The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local Sports

Stephenson steps down

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Academy at the Lakes’ Coach Diane Stephenson gives a pep talk to batter Kacey Atkins during a regular season game. (File)

As Lexi Kilfoyl gears up for the college ranks, the Wildcats softball program will take on even more of a new look next season, as Head Coach Diane Stephenson, who was named Florida Dairy Farmers 2019 Class 2A Coach of the Year, steps away from the program to accept a job at St. Petersburg’s Admiral Farragut Academy.

Stephenson took over the Wildcats program in 2017 after a lengthy Division I coaching career that took her to Indiana, Purdue and Iowa universities, among other stops.

In three seasons at AATL, Stephenson steered the program to three straight district titles, three straight region finals and back-to-back consecutive state championships, to go along with a combined 65-14 mark.

Aside from Kilfoyl and Stephenson, however, much of the 2019 15-player roster could return next season. Outfielder Tristen Gittens was the team’s only other graduating senior.

Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame adds members

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The Land O’ Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation recently added five new members to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame, during a dinner ceremony.

The inductees for the 2019 class were: Stacy Bishop, a record-setting girls soccer player from 1999 to 2003; Jerry Brewster, a state qualifying wrestler and team MVP in 1986; John Childers III, an All-Conference basketball standout in the mid 1980s; Vicky King, longtime varsity girls soccer coach; and Mike McBride, an All-State football player and standout wrestler from 1989 to 1993.

The ceremony marked the school’s seventh Hall of Fame induction class, which began in 2013 after the Gators Athletics Foundation was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Florida Gators All-American receiver Reidel Anthony served as the keynote speaker for the May 16 induction ceremony.

The foundation’s purpose is to “raise funds through donations and fundraising events for the direct benefit of the athletic programs at Land O’ Lakes High School.”

The mission of the foundation is to enhance the athletic programs at Land O’ Lakes by providing additional funds for facilities, uniforms, transportation and other athletic program needs not covered by traditional school funding.

Here’s a closer look at this year’s inductees:

Stacy Bishop: Female Athlete
Stacy Bishop (Class of ’03) was an All-County and All-District soccer player all four years at Land O’ Lakes, where she registered 192 goals (still a Pasco County record) along with 90 assists. In addition to those accolades, Bishop in 2003 was named Pasco County Athlete of the Year and recognized as an National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Academic All-American.

Former Land O’ Lakes girls soccer standout Stacy Bishop, left, with her former coach Vicky King at the 2019 Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Courtesy of Michael Williams)

Bishop went on to play Division I collegiate soccer at Louisiana State University and Florida, developing into a first-team All-American and MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist (annually given to the nation’s top collegiate soccer player).

Following her collegiate career, Bishop played professional soccer in the Women’s Professional Soccer league, earning stints with the Boston Breakers and Atlanta Beat franchises, respectively.

Vicky King: Coach/Administrator
Vicky King has been a coach at Land O’ Lakes for 33 years, since she joined the school in the mid-1980s.

In her lengthy career, King has racked up a number of achievements coaching both girls soccer and athletes with special needs.

In varsity girls soccer, King is the longest tenured and winningest coach in Pasco County, with a career record of 509 wins, 198 ties and 75 losses. That includes a state championship in 2003 and four other state semifinals appearances (2004, 2015-2017).

Meanwhile, King in 2015 guided the Land O’ Lakes unified soccer team (which joins athletes with and without disabilities) to represent Team USA at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, which yielded a bronze medal when the team defeated China 2-1. That year she was also named Florida Special Olympics Coach of the Year.

Jerry Brewster: Lifetime Achievement Award
Jerry Brewster (Class of ’86) was a member of both the football and wrestling team at Land O’ Lakes. Among his biggest accomplishments in athletics came on the mat — qualifying for the state wrestling tournament and earning team MVP honors his senior year. He went on to wrestle collegiately for a short time at College of DuPage in Illinois before continuing his education to earn a bachelor’s degree at University of South Florida and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tampa.

Former Land O’ Lakes wrestling standout Jerry Brewster

Upon graduating with his MBA, Brewster has embarked on a career in the wealth management industry, building one the leading wealth management groups in the Tampa Bay area. He was named a 2019 Best-In-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes Magazine, becoming the only wealth advisor in Pasco County to receive the honor.

Aside from his professional career, Brewster has a maintained presence in the Pasco community.

In recent years, he has served on the board of directors of HCA Regional Medical Center-Bayonet Point, Chasco Fiesta, and Rotary Club of New Port Richey. He also has been the auction chairman of the Rotary Club of New Port Richey’s annual Wild Game Dinner for over a decade.

Brewster was instrumental in helping to establish the Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

John Childers III: Lifetime Achievement Award
John Childers III (Class of ’86) played both basketball and baseball at Land O’ Lakes, with some of his biggest achievements coming on the hardwood.

Former Land O’ Lakes basketball and baseball standout John Childers III

In three seasons on the varsity basketball team, Childers III earned team MVP honors and was a second team All-Gulf Coast Conference selection. He went on to receive a full basketball scholarship to Pasco-Hernando Community College where he was a two-year starter.

Professionally, Childers III advanced through the ranks at Chase Bank and eventually started his own mortgage solution company in 2001, JCIII & Associates Inc. The company grew to 650 employees before being sold in 2015.

Through the company, Childers III helped contribute more than six figures to local charitable causes, such as Moffitt Cancer Center, Derrick Brooks Charities, and others.

Even well into his professional career, Childers III would still attend Land O’ Lakes athletic events and supported various athletic programs. He also helped spearhead the Land O’ Lakes Athletic Hall of Fame with other volunteers.

Mike McBride: Male Athlete
Mike McBride (Class of ’93) was a football and wrestling standout at Land O’ Lakes, earning All-State honors in the former and All-District honors in the latter, while also competing in track and field.

Former Land O’ Lakes football and wrestling standout Mike McBride

On the gridiron, McBride starred as a two-way lineman to become the school’s first All-State football player in 1992 — and is currently one of just five Land O’ Lakes football players to have earned the All-State designation all-time.

On the mat, McBride qualified and finished at or near the top in a number of local, regional and state tournaments. That included a 29-3 mark his senior season, where he won a district individual championship and placed third at regionals, along with collecting individual titles at the East Lake and Springstead Invitational meets.

McBride’s father, Charlie McBride, was inducted into the Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015, for his contributions as a coach and teacher. It marks the first father-son combo to be inducted into the school’s athletics Hall of fame.

Past Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

2018

  • William Gebauer
  • Jeff Hendrix
  • Don Meredith
  • Kirk Peterson
  • Karla Walsh Graziano

2017

  • Allen Claggett
  • Desiree Croteau
  • Doug Hutchinson
  • Michael Keough
  • Stephen Querns

2016

  • 2002-2003 girls soccer team
  • Jerry English
  • Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier
  • Dianne McClendon
  • Phil Teston

2015

  • Kevin Dowling
  • Kenny Gorman
  • Charlie McBride
  • Sharmine McCreary
  • David Singleton

2014

  • John Benedetto
  • Dennis Blankenship
  • RJ McKenna
  • Tina McWithey
  • Will Weatherford

2013

  • Colleen Bentz
  • Tim Harvey
  • Kenneth McCurry
  • Robert Shirmohammad
  • Henry Walls

Published June 12, 2019

Pasco All-Conference spring awards announced

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High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2018-2019 spring sports season, which included baseball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track & field, and weightlifting.

Selections were made for both the East and West division for all sports except lacrosse, which consisted of combined All-Conference teams.

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

Recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Spring sports (Boys)
All-Conference Boys Lacrosse
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: TJ Fitzsimons, Wiregrass Ranch
Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Ferrini, Mitchell
Defensive Player of the Year: Mikel Macias, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Robbie Sinibaldi, Mitchell, junior

Ryan Farquhar, Wesley Chapel, junior

Ryan Furlong, Sunlake, junior

Jacob Schwarz, Sunlake, junior

Nick Ferrini, Mitchell, senior

Marc Ciccone, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Mikel Macias, Sunlake, senior

Alex Perugini, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Sam Saunders, Wesley Chapel, senior

Caleb Embry, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Payton Risinger, Mitchell, senior

Sean O’ Brien, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Christopher Slay, Wesley Chapel, senior

Kyle Santiago, Wesley Chapel, senior

Jalen Seales, Sunlake, freshman

Josiah Barness, Sunlake, senior

Noah Midthun, Mitchell, junior

Donovan Passarello, Sunlake, sophomore

Jason Mazursky, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Honorable Mention
Marshall Mengel, Sunlake, senior
Aren Rosales, Wesley Chapel, senior
Colton Billett, Sunlake, junior

East All-Conference Baseball
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Marshall McDougall, Wiregrass Ranch
Player of the Year: Nick Jennings, Land O’ Lakes

First Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Nick Jennings, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Catcher: Ray Camacho, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: Matt Snyder, Cypress Creek, junior

Infielder: Ethan Frasca, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Infielder: Dakota Harris, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Infielder: Nick Plaisted, Sunlake, junior

Outfielder: Austin Coultas, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Outfielder: Peyton Petry, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Outfielder: Patrick Groark, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Utility/DH: Dawson Place, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Brian Holiday, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Catcher: Noah Johnson, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Infielder: Ethan Petry, Cypress Creek, freshman

Infielder: Spencer Stephens, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Infielder: Bryce Braxton, Pasco, sophomore

Infielder: Robert Boser, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Outfielder: Chris Ferguson, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Outfielder: Zachary Showalter, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Outfielder: Arvind Latchana, Cypress Creek, freshman

Utility/DH: Nick Jennings, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Ricky Dunn, Zephyrhills, senior

The Wiregrass Ranch High boys tennis team captured its 10th straight district championship and eighth straight regional championship this season. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys Tennis
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Dave Wilson, Wiregrass Ranch
Player of the Year: Kanishkh Ramesh, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

First Team All-Conference
Kanishkh Ramesh, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Jonathan Judy-Hansen, Zephyrhills, senior

Logan Haga, Pasco, sophomore

Destiny Okungbowa, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Caelen Arreola, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Adam Mansour, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Josh Abrams, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Takashi Xu, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Ryan Kantor, Sunlake, junior

Jake Albrighton, Pasco, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Kai Penalosa, Cypress Creek, freshman
Dillon Kemble, Wesley Chapel, junior

The Sunlake High boys and girls track & field teams both captured conference and district titles during the 2018-2019 season. The boys program also won a regional title, while the girls finished regional runner-up. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys Track & Field
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Randal Reeves
Track Athlete of the Year: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel
Field Athlete of the Year: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills

First Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Sunlake) Dominic Burleson, senior; Luke Scheid, junior; Cade Whitfield, sophomore, Ludcheel Colas, junior

110-meter hurdles: Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

100-meter dash: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior

1600-meter run: Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior

4×100 relay: (Zephyrhills) Maguire Neal, freshman; Ja’Quan Sheppard, senior; Clayton Cornelius, sophomore; Cartrell Strong, senior

400-meter dash: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel, senior

300-meter hurdles: Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

800-meter run: Luke Scheid, Sunlake, junior

200-meter dash: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel, senior

3200-meter run: Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior

4×400 relay: (Sunlake) Issac Taveras, junior; Ludcheel Colas, junior; Cade Whitfield, sophomore; Luke Scheid, junior

Shot Put: Kasean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Pole Vault: Shayne Tenpow, Sunlake, senior

High Jump: Isaiah Burns, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Long Jump: Jacquez Mobley, Pasco, senior

Triple Jump: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior

Discus: Joey Perez, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) Alejandro Medina, senior; Alex Morales Ramos, junior; Sebastian Hernandez, sophomore; Anthony Dimarco, junior

110-meter hurdles: Abdullah Mbowe, Sunlake, senior

100-meter dash: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

1600-meter run: Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, junior

4×100 relay: (Wesley Chapel) Donte Sol, senior; Brandon Hitch, senior; Jelani Vassell, senior; J.T. Anderson, sophomore

400-meter dash: Alex Hayden, Wesley Chapel, junior

300-meter hurdles: Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, freshman

800-meter run: Ludcheel Colas, Sunlake, junior

200-meter dash: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

3200-meter run: Drew Knobl, Sunlake, junior

Shot Put: James Kirkley, Sunlake, senior

Pole Vault: Chandler Tucker, Land O’ Lakes, senior

High Jump: Gabriel Vazquez, Cypress Creek, senior; Michael Adeshina, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Long Jump: Ja’Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, senior

Triple Jump: Ja’Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, senior

Discus: Isaac Tavo, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

The Zephyrhills High boys weightlifting team won both conference and district titles this season. They also finished regional runner-up. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys Weightlifting
Team Champion: Zephyrhills
Coach of the Year: Chris Barrick, Zephyrhills
Athlete of the Year: Caleb Huff, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
119 pounds: Caleb Huff, Sunlake, senior

129 pounds: Victor Velez, Sunlake, senior

139 pounds: Connor O’ Malley, Cypress Creek, senior

154 pounds: Wesley Colas, Sunlake, senior

169 pounds: Kevin Sacco, Land O’ Lakes, senior

183 pounds: Ja’varrius Wilson, Zephyrhills, junior

199 pounds: Samuel Bergeron, Zephyrhills, senior

219 pounds: Caleb Keeling, Zephyrhills, senior

238 pounds: Cameron Helms, Zephyrhills, senior

Heavyweight/Unlimited: Ethan Vest, Zephyrhills, senior

Second Team All-Conference
119 pounds: Garrett Ellison, Zephyrhills, senior

129 pounds: Alex Alvarez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

139 pounds: Jerimiah Wolfe, Sunlake, senior

154 pounds: Alex Hall, Sunlake, senior

169 pounds: Andreas Portillo, Sunlake, sophomore

183 pounds: Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior

199 pounds: Kris Chandler, Wesley Chapel, senior

219 pounds: Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, junior

238 pounds: Corbin Doers, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Heavyweight/Unlimited: Kasean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Spring sports (Girls)

The Pasco High girls tennis team won conference and district titles this season, and reached the Class 3A-2 regional finals. (Courtesy of Pasco High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Girls Tennis
Team Champion: Pasco
Coach of the Year: Don Charlick
Player of the Year: Courtney Piltaver, Land O’ Lakes

First Team All-Conference
Sitara Sriram, Pasco, junior

Courtney Piltaver, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Phoebe Teo, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Hope Johnson, Zephyrhills, senior

Alex Barath, Pasco, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
Paige Johnson, Zephyrhills, senior

Regina Lugo, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Mariel Camino, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Taylor Moore, Pasco, junior

Natalia Rivera, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

East All-Conference Girls Track & Field
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Brett Hodros, Sunlake
Track Athlete of the Year: Liina Winborn, Sunlake
Field Athlete of the Year: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Sunlake) Shannon Gordy, sophomore; Ashley Spires, sophomore; Emma Burleson, freshman; Justine Ruhlman, senior

100-meter hurdles: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

100-meter dash: Delcina Gillespie, Cypress Creek, junior

1600-meter run: Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior

4×100 relay: (Sunlake) Nia Johnson, junior; Jaymonda Calmes, senior; Gianna Levy, junior; Hannah Kilmer, junior

400-meter dash: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior

300-meter hurdles: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

800-meter run: Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior

200-meter dash: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior

3200-meter run: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes, senior

4×400 relay: (Land O’ Lakes) Ashley Doers, junior; Lauren Bates, junior; Abigail Perez, junior; Lizzie Epps, freshman

Shot Put: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake, senior

Pole Vault: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, junior

High Jump: Ondrasha Joel, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Long Jump: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior

Triple Jump: Jayda Forester, Sunlake, junior

Discus: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) Kate Moore, junior; Guadalupe Guerra, sophomore; Madelynn Abrahamasen, senior; Mya Hill, sophomore

100-meter hurdles: Kat Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

100-meter dash: Zharia Wilson, Wesley Chapel, junior

1600-meter run: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes, junior

4×100 relay: (Cypress Creek) Shaniqua Hicks, senior; Alyssa Pollicita, freshman; Ashleigh Lacey, sophomore; Delcina Gillespie, junior

400-meter dash: Lauren Bates, Land O’ Lakes, junior

300-meter hurdles: Hannah Kilmer, Sunlake, junior

800-meter run: Shannon Gordy, Sunlake, sophomore

200-meter dash: Nia Johnson, Sunlake, junior

3200-meter run: Estafania Acosta, Land O’ Lakes, senior

4×400 relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) Emily Beazley, senior; Dahlia Williams, freshman; Mya Hill, sophomore; Madelynn Abrahamasen, senior

Shot Put: Antoinette Farmer, Sunlake, junior

Pole Vault: Micala Jones, Sunlake, senior

High Jump: Emiliana Sorrell, Sunlake, junior

Long Jump: Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Triple Jump: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Discus: Antoinette Farmer, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Journee Byrd, Pasco, senior
Jaydean Ireland, Zephyrhills, junior

The Sunlake High softball team won its first Sunshine Athletic Conference East title in program history this season. They went on to reach the Class 7A regional finals, ending the season with a 24-3 mark. (Courtesy of Sunlake High Athletics)

East All-Conference Softball
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Nelson Garcia, Sunlake
Player of the Year: Jenna Lord, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Callie Turner, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Catcher: Neely Peterson, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: Jenna Lord, Sunlake, sophomore

Infielder: Miranda Perez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Infielder: Jasmine Jackson, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: April Lorton, Zephyrhills, senior

Outfielder: Kendra Falby, Sunlake, sophomore

Outfielder: Paige Maseda, Sunlake, senior

Outfielder: Shelby Westbrook, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Utility/DH/DP: Alexis Duff, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Jordan Almasy, Wesley Chapel, junior

Catcher: Jolene Bodner, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Infielder: Ashley Nickisher, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: Nehanda Lewis, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

Infielder: Logan Coward, Wesley Chapel, senior

Infielder: Ashley Garrison, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Outfielder: Miranda Schwartz, Cypress Creek, freshman

Outfielder: Emma Coon, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Outfielder: Brooke Stanley, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Utility/DH/DP: Mackenzie Petty, Pasco, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Alyssa Cordoba, Sunlake, junior

Mikayla Hoschak, Sunlake, sophomore

Haylee Fernandez, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Ally Fraley, Wesley Chapel, junior

Madelyn Golka, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Anna Margetis, Cypress Creek, junior

Avery Lee, Cypress Creek, senior

Ashtin Jordan, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Loryn Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Kelsey Kadlub, Pasco, sophomore

De’onna Brown, Pasco, sophomore

Kyleigh Smith, Zephyrhills, junior

Hayley Myers, Zephyrhills, sophomore

All-Conference Girls Lacrosse
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Craig Havemann
Offensive Player of the Year: Charlotte Vari, Mitchell
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Maziarz, Cypress Creek

First Team All-Conference
Charlotte Vari, Mitchell, junior

Morgan Gregory, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Jenna Kiley, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Dinah Hardin, Wesley Chapel, senior

Addison Metcalf, Cypress Creek, junior

Madison Gregory, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Patricia Batchelor, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Grace Young, Mitchell, sophomore

Jordan Alvis, Cypress Creek, senior

Lauren Williams, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Chadee Smith, Mitchell, sophomore

Sydney Maziarz, Cypress Creek, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Emily Huntzinger, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Emily Rushing, Mitchell, junior

Kyleigh Lashuk, Mitchell, freshman

Peggy D’Alessandro, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Annabel Murk, Cypress Creek, junior

Amanda Erenberg-Diaz, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Mallori Hotaling, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Jenny Endres, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Kamryn Smart, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Lily Jacey, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Brianna Seagers, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Alexa Dusch, Mitchell, sophomore

Published June 05, 2019

Hockey team formed for Land O’ Lakes High

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It all started as an idea between two dads who just wanted the best for their hockey-playing sons: What if we started our own hockey team at Land O’ Lakes High School?

After long months of conversations, fundraising and coordination, Joshua Whitman and Bill O’ Connor’s theoretical question became a reality.

Joshua Whitman, team manager and one of the people responsible for creating the newly formed Land O’ Lakes High School hockey team, watches the first period of game play through the glass. The Land O’ Lakes resident uses his tablet during the game to do live tracking of stats and to manage the live stream video. (Christine Holtzman)

This coming fall, the Land O’ Lakes High School hockey club will begin its first season in the Lightning High School Hockey League, or the LHSHL.

The Gators becomes the 19th school to join the league. The league is operated by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and features varsity level programs throughout Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties.

Hockey is not a sanctioned sport by the Florida High School Athletic Association, the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.

And, since most high schools don’t have enough players to field a team, the LHSHL has what’s called catchments, where it combines players usually from three or four different high schools to form a team.

Previously, Land O’ Lakes students would be zoned to play for the Mitchell Mustangs hockey team, which also includes players from Mitchell and Sunlake high schools.

While the other players keep their eyes on the ice, Peter Tedeschi, of Land O’ Lakes, turns to wave to some friends who came to support the team. The Gators squared off against the Wiregrass Ranch Hockey Club in their inaugural game on April 19 at Advent Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel.

With their sons, who play travel league hockey together, set to be high school freshmen next year, Whitman and O’Connor didn’t want them to get lost on an already overpopulated Mitchell roster.

They also wanted them, and others, to get a true high school athletic experience — able to solely represent the Gators with their fellow Land O’ Lakes classmates.

O’ Connor put it this way: “It’s fun because we all live in the same community and we all see each other at school. It’s like playing on the high school football team, with all the people from the same area. That’s what’s cool about it. You can tell the enthusiasm from the kids.”

The parents got the blessing of the LHSHL to start a team and enlisted the help of USA Hockey to determine if Land O’ Lakes had enough players to make it all work.

They also canvassed social media to gauge interest from Land O’ Lakes families.

Gators player Michael Yevstratov, center, No. 5, heads the attack into the offensive zone after a center ice face-off win. His teammate, Ian Ravens, right, No. 13 , prepares to join Yevstratov in the battle.

The response was overwhelmingly positive.

“I was so surprised how enthusiastic everybody was and how supportive everyone was. That was the key. That’s what I think was good,” O’ Connor said.

Once it was confirmed their community had the hard numbers to fill a club roster, the dads created a nonprofit foundation, Central Pasco Youth Hockey Foundation Inc., to help with fundraising and sponsorships efforts, and oversee the general operation of the team.

They also went about filling a coaching staff, which is now led by Bill Karas, a Minnesota native who brings more than 50 years of coaching and scouting experience to the club.

The entire endeavor took all of about six months.

Joe Eisenberg, the team’s assistant coach, is calling out to his players during the first period of the game. The coach is generally yelling instructions on where to go on the ice or for players to return to the bench for a shift change.

“We just kept moving forward, and it just kind of snowballed,” Whitman said. “Looking back now, it did fly by. It was good we started early and got things done as fast as possible.”

Unlike most LHSHL teams, the Gators will have what’s called a “pure” team, with its entire roster made up of players who attend Land O’ Lakes High or are home-schooled and live within school boundaries.

It undoubtedly adds a school spirit factor to the team.

The hockey club raised about $1,800 selling Gators hockey sweatshirts alone, Whitman said, to help offset equipment and registration costs.

“It’s created quite a buzz at the school,” said Whitman. “One of the things that we want to try to do is kind of change the culture about high school hockey here in Florida, because it kind of is a secondary thought for most kids.”

The Gators hockey club actually began play this spring in a league operated by local rinks that’s independent of the LHSHL. The spring league is designed as a prelude to the fall season for current eighth-graders through high school juniors.

Gators Head Coach Bill Karas watches his players on defense. Karas, a Minnesota native, is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach and brings nearly 50 years of hockey experience to the Gators bench.

The spring roster has 28 players. That includes three high school juniors, a sophomore and a freshman, 15 eighth graders, and 10 seventh graders on the practice squad.

The club’s first-ever game was on April 19, when it faced Wiregrass Ranch High at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel.

It was a memorable game for all, including the Gators head coach, who has seen just about everything in his five decade-long hockey career.

“First game here, we probably had 200 people. It was incredible. You don’t see that at a Minnesota high school game,” Karas said. “I was very impressed with the support that we’re getting from the Land O’ Lakes community, and I’m just glad to be part of it.”

The hockey dads and coaches aren’t the only ones excited about the Land O’ Lakes hockey venture. Players are, too, of course.

Leftwing Ian Ravens is one of the roster’s older, more experienced players, as a 16-year-old junior.

After the historic game, the Land O’Lakes High School Gators and the Wiregrass Ranch Hockey Club gathered for a group picture on the ice.

After playing in recreation leagues for many years, Ravens is glad to finally represent his high school in hockey gear.

“It’s a big thing. I’m looking forward to our senior nights, stuff like that, things that I wouldn’t be able to do playing for Mitchell or another team,” said Ravens.

“I think we’re going to get a lot of recognition in the school. We have a lot of fans,” he added.

Meantime, Ravens is confident about the team’s prospects in the LHSHL regular season, which runs roughly from September through February.

Though the fall roster will mostly be composed of incoming freshman, the rising senior feels the upstart team can hold its own. In the spring league, the Gators have won a few games and remained competitive in others.

“I think that we’re going to go in strong, which we have to,” said Ravens, who’s been playing recreational hockey for about 11 years. “We’re going to be playing a lot of different teams, not just the teams that we’re playing now (in the spring). We’ve got to be more physical, which I definitely see in everyone. I see that we have a lot of potential. I think we’re going to go far with it.”

Published May 29, 2019

Sunlake girls weightlifting coach earns statewide honor

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In her decade-plus long tenure as the Sunlake High girls weightlifting coach, Denise Garcia has racked up her fair share of achievements.

Some of the biggest came this year alone.

Back in February, Garcia guided the Seahawks to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 2A state championship — marking the program’s first-ever team weightlifting title.

Sunlake High girls weightlifting head coach Denise Garcia hoists the Class 2A state championship trophy at the 2019 Florida High School Athletic Association state meet in Panama City. Garcia has coached the school’s girls weightlifting program for 11 years. (Courtesy of Denise Garcia)

The veteran coach groomed eight lifters who competed in this year’s state meet. Six earned state medalist honors by placing among the top six individual finishes. The awards came across various weight classifications.

All told, the Seahawks registered 22 points collectively to defeat second-place Vero Beach High, which finished with 19 points.

Sunlake’s title also marked the end of the sport’s longest active streak of consecutive team state championships, which had been held by Navarre High School. Navarre had claimed four titles, from 2015 through 2018. This year, Navarre tied for seventh place.

Garcia’s efforts earned her the distinction of being named Florida Dairy Farmers Girls Weightlifting Coach of the Year. The award was announced last month.

Despite her program’s memorable 2019 campaign, Garcia remains taken aback by the designation as the state’s top girls weightlifting coach.

“As far as me getting this award, it’s a total surprise. It’s amazing, because there’s so many great coaches out there,” said Garcia, who wrapped up her 11th year as Sunlake girls weightlifting coach.

The recognition is always nice, of course.

But, for Garcia, it’s more important to see her high school lifters reach their potential and succeed in competition.

The coach put it this way: “All the awards you get, it all means a lot, (but) you don’t do it for getting an award, you do it for your team and to make them better. You do what you’re supposed to do for the team.”

Garcia praised her athletes — past and present — for being coachable and working hard along the way.

“I’ve just been blessed and I’m lucky enough to have girls with a good work ethic that want to learn, that want to buy into my program, and you see what happens,” Garcia said.

Under head coach Denise Garcia, the Sunlake varsity girls weightlifting team won its first-ever state crown. The Seahawks took eight lifters to the state meet, six of whom earned medalist honors on the way to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A state title.

The coach outlined the recipe for success in the sport: “It’s a balance. It’s a balance of good work ethics, your program, being coachable. It’s just an everyday thing. They need to listen. It’s this formula they have to have. It’s got to be the whole, total package.”

Garcia said most of the girls she coaches initially begin with little background in weightlifting. Often, they discover a passion for the sport.

In Florida, high school weightlifters compete in the bench press and clean-and-jerk.

“It’s just teaching from the bottom up, and they absolutely fall in love with weightlifting,” Garcia said. “It’s something about weightlifting, and once they get hooked, that’s it.”

Garcia herself got her first taste of weightlifting as a student at Leto High School in Tampa. A softball and volleyball player, she learned “old-school” weight training techniques from the likes of FHSAA Hall of Fame coach and athletic director Vernon Korhn, and others.

“It’s just old-time coaches that would let me go in the weight room and work out, and I just fell in love with it,” she said.

Garcia figured she could take her knowledge of pumping iron and develop a program for girls when she was hired to work at Sunlake.

“I was like, ‘My god, I can do something with this program.’ I love weightlifting, so I put something together and there it is, it worked out,” said Garcia.

Garcia said she will be coaching the team again next year.

It’s frankly a no-brainer, with a roster that expects to return all but two of its individual state qualifiers from last year.

That includes rising junior Madison Guincho and rising seniors Gianna Levy, Juliette Pacheco, Abigail Schmook, Antoinette Farmer and Brianna Caban.

There’s also other up-and-coming lifters in the program, Garcia said, that could help Sunlake repeat as state champs.

“We have a lot of talent on this team,” the coach said.

And, besides the possibility of securing another state crown, Garcia hopes to witness one of her own lifters be named Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Weightlifting. Vero Beach senior Jayda Jenkins earned that honor this year after claiming the Class 2A individual state title at 119 pounds.

“That would be awesome. Oh my gosh, that would be awesome,” Garcia said.

The Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards program annually honors the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 30 FHSAA sanctioned and recognized sports. The program is in its 27th year.

Published May 22, 2019

Locals stand out at track championships

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Wharton junior Zach Godbold, center, was crowned state champion in the FHSAA’s first-ever javelin event, posting a 171-11 mark. (Courtesy of Wharton High athletics)

Local high school athletes ran, jumped and tossed their way to standout showings at the 2019 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state track and field championships.

More than two dozen boys and girls athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area earned medalist honors, or top-eight finishes, across all classifications at the state meet, on May 4 and May 5 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

That included a pair of individual state champions — Zephyrhills senior Cartrell Strong and Wharton junior Zach Godbold.

Strong took first place in the Class 2A triple jump (47-5.25), edging Tallahassee Rickards High’s M’Kharis Lindsey (47-2.5).

Strong, a Morehouse College football signee, also placed fourth in the boys long jump (23-0.5) and was the anchor leg of the Bulldogs’ eighth place 4×100-meter relay team that clocked 43.14. The relay team also featured junior Ja’varrius Wilson, senior Ja’Quan Sheppard and sophomore Clayton Cornelius.

The Zephyrhills boys track and field team finished in ninth place overall in Class 2A, tops among all local programs. This is the Bulldogs’ medalist-earning 4×100 relay team, from left: junior Ja’varrius Wilson, senior Cartrell Strong, sophomore Clayton Cornelius and senior Ja’Quan Sheppard. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High athletics)

Godbold, meanwhile, captured the state individual title in the boys javelin, posting a 171-11 mark.

The throw bested Calvary Christian’s Jack Garey, who finished second overall with a 163-8 mark.

Godbold’s feat holds some extra significance as he becomes the FHSAA’s first individual boys champion in the javelin. The governing body added the javelin as a provisional event and opted to crown a champion this year after it had been an exhibition event the past two years. Next season, the javelin will begin to accumulate points toward team scores when it becomes the FHSAA’s 18th sanctioned track and field event.

Meantime, Gaither senior LaSarah Hargrove registered the highest finish among local girls by placing second in the Class 3A 100-meter dash, timing 11.74. Hargrove, a University of Iowa track signee, also placed fourth in the 200-meter run (24.15).

Local schools that earned points in the state meet were: Carrollwood Day, Gaither, Steinbrenner, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

The Zephyrhills boys track and field team finished ninth overall in Class 2A, tops among all local teams. That was followed by the Carrollwood Day and Gaither girls teams, who earned 14th-place finishes in Classes 1A and 3A, respectively.

Published May 15, 2019

Gaither High senior sprinter LaSarah Hargrove finished Class 3A state-runner up in the 100-meter dash. Hargrove, a University of Iowa track commit, also finished fourth in the 200 meters. (Courtesy of Gaither HIgh athletics)

Class 1A
Boys –Teams
Carrollwood Day School (24th place)

Medalists

110-meter hurdles- Seth Cribben, Carrollwood, senior (third, 15.33)

Triple Jump – Christopher Sheppard III, Carrollwood, junior (fifth, 43-2.5)

Girls
Teams
Carrollwood Day (14th place)

Medalists

4×100 meter – Carrollwood: Camila Garanton, freshman; Emma Architetto, junior; Stephanie Bainbridge, sophomore; Sophie Haag, eighth grade (third, 49.35)

Pole vault – Hailey Crow, Carrollwood, senior (second, 10-4)

Triple jump – Tionna Waters, Carrollwood, junior (fifth, 35-10)

Class 2A
Boys – Teams
Zephyrhills (ninth place)

Medalists

4×100 meter – Zephyrhills: Ja’varrius Wilson, junior; Jaquan Sheppard, senior; Clayton Cornelius, sophomore; Cartrell Strong, senior (eighth, 43.14)

Long jump – Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior (fourth, 23-0.5)

Triple jump – Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior (first, 47-5.25); Ja’Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, senior (sixth, 45-0.25)

Girls – No results

Class 3A
Boys – Teams
Wesley Chapel (34th place); Sunlake (37th)

Medalists

400 meter – Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel, senior (third, 48.12)

1600 meters – Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior (sixth, 4:24.19)

Discus – Joseph Perez, Sunlake, senior (seventh, 152-2)

Girls – Teams
Gaither (14th place); Sunlake (38th)

Medalists

100 meter – LaSarah Hargrove, Gaither, senior (second, 11.74)

200 meter – LaSarah Hargrove, Gaither, senior (fourth, 24.15)

Pole vault – Elizabeth Lydon, Gaither, sophomore (third, 11-3.75); Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, junior (seventh, 10-10)

Class 4A
Boys – Teams
Wharton (32nd place); Steinbrenner (46th); Wiregrass Ranch (53rd)

Medalists

3200 meter – Tre Rivers, Wharton, senior (third, 9:24.85)

Long jump – Aidan Bitter, Steinbrenner, junior (fifth, 22-1)

Shot put – Kasean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior (seventh, 50-0.75)

Javelin – Zach Godbold, Wharton, junior (first, 171-11)

Girls – Teams
Wharton (23rd place); Steinbrenner (40th)

Medalists

100 meter – Zayne Jack, Steinbrenner, junior (fourth, 11.98)

400 meter – Ken’Naria Gadson, Wharton, junior (third, 54.75)

Pole vault – Marley Derigo, Wharton, junior (fifth, 10-4)

 

Title Teams

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A trio of local middle school sports programs earned team titles at last week’s Tampa Charter Athletic League (TCAL) championships. Winning teams included: Carrollwood Day School boys ball hockey, Lutz Preparatory School girls ball hockey, and Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes girls flag football. The TCAL is one of state’s largest charter school leagues, consisting of about 20 schools and 14 sports.

Published May 15, 2019

Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes girls flag football defeated Lutz Prep 6-0 in triple overtime, to claim a league championship. (Courtesy of Chad Mollick)
Carrollwood Day School boys ball hockey won a Tampa Charter Athletic League (TCAL) championship after edging Lutz Prep 5-4.
Lutz Prep girls ball hockey beat Learning Gate 5-1 in the TCAL title game. Lutz Prep ended the season with an undefeated 8-0 mark.

AATL tops Land O’ Lakes in postseason tune-up

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Two of the state’s top softball players matched up for the final time against one another in high school uniforms when Academy at the Lakes hosted Land O’ Lakes in a recent non-district game at Starkey Ranch District Park.

Starting pitcher from the Academy at the Lakes, senior Lexi Kilfoyl, on the mound before the start of the game against Land O’ Lakes High School. (Christine Holtzman)

In the latest matchup between crosstown foes, the Wildcats and senior ace pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl bested the Gators and their senior star pitcher, Callie Turner, en route to a 10-2 victory on April 24.

Kilfoyl struck out 14 batters on her way to a one-hit complete game, allowing four walks and two unearned runs.

It marked a confidence-boosting performance for the 2018 Gatorade State Player of the Year and University of Alabama signee, who’s methodically battling back from a right shoulder ailment that’s plagued her since early March.

Land O’ Lakes High School starting pitcher, senior Callie Turner, winds up to throw a pitch in the first inning.

It also put the bow on a 13-7 regular season for the Class 2A defending state champs as they gear up for what is likely another lengthy postseason run.

Kilfoyl’s counterpart and fellow USA junior national team candidate didn’t fare as well, however.

Turner, the Class 6A Player of the Year, surrendered all 10 runs (seven earned) in six innings of action against the Wildcats’ balanced lineup. It was a rare off night for the University of Tennessee signee, who finished the regular season with a 1.76 earned run average and 158 strikeouts in 95.1 innings.

In spite of the late season defeat, the Gators, like Academy at the Lakes, are hoping for a deep playoff run since ending the regular season 20-5 overall and 9-1 in district play. Land O’ Lakes finished last season as the Class 6A state runner-up after falling to Plantation American Heritage in the state title game.

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state softball championships begin May 8 and continue through May 24 for all classifications.

Published May 08, 2019

Academy at the Lakes’ athletic trainer Makenzie Brinker, right, examines the injuries of player Jessica Mott, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning.
Land O’ Lakes High School senior Shelby Westbrook up at bat in the third inning. Westbrook was walked to first.
Academy at the Lakes’ Coach Diane Stephenson gives a pep talk to batter Kacey Atkins during the second inning of the game.

Gaither alum selected in NFL Draft

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Before he became a big-time college football standout at Penn State, Amani Oruwariye could be seen locking down wide receivers on Friday nights at Ron Allen Field at Gaither High School.

Now, Oruwariye is advancing on to the sport’s biggest stage — the National Football League (NFL).

The Penn State defensive back and 2014 Gaither graduate was selected in the fifth round (146th overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 2019 NFL Draft, which wrapped up on April 27.

Before he was an All-Big Ten cornerback at Penn State, Amani Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither High School. He graduated from the local high school in 2014. (Courtesy of Gaither High athletics)

Oruwariye joins the latest in a growing line of Gaither products to be drafted into the NFL.

He’s also the second athlete drafted from the local high school in as many years.

Former Gaither/Florida International University quarterback Alex McGough was selected in the seventh round by the Seattle Seahawks in last year’s NFL Draft.

As a fifth-round choice, Oruwariye is believed to be the local high school’s highest NFL draftee.

Other known Gaither alums drafted into the NFL include J.R. Russell (seventh round in 2005) and Carlton Mitchell (sixth round in 2010). Current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo (sixth round in 2015) attended Gaither his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Alonso High School.

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

Oruwariye lived up to that billing and more at the Division I FBS college ranks.

After redshirting his freshman season at Penn State, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive back went on to play in 48 career games and develop into a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection.

He tallied eight career interceptions, 20 pass breakups and 108 total tackles in his Penn State career.

His best season came in 2018 as a redshirt senior — leading the Nittany Lions with 12 pass breakups and tied for the team lead with three interceptions, to go along with 51 tackles (two for loss) in 13 starts.

The yearlong performance earned him first team all-conference honors and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football.

The 23-year-old Oruwariye was initially projected by many draft experts to go higher in the draft, given his combination of size, length, athleticism and production at the cornerback position, to go along with an impressive showing at the NFL combine that saw him post a 4.47 40-yard dash, 36.5-inch vertical jump, 16 reps on the 225-pound bench press and 10 feet in the standing broad jump.

In a media conference call following his selection, Oruwariye highlighted his physical gifts, which he figures to translate to the sport’s most competitive level.

“(My size) just allows me to match up with bigger receivers,” Oruwariye said. “It allows me to use my body to my abilities and really dominate at the line of scrimmage, and go up with receivers and make plays on the ball. There’s a lot of strengths that my size brings, and I’m hoping to implement them into my game.”

Although he wasn’t selected as early as anticipated, Oruwariye said he was happy to be given an opportunity, but still is out to prove wrong the other NFL organizations that passed on him.

Oruwariye put it like this: “I knew my time would come, my opportunity would come, so I’m not going to sit there and dwell on what didn’t happen and what should’ve happened. I’m just going to make the other 31 teams that didn’t draft me pay when my opportunity comes and just hold my standard. I’m going to work hard regardless of where I’m picked. It doesn’t matter what day, when, where — I’m going to work hard. That’s just how I am, that’s my standard.”

Oruwariye is expected to report to the Lions three-day rookie minicamp, which runs May 12 through May 14.

He is expected to sign a multiyear contract worth nearly $3 million in total value.

Published May 08, 2019

Locals shine at boys weightlifting

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A handful of locals turned in top-notch performances at the 2019 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) boys weightlifting state championships, held last month in Panama City.

Standouts included Sunlake High School seniors Caleb Huff and Victor Velez, who each won a gold medal in Class 2A. Huff won in the 119-pound division and Velez won in the 129-pound division.

Sunlake High seniors Caleb Huff, left, and Victor Velez both claimed gold medals at the 2019 FHSAA boys weightlifting state championships in Panama City. Huff won first place in the 119-pound division and Velez won first in the 129-pound division. The duo stands with Sunlake boys weightlifting coach Matt Smith. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Huff registered a 255-pound bench press and a 225-pound clean-and-jerk for an aggregate total of 480 pounds, besting the second place finisher, Oakleaf’s Michael Williams (420 total).

The feat marked Huff’s second-straight weightlifting state title.

He finished first place last year in the 119-pound division, with a 230-pound bench and a 200-pound clean-and-jerk for a 430 total.

Huff also had a strong showing at the state meet as a sophomore two years ago, where he finished in sixth place in the same weight class.

Velez, meanwhile, posted a 260-pound bench and 250-pound clean-and-jerk for a 510 total. He bested Wiregrass Ranch High senior Alex Alvarez, who placed second with a 480 total on a 255-pound bench and a 205-pound clean-and-jerk.

Velez finished second at last year’s state meet in the 129-pound weight class, with a 450 total.

The lifts of Huff and Velez carried Sunlake to a fifth-place team finish, best among all local schools.

In the Class 1A meet, Zephyrhills High senior Ethan Vest placed second overall in the heavyweight division with a 425-pound bench and 335-pound clean-and-jerk for a 760 total. That was behind Union County’s Agelu Nunu, who set a state record with a 525-pound bench press, to go along with a 300-pound clean-and-jerk for an 825 total.

In the 139-pound division, Cypress Creek High senior Connor O’ Malley placed fifth with a 255-pound bench and 225-pound clean-and-jerk for a 465 total.

Several other local lifters competed in the state meet, but did not place among the top six across the various weight class divisions. Zephyrhills had the most state meet participants among local schools, with seven lifters.

State results from area weightlifters and teams

Class 2A
Team results
Sunlake — fifth place (14 points)
Wiregrass Ranch—tied 13th place (5)
Land O’ Lakes — no placing (0)

119 pounds: Caleb Huff, senior, Sunlake: first place; 255-225—480

129 pounds: Victor Velez, senior, Sunlake: first place; 260-250—510; Alex Alvarez, senior, Wiregrass Ranch: first place; 275-205—480

Class 1A
Zephyrhills— tied 13th place (5 points)
Cypress Creek— tied 26th (2)

139 pounds: Connor O’ Malley, senior, Cypress Creek: fifth place; 255-210–465

Heavyweight: Ethan Vest, senior, Zephyrhills: second place; 425-335—760

Other area lifters who participated in the state meet

Class 2A
139 pounds: Alex Hall, senior, Sunlake (255-200—455)

169 pounds: Kevin Sacco, senior, Land O’ Lakes (scratch)

Class 1A
119 pounds: Garrett Ellison, senior, Zephyrhills (165-0—165)

129 pounds: Justin Clark, junior, Zephyrhills (195-205—400)

154 pounds: Dylan Hitchner, senior, Zephyrhills (255-230 — 485)

199 pounds: Samuel Bergeron, senior, Zephyrhills (scratch)

219 pounds: Caleb Keeling, senior, Zephyrhills (320-0—320)

238 pounds: Cameron Helms, senior, Zephyrhills (350-255—605)

Published May 01, 2019