Lutz Sports

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.”

Bishop McLaughlin football enters new era after joining district

July 31, 2013 By Jeff Odom

Bishop McLaughlin quarterback R.J. Perciavalle says his team is excited about joining a major district for the first time in program history, and expects to be competitive in each game this season. (File photo)

For the first time in the program’s nine-year history, the Bishop McLaughlin Hurricanes are in a major district — Class 3A-District 4 — that will now make them eligible for the postseason for the first time sine 2007.

That has players excited for what could be coming down the road.

“We’re a private school and still a very young program,” senior quarterback R.J. Perciavalle said. “Moving into a district was necessary for moving the program forward.”

District 4, Perciavalle said, is one of the best districts in the state, and that’s going to be a challenge for the Hurricanes.

“Obviously we’re going to go out and try to win every game,” he said. “We know we’re young, but we’re trying as hard as we can, and we want to go out and prove ourselves.”

In its first district appearance since the 2007-08 season when it was in the now-defunct Class1B-District 8, Bishop McLaughlin will match up with Berkley Prep, Tampa Catholic, Fort Meade, Frostproof and Lakeland Christian. Three of those teams made the playoffs last season, and none had a losing record.

Bishop McLaughlin, however, finished last season at 4-7 as an FHSAA Independent in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference.

Intimidated? Not at all, Perciavalle said.

“We’ve been picked last in a lot of preseason rankings and stuff like that, and we just want to show that we’re here to fight and not just some pushover team,” Perciavalle said.

One of the blueprints to how Bishop McLaughlin plans to reach its success can be found in the school’s cross-town rivals — Carrollwood Day School.

Though the Hurricanes lost to the Patriots 41-7 in their inaugural spring game back in May, the young program has drawn plenty of comparisons to Carrollwood Day, which went to the Class 2A region finals last season just three years after moving into its first district, 2A-5, because of how they are building their program.

Perciavalle threw for 1,319 yards with 15 total touchdowns last season and expects to use those numbers to help lead the team to a stronger upcoming season. Third-year coach Derrick Alexander said after the spring game that it will take leadership from players like Perciavalle to set up the program for success.

“We want to get stronger and in better shape,” Alexander said. “Just because we don’t have the big numbers, our guys have to be in maximum shape, because they’re playing on both sides of the ball.”

That’s even more important this season with a much tougher schedule ahead of Bishop McLaughlin.

“We’re trying to put in some extra work in the weight room, on the field and just do everything you can do to just better prepare ourselves,” Perciavalle said. “We know it’s not going to be easy, but we’re definitely up for the challenge.”

–Statistics as entered by coaches on Maxpreps.com

LaPace signs with Eastern Michigan

July 31, 2013 By Jeff Odom

Former Steinbrenner right-handed pitcher Logan LaPace committed to Eastern Michigan University on July 25. He was 7-2 with a 1.67 ERA last season, helping the Warriors win their first district title in program history. (File photo by Tim McClain)

Former Steinbrenner High baseball player Logan LaPace has signed with Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, coach John Crumbley announced on July 25.

LaPace, a right-handed pitcher and 2013 graduate, went 7-2 as a senior last season with a 1.67 ERA, two saves and three complete games for the Warriors.

He told The Laker/Lutz News in a text message that he felt good after making an official visit to the school the day his commitment was announced.

“It’s still so surreal to think that I’ve been granted an opportunity to play collegiate baseball at its highest level,” LaPace said. “I can’t wait to make the most of it.”

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound LaPace also earned wins for the Warriors in the Class 7A-District 9 finals against Wiregrass Ranch, and in the region quarterfinals over Seminole High.

He is the second Steinbrenner player in program history to commit to Eastern Michigan after Chad Witkowski did in 2011. Witkowski, however, later opted to attend junior college.

Eastern Michigan is an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles finished with an overall record of 26-28 last season.

Former Steinbrenner player transfers
Former Steinbrenner High second baseman and outfielder Christian Diaz has transferred from Jacksonville University to Eastern Florida State College due to personal reasons, he told The Laker/Lutz News.

Diaz, who graduated from Steinbrenner in 2012, was set to enter his second season with the Dolphins after redshirting his freshman year. But after the dismissal of coach Terry Alexander and a lack of scholarship funds for him this year, Diaz said it was time to leave the Division I program.

“I’m excited to have a new start,” Diaz said in a text message. “Hopefully, things will work out a little better this go-around.”

Diaz batted .343 with 17 RBIs and one home run during his senior year at Steinbrenner.

Eastern Florida State College, formerly Brevard Community College, is a National Junior College Athletic Association program located in Brevard County that competes in the Southern Conference.

The Titans finished with an overall record of 25-23-1 last season.

Steinbrenner loses another girls soccer coach

July 25, 2013 By Jeff Odom

For the fourth time in as many years, the Steinbrenner High girls soccer team will have a new coach leading the charge.

Angela Gillisse resigned from the position on July 11 after just one season at the helm and said she has taken a position with a local nonprofit group.

Gillisse, a former Durant High and University of Tampa standout, who was also a physical education instructor at the school, took over the program in July 2012 and said she was “excited about the opportunities and where the program can go.” However, the Warriors failed to win their fourth consecutive Class 4A-District 8 title, falling to Wiregrass Ranch in the championship game, 2-1.

They made the playoffs as district runner-up, but lost to Lakeland George Jenkins in the region quarterfinal to end the season with a 14-6 overall record.

Gillisse’s resignation means even more turnover at the top for Steinbrenner, which won the 2011 Class 4A state title under former coach Teresa Patterson. Patterson, who was with the team for its first two seasons, compiled an overall record of 38-4-4 and stepped down after a 16-year coaching career to start a family.

At 24-years-old, Patterson became the head coach at Marshall University, and — at the time — was the youngest women’s soccer coach in Division I history. She also had assistant coaching positions at University of Alabama and Alabama-Birmingham and high school head coaching positions at Orlando Dr. Phillips, Largo and Gaither, before coming to Steinbrenner when the school opened in 2009.

Robert Woodard coached the team for one season in 2012, but he too resigned for unspecified reasons after a 16-4-2 campaign, which included a playoff win over Bartow.

Before coming to Steinbrenner, Woodard previously served as an assistant boys soccer coach at Jesuit and Bloomingdale in the mid-1990s.

The position is being advertised on the Hillsborough County School District’s website, but there is no timetable on when a decision will be made, according to school athletic director Eddie Henderson.

The Warriors return University of Tampa commit Miranda Gonzalez and East Carolina commit Danielle Eule, but will have to replace seven seniors lost to graduation this season, including the program’s all-time leading scorer Alexis Bredeau, midfielder Marley Opila and starting goalkeeper Stephanie Hirsch.

Steinbrenner also moves up into Class 5A-District 7 this season, which includes Alonso, Countryside, East Lake, Plant and Palm Harbor University.

Freedom’s Williams commits to Broward College

July 25, 2013 By Jeff Odom

Freedom High girls basketball player Monet Williams committed to Broward College in Fort Lauderdale on July 18. The point guard was one of the Patriots’ key players during their run to the Class 7A state semifinals averaging 2.4 points and 3.7 assists per game. (File photo)

Another one of the Freedom High girls basketball team’s key contributors during its run to the Class 7A state final four is moving on to the next level, coach Laurie Pacholke announced.

Point guard Monet Williams signed with Broward College in Fort Lauderdale on July 18 after averaging 2.4 points, 3.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game for the Patriots last season.

Williams, who transferred to Freedom from Riverview prior to the start of the 2012-13 school year, overcame two major knee injuries in 2012 with the Sharks when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a game in January, and again five months later while rehabbing the injury.

For her comeback and contributions to Freedom’s region title, Williams was awarded with second-team honors on The Laker/Lutz News’ 2013 Girls Basketball All-Star Team.

Pacholke praised Williams for her hard work and said the team would not have made it as far without her.

“Mo was vital to our success. Not just on the court, but off the court as well,” Pacholke said. “The girls saw her drive and passion first-hand, watching her go through rehab and how hard she worked to get back on the court.

“Mo’s best basketball still lies ahead of her, and she is going to do great things at Broward and beyond. I’m so happy for her and extremely proud of her. Not many kids could or would do what she did.”

Broward College competes in the Southern Conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Seahawks finished with an overall record of 9-18 last season.

The Laker/Lutz News sports section earns state honor

July 25, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

For the second time in three years, the Florida Press Association has honored The Laker/Lutz News’ Community Sports section as one of the top in the state.

At the FPA/FSNE’s annual convention on July 19 in Orlando, judges from the association awarded former editor and sports editor Kyle LoJacono, staff writer Jeff Odom and art director Matthew Mistretta with a second-place finish for The Laker/Lutz News’ sports section out of thousands of entries in the Better Weekly Newspaper contest.

“This honor by the Florida Press Association is a true testament to the hard work, dedication and countless hours put in by Kyle LoJacono, Matthew Mistretta and each freelance correspondent that has aided in our coverage along the way,” Odom said. “It is an amazing feeling to work for such a wonderful staff and to serve our loyal readers each and every week with the best high school, college and youth sports coverage in all of Tampa Bay.”

The Laker/Lutz News sports staff also took home individual awards as LoJacono placed second in two categories for education reporting and on-the-spot sports reporting for two stories titled “Wiregrass Ranch leads on course, in classroom” and “Gaither’s improbable district championship run.”

The Florida Press Association was founded in 1879 as a nonprofit corporation to protect the freedoms and advance the professional standards of the press of Florida. It includes all of the daily newspapers and most of the weekly newspapers in the state of Florida in its membership.

Sunlake’s Smith Earns State Coaching Honor

April 24, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Sunlake weightlifting coach Matt Smith has developed the Seahawks into one of the premier boys lifting programs in Tampa Bay.

Smith’s squad, which has won four straight Sunshine Athletic Conference titles, finished in fifth-place in Class 2A state weightlifting competition last season.

This year, Sunlake has seniors Jack Holloway, Eddie Burgos and Raymond Busbee competing in states April 19 and 20 at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

Smith’s success was recognized earlier this season when he was named National Federation of State High School Associations 2012 Florida Coach of the Year.

“Coach Smith is a blessing,” said Seahawks athletic director Russ Schenk. “He’s really turned some kids around. He has great rapport, and does a great job for the kids and Sunlake High School.”

Matt-Smith — Sunlake coach Matt Smith was recently named the National Federation of State High School Associations 2012 Florida Coach of the Year. (File photo)

Smith was Hernando’s football coach for three years and spent 11 seasons as the school’s wrestling coach before joining the staff at Sunlake when the school opened in 2007.

“It’s a great honor anytime you receive an award like that,” Smith said about the NFSHA recognition. “It shows the amount of work the kids put in. … A lot of things play a factor (in the program’s success). The entire football staff works out, and that sets an example.”

Weightlifting has been a part of Smith’s life going back to his days as a student at Springstead, where he lifted and played guard on the football team.

“I’ve been involved with weights for 25 years,” Smith said. “I think weightlifting teaches a lot of self-confidence and self-esteem.”

Self-confidence served Smith well after he was seriously injured in an accident in high school.

“I had a bad motorcycle accident my junior year right after football season,” Smith said. “I spent 56 days in the hospital with a broken arm and leg.”

Smith came back from the injury and resumed lifting and playing football his senior year. He went on to Culver Stockton College in Canton, Mo. where he was a nose guard.

The Sunlake lifting program is filled with football players, but there is growing interest among all students.

“We had 51 lifters this year. That’s the most I’ve ever had, and all of them got at least one meet. I was happy to build a program when I came here. Other schools have a hard time getting a full lineup,” said Smith, who is also the defensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Seahawks football team.

“There are a few things I try to do,” Smith added. “I have a good approach with my workout plan, and I jump in there and demonstrate to them. We pretty much do a full-body workout. Competing against the coaches is a big motivation. It’s a fun environment.”

Holloway, who competes in the 129-pound class, credits Smith for getting him involved with lifting as a freshman.

“I had a weightlifting class in P.E., and I liked it; it drew me in,” Holloway said. “Coach Smith pretty much will do anything for us. He definitely works us, but he’s a really good guy.”

Burgos was a running back and Busbee a linebacker on the football team. Burgos lifts in the 183-pound and Busbee in the 238-pound class.

“I got thrown into lifting competition last year, and I liked it,” Burgos said. “People think lifting is an individual sport, but everybody has to push each other to the max. … Coach Smith works on technique and pushes us from the bench. He’s a real good coach that doesn’t yell. He tells us calmly what to work on.”

Sunlake graduates 14 lifters, but Smith said his squad will be competitive as ever next season as his 22 freshmen develop.

“We graduated 15 kids off of last year’s team,” Smith said. “I try to get so many freshmen to come out. I have many of my lighter kids in class, and they have potential to be strong. … Jack weighed 106 pounds when he was a freshman, and I encouraged him to come out. He moved up in weight, and now has a good shot to be on the podium at the state finals this year.”

Smith credits football with creating much of the growth in weightlifting.

“I believe we got started because every football coach wants to prevent injuries and make their team stronger,” Smith said. “It’s a big part of the way we coach at Sunlake. I encourage the kids and try to keep them motivated. I’m proud of them and want them to improve as athletes and students.”