Local Sports

Wildcats dream season comes to an end

November 8, 2022 By Mike Camunas

They did it.

It took the program nearly 20 years to do it again and the current players nearly two years, but the Wesley Chapel Volleyball Team accomplished the goal the players set well before this season started.

The Wildcats (23-6) made the Class 5A state tournament.

The Wesley Chapel Volleyball Team reached its main goal this season, which was a state tournament appearance, the program’s first since 2003. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High Athletics)

“We’ve had these players that have poured their hearts out for this team for the past two, three, even four years,” sixth-year-coach Brittany Collison said. “In the end, they accomplished our goal and it’s amazing to see how far some of them have come.”

Unfortunately, the season did come to an end for the Wildcats after a 3-0 (27-25, 25-13, 25-21) loss to Naples Barron Collier on Nov. 5 in a state semifinal match. It ended a season that saw Wesley Chapel win its first conference title (undefeated in regular season matches), its second-straight district championship and its first regional championship for these players.

“We spoke to them after the game and told them they should be proud,” Collison said. “To do all the things they set out to do, accomplished them, to get to the state tournament for the first time since 2003, that’s pretty huge. In no way does (losing in the state tournament) diminish what they accomplished this season.”

The Wildcats also will say goodbye to Chloe Danielson, arguably one of the best players in program history. Danielson finishes her career with 1,031 kills, including a team-high 241 this season and a school-record 375 in her junior season.

“It’s, obviously, so sad to lose her,” Collison said. “To see how far she’s come for her whole high school career and just see her for four years, it was incredible.”

While losing seniors Danielson and Jenna Ly (a team-high 451 assists), a number of skilled players are returning.

Those include the next top three team leaders in kills: juniors Lizzie Ekechi (195), Grace Korta (184) and Emma Letourneau (164). Also entering her senior year next season will be Brooke Ashkenase, who led the team with 337 digs.

“Just two core seniors, who will be missed, but all those juniors are a core part of the team,” Collison added. “Our million juniors — Lizzie, Brooke, Grace, Emma — it was incredible to see how hard they worked, even in the offseason, so it’ll be great to have them all back next year.”

And the Wildcats will need those players, as they look to continue their winning ways and secure the program’s third state tournament berth.

That’s just another goal already set forth to be accomplished.

“I mean, it wasn’t the outcome we hoped for, but it was still an incredible season with an incredible team that looks to do it again next year,” Collison said. “This season, we got to where we wanted to be and we just want to do it again already.”

Published November 09, 2022

Gators’ ‘rebuilding year’ ends in state semifinals

November 8, 2022 By Mike Camunas

It was a thrilling surprise.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators volleyball team was supposed to be rebuilding this season, having lost six of its top seven players from a year ago when it had its best record in program history and its second-straight conference championship.

Instead, this year’s Gators went 24-8, and had some impressive accomplishments. The team won its first district title in 33 years, its first regional title since 1987 and appeared in the Class 6A state tournament.

The Land O’ Lakes Volleyball team won its first district championship in 33 years, which then led to the Gators winning their first regional title since 1987. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High Athletics)

Land O’ Lakes was topped 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) at New Smyrna Beach, the third-ranked team in the state, on Nov. 5 in a state semifinal game.

“Yeah, (this season) kind of threw me, but it also surprised and thrilled me,” seventh-season coach Ike Klauka said. “It was a fun run we had there at the end of the year and to make it all the way to states, so the bar will be set high next year.

“Not just by me, but by the players, too,” he said.

So the Gators had a year that no one saw coming, except for maybe the players. Klauka said he was surprised by how fast the team improved and stepped up to go on a remarkable postseason run. It was one that included finally getting past Mitchell, a team that always seemed to keep the district title away from the Gators, as well as knock them out of the region tournament.

“We’ve got plenty of second-place district trophies, so, yeah, it was great to finally get a district title one,” Klauka said. “I told the players that we’d hang a district title banner (in the gym), but then they asked me (on Nov. 2 when the team swept Mitchell in the region final match) if we were going to hang a regional title one, too.

“I said we’ll look into it, because they earned it.”

The players certainly did, especially when Klauka brought in Jim Heidelberg to teach the new players stepping into a starting role the art of setting up the ball on the net.

“Once (Jim) was able to do that, I was able to focus on other stuff, as he has the brains for setting (the ball),” the coach added.

The move paid off, and it gave the Gators three players with more than 200 kills: Izabella Horruitiner (275), Carissa Mixon (216) and Sophie Puhala (206).

However, it was seniors Vanessa Campoe and Mariah Rosado who made the most of the setting lessons. Campoe and Rosado posted 489 and 322 assists, respectively, while junior Sydney Rolfe led the team with 339 digs.

Looking ahead to next season, the Gators expect to be in a good position to repeat their success from this year, especially since the team returns five starters and some freshmen that made an immediate impact this season.

Just consider that another surprise in a season that was filled with them.

“The bar will be set high, and the players already want to face the best of the best next year,” Klauka said. “I told them they can have a hand in making our schedule because they want to be ready for when they play the best teams out there.

“This year, they bought in and had an incredible season, one that was a lot of fun and one we won’t forget.”

Published November 09, 2022

Cross Country State Championships Results

November 8, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Class 4A

Individuals (Top 15 or top local finisher)
Boys
Fifth place: Alex Pena, Sunlake, senior: 15:51.6

Girls
24th place: Ava Schmitt, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore: 19:44.5

Teams
Sixth place – Sunlake boys – 239 points (1:24:06)
(Alex Pena; Christian Hindman, 16:46; Cade Culpepper, 16:52; Liam Ballard, 16:56; Oscar Brown, 17:39; Joshua Hindman, 18:16; Benjamin Borton, 18:29)

Sixth place – Sunlake girls – 305 points (1:44:34)
(Abigail Williams, 20:19; Kailyn Ford, 20:33; Annie Winborn, 21:05; Jaiden Wickert, 21:11; Ally Moyer, 21:25; Isabella Steady, 21:27; Meaghan Ballard, 22:06)

14th place – Steinbrenner boys – 392 points (1:26:57)
(Nicholas Pugh, 17:08; Ethan Russ, 17:18; Jorge Munoz, 17:19; Brady Peifer, 17:23; Charles Clark, 17:47; Joaquin Abanses, 17:48; Jacob Smith, 18:16)

20th place – Wiregrass Ranch girls – 460 points (1:46:48)
(Ava Schmitt; Landyn Williams, 20:57; Abbey Johnson, 21:47; Hannah Sheen, 22:00; Sydnie Alagal, 22:20; Jasalynn McFaul, 22:42; Brooke Pfaltzgraff, 22:46)

23rd place – Land O’ Lakes girls – 573 points (1:49:24)
(Aileen Castillo, 21:20; Thalia Kushman, 21:29; Aaralyn Cullom, 21:52; Sadie Shaw, 21:57; Ava Adriani, 22:43; Madeline Reynolds, 22:54; Kalyn Cox, 23:19)

29th place – Wiregrass Ranch boys – 740 points (1:32:07)
(Jaime Candeleria, 17:22; Wesley Pheffer, 18:06; Henry Moore, 18:43; Hunter Boggs, 18:56; Brandon West, 18:59; Ben Deloach, 19:16; Tyler Dana, 19:33)

Class 3A
Individuals (Top 15 or top local finisher)
Boys
53rd place: Dylan Powell, Cypress Creek, junior: 17:11.4

Girls
140th place: Carlie Ortiz, Cypress Creek, junior: 22:06.8

Friday Night Lights Regional Quarterfinal Schedule
Class 4 Metro
No. 7 Steinbrenner (6-4) at No. 2 West Orange (6-4

Class 3 Metro
No. 6 Wharton (8-2) at No. 3 Oviedo (9-1)
No. 4 Gaither (6-4) at No. 5 Pinellas Park (6-4)

Class 1 Metro
No. 3 Carrollwood Day (5-3) at No. 2 Northside Christian (8-1)*

Class 4 Suburban
No. 6 Winter Haven (7-3) at No. 3 Land O’ Lakes (9-1)

Class 3 Suburban
No. 7 Lecanto (7-3) at No. 2 Pasco (9-1)
No. 6 Gulf (7-3) at No. 3 Zephyrhills (7-3)

All games are Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

* 7 p.m. start time

Published November 09, 2022

Specializing in softball

November 1, 2022 By Mike Camunas

This team is golden.

The Pasco Stars have been together such a long time, the team is practically half-family, and they’re — well, they’re good. Like really good.

Ernie Shultz stands on deck, waiting to bat during a practice for the Pasco Stars Softball Team. The team, made up of 14 players mostly from Zephyrhills and Dade City, competes in the Special Olympics softball events, and even won gold at the Special Olympics North America Softball Championships in Lynchburg, Virginia, in September. The team has been together for years and has won gold three times since 2018. (Mike Camunas)

Like three-time-gold-medal-winners-at-the-Special-Olympics-national-tournament good.

“These guys give it their all,” said longtime pitcher and first baseman Ken Carriveau, who has been with the team from the start. “These guys, we know each other, that’s how we do — we’re family, that’s what family does for each other.

“I love (playing on this team),” he added. “Because we go out and have fun, yes sir.”

On top of having fun, the Pasco Stars have been winning, including a brand-new, shiny gold medal for winning the Special Olympics national tournament in September in Lynchburg, Virginia. There, over seven games, the team went 5-2, topped Team Canada 11-1 in the final and was even recognized by the City of Zephyrhills City Council on Oct. 24.

“These guys love it,” said coach Judy Brunner, who helped found the team and was a special needs teacher for the county for years. “They’re competitive and they have fun, and if we could find a softball league to play year-round, we would love that.”

Ken Carriveau, of the Pasco Stars Softball Team, delivers a pitch during practice at Krusen Park in Zephyrhills. The team is made up of players mostly from East Pasco County and plays in Special Olympic events.

The team is made up of 14 players, many of whom have been with it since the start, and several are related. Along with Brunner, the team is coached by Stacy Moms and Belinda Brown — the former being related to about five players and the latter also being a former special needs teacher.

“Yes sir, the team is awesome,” Carriveau said. “The guys, they play very good, but it’s all because of the coaching — the coaching makes the team.”

“We’ve taught some of these boys since they were 8 years old,” Brunner added. “We’ve seen them grow up, we’ve seen them get better as players, we’ve seen some of them get married and have kids. It’s a very close team.”

It is a tight-knit bunch that has done plenty of traveling. Of those three gold medals, the team has been to the national tournament five times, winning in 2017 in Roanoke, Virginia, and in 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. After a COVID hiatus for the national tournament, the team came right back and won in September.

George Morris, of the Pasco Stars Softball Team, gears up to drive a ball to the outfield during a practice at Krusen Park in Zephyrhills.

Even if it wasn’t gold, this team has still medaled, including taking silver the first time it made the national tournament in Chicago and another time in Oklahoma City, taking home bronze.

“I was shocked at how good everyone was, shocked at how skilled everyone was and the camaraderie of everyone,” said Richard Proctor, a relative newcomer to the team, being with it for about four years now. “It’s fantastic, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Now, the team is gearing up for the Special Olympics state tournament, which will be on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 at the Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

The players are still practicing hard, as they do every Saturday morning at Krusen Park in Zephyrhills — fielding groundballs, taking batting practice, working on drills given out by Brunner — all the while, taking it seriously, but having some fun, too.

“Everyone is constantly talking throughout the week,” Proctor said, “but we do give each other a hard time. But that’s how all teams do.

“It’s just another way to show we love each other.”

Carriveau agrees.

“We’re family,” he added. “It’s just a great group of guys that’s going to go out there and have fun. That’s all you gotta do.”

Published November 02, 2022

Pasco Stars Softball Team player John Algood shares a laugh with his coach at Krusen Park, as the team practices to compete in the Special Olympics state tournament on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, in Orlando.

Phillip Olson has a good laugh after a teammate calls him out while at bat during a Pasco Stars Softball Team practice at Krusen Park.

Pasco Stars Softball Team player Bubby Morris gears up for a throw to first base.

Andres Torres comes trucking around third to home during a practice for the Pasco Stars Softball Team at Krusen Park in Zephyrhills.

Wild about reaching the state tournament

October 25, 2022 By Mike Camunas

They all wrote the same thing.

Before the season started, the Wesley Chapel High volleyball players had a meeting with their coach where they were asked their goals for the 2022 season. At the meeting, each player went to the whiteboard, took a dry erase marker and passionately wrote the same thing.

State tournament.

Wesley Chapel senior middle hitter and reigning Pasco County Player of the Year Chloe Danielson leads the team with 202 kills. She also has led Wildcats to back-to-back district titles. Danielson and the team have high expectations, as the squad is looking to make the program’s first state tournament appearance after falling a match short in 2021. (Mike Camunas)

Coming off the Wildcats’ best season in program history, in which the team nearly reached said state tournament, the players were anxious from Day One to get back on the court and wildly chase down that collective goal.

“When we met with coach, we all wrote on the board either states or state tournament,” said senior middle hitter Chloe Danielson, who leads the team with 202 kills. “That taste of getting so close, we want it again and we want to achieve our goal of getting to states.”

The Wildcats (20-5) were so close last season, falling just a match short of the state tournament in the final round of the regional tournament: a 3-1 loss to Ocala Vanguard. It was easily the best season in program history, but it left a resonating feeling the players have been chasing for a year now.

“We did all write it down on that board because no matter what, we wanted to make it further than last season,” junior outside hitter Grace Korta said. “We’re all super eager to even just get to states — it’s been the goal from Day One.”

Junior outside hitter Grace Korta is third on the team in kills (154).

“Of course everyone starts writing down states,” sixth-year coach Brittany Collison added. “I had to stop them and take the marker away, because look, we have to win districts first, then we have to win regionals, where it gets much harder from there.”

Wesley Chapel is off to a good start, having secured its second-straight district title with a 3-0 win over nearby rival Cypress Creek (16-7) on Oct. 20 at Fivay High. The Class 5A-District 6 title secures the Wildcats home-court advantage, which is always beneficial; however, the team has been dominant all season.

Danielson, the 6-foot reigning Pasco County Volleyball Player of the Year, may not have as impressive stats as 2021 when she had a team-record 375 kills, but she’s had help.

Korta and fellow junior Lizzy Ekechi are third (154) and second (160), respectively, on the team in kills, while senior Jenna Ly has a team-high 46 aces. Adding to the fray has been Pasco High transfer Emma Letourneau, a 5-foot-11 junior who led the Pirates with 198 kills, only to turn around and be fourth best on the Wildcats (133).

This has all led to an incredible stat: the Wildcats were undefeated in regular season matches, with their five losses all coming in tournaments.

Sixth-year Wildcats coach Brittany Collison proudly displays the team’s second-straight district championship trophy to the team. It has bigger aspirations as it heads into the regional tournament.

“I think we’ve had big expectations for this season because of how we did last year and (because we returned eight of the 12 players) from last season,” Collison said. “Getting (Letourneau) from Pasco gave us a lot of versatility on the team.

“But (the tournament losses) were a big wake-up call,” she added. “They understood that we’re good, but we can be better — we’re not perfect and always have stuff to work on.”

“I was very confident coming into the season knowing who was back and who came to the team,” Korta said, “and I’m super excited to see how far we can go.”

Danielson agreed, adding the returners stayed cohesive the whole offseason.

“We were able to gel right away — get on our A game right away,” Danielson said. “We all know each other, so we were ready to go right from the start.”

Now, it’s the start of a postseason run that the players are hoping ends at the place they all wrote down.

“This year,” Danielson said, “we all had the same mindset because we all went through it together, we all went through getting so close and not getting our goal, which was to go to states.

“The talent is all there, but to finish it off, we just have to stay focused as a team and keep up the team camaraderie. If we can, I think we can get to where we want to be.”

Regional Tournament games
Classes 2A-4A, Oct. 25
Classes 5A-7A, Oct. 26
All games are at 7 p.m.

Class 7A
No. 8 Steinbrenner (18-8) at No. 1 Venice (17-4)

Class 6A
No. 7 Fort Myers (10-8) at No. 2 Land O’ Lakes (21-7)
No. 6 Sunlake (13-9) at No. 3 Bloomingdale (14-4)
No. 5 Springstead (22-4) at No. 4 Mitchell (18-5)
No. 8 Wharton (15-9) at No. 1 Punta Gorda Charlotte (17-1)

Class 5A
No. 8 Fivay (12-14) at No. 1 Wesley Chapel (20-5)
No. 3 Cypress Creek (16-7) at No. 6 Lake Wales (14-4)
No. 8 Freedom (10-4) at No. 1 Naples Barron Collier (15-5)

Class 4A
No. 6 Anclote (12-15) at No. 6 Lemon Bay (11-9)

Class 3A
No. 2 Tampa Prep (15-7) at No. 7 Carrollwood Day (20-6)

State tournament
Host: Polk County Public Schools
When: Nov. 11-12
Where: Polk State College – Winter Haven Health Center, 999 Ave H N.E., Winter Haven

Info: Visit FHSAA.com/sports/gvb.

Published October 26, 2022

Gators volleyball wins first district title in 33 years

October 25, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The Land O’ Lakes volleyball team (21-7) topped Mitchell (18-5) for the Class 6A-District 9 title on Oct. 20, edging out the Mustangs 3-2 and securing the Gators first district title in 33 years. Junior Izabella Horruitiner led Land O’ Lakes with 16 kills, while senior Jaidynce Linduski added 11 and junior Carissa Mixon had 10 blocks.

Friday Night Lights Football Scoreboard (Oct. 21)

October 25, 2022 By Mike Camunas

On Oct. 21, Pasco High senior running back Tayshaun Balmir set the program record for most rushing yards in a season after a 158-yard, two-TD performance in the Pirates win over Crystal River. Balmir, who leads the state with 1,665 rushing yards, surpassed Jamal Haynes, who rushed for 1,612 in 2008. (Courtesy of Pasco Pirates Football)

Pasco County
Land O’ Lakes 23,Sunlake 8
Pasco 14,Crystal River 6
Cypress Creek 30, Parrish Community 27
Zephyrhills 48, Lakeland Kathleen 0
Lecanto 37, Wesley Chapel 0
Four Corners 41, Academy at the Lakes 14
St. Petersburg Catholic 46, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic 14

Hillsborough County
Wharton 35, Bloomingdale 8
Plant 47, Steinbrenner 14
Gaither 41, Durant 35
Clearwater Central Catholic 33, Carrollwood Day 6 (Oct. 20)

Oct. 28 Football Schedule

Pasco County
Wesley Chapel at Pasco
Land O’ Lakes at Wiregrass Ranch
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic at Victory Christian
Cypress Creek at Zephyrhills|
Mitchell at Sunlake
Northside Christian at Zephyrhills Christian
Academy at the Lakes at Lakeside Christian

Hillsborough County
Gaither at Leto
Steinbrenner at Sickles
Wharton at Freedom
Carrollwood Day at Cambridge Christian

*All games start at 7:30 p.m.

Published October 26, 2022

Coyote boys golf swinging back toward states

October 18, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The thing about the first time is that it can’t be repeated.

However, the Cypress Creek boys golf team sure is going to try to repeat its incredible success from 2021.

From left: Connor Newbold, Trey Sasser, Levi Wade and Joaquin Parrilla make up the Cypress Creek boys golf team that finished sixth at the Class 2A state golf tournament in 2021. (Mike Camunas)

“We’ve been trying to build on each match, and focus on practice and get better each day,” the team’s No. 1 golfer, junior Connor Newbold, said, “and really just prepare for the playoffs. That’s what we’ve really been looking at because we know that’s where the competition will be the hardest.

“Because it’s all about getting back to states.”

One can’t blame the Coyotes (10-2) wanting to get back to their most successful season ever in the program’s short history. Last year, Cypress Creek finished sixth in the Class 2A state tournament, which is obviously a best for the school and a best for local teams.

“The expectation is, absolutely, to improve upon what we did last year,” said Dennis Martin, the team’s coach. “We only lost one senior from last year, and had two really good freshmen jump right in and make a difference, so the expectation is to get back.”

Junior Connor Newbold carded a 5-over par over two rounds to finish fifth at last season’s state tournament, giving him the best score among all local golfers.

“We’re feeling pretty confident about getting back,” Newbold added, noting the team has experienced players who have competed in tournaments and at states.

“So, they can play 18 holes out there, and score low and play smart.”

Playing smart will start with Newbold. As the team’s No. 1 golfer, he’ll be looking to go low in the postseason, including when he finished fifth at the 2A tournament last year with a two-round 5-over par (149). The score gave him the best score among all local golfers.

Newbold will need help, but the Coyotes do return three other of the top five starters, including Trey Sasser (tied 66th, +32), Joaquin Parrilla (tied 70th, +34) and Levi Wade (93rd, +58).

“(They’re) easy to coach — I don’t have any knuckleheads,” Martin said. “They’re a great group of guys and they’re not just recreational golfers, if you will. They’re very serious about it and put in the work and can be hard on themselves because they expect to do well.”

So far so good, as the Coyotes lost just twice in the regular season — to the perennially top team, Mitchell, and Jesuit, which was 2A state runner-up last season.

“The mindset has been one match at a time,” Martin reiterated. “That’s what we focus on, and if we continue to practice and play up to our potential, then the results will take care of itself.

“We don’t really talk about states — we talk about the next match, and they’re focused on the task at hand. Sometimes they don’t even know who the next opponent is because the day before they’ll ask, ‘Who are we playing tomorrow? Where are we playing?’ (laughs).”

High School Golf Postseason

Districts
Class 3A-District 9
Host: Mitchell High School
When: Boys – Oct. 25, 9 a.m.; Girls – Oct. 26, noon.
Where: Boys: Crescent Oaks Golf Club, 3300 Crescent Oaks Blvd., Tarpon Springs; Girls: Heritage Springs Country Club, 11345 Robert Trent Jones Parkway, Trinity
Teams: Countryside, East Lake, Land O’ Lakes, Largo, Mitchell, Palm Harbor University, Pinellas Park, Sunlake

Class 3A-District 10
Host: Wharton High
When: Boys – Oct. 24, 7:30 a.m.; Girls – 7:30 a.m.
Where: Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club, 10630 Plantation Bay Drive, Tampa
Teams: Alonso, Armwood, Gaither, Steinbrenner, Hillsborough, Leto, Plant, Plant City, Sickles, Strawberry Crest, Wharton, Wiregrass Ranch

Class 2A-District 9
Host: Springstead High
When: Boys – Oct. 25, 9 a.m.; Oct. 24 – 9 a.m.
Where: Hernando Oaks Golf & Country Club, 5230 Delacroix Drive, Brooksville
Teams: Central, Cypress Creek, Fivay, Gulf, Hernando, Hudson, Nature Coast, Pasco, River Ridge, Springstead, Weeki Wachee, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills

Class 1A-District 10
Host: Tampa Prep
When: Boys – Oct. 25, 9 a.m.; Girls – Oct. 25, 9 a.m.
Where: Westchase Golf Club, 11602 Westchase Golf Drive, Tampa
Teams: Academy at the Lakes, Bayshore Christian, Berkeley Prep, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic, Cambridge Christian, Carrollwood Day, Hernando Christian, Seven Rivers Christian, Tampa Catholic, Tampa Prep

Regional Tournaments
When: Oct. 21 thru Nov. 2
Where: Varying sites

State Tournament
When: Class 1A, Nov. 11-12
Class 2A, Nov. 15-16
Class 3A, Nov. 8-9
Where: Mission Inn Resort & Club, 10400 FL-48, Howey-In-The-Hills

Info: Visit, FHSAA.com/sports/golf.

*Bolded teams are Pasco County teams and teams in the publication’s coverage area.

Published October 19, 2022

Running down a record

October 11, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Will Poe knew the exact time.

He also knew the exact runner.

Because it’s a runner he’s trying to catch.

“Jose Espinosa. 16 minutes, 10 seconds,” the Zephyrhills High junior distance runner said, without a second thought.

Poe is referring to the 18-year-old school record Espinosa set for the fastest 5K run in 2004.

Will Poe, a junior distance runner at Zephyrhills High, is on the verge of breaking an 18-year-old school record for the fastest 5K run, which is held by Jose Espinosa, when the former Bulldog ran a 16:10 in 2004. (Mike Camunas)

“I don’t remember the year, but it was a long time ago, and I’ve been eyeing it for a while,” the distance runner said.

And, he is getting close.

With a 26th place in last year’s cross-country state tournament and his personal best time already at 16:26, Poe is on the verge of setting a new Bulldogs record.

However, his season was nearly derailed when he broke his toe over the summer, making everyone, including his coach, catch their breath.

“It was definitely a scary moment because his dad (Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe) told me, and I was like, ‘Oh … well this is going to be fun!’” second-year coach Matt Page said. “Luckily, it didn’t impact him or his season at all and it’s all water under the bridge now.

“You don’t want to hear it happen to any of your runners, and certainly not your top guy.”

Poe, himself, definitely was worried.

“My cousin broke his toe like a year ago and he had to get surgery, and it messed up the tendons and stuff, so I was pretty nervous I had messed up my foot for running on it,” he said. “But it healed up pretty nice and quick.”

After a collective sigh of relief, Poe went back to work on his goals. Those include not just breaking the school record, but also a return to the state tournament on Nov. 5 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

But first, there’s the little matter of the competition.

Poe’s biggest competitor has been Sunlake senior Alex Pena, arguably Pasco County’s top runner, who recently posted a 15:30 at the 40th Annual Spanish River XC Invitational in Boca Raton on Sept. 16.

However, with new Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) classifications this season, Sunlake moves up to Class 4A, while Zephyrhills stays in 3A. This helps both Poe and the Bulldogs, because the Seahawks and Pena both finished third as a team and individually in the 2021 state championships.

Yet, runners remain that Poe will try to catch or pace. Cypress Creek senior Zach Poekert is one of those. Poekert finished sixth at states last year, as well as second at the Spanish River Invite, just 11 seconds behind Pena.

There’s also River Ridge senior Chase Thurber, who was chasing Poe at the St. Leo Abbey Invitational on Sept. 24. Poe finished fifth (16:36) and Thurber was seventh (16:37).

In that same race, Cypress Creek junior Dylan Powell finished eighth (16:43), while Wiregrass Ranch junior Hunter Boggs also cracked the top 20 with a 17:06.

“I’ve been battling it out (with those guys) all year and for a long time,” Poe said. “They are my biggest competitors.”

Page, however, says Poe is an easy runner to coach.

“I don’t really have to show him anything, which is great,” said Page, who was a distance runner at Pasco High. “The other day, he literally told me, ‘You’re running with me,’ and so, we ran from Lowe’s in Zephyrhills to Winn-Dixie in Dade City, which is 10 miles. I’m a little sore, but it was fun.”

As much fun as it is to have a coach who can keep up, Poe is focused on one thing between now and Nov. 5.

And that’s to have a place on the podium that day.

“I’ve put a lot of work into this season, so hopefully I can get 15th place or better at states and break the school record at states,” Poe said. “The top 15 runners get on the podium and get a medal. It’s that position or higher, or nothing. That is what I’ve been running for all season.”

Cross-Country Postseason:

Sunshine Athletic Conference Tournament
When: Oct. 15
Where: Sunlake High, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
Details: This is the annual conference tournament for all Pasco County High School boys and girls cross-country teams.

District Tournaments
Class 4A-District 3
Host: Plant High
When: Oct. 20, 8 a.m.
Where: Rogers Park Golf Course, 7910 N. 30th St., Tampa
Teams: Alonso, Armwood, Bartow, East Lake, George Jenkins, Steinbrenner, Haines City, Land O’ Lakes, Largo, Mitchell, Palm Harbor University, Plant, Plant City, Ridge Community, Sickles, Strawberry Crest, Sunlake, Wharton, Winter Haven, Wiregrass Ranch

Class 3A-District 4
Host: Citrus High
When: Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Whispering Pines Park, 1700 Forest Dr., Inverness
Teams: Belleview, Citrus, Cypress Creek, Fivay, Gulf, Lake Minneola, Lecanto, Leesburg, Pasco, River Ridge, Springstead, Tavares, Vanguard Ocala, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills

Class 3A-District 5
Host: King High
When: Oct. 18, 5 p.m.
Where: Mary Help of Christians Center, 6400 E. Chelsea St., Tampa
Teams: Blake, Boca Ciega, Brandon, Clearwater, Countryside, East Bay, Freedom, Gaither, Hillsborough, Hollins, Jesuit, King, Leto, Middleton, Northeast, Osceola, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Spoto, St. Petersburg

Class 2A-District 5
Host: Robinson High
When: Oct. 19, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Mary Help of Christians Center, 6400 E. Chelsea St., Tampa
Teams: Anclote, Bell Creek, Berkeley Prep, Brooks-DeBartolo, Calvary Christian, Carrollwood Day, Chamberlain, Clearwater Central Catholic, Davenport, Discovery, Dunedin, Four Corners, Gibbs, Hudson, Jefferson, Lakewood, McKeel, Mulberry, Robinson, Tampa Catholic, Tarpon Springs, Tenoroc

Class 1A-District 3
Host: Oak Hall
When: Oct. 18, 9 a.m.
Where: Alligator Lake, 420 Southeast Alligator Glen, Lake City
Teams: Bishop McLaughlin

Class 1A-District 5
Host: Indian Rocks Christian
When: Oct. 20, 8 a.m.
Where: Taylor Park, 1100 Eighth Ave., SW, Largo
Teams: Academy at the Lakes

Regional Meets
When: Oct. 26 thru Oct. 29
Where: Various Sites

State Championships
When: Nov. 5
Where: Apalachee Regional Park, 7550 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee

For more information visit, FHSAA.com/sports/cross.

*Bolded teams are Pasco County teams and teams in the publication’s coverage area.

Published October 12, 2022

What’s the cache?

October 4, 2022 By Mike Camunas

This was Pokémon Go before Pokémon Go.

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, which involves participants using a GPS or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called ‘geocaches’ or ‘caches,’ at specific locations that are marked by coordinates all over the world. (Mike Camunas)

In fact, when geocaching, something tangible, real is actually found.

Geocaching — it’s the outdoor recreational activity in which participants use a GPS or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, or caches. Not only has it existed for decades, but geocachers are still going strong, with more than a million known in the U.S. alone, as of 2021.

“It’s definitely people who like the outdoors — exploring,” said Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Naturalist and Program Coordinator Rebekah Jenkins.

This is a screenshot from the Geocaching® app, showing a map view of Northern Land O’ Lakes. As seen by the numerous green dots, there are dozens of caches that can be found in the woods that line State Road 52, east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and north of the Connerton subdivision.

She runs a monthly introduction program to geocaching at Jay B. Starkey Park in New Port Richey.

“While it is popular and (Starkey Park) has more than 50 alone, it certainly takes a dip (in participation) in the summertime because it’s hot, but we do see a lot when it’s cooler.

“It’s just a super versatile activity, because it can be done anywhere,” Jenkins said.

Indeed, when using the Geocaching® app on a smartphone, it will give the locations of all and any nearby caches. Those do not have to be in a park or the woods. Caches can be found in neighborhoods, shopping plazas, even just off the side of the road.

“I think anyone who tries it, they usually grow to really enjoy it,” Jenkins said. “Especially, if they’re really into hiking and exploring.”

All around the geo
By all accounts, the first documented placement of a GPS-located cache took place in 2000 in Oregon. Since then, they’ve been scattered across the nation, and world, in the likeliest and unlikeliest places. And it’s because anyone can place a cache. There’s nearly nothing ‘official’ about it — all one needs to do is create one and place it in either a fun or difficult (or both) location.

Caches can be a waterproof container in just about any form — a small plastic box, an old paint can or even a former rice jug, as seen here. Several geocachers leave small toys or trinkets in caches either for fun or to be traded.

A cache typically is some sort of waterproof container. They vary in sizes from large to medium, to small to micro.

The only real “requirement” needed for a cache is a logbook, so that finders can log that they found it and when they did. Depending on preference, and size, the logbook could be the only thing in the cache. Or, as with several larger caches, little trinkets or toys can be left or traded by geocachers.

Finding caches varies in difficulty, depending on the clues left by the original placer and hints left by fellow geocachers on the app.

The app comes in handy, too, for keeping track of found caches.

Besides having different sizes, caches can have different themes. For instance, there can be a group of caches that might solve a mystery or finish a challenge. Each cache will give clues on how to find the next one, and several of them can come with a fun story.

Hide and seek
Jenkins says the Parks Department has yet to put any of its own caches in any Pasco County park. She says they will eventually, but by her account, there are caches in every county park, from Starkey to Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City to Cypress Creek Preserve in Land O’ Lakes. There are even several in Lake Park in Lutz, as well as Flatwoods Park in New Tampa.

Caches come in all sizes and degrees of difficulty to find. For instance, this ‘micro’ cache in Land O’ Lakes is camouflaged to blend in with the forestry.

For now, Jenkins says the Parks Department will continue to do monthly Geocaching 101 in Starkey, because it has been quite popular.

Plenty of people seem to enjoy coming out to seek what’s been hidden.

“It’s been a mix of experienced geocachers to first-timers, to young and old people coming out,” Jenkins said. “When it’s people who have never done it before, it’s exciting to see those people experience, and find a cache, for the first time.”

Geocaching 101
Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources will host a Geocaching 101 class at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, at 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., in New Port Richey, on Oct. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The program is to introduce participants to geocaching and to give them a chance to experience geocaching with either a smartphone or GPS unit.
Cost is $5 per person 10 years or older, and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Pets are not allowed.
The program begins in the Starkey Environmental Education Center and then will go out into the park. It is recommended to bring water, bug spray and wear close-toed shoes.
Visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to download the Geocaching® app.
To register, visit secure.rec1.com/FL/pasco-county-fl.
For more information, email .

Published October 05, 2022