, and it helps get you recognized,” Butash said.

Bowl week in Orlando begins Dec. 30 and runs through Jan. 5. It includes plenty of practice sessions as well as parties for New Year’s and awards, as well as autograph signings for some of the standout senior players taking part.

For more information, visit O-D.com.

Pirates-Bulldogs: Winner gets playoffs, loser goes home

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In high school football, every game is meaningful. If it involves two good teams, it’s a little more important. And if the playoffs are on the line, that ups the ante.

But if it’s a rivalry game, it has the makings of something really special.

Friday’s match up featuring the 5-3 Pasco Pirates and 7-1 Zephyrhills Bulldogs qualifies as all of the above.

ZHPascoGrid
Bulldogs coach Reggie Roberts has beaten the Pasco Pirates more than once as a player, but now he’s looking for his first win against his rival as a coach. And the playoffs are on the line. (File photo)

When Pasco visits Zephyrhills, the game will feature two strong teams in the top half of 5A-District 6 in terms of points scored and points allowed. And while South Sumter sits atop the standings in both district and overall play (already clinching the top spot in the district), the Pirates and Bulldogs are battling for second place and the trip to the playoffs that goes with it.

The winner of this game earns that spot, while the loser has to accept defeat and will be sent home at the hand of their rival.

While making the playoffs is a goal for every team, Zephyrhills is looking to end a long post-season drought. The Bulldogs haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, with just two winning seasons in that span (both occurring since Head Coach Reggie Roberts took over in 2010).

Pasco, on the other hand, is used to post-season appearances. During the years that Zephyrhills has been kept out the playoffs, Pasco has earned six district championships and three undefeated regular seasons.

Now, with one game determining who makes the playoffs, Zephyrhills will either break their streak of futility, or Pasco will continue its run of success. With a 4-1 district record, Zephyrhills’ Roberts is excited about his team’s prospects.

“We’re a better football team than we have been in the past,” Roberts explained. “The last two years, we tasted a little bit of the possibility of the playoffs, and these kids really want to get there. And they’re playing like that right now. I’ve got a bunch of motivated kids on my hands.”

Two of those motivated kids are sure to be the focal points of Zephyrhills’ offense, and the biggest concerns for Pasco’s defense. Senior Devon Brockington is not only one of the rushing threats in the Bulldogs’ run-first scheme, but he’s also the top target when they throw the ball. But if the Pirates find a way to contain him, they’ll still have to contend with Jaylen Pickett, a senior who serves as the lead back and workhorse when Zephyrhills does their damage on the ground.

There’s no question the Bulldogs have had a good year, as evidenced by Roberts being named Coach of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association for District 10. But Roberts, who attended Zephyrhills in his playing days, still has some unfinished business with Pasco. As a linebacker and tight end, his Bulldogs teams were undefeated against their rival, but it’s been a different story as a coach: In three previous opportunities, he has yet to win when facing the Pirates.

And while the game is important for reasons that go beyond his personal history with the team, he’s aware of the disparity in records as a player and coach.

Roberts and the Bulldogs are also aware of the rivalry aspect of playing Pasco. Whatever his coaching staff designs in preparation for the contest, manufacturing motivation and excitement among the players won’t be necessary.

“That’s our rival. The kids always get up for that football game,” Roberts said. “It’s always a good match up; a good rivalry. They’re going to be ready to play. Now you put the district on top of that, and the possibility of the playoffs on top of that? Yeah, it’s not going to be hard to get up for this football game.”

Wanted: Your best football photos

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Think you have the best eye when it comes to prep football pictures? Then your work could end up in this very section, complete with your own photo credit.

The Laker/Lutz News is looking for photos at football games, whether they are of the cheerleaders, crowds, or even game play if you can zoom in well enough. We’ll publish our favorite ones right in this section. (File photo)
The Laker/Lutz News is looking for photos at football games, whether they are of the cheerleaders, crowds, or even game play if you can zoom in well enough. We’ll publish our favorite ones right in this section. (File photo)

The Laker/Lutz News wants your pictures from local gridiron games. Whether it’s of a special play, a new routine from the cheerleaders, or even screaming fans from the grandstands — we want you to send it.

Each week, we’ll select the best pictures and post them to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TheLakerLutzNews, and our favorite could actually end up in print in the paper’s sports section.

Pictures should be submitted by email, but only one picture per email. Each entry must include the full name and address of the photographer, which game the photo was shot at, and identify all the prominent people in the photo.

They should be submitted no later than 3 p.m. each Monday to .

Anything can happen on any given Friday, and here’s your chance to be a part of it.

NFLer wants to help kids who trashed his home

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A retired professional football player who makes his home in Lutz is receiving national attention this past week after some 300 teenagers allegedly trashed his vacation home in New York.

Brian Holloway, an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots and later the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1980s, learned about the destruction happening at his home in Stephentown, N.Y., as it was happening through Twitter. Now he is working to track down all the teenagers that damaged his home, and is working to get their help in cleaning up.

Graffiti litters the walls of Brian Holloway’s barn in New York after a party there allegedly involved some 300 teenagers. Holloway was at his home in Lutz while the party was taking place. (Photo courtesy of Brian Holloway)
Graffiti litters the walls of Brian Holloway’s barn in New York after a party there allegedly involved some 300 teenagers. Holloway was at his home in Lutz while the party was taking place. (Photo courtesy of Brian Holloway)

Holloway’s launched a website to accomplish that. There he says that while broken things can be fixed and stolen things can be returned, the 300 or so people who attended this party are “in peril.”

“I know one thing, if my child was involved, I would want to know everything now,” Holloway said on his website. “We are old school disciplinarians, we do not sit back, we take action. We step in and take charge. It’s so easy for kids to get off track if we let them.”

Holloway bought the house soon after joining the NFL, but now spends most of his time in Florida because of his football injuries. He would host community gatherings at the home when he lived there full-time, which included guests like civil rights activist Rosa Parks and football star William “The Refrigerator” Perry.

The former NFL player is now trying to bring some of the people involved in the party together to help them take a different path.

He called them “the future leaders, each who possess tremendous potential if they choose to do the right thing, make the right choices, and take the first steps.”

For more on Holloway’s efforts, visit www.HelpMeSave300.com.

Swimmers scramble to compete at elite level

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When Brian Vaile took over as coach of the boys swim team at Land O’ Lakes High School this year, he saw a lot of things he liked: A dual-meet winning streak spanning more than a decade, a few very talented athletes, and an interest in maintaining a strong program.

Cam Hilgenberg is part of a small family dynasty that has been part of the Land O’ Lakes swim team’s dual-meet streak dating back to 2000. He had to recruit some new swimmers to make sure that streak remained intact this season. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Cam Hilgenberg is part of a small family dynasty that has been part of the Land O’ Lakes swim team’s dual-meet streak dating back to 2000. He had to recruit some new swimmers to make sure that streak remained intact this season. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But it was the one thing that was missing that worried him: Swimmers. As in, not enough swimmers to field a competitive team.

“Unfortunately, you could win first place in every event and still lose the meet,” said

Vaile, who has more than 15 years experience as a swim coach. In high school swimming, teams need more than just the fastest athlete in the pool. They need enough competitors to challenge for the second- and third-place spots and collect those points as well.

Otherwise, a team could win individual competitions but still lose the overall contest if their opponent takes the points associated with the other places. And without enough swimmers to challenge for those spots, Vaile knew his team would face a lot of disappointment no matter how fast they swam: The school’s win streak would evaporate and be replaced with a season of frustration.

With just seven experienced swimmers on the roster — and needing to increase those numbers quickly — Vaile called upon his team to recruit others to join the cause. And the team responded; the Land O’ Lakes boys swim team now has 12 members.

While Vaile would have liked 16 swimmers, the Gators have enough to compete in their meets. And he feels good about where the team is headed this season.

“I’m a science teacher. I look at it like an atom: We have a really good nucleus,” he said. “You’ve got seven strong swimmers who can swim almost any stroke or event you ask them to.” And with the added depth, they can work toward keeping their winning streak intact.

That streak is important to the team, but it’s a source of family pride for Cam Hilgenberg.

The senior has been with the team since his freshman year, but he’s not the first of his family to swim for Land O’ Lakes. His brother Craig was on the team when its dual-match streak began back in 2000. Another brother, Curt, kept it going after him. His mother, Robin, even coaches the girls swim team.

So a lack of numbers that threatened the Gators’ winning ways had Hilgenberg worried.

“At the end of last year we weren’t sure what was going to happen,” he said. “Even at the beginning of this year, until the week before (the first meet), I was still pretty nervous.” Hilgenberg is the youngest of his siblings to compete for the Gators.

“I’m the last Hilgenberg,” he said. “I’m just trying not to blow the winning streak.”

As one of the team’s leaders and top swimmers, Hilgenberg did his part to boost their numbers: A member of the school’s baseball team, he recruited one of the pitchers to compete in the pool as well. And along with the other experienced swimmers, he helps guide and advise the new members, working on techniques and providing pep talks when necessary.

That work has paid off. The team has won all their meets so far, and the members have confidence as they complete the schedule.

“I think if we keep on the same path as we’re on right now, I think we’ll do pretty well,” Hilgenberg said.

Vaile wants to prepare the swimmers for conference, district and state competitions, but he still has an eye on the dual-meet schedule. He said they’ve defeated some quality opponents and still have challenges on the schedule, but he feels confident the streak won’t end under his first season as coach.

“I think it’s safe for the rest of this year,” he said.