The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local Sports

Locals named to All-State football teams

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Athletes within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were well-represented on the FloridaHSFootball.com’s All-State teams for the 2019 season.

In total, 18 players from four local schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties were named first-team, second-team, third-team or honorable mention for their respective classifications.

The All-State teams were compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com, along with the consideration of coaches nominations and consultation of all-area/all-county teams and members of the media from around the state.

Steinbrenner High School (8A) garnered the most selections among local schools, with eight.

That included three first-team choices (quarterback Haden Carlson, senior offensive lineman Matt Adcock, senior utility Deon Silas), three second-team choices (senior receiver Dean Patterson, junior linebacker Austin Brannen, junior defensive back Matt Durrance) a third-team choice (junior defensive lineman Aiden Bitter) and an honorable mention (junior defensive lineman Desmond Mamudi).

Carlson also was named the Class 8A Offensive Player of the Year. The Florida International University signee completed 62.4% of his throws for 2,382 yards, 33 touchdowns and five interceptions, guiding the Warriors to a 12-2 mark and the Class 8A state semifinals.

Gaither High School (6A) also was well-represented on the All-State list, with seven selections.

That included three first-team choices (senior quarterback Tony Bartalo, senior offensive lineman Jake Karsen, senior defensive back Hunter Mintzer), two-second team choices (senior receiver Deveon Knighton, junior athlete Jordan Oladokun) and two third-team choices (sophomore receiver Drelin Pittman, sophomore defensive lineman Mario Eugenio).

Bartalo also was named the Class 6A Overall Player of the Year — helping the Cowboys to a 12-2 mark and the Class 6A state semifinals.

The Bethune-Cookman signee completed 62.6% of his throws for 3,194 yards, 45 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also made an impact with his legs, rushing for 382 yards and five touchdowns. Bartalo’s 45 touchdown passes were the most in Florida among all classifications, and good for fifth-most all-time in state history.

Wiregrass Ranch High School (7A) had two All-State selections  —  senior linebacker Dylan Ridolph (second-team) and senior receiver Keith Walker (third-team).

It marks Ridolph’s third time on the All-State listing. The Catawba College signee exits as one of the most productive defensive players in Pasco County history. He holds the county record for most career sacks, with 48. He also tallied 274 total tackles and 78 tackles for loss across three varsity seasons.

Elsewhere, Zephyrhills Christian Academy senior defensive lineman Malik Jones garnered Class 2A first-team defense honors. The 6-2, 296-pound Florida Atlantic University signee ranked third in the state in sacks (29) in 2019, also registering 113 total tackles and 38.0 tackles for loss.

There were no All-State representatives in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area from Classes 5A, 4A, 3A or 1A.

Last year, 24 players from nine local schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties were named first-team, second-team, third-team or honorable mention for their respective classifications.

Class 8A
Haden Carlson, Steinbrenner, senior, quarterback (first-team offense, offensive player of the year)
Matt Adcock, Steinbrenner, senior, offensive lineman (first-team offense)
Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, junior, utility (first-team offense)
Dean Patterson, Steinbrenner, senior, receiver (second-team offense)
Austin Brannen, Steinbrenner, junior, linebacker (second-team defense)
Matt Durrance, Steinbrenner, junior, defensive back (second-team defense)
Aiden Bitter, Steinbrenner, senior, receiver (third-team offense)
Desmond Mamudi, Steinbrenner, junior, defensive lineman (honorable mention)

Class 7A
Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, senior, linebacker (second-team defense)
Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior, receiver (third-team offense)

Class 6A
Tony Bartalo, Gaither, senior, quarterback (first-team offense, overall player of the year)
Jake Karsen, Gaither, senior, offensive lineman (first-team offense)
Hunter Mintzer, Gaither, senior, defensive back (first-team defense)
Deveon Knighton, Gaither, senior, receiver (second-team offense)
Jordan Oladokun, Gaither, junior, athlete (second-team defense)
Drelin Pittman, Gaither, sophomore, receiver (third-team offense)
Mario Eugenio, Gaither, sophomore, defensive lineman (third-team defense)

Class 2A
Malik Jones, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, defensive lineman (first-team defense)

Published March 25, 2020

All-Pasco County winter awards announced

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High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2019-2020 winter sports season, which included basketball, competitive cheerleading, soccer, weightlifting and wrestling.

Selections were made for both the East and West division.

The following high schools from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were represented in the East: Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

The Sunlake High varsity boys basketball team finished 17-8 this season and reached the district finals. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School athletics)

Winter Sports (Boys)
SAC East All-Conference Boys Basketball
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: David Puhlaski, Land O’ Lakes
Player of the Year: Mekhi Perry, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
Chase Farmer, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Jordan Golden, Sunlake, senior
Dontae Marchman, Zephyrhills, senior
Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Mekhi Perry, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second-Team
Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, senior
Matt Webster, Pasco, sophomore
Ethan Jones, Wesley Chapel, senior
Jacob McCaslin, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Josh Bent, Sunlake, senior

Honorable Mention(s)
Joe Vreeland, Cypress Creek, senior

SAC East All-Conference Boys Soccer
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Justin Pelliccia, Cypress Creek
Offensive Player of the Year: Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben McQuay, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Logan Grace, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Ethan Sternberg, Sunlake, junior
Justin Amis, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Joey Maulorico, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Carter Corrao, Cypress Creek, senior
Alec Santiago, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Sebastian Victoria, Sunlake, junior
Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Ben McQuay, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Jake Bierhorst, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Derek Isajar, Sunlake, junior

Second-Team
Jaxon Landry, Sunlake, senior
Spencer Rawlings, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Jared Jimenez, Pasco, senior
Jori Ndrita, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Carlos Morales, Zephyrhills, senior
Landon Craven, Pasco, senior
Mario Garcia, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Sam Salas, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Brock Montei, Sunlake, junior
Alex Bronnan, Cypress Creek, junior
Julian Padilla, Pasco, senior

Honorable Mention(s)
Destin Rogers, Wesley Chapel, senior

The Pasco High varsity boys wrestling team won an SAC conference championship. (Courtesy of Pasco High School athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys Wrestling
Team Champion: Pasco
Coach of the Year: Tim Maples, Pasco
Wrestler of the Year: Zach Spicer, Sunlake

First-Team
106-pound: Donavan Eury, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
113-pound: Deshawn Creary, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman
120-pound: Orion Magoon, Sunlake, sophomore
126-pound: Dante Reese, Land O’ Lakes, senior
132-pound: Travis Knowlton, Pasco, senior
138-pound: Jacob Thornton, Pasco, senior
145-pound: Jake Koener, Sunlake, junior
152-pound: Kevin Johnston, Pasco, senior
160-pound: Devin Jernigan, Pasco, junior
170-pound: Savion Spaights, Pasco, junior
182-pound: Zach Spicer, Sunlake, senior
195-pound: Amir Burgess, Pasco, junior
220-pound: Theotis Smith, Zephyrhills, sophomore
285-pound: Cayman Wiseman, Sunlake, senior

Second-Team
106-pound: Jason DeSantis, Cypress Creek, sophomore
113-pound: James Day, Zephyrhills, freshman
120-pound: Exavier Beckwith, Wesley Chapel, junior
126-pound: Kyle Dickerson, Pasco, senior
132-pound: Morgan Ray, Land O’ Lakes, junior
138-pound: Jackson Hudson, Cypress Creek, sophomore
145-pound: Jack Evans, Pasco, junior
152-pound: Idaael Reyes, Zephyrhills, sophomore
160-pound: Collins Bogie, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
170-pound: Renso Fernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
182-pound: Chance Kuber, Pasco, senior
195-pound: Zavion McKinnon, Land O’ Lakes, junior
220-pound: Cassidy Grubs, Pasco, freshman
285-pound: Dujuan McCullough, Zephyrhills, junior

Honorable Mention(s)
Briac Riles, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

The Wesley Chapel High School varsity girls basketball team went 26-4 and reached the Class 4A regional final. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School athletics)

Winter Sports (Girls)
SAC East All-Conference Girls Basketball
Team Champion: Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Peter Livingston, Wesley Chapel
Player of the Year: Kayla Grant, Wesley Chapel

First-Team
Kayla Grant, Wesley Chapel, senior
Zoi Evans, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Arianna Rivera-Heppenstall, Wesley Chapel, senior
Taija McCullough, Zephyrhills, junior
Daisy McQuain, Sunlake, senior

Second-Team
Mia Nicholson, Wesley Chapel, junior
Natalie Rodriguez, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
April Davis, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Emari Lewis, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Honorable Mention(s)
Evelyn Randall, Pasco, sophomore
Adrianna Villanueva, Cypress Creek, freshman

SAC East All-Conference Competitive Cheerleading
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Danielle Hammer, Wiregrass Ranch
Cheerleader of the Year: Sarah Spitzig, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
Sarah Spitzig, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Laura Madison, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Lauren Jones, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Gabriela Miller, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Emma Flannery, Pasco, senior
Kristal Prado Zapata, Wesley Chapel, senior
Layla Gilyard, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Taryn Clower, Cypress Creek, junior
Brooke Sokolowski, Cypress Creek, junior
Brianna Cunningham, Zephyrhills, junior

Second-Team
Christina Agovino, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Mayah Ocasio, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Camryn Steele, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Emma Runkel, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, senior
Julia Thomas, Sunlake, senior
Sydeny Taylor, Wesley Chapel, junior
Laynye Longley, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
Brooke Pudoka, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Alyssa Pollicita, Cypress Creek, sophomore

SAC East All-Conference Girls Soccer
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Jen Craven, Land O’ Lakes
Offensive Player of the Year: Avery Damjanovic, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Bauer, Wesley Chapel

First-Team
Ashley Doers, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Nisa Cahoon, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Sydney Bauer, Wesley Chapel, junior
Jada Silvest, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Gaby Cardenas, Wesley Chapel, senior
Kylee Ehmann, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Avery Damjanovic, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Jordan Green, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Madison Holcombe, Wesley Chapel, junior
Maddy Golka, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
Avery Wild, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second-Team
Katelyn Hicks, Sunlake, sophomore
Kelsey Kadlub, Pasco, junior
Jaydean Ireland, Zephyrhills, senior
Ashley Roth, Sunlake, senior
Abby Murphy, Cypress Creek, senior
Kaylei Koschman, Wesley Chapel, junior
Amaris Hamilton-Grein, Wesley Chapel, freshman
Raegan Bourne, Cypress Creek, senior
Kobi Page, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Rylee Humphries, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Delaney Sanders, Cypress Creek, senior

SAC East Girls Weightlifting
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Denise Garcia, Sunlake
Athlete of the Year: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake

First-Team
101-pound: Andje Costa, Cypress Creek, sophomore
110-pound: Gabriella Schwarz, Sunlake, sophomore
119-pound: Madison Guincho, Sunlake, junior
129-pound: Delaney Pratt, Sunlake, senior
139-pound: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, senior
154-pound: Sarah Davis, Zephyrhills, senior
169-pound: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, senior
183-pound: Brianna Caban, Sunlake, senior
199-pound: Antoinette Farmer, Sunlake, senior
Unlimited: Sarita Alzate, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second-Team
101-pound: Alexandria Black, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
110-pound: Savannah Lee, Wesley Chapel, senior
119-pound: Gianna Long, Sunlake, freshman
129-pound: Asia Wilmer, Zephyrhills, junior
139-pound: Gianina Rios, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
154-pound: Madison Aguilera, Zephyrhills, junior
169-pound: Alyssa Kremer, Land O’ Lakes, senior
183-pound: Lakisia Thomas, Zephyrhills, senior
199-pound: Kyleigh Smith, Zephyrhills, senior
Unlimited: Juliana Garcia, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention(s)
Moriah Tucker, Pasco, freshman

Sunlake girls weightlifting state champs — again

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Since taking its first-ever state title last year, Sunlake High School’s varsity girls weightlifting had a newfound target on their back — as hungry competition looked to dethrone the team all season long.

Some opponents went so far to say it to their face.

The Sunlake High School varsity girls weightlifting team are back-to-back state champs. After winning the program’s first state title last year, the Seahawks again took gold at the 2020 FHSAA State Weightlifting Championships in Panama City Beach. (Courtesy of Denise Garcia)

“We knew there were going to be people trying to take the title and trying to overcome us in general,” Sunlake senior Antoinette Farmer said. “We even had people straight up telling us, saying they were going to beat us.”

Apparently, their foes spoke too soon — as Sunlake again won the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A State Weightlifting Championships in Panama City Beach last month.

Along the way, the Sunlake team took district and regional crowns, too.

The Seahawks tallied 28 points to edge second-place finisher Navarre High School (26) and third place Winter Springs High School (24) — to become back-to-back state champions.

The program also experienced another milestone — with two weightlifters earning individual state titles in the same year: Seniors Gianna Levy (139 pounds) and Juliette Pacheco (169 pounds) took first place in their respective weight classes. Pacheco set a state record 225-pound bench press in her weight class.

All told, five of Sunlake’s seven state lifters earned points with top-six finishes in the bench press and clean-and-jerk aggregate lifts.

  • Madison Guincho, junior — second place, 119-pound (180-160 — 340)
  • Gianna Levy, senior — first place, 139-pound (175-180 — 355)
  • Juliette Pacheco, senior—first place, 169-pound (225-185 — 410)
  • Brianna Caban, senior — third place, 183-pound (200-170—370)
  • Antoinette Farmer, senior—second place, 199-pound (210-190 — 400)

“We were ready for the challenge,” Farmer said of winning states again.

She said she and her teammates fed off the “good competition energy” sent their way throughout the 2019-2020 campaign.

Pacheco concurred: “We all just have a really competitive mindset, and when we hear that people are saying they’re going to beat us… it just motivates us more.”

Pacheco also credits the team’s overall success to the myriad multi-sport athletes on the team’s weightlifting roster. Many have participated in cheerleading, softball, swimming, and track and field, among other sports.

There are many “all-around athletes,” Pacheco said, noting “we all have really high goals for every aspect of our lives, and we all just put it together and do what has to be done.”

Pacheco has a lengthy background in gymnastics and cheerleading, both of which she said have helped her build upper body strength over the years.

She also holds the school’s pole vault record in track and field.

“It’s just like every sport that I’ve done has aided me in (weightlifting),” Pacheco said.

Sunlake head coach Denise Garcia acknowledged there was more pressure to win a second state title, but praised her group for maintaining a positive mindset and working hard throughout the journey.

This team embraced challenges
Garcia noted several girls balanced schoolwork, other sports and extracurriculars, and part-time jobs to get their work done in the weight room.

Her message to the team entering the year: “Nothing will work unless you do.”

It’s something the team bought into it from the get-go, she said.

“They came together again, they wanted it again,” said Garcia. “They worked even harder, if that’s even possible. They’re such good workers, their work ethics are amazing.”

She added: “It just warms my heart that they succeeded, that they did what they wanted to, and that they put their heads together themselves and they did it. That’s a big accomplishment for them, individually, as well as a team.”

Garcia has led Sunlake’s weightlifting program for more than a decade. Her specialty and strategy comes in teaching proper bench press technique, trying to maximize the potential from each of her lifters. Pacheco’s state record is a case in point, but Garcia noted she strives to get everyone to bench at least 150 pounds.

“I love the bench,” Garcia said. “They say clean-and jerk-wins everything, but bench is good, too, because it’s the total (score), and if I can get them high in the bench, it puts pressure on the other girls (from opposing teams) to do even more.”

Though Garcia will be without four state-placing seniors, she believes the program is shaped up for another strong showing next season.

The team figures to center around, among others, rising senior Madison Guincho, who placed second at the state meet in the 119-pound division. “She’s one to look out for,” Garcia said. “She’s my future.”

Guincho likewise has high expectations for what’s to come: “I think we still will be good next year, because we have a lot of good up-and-coming girls that nobody really knows about yet. I think overall, we’re still going to be one of the best.”

Elsewhere locally, Zephyrhills High School’s varsity girls weightlifting team finished third at the FHSAA Class 1A State Weightlifting Championships. Bulldogs senior Lakisia Thomas won an individual state title in the 183-pound division, posting a 190-185 — 375. She was one of four Zephyrhills lifters who earned points with top-six finishes at the meet.

Class 2A
Team results
Sunlake — first place (28 points)
Wiregrass Ranch — no placing (0)

Bench press-clean-and-jerk—Total (in pounds)
Individual results

101 pounds
Alexandria Black, junior, Wiregrass Ranch: no placing (scratch)

110 pounds
Gabriella Schwarz, sophomore, Sunlake: 12th place (tie); 125-125 — 250

119 pounds
Madison Guincho, junior, Sunlake: second place; 180-160 — 340

139 pounds
Gianna Levy, senior, Sunlake: first place; 175-180 — 355
Gianina Rios, senior, Wiregrass Ranch: seventh place; 185-140 — 325

169 pounds
Juliette Pacheco, senior, Sunlake: first place; 225-185 — 410
Daniella Vance, junior, Sunlake: 13th place (tie); 145-160 — 305

183 pounds
Brianna Caban, senior, Sunlake: third place; 200-170 — 370

199 pounds
Antionette Farmer, senior, Sunlake: second place; 210-190 — 400

Class 1A
Zephyrhills — third place (18 points)
Bishop McLaughlin — no placing (0)
Cypress Creek — no placing (0)

Bench press-clean-and-jerk—Total (in pounds)
101 pounds
Andje Costa, sophomore, Cypress Creek: seventh place (tie); 95-125 — 220

139 pounds
Kayla Zine, senior, Zephyrhills: 18th place; 125-130 — 255

154 pounds
Sarah Davis, senior, Zephyrhills: third place; 185-160 — 345
Madison Aguillera, junior, Zephyrhills: fourth place; 135-185 — 320

169 pounds
Kayla Robbins, senior, Zephyrhills: second place (tie); 180-170 — 350

183 pounds
Lakisia Thomas, senior, Zephyrhills: first place; 190-185 — 375

199 pounds
Kyleigh Smith, senior, Zephyrhills: seventh place (tie); 160-145 — 305

Unlimited
Adorina Lee, senior, Bishop McLaughlin: seventh place (tie); 210-150 — 360
Diamond Cowart, junior, Zephyrhills, 15th place; 175-165 — 340

Published March 11, 2020

Land O’ Lakes youth runner setting new records

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Elli Black didn’t just win the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 8K women’s race last month, she also set a major milestone — becoming the youngest winner in the event’s 40-plus year history, at just 11 years old.

The Land O’ Lakes youth clocked 30:57 in the 4.97-mile course to best more than 2,200 female participants in the popular annual race on Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard. The second-place female finisher, St. Petersburg’s Mary Beth Layfield, 37, timed 32:23.

After winning the Gasparilla Classic 8K women’s race, 11-year-old Elli Black poses for a photo with long-distance Olympic medalists Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi. (Courtesy of Jacqueline Black)

On becoming race champion and making history, Black said: “It’s a really big accomplishment and I’m really proud of myself, and I just know that I’ve been very blessed with a God-given talent, and I’m just really happy to be able to use it to the fullest.”

Previously, the event’s youngest winner was 13-year-old Ellie Pleune, who won the race in 2017, with a time of 31:13.

Black had good performances in previous years, too. She placed fifth and seventh female overall the prior two years, respectively.

Her goal this year was to win, of course, and to at least break 32 minutes. Besides just naturally growing stronger and upping her training of late, Black also credited the “perfect” weather conditions, compared to the past couple years when “it was really, really hot.”

The Gasparilla Race award isn’t Black’s only piece of distinguished hardware, and it surely won’t be her last.

The home-schooled sixth-grader recently completed her first year running on the Cambridge Christian high school cross-country team, where she collected All-State honors after winning an individual regional title and placing third overall at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 1A state girls’ cross-country championships. For the record, her 5K personal best sits at 18:19, set at December’s Jingle Bell Run in Tampa — a race she also won.

Black said her first year running high school cross-country “was actually really fun,” despite competing regularly against much older girls.

Said Black: “Like the girls on my team are basically all high schoolers, but they were really nice and most of the high school girls that I ran against were nice, so it was overall, a really nice experience.”

Black now has her eyes set on the high school track season, where she wants to eclipse the 11-minute mark in the 2-mile. Her current personal record sits at about 11:30.

Elli Black is now gearing up for her first high school track season. She hopes to break the 11-minute mark in the 2-miler.

She also has much bigger long-term goals in sight: “I do want to run in college, and my goal is to run in the 2024 Paris Olympics,” she said.

Cambridge Christian School distance coach Ray Friedman sees the immense potential.

“We may be looking at someone that may one day be on the Olympic stage,” Friedman said of Black, in a recent telephone interview. “I don’t say that lightly, I’m telling ya. She ain’t normal.”

Friedman noted Black’s running style resembles that of some of the world’s greatest runners that come from the East African country Kenya.

“It’s bizarre, but her body and her stride is very Kenyan-like, and I don’t say that flippantly,” the coach explained.

Friedman is no stranger to working with elite-level talents. He’s coached University of Florida distance runner Trevor Foley and Riverview High’s Alyssa Hendrix, the Gatorade State Runner of the Year who’s signed to North Carolina State University, among others. Friedman himself set multiple school records at Gaither High School and La Salle University, and went on to make to the U.S. Triathlon world team.

In the young runner, Friedman simply sees tools that can be molded into future greatness. Friedman observed, “She is extremely determined. She’s very disciplined, and of course, obviously very talented. She has the ‘it’ factor. You can’t learn it. It has to be born.”

Black got an early head start in the endurance sport, compared to most of her similarly aged peers.

Black first started running at just 4 years old, where she would accompany her parents on 1-mile or 2-mile jogs around their former Columbus, Ohio neighborhood. At 6 years old, she competed in her first 5K.

“We’ve always been active runners, so she would always want to run with us,” said Black’s mother, Jacqueline.

The passion for running has stuck with the youth ever since.

Today, Black runs roughly 25 miles per week. She generally runs five days a week, with a cross-training bike or swim workout mixed in, too.

“It’s just really fun,” Black said of running. “It  just makes me really happy to be able to use one of my talents.”

Besides a dedicating training routine, Black comes from an athletic family background.

Her father was a Division I basketball player at Bowling Green State University who went on to play professionally overseas. Her mother played three sports in high school, though none of them track or cross-country.

“We’re obviously very proud of her,” Black’s mother said. “Everybody always tells us how special she is, and we know that’s more than just running. We’re very faith-based, and we know that God has given her this talent…so we’re just extremely proud of all of her accomplishments.”

Published March 4, 2020

Pasco Sports Fair offers opportunities for all

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In Zephyrhills, It was a sports enthusiasts dream — for children and adults alike.

There were scaled down or mini versions of tennis, basketball, football, soccer, floor hockey, golf, virtual skydiving, even a fitness obstacle course — all offered for free, all day long.

About 1,500 people passed through the first annual Pasco Sports Fair, held Feb. 16 at Skydive City in Zephyrhills.

Three-year-old Isabelle Ruiz, of Wesley Chapel, winds up, to toss a football toward the net. Former NFL defensive end Mel Williams, left, smiles, as he watches and encourages the youngster. Williams played with the New Orleans Saints, the Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. (Christine Holtzman)

The event was the brainchild of Pascal Collard, CEO of the new Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, in partnership with Skydive City owners Joannie Murphy and Susan Stark.

The event was sponsored in part by Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley and Randy Blankenship of B.R.W. Contracting Inc.

Collard saw multiple benefits to the newfound event.

First, Collard, an avid skydiver himself, saw it as a way to introduce more of the Pasco County community to the extreme sport, which entails jumping from an aircraft with a parachute from an altitude of several thousand feet.

“It’s unique in the world,” Collard said, “and some people in Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel don’t even know it exists.”

Stark agreed, adding the fair helps “demystify” skydiving to locals, a sport which draws participants from all over the world to the small town.

Said Stark, “Even if they don’t come and skydive, they come and they watch, and this is just a great source a fun for people to do here on the way eastern side of Pasco.”

She added of the fair: “It’s probably going to attract more people who are interested in seeing skydiving, than necessarily doing it, but we’ll also probably have some additional people also doing the skydiving.”

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Collard wanted an event that gave local youth the chance to try different sports and meet former professional athletes at no cost — with the help of volunteers and vendors, such as Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, AdventHealth Center Ice, Silverado Golf & Country Club and many others.

Some former professional athletes who met with families and oversaw the sporting activities included former English Premier League forward Gary Blissett, who played for Wimbledon FC in the mid-1990s; former NFL defensive end Mel Williams, who played for the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins in the mid-2000s; and, former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach and soccer player Stuart Campbell.

Soccer instructor Gary Blissett practices dribbling the ball with first-year soccer player, 4-year-old Owen Baker, of Tampa. Blissett is a former Premier League professional soccer player from Manchester, England, who now resides in Wesley Chapel. He is a coach with the United Global Academy (UGA) in Zephyrhills.

Blissett, who was in charge of a soccer drill station, described the day’s activities as “more fun than teaching,” simply giving curious youth a chance to try new sports, and parents the information on available leagues and sports organizations around town.

“If people enjoy what they’re doing at their stations, and it’s something they’ve never done before, they now have access to it, they know where to go to get it,” said Blissett, the coaching director of the Spirit of Zephyrhills Florida Soccer Club youth recreational league.

By bringing those types of known sports figures along, Collard believes it offers hope to area youth that have athletic dreams and aspirations.

He put it like this: “If kids see they have access to guys like Mel Williams, they say, ‘Oh, this is real,’ because otherwise they didn’t believe it’s going to happen.”

Meanwhile, Collard, an international tennis instructor who’s trained some of the world’s top-ranked pros, believes organizing and creating more affordable athletics opportunities for youth can change the fabric of a community like Zephyrhills.

Said Collard, “I believe all the kids in Zephyrhills need sports — it keeps them away from trouble. That’s the reality. But, nobody does enough.”

Families to the first-ever event appreciated the chance to bring their children to freely try out a variety of sports. Set up like a school field day, kids that tried all eight sports stations received a goody bag and were entered for a gift prize drawing.

Zephyrhills resident Sarah Steen brought along her 4-year-old daughter, Ruth, to gauge her interest on the various sports for when she gets a little older.

“It’s pretty cool, it’s fun,” Steen said of the sports fair. “I like how she’s learning about the different sports before I go and pay the fees, and buy the helmets and everything, so we get to see if she likes it before I have to pay for everything.”

Steen added, “I want to keep her active and healthy, so this kind of thing is good because it gets the kids, it shows them the different kinds of sports they can do.”

Steen acknowledged in Zephyrhills “there’s not as many options” for youth athletic activities, whether it be lack of qualified volunteer coaches or enough interested kids who can afford to play.

She asserted, “When I was a kid, it seemed like everybody played baseball or softball. And now, it seems like they have to beg people to be a coach.”

Steen’s 15-year old son, David Castro, agreed.

“There’s not enough (recreational) leagues out here,” said Castro, a member of the Zephyrhills High School tennis and soccer teams.

Because of that, Castro noted many of his friends and fellow teens “don’t have a choice” but to spend their free time on cellphones, playing video games and so on.

So, he liked how the event offered kids something to do outdoors for free, with hopes of maybe sparking or reinvigorating athletics pursuits in others.

“I think it’s good,” he said of the sports fair, “because it’s going to get kids like wanting to go (play sports). That’s kind of the main issue around here, is there’s not enough kids interested, so you don’t really have a lot of options.”

For Ontario, Canada’s Michelle Galley Salgueiro, the sports fair gave something for her to do with her 8-year-old son, Liam, as they spent the week visiting her parents, Zephyrhills snowbirds.

The event was “perfect,” for her son, she said, “because I’m trying to get him used to more sports.”

One of those included the football station, where Liam joined in on non-contact drills consisting of footwork, sprints, and catching and handling balls.

“We will never play football, we’re not a football family,” his mother said, “but it’ll give him a chance today to try it.”

When informed the sports fair plans to be an annual event, the out-of-towner said, “We would definitely come around for this.”

Published February 26, 2020

Over 50 local athletes sign with colleges

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More than 50 local high school athletes signed their letters of intent (LOI) earlier this month to various colleges and universities as part of National Signing Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in February.

From The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, Steinbrenner High and Wiregrass Ranch High each had the most signings with 10 apiece, followed by Sunlake High (seven) and Wesley Chapel High (six). Bishop McLaughlin, Carrollwood Day School, Cypress Creek, Freedom, Land O’ Lakes, and Zephyrhills Christian Academy also were well-represented as part of the signing day festivities.

Locals signed to play at the next level for the following sports — acrobatics & tumbling, baseball, cheerleading, cross-country, fencing, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball and track.

Wesley Chapel High School softball standout Jordan Almasy is headed to the University of Central Florida. She holds several school pitching records. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School softball)

Here is a closer look at some of the notable signees and their high schools:

Jordan Almasy, Wesley Chapel, softball (University of Central Florida) – The 5-foot-7 right-hander has etched her name in Wesley Chapel softball history — eclipsing school records for strikeouts in a game, strikeouts in a season, pitching wins, and innings pitched her junior year. Through three varsity seasons, she has compiled 31 wins, a 1.99 earned run average, 365 strikeouts and a .203 opponent batting average in 306.1 innings pitched. Also, Almasy was a freshman ace in the Wildcats softball program’s first ever winning season, in 2017.

Gaither High School quarterback Tony Bartalo, pictured with head coach Kirk Karsen, smiles upon signing to play college football at Bethune-Cookman University. (Courtesy of Gaither High School Athletics)

Tony Bartalo, Gaither, football (Bethune-Cookman University) — The 6-foot-2, 210-pound signal-caller put together a senior campaign to remember, ranking second in the state in passing yards (3,194 yards) and guiding the Cowboys to a 12-2 mark and the Class 6A state semifinals. Bartalo’s other passing figures were likewise impressive — 62.6% completion rate and 50 total touchdowns with just 14 interceptions. Bartalo’s teammate, linebacker Chance Coleman, also signed to play Division I football, at Florida International University.

Ethan Jones, Wesley Chapel, baseball — The 6-foot-5 lefthander posted a 1.64 earned run average and 73 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched last season, guiding the Wildcats to an appearance in the Class 6A regional tournament. Jones, ranked one of the state’s top 200 baseball prospects by Perfect Game, also broke out on the travel ball circuit — part of the 2019 Perfect Game Super 25 national championship team and named to the WWBA (World Wood Bat Association) World Championship All-Tournament Team.

Malik Jones, Zephyrhills Christian, football (Florida Atlantic University) — The 6-foot-2, 328-pound Jones starred defensively as a nose tackle at Zephyrhills Christian, but is expected to start his Division I college football career as an offensive lineman — likely at guard or center. He ranked third in Florida in sacks (26) in 2019, despite being double-teamed on almost every play. A consensus three-star recruit, Jones held offers from University of Southern Mississippi and Troy University, among others. Aside from his gridiron play, Jones also is a state champion wrestler, winning the Class 1A heavyweight division title in 2019.

Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch, soccer (University of North Florida) —The 6-foot team captain midfielder helped the Bulls to four straight conference championships and is a two-time All-Conference first team selection with more than 60 career goals, 45 assists and counting. In addition to prep soccer, Lewis has been training with the Tampa Bay Rowdies professional USL (United Soccer League) team as a potential future prospect.

Cooper Smith, Freedom, golf (University of North Florida) — The four-year letterman capped off his senior campaign with a 16th place individual finish at the Class 2A FHSAA boys golf state championships, firing a 77 in both 18-hole rounds. Smith, a three-time All-District and with 15 junior wins to his name, was a freshman on Freedom’s second state finals appearance in program history, in 2016. He joins a North Florida signing class that also includes Mitchell High’s Nick Gabrelcik, a Trinity native.

Liina Winborn, Sunlake, cross-country (University of Florida) — In inking with the University of Florida, Winborn became Sunlake cross-country’s first Division I signee in program history. The decorated distance runner set several school records, claimed multiple conference and district individual titles, and earned fourth-place and sixth-place individual finishes the past two years at the 3A state cross-country championships. (At the state meets, she clocked an 18:11.16 in 2019 and 18:06.57 in 2018). Winborn also is a two-time Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East girls’ cross-country runner of the year and defending girls track runner of the year.

Three Land O’ Lakes High School athletes signed to play collegiate sports. From left: Brooke Stanley (St. Petersburg College, softball), Chris Fergueson (Lake Sumter State College, baseball) and Ethan Stephens (Polk State College, baseball). (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)
Ten Wiregrass Ranch High School student-athletes signed with various colleges and universities in the following sports — acrobatics & tumbling, baseball, cheerleading, football, and soccer. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bishop McLaughlin’s Marcus Bezerra, left, will play football at Southern Virginia University, and Adam Berry will play baseball at Pasco-Hernando State College. (Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Athletics)
Cypress Creek High School saw four student-athletes sign their National Letters of Intent. From left: Anna Margetis (Daytona State College, softball), Carter Corrao (Lee University, soccer), Matt Snyder (Saint Leo University, baseball) and Abigail Murphy (Saint Leo University, soccer). (Courtesy of Cypress Creek High School Athletics)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven Sunlake High athletes signed to play collegiate sports, for cross-country/track and lacrosse. (Kevin Weiss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a roundup of all known high school athlete signings in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Baseball
Adam Berry — Pasco-Hernando State College

Football
Marcus Bezerra — Southern Virginia University (Buena Vista, Virginia)

Carrollwood Day School
Fencing
EJ James — Drew University (Madison, New Jersey)

Soccer
Emma Architetto — Rollins College

Cypress Creek
Baseball
Matt Snyder — Saint Leo University

Soccer
Carter Corrao — Lee University (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Abigail Murphy — Saint Leo University

Softball
Anna Margetis — Daytona State College

Freedom
Golf
Cooper Smith — University of North Florida

Softball
Kylie Coffin — University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Ellis Erickson — Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, Illinois)
Niyah Pope – Eastern Florida State College
Chloe Potts — Florida Southern College

Gaither
Cheerleading
Emily Kochan — Saint Leo University

Cross Country
Gabby Marshall — Pasco-Hernando State College

Football
Tony Bartalo — Bethune-Cookman University
Chance Coleman — Florida International University
Deveon Knighton — Iowa Central Community College

Land O’ Lakes
Baseball
Chris Fergueson — Lake Sumter State College
Ethan Stephens — Polk State College

Softball
Brooke Stanley — St. Petersburg College

Sunlake
Lacrosse
Jacon Schwarz — Barton College (Wilson, North Carolina)
Roberto Valentin — Webber International University

Cross Country/Track
Luke Scheid — Flagler College
Gavin Kennedy — Saint Leo University
Drew Knobl — Southeastern University
Albert La Red — Saint Leo University
Liina Winborn — University of Florida

Steinbrenner
Baseball
Michael Blackwood — Central Connecticut State University (New Britain, Connecticut)
Donovan Garcia — Flagler College
Griffin Garcia — Flagler College
Brayden Heidel — Saint Leo University

Football
Matthew Adcock — University of West Florida
Dean Patterson — University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio)

Lacrosse
Grady Frey — Huntingdon College

Softball
Sierra Carter — College of Central Florida
Mikayla Johnson — Nova Southeastern University
Frankie Raeckers — Florida Southern College

Wesley Chapel
Baseball
Ethan Jones — University of West Virginia (Morgantown, West Virginia)

Soccer
Noah Leonard — Saint Leo University

Softball
Jordan Almasy — University of Central Florida
Allison Fraley — Pasco-Hernando State College
Morgan Herndon — Lake Sumter State College
Aubrey McLeod — University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland)

Wiregrass Ranch
Acrobatics & Tumbling
Kenley Karlon — King University (Bristol, Tennessee)

Baseball
Derek Baker — Florida Southern College
Cody Costa — Limestone College (Gaffney, South Carolina)
Chase Wills — Miami-Dade College

Cheerleading
Layla Gilyard — Saint Leo University
Macie Pickard — Saint Leo University

Football
Connor Lenczden — Stetson University

Soccer
Avery Damjanovic — Governors State University (University Park, Illinois)
Kylee Ehman — Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Indiana)
Malcolm Lewis —University of North Florida

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Football
Malik Jones — Florida Atlantic University

Published February 19, 2020

Sunlake distance runners leave lasting mark

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For this group of distance runners, the thousands of miles of foot to pavement have finally paid off — in the form of college athletic scholarships.

The past few years, Sunlake High School’s boys and girls cross-country and long distance track programs have established themselves as among the best in the area, and the state.

This year’s National Signing Day festivities underscored that fact: Five senior runners made their college commitments official on Feb. 5 — Luke Scheid (Flagler College), Gavin Kennedy (Saint Leo University), Drew Knobl (Southeastern University), Albert La Red (Saint Leo University), and Liina Winborn (University of Florida). A sixth distance runner, Emily Jenkins (Pasco-Hernando State College) participated in an early signing day ceremony in December.

Five Sunlake distance runners signed their National Letters of Intent on Feb. 5 to various colleges and universities. From left: Luke Scheid (Flagler College), Drew Knobl (Southeastern University), Albert La Red (Saint Leo University), Gavin Kennedy (Saint Leo University), and Liina Winborn (University of Florida). A sixth distance runner, Emily Jenkins (Pasco-Hernando State College), not pictured, participated in an early signing day ceremony in December. (Kevin Weiss)

Sunlake also celebrated two boys lacrosse signings — Jason Schwarz (Barton College) and Roberto Valentin (Webber International University).

But, it was a particularly special day for the Seahawks’ runners, who leave a lasting legacy as they take the next step to the college ranks.

The Seahawks cross-country program in 2019 experienced arguably its best season ever, as the boys squad finished fifth and the girls team sixth at the Class 3A FHSAA state championships. Both teams also claimed conference titles and had strong showings at districts. The girls took first place, and the boys finished runner-up. Both squads also garnered top-five finishes at regionals — boys, third; and girls, fourth.

Many of those same distance runners also helped steer the school’s 2019 track team to sweep conference and district crowns. The boys team went on to win regionals, while the girls finished runner-up that season, then advanced to states.

Saint Leo University signee Albert La Red believes the distance team’s recent string of success and the large 2020 signing class now will help underclassman gain exposure from colleges and universities “that weren’t looking at us before.”

“It’s exciting,” La Red said, “because now we get these young guys over there, they have such a bright future for them.”

Sunlake’s distance runners logged an estimated average of 1,600 miles per year, with some runners racking up as many as 7,000 miles during their four-year prep running careers.

Besides developing their athletic skills, the grueling practices and stressful meets also forged lasting bonds and memories for La Red and other distance runners.

“I grew up with everybody at this school, and so it was super fun just running with my friends all time,” La Red said. “We always hang out outside of school and stuff, always inviting each other over, always doing things.”

Fellow teammate and Flagler College signee Luke Scheid also appreciates the “lifelong friends” established through the cross-country and track programs — ones that helped push him through daily workouts.

Scheid said the thing he’ll likely miss the most from his time at Sunlake is the way he felt during hard practices — when running with his teammates was motivating, and made those difficult practices feel easier.

Liina Winborn’s pledge to the University of Florida marks the cross-country team’s first NCAA Division I signing in program history.

In her time at Sunlake, the decorated distance runner set several school records, claimed multiple conference and district individual titles, and earned fourth-place and sixth-place individual finishes the past two years at the 3A state cross-country championships.

With that, the two-time Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East girls’ cross-country runner of the year and defending girls track runner of the year had trouble settling on her favorite memory as a Seahawk.

“It’s hard to pick one,” Winborn said, noting there were so many fun and funny moments.

Born into a military family, Winborn transferred into Sunlake as a sophomore from an international school in Belgium.

The school’s cross-country and track programs made the cultural transition easier — by offering Winborn an immediate peer group.

“The hardest thing was getting used to it and making new friends,” she said, “but having the team automatically gave me those amazing friendships that I know are going to last forever.”

The highly coveted athlete said she’s relieved to be done with the recruiting process, which ended when she signed the dotted line to become a Florida Gator.

“It feels amazing to finally not stress about it for one, but to have my future set and to be going to such an amazing school,” she said.

She also said: “I wouldn’t be going there without my team and my coach, and just everybody at Sunlake supporting me.”

Winborn received looks from other NCAA Division I programs, but it was Florida that ultimately stood out, offering her what she thinks are the best tools to be successful. She explained, “They personally told me they could take me as far as I wanted to go, athletic and academic-wise…and them saying that they could make that possible for me is bottom-line what I wanted to do.”

Sunlake athletic director Reesa Pledge at the ceremony said the group of distance runners “put Sunlake on the map,” adding, “their hard work and dedication has been unmatched by previous by runners that have been here at the school.”

Sunlake track coach Brett Hodros added he was “so proud” to see the distance runners’ efforts being rewarded in the form of scholarships.

“They were doing probably the hardest workouts in the track program,” he said, “because they were definitely putting in the most miles.”

Emphasizing that point, Hodros mentioned when he tries to pitch athletes around the school to join the track team, they question whether they’ll have to put in the same amount of time and effort as long distance runners.

Explained Hodros: “It’s very, very difficult to get people to run track first off, and then they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re not going to be make me run like those distance kids,’ and that’s what these kids did every single day, these four years they’ve been at Sunlake.”

Hodros also read prepared remarks from Sunlake distance coach Randal Reeves, who was unable to make the signing day event.

In a later telephone interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Reeves commended the scholarship recipients for their efforts, and for buying into the distance program.

Said Reeves, “These kids have been leaders amongst the rest of the group in getting everybody together to run as group, really year-round.”

Even more college signings could be on the way for other Sunlake senior distance runners before the year’s end, Reeves said. Eleven of his 12 seniors intend to run at the next level, either through scholarship or as walk-ons.

“The success of the program has really led to a lot of attention to our runners,” he said. “My job is to get them recruited, to put them in the spotlight so they can earn the college scholarship opportunities, where all that hard work pays off.”

Published February 12, 2020

Wiregrass sports campus to open in July

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A hard hat tour and official logo unveil signaled construction is moving swiftly on the highly anticipated Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, at 3211 Lajuana Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Several Pasco County officials and other local dignitaries gathered on Jan. 28 to get an up-close look at the forthcoming $44 million project.

Before revealing the new logo for the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, Commission Chairman Mike Moore offered a few remarks about the project to those taking a hard hat tour of the site. Behind Moore are Adam Thomas, director of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, left, and Richard Blalock, CEO of RADDSports. (Christine Holtzman)

The 98,000 square feet of indoor space will be used primarily for basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and more than a dozen other sports. And, there will be two adjacent outdoor multi-use fields for soccer, lacrosse and other events.

Marshall Quarles, project manager for contractor Ajax Building Corp., said the complex is “over 50%” complete, and still on track for a July opening.

The project manager also said bio-cushioned hardwood floors will be installed sometime in late April.

“We try to push that (hardwood install) as long as we can, because obviously we don’t want to have to go back and do any work on top of it,” Quarles explained.

With a timeline in place, sports events have already been booked for the remainder of the year.

Officials said as many as six events have been booked for late 2020, which will equate to 2,460 room nights.

The first is a Sept. 11 high school volleyball tournament that will draw teams from Hillsborough, Pasco and Orange counties, said Richard Blalock, president and CEO of RADD Sports, the private sports management company tasked with operating and managing the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus.

That initial volleyball tournament will serve as a soft opening of sorts for subsequent tournaments, Blalock said, “to make sure the nets come down, the scoreboards work, benches are in the right place, all that kind of stuff.”

While still months away from completion, Blalock already is getting inquiries from youth and amateur sports tournament directors looking to lock up their events at the facility in 2021 and beyond. Blalock has said he hopes to book more than 30 events in the facility’s first full year, then grow from there. “I’ve got organizations fighting over dates,” he said.

Marshall Quarles, project manager for Ajax Building Corporation, uses a map to explain the layout of the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, during a hard hat tour.

The multi-purpose sports complex, which features 37-foot-high ceilings, is large enough to hold either 16 volleyball games or eight basketball games at one time — the floors separated by a cheer/dance studio, fitness center and second-level mezzanine. The floor spaces also can be converted to accommodate less traditional sports such as pickleball (up to 16 courts) or futsal (up to eight courts), and more than a dozen other sports and activities.

Other notable amenities include an educational lab, full-service kitchen, a concessions area and snack bar. The indoor facility will have a capacity of 1,100, and the campus will have 700 available parking spaces, officials said.

Blalock pointed out multiple events could be going on simultaneously. For instance, one side of the gym could be used for a volleyball tournament, while the other side could be used for another sport or even a convention. “Our whole concept is to be as flexible as it can be. That’s why it’s designed the way it is,” said Blalock.

Blalock also revealed there’s been active discussions with soccer teams from the United Kingdom to utilize the Wesley Chapel-based campus as a year-round indoor/outdoor training residency. In addition to the outdoor fields, Blalock said the campus meets the regulations for indoor soccer. Meanwhile, soccer teams could room at an on-site 128-room Marriott Residence Inn that will be phased in at a later date through private funds.

“It appeals to them. They can come right here, stay, train, and everything’s in walking distance,” he said.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore underscored the expected impact the facility will have on the area’s economy and tourism industry, during the facility preview.

Said Moore, “As people visit our community for gymnastics, volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling and so many more sporting activities, they’re going to travel with their families, stay in Pasco County hotels, shop at Pasco County stores — to help businesses, small and large alike, grow.”

But, the campus figures to be more than simply boosting county tourism figures.

It also will serve as a community sports hub for local residents, including youth camps, recreational games and more.

The plan is for the facility to be open to the public Monday through Thursday, while Friday through Sunday is set aside for weekend tournaments.

Other uses include such events as graduations, trade shows, cultural and art fairs. Additionally, the facility will be deployed as a “shelter of last resort” in the case of a hurricane, as it will be equipped with a generator.

Moore called the campus “a public asset that will help continue to grow Pasco County’s tourism industry and open up jobs for our community, as well as providing athletic opportunities to local citizens and children alike.”

Published February 05, 2020

Helping youths develop soccer skills

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Sometimes, doing whatever it takes to win a youth soccer game or tournament isn’t the be-all and end-all.

At least that’s the way Adam and Sarah Murry see it.

Adam and Sarah Murry are the owners of the Zephyrhills Elite Soccer Skills Academy, at 3905 Correia Drive, just off Chancey Road. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Elite Soccer Skills Academy)

They think the emphasis should be maximizing each child’s soccer skills, while teaching them how to play together, in a professional, team setting.

To that end, the Murrys have been working with players at Zephyrhills Elite Soccer Skills Academy (ESSA), a 15,000-square-foot indoor soccer facility and training center, located at 3905 Correia Drive, off Chancey Road.

The private complex celebrated an official ribbon cutting late last year, but it has been developing players, ages 5 to 18, for nearly two years.

At ESSA, the focus is helping players develop their skills at an early age. The idea is to prepare them to succeed on their respective club or school teams, and possibly have a shot to become a college or professional player.

“We are all about the player,” Adam Murry said.

The academy’s approach is different than what tends to happen in American soccer, he said.

Many youth teams “play kickball,” or simply boot the ball up the field to the best forward to score goals and get a win, he explained.

In his view, however, “it’s not about the win. They’re 8 years old. We want to develop them as players,” he said.

The 15,000-square-foot facility features a full-sized turf field, advanced soccer training technology and a classroom for breaking down soccer lessons. The facility is designed to develop the individual skills of youth players, ages 5 to 18 years old.( Courtesy of Zephyrhills Elite Soccer Skills Academy)

At ESSA, young athletes get introduced to strategies like how to “play out the back.” They learn how to methodically pass the ball from player to player — to shift opposing teams out of position.

“I want my players to pass the ball, to move, to understand structure, to understand the next pass, to visually see the game,” Adam Murry said.

He went on: “It’s not just about kicking the ball, it’s about doing certain jobs, pulling the defense wide, pulling it tight, understanding all that.”

Adam Murry brings with him a unique background, spanning from England to the East Pasco area.

He is a former professional mixed martial arts fighter and semi-pro soccer player turned successful businessman.

He was a longtime director of AFC Bournemouth, of the Premier League, the top tier of the English football league system, and he now owns Yeovil Town Women Football Club, in southwest England.

The Murrys relocated to East Pasco a few years ago, seeing a need for a European-style soccer training center.

Adam Murry brought his connections from overseas to Florida, staffing the facility with only UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) licensed coaches, many of whom played and coached professionally internationally.

(Kevin Weiss)

The Murrys also set up an international ID tour, which is essentially a way to help identify which players may have the potential to play as professionals or semi-pros.

In December, they took a group of U16 girls players to England, to meet with Premiership professional players and coaches, visit colleges, and play matches against various top-level English academy squads.

It’s that level of coaching and access that has already drawn kids to ESSA from as far as Clearwater, Orlando, Spring Hill and New Port Richey.

Said Sarah Murry, “We just want to get the best out of the player, given the resources and the knowledge that we have. We just want to instill what we know from experience.”

ESSA focuses on four player elements —  technical, tactical, physiological and physical.

Sarah Murry defined it as “teaching from the head down, rather than the feet up.”

That philosophy begins with building confidence in young athletes, and teaching them to learn from their mistakes in a practice or a game, Adam Murry added.

He put it like this: “You’re going to make mistakes all your life. Learn how to handle that.”

ESSA staffers also work with athletes on injury prevention, such as how to correctly accelerate and deaccelerate.

“From a young age, speed, agility and quickness is taught, and we repeat those consistently, as tedious as they are,” Adam Murry said.

In addition to a full-sized artificial turf field, the indoor complex is equipped with advanced training aids, including ICON — a 360-degree enclosed unit that uses flashing lights and vibration technology to help players improve passing, shooting, awareness, decision-making, endurance and other fundamentals.

Used by several of the top Premiership programs, including FC Barcelona, Southhampton FC and Liverpool FC, Sarah Murry claims it’s the only one being used in the state of Florida. “You can literally change a player within 3 minutes on this,” Adam said of the ICON training aid.

Video of individual training sessions also are recorded at the facility and are broken down with players, in a formal classroom setting.

“It’s a process,” Adam Murry said of bettering young players. “There’s so many dimensions to playing, we just try and work them in, and try to identity things over a certain period of time.”

The soccer academy currently has open registration for its spring player development program, for boys and girls ages 6 to 8.

The 10-week introductory program, which runs from February through April, will feature individual ball manipulation, individual block passing and receiving, individual skill building and small-sided games.

For more information, visit essafc.com.

Published January 29, 2020

Land O’ Lakes seeks new football coach

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Land O’ Lakes High School athletics department underwent a search for a new head football coach in 2018.

The school again is heading back to the drawing board to find the next leader of its varsity football program, a mere two years later.

Chad Walker, who coached the Gators in 2018 and 2019, resigned from his post to become the head football coach at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa; the private school made the announcement official earlier this month.

Chad Walker resigned from Land O’ Lakes High School to become the head football coach at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa. The Gators program went a combined 9-11 in his two seasons. (Courtesy of Cambridge Christian School Athletics)

Walker’s exit from Land O’ Lakes marks the only varsity head football coaching vacancy in Pasco County this offseason.

Walker undoubtedly has big shoes to fill at his latest stop. He replaces Bob Dare, who in 11 seasons steered Cambridge Christian to five straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the 2A state title game in 2015. Dare also is Cambridge’s all-time winningest football coach, with 72 victories. Walker takes over a team that went 8-3 last season and reached the 2A regional semifinals, losing to Admiral Farragut.

Walker’s tenure at Land O’ Lakes was somewhat of a mixed bag, after he replaced former coach Brian Wachtel, who held the post for seven seasons from 2011 to 2017.

In Walker’s first season in 2018, the Gators went 7-3, narrowly missing the playoffs, but achieving its first winning campaign since 2013, restoring some confidence in the historic program.

Perhaps just as important that year, the Gators finally supplanted crosstown foe Sunlake High in the annual “Butter Bowl” rivalry game — the first such victory in eight years. (Land O’ Lakes did win the Butter Bowl game in 2011, but it was later forfeited due to recruiting violations.)

The 2018 team also saw wins over Citrus, Cypress Creek, Lakeland Christian, Pasco, Anclote and Fivay high schools, respectively.

Walker’s second season was a reversal of fortune, though.

The 2019 team slumped to a 2-8 mark, its only wins coming against Freedom and Zephyrhills Christian schools. And, most of the team’s losses were blowouts, with a 31-point loss, three 40-plus point losses and two 50-plus point losses, among others. All told, the Gators were outscored 137-363.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity football team went 2-8 in 2019. (File)

The letdown season was a bit surprising, as the team returned All-Conference quarterback Ethan Forrester and added a couple of prominent assistant coaches, including former NFL players Aveion Cason and Kelvin Kinney. The team, however, graduated about two dozen seniors from the prior season, including eight All-Conference selections.

Walker joined Land O’ Lakes as a 33-year-old with a background as a veteran college football assistant, with stops at Division I FCS, Division II and Division III levels. He was an All-Conference tight end at Division I FCS Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, then parlayed that into a professional stint in NFL Italy and the European Federation of American Football. While at Land O’ Lakes, he worked for Tampa-based Applied Science and Performance Institute (ASPI), which provides advanced training and development to college and pro football players and other athletes.

The next leader of the Gators’ program will become the sixth football coach in school history. Besides Walker and Wachtel, previous head coaches were Matt Kitchie, John Benedetto and Dan Sikes.

For many years, Land O’ Lakes had one of the top football programs in Pasco County, earning a string of 14 straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2009 under coaches Benedetto and Kitchie.

But, the team hasn’t made the playoffs since, as recent success of other programs in the county — as well as an ever-challenging district — have made winning consistently a tall task.

The team will have to groom a new starting quarterback with the graduation of Forrester, but the bulk of the roster is expected to return in 2020.

Published January 22, 2020