Lutz Sports

Youth movement: Eighth-graders anchor Academy volleyball

September 18, 2013 By Michael Murillo

Most people expect to see teams full of seniors in varsity sports. Sometimes there are a number of talented juniors, and maybe even a sophomore or two. Once in a while, a special freshman might make his or her way onto the roster.

Academy at the Lakes volleyball coach Brian Gonzales rallies his young team during last weekend’s tournament at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. The Wildcats have welcomed four eighth-graders to the team this year, a chance for them to build for the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But even at a private school, you probably wouldn’t expect to find eighth graders. And at Academy at the Lakes, there isn’t a single eighth-grader on their varsity volleyball team: There are actually five of them. And four are starters.

But if opponents think they can take the young team for granted, the Wildcats say that would be a big mistake.

“I hope they don’t underestimate us,” said Julia Mollick, one of the starting eighth-graders on the volleyball team. “If we didn’t have some of them (young players), we wouldn’t have the team we have today. We’re a lot better with them.”

The older players have embraced the addition of their young teammates, Mollick said, offering advice and support as they prepare to face juniors and seniors from other schools.

While starting young talent has been good for team chemistry, it’s not a decision the coach made easily. Brian Gonzales, now in his second season with the team, had to really think about front-loading his varsity squad with eighth-graders.

“I went back and forth a little bit,” said Gonzales, who has nearly a decade of volleyball coaching experience. “I didn’t want to put that much pressure on them. I wanted to make sure they could handle that, being as young as they are.”

But after going through school-wide tryouts, those players emerged as the best options for the team, and he didn’t want them to be held back due to their age.

The need for experience also played a role in his decision, Gonzales said. While the girls could have participated as junior varsity players, the level of competition is very different and he didn’t think it would prepare them for high school-level opponents.

So far, he believes the girls have adjusted well to being varsity players, and meshed well as a motivated team. Mollick, who only started playing volleyball a couple of years ago, supports that belief with a real passion for her chosen sport.

“When you’re up in the air and you’re hitting that ball, I love it,” she said. “When I’m playing, my mind is clear.”

While Academy at the Lakes has had an up-and-down start to the season — they started at 3-6 after playing some big schools — Gonzales also has an eye toward the future when it comes to his team. With growing experience and years of eligibility left for his young athletes, he sees successful seasons in the future for the academy’s volleyball program.

“Two or three years down the road we can really have something there if we keep them all together,” he said.

Mollick agrees. She’s enjoying her time on the varsity team this year, but she knows the team could be something special if the young players grow and compete together in the future.

“I can’t wait to see how far we get,” she said.

Sunlake stays calm, steady even after Pasco upset

September 11, 2013 By Michael Murillo

Every high school football team has some optimism when they start a new season. But if your first opponent is considered the best in the county — riding a 38-game regular season winning streak — that optimism might be tempered.

Unless you’re the Sunlake Seahawks.

Sunlake Seahawks head coach Bill Browning doesn’t want his team to become content. Despite ending Pasco High School’s four-year win streak, there is still a long road to the district title. (File photo)

The Seahawks never trailed in a 17-6 home victory over the Pasco Pirates on Aug. 30. And even though the gridiron crew from Sunlake High School is considered a strong team in their own right, they know it was a special accomplishment to beat someone who hasn’t seen the losing column in the regular season since 2009.

“I hate to rank victories, but it was obviously a huge victory just from the fact that Pasco has dominated everybody in the regular season for so long,” said Coach Bill Browning, who has been with Sunlake’s football program since its inception seven years ago. That tenure includes a few previous losses to the Pirates, but Browning feels that other milestone wins in the school’s history contributed to a sense that they could finally turn the corner against the county’s regular-season juggernaut.

The Seahawks had a small lead when the marching bands took the field halfway through. While Browning was feeling good about his team’s chances, it wasn’t until the opening plays of the second half that he felt like it was going to be Sunlake’s night.

“It was a close game going in at halftime,” Browning said. “We went out (to start the third quarter), received the football and took the first play for a long touchdown. That was huge. I think that gave us the momentum in the second half and they (Pasco) could never re-establish that momentum.”

That play was a 64-yard touchdown run by the team’s starting fullback, junior Logan Wolfe. It was Wolfe’s second touchdown of the night and made him the team’s star in one of the school’s biggest wins. But he’s not interested in taking much credit for himself.

“The huge run would never have happened if it wasn’t for this team’s offensive line. They produced that huge hole for me to run through, so that 64-yard run was all them,” Logan said.

In fact, he credits his teammates on the other side of the ball — the Seahawks’ defense, which frustrated Pasco throughout the evening — with the key to the victory. He believes they have one of the best defenses in the state.

Whoever gets to share credit for the big win, Browning is making sure they don’t get too overconfident from it: The Seahawks’ reward for toppling the Pirates was a tough week of practice to prepare for their next game this past weekend.

Yet Sunlake persevered, beating River Ridge 25-0, and improving to 2-0 on the season.

The team’s goals are the same as before — win the district title and reach the state playoffs. But Browning acknowledges that the win gave the Seahawks a boost and a little swagger, and shows the athletes what they’re capable of accomplishing.

But Browning isn’t adopting any new swagger himself: With around 35 years of coaching experience and more than 20 years in the head coach’s role at schools like Hernando High School and Springstead High School in addition to Sunlake, he doesn’t allow himself to become too elated and dejected following a single game.

In fact, it wasn’t long after the Friday night win that Browning turned his attention to their next opponent.

“To be truthful, Saturday morning I was focused on River Ridge,” Browning said with a laugh. “I’m one who never gets too high, and I don’t get too low. I try to stay at a happy medium. Coaches who don’t do that get on roller coaster rides, and they’re the ones who have a tendency to burn out and don’t last very long in the game.”

Tampa Bay Rebels may look abroad for competition next year

September 11, 2013 By Michael Murillo

If you’ve never seen the Tampa Bay Rebels, a semipro basketball team that plays its home games at Freedom High School in New Tampa, you might wonder if they’re any good. Can a local team really play entertaining basketball at a high level?

According to team founder and head coach Fernando Rojas, you’d be pleasantly surprised.

Tampa Bay Rebels head coach Fernando Rojas gives his semipro basketball team a pep talk from the bench during last year’s 10-2 regular season campaign. (Photo courtesy of Fernando Rojas)

“My opinion is this: We play the highest level of basketball in the Bay area,” he said. “We have had players from the NBA’s Developmental League, players that played on NCAA championship teams, and many players with experience in European basketball. This combination of skill and maturity elevates the game higher than any college level.”

If Rojas sounds confident in his team, it’s because they have the history to back it up. Playing in the Florida Basketball Association, the team went 11-1 last year before dismantling the Heartland Prowl in the league’s championship game. And in 2013, they followed it up with a 10-2 regular season and another trip to the championship game.

This year, the Rebels came within a basket of back-to-back titles, losing 111-109 to that same Heartland Prowl club they defeated the year before.

According to Rojas, building a winner in such a short time — the club started operations in 2011 — is no accident. He follows a corporate philosophy, which involves individual responsibility and goal setting, and he wants everyone onboard.

That includes staff as well as players. Rojas’ director of scouting, Andrew Phillips, has been onboard since before the Rebels existed. Phillips was also involved with the Tampa Bay Sharks, a touring team Rojas founded before the Rebels, and he believes the Rebels’ success begins with its founder.

“I think a lot of it just has to do with leadership and the vision that Fernando has put into place,” Phillips said. “From an organizational standpoint, we try to have clear goals and objectives, and we’ve been fortunate to be able to meet most of those.”

Those goals include finding talent and executing on the court, but it doesn’t stop there. The Rebels stay involved in the community, Rojas said, and he believes it’s important for a local team to partner with local charities.

“We all live in the same community: Players, fans and coaches,” he said. “It just makes sense to participate and make the lives of others better.”

The Rebels already have supported groups like Boys & Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity, and will be involved with the Police Athletic League next season. Rojas said he hopes to work with others in the future as well.

The Rebels play their games at Freedom, but that’s not the only connection to the school. Rojas is in his fourth year as a volunteer assistant coach for the school’s varsity team, and he enjoys giving his student-athletes a chance to connect with veterans who have attained success at the collegiate and professional level.

“Bringing my semipro team to Freedom gives the young players an opportunity to see players who attended renowned college programs and follow their dreams,” Rojas said.

Even though the team’s season ended last month, the Rebels aren’t the kind of franchise to sit idle. Tryouts are scheduled for next March, and Rojas is looking into taking the team abroad to face some foreign competition.

And Phillips already is looking at improving the roster for next season with a focus on size at the power forward and center positions. He hopes to add players who will provide depth, and challenge existing team members for expanded playing time.

As part of his scouting, Phillips looks at local colleges and leagues for athletes who want to continue playing and have the skills to compete at the level the Rebels demand, which ensures that the team retains its local roots.

But regardless of the names on next year’s roster, Phillips has confidence in the team because he has confidence in the man guiding them.

“We know what we can do, we know what the goals are, and that they can be met,” Phillips said. “And there’s a willingness on (Rojas’) end to put in the time to get it done.”

For more information on the Rebels, visit www.tampabayrebels.com.

Buddy Baseball a big hit with special needs community

August 28, 2013 By Michael Murillo

Athletes cheer each other on, talk strategy, share high-fives and enjoy the camaraderie of playing a team sport.

They make friends, celebrate good plays and congratulate each other while parents watch the games and support their children. After the game, everyone leaves with a smile and a desire to take the field again the following Saturday.

The only thing missing is the hard-core competition: There isn’t any. The score is an afterthought at best.

April Dean receives a game ball at Buddy Baseball, an organization that allows children with disabilities to participate in team sports with the help of on-field assistants who provide physical and emotional support. (Photo courtesy of Russ Oberbroeckling)

Just getting a chance to play is what matters, because the athletes might be in a wheelchair, have autism, or have some other physical, psychological or neurological challenge that makes playing more difficult. But none of those challenges prevent them from playing in the Buddy Baseball League, which partners each athlete with a “buddy” who guides them through the game, offers encouragement and allows them to take part in an experience that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Now in its fifth year, Buddy Baseball plays its games on Saturdays, beginning in late September, at the Temple Terrace Recreation Complex, 6610 E. Whiteway Drive. But its players — boys and girls with special needs ages 10-22 — come from all over the Tampa Bay Region (some even as far away as Sarasota or Plant City), and the league provides helmets, bats and balls, as well as hat and T-shirt uniforms to all participants.

Each player is also assigned at least one buddy and will get a feel for their role during a designated practice before each scheduled game.

According to Russ Oberbroeckling, Buddy Baseball commissioner, the format allows disabled children to go from permanent spectators to instant athletes.

“They really can’t play baseball on a regular team because their disability holds them back,” Oberbroeckling said. “Now they can play on a team and be successful at it because they have a buddy there to help.” The activity also allows them to make friends and enjoy the camaraderie of organized sports.

Oberbroeckling also explained that the buddies, who are normally in the same age range as the participants, enjoy helping the players and being part of a special organization. But Buddy Baseball impacts people off the field as well: Parents get to cheer on their children and be part of a sports community that otherwise might not be available to them.

“It’s very social for the parents,” Oberbroeckling said. “For an hour and a half, they can go out to a baseball game, sit in the stands, enjoy the game and they’re meeting other people with similar situations.”

Amy Dean, a Lutz resident whose daughter plays Buddy Baseball, agrees that parents also benefit from the organization.

“We’ve gotten to where we know each other now, because the same parents tend to be there,” Dean said. They give each other tips and advice, and enjoy the games together.

But the biggest recipient is her daughter, April. The 20-year-old, who has hypotonic cerebral palsy, is starting her fifth season with Buddy Baseball (the league plays two seasons a year), and she’s gone from knowing nothing about the sport to practicing with her family between games.

“She’s looked forward to it from day one. Just absolutely loves it,” Dean said. The social component is also important, as Dean wants her daughter to be comfortable interacting and making friends in an atmosphere that includes people without disabilities, such as the buddies.

And April has had no problem making friends and enjoying herself at the games.

“I’ve been having fun at Buddy Baseball,” she said. “The coaches and the helpers, they help us with the batting and the pitching. We have a lot of fun at the games.”

While the Buddy Baseball League continues to grow in popularity (the league will have 90-100 players in two age divisions this season), it remains an expensive endeavor. A nominal fee for players only covers a small portion of the cost, and they offer a number of scholarships for families who might have financial difficulties. The league depends on outside sponsorships, donations and a charitable event to continue operating.

That event is the third annual Buddy Run 5k and Fun Run, which will be Nov. 3 at Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Last year’s event featured approximately 260 runners and raised more than $10,000 for Buddy Baseball and Congregation Beth Am, a Reform Jewish congregation serving Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Westchase and all surrounding areas. The event includes a competitive 5k Run at 8 a.m., a one-mile Fun Run at 9 a.m. and a Buddy Dash for runners with special needs only.

For information about the event, e-mail . To register online, visit www.active.com and search for “Buddy Run 5k.”

The upcoming Buddy Baseball season runs from Sept. 28 through Nov. 9, and registration ends on Aug. 28.

For more information about Buddy Baseball or registration, visit www.buddybaseball.org, e-mail , or call (813) 416-5742.

By Michael Murillo

Steinbrenner aims higher than fifth straight district title

August 21, 2013 By Steve Mistretta

By Jeff Odom

Capturing four district crowns in as many years and coming off the best season in program history, the Steinbrenner High School volleyball team has been nothing short of dominant since the school was opened in 2009.

The Warriors made their first trip to the Class 7A region finals last year before falling to eventual state champion Venice in three straight sets. And while another district championship would be special, the players want more this time around, said second-year coach Laura Stegenga. Like winning a state title.

Steinbrenner outside hitter Rachel Matheson helped lead the Warriors to the Class 7A region finals last season with a team-high 257 kills. (File photo)

“I have the athletes; we’ve just got to put the work in,” said Stegenga, who took over the team for Jennifer Graham in May 2012. “The biggest thing I want my players to focus on is not just going for championships, but practice and what happens there. That’s how you achieve those kind of goals, and I think it’s a goal that we can achieve if we work hard.”

That road to states may be a little tougher for Steinbrenner this season because of the addition of one extra game against each district opponent and Sickles entering Class 7A-District 8.

The Gryphons are coming off three straight championship campaigns of their own in which they most recently defeated Strawberry Crest to win Class 6A-District 11 last year.

Adding Sickles into the mix of league opponents will make competition more interesting, Stegenga said, but she insists it’s nothing the team can’t handle.

“I know (my seniors) are really driven, and I know that they’re extremely good leaders,” she said. “It’s really neat to have them a part of it and also setting the tone for the younger ones.”

Any competition that challenges the team will only make them better, Stegenga said, even if it results in a loss.

“It’s OK in my eyes,” she said. “By adding Sickles, I think it’s a positive thing for us, because it’s just more competition.”

Another potential concern the Warriors face this season is replacing the leadership of the team’s three graduated seniors. They include libero Natalia Campos and starting outside hitter Madison Seuzeneau.

Seuzeneau, who now plays at Spring Hill College in Alabama, was second on the team in kills last season with 255, second in aces with 40, and third in blocks with 14, based on stats entered by coaches to MaxPreps.com.

Campos, now at Valdosta State University in Georgia, had a team-high 377 digs to go along with 39 aces and 15 assists.

Filling the void left behind by their departure are senior outside hitter Rachel Matheson (257 kills, 169 digs, 30 aces and 11 blocks), setter Casey McLean (199 assists, 158 digs and 66 aces) and opposite hitter Maddy Powell (seven kills).

The opportunity to step into a leadership position is something the trio relishes, Stegenga said.

“They’ve definitely made their comments about their seniority over things,” she said, with a laugh. “They’re anxious, excited, and every emotion that they’re feeling is probably very positive for our program. They don’t want anything to change, even though we lose players every year. They don’t want what has been happening the past few years to change, so I feel like they’re willing and ready, and they have the desire to go in and take those roles, all three of them.”

Steinbrenner hosts Armwood to open the regular season on Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Another week, another college for Suttles

August 21, 2013 By Steve Mistretta

By Jeff Odom

He may have never stepped foot on a college gridiron, but former Gaither High School defensive end Ernest Suttles is set to join his third college team since graduating in May.

Ernest Suttles, a former defensive end standout at Gaither High School, has finally settled on Memphis as his college home after being dismissed from the University of Nebraska earlier this year. (File photo)

After he was dismissed from the University of Nebraska following an off-campus incident, Suttles thought he had found a new home in Coral Gables at Miami last week. But, the Hurricanes denied his transfer request, which left the 2012 All-Laker/All-Lutz News Defensive Player of the Year without a team again.

But not for long.

Memphis has accepted Suttles’ transfer request, and he officially joined the Tigers, which compete in the American Athletic Conference.

“He was involved in an unfortunate situation,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente told the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper on Aug. 14. “But we got letters of recommendation from an associate athletic director at Nebraska, from his high school principal, his high school football coach, a high school teacher, and we talked to two assistant coaches at Nebraska. They all had nothing but unbelievable things to say about him. They said he was a really good kid who made a mistake and was in a bad situation.”

Suttles joined Memphis for practice on Aug. 11, but will still have to sit out one year due to NCAA transfer rules, according to the Commercial Appeal. He will have four years of eligibility starting in 2014.

Memphis started last season 1-8, but rebounded with three straight wins to finish with an overall record of 4-8.

Performance-enhancing drugs hit high school level

August 14, 2013 By Jeff Odom

In light of the recent Biogenesis scandal that put a black eye on Major League Baseball, the Florida High School Athletic Association is conducting a major review of its policies against the use of performance-enhancing drugs for student-athletes.

In a release by the organization, which regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public and private schools, FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing asked the Sports Medicine Advisory committee to perform a “top-to-bottom review” of existing policies to determine what can be done to eliminate PED use.

“The FHSAA’s overriding priority is the safety, well-being and constructive development of young student-athletes, whose bodies and character are still forming,” Dearing said. “Performance-enhancing drugs undermine every aspect of this goal, and so it is imperative that our student-athletes adhere to a zero tolerance policy toward these inherently unfair and dangerous substances.”

Existing FHSAA policies and bylaws state that student-athletes can be suspended from competing if they have used PEDs, but Dearing said it isn’t enough. Especially after a report by the Miami Herald alleged that two current high school baseball players were clients of the Biogenesis Anti-Aging Clinic in South Florida where many professional baseball players, including New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun and Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, were found to have allegedly obtained banned substances.

In total, MLB officials suspended 13 players for their involvement.

Dearing said the issue starts and ends with coaches.

“Here is the bottom line for me: As executive director of FHSAA, I believe we must draw a line in the sand against performance-enhancing drugs,” Dearing said. “School districts simply cannot tolerate coaches who encourage or look the other way when athletes use PEDs. Therefore, these coaches cannot be allowed to keep their jobs or have anything to do with young athletes.

“This is more than safeguarding fair play. It’s about saving lives.”

According to the release, Dearing has asked the 15-member committee, which includes 11 physicians, as well as athletic trainers, former coaches and educators, to review a full range of issues related to PED use, including but now limited to:

–Whether existing policies and procedures provide sufficient authority for schools to test and discipline student-athletes who may be using banned substances.

–The legal, policy and fiscal implications of heightened policies against performance-enhancing drugs; and

–Whether the FHSAA prohibition of PEDs would be more effective if set out as a stand-alone policy rather than existing as a part of a broader policy on sportsmanship.

Dearing was joined in his pledge for a review by State Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who is a former school principal and superintendant and now serves as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.

“Performance-enhancing drugs pose a very real, very dangerous threat to high school student-athletes, both physically and psychologically,” Montford said in the release. “I commend the FHSAA for being proactive in addressing the challenge presented by coaches, parents and young athletes who want to get ahead by any means possible, whatever the personal cost.”

Jennifer Roth Manyard, an assistant professor of family and sports medicine with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and member of the FHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, said the organization is making positive strides to eliminate PEDs.

“Teenagers are still developing … and PEDs have no place in their lives,” Maynard said in the release. “Whatever the FHSAA can do to stop PEDs from being used by high school student-athletes is a step in the right direction.”

Class 6A-District 6 up for grabs

August 7, 2013 By Jeff Odom

During the next few weeks leading up to the first game of the 2013 high school football season, The Laker/Lutz News sports staff is previewing the new districts marked up by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Our third installment in the series takes a look at Class 6A-District 6:

Meet the teams
Fivay (6-4, 5-2 in 5A-6)
Land O’ Lakes (4-6, 2-5)
Mitchell (6-4, 3-4)
Springstead (9-2, 6-1)
Sunlake (8-2, 5-2)

GATORS’ DYNAMIC DUO
Land O’ Lakes’ success in 6A-6 this season may rest on the arms of quarterbacks James Pensyl and Ethan Weilant.

Land O’ Lakes quarterback James Pensyl looked impressive in the spring game and has plenty of offensive weapons to get the Gators back into the postseason for the first time in two years. (Photo by Tim McCLain)

Pensyl looked impressive at times during the Gators’ spring game loss against Pasco on May 23 finishing 8-of-17 with one touchdown and one interception. He also added 30 rushing yards. And Weilant, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, turned plenty of heads with his performance in the North Suncoast 7-on-7 summer league. He even lined up at wide receiver at times.

While Pensyl looks to be the favorite to land the starting job in Week 1 after he passed for 946 yards last season, the battle could end up down to the wire for Land O’ Lakes, which is looking to end its two-year playoff drought and get past the dark cloud of recruiting violation penalties handed down by the FHSAA in 2011.

The Gators have the offensive weapons to do just that, but their final place in the standings will depend on how they use them against the slate of tough district opponents.

SEAHAWKS HOPE TO KEEP SOARING
Sunlake has been one of the most dominant teams in Pasco County during the past three seasons, racking up back-to-back wins over rival Land O’ Lakes and 26 total wins.

However, the Seahawks didn’t have the best spring jamboree by losing to Wiregrass Ranch 7-0, but fared better in their 21-0 win against a young Wesley Chapel squad.

“We got our feet wet,” Coach Bill Browning said after the game. “At times we swam, at times we treaded water, and at times we drowned.”

Growing pains early in the season are to be expected, and projected starting quarterback Esteban LeWallen, who is Sunlake’s fourth starter in as many seasons, did not even step onto the field in the spring games due to personal reasons.

But the loss of quarterback Josh Zifer, 1,000-yard rusher Eddie Burgos and linebacker Ray Busbee to graduation might be too much to overcome, especially after the Seahawks missed the playoffs with an 8-2 record last season. And with the way the district is shaping up again, they may have to repeat that performance to earn a shot at a postseason berth.

KEEP AN EYE ON …
Ben Wood, inside linebacker, Sunlake
Wood was a key part of Browning’s defense last season by racking up 86 tackles (56 solo), seven sacks and three forced fumbles. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior also split time on offense at tight end. If Wood and company can repeat his masterful performance, expect Sunlake to be in the playoff conversation once again.

Austin McGuire, halfback, Land O’ Lakes
McGuire was impressive against a tough Pasco High defense in the Gators’ spring game, helping stage a late comeback against the Pirates by scoring a touchdown and leading multiple drives down the field. The junior, along with teammate Larenz Scroggins, could be Land O’ Lakes’ go-to-guy this season after racking up 145 yards on 10 carries last year.

Danny Fernandez in familiar territory at Florida Tech

August 7, 2013 By Jeff Odom

Danny Fernandez arrived at Steinbrenner High as a sophomore in 2009 without knowing what to expect from the brand new school.

The field had never been played on. The weights had never been lifted. To him, it was a clean slate, the chance to prove his value to a budding program.

Former Steinbrenner gridiron player Danny Fernandez said he is excited about the unique opportunity to start two football programs in his career. (File photo)

Fast forward five years later and Fernandez is at it again — building a program from scratch.

This time, however, more than 100 other players are helping do the same at a much higher level. They are laying the foundation to mold first-year Florida Institute of Technology, a Division II program, into a future college football powerhouse.

***

Former Steinbrenner coach Floyd Graham can remember the first time he saw Fernandez during summer workouts prior to the school’s inaugural year.

His overall size wasn’t all that impressive, but one thing about Fernandez stuck out to Graham above all 71 other players on the roster — his passion for the game.

“With Danny, what we had is a kid who came in what I call the Napoleon syndrome,” Graham said with a laugh. “He was undersized, but he had a huge heart, and he won over the players the first year.”

Fernandez soon began to take a leadership role among his teammates, and when Graham and his assistants allowed the players to pick the squad’s first team captains, there was no hesitation at who should get a nod.

“He was a great leader, never missed workouts, was always in the weight room, and he always fought to get bigger, faster and stronger,” Graham said of Fernandez. He was a utility player for us, and at one time, we actually had him as a backup quarterback. He played that, running back and corner, and he did everything we asked.”

Fernandez, who came to Steinbrenner after playing at Sickles his freshman year, said he always felt from Day 1 that he needed to prove his worth and show how badly he wanted to make Steinbrenner into a successful program.

“Coach Graham didn’t really know who we were, he didn’t know a lot of guys’ skill levels either, so once we suited up and got on the field, we just had this open opportunity to truly show how we can play,” Fernandez said. “When I got to Steinbrenner, I was one of only a few guys who had played varsity football, so I knew from the start that I had to step up. I had to try and be a vocal leader.”

Fernandez’s leadership paid off for the Warriors as they steadily improved from 0-6 in 2009 to 5-5 in 2010 and 7-3 in 2011, one win away from a playoff berth. But one thing hadn’t improved by his senior year — a chance to play at the college level for a major university.

However, a late season recruiting fair changed everything for Fernandez when he was offered to play for Florida Tech, which had just made the decision to expand its athletic department to include football beginning in 2013.

There was no hesitation from Fernandez. He was going to play at Florida Tech.

“I think it’s definitely just awesome this kind of scenario to be put into, because nothing was established,” Fernandez said. “A lot of guys go to college for the first time and they’re kind of nervous, and they start looking at sitting the bench for three years or having a few All-Americans ahead of them or a solidified starter or team captain. But getting to Florida Tech, nobody knew anybody.

“The coaches, when it came down to it, didn’t really know who could play and who couldn’t, because they were kind of just basing us off of film and some players were watched live. So, it was just so up in the air, which everyone was able to just make a statement, and that’s how Steinbrenner was as well.”

Graham, who left Steinbrenner in 2012 following the team’s best season in program history, said he felt like the decision was a perfect match for Fernandez.

“I think they go hand in hand, except (Florida Tech) is probably a much larger scale than high school,” Graham said. “He’ll know the obstacles that we had to get through like, for example, equipment not being there, to taking care of new facilities, to being a part of just the team that plays the very first game at this school.

“This is one of the things he used to talk about to his teammates. I remember he used to say we’re not following anybody, everybody is going to follow us, so we’ve got to set the standard right now. He took a lot of pride in that.”

***

With Florida Tech’s program not starting for another year when he enrolled for classes last fall, Fernandez had to essentially take a year off from football.

During that time, Fernandez worked with Florida Tech coach Steve Englehart to develop his game to a higher level and began developing chemistry with his teammates through practices and scrimmages.

Away from the field, Fernandez took a part-time job at the school and made sure to focus on his academics as he pursues a degree in biomedical engineering.

“It was really easy for me to sink in and focus on what I need to do, because I don’t have to take on any burdens,” Fernandez said. “At Steinbrenner, I knew I was one of those guys that had to come in right away and say something, but it was much easier at Florida Tech, because I’ve had a whole year to build up to it.”

***

Fernandez has had Sept. 7 circled on his calendar for more than a year.

That’s when Florida Tech will host, under the lights, Stetson University, which will restart its football program this season after a 57-year hiatus.

While he can’t describe how he will feel walking out onto the field for the first time in a college uniform, Fernandez said he knows it will be a memory to last a lifetime.

“The fact that we’re going to be in the history books and just have that excitement and build up this program is making us work that much harder,” Fernandez said. “We want to accomplish that goal of winning that game and being able to say to a team that’s only an hour north that we beat them is incredible.”

Graham echoed his former player and added that he believes this entire experience stretches far beyond the gridiron and into life itself.

“I think that is a tremendous asset for Danny,” Graham said. “Imagine what that’s going to be like for him in life. You think about it, you’re only a father for the first time, you’re married for the first time, and you buy your first house. He took so much pride in doing something for the first time (at Steinbrenner), that he wanted to see that moment and make the best of that moment.

“I think (starting the program at Florida Tech) is just going to be a tremendous, tremendous asset for him in life, because he’s a great young man.”

Steinbrenner working to keep team chemistry intact

August 7, 2013 By Jeff Odom

For the first time ever, Steinbrenner High girls basketball coach J.R. Allen is faced with the task of rebuilding going into the team’s fifth season.

For the past two seasons, Steinbrenner has been one of the most successful programs in the county, from their first Class 7A-District 9 title in 2011, to its first playoff win against St. Petersburg last year, with back-to-back 20-plus win seasons.

Junior power forward Rachel Briere said the team needs to stay mentally strong in order to get through tough situations on the court this season. (File photo)

But gone is 1,000-point scorer Bailey Hooker. Gone is all-time assists leader Justice Thigpen. And gone is Lauren Shedd, along with four other seniors, who departed after graduation in May.

But the biggest thing missing from this year’s squad is strong leadership and on-court team chemistry, which may be deeper than the loss of statistics.

“One thing that I will say is, as a head coach, our assistants and even to an extent some of our kids, have been very spoiled by consistency in terms of the people that were here,” said Allen, the only coach in program history. “When we opened five years ago, we were brand new and it was a majority of freshmen and sophomores. So, it was something at the beginning where we knew we were going to eventually take some lumps and hits, but that’s all part of character building and going through things where you want to struggle in the beginning. So they understand what it takes to be successful.”

One of the ways Allen is trying to keep his team on the same page prior to the start of the season in November is through summer youth camps.

The clinics, which drew more than 200 total kids during the two-week-long sessions, give his players the unique opportunity of working with children from around the community, teaching them the fundamentals of basketball.

“A lot of times when kids get time off, a lot of things can happen,” Allen said. “It keeps our girls out of trouble, gives them something to do and it keeps them around basketball, which is what we want. We want them to be thinking about it and staying in basketball shape, but most importantly to pick up other life skills, communication and develop a relationship with the local community.”

Junior power forward Rachel Briere, who was Steinbrenner’s second-leading scorer last season with 9.3 points per game, said the team’s chances of maintaining its success in the district will all rest on how they react to stressful situations.

“It’s going to depend all on our mental toughness,” Briere said. “Coach has already been so specific and clear that that’s exactly what we’re going need, because we’ve played in tournaments this summer and it shows that if we get tired then our mentality is not there, and we let the refs get inside their head or other teams, so it’s all about staying focused on exactly where we want to be.”

Away from the court, the team has its own time for bonding.

Whether it’s going out to eat, weekend slumber parties or huddling around the television to watch their favorite show, the players enjoy each other’s company and, as senior Morgan Gonzalez puts it, they’re all best friends.

“When we went to Gainesville last season for a tournament, we had a team night where we all got in one of the rooms and all watched ‘Pitch Perfect’ and stuff like that,” Gonzalez said. “We are a family, and we just go so much further out than any other team that I know. We’re inseparable.”

Senior point guard Taylor Thigpen added it will take that attitude toward each other in order to get past opponents like Sickles, Wiregrass Ranch and last season’s 7A region champs, Freedom.

“We’re just trying to incorporate every new player that we have and just trying to play Steinbrenner basketball,” Thigpen said. “We’ve just got to learn how to play with each other, because we’re all great friends, but it’s different from being friends outside the court to on the court.

“We’ve got to build chemistry, and I think if we do that, we should have another good season.”