The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local Sports

A BMX park in Pasco County?

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Pasco County has marketed itself in recent years as a premier amateur sports and recreation tourism destination.

Its tourism arm —  Experience Florida’s Sports Coast — has leveraged that credo, with state-of-the-art athletic facilities springing up. Those include the AdventHealth Center Ice skating rink, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus and Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center.

Could a large-scale BMX (bicycle motocross) park be the county’s next major attraction?

Delaney Morrison, and her team, would like to see that happen.

Morrison operates Pinellas Park’s J&R Bicycles BMX Super Store. She’s also president of Ride Local Inc., a nonprofit group committed to providing safe and well-organized environments where enthusiasts can hone their skills in extreme sports.

This is a basic rendering of what a BMX track could look like in Pasco. A project is believed to cost a minimum of $1.7 million to $2 million, without additional frills, such as an open-air covered roof for year-round use. (Courtesy of Ride Local Inc.)

She outlined the Ride Local’s concept at the Pasco County Tourist Development Council (TDC)’s August meeting.

“We’re eager to work with you, and hopefully bring BMX to Pasco County. It has been a passion of ours for decades now,” Morrison told the TDC, as she unveiled a 40-page proposal on the initiative.

The idea is to partner with the county to construct a BMX track and bike park on a 23-acre tract situated of the intersection of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway in the Odessa/Trinity area. The land is presently owned by Pasco County Utilities.

Under the proposal, about 3 acres would be used for a BMX dirt race course made of various jumps and rollers.

That would mark the first stage of a larger, surrounding bike park that would include a pump track, skatepark, mountain bike obstacle course, casual bike path and other features.

There would be opportunities for recreational leagues and a beginner’s program for newcomers to the off-road racing sport. It also would host large-scale competitive events sanctioned by USA BMX.

The open space also could be used for drone races, truck rallies, and Boy Scouts of America and All-Pro Dad meet-ups, among other activities, Morrison said.

“Our goals for this project are to establish a world-class track for locals and visiting riders, regardless of age or skill level,” Morrison told the TDC. “With the work that Pasco County already has done as a bicycle community, we know that BMX can just round out your offerings for bicycle activities.”

Location, location, location
Over the past year or so, Morrison and her team have had ongoing discussions with Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources.

The identified location seems ideal for multiple reasons.

Morrison praised its high visibility along the booming State Road 54 corridor, sitting along the Tower Road extension and a future high school, whose adjacent lot could be used for overflow parking for large events.

The ability for commuting motorists to see a BMX track from afar is a luxury other like-minded BMX facilities don’t have, Morrison said. Often, she said, they’re “hidden in the back of a park somewhere.”

A 23-acre tract situated of the intersection of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway in the Odessa/Trinity area has been targeted as a possible location for a future BMX track and bike park. (Courtesy of Ride Local Inc.)

Case in point: Tampa BMX at Lake Park in Lutz.

“They have good ridership there, but you can’t see anything from the road. You just have to be in BMX and know that it’s back there,” said Morrison, who grew up in Lutz.

However, she said a Pasco BMX park would pair well with Tampa BMX and Oldsmar BMX, which is under construction — to attract regional and national tournaments.

The trifecta of facilities, she said, “would really set us apart from most other locations in the country.”

The close proximity of the tracks to each other is a selling point, she said.

“You can drive to any one of these tracks within 20 minutes and we could see, aside from bigger events, people from all over Florida wanting to come into our area to be able to ride a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and hit three tracks in the same weekend,” explained Morrison. Plus, she noted, local hotels, shops and restaurants would benefit from the business.

Continuing on the tourism piece, Morrison pointed out BMX is the fastest-growing sport/fitness activity. A study from the Sports and Fitness Association puts it ahead of other activities, such as cardio tennis, skiing, pickleball and rugby, among others.

The sport is pandemic-proof, too, she argued.

Morrison detailed a three-day BMX event last month in Toledo, Ohio — the Buckeye Nationals — drew representatives from 37 states.

If Ohio can attract that kind of crowd, during the summer in the middle of a pandemic, she said, she’s confident that Tampa Bay — with its beaches, Busch Gardens and easy access through Tampa International Airport — would see a rise in tourism.

Finding funding
Money appears the biggest hurdle in getting the project off the ground.

The park has an estimated base cost of $1.7 million to $2 million, Morrison said.

That’s without additional frills, such as an open-air covered roof on the BMX track, to allow for year-round use.

That’s an amenity that Morrison highly encourages, should the county assist in a partnership: “You don’t have to worry about a rainout. You really cut down on the heat. We think we’d get some regulars, a larger local draw than what some other tracks that aren’t covered do.”

Tyler Heinrichs is mid-air during a ride at Tampa BMX in Lutz. (File)

Cities and counties in other states have generally “put up quite a bit of money” with funding such projects, Morrison told the board.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who chairs the TDC, indicated the county could negotiate or support some type of land use or lease deal.

Providing upfront funding for construction, though, is all but a non-starter, at least for the present, given the COVID-19 pandemic and funding of other projects, such as the $44 million Wiregrass Sports Campus, he said.

“We just don’t have money in the tourism budget right now for additional capital projects,” said Moore.

“Not saying in the future there might not be, but right now, the cash, whether it be a million, million-and-a-half, two million or three million dollars, it just is not within the tourism budget,” Moore said.

With that, Morrison acknowledged her organization hasn’t fully gone “down the rabbit hole” in terms of capital funding mechanisms.

But, Ride Local Inc., is toying with some creative ideas, such as leveraging a corporate naming sponsorship or partnering with an electric company to install solar panels on a would-be covered roof to offset costs.

The group is prepared for the legwork needed to cultivate creative partnerships and alternate funding sources, she said.

“Really, for lack of a better term, we’re not scared,” Morrison said, there may be some other sources of funding within the state or region they can seek out.

Funding complications aside, TDC members expressed enthusiasm for a BMX facility of some sort.

“I love the idea,” said TDC vice chairman Wendy Longman, owner of Windsong Boat Charters in New Port Richey. “I think it would add a lot of value to the county and with the state of how things are, it’s a great social distancing sport, so I think it’s a phenomenal idea.”

TDC member Judy Sutton, owner of Quality Inn-Port Richey, concurred, hyping up the tourist benefits: “Between the United States and Canada, I also know people that do BMX, and you do travel a lot, and there’s an opportunity to bring it to Pasco.”

Published August 26, 2020

Florida high school sports returning this fall

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Let the practices and games begin.

High schools sports in the state of Florida are returning, even amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s board members (FHSAA) last week voted 11-5 to allow member schools to begin fall sports on Aug. 24.

It marks a long time coming, as state high school sports have been in a holding pattern since mid-March — and the fall sports start date was postponed once already, from the original July 27 start date.

Per the approved plan, Aug. 24 will be the first allowable practice date, with regular seasons permitted to begin on Sept. 4 for all six fall sports (bowling, cross-country, football, golf, swimming & diving, and volleyball).

State tournaments for those fall sports are scheduled to be wrapped up in November with the exception of football, which is to be complete around mid-December.

The board’s action also includes an important amendment allowing schools to opt out of the state series by Sept. 18, and work with FHSAA staff to set their own sports calendar, as they see fit.

As explained, if a particular school or district isn’t comfortable beginning any sports until, say, a few months from now, the FHSAA would work with them on organizing that for the 2020-2021 school year.

Under this scenario, a school or district would not be eligible for the traditional state championships, however. They would simply participate in a regionalized schedule flexible for any and all sports in which they want to participate. For example, a school district could choose to have some or all sports play from January onward.

Also, as part of the return-to-play model, there will not be a minimum contest limit to be eligible for the state series, should schools or districts not opt out by Sept. 18.

In other words, a particular football program would still be eligible for the postseason if they played, say, six games, instead of the regular 10-game schedule.

That could prove beneficial for Pasco County, which has announced fall sports tryouts won’t begin until Sept. 7, putting them a couple weeks behind other counties. Hillsborough County, meanwhile, plans to follow the FHSAA’s direction, beginning tryouts Aug. 24.

Disregarding medical advice
The FHSAA decision to all but immediately ramp up fall sports was far from easy — taking more than two hours of heated dialogue among board members during an Aug. 14 meeting at the Best Western Grand in Gainesville. The meeting was live-streamed for public viewing.

The decision also contradicts a unanimous recommendation from the FHSAA’s 14-member Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC). That committee strongly advised that sports not begin in any part of the state until the coronavirus is controlled, and declining in state and local regions. They also want to be able to study the impact of reopening schools on the COVID-19 infection rate, for at least a few weeks.

The medicine advisory committee was open to the idea of considering an alternate proposal that would delay fall sports until Oct. 12, provided appropriate scientific measures were used to determine the safe return to sports and the ability to practice and play.

Dr. Jennifer Roth Maynard, a Family & Sports Medicine Consultant at the Jacksonville-based Florida Mayo Clinic, explained SMAC’s reasoning to the board.

Swimming & diving is one of six fall high school sports allowed to get underway on Aug. 24, per the FHSAA. The others are bowling, cross-country, football, golf and volleyball. (File)

“Looking at specifically the data, it’s all quite concerning,” Maynard said. “We are improving in certain areas and we are getting worse in certain areas, and my fear from a medical perspective is, until this virus is given the respect it deserves to quiet down, we, by just introducing sports are adding fuel to the fire.”

FHSAA board members, such as Mark Schusterman who voted against the Aug. 24 plan, heeded Maynard’s advice throughout the lengthy meeting.

“I think we’re getting away from the science aspect,” said Schusterman, co-athletic director at Miami’s Riviera Preparatory School. “That’s what concerns me — the health of kids, the health of coaches, the health of officials, and the future of some of these kids.

“I think we have a responsibility to make a sound decision based on the medicine and the science,” he said.

Lee County School Board member Chris Patricca concurred, adding it’s “incredibly, incredibly difficult” for school districts to navigate an athletics season all while trying to manage an ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 considerations.

“Here we are opening schools with the understanding that we’re going to have to adapt, and throwing sports on top of that, it feels like it’s setting us up for failure, and we can’t do it all correctly.

“I’ve gotta make this decision from the perspective of what’s fair and what’s safe, and my SMAC committee is telling me the safest thing to do. How do I ignore the medical advice?” Patricca said.

She also observed a lack of equity in competition should larger counties like Miami-Dade and Broward opt out of the state series by the Sept. 18 deadline.

She argued it would render state playoffs and state championships less meaningful, for a particular athlete or school, whether it’s in football or some other sport.

“It’s kind of like the 1984 Olympics when Russia wasn’t there. (American gymnast) Mary Lou Retton wasn’t, like, a real gold medalist,” Patricca said.

‘Let Us Play’
The majority of board members voting in favor of bringing sports back on Aug. 24 cited an overwhelming amount of support from student-athletes, parents, and even sport officials and school superintendents, from their respective district.

That point was emphasized when Jamie and Tami Kent spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.

As parents of a Tampa Cambridge Christian High School football player, they created an online petition titled “Let Us Play” attracting over 40,000 signatures urging the FHSAA to begin the fall sports season this month.

“I’m standing before you for 40,000 people that are asking you to make a decision to let sports happen,” said Jamie Kent, addressing the board.

The Kents argued that athletics provides critical structure and well-being in a child’s life, while also stating an obvious point that high school seniors won’t get another year of eligibility.

“We know that you are making a decision in unprecedented times, but I am telling you to listen to the voices of the people,” Jamie Kent added. “As much as you are listening to the voices of experts, as parents, we’re asking you to listen to us.”

Those voices were heard, by the end of the day.

Florida high school sports are returning, as the FHSAA has allowed member schools to begin fall sports practices on Aug. 24 and games on Sept. 4. However, Pasco Schools announced fall sports tryouts won’t begin until Sept. 7 for its student-athletes. The county still will have an opportunity to participate in the FHSAA’s state series, if they don’t opt out by the Sept. 18 deadline. (File)

“It may not be manageable, but I have a hard time us sitting here telling all of those people that want to give it a shot and are willing to bear that burden, that we’re not going to give them that opportunity,” said Bobby Johns, an athletic director at Wewahitchka High School in Gulf County, and one of the 11 yes votes.

Sue Tortora, an administrator at Montverde Academy in Lake County, said she’s received roughly 300 emails from constituents in favor of proceeding with high school sports.

“Our people in this state are crying out for a date,” Tortora said. “I agree that this is a worrisome time, but kids are going to do what kids are going to do, and if you don’t think a lot of those kids aren’t out there now, getting together, gathering, playing a little football on the side — you can’t put them in a bubble.”

She also said the amendment for schools to opt out of the state series and design their own independent schedule “is a wonderful compromise” as “it allows everybody to participate (in athletics) in some way or some form.”

Citizen at-large FHSAA board member Chalmus Thomas put it into perspective, too.

“I don’t think of any communities or superintendents that aren’t thinking of safety first, but we can’t sit in a shell,” he said. “Athletics has been something that pulls communities together, pulls this country together. We realize that safety is our first priority, but we must move forward.”

FHSAA executive director George Tomyn perhaps best summed up the board’s decision, which came at his recommendation.

“I’ve always thought of what can we do for our member schools, not what we cannot or will not be able to do,” Tomyn said at the meeting.

“I’m a firm believer in flexibility, especially in this challenging, challenging time that we’re in. I’m a firm believer in parental choice, and I’m a firm believer in local decision-making.”

He emphasized this point: “There is no requirement for students to play a sport. There’s no requirement for a school to have a team sport. And finally, let’s not forget, our schools are opening. They are opening. Our governor and commissioner of education are insistent that our schools reopen, and know that extracurricular activities and athletic activities are part of that school opening.”

Elsewhere, the board voted to make a COVID-19 waiver form available to all schools, and require all coaches to view the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) virtual course, “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators.”

Published August 19, 2029

Check out these locals in 2020 NFL training camps

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Like other sports organizations, the National Football League (NFL) has succumbed in some way, shape or form to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The league already has scrapped its preseason games, and training camps have a much different look — all taking place at team facilities without fans and visitors.

With myriad health and safety precautions in place, America’s most popular sport has insisted on a full 16-game regular season. A full set of playoffs also will take place.

Whether fans will be allowed into stadiums for regular season games remains largely up in the air, however.

Some franchises plan to proceed with limited capacities. Others have said they will go forward without fans in the stands.

At least one team — the Las Vegas Raiders — has officially announced it plans to play the entire 2020 season at its brand-new $1.84 billion stadium with no fans.

Moreover, dozens of NFL players have voluntarily opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus or other unspecified reasons.

However this unique 2020 season shakes out, you can bet on seeing several pros take the field with deep ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — by way of Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Dade City, respectively.

Here’s a closer look at those locals suiting up as NFL training camps ramp up, with hopes of making a team’s final 53-man roster or 16-man practice squad by the league’s Sept. 4 cut date.

Las Vegas Raiders wideout Nelson Agholor is a Lutz Chiefs football alum. He spent the past five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles media communications)

Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver
Local tie: Lutz Chiefs

The 6-foot, 198-pound veteran pro wideout is embarking on his sixth NFL season — his first with the Raiders after spending his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won a Super Bowl in 2018.

Before he became a household name registering a combined 224 receptions for 2,515 yards and 18 touchdowns in his pro career, Agholor was making highlight-reel plays as a dual-threat quarterback for the Lutz Chiefs youth football organization, while attending New Tampa’s Liberty Middle School.

Agholor would go on to become one of the nation’s top football prospects at Tampa’s Berkeley Preparatory School and then an All-American at University of Southern California. He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round (20th overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Agholor, 27, doesn’t forget his football-playing roots. During the 2015 NFL offseason, he made an appearance at a Lutz Chiefs practice at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, speaking to players about the bonds and life lessons formed in youth football.

New Orleans Saints linebacker Anthony Chickillo spent his freshman and sophomore years at Gaither High School. (Courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers media communications)

Anthony Chickillo, New Orleans Saints, linebacker
Local tie: Gaither High School

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound linebacker has seemingly lived up to expectations since entering the league as a sixth round pick (212th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 NFL Draft, out of the University of Miami.

After spending his entire career in the Steel City, the 27-year-old now takes his talents to New Orleans, where he’ll compete for a backup defensive role after signing as a free agent in March.

Altogether, Chickillo has played in 65 regular season games with nine starts, while also being a core contributor on special teams for Pittsburgh. He’s recorded 89 career tackles, 7.5 sacks for loss, three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries; he’s also played in four postseason contests.

Before launching into the game’s highest ranks, a younger Chickillo could be seen disrupting opposing quarterbacks on Friday nights at Gaither High School.

Chickillo played at the local school his freshman and sophomore seasons in 2008 and 2009, before transferring to Alonso High School and shaping up into a five-star prospect boasting more than 40 college scholarship offers.

His sophomore season at Gaither, Chickillo tallied 77 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He also spent time as a tight end and offensive lineman on the team.

Chickillo in March 2017 visited his old stomping grounds, giving the Gaither football program a pep talk in the midst of spring football practices.

Houston Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is a Wharton High School alum. (Courtesy of Houston Texans media communications)

Vernon Hargreaves III, Houston Texans, cornerback
Local tie: Wharton High School

Since being a first round pick (11th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2016 NFL Draft, the hometown kid has had a somewhat underwhelming pro career — criticized for allowing big plays and becoming one of the most targeted corners by opposing NFL offenses. The 25-year-old corner has been somewhat injury prone, too, including a hamstring tear, groin strain and shoulder labrum tear between 2017 and 2018.

But, a new environment outside of Tampa Bay seems to be serving him well.

The 5-foot-10, 204-pound Hargreaves was waived by the Bucs in the middle of the 2019 season, then picked up by the Texans, where he tallied 21 tackles and two passes defensed in six games and two starts; he was re-signed by the Texans in March.

Hargreaves starred at Wharton High School. In 2012 he was named the Class 8A Defensive Player of the Year and the Guy Toph Award winner as Hillsborough County’s top senior football player, after he registered 110 total tackles, five interceptions, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles.

The accolades continued at the University of Florida, where he was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist, and consensus First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC selection.

Athletes run in the Hargreaves family. His younger sister, Chanelle, was a standout on the University of Florida volleyball team. His father, Vernon Jr., was a two-time All-American linebacker at the University of Connecticut and is a longtime Division I assistant football coach, presently a defensive line coach at Howard University in Washington D.C.

Pasco High School product Joey Ivie has played for five different NFL franchises, and currently is in the Tennessee Titans training camp. (File)

Joey Ivie, Tennessee Titans, defensive end
Local tie: Pasco High School

The 25-year-old Dade City native is now in his fifth different NFL franchise since being taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (228th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-3, 301-pound defensive lineman has spent much of his pro career on various practice squads, but now seeks a larger role as a backup within the Titans 3-4 defensive scheme.

Thus far, Ivie has played in eight career NFL regular season games; his two career tackles came as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

In addition to the Titans, Cowboys and Chiefs, Ivie also was a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

Before starring at the University of Florida and later reaching the NFL, Ivie shined as a multisport athlete at Pasco High School, where he graduated in 2013.

The Pirates football team, then coached by Tom McHugh, went a combined 36-3 and captured three district titles in the three seasons Ivie spent on varsity. Ivie’s best season came as a senior — where he racked up 89 tackles, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles in 12 games.

A defensive end by trade, Ivie was also utilized as a fullback and tight end while in a Pirates uniform. His younger brother, Andrew, also starred at Pasco High and briefly played football at Florida before an injury ended his playing career prematurely.

Ivie’s late sister, Jordan, passed away in 2015, a month before she would have graduated high school, due to injuries sustained in a car accident in Dade City. Ivie has said he uses her memory as motivation and has shared these moments on social media.

Houston Texans reserve quarterback Alex McGough prepped at Wesley Chapel and Gaither high schools. (Courtesy of Houston Texans media communications)

Alex McGough, Houston Texans, quarterback
Local tie: Wesley Chapel High School/Gaither High School

The 24-year-old McGough has yet to throw a meaningful pass in an NFL regular season game, but teams seemingly appreciate his skillset enough to keep him rostered, mostly as a practice squad player.

The 6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller is on his third NFL franchise since being taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round (220th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. In addition to Seattle, McGough also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars before landing with his current team, the Texans.

So far through training camp, McGough projects as the team’s third-string quarterback, behind incumbent starter Deshaun Watson and backup AJ McCarron.

Closer to home, McGough began his prep career at Wesley Chapel High School, where he played varsity football, baseball and soccer.

He transferred to Gaither High School as a sophomore, and would go on to compile nearly 5,000 career passing yards and 50 passing touchdowns in three varsity seasons, graduating in 2014.

Despite showy statistics, McGough was rather lightly recruited, surprisingly, winding up at Miami’s Florida International University (FIU).

He proved doubters wrong there, too, setting several program records en route to over 9,000 career passing yards and 91 total touchdowns.

McGough’s uncle is former NFL punter and Super Bowl Champion Kelley Goodburn. McGough’s younger brother, Shane, also a Gaither product, is a redshirt senior offensive lineman at FIU.

Detroit Lions defensive back Amani Oruwariye prepped at Gaither High School. He begins his second NFL season. (Courtesy of Detroit Lions media communications)

Amani Oruwariye, Detroit Lions, cornerback
Local tie: Gaither High School

The 24-year-old Oruwariye looks to build off a promising rookie season where he registered 17 tackles, two interceptions and three passed defensed in nine games — and would’ve put forth a stronger showing had he not been hampered by a midseason knee injury.

But, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound corner will have to navigate another hurdle entering his second season, as he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Detroit Lions in late July.

A two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection at Penn State University, Oruwariye was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

With that, Oruwariye is believed to be the highest NFL draftee to come out of Gaither High School, where he graduated in 2014.

Other known Gaither alums drafted into the NFL include Alex McGough (seventh round in 2018), Carlton Mitchell (sixth round in 2010) and J.R. Russell (seventh round in 2005); and, New Orleans Saints linebacker Anthony Chickillo (sixth round in 2015) who attended Gaither his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Alonso High School.

Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither under former head coach Jason Stokes, and finished his career with 121 tackles and 12 interceptions combined. Senior year he was named team MVP, earned first-team all-district honors and was invited to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game. Various recruiting services ranked him a three-star prospect and top 100 recruit in the state.

Cincinnati Bengals third-year wide receiver Auden Tate is a Wharton High product. (Courtesy of Cincinnati Bengals media communications)

Auden Tate, Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver
Local tie: Wharton High School

The 6-foot-5, 223-pound wideout looks to build off a breakout 2019 campaign that established him as one of the Bengals’ top offensive targets — hauling in 40 receptions for 455 yards and a touchdown. It marked a significant jump in production from his rookie season two years ago, where he compiled just four catches for 35 yards in seven games.

The 23-year-old prepped at Wharton High, moving to the Tampa area as a 10th-grader from South Carolina. He went on to become one of the nation’s most coveted receiver prospects with offers from 20 Division I schools, ultimately signing with Florida State University (FSU) in 2015.

Following a productive career at FSU, Tate was the Bengals’ seventh round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Quite impressive, considering Tate was once cut from his middle school football team in his hometown of Irmo, South Carolina.

Published August 12, 2020

Local golf standout swings into senior year

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When Norah Catlin showed up for Wiregrass Ranch High School girls golf tryouts in 2017, it wasn’t long before coach Jeremy Calzone realized a special talent had entered the program.

The longtime Bulls coach originally wasn’t aware of the then-incoming freshman’s background winning countless junior tournaments; being named the Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association’s player of the year; qualifying for the Drive, Chip and Putt Championships at the Masters; and first picking up the sport at the age of 4.

Wiregrass Ranch High School rising senior Norah Catlin stands alongside head coach Jeremy Calzone at the 2019 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state championships.
As a junior last year, Catlin finished tied for 17th at the Class 3A championships, firing five-over par (74-75—149) in the two-day tournament.
(Courtesy of Kim Catlin)

Moreover, the timing couldn’t have been better.

The team had just graduated a strong senior class buoyed by Morgan Powers, Alexis Lane and Lexy Frenchko.

With that, Calzone figured the 2017 season would be a retooling year. “We were like, ‘Man, it’s going to be a struggle this year,’” he recalled.

Little did the coach know the most accomplished female golfer in school history had walked in the door, and she’d guide the program to three straight conference championships and district titles.

At tryouts when Calzone asked which of the newcomers had ever golfed before, Catlin meekly raised her hand, speaking softly without much conviction.

Assuming she was mostly a novice with the sport, Calzone unwittingly placed her with a beginner’s group, instead of with some of the team’s more experienced returnees.

He soon discovered a mistake was made.

“It took me two shots to realize, ‘Ok, you need to be in that (top) group with those other girls…,’” Calzone chuckled. “I joke with her all the time, like, ‘You could’ve told me you were like one of the elite players in the area.’ …It was a good surprise to have, obviously.”

The rest is history.

“She’s definitely by far the best (player) we’ve had,” Calzone said of Catlin.

Since entering the Wiregrass Ranch hallways, Catlin has laid claim to the county’s top female

golfer. She is a three-time Sunshine Athletic Conference Player of the Year and three-time state qualifier.

Her freshman year she became the first female golfer in school history to qualify for the state finals, held annually at the Mission Inn Resort & Club, in Howey-in-the-Hills.

As a junior last year, Catlin finished tied for 17th at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 3A state championships, firing five-over par (74-75—149) across the two-day tournament.

It represented the best showing among female golfers from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. The next top score among locals was Steinbrenner High’s Posie Farrelly, who carded nine-over par (79-74 — 153)

Entering her senior campaign, Catlin is looking to build on her past accolades and then some, if and when the already-delayed Florida prep sports season gets underway due to COVID-19.

In addition to trying to secure top county honors and a strong state finish a fourth time, her main goal is to finish undefeated in the dozen or so regular season matches scheduled.

“It’s something that I’ve gotten very close to the last three seasons. I want to be able to do it at least once before my high school career is over,” she said.

Catlin, too, hopes her accomplishments inspire her younger teammates and the next generation of female golfers: “Honestly, I really hope somebody sees what I’ve done and wants to beat it, because that’s how you get better.”

‘A mental game’
On the course, Catlin takes pride in her short game, particularly her chipping ability. It was a skill she began mastering at a young age, using her family’s backyard to practice various angles and distances.

To shore up her accuracy, Catlin’s father would give her $1 every time she hit a tree from a particular position. “We had to stop that very quickly because I’d bankrupt him,” she quipped.

Catlin’s chip shot proficiency, too, has awed Calzone over the years: “It’s crazy, she’ll be five or 10 feet within the pin, ready for birdie almost every time, and if she’s not, it’s almost like you’re shocked, you know.”

The mental side of the game is another of Catlin’s strengths. She makes a point to not let a bad shot or two ruin an entire round — a common theme for some golfers. Instead, she tries to stay level-headed and keep her composure throughout.

Catlin detailed her mindset: “The biggest mistake that some golfers make is when they hit one bad shot, they get very upset, because they think their day is ruined, whereas their attitude towards the situation is what ruins their round. By keeping a level head and telling yourself, ‘Golf is a game, at the end of the day,’ it’s a lot easier to hit the next shot and bounce back.”

Better prepared
Each summer, Catlin travels to St. Petersburg, Russia, to visit family members on her mother’s side.

Catlin doesn’t pick up a golf club during that period, which admittedly leaves her rusty for a couple weeks in advance of the season.

Norah Catlin said one of her main goals as a senior is to be undefeated in all regular season matches. She’d been close to achieving that feat in the past.

The pandemic, however, cancelled the teen’s annual Russia trip.

From a golfing standpoint, it could prove a blessing in disguise.

That’s because she has used the extra downtime in town to hit the links with more fervor — and should yield a more polished version of herself  by the start of the season, whenever that is.

“I think all this extra practice that I’ve been able to do is really going to help me,” Catlin said, adding she’s fortunate golf courses have stayed open during the pandemic, as the sport’s been deemed an essential recreational activity by state and local governments. “It’s been nice to still have my sport running, and it gives me something to do every day.”

More prepared than usual for the start of a season, Calzone acknowledged Catlin could put forth her best showing of her prep career.

“If she’s been playing all summer, look out,” the coach said. “She’s never disappointed me, so my expectations are always pretty high for her, because I know what she’s going to do.”

Promising future awaits
Catlin has multiple offers to golf collegiately, but she hasn’t yet decided if that’s a path she’ll take.

One of the top students in her senior class with a 4.5 GPA who takes a heavy dose of Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment classes, Catlin aspires to study political science in college and attend law school. She also is passionate about environmental issues, recently completing an online environmental justice fellowship amid the pandemic. Studying abroad in Russia and becoming fluent in the language are some other lofty objectives.

When it comes to higher education, Catlin said, “I just want to focus more time on my school and focusing on my GPA.”

In either case, golf will still be a lifelong hobby for her, whether she’s playing competitively or not.

“It’s definitely going to be in my life, probably for the rest of my life,” Catlin said. “I genuinely like it because it gives me time alone, time to think, and it’s as much of a mental game as it is a physical game. …Also, it’s just a nice way to get fresh air.”

Whatever Catlin winds up doing, Catlin’s high school coach is sure she’ll find success.

“She’s just an unbelievable person,” Calzone said. “She’s just a great, all-around person. Her grades, she’s very polite, she’s well-liked by all the teachers, the kids at school. Just a great, unbelievable person. I mean, she’s unbelievable at golf, but I think she’s just an unbelievable, all-around student-athlete.”

Published August 05, 2020

Check out these locals during 2020 MLB season

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The 2020 MLB (Major League Baseball) season will be unlike any other it has experienced,  thanks to COVID-19.

The condensed 60-game schedule is believed to be the league’s shortest season since 1878. Fans will have to watch the games on TV, online, or listen to the radio — as stadiums will be off-limits to them, at least initially.

There also will be myriad other social distancing and health and safety protocols, and some new rules — such as the universal DH (designated hitter) and extra innings beginning with a runner on second base.

The season kicked off on July 23, four months later than expected, after MLB elected to postpone play in early March because of the pandemic.

Though later than anticipated, and with far fewer games than expected, baseball fans will get a chance to watch their favorite teams and players battle for a postseason spot and World Series crown.

Meanwhile, a handful of players (and a manager) with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area look to take on prominent, even starring, roles with their respective MLB franchise this season.

Here’s a closer look at some of the locals to watch.

Austin Adams, Seattle Mariners, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School
Fully recovered from offseason knee surgery, the 29-year-old right-hander is expected to make a sizable impact for the Mariners bullpen, sliding into the team’s late-inning pitching or even as a closer.

Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher Austin Adams, a Zephyrhills High School product (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Since being traded to Seattle from the Washington Nationals last May, Adams registered a 3.77 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched across 29 games. The breakout 2019 campaign was cut short after a stomach-churning moment where he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus. It happened while trying to avoid a near-collision fielding a play at first base in a late September game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park. He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009. He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.

Adams’ high school success led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, a program that had its first Big East Championship final in 2012, during his junior year.

Adams signed with the Los Angeles Angels later that year after being selected in the eighth round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

His road to the big leagues was a lengthy one, having thrown more than 250 innings across five minor league seasons before making his MLB debut in 2017 with the Nationals (from where he was traded to by Los Angeles in late 2016).

Also, Adams joins a respective list of former MLB players from the Zephyrhills area, joining Dave Eiland (1988-2000) and Domonic Brown (2010-2015).

John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Entering his fifth big-league season, the 28-year-old right-handed pitcher is projected to slot in as the Cardinals’ setup man or late-inning option, after a strong 2019 campaign where he won 11 games and posted a 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched.

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher John Gant, a Wiregrass Ranch High product (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Gant is known for having one of the most unique windups in baseball, whereby he takes a couple left-footed toe taps, then pauses before firing off a pitch. He’s also regarded for sporting a five-pitch repertoire, including a changeup nicknamed “The Vulcan” — gripping the ball between the middle and ring fingers, garnering its name from the Vulcan salute used by Spock in the Star Trek series.

Gant moved to Wesley Chapel when he was 11, from Savannah, Georgia. He wound up starring on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and suffering just three losses in four years.

Gant wasn’t only involved with baseball, though.

He was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams, and also served as scorekeeper for the girls basketball program, which was coached by his father, John Sr., then a science teacher at the school.

Gant signed with the New York Mets out of high school after being selected in the 21st round of the 2011 MLB Draft. After four years in their minor league system, Gant was traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he made his MLB debut in 2016. He was traded offseason to the Cardinals, where he has been since.

Gant has customarily spent parts of his baseball offseason training in and around Wesley Chapel.

Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School
The 25-year-old Mercado is penciled in as the Indians starting centerfielder. That follows a showy 2019 rookie season where he batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado graduated from Gaither High School in 2013. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

A native of Columbia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old.

He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns.

As a Cowboy, Mercado was something of a prep prodigy. He was named ESPN’s No. 1 middle infielder in the nation and dotted multiple high school All-American lists — Under Armour All-American, MaxPreps Underclass All-American and Perfect Game All-American Classic and Underclass All-American.

In addition to his skills on the diamond, Mercado had a 5.0 weighted GPA at Gaither and originally planned to attend Florida State University on a baseball scholarship. That all changed when he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 2013 MLB, electing to sign with the club for a $1.5 million signing bonus.

Mercado spent nearly six years working through the Cardinals minor league system until he was traded to the Indians in July 2018. He made his MLB debut on May 14, 2019, against the Chicago White Sox.

Also noteworthy, Mercado became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Odessa native, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Widely considered one of the game’s top prospects, the 6-foot-6 flame-throwing righty is expected to make his MLB sooner rather than later this season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson, an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School alum. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Reports out of Summer Camp indicate the 23-year-old Pearson is indeed ready for The Show, having refined breaking pitches to complement a fastball that regularly touches triple digits.

Born and raised in Odessa, Pearson starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015. He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record.

Pearson went on to play college baseball at Miami’s Florida International University, then transferred to the College of Central Florida in Ocala. There, he was named the Rawlings/Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year, and subsequently selected by the Blue Jays in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, signing with the team for a $2.45 million bonus.

Pearson has proceeded to shine at each level of the minors, boasting a combined 2.19 ERA,

0.87 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 123.1 innings from rookie ball through Triple-A.

The budding major leaguer spent a portion of the leaguewide shutdown in Tampa, training with other professional athletes at Yo Murphy Performance.

Matt Joyce, a New Tampa resident (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Matt Joyce, Miami Marlins, outfielder
Local tie: New Tampa resident/business owner
Through born and raised in Brandon, the 12-year MLB veteran has since made New Tampa home, living in the Hunter’s Green area and recently opening an F45 Training fitness center chain at The Walk at Highwoods Preserve neighborhood shopping center.

The left-handed hitting corner outfielder is the quintessential journeyman, having played for seven different MLB franchises, his longest tenure coming with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2009-2014.

He’s mainly played a platoon role throughout his career, almost exclusively getting action against right-handed pitchers. In recent years, he’s taken on a lesser role, as a spot starter and pinch-hitter.

The 35-year-old Joyce begins the 2020 season on the 10-day injured list, due to an undisclosed condition and having not participated in the team’s July Summer Camp activities. In more than 1,300 MLB games played, Joyce has accumulated 145 career home runs and 482 RBIs, along with a .243/.343/.432 slash line.

 

 

Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Local tie: Gaither High School
Before enjoying eight years as an MLB catcher and now manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, the 42-year-old Cash fine-tuned his baseball skills and acumen in Lutz, playing at Northside Little League and Gaither High School.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash grew up in Lutz, playing at Northside Little League and Gaither High School. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays communications department)

He spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park.

Cash first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.

Cash would go on to later play college baseball at Florida State University and earn spots with six different MLB franchises from 2002-2010 — including earning two World Series rings with the 2007 Red Sox and 2009 Yankees, respectively.

Once his playing career concluded, Cash ventured into coaching and has been the Rays manager since 2015. He’s widely regarded as one of the game’s best for leading a Rays rebuilding effort that embraces outside-the-box strategies, such as platoons, shifts, and openers, combined with strong leadership skills in dealing with players.

Baseball is undoubtedly in his blood, as his father and uncle both played professionally, the latter reaching the big leagues in the 1970s.

Published July 29, 2020

Local sprinter has big dreams

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By the time Evan Miller graduated from Zephyrhills Christian Academy (ZCA), he was already among Florida’s fastest sprinters, laying claim to three state titles.

During his senior year he won the Class 1A crown 100-meter dash (10.75) at the 2018 FHSAA State Track & Field Championships. He also was a member of the school’s medalist 4×100 relay team that won back-to-back state crowns in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

The Zephyrhills native has made plenty of strides since, now morphing into one of the nation’s top college sprinters as a rising junior at NCAAA Division I University of South Carolina track and field program.

His present bests thus far are 10.39-second 100-meter dash, 20.93 200-meter dash, and 6.73 60-meter dash.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy graduate Evan Miller is now one of the nation’s top collegiate sprinters at the NCAA Division I University of South Carolina. The rising junior mainly competes in the 60-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter races. He aspires to run professionally and qualify for the Olympics. (Courtesy of University of South Carolina athletics department)

To put that in context, Miller’s 200-meter personal record was the 26th fastest-time recorded in the 2019-2020 NCAA Division I men’s indoor track ranks. Moreover, it’s the sixth-fastest time in South Carolina program history.

After finishing 19th in the 200 meters at the 2020 SEC (Southeastern Conference) Indoor Championships in late February, the sprinter was poised for a promising outdoor track season.

Then COVID-19 happened, cutting short the remainder of his sophomore campaign.

“It was really disappointing, because the 200 (meter), I was actually decreasing my time like every meet,” Miller said. “I was ready to run outdoor and try to make it to nationals in one of my events…so there were just a lot of plans for the outdoor season that we didn’t get to do, unfortunately, so it was tough.”

Since the spring college athletics season was canceled — and classes headed virtual — Miller has been keeping in shape in his hometown, linking up with his private track coach Bernard “BB” Roberts, who runs the Wesley Chapel-based Speed Starz Track/Running Club.

The two have been training together since March, regularly practicing two-a-days in the mornings and evenings.

With parks closed throughout much of the pandemic, Miller was relegated to working out on grass fields until Roberts was able to get permission to use Wiregrass Ranch High School’s track and field complex a few weeks ago.

However and wherever Miller trains, Roberts sees this time as a prime opportunity to improve, estimating most college track athletes are simply taking this summer off.

Roberts explained, “I basically talk him into it, ‘Hey, keep going. We have our goals in place. Don’t let this pandemic that we’re going through right now mess you up. Use this time to your advantage. Use the time to get better. Let’s get ahead of the game, keep training.’”

Fine-tuning his form
Together, they’ve been working on such details as block starts, posture, arm swing action, and relaxation techniques.

“A lot of stuff goes into speed, working faster,” said Roberts, a former college sprinter who claimed multiple track records from his time at Wesley Chapel High School in the early 2000s. “The average person thinks you just take off from ‘Point A’ to the finish line, and it doesn’t work like that at all. There’s a lot of strategy and lots of technique that’s never-ending.”

Wesley Chapel-based athletic trainer Bernard ‘BB’ Roberts has organized workouts for Evan Miller locally since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. (File)

Besides his burgeoning college career, Miller is thinking bigger picture.

He hopes to run professionally someday, traveling the world competing against other elite athletes.

The local track star looks to be on the right path. He recently was extended an invitation to register as a potential participant for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, which has tentatively been moved to 2021.

To qualify for the U.S. Olympics Team Trials, rescheduled to June 2021, Miller has to reach certain benchmarks in whichever events he chooses to run. For instance, he may need to run 10 seconds flat in the 100-meter dash or a 20.3 200-meter dash.

With additional time on his side, being on the U.S. Olympics Team’s radar has given him extra motivation to live out his dream.

“I definitely want to compete in the Olympics,” Miller said. “(The invitation) gave me a lot of hope, gave me a lot of confidence, seeing that all my work’s paying off. I was really excited to get that email. It just made me want to work harder and practice my craft more, and get better until then.”

His private coach has no doubt Miller has the talent to achieve those goals.

“He definitely has the potential to be an Olympian,” Roberts said, confidently.

Aside from having an ideal body frame, stride length and athleticism, Miller’s greatest quality might be his willingness and dedication to learn, Roberts said.

“He definitely has the work ethic,” the coach said. “He has an open mind to receive or take criticism. I’m hard on him for a reason, and he’s willing to take that and use it as motivation, which is what I like about him.”

Miller got a taste of what it takes to become a world-class sprinter during the July Fourth weekend.

Competing at the V12 Athletics Summer Games in Alachua, Miller raced alongside world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Steven Gardiner (Bahamas), Asa Guevara (Trinidad and Tobago) and Quantaveon Poole (United States) in the 300-meter dash. Miller placed fourth among the group, clocking 35.44 seconds. Gardiner won the race in 31.83 — setting a new Bahamian national record in the process.

It marked Miller’s first time lacing up spikes and competing in an official race since the SEC Indoor Championships. It also served as a barometer of where he stands in comparison to some  top-ranked pros.

“It was pretty cool, to have an opportunity to race them and compete with them,” said Miller. “It felt really good to be able to run again, and be able to compete again against other runners.”
Meanwhile, Miller is looking forward to heading back up to Columbia, South Carolina, by summer’s end, where he can rejoin his Gamecock teammates and have access to the athletic program’s nutritionist, rehabilitation and training resources. He’s also poised to add to his family’s legacy at South Carolina. His father, Selvesta, played football at South Carolina from 1994 to 1997 and later spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

“It’s been a good experience for me,” Miller said of his college career thus far. “It’s just like crazy to think that I turned out at South Carolina from ZCA. It was just one of those dream schools to go to because my dad played there and everything, so it’s just great to see that I’m doing things like this.”

Published July 22, 2020

Local javelin standout ready for bigger stage

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New Tampa resident Zach Godbold was poised to conclude his high school athletic career on top of a winner’s podium.

At Wharton High School, Godbold had wrapped up his final varsity football and soccer seasons in the fall and winter, respectively.

His attention then turned to track and field.

He envisioned hoisting up the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)’s first state-sanctioned title in the javelin throw, in the modern era.

Wharton High’s Zach Godbold had eyes set on winning the first official state javelin title in the modern era, until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of spring sports. (Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

After all, in 2019 Godbold won the FHSAA’s exhibition state title in javelin — as part of a provisional period for the track and field offering.

He picked up right where he left off this spring.

Godbold was ranked No. 1 in the state with a rubber-tip javelin throw of 55.15 meters. The mark was well ahead of the state’s No. 2 thrower, Pompano Beach Highlands Christian Academy junior Nick Veynovich, who had a personal best of 49.36 meters.

Then COVID-19 happened — wiping out the remainder of the Florida high school sports season in early March.

And, just like that, Godbold’s shot at making history vanished. His status as the de facto favorite to become the first officially recognized javelin state champion since 1950 was erased.

The FHSAA discontinued the javelin in 1950, due to safety concerns. It brought it back with some new procedures, such as using a rubber tip instead of a steel tip seen in college and Olympic-level competitions.

“It being my senior year and my first official chance, it was obviously disappointing,” Godbold said, in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

He felt for his fellow teammates and other athletes, too.

“I lost my season, but so did every other spring sport for every level, so everyone’s in the same boat,” Godbold said.

But, time has healed his wounds.

He missed out on a would-be historic state crown, but he has since shifted focus to his next challenge — competing on the University of Florida men’s track and field team.

He signed a college athletic scholarship, in May, to attend UF.

So, a missed opportunity that was completely out of Godbold’s control has become motivational factor for his burgeoning college career.

He has lofty expectations for his freshman season at Florida.

He’s aiming for a steel-tip javelin throw of at least 70 meters; his current top mark in the steel-tip throw is 60.38 meters.

As he prepares to move to Gainesville, the athlete has been keeping sharp through gym workouts and javelin throws, which he makes multiple times each week at Hunter’s Green Community Park in New Tampa.

“I’m hoping to come out and improve my personal best so much that no one sees it coming,” Godbold said. “I’m kind of eager to get out there and show what I can do after improving for a whole year.”

Wharton High track and field coach Kyle LoJacono sympathizes with Godbold’s missed opportunity to claim a historic achievement.

New Tampa resident Zach Godbold has signed with University of Florida men’s track and field, where he’ll compete in the javelin throw. Godbold recently graduated from Wharton High School.

“My heart went out to the kid because of how much he’s done, he wanted to get that state championship,” LoJacono said.

Right up until the final meet of the season on March 7, Godbold went the extra mile both in training and at meets, the coach said.

LoJacono said the athlete lifted weights early in the morning and practiced track in the afternoon, while also juggling what was left of his soccer season.

“You would think that somebody’s who’s No. 1 might get a little bit complacent, but this year there was really none of that…because he really did everything as far as that strength and conditioning side,” LoJacono said.

His attitude, the coach said, was: “How can I make myself better?”

While Godbold’s senior season ended abruptly, LoJacono is eager to see Godbold’s potential for growth, as he heads to a Division I national powerhouse that’s claimed nine combined NCAA titles and 11 SEC crowns since 2009.

Said LoJacono: “It really is going to be special to see what he can do over the next four years.”

Javelin creates more opportunities
As Godbold heads off to new challenges, LoJacono is looking forward to the competitive growth of the javelin throw among the Florida high school ranks.

This season, the coach observed an uptick in participants in both local and county meets among boys and girls, compared to when it was a provisional, unscored offering the past couple years. “I’ve seen a lot more people do it. It’s already taken off in a positive way,” he said.

The discipline essentially requires an athlete to throw a spear for distance, and gaining momentum by running within a predetermined area.

In boys competition, the spear weighs 800 grams and has a length of 260 centimeters to 270 centimeters. In girls competition, it’s 600 grams and 220 centimeters to 230 centimeters long.

Mastering javelin requires a combination of sprint speed, strength, explosiveness, athleticism, and technique from the legs all way up to the throwing motion, LoJacono said. “It’s that whole kinetic chain.”

The recent reintroduction of javelin by the FHSAA ultimately could lead to more track and field scholarships for Florida high schoolers.

LoJacono explained those scholarships — namely at Florida colleges and universities — have been going to athletes from other states that offered javelin as a sanctioned high school event.

Bringing javelin back into the fold was forward-thinking on the FHSAA’s part, LoJacono said, because, “there was this whole talent base of kids who were not being served.”

Godbold is a prime example of that, as he first achieved statewide and national recognition in javelin on the AAU circuit as a teen.

Now that it’s a state-sanctioned event, Godbold, too, envisions a wave of youth and high school athletes who may discover an otherwise hidden gift.

“With (javelin) being in meets, and teams caring about points and trying to win meets, they would test out people in practice and throw people out there, so I think coming up in Florida, there’s going to be a lot more good javelin throwers than there have been,” Godbold said.

And, the greater exposure to javelin may create new opportunities, he added.

“I think there’s a lot of people who are playing other sports, maybe they’re a baseball pitcher or something, who have the talent to be able to go Division I in track and field,” Godbold said.

Published June 24, 2020

Locals selected in 2020 MLB Draft

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Childhood dreams of playing professional baseball soon will be a reality for a couple athletes with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Major League Baseball (MLB)’s 2020 first-year player draft was shortened to five rounds and 160 picks, from the usual 40 rounds in previous years, due to COVID-19.

It didn’t stop some locals from hearing their name called on Day 2 of the draft on June 11, however.

Steinbrenner High/Florida State University product CJ Van Eyk was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round (42nd overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft. (File)

The highest-drafted local was Steinbrenner High product CJ Van Eyk, taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round, at pick No. 42 overall.

Since graduating from Steinbrenner in 2017, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound righty pitcher has spent the past three years at Florida State University — where he logged an 18-5 win-loss record, 3.21 ERA, 1.274 WHIP and 225 strikeouts in 176.2 innings pitched across three college seasons.

A summary of Van Eyk’s skillset on MLB.com reads: “After pitching out of the bullpen as a freshman (at FSU), the 6-foot-1 right-hander moved into the Seminoles’ rotation as a sophomore and then continued to improve this spring, operating with a solid three-pitch mix that includes a plus curveball.”

Van Eyk led Steinbrenner to its first Class 8A state championship as a junior in 2016 and that year was crowned Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 8A Player of the Year. A show of his dominance — he surrendered just 15 earned runs in 173.2 innings pitched in high school.

He also was drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in the 19th round of the 2017 draft, but didn’t sign, opting for college instead.

A couple local athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were taken in the 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. The event took place June 10 and June 11, and was broadcast on ESPN and the MLB Network.

In signing with the Blue Jays this time around, Van Eyk will join a growing list of Steinbrenner products who’ve been drafted and are now in the minor leagues. Names include Cole Gordon (Mets, 32nd round in 2019), Kevin Merrell (Oakland Athletics, first round in 2017), and PK Morris (Blue Jays, 14th round in 2017).

Though slightly outside our coverage area in Pasco County, Trinity native/Mitchell High catcher Jackson Miller was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the third round (65th overall).

It’s a name that followers of local high school baseball surely are familiar with, as Miller’s teams have faced these varsity teams at least once throughout his career —  Bishop McLaughlin, Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools, respectively.

The 6-foot, 195-pound left-handed hitter posted a .414/.498/.591 slash line in 88 games across four varsity seasons. In seven games in this year’s COVID-19 shortened season, he had a .500 batting average in 26 at-bats, with six extra-base hits, five RBIs and scored nine runs.

An MLB.com analysis of Miller reads: “More athletic than the typical catcher, Miller, a Wake Forest recruit, could have average tools across the board, standing out most for his sound left-handed bat and solid defense behind the plate.”

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Wesley Chapel native Carson Ragsdale in the fourth round (116th overall). The 6-foot-8 righty, who prepped at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, wrapped up his redshirt junior season at University of South Florida.

Later on in the draft, the Philadelphia Phillies selected Wesley Chapel native Carson Ragsdale in the fourth round (116th overall).

Ragsdale, who prepped at Bishop McLaughlin, is coming off his redshirt junior season at the University of South Florida.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound right-handed pitcher transitioned to a starter’s role this year at USF, after pitching out of the bullpen his freshman and sophomore seasons. (He missed the 2019 season following Tommy John surgery). Across those three years of action, he’s tallied a 3.75 ERA, 1.391 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.

An MLB.com summary of Ragsdale’s skillset states: “Ragsdale’s 6-foot-8 frame gives him good downhill plane and the potential to add velocity to a fastball that has registered in the 91-95 mph (mph) range. He’s also got a curveball that has acted as a strikeout pitch.”

In a four-year varsity career at Bishop McLaughlin, Ragsdale tallied a 1.58 ERA and .352 batting average, helping steer the program to a combined 77-21 mark from 2013 to 2016. He joins several other Bishop McLaughlin products have been drafted in recent years, including Franklin German (New York Yankees, fourth round in 2018), Nate Pearson (Blue Jays, first round in 2017), Josh Falk (Athletics, 17th round in 2017), and Paul Coumoulos (Phillies, 40th round in 2017), respectively.

Former Sunlake High standout Tommy Mace is returning to the University of Florida for his senior season, after going undrafted in the 2020 MLB Draft.

Former Sunlake High standout/University of Florida right-handed pitcher Tommy Mace did not hear his name called in this year’s consolidated draft, despite being ranked the No. 70 overall prospect by MLB.com.

Rather than sign with a pro club as an undrafted free agent, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Mace will head back to Florida for his senior campaign. He was on his way to having his best college campaign yet, tallying a 1.67 ERA in a team-high 27 innings, until the remainder of the season was canceled, thanks to COVID-19. In three college seasons combined, he’s compiled a 16-5 win-loss record, 4.37 ERA, 1.299 WHIP and 145 strikeouts in 179.1 innings pitched.

At Sunlake, Mace was a three-year varsity player, posting a 1.65 ERA and 196 strikeouts through 165.2 innings, and guiding the program to the Class 7A regional final as a senior. He  previously was selected by the Reds in the 12th round of the 2017 draft, but opted for college instead. Early projections show Mace being a top-flight pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

The 2020 MLB Draft was broadcast live June 11 and June 12, on ESPN and the MLB Network.

Published June 17, 2020

Cypress Creek receives FHSAA sportsmanship award

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The Cypress Creek High School athletics department has made numerous strides in on-field performance since the school first opened in 2017.

But, it’s the way the school’s student-athletes, coaches and fans conduct themselves before and after athletic events that has garnered statewide attention.

Cypress Creek earned the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award for Class 4A for the 2019-2020 school year. In total, 14 high schools and two middle schools received the notable honor on June 4. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek athletics department)

Cypress Creek earned the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award for Class 4A for the 2019-2020 school year. In total, 14 high schools and two middle schools received the notable honor on June 4.

As part of the award, the Wesley Chapel-based school will receive a commemorative plaque and a $2,500 check, to go toward ongoing athletic department funding.

Cypress Creek, also known as the Coyotes, originally was nominated for the award because the school had not received any disciplinary actions or ejections among all athletes and coaches; the school also was required to submit information to the FHSAA outlining the athletic department’s overall philosophy and how it fosters good sportsmanship among all participants.

Cypress Creek athletic director Justin Pelliccia labeled the honor as “something we’re definitely very proud of” and “great publicity for Pasco County as a whole.”

“It’s definitely a huge honor for all of us, all of our coaches, all the countless hours that they’ve put in and dedication that they’ve put into their programs,” said Pelliccia, who’s served as athletic director since 2018.

“Sportsmanship is always key,” he said, noting if kids are respectful and they buy in and they are respectful to the coach and to other teams, it contributes to success.

The statewide award has been presented annually since 1991. It is named in honor of FHSAA Commissioner Emeritus Fred E. Rozelle.

This is the first time since 2014 that a school in The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area has received the distinction. Land O’ Lakes-based Rushe Middle School received the honor in 2014 and Sunlake High School received it for the 2012-2013 school year.

Cypress Creek athletic director Justin Pelliccia (Courtesy of Justin Pelliccia)

Cypress Creek principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles is elated the school received the prestigious designation.

“I am absolutely thrilled about our students, fan base, and coaches being recognized with this award,” she wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

“This is truly an honor! This honor is a testament to the dedication of our coaches, community & students and their commitment to our H.O.W.L. mission, which is to Have a growth mindset, Own their education, Work as a Community, and to Lead responsibly. I am proud of our entire Coyote Nation for being honored with this award!”

When it comes to promoting good sportsmanship, the Cypress Creek athletics department takes a multi-faceted approach.

Student-athletes, for instance, are advised to keep a positive outlook on social media sites, and partake in various community service and fundraisers, such as pancake breakfasts and car washes.

In general, the school’s athletes are “very respectful” to opposing teams before and after competitions, Pelliccia said.

Also, Coyotes coaches “go above and beyond” in the name of setting a good example, Pelliccia said. As an example, he said many coaches make it a point to recognize rival schools’ student-athletes — in addition to their own —  during Senior Night ceremonies.

Moreover, the school is revered for its active spirit group — student fans who attend countless sporting events each year, both home and away.

The athletic director explained school administration outlines guidelines, ideas and expectations for appropriate student section behavior.

“I know you can go to some schools and their student sections are crazy and ruthless, so we’ve kind of taken the step to make sure that sportsmanship is their focus. We’ve had meetings with them, we go through kind of things they can use while they’re at the games, and they were great this year,” Pelliccia said.

The Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award honors schools whose athletic teams demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship during the regular season and the FHSAA State Series. The award is presented to one school in each classification whose entire sports program best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship as demonstrated by its coaches, players and spectators. (File)

Meanwhile, Cypress Creek athletics as a whole has come a long way since its inaugural year — when softball was then the only program to achieve a winning campaign.

Pelliccia acknowledged it was initially difficult for the upstart school to field competitive athletics teams. It also proved challenging for students rezoned from rival high schools — Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch — to gel.

Pelliccia observed: “All these kids came from different schools, so getting them to be a cohesive unit in Year One was our struggle; they were still all sort of enemies at that point.”

However, as the school embarks on its fourth year in existence, triumphs have begun to show.

Besides the sportsmanship designation, the Coyotes had a banner year in terms of on-field success.

The school’s football team made its first playoff appearance; the boys soccer and girls weightlifting teams were district champions; and, boys cross-country and girls weightlifting were district runner-up, among other notable benchmarks.

“The kids are taking pride in their athletic teams, and the success is coming and definitely showing,” Pelliccia said.

The athletic director himself has picked up some individual recognition, while serving as the school’s varsity boys soccer coach. Pelliccia was named Sunshine Athletic Conference East Boys Soccer Coach of the Year, after guiding the program to an 11-6 mark and a Class 4A regional semifinals appearance this past year.

Published June 10, 2020

This teen strikes out batters — and cancer

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Jack Teeter was well on his way to another standout baseball season for Academy at the Lakes (AATL), up until the COVID-19 pandemic canceled virtually all sporting events.

The All-State athlete was leading the team with a .500 batting average through nine games. He hadn’t allowed an earned run in 14 innings pitched.

In the de facto final game of the season on March 12, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound junior left-hander had a no-hitter through four innings in a mercy-rule victory against Lakeside Christian — a contest not officially documented in online stats.

But, before he was racking up extra-base hits and striking out batters this season, Teeter was up against tougher opponent — cancer.

Jack’s parents, Renee and Brian Teeter, made him a custom-made hat, with the phrase, ‘I Struck Out Cancer.’ Jack was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in late September. After five rounds of chemotherapy and 14 targeted doses of radiation, he was pronounced cancer-free in January. (Courtesy of Brian Teeter)

The athlete was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in late September, at 16 years old.

In the months preceding, he had been having ongoing breathing and coughing issues. He had trouble completing routine baseball workouts. Doctors presumed it was a case of allergies and sports-induced asthma.

The full scope of the health issue wasn’t realized until Teeter caught a parasite while volunteering at a church farm in Clearwater during the summer.

His parents initially thought it was a bout of food poisoning, until weight loss and stomach issues persisted for days.

Eventually, his family suspected something more was going on.

Teeter first was taken to urgent care, then St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital for a series of CAT scans and medical tests.

They showed lesions on his spleen and stage III lymphoma — meaning enlarged lymph nodes had spread on both sides of his diaphragm.

The teen immediately started treatment. After five rounds of chemotherapy and 14 targeted doses of radiation, he was pronounced cancer-free in January. He requires checkups every three months.

The initial shock of cancer didn’t fully hit Teeter until he awoke in a hospital bed about a week in.

“It’s surreal, if I had to describe it,” he said. “It was crazy to think that I was only 16 years old, being taken into a hospital because of cancer. It’s like, ‘Wow, this is really happening.’”

Motivation through baseball
As the Teeter family found out from doctors and nurses, Hodgkin lymphoma has a high treatable and survival rate in children.

It’s also something several pro athletes have overcome, including a pair of Chicago Cubs All-Stars in Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo. Reading those stories helped fuel Teeter’s drive to get back on the field again: “I realized, ‘Oh, I can make it, I can get past this, and it’s something that I can overcome and still make it regardless of what I have.’”

While undergoing treatment, Teeter discovered just how much he cherished the game he began playing when he was just 4 years old.

Before the diagnosis, Teeter enjoyed a sophomore campaign that garnered him Class 2A Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State honors after leading the Wildcats in hitting (.367 average, 18 hits, 11 RBIs) and pitching (1.48 ERA, 60 strikeouts in 42.2 innings).

He acknowledged that baseball is something he may have taken for granted previously, but now, he said he is “enjoying every moment” that he can.

He observed, “I didn’t realize how much I did miss it, how important it was to me because I kept getting calls from teammates and friends telling me that they miss me and hope I get through it OK. It just made me realize, ‘This is a real passion for me, I am important to the team, and I got to get through it all somehow.’”

In a way, baseball “brought him back to health,” said Renee Teeter, his mother.

“It’s given him motivation, excitement, something for him to look forward to and work toward,” she said.

Cancer also has given the teen a fresh perspective on life.

He makes a point to tell anyone who’ll listen to not take what they have for granted, particularly when it comes to health.

Teeter put it like this: “You never know how bad it can be until you’ve had something like I’ve have. It’s like sometimes when people complain about stupid stuff I just remind them, like, ‘C’mon, you have health, you have something that some people just don’t have and you just kind of need to appreciate it a bit more.’”

That newfound outlook is something his parents have picked up on, too.

“I think he got faced with his mortality a lot younger than most people do, and I think he appreciates what he has a lot more now,” said Brian Teeter, his father.

The experience also made Teeter’s parents even more aware of how capable their son is — in both fighting cancer and playing baseball at a high level again.

“I don’t know if he surprised me, because I always knew he was a very strong kid, but I’ve been impressed by him,” Renee said. “He’s handled this very well and dealt with a lot of things, but he doesn’t know any different.”

She added, “He’s done as best as he could be. He’s a trooper, not a complainer. He does what he has to do.”

Getting healthy, inning by inning
Since the diagnosis, Teeter’s first baseball outing came in mid-November, in a high school tournament at Saint Leo University.

The effects of ongoing treatment were evident. He was bald, thinner and noticeably weaker. His chemo port was still implanted, too.

Still, he mustered up the power to pitch one full inning, getting three outs on 25 or so pitches.

“I wasn’t 100% there,” Teeter said, “but, I was able to throw one inning and it was great to get back out there.”

His parents were emotional, as they watched their son back on the mound.

“I basically cried the entire time,” Teeter’s mother said.

After barely having the strength to walk, Teeter has progressed to running, weightlifting and taking part in regular baseball activities and drills.

Teeter pitched one inning during a fall baseball invitational, as he was still undergoing chemo treatments.

He’s happy to report that he can get through a 30-minute workout without feeling sick.

His hair, beard and strength are back, also.

Now cancer-free, he is focused on becoming a better ballplayer, with aspirations to pitch in college.

He’s leaned on the help and support of coaches like his father, as well as Academy at the Lakes’ pitching coach Tony Saccamanno, and Anthony Telford and Ruben Garcia, of the Florida Baseball Institute, in Tampa.

He’s working to perfect his pitch timing and mechanics, and notch his fastball up to 80 mph, adding to a repertoire that also includes a slider, curveball and changeup.

Teeter’s recovery brings a smile to the face of Academy at the Lakes’ head baseball coach Ken Akins.

“It’s just good to see him healthy — that’s the key,” said Akins. “I don’t think that I’ve ever seen him 100% healthy in the (two seasons) that I’ve been at the Academy, and that’s the part that I’m happy about, that’s the part I’m excited about, is to see him not have to battle anything, and really say, ‘OK, now’s the time to get at it.’”

When Akins first heard of Teeter’s Hodgkin lymphoma last fall, it brought back memories of another former player who had cancer.

“As a head coach, as a parent, as a person, you never want to hear that, especially that a young man at the age of 16 has to deal with something like that,” Akins said. “I think it opened up some eyes on some of the other boys.”

This summer, Teeter will be pitching from time to time for the Carrollwood Gators travel ball team. He’s also looking forward to his senior season because he believes he’ll finally be able to showcase his true skills and best self.

“I just a want a shot to have people see what I can be like when I’m actually healthy,” Teeter said.

He also hopes to inspire other youths battling cancer.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Teeter said. “You’re going to come back, and you’re going to come back better than you ever were before.”

Published June 03, 2020