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Hometown kids shine in 2019 college football season

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The college football season has come to a close, and it was one in which many players with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area showcased their skills.

Dozens of area athletes are a part of programs at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) levels, as well as Division II, Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and junior college ranks.

Here is a look at some of them.

Noah Ruggles
College: University of North Carolina, sophomore kicker
High School: Steinbrenner High (Odessa native)

Steinbrenner High product Noah Ruggles (Courtesy of University of North Carolina Athletics)

The Steinbrenner product appears entrenched as UNC’s long-term answer at kicker, as he enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign, converting 19 of 27 field goal attempts, including a long of 49 yards, and converting all 45 of his extra-point attempts.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Ruggles was nearly automatic on kicks inside 40 yards, but struggled on some longer kicks, including going 0-for-3 on attempts of more than 50 yards.

Arguably, his most defining moment came when he kicked the game-winning field goal in a 20-17 home win against conference rival Duke University on Oct. 26. It was a just week removed from UNC head coach Mack Brown benching Ruggles, after he missed two overtime field goal attempts in a road loss to Virginia Tech.

While at Steinbrenner, Ruggles developed into one of the nation’s most coveted kicking prospects, ranked as the No. 9 kicker by 247sports.com and the No. 12 kicker by ESPN.com for the 2017 recruiting class.

Chris Faddoul
College: Florida A&M University, junior punter
High School: Wiregrass Ranch High (Wesley Chapel native)

Since he stepped foot on FAMU’s campus as a freshman in 2017, Faddoul’s leg has been put to good use.

Wiregrass Ranch High product Chris Faddoul (File)

A three-year starter, Faddoul again earned consecutive All-American honors after another banner season for a team that went 9-2 and undefeated in conference.

His average of 46 yards per punt ranked second in Division I FCS (Football Championship Series). The 5-foot-11, 210-pound specialist tallied 40 punts for 1,841 yards, with 19 punts placed inside the 20-yard line, 16 punts of 50 yards or longer, and only five touchbacks. He also registered a career-long punt of 72 yards in an Oct. 20 overtime win over nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T State.

At Wiregrass Ranch, Faddoul was something of an athletic unicorn, playing football, soccer, tennis, and also competing in track and field. His senior year on the gridiron, Faddoul guided the Bulls to a state playoff appearance in 2016, as the team’s starting quarterback, kicker and punter.

Michael Penix Jr.
College: Indiana University, redshirt freshman quarterback
High School: Tampa Bay Tech/Pasco High (Dade City native)

Dade City native Michael Penix Jr. (Courtesy of Indiana University Athletics)

The Dade City native got off to a roaring start as Indiana’s starting signal-caller in 2019, helping guide the Big Ten program to its best start since 1993, up until he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November that required surgery.

Indiana was 5-1 in games played by Penix, who completed 69% of his throws for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, and tallied 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound lefty made history by becoming the first freshman quarterback to start an opener for the Hoosiers since Antwaan Randel El in 1998.

While Penix seemingly has a bright future ahead, injuries have become a concern. He also suffered a season-ending ACL injury in 2018 as a true freshman.

For his prep career, Penix played his first two seasons at Pasco High, then transferred to Tampa Bay Tech, finishing with 6,986 total yards and 76 touchdowns. He is something of a Pirates legacy, as his father was an All-State tailback/defensive back at Pasco High in the early ’90s; his uncle played there, too.

Donovan Jennings
College: University of South Florida, sophomore left tackle
High School: Gaither High (Tampa native)

Gaither High product Donovan Jennings (Courtesy of University of South Florida Athletics)

The 6-foot-5, 328-pound Jennings has established himself as a reliable and consistent protector for USF quarterbacks’ blindside, playing in a combined 22 games his freshman and sophomore seasons. He began the 2019 season at right guard, before moving to and finishing the season on the left side of the offensive line.

The Gaither High product this past season was USF’s highest-graded offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus (66.9), a website that focuses on thorough analysis of the National Football League and NCAA Division I football.

Jennings has been lauded by coaches for his pass protection skills and effectiveness in the run game, because of combination of quick feet, balance and strength. He often was tasked with blocking opponent’s top pass-rushers in one-on-one situations last season.

Jennings is actually a late bloomer to the gridiron, as he didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school because he exceeded the size limit for youth football leagues. He instead turned his attention to basketball, where he played four years on varsity at Gaither.

His future, however, was found in football.

He developed into an All-State player and a three-star prospect, earning scholarship offers from Central Florida, Virginia, Marshall, Old Dominion and Toledo universities.

Nate Craig-Myers
College: Colorado State University, redshirt junior wide receiver (Auburn transfer)
High School: Tampa Catholic/Pasco High (Dade City native)

Dade City native Nate Craig-Myers (Courtesy of University of Colorado Athletics)

After transferring from Auburn early in the 2018 season, the Dade City native and former blue chip prospect put together his most productive college season, becoming Colorado State’s fourth-leading receiver in 2019, hauling in 23 receptions for 329 yards and a touchdown, in nine games.

Before his transfer, Craig-Myers seemed like a star-in-the-making for the powerhouse SEC (Southeastern Conference) Alabama-based school.

He posted 16 catches for 285 yards and three touchdowns for Auburn’s 2017 squad that went 10-4 and reached the SEC Championship.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pound athlete was expected to break out for Auburn in 2018, but a lack of targets in the early going led him to seek opportunities elsewhere. His half-brother and former Pasco High standout, Jayvaughn Myers, also left the team around the same time.

Craig-Myers wasted no time making an impact with Colorado State this past year, making five catches for 88 yards in his first game against Toledo on Sept. 21. He followed that up with strong showings in his next two games against Utah State (three catches, 97 yards) and San Diego State (four catches, 68 yards, touchdown), respectively.

In the prep ranks, Craig-Myers spent two seasons with Pasco High before finishing his career at Tampa Catholic High. He was one of the nation’s most touted football recruits, a consensus four-star prospect with more than 40 scholarship offers, including from the likes of Ohio State, Florida and Florida State universities, among others.

Other notables

  • University of Miami redshirt senior defensive end Scott Patchan (IMG Academy/Freedom High) finished with a career-high 33 tackles, including six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, in 13 games and six starts.
  • Florida State University junior tight end Tre’ McKitty (IMG Academy/Wesley Chapel High) collected 23 receptions for 241 yards, in 11 games.
  • Samford University redshirt sophomore tailback Antwione Sims (Zephyrhills High) racked up 108 all-purpose yards, in 11 games.
  • Florida State University redshirt sophomore DeCalon Brooks (Gaither High) tallied 15 tackles, in 11 games.
  • Florida State University freshman defensive back Isaiah Bolden (Wesley Chapel High/Jacksonville Bartram Trail) collected eight tackles, two pass breakups and an interception, in 12 games.
  • Morehouse College freshman defensive back Cartrell Strong (Zephyrhills High) registered 15 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception, in eight games.
  • University of Cincinnati freshman safety Ja’quan Sheppard (Zephyrhills High) had five tackles, in four games.

New year in sports offers plenty to enjoy, experience

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As we embark on a new year, the sports world within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area promises to deliver plenty to watch and experience.

Here is a sampling of what’s ahead in 2020:

Sports and recreation in East Pasco
The year 2020 may become widely known as ‘the year’ of new sports and recreational facilities in East Pasco. Three significant sporting venues are expected to open: The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, in Zephyrhills; the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, in Wesley Chapel; and Snowcat Ridge, in Dade City.

Each offers its own unique twist.

  • The Zephyrhills tennis center will offer 11 USTA-quality tennis courts, eight pickleball courts and four padel courts, plus an indoor fitness and rehabilitation center.
  • The 100,000-square-foot Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex figures to be a national draw for basketball, volleyball and cheerleading events, and competitions.
  • Snowcat Ridge — being marketed as Florida’s first snow park — features a 60-foot-tall and 400-foot-long real snow-covered tubing hill with a magic carpet lift, an Alpine Village, and a 10,000-square-foot snow dome.

Major sporting events coming to Pasco, Tampa Bay
Pasco County and the Tampa Bay region, as a whole, are poised to host some major sporting events in the new year.

Among the most notable in Pasco: Skydive City in Zephyrhills will host the 2020 USPA (United States Parachute Association) National Parachuting and Skydiving Championships, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 24. While the event doesn’t begin until the fall, competitors will actually be training in Zephyrhills all summer long.

Zephyrhills’ Skydive City will host the 2020 National Parachuting and Skydiving Championships in the fall. (File)

Before that, Skydive City also will host the first annual Pasco Sports Fair on Feb. 16. The free, family friendly event will feature a meet-and-greet with renowned professional athletes, plus an introduction to various sport and game offerings in Zephyrhills and Pasco County, including tennis, soccer, football, basketball, skating, skydiving, boxing, mini-golf and more. Some noted pros scheduled to be in attendance include former English Premier forward Gary Blissett, former NFL defensive end Melvin Williams, former NBA shooting guard/small forward Anthony Parker, and former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell.

Wesley Chapel’s AdventHealth Center Ice will be the venue for a slew of prominent events, including the Sunshine State Figure Skating Games (May 15 to May 17), USA Hockey Adult National Championships (April 19 to April 26), and Torhs2Hot4Ice roller derby national championships (June 28 to July 9), among others.

Meantime, Pasco and north Hillsborough residents may find some interest in these big draw events throughout the Tampa Bay region:

  • 2020 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament first and second rounds on March 19 and March 21, at Amalie Arena, Tampa
  • PGA Tour Valspar Golf Championship, March 19 to March 22, at Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor
  • WWE Wrestlemania 36 on April 5, at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Saint Leo’s new sport
Saint Leo University’s new acrobatic & tumbling program will begin its inaugural season in February, which will include seven regular season matchups and three home meets.

Acrobatics & Tumbling, a discipline of USA Gymnastics, is the evolution of different forms of gymnastics and involves tumbling, tosses, and acrobatic lifts and pyramids. Teams participate in head-to-head competition and are scored in six events, including Compulsory, Acro, Pyramid, Toss, Tumbling, and Team.

Acrobatics & tumbling marks the 21st intercollegiate sport offered at Saint Leo and the school’s 12th offering in women’s sports.

The athletics department last added women’s beach volleyball to its sports offerings in 2017.

The acrobatics & tumbling team’s 18-member roster includes five athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, with the remainder representing other areas of Florida, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina. The team is coached by Allie Williams and Joely Smith.

The Pasco-Hernando State College men’s baseball team is coming off a third-place finish at the 2019 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II College World Series. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College athletics)

These teams look to repeat success
The 2019 season — and last several years, for that matter — yielded banner campaigns for many prep and college teams in our coverage area. Here are some programs that may be worth watching to see if they maintain or build off past successes:

  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High varsity volleyball
  • Gaither High varsity football
  • Land O’ Lakes varsity girls soccer
  • Pasco-Hernando State College men’s baseball
  • Steinbrenner High varsity football
  • Steinbrenner High varsity boys cross-country
  • Saint Leo University men’s golf
  • Sunlake High varsity girls weightlifting
  • Wesley Chapel High varsity girls basketball
  • Wiregrass Ranch High varsity boys tennis

Plenty to do
There’s no shortage of recreational activities and outdoor destinations in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Here are a few options our readers may enjoy trying sometime in the new year:

  • Bike, run or walk the Upper Tampa Bay Trail or Withlacoochee State Trail
  • Hit the links at Trinity’s Fox Hollow Golf Club, Wesley Chapel’s Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, or Lutz’s TPC Tampa Bay, or one of the many other golf courses
  • Learn to ice skate at Wesley Chapel’s AdventHealth Center Ice
  • Take the family to Lutz’s Lake Park for hiking, biking, BMX racing, equestrian riding, kayaking, fishing, boating and more
  • Test your skeet shooting skills at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays in Land O’ Lakes, or Silver Dollar Shooters Club in Odessa
  • Gather your friends and coworkers and join a senior, men’s or coed softball league at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park or the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex
  • Learn to skydive, parachute and tandem jump at Zephyrhills’ Skydive City
  • Visit Dade City’s Treehoppers to try out the largest zip line aerial adventure park in Central Florida

Published January 08, 2020

Top 2019 sports moments

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Teams captured state titles and local athletes turned in outstanding performances, during a year that brought shining moments and countless lasting memories.

Here is a look at some of the top moments in sports, from across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Longtime Zephyrhills High boys hoops coach Alan Reed (File)

Zephyrhills High names ‘Alan Reed Court’
Little more than a year after naming its football field after legendary coach Tom Fisher, Zephyrhills High School named the school’s gymnasium floor after longtime varsity boys’ basketball coach Alan Reed.

A formal dedication ceremony for Reed was held Jan. 18 — an evening that coincided with a Bulldogs defeat of crosstown rival Pasco High, 61-34.

The 71-year-old served as Zephyrhills boys’ basketball coach for a total of 16 years, in four separate stints — 1975 to 1979; 1981 to 1986; 2006 to 2010; and, 2014 to 2016.

During that time he became — and still is — the school’s all-time winningest basketball coach.

In total, he’s been involved with Zephyrhills athletics for more than 35 years, also coaching volleyball, track, football and softball.

He remains a volunteer coach at the school, to this day.

Sunlake varsity girls weightlifting won its first state title in February. (File)

Sunlake girls weightlifting wins state title
The Sunlake High varsity girls weightlifting program, under longtime coach Denise Garcia, perennially has been among the more dominant programs in the area, wielding multiple conference and district titles over the years. And, the Seahawks took the next step forward in February, winning the 2019 FHSAA Class 2A girls weightlifting state championship, in Panama City Beach. The title marked the end of the sport’s longest-active streak of consecutive team championships held by Navarre High, who won four straight from 2015 through 2018.

The feat marked Sunlake’s second state championship among all boys or girls sports — the school’s competitive cheerleading team won a state title back in 2014.

Academy at the Lakes softball repeats at states
A year after claiming the school’s first-ever FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic) state championship, the Academy at the Lakes Wildcats did it again in May. Behind the arm and bat of two-time Gatorade Florida State Softball Player of the Year Lexi Kilfoyl, the Wildcats mowed through the Class 2A state playoffs, outscoring opponents by a combined 35-0 — including an 11-0 shutout against Mount Dora Christian Academy in the state title game.

Women’s sports museum opens in Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel’s AdventHealth Center Ice is widely known as the largest hockey facility in the Southeastern United States and training ground of the gold-medal winning 2018 U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team.

In March, it became known for another meaningful reason — the home of the first virtual museum dedicated to women’s hockey trailblazers.

Called the Women’s Sports Herstory Museum, it is the brainchild of female hockey coaching legend Digit Murphy and her friend, Jeff Novotny, a Wesley Chapel resident.

Situated in a second-floor viewing room at Center Ice, the museum features interactive wall panel displays where visitors scan QR codes to view content online in the form of videos and in-depth stories.

Poster-sized displays highlight several of hockey’s female pioneers, including Katey Stone, Katie Guay and Amanda Pelkey. The room is also filled with various sports memorabilia and equipment, including a signed jersey and signed pictures of all 23 members of the U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team.

Zephyrhills tennis center breaks ground
Years of talks and planning to bring a state-of-the-art tennis center to Zephyrhills finally became a reality in July, when a groundbreaking ceremony officially marked the beginning of construction on the long-awaited Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness, at 6585 Simons Road, Zephyrhills.

Situated on more than 8 acres of land, the multimillion complex when complete will feature 11 outdoor tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, four padel courts, along with an adjoining 7,400-square-foot indoor wellness center housing a fitness and rehabilitation studio, salt/sauna room, cryotherapy, pro shop, café, kids’ area and more.

Slated to open in summer 2020, the facility is named in honor of Sarah Vande Berg, a former Zephyrhills High School district tennis champion, who died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in October 2015.

Land O’ Lakes Little League baseball celebrated its first state title since the early 2000s. (File)

Land O’ Lakes Little League wins state crown
It is believed to have been more than 15 years since a Land O’ Lakes Little League baseball team won a state title — until this summer.

In July, the Land O’ Lakes all-star squad composed of 14- to 16-year-olds bested seven other teams all across the state at the 2019 Little League Baseball Senior League Florida State Championships, in Bradenton.

The roster was made up of players from Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake, and Cypress Creek high schools, who put aside local prep rivalries to come together as a group.

Before advancing to and winning states, the team moved through districts and sectional tournaments in Tampa, Land O’ Lakes and Plant City, respectively.

Playing in round robin, double elimination formats, Land O’ Lakes lost initial games in sectionals and states, forcing them to play from behind and win multiple games in same days to claim the respective tournaments.. They went 7-2 in all three tournaments combined, outscoring opponents by a 57-27 margin.

Wesley Chapel fishing enthusiast Keven Barber. (File)

Local fisherman featured on national television
Wesley Chapel’s Keven Barber got the fishing trip of a lifetime, when he was featured on the Union Sportsman’s Alliance “Brotherhood Outdoors” television series on the Sportsman Channel. Barber’s August saltwater fishing trip along the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana was shown to the masses on television in October.

Barber was selected for the show based on his combination of passion for the outdoors, union membership and involvement, volunteer efforts and more. When he’s not working or fishing, the father of four boys stays busy as a scout leader and director of tackle football for the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association.

Pasco High claimed victory over Zephyrhills High in this year’s 9-Mile War rivalry football game. (Courtesy of Pasco High Athletics)

Pasco High gets revenge in 9-Mile War
The year 2014 was the last time Pasco High had beaten Zephyrhills High in the annual 9-Mile War rivalry football game, in a 35-34 nail-biter.

Since then, the contests had been extremely one-sided in favor or Zephyrhills, who won the ensuing four games (2015-2018) by a combined 187-39 scoring margin.

But, in November, under first-year head coach Jason Stokes, Pasco finally unseated the Bulldogs – winning the November matchup by a decisive 27-9 mark. Even better for the Pirates, they did it on the Bulldogs home turf. The Pirates now lead the series 41-21, in a tradition that dates back to 1941.

Steinbrenner High boys’ cross-country (File)

Steinbrenner boys’ cross-country claim first state title
After finishing state runner-up the past two years, the Steinbrenner High boys’ cross-country program at last collected its first-ever state championship in the FHSAA Class 4A meet in Tallahassee in November.

The Warriors were paced by senior Josh King, who finished in sixth place overall, crossing the finish line in 15:52.32. The rest of the team’s top five runners were senior Blake Walker (19th, 16:05.88), senior Gabriel Lara (32nd, 16:19.79), junior Zachary Harrigan (45th, 16:26.18) and senior Rama Jonnalgadda (56th, 16:30.95). Steinbrenner’s 129 points in the meet were enough to edge out second-place team finisher Nease High (140)

Gaither, Steinbrenner football programs reach state semifinals
It was a banner year for the two Lutz area prep football programs, as both Steinbrenner and Gaither high schools reached the state semifinals in Classes 6A and 8A, respectively. Both programs were buoyed by top-flight senior quarterbacks— Haden Carlson for Steinbrenner, Tony Bartalo for Gaither — plus several other Division I prospects dotting their respective rosters. Moreover, both local programs went 12-2, marking the only 10-plus win seasons from teams in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Published January 01, 2020

All-Pasco County fall awards announced

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High school coaches from Pasco County Schools recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2019-2020 fall sports season.

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.

Here is a listing of girls team and individual recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area for volleyball, cross country, golf, and swimming and diving.

The Sunlake High School varsity volleyball team went 18-7 and reached the Class 6A region quarterfinals. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

Fall Sports (Girls)
SAC East All-Conference Volleyball
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Robin Holowiak, Wiregrass Ranch
Player of the Year: Bianca Vieira, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
Zoi Evans, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Kayla Baer, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Cydnee Reimann, Sunlake, senior
Caroline Schoonover, Sunlake, senior
Brette Heymann, Sunlake, junior
Taylor Moore, Pasco, senior
Jordan Danielson, Wesley Chapel, junior

Second-Team
Caitlin Astell, Sunlake, senior
Sofia McGuire, Sunlake, senior
Hanna Sifford, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Abbie Hindersman, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Rebecca Wolfe, Pasco, senior
Chloe Danielson, Wesley Chapel, freshman
Jasmine Christian, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Mercedes Kruger, Zephyrhills, junior
Alexis Driggers, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

The Sunlake High varsity girls cross-country team won the Sunshine Athletic Conference title, then went on to place sixth in the Class 3A state meet — the best finish among girls programs in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

AC East All-Conference Girls’ Cross-Country
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Randall Reeves, Sunlake
Runner of the Year: Liina Winborn, Sunlake

First-Team
Liina Winborn, Sunlake, senior
Shannon Gordy, Sunlake, junior
Ashley Spires, Sunlake, junior
Emily Jenkins, Sunlake, senior
Emma Burleson, Sunlake, sophomore
Mya Hill, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Hannah Sheen, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Second-Team
Breanna Preiser, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Annie Winborn, Sunlake, freshman
Maranda Hildebrand, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Destiny Saltzman, Sunlake, senior
Elise Noll, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Brianna Patane, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Madison Poe, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Agnes Hernandez, Pasco, junior
Mary Flook, Cypress Creek, senior
Amanda Walford, Wesley Chapel, freshman

The Wiregrass Ranch High School varsity girls golf team was the Sunshine Athletic Conference Eastside’s conference team champion. The Bulls ended up advancing to the 3A-3 regional. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Golf
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Jeremy Calzone, Wiregrass Ranch
Golfer of the Year: Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Taylor Zachary, Sunlake, sophomore
Tiffany Colin, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman
Sophia Clark, Sunlake, senior
Loryn Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Madison Wagner, Sunlake, senior

Second-Team
Carmen Phousirith, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman
Ricci Guico, Zephyrhills, senior
Calissa Kwiat, Cypress Creek, senior
Cydnee Jonas, Wesley Chapel, junior
Hailey Hannigan, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Evelyn Randall, Pasco, sophomore
Helena Potter, Sunlake, sophomore

The Sunlake High varsity girls swimming and diving team won the Sunshine Athletic Conference title for a second straight year, then went on to place ninth in the 3A state championships. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Swimming & Diving
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Lorin Collins, Sunlake
Swimmer of the Year: Gisella Wright, Sunlake
Diver of the Year: Isabela Monagas, Sunlake

First-Team
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake) — Amber Ewald, sophomore; Audrey Ballash, senior; Gisella Wright, freshman; Alex Sprague, junior
200 Freestyle: Apryl Paquette, Land O’ Lakes, junior
200 Individual Medley: Audrey Ballash, Sunlake, senior
50 Freestyle: Alex Sprague, Sunlake, junior
100 Butterfly: Gisella Wright, Sunlake, freshman
100 Freestyle: Gisella Wright, Sunlake, freshman
500 Freestyle: Apryl Paquette, Land O’ Lakes, junior
200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake) — Tori Eurell, senior; Audrey Ballash, senior; Alex Sprague, junior; Gisella Wright, freshman
100 Backstroke: Amber Ewald, Sunlake, sophomore
100 Breaststroke: Audrey Ballash, Sunlake, senior
400 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake) — Tori Eurell, senior; Leah Fonnotto, sophomore; Madison Houck, freshman; Lilli Hilt, sophomore
Diver: Isabela Monagas, Sunlake, junior

Second-Team
200 Medley Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) — Cheyenne Herold, sophomore; Maryam Khalil, sophomore; Jenna Darland, freshman; Kathleen Wiechowski, sophomore
200 Freestyle: Jennifer Zartman, Land O’ Lakes, senior
200 Individual Medley: Catherine Pinkos, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
50 Freestyle: Amaya Henry, Land O’ Lakes, senior
100 Butterfly: Jenna Darland, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman
100 Freestyle: Amaya Henry, Land O’ Lakes, senior
500 Freestyle: Catherine Pinkos, Land O’ Lakes, senior
200 Freestyle Relay: (Cypress Creek) — Gianna Nuguit, junior; Casey Cubitt, senior; Reeya Latchana, freshman; Julia Spielberger, freshman
100 Backstroke: Jenna Darland, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman
100 Breaststroke: Maryam Khalil, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
400 Freestyle Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) — Cheyenne Herold, sophomore; Maryam Khalil, sophomore; Jenna Darland, freshman; Kathleen Wiechowski, sophomore
Diver: Tifani Farquhar, Wesley Chapel, senior

Honorable Mention
Casey Wright, Pasco, freshman
Mykenzy Neal, Zephyrhills, senior

Published December 25, 2019

All-Pasco County fall awards announced

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High school coaches from Pasco County Schools recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2019-2020 fall sports season.

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.

Here is a listing of boys team and individual recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area for football, cross-country, golf, and swimming & diving.

(NOTE: The Laker/Lutz News will publish the Girls All-Conference listings in its Dec. 25 edition)

The Wiregrass Ranch High School varsity football team went 7-4 in 2019— the best record among East Pasco County football programs. The team also clinched its fourth straight playoff berth. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

Fall Sports (Boys)
SAC East All-Conference Football
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch
Offensive Player of the Year: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team Offense
QB: Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, senior
RB: Zyre Roundtree, Zephyrhills, junior
RB: Zach Spicer, Sunlake, senior
WR: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
WR: Maguire Anderson, junior
TE: Brett Gwinn, Land O’ Lakes, senior
OL: Connor Lenczden, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Demetrius Wright, Zephyrhills, senior
OL: Cody Rand, Pasco, senior
OL: Robert Gibb, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Tyre’ Brooks, Wesley Chapel, junior

First-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Hunter Feiden, Sunlake, senior
DL: Demetrius Wright, Zephyrhills, senior
DL: Gavin Paul, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
DL: Tyler Hayes, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
LB: Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
LB: Brenden Maddox, Wesley Chapel, senior
LB: Amir Burgess, Pasco, junior
LB: Nick Sheldon, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
DB: Jonavon Tillis, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
DB: Tre Gallimore, Zephyrhills, junior
DB: JT Anderson, Wesley Chapel, senior
P: Fletcher Martin, Wesley Chapel, senior
K: Fletcher Martin, Wesley Chapel, senior
Utility: Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, senior

Second-Team Offense
QB: Rocco Becht, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
RB: Nate Miller, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
RB: Jovanni Addison, Cypress Creek, senior
WR: Julian Gonzalez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
WR: Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek, senior
TE: David Meyer, Sunlake, senior
OL: Jarrin Galyan, Zephyrhills, junior
OL: Noah Smith, Cypress Creek, senior
OL: Josh Hood, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Isaac Tavo, Land O’ Lakes, junior
OL: James Mancebo, Sunlake, sophomore

Second-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Zavian Mckinnon, Land O’ Lakes, junior
DL: Sebastian Bromonte, Cypress Creek, senior
DL: Cayman Wiseman, Sunlake, senior
DL: Tyre’ Brooks, Wesley Chapel, junior
LB: Tyler Mesnekoff, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
LB: Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek, senior
LB: Mitch Hammond, Sunlake, sophomore
LB: Damian Riewold, Sunlake, senior
DB: Isaiah Ramsey, Wesley Chapel, senior
DB: Jelani Vasell, Wesley Chapel, senior
DB: Jacob Schwarz, Sunlake, senior
P: Jacob Schwarz, Sunlake, senior
K: Adam Mihalek, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Utility: Tre Gallimore, Zephyrhills, junior

Honorable Mention
Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, sophomore

The Sunlake High boys cross-country team finished in fifth place at the FHSAA Class 3A state cross-country championships — marking the best team showing among East Pasco schools. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Cross-Country
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Randall Reeves, Sunlake
Runner of the Year: Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Colby Robbins, Sunlake, sophomore
Kaden Knopp, Sunlake, senior
Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Drew Knobl, Sunlake, senior
Brandon Castillo, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, senior
Edward Scheid, Sunlake, senior

Second-Team
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, senior
Alex Pena, Sunlake, freshman
Justin Ludwig, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Albert La Red, Sunlake, senior
Jacob Mong, Sunlake, senior
Braden Mitchell, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Joseph Abradovich, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Honorable Mention
Patrick Steams, Pasco, junior
Patrick Foti, Wesley Chapel, freshman

The Zephyrhills High varsity boys golf team won the Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament, then went on to finish second in the District 8-2A meet and make a regionals appearance. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Golf
Team Champion: Zephyrhills
Coach of the Year: Jeff Hupp, Zephyrhills
Golfer of the Year: Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills

First-Team
Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills, senior
Max Barile, Sunlake, junior
Fab Laude, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Jarrod Smith, Cypress Creek, senior
TJ Floberg, Pasco, junior
Alec Damien, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Second-Team
Brady Nipps, Sunlake, sophomore
Christian Hupp, Zephyrhills, junior
Scott Atkins, Pasco, junior
Dylan Brooks, Wesley Chapel, senior
Aidan Brooks, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Honorable Mention
Michael Depue, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Zuri Ramsey (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Swimming & Diving
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: James Finn, Land O’ Lakes
Swimmer of the Year: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes
Diver of the Year: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, senior; Sammy Grimme, sophomore; Colin Wilkins, senior; Dominic Ortanez, senior
200 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, junior
200 Individual Medley: Colin Wilkins, Sunlake, senior
50 Freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, junior
100 Butterfly: Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sunlake, senior
100 Freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, junior
500 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, junior
200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, senior; Sammy Grimme, sophomore; Colin Wilkins, senior; Dominic Ortanez, senior
100 Backstroke: Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sunlake, senior
100 Breaststroke: Griffin Sutek, Land O’ Lakes, junior
400 Freestyle Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) — Douglas Lankton, junior; Noah Porter, sophomore; Kevin Chen, sophomore; Manny Silva, junior
Diver: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Mason Gandy

Second-Team
200 Medley Relay: (Land O’ Lakes) – Michael McCloskey, freshman; Evan Hobson, senior; Justin Crouch, senior, Logan Beatty, senior
200 Freestyle: Jack Kaatze, Land O’ Lakes, senior
200 Individual Medley: Matt Gomez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
50 Freestyle: Charles Fields, Wesley Chapel, senior
100 Butterfly: Charles Fields, Wesley Chapel, senior
100 Freestyle: Houston Neal, Zephyrhills, senior
500 Freestyle: Matt Gomez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel) – Charles Fields, senior; Izek Thomas, junior; Dominic Slay, junior; Alexander Hayden, senior
100 Backstroke: Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, Land O’ Lakes, senior
100 Breaststroke: Alex Thai, Sunlake, freshman
400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes) – Michael McCloskey, freshman; Logan Beatty, senior; Sebastian Arbelaez, junior, Jake Conroy, freshman
Diver: Nicky Vreeland, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Andrew Fisher, Pasco, sophomore

Published December 18, 2019

Locals finish strong at state swim meet

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Several local schools and individuals in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area put up solid showings at the 2019 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state swimming and diving championships, held last month at Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center, in Stuart.

The Steinbrenner High swimming and diving program put together a solid showing at the Class 4A meet, as its boys squad finished 13th (out of 45 schools) and girls squad finished 17th (out of 39 schools). (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School Athletics)

A total of eight area schools were represented across all four classifications —  Academy at the Lakes (Class 1A), Cypress Creek Middle High (2A), Freedom High (3A), Land O’ Lakes High (3A), Steinbrenner High (4A), Sunlake High (3A), Wesley Chapel High (2A) and Wiregrass Ranch High (3A).

Of those schools, Sunlake posted the strongest overall team performance, with its boys squad finishing in seventh place (out of 50 3A schools) and girls finishing ninth (out of 43 schools), respectively; the Land O’ Lakes’ boys team (ninth place in 3A) represented the only other top-10 team finish among local schools.

Another notable overall team showing came from Steinbrenner, who’s boys finished 13th (out of 45 4A schools) and girls finished 17th (out of 39 schools). Also, the Freedom boys team finished 14th in 3A and the Academy at the Lakes girls finished 16th in 1A.

The Sunlake High swimming and diving program put together the best combined team finish among all local schools, as its boys team finished seventh (out of 50 Class 3A schools) and girls team finished ninth (out of 43 schools). (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

Aside from team showings, there were a number of noteworthy individual and relay performances.

On the boys side, Land O’ Lakes junior Zuri Ramsey collected four medals, including gold in the 3A 50-yard freestyle, clocking 20.58. He also placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (45.71), and teamed with senior Jack Kaatze, junior Griffin Sutek, and senior Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran to place fifth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.61) and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.24), respectively. Ramsey is the younger brother of Jabari Ramsey, who was a three-time FHSAA state champion in the 100-yard breast and a one-time champion in the 200-yard medley relay, making him the swimmer to win the most gold medals in Pasco County history.

Crosstown rival Sunlake also had a four medalist standout in senior Jay Jay Fonnotto. He placed fourth in the 3A 100-yard backstroke (52.19), sixth in the 100-yard butterfly (51.04), and teamed with sophomore Sammy Grimme, senior Colin Wilkins and senior Dominic Ortanez to collect fourth place finishes in both the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.19) and 200-yard freestyle relay (1:27.75).

Land O’ Lakes High junior Zuri Ramsey won gold in the 50-yard freestyle in the Class 3A state meet, clocking a 20.58. He also medaled in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)

Elsewhere, Cypress Creek junior Clyde Crouse took silver in the 500-yard freestyle (4:34.48) and placed sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.01).

On the girls side, Steinbrenner junior Lexie Mulvihill took gold in the 4A 50-yard free (22.46) and silver in the 100-yard free (49.58). She also anchored Steinbrenner’s 200 free relay and 100 free relay teams, which finished 11th and 12th, respectively.

Freedom sophomore Michelle Morgan collected a pair of silver medals in the 3A 200-yard individual medley (2:02.17) and 500-yard free (5:47.38). She also teamed with junior Hannah LaBohn, sophomore Alexa Valdez-Velez and sophomore Carly Joerin to place fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:35.85).

Academy at the Lakes junior McKenna Smith collected a pair of bronze medals in the 1A 50-yard free (23.05) and the 100-yard free (50.11)

Also, Sunlake freshman Gisella Wright tallied four medals. She finished eighth in both the 3A 100-yard freestyle (54.34) and 100-yard backstroke (1:00.64), and was a leg on Sunlake’s fourth-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:39.80) and its sixth-place 200-yard medley relay (1:50.07).

Here’s a look at all the results among locals at the state meet:

Class 4A
Boys
Steinbrenner (13th place, out of 45 schools)
Events:
200 medley relay: (Eighth place, 1:36.93) — Shane MacGregor, junior; Garrett Sykes, sophomore; Max Martino, senior; Bradley Stoker, senior

200 free: Matthew Ross, sophomore (19th, 1:43.97)

200 individual medley: Bradley Stoker (16th, 1:57.40)

500 free: Max Martino (10th, 21.28)

100 fly: Max Martino (17th, 51.50)

100 free: Matthew Ross (ninth, 47.07)

200 free relay: (sixth, 1:26.89) — Matthew Ross, Bradley Stoker, Shane MacGregor, Max Martino

100 back: Shane MacGregor (16th, 54.26)

100 breast: Bradley Stoker (20th, 1:00.05)

Girls
Steinbrenner (17th place, out of 39 schools)
Events:
50 free: Lexie Mulvihill, junior (first, 22.46)

100 free: Lexie Mulvihill (second, 49.58)

200 free relay: (11th, 1:38.62) — Justine Answeeney, junior; Mackenzie Hall, junior; Jada Kamuf, senior; Lexie Mulvihill

100 free relay: (12th, 3:34.82) — Justine Answeeney, Mackenzie Hall, Kayla Daley, freshman; Lexie Mulvihill

Class 3A
Boys
Sunlake (Seventh place, out of 50 schools)
Events:
200 medley: (fourth, 1:37.19) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, senior; Sammy Grimme, sophomore; Colin Wilkins, senior; Dominic Ortanez, senior

50 free: Dominic Ortanez (sixth, 21.38)

100 fly: Jay Jay Fonnotto (sixth, 51.04)

100 free: Dominic Ortanez (16th, 49.13)

200 free relay: (fourth, 1:27.75) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sammy Grimme, Colin Wilkins, Dominic Ortanez

100 back: Jay Jay Fonnotto (fourth, 52.19)

Land O’ Lakes (Ninth)
Events:
Diving: Mason Gandy, junior (eighth, 303.65)

200 medley relay: (fifth, 1:37.61) – Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, senior; Griffen Sutek, junior; Jack Kaatze, senior; Zuri Ramsey, junior

50 free: Zuri Ramsey (first, 20.58)

100 free: Zuri Ramsey (fourth, 45.71)

200 free relay: (sixth, 1:28.24)— Jack Kaatze, Griffin Sutek, Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, Zuri Ramsey

100 back: Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran (23rd, 56.19)

100 breast: Griffin Sutek (16th, 1:02.03)

Wiregrass Ranch (35th)
Events:
200 free: Douglas Lankton, senior (21st, 1:47.54)

400 free relay: (10th, 3:18.71) – Douglas Lankton, Yueng Chen, sophomore; Noah Porter, sophomore; Manny Silva, junior

Freedom (36th)
500 free: Zachary Kopel, junior (sixth, 4:38.74)

Girls
Sunlake (Ninth place, out of 43 schools)
Events:
Diving: Isabela Monagas, junior (sixth, 374.55)

200 medley: (sixth place, 1:50.07) — Amber Ewald, sophomore; Audrey Ballash, senior; Gisella Wright, freshman; Alex Sprague, junior

50 free: Alex Sprague (12th, 24.90)

100 free: Gisella Wright (eighth, 28.49)

200 free: (fourth, 1:39.80) – Tori Eurell, senior; Audrey Ballash, Alex Sprague, Gisella Wright

100 back: Gisella Wright (eighth, 1:00.64); Amber Ewald (13th, 1:00.65); Madison Houck, freshman (17th, 1:00.86)

100 breast: Audrey Ballash (ninth, 1:06.24)

400 free relay: (14th, 3:46.63) — Tori Eurell, Leah Fonnotto, sophomore; Lilli Hilt, sophomore; Madison Houck

Freedom (14th)
Events:
200 individual medley: Michelle Morgan, sophomore (second, 2:02.17); Carly Joerin, sophomore (18th, 2:11.74)

50 free: Hannah LaBohn, junior (16th, 25.09)

100 free: Hannah LaBohn (13th, 54.72)

500 free: Michelle Morgan (second, 4:47.38); Carly Joerin (15th, 5:06.67)

400 free relay: (fourth, 3:35.85) — Hannah LaBohn, Alexa Valdez-Velez, sophomore; Carly Joerin, Michelle Morgan

Wiregrass Ranch (40th)
Events:
Diving: Abby Galo, sophomore (18th, 204.50)

100 breast: Maryam Khalil, sophomore (15th, 1:08.05)

Individual: 200 free — Apryl Paquette, junior, Land O’ Lakes (19th place,  1:58.86)

Class 2A
Boys
Cypress Creek (21st, out of 46 schools)
200 free: Clyde Crouse, junior (sixth, 1:44.01)

500 free: Clyde Crouse (second, 4:34.48)

Wesley Chapel (33rd)
Boys
50 free: Charles Fields, senior (seventh, 21.69)

Girls
Individuals: Diving — Tifani Farquhar, senior (19th, 215.30)

Class 1A
Girls
Academy at the Lakes (16th place, out of 45 schools)
50 free: McKenna Smith, junior (third, 23.05)

100 free: McKenna Smith (third, 50.11)

Published December 11, 2019

Pine View football duo readying for prestigious tournament

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Two Pine View Middle School seventh-graders are gearing up for one of the nation’s most prestigious youth football events.

As members of FBU (Football University) Team Tampa, center Niko Spilotro and quarterback Jayce Nixon will participate in the annual FBU National Championship tournament in Naples, beginning Dec. 7.

Pine View Middle School seventh graders Niko Spilotro, left, and Jayce Nixon will participate in the annual FBU (Football University) National Championship tournament in Naples, beginning Dec. 7. They are members of FBU Team Tampa, which features the Tampa Bay area’s top middle-schoolers. (Courtesy of Toni Spilotro)

The 32-team tournament is described as “youth football’s biggest event,” uniting all-star athletes and elite-level prospects of all backgrounds from across the United States. Pine View Middle is in Land O’ Lakes.

National champions are crowned for sixth, seventh and eighth grade divisions.

The team’s first game is against FBU Jacksonville. If Team Tampa wins, it will vie for the Florida region championship, against the winner of the Dec. 8 game between Team Central Florida-Team Southwest Florida.

The Florida region winner then would advance to Championship Week, which is Dec. 15 to Dec. 19, where the team could potentially face other FBU all-star teams from across the country, beginning with the Southeast region winner (either a team from Georgia, Mississippi or northwest Florida), and on from there.

Hundreds of FBU national alumni have gone on to play in the NFL and Division I college football. Some notable names include Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Joey Bosa, New York Jets safety Jamal Adams, and Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Getting to compete against the nation’s best and likely some future big names thrills the two 12-year-old teammates and friends.

Spilotro called it “a great honor” to be on Team Tampa and participate in the national showcase.

“I love to be able to compare myself to other great players to help enhance my game more,” he added.

It’s likewise a “pretty big” deal for Nixon, a left-handed pocket passer.

He put it like this: “I get to tell my friends I’m one of the kids (on Team Tampa) and I get to play with Niko, and I get to meet all these new kids.”

Plus, he said: “I also get to go against better competition that’ll make me better in the long run.”

Besides being Pine View teammates, the fact that they are the team’s center and quarterback makes their Team Tampa journey all the more unique, they agreed.

“It’s very special,” Spilotro said. Having been on the same team, they are familiar with how each of them plays, which will work to Team Tampa’s advantage.

Nixon said the Team Tampa coaches have praised the duo for their cohesion during snap exchanges and other drills during regular practices at Jefferson High School.

The team’s head coach is Carlo Thompson. The assistant coaches are also high school coaches and former college players.

“The coaches said we work really good together and (they) could tell that we’ve played together before,” Nixon said. “We developed that trust with the team, so having (Niko) there is always good.”

The 32-team FBU National Championship tournament is described as ‘youth football’s biggest event,’ uniting all-star athletes and elite-level prospects of all backgrounds from across the United States. Champions are crowned in sixth, seventh and eighth grade divisions. (Courtesy of Football University)

With FBU games being streamed online at FloFootball.com, it also could give the duo some more national exposure and get them on the radar of scouts and college coaches. A few games may even air in select television markets.

It’ll be a new experience, Nixon said.

“I really never played in a league like this where people are going to play on TV and stuff,” he said.
When it comes to the pigskin, both of these boys are serious.

The 6-foot-tall Spilotro plays hockey and basketball to improve his footwork, balance and hand-eye coordination in the offseason.

But, that’s all in a quest to enhance his football skills as an offensive and defensive lineman .
“Football is definitely my favorite sport,” he said.

He loves that it’s a team sport and requires the entire team to perform well.

He also likes to measure his personal progress.

“I love to see how far I have come and how far I’m going to be able to go. I really love just how you’re able to kind of let loose and play aggressive,” Spilotro said.

Nixon, meanwhile, started running track last year to improve his speed and agility.

He picked up the new sport “not to become a running quarterback, but just have the ability, if the pocket does break down, to get out and make a play.”

He also regularly plays flag football and in 7-on-7 football leagues to hone his overall quarterback skills.

The two boys took different routes to Team Tampa, which is coming off back-to-back seventh grade FBU national championships, which they claimed in 2017 and 2018.

Spilotro last year attended an FBU mini-combine in Naples, then attended an FBU regional camp in Orlando, where he was selected to the 2019 FBU Top Gun Showcase, in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The South Carolina event is an annual national showcase designed to highlight the country’s middle school and prep student-athletes in an intense position-specific test of technical skill and ability.

He performed well enough at the showcase to be named a Class of 2025 All-Top Gun Team selection.

And, he carried that momentum into Team Tampa tryouts, where he made the roughly 25-member squad that features the Tampa Bay area’s top seventh-graders, with players from as far away as Avon Park and Bartow.

It hasn’t all come easily for the athlete, however.

Spilotro has overcome a rare eye disorder called congenital nystagmus, a condition where the eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements, which can result in reduced vision and depth perception. A Shriners hospital patient, Spilotro had surgery to correct the condition about two years ago.

“Physically, he’s had to really overcome some things to get to the level where he’s at,” his mother, Toni Spilotro, said. “He just didn’t walk into this world being a big, tough boy. It’s something he’s had to learn over the years and overcome his own challenges.”

Nixon, meanwhile, didn’t go through the FBU camp circuit. He instead was discovered by a rival coach while playing for the Bay Area Packers in the Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL). The signal-caller impressed enough to make Team Tampa after being invited to a tryout.

His new team has opened his eyes to the amount of talent in the Tampa Bay area.

“With my other (youth football) teams, it’s usually about one or two really good kids, but with this team, it does feel as a step up,” he said.

Published December 04, 2019

Land O’ Lakes cheerleaders win ‘Best of Pasco’

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After a long history of struggles, the Land O’ Lakes High School varsity girls competitive cheerleading team is finding its groove.

The Gators won the prestigious ‘Best of Pasco’ Sunshine Athletic Conference Cheerleading Competition on Nov. 16.

At the event, hosted by Land O’ Lakes High, the Gators claimed a score of 78.4, defeating 12 other county high schools. The school’s crosstown rival, Sunlake High, scored 76.2, to earn second place.

The Land O’ Lakes High School varsity girls competitive cheerleading team won the ‘Best of Pasco’ meet on Nov. 16. (Courtesy of Ashley Linden)

The last time Land O’ Lakes won a ‘Best of Pasco’ meet was so long ago that Gator cheerleaders and coaches can’t be sure when it was.

“It’s a very big deal for us,” said third-year coach Ashley Linden. “It’s been a very long time,” she added, noting it’s been at least since the early 2000s.

Senior team captain Sarah Spitzig thinks it might have never happened before.

In any case, it marks a striking accomplishment for a program that had not garnered much of a reputation through the years.

Spitzig said it’s the first competition the Gators have won during her four years in the program. “We’re all super excited about it. It’s just boosted the team’s confidence a lot,” she said.

The coach added of the ‘Best of Pasco’ achievement: “Seeing them be successful is just the best feeling, because some of them have been there for competitions where they didn’t do so great, and they still stuck it out and still kept coming back.”

Like other cheer programs, the Gators 2½-minute routine combines an array of acrobatic and athletic tumbling, stunts, cheers and dances — to the sound of upbeat music.

Linden described the team’s routine as “creative” combined with “a lot of really great tumbling.”

Many of those advanced skills were fine-tuned at summer Universal Cheerleaders Association camp, Linden said.

The offseason reps must’ve helped, as Linden said the team’s execution of the routine was “clean” and “sharp” at the countywide meet.

The team’s newfound taste of victory extends beyond just technical skills, however.

Linden said it also can be explained by better attitudes and coachability overall, plus more pronounced leadership from a quartet of team captains (Spitzig, along with seniors Laura Madison and Gabriela Miller, and junior Emma Runkel).

The Gators competitive cheer routine combines an array of acrobatic and athletic tumbling, stunts, cheers and dances, all to the tune of upbeat music.

All those qualities, the coach said, “makes or breaks a team.”

“Everything has just taken like a huge turn for the better,” said Linden, a former high school cheerleader herself with experience coaching All-Star and recreational teams. “This group of girls is just different; they want it this year.”

It’s an assessment Spitzig can agree with.

“It’s less about the skills sometimes, but more about the attitudes,” the cheerleader said. “We won even without the highest skills that we could’ve been doing; it was more just about attitude coming together and working for it.”

Hand in hand with that is a stable and dedicated coaching staff, as Linden and assistant Gators cheer coach Karlee Roach have been working in tandem for three years to rebuild the program; Roach actually served as the team’s head coach the previous two seasons, then reversed roles with Linden this year.

When it comes to their efforts, the coaching duo goes the extra mile, cheerleaders say.

Runkel noted that the coaches “care so much for us.”

She added: “Personally speaking, I had such a negative attitude my freshman year that they really helped me grow as a person, and personality-wise, I’ve grown so much from them. “They’ve always been there supporting us, on and off the mat,” she added.

Spitzig concurred: “We’ve all just developed into more of a family having them here. They give up so much time, we just appreciate it.”

The signs of a budding 2019-2020 campaign were in the works toward the end of last year as the Gators placed fifth in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A medium division state championships.

At the beginning of the season, Linden felt the team had the opportunity to build on that.

She was optimistic despite the fact that 13 seniors graduated and the team would be relying heavily upon four freshman flyers.

The current 25-member roster consists of five seniors, 13 juniors, three sophomore and five freshman.

“I’ve been saying it since the beginning of the season that, ‘This is our season,’” Linden said.

“People probably thought we were going to be in a rebuilding year, and here we came. To win (‘Best of Pasco’), no one expected that. We kind of came out from under.”

And, what made the ‘Best of Pasco’ victory even more special — was earning bragging rights over a Sunlake cheer program that for years has been a local powerhouse.

“They’ve always been out for us and always proved that they’re better than us, but this year we’re actually coming up on top of them,” Runkel said.

“I’ve heard they’re coming back for us — but we’re coming back for them,” Runkel said.

2019-2020 Land O’ Lakes competitive cheer roster
Head coach: Ashley Linden
Assistant coach: Karlee Roach
Team manager: Mayah Ocasio

  • Christina Agovino
  • Mia Allen
  • Lexi Brown
  • Ariana Butler
  • Aysiah DeBernardi
  • Peyton Fields
  • Elizabeth Harmon
  • Alex Heck
  • Grace Huff
  • Maddy Huff
  • Lauren  Jones
  • Madelyn Macaluso
  • Laura Madison
  • Gabriela Miller
  • Leah Mixson
  • Gianna Ocasio
  • Katy Quandt
  • Paige Randall
  • Emma Runkel
  • Skyler Sander
  • Sarah Spitzig
  • Camryn Steele
  • Alyssa VanMeter
  • Nevaeh Vercellona
  • Kaitlyn Wall

Published November 27, 2019

Steinbrenner boys cross-country wins first state title

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After finishing runner-up at the past two 4A state championships, Steinbrenner High’s varsity cross-country team won it all this year — defeating 31 other teams.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) 4A state championships were held on Nov. 9 at Tallahassee’s Apalachee Regional Park.

The Steinbrenner Warriors were paced by senior Josh King, who finished in sixth place overall, crossing the finish line in 15:52.32 The rest of the team’s top five runners were senior Blake Walker (19th,16:05.88), senior Gabriel Lara (32nd, 16:19.79), junior Zachary Harrigan (45th, 16:26.18) and senior Rama Jonnalgadda (56th, 16:30.95).

The Steinbrenner High varsity boys cross-country team won its first state championship earlier this month. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High Athletics)

Steinbrenner’s 129 points were enough to edge out second-place team finisher Nease High (140), despite the latter having three of the race’s top five finishers.

Steinbrenner’s showing marked the program’s first-ever state title.

After falling just short of that elusive crown in 2017 and 2018, winning it all meant that much more.

“You see how hard these guys work, and for them to have that moment, it’s unreal, you can’t really describe it,” Warriors head coach Allison Szponar said. “It was kind of surreal to be a coach…and you really appreciate all that goes into it and how hard that these guys have worked day in and day out in their absolute, unyielding commitment to the team and our mission.”

That was especially the case for King, who battled injuries each of the last two years. He missed all his sophomore year with a stress fracture, and only ran a few races as a junior before he was sidelined again.

Said King, “I kind of wanted to show who I am and prove my potential, and try to really lead the team because we’ve been runners-up for two years in a row, and we were really hungry for it and I wanted to contribute to it.

“I think ending on a high note is really great for me because this is really like all I wanted and this is what I worked for, for so many years.”

King worked to become the team’s No. 1 runner this season. His personal record of 15:50, in September at the Don Bishop Invitational, broke the school’s 5K record of 15:56 set in 2012 by Matt Magee, who went on to run cross-country and track at Florida State University.

Having his name attached to a state title and a school record humbles King: “I mean, that’s kind of crazy to me, because I thought we’d never be able to reach that record that’s been held for a long time now. Our school’s relatively young, but the guy who formerly had it was like a stud, so we all like thought it wasn’t reachable.”

Besides King’s running prowess this season, Szponar said the senior leader served as the team’s quasi-athletic trainer, offering recovery advice and encouragement to fellow runners who went through various aches and pains.

King’s own personal recovery also was a team motivator, the coach said.

“He leads by example, which is the most important part,” Szponar said, also noting King has a 5.7 weighted GPA. “He worked back from (injuries) to become an even stronger and better runner by finding what worked with him, and the younger guys will see that, so when they’re complaining of the shin splints or they tweak an ankle or something like that they know that, ‘Hey, all is not lost.’”

The team’s motto this season was “DNA: Doubt Not Allowed.”

Since the start of summer workouts, the team’s mindset for each practice and race was to push hard and not make excuses, Szponar said.

“We never give up and we don’t doubt what we’re doing,” the coach said. “If we gave up, we definitely would not have been state champions this year after coming off two straight years of being runners-up. A lot of guys would lose their focus and their drive, but our guys, it spurred them to work even harder and motivated them to achieve what they achieved this year.”

King echoed those sentiments, noting the program’s success comes from “a winning culture.”

King explained: “We have a team mentality here at Steinbrenner, and we have younger guys that look up to the seniors and kind of try to replicate what they do, and we have an incredible coaching staff.”

He added: “Cross-country is such a unique sport in that what you put into it is what you get out of. Like, you don’t line up to the line and (are) naturally 2 minutes faster. It’s literally the hard work that we put into it, and our team worked really hard this year to achieve our goals.

“We had a lot of talent and we worked really hard, so I think the outcome that we got was definitely something that we were looking for, and it was really great.”

Leading into the state meet, Szponar said the team was confident they could win the whole thing. After all, the Warriors swept its district and regional meets, and had the needed depth across its varsity squad.

“The message was, ‘This is y’all’s to lose, and the only team that can beat you are yourselves…so all you have to do is do what you’re supposed to do and you get to hoist that trophy at the end of this meet.’”

That, they did.

Here’s a roundup of all local teams and individuals at the 2019 FHSAA cross-country state championships:

Boys
4A
Steinbrenner (First place)
Josh King, senior (Sixth place— 15:52.32)

Blake Walker, senior (19th — 16:05.88)

Gabriel Lara, senior (32nd — 16:19.79)

Zachary Harrigan, junior (45th — 16:26.18)

Rama Jonnalgadda, senior (56th — 16:30.95)

Paul Foreman, senior (125th — 17:11.57)

Ethan Bhatt, junior (172nd — 17:37.16)

Wharton (26th place)
Jared Hamill, junior (10th — 15:55.30)

Jackson Blanchard, senior (111th — 17:05.96)

Thomas Walter, junior (159th — 17:27.20)

Alexander Olson, senior (208th — 18:16.55)

Amir Aboroomi, sophomore (232nd — 19:41.54)

Emanuel Camacho, sophomore (236th — 20:50.51)

Kevin Tran, junior (237th — 21.02.16)

Individual(s)
Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (49th — 16:28.06)

3A
Sunlake (Fifth place)
Colby Robbins, sophomore (19th — 16:29.59)

Gavin Kennedy, senior (44th — 16:51.30)

Drew Knobl, senior (49th — 16:55.06)

Alejandro Pena, freshman (60th — 17:06.29)

Kaden Knopp, senior (70th — 17:11.51)

Albert Lared, senior (82nd — 17:16.58)

Edward Scheid, senior (99th — 17:26.42)

2A
Cypress Creek (20th place)
Justin Ludwig, sophomore (59th — 17:15.49)

John Roswell, junior (102nd — 17:58.38)

Devin Payne, sophomore (106th — 18:00.27)

Lathen Falk, sophomore (18:35.88)

Sebastian Lebron, junior (18:41.55)

Zachery Poekert, freshman (18:52.56)

Dominic Fonseca, junior (19:45.29)

Individual(s)
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, senior (33rd — 16:54.85)

No local teams or individuals in 1A

Girls
4A
Wharton (26th place)
Brooke Reif, sophomore (91st — 20:15. 10)

Nia Rivers, senior (128th — 20:46.80)

Alexandria Frye, sophomore (136th — 20:54.30)

Callie Zack, junior (152nd — 21:14.20)

Jinia Johnson, senior (173rd — 21:42.70)

Jessica Perez, senior (199th — 22:29.10)

Michelle Sullivan, senior (203rd — 22:34.40)

Steinbrenner (28th place)
Reyna Simpson, freshman (105th — 20:27.60)

Anna Breede, sophomore (139th — 20:56.60)

Anne Sullivan, senior (150th — 21:11.20)

Ayden Krueger, senior (151st — 21:11.20)

Kaitlyn Arko, senior (183rd — 21:56.60)

Nina Pardo, freshman (191st — 22:10.20)

Rebekah Hurwitz, senior (212th — 23:17.40)

3A
Sunlake (Sixth place)
Liina Winborn, senior (Fourth place — 18:11.16)

Shannon Gordy, junior (25th— 19:39.29)

Ashley Spires, junior (56th — 20:16.99)

Emily Jenkins, senior (92nd — 20:49.42)

Emma Burleson, sophomore (113th — 21:22.12)

Annie Winborn, freshman (117th — 21:27.73)

Destiny Saltzman, senior (184th — 23:04.31)

No local teams or individuals in classes 1A and 2A

Published November 20, 2019

Zephyrhills tennis center buzzing along

By

The forthcoming Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center could be an even bigger deal than originally anticipated.

A standing-room only crowd of more than 100 gathered at a recent Zephyrhills City Council meeting to hear the latest details on the facility and to get a first look at a 3D video presentation highlighting its amenities.

Shown here is a rendering of the $5 million Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center. The complex broke ground this summer and is expected to be open July 2020. (Courtesy of David Alvarez, Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center)

Most who were gathered are supporters or partners of the tennis facility project — and the turnout caught the attention of council president Ken Burgess.

The facility’s obvious support, Burgess said, “really shows that it’s going to be top-notch.”

“The energy and the excitement is kind of building,” Burgess said. “We’ve been talking about it for a while, but it’s really on its way. It’s going to be pretty exciting, and we hope that it is going to put Zephyrhills on the map.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” he said.

The nearly $5 million tennis center broke ground in July at 6585 Simons Road in Zephyrhills. It is expected to open around July 2020.

The project is being hyped as “a world-class tennis facility with access to state-of-the-art performance and health amenities.”

Situated on more than 8 acres of land, the complex will feature 11 outdoor tennis courts (eight clay surface, two hard surface, one clay exhibition court), built to United States Tennis Association (USTA) standards. It also will have eight pickleball courts, four padel courts and an event pavilion.

Also, an adjoining 7,400-square-foot indoor wellness center will have a fitness and rehabilitation studio, salt/sauna room, cryotherapy, pro shop, café, kid’s area and more.

Another major component that is being phased in is a 30,000-square-foot indoor sports field house, which could accommodate up to four tennis courts or soccer fields using artificial turf.

The project is a public-private partnership between the City of Zephyrhills and Pascal Collard, a longtime tennis pro and instructor, who will operate and manage the facility.

It is largely being funded through state appropriations, Penny for Pasco monies, park impact fees and donations.

When it opens, the tennis center is expected to attract local, regional, national and international interest as a host site for major tennis tournaments and competitions.

Ultimately, Collard believes “the sky’s the limit.”

“Our dream is really to get Zephyrhills to become one of the top sports destinations in Florida, and in the country,” said Collard, a former tennis director at Saddlebrook. “It’s not only tennis — but tennis will always be the core.”

Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center CEO Pascal Collard gives a project update at last month’s Zephyrhills City Council meeting. (Kevin Weiss)

Collard also announced the facility will be the home of an online sports instruction program called United Global Academy. The blended program, which is geared toward youth, will be taught by ex-professional athletes in sports such as soccer, football, golf and maybe even boxing.

Aspiring athletes will take online classes, and coaches will be available at the facility to provide further guidance, Collard said.

“I think it’s a missing link in education in sports,” said Collard. “We hope to attract kids from everywhere.”

Though the city is funding the shell of the facility and tennis courts, Collard has leveraged his business connections to bring aboard other frills, explained Zephyrhills planning director Todd Vande Berg.

That includes the facility’s fitness/performance components, and in-house bakery and coffee shop run by Wesley Chapel-based Buttermilk Provisions.

And, because Collard is operating and managing the facility, the city won’t be on the hook for staffing or ongoing maintenance costs, Vande Berg said.

That, he said, is “a big financial piece” the city won’t have to address, unlike many communities with large tennis complexes.

Said Vande Berg, “I’ve been to probably almost every tennis facility in the state and all of them are being run like we’re running them, but I can tell you I think we’re the only one that’s got a contractual agreement where we don’t have to pay…all those fees that other communities are having to pay.”

Meanwhile, site work at the project is moving forward.

General contractor Craig Lamberson of DeLotto & Sons told council members the tennis building is slated to go vertical in December.

The Har-Tru clay tennis layouts will be fitted around that time, a process Lamberson described as “major, complex project” because “water flows beneath the court and is pumped in and out to maintain a great playing surface.”

The general contractor also said there’s already more than a half-mile of reinforced concrete pipe in the ground and storm drainage is about 60% complete. A wastewater lift station will arrive in early November.

“Even though it may not look like it, we are putting a lot of construction in the ground,” he said.

The tennis center is named in memory of Sarah Vande Berg, a former Zephyrhills High School district tennis champion, who died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in October 2015. She was the daughter of longtime city planning director Todd Vande Berg.

For information on the project, visit SVBtenniscenter.com.

Published November 13, 2019