The Laker/Lutz News

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Prep football midseason review

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With five weeks of high school football in the books, the midway point of the 2018 season has been reached.

Here’s a look at some of the storylines and highlights from schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Boisterous Bulldogs
No Charles Harrison III? No problem. The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have maintained their winning ways, even without the prolific and record-setting signal-caller, who graduated last season and now plays for Division III Brevard College in North Carolina.

The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have successfully built off last season’s 10-2 campaign with a 4-0 start in 2018. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

The Bulldogs offense (29.3 points per game) isn’t quite as prolific as last season when Harrison III was under center (41 points per game), however, they’ve managed with a balanced attack through the air and ground.

Meanwhile, an extremely stingy defense (13 points allowed per game) has made life difficult for the opposition.

Zephyrhills could foreseeably run the table for the regular season, considering just one of its remaining foes has a winning record — Wesley Chapel High School, at 3-2 overall — and that’s a home game, where the Bulldogs are 13-2 since 2016.

Further, the Bulldogs arguably have the most talented squad in Pasco County, with bona fide Division I  FBS talent in receiver/defensive back Ja’quan Sheppard and running back/defensive back Cartrell Strong, among other future college prospects.

Also noteworthy: Bulldogs third-year head coach Nick Carroll is off to one of the best coaching starts in county history, with a remarkable 23-5 record since taking over for former coach Reggie Roberts in 2016. That includes 13 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

Galvanized Gators
The hiring of Chad Walker, a first-time high school head football coach, is thus far paying off for the Land O’ Lakes High Gators.

The Land O’ Lakes High Gators are off to a 3-1 start under first-year head coach Chad Walker. (File)

At 3-1, the Gators are off to their best start since 2013, when the program last had a winning season and finished 8-2.

Whatever happens the remainder of 2018, this season will go down in lore for Land O’ Lakes.

That’s because the Gators broke an eight-game losing streak in the annual Butter Bowl rivalry game against Sunlake High, with a convincing 34-25 home win on Sept. 14. The historic win also coincided with the renaming of the press box at John Benedetto Stadium to the Mike Connor Family Press Box, after the longtime athletics booster and former Voice of the Gators.

Besides a road game against Mitchell High on Oct. 26, the Gators have a manageable slate and very well could complete what’s been a long time coming: a winning season. It also doesn’t hurt that the Gators have one of the county’s top offensive playmakers in senior tailback Kyle Leivas, who’s already tallied 613 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, including two straight 200-yard rushing performances against, respectively, Cypress Creek Middle High (224 yards on 25 carries) and Sunlake (223 yards on 19 carries).

Cool, confident Coyotes
After going winless in its first season as a program, victories are finally coming to the Cypress Creek Middle High Coyotes and second-year head coach Mike Johnson.

Cypress Creek captured the program’s first-ever win on Sept. 7, defeating Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High 42-22 on the road. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek Middle High School)

The upstart program already has two wins on the year, against Bishop McLaughlin Catholic and Pasco high schools.

Also, unlike last season, the Coyotes actually have a senior class.

Among the 12 seniors, the Coyotes have received significant contributions from tailback/safety Tim Ford-Brown, receiver/linebacker/punter Quinton Spears and receiver/safety/defensive end Devin Santana, among others.

Meantime, twin brothers Jehlani Warren, a junior quarterback, and Jalen Warren, a junior receiver, have made the Coyotes a fun watch, as they’ve hooked up for a bevy of big plays and touchdowns this season.

Going forward, expectations should remain modest for a program stepping into the ever-growing competitive area.

Yet, don’t be shocked if the Coyotes pull out another win or two before the end of the 2018 season.

Slow start, strong finish?
While Land O’ Lakes High is experiencing its best start in years, crosstown rival Sunlake High  is struggling with a 1-3 mark.

For the second straight year, Sunlake has opened with a 1-3 mark. (File)

Besides Land O’ Lakes, the Seahawks have faced stiff competition out of the gate, losing to Wiregrass Ranch High and to Zephyrhills High, in overtime.

The Seahawks did, however, open the season with a 25-0 road win over Wesley Chapel High — never an easy task.

The second half of the season shouldn’t be quite as daunting. However, it does include a string of three straight road games in October against Cypress Creek, Pasco and Brooksville Central high schools, respectively.

Interestingly, Sunlake also started off 1-3 last season, before rolling to a 4-6 finish — its first losing season since 2009.

Earl Garcia (File)

Major milestone
Former Gaither High/Boca Ciega High and current Hillsborough High head coach Earl Garcia is one win away from tying former Chamberlain High coach Billy Turner as the all-time winningest coach in Tampa Bay history (254).

Garcia, who coached at Gaither from 1987 to 1991, has a career record of 253-103, including nine 10-win seasons.

Garcia was recently inducted into Gaither’s inaugural football Hall of Fame, joining Greg Callahan, Denny Haywood, Kenny Huebner, Terry Jordan, Chad Muilenberg, Cesar Paz, James Puckett and Lydell Ross.

Garcia at Gaither
1987 — Gaither (7-4)
1988 — Gaither (6-4)
1989 — Gaither (4-6)
1990 — Gaither (3-7)
1991 — Gaither (5-5)

Stat Stuffers
—Tony Bartalo, Gaither High, junior quarterback: Most efficient quarterback in the always tough District 8-7A, completing 72.4 percent of his throws for 627 yards and seven touchdowns.

Land O’ Lakes High senior tailback Kyle Leivas (File)

—Desmin Green, Pasco High, junior quarterback: One of the county’s most effective quarterbacks, completing 56 percent of his passes for 602 yards, and nine touchdowns and four interceptions; also has 227 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns

—Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes High, senior tailback: County’s second leading rusher with 613 yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries; in total has 977 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.

—Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek Middle High, junior receiver: County’s second leading receiver with 16 catches for 321 yards and five touchdowns.

Wiregrass Ranch High junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School)

—Logan Kilburn, Steinbrenner High, senior linebacker: Second in the state with 70 total tackles; also has four sacks and eight tackles for loss.

—Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch High, junior linebacker: Tied for state lead with 14 sacks; also has 44 total tackles and 21 tackles for loss.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their current 2018 records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 3-1 overall, 1-1 district

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 1-4 overall, district 0-2

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 1-1 district

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 1-4 overall, 0-2 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 2-0 overall, 2-0 district

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 2-1, 2-0 district

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 2-3 overall, 0-0 district

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 3-1 overall, 1-0 district

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 2-2 overall, 0-0 district

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 1-3 overall, 0-1 district

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 2-0 district

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 1-1 district

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 4-0 overall, 1-0 district

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 2-2 overall, 0-0 district

Published September 26, 2018

Locals make 2018 NFL rosters

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The NFL season is underway and a handful of athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area wound up making rosters, proving themselves worthy throughout training camp and preseason action.

Here is a look at the locals now playing at football’s highest level:

Janarion Grant
(Courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens)

Janarion Grant, receiver—Baltimore Ravens
College: Rutgers University (Piscataway, New Jersey)
High School: Pasco High School; graduated in 2013

The 5-10, 173-pound shifty athlete overcame the odds as an undrafted rookie—and nagging injuries his last two college seasons—to make the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster.

His prowess on special teams was a big reason why; penciled in as the team’s starting kick and punt returner.

Grant, 24, showcased that skillset in Week 1, with a field-flipping 51-yard return in the Ravens 47-3 home win over the Buffalo Bills, breaking several tackles, and utilizing his agility and straight-line speed.

Path to the pros
Grant’s path to the NFL wasn’t without some hardship, particularly in regard to staying healthy.

While at Rutgers, Grant suffered an ankle injury early in 2016 that forced him to miss all but four games and later gain a medical redshirt. He also battled ailments the following year as a fifth-year senior, able to play in just seven contests.

Despite limited action his final two collegiate seasons, Grant wound up becoming Rutgers’ all-time kickoff return yardage leader (2,857 yards) and tied for the NCAA record for combined kick return touchdowns (eight).

Meanwhile, Grant left a lasting legacy at Pasco High School, where he was a four-year starter and still holds the county record for most career touchdowns (77) by a skill player. The two-time All-State selection also tallied over 5,000 career all-purpose yards in his prep career.

Joey Ivie
(Courtesy of the Kansas City Chiefs)

Joey Ivie, defensive tackle—Kansas City Chiefs
College: University of Florida
High School: Pasco High School; graduated in 2013

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle is now on his fourth NFL franchise since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (228th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Ivie, 23, was recently signed to the Chiefs practice squad after brief stints with the Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

He spent most of the 2017 regular season on the Falcons’ practice squad after being waived by the Cowboys before the start of that season.

Though he’s not yet seen any regular season action as a practice squad player, NFL teams seem to value his motor, energy and overall athleticism. Lack of desired mass and power as a run-stopper has been a knock, however.

Path to the pros
Ivie was a strong contributor to the Florida Gators since his freshman year. His best campaign came as a senior in 2016, starting 10 of 11 games while battling a thumb injury (26 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks).

Like Janarion Grant, Ivie himself shined for Pasco High School, where he posted a combined 142 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 20 sacks as a junior and senior. The skillset and production on the line helped him become a prized four-star recruit, with more than 20 Division I scholarship offers. Meanwhile, the Pirates went a combined 36-3 mark and captured three district titles in the three seasons Ivie spent on varsity.

Alex McGough
(Courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)

Alex McGough, quarterback—Seattle Seahawks
College: Florida International University
High School: Wesley Chapel High School (freshman year only), Gaither High School; graduated in 2014

Selected by the Seahawks in the seventh round (220th overall) of this year’s NFL Draft, the

6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller proved himself worthy of making the team’s practice squad roster after showing signs of potential throughout the preseason — completing 58 percent of his passes for 416 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, and rushing for 59 yards.

The Seahawks certainly seem to like the 23-year-old McGough, considering he’s the NFL’s third-highest paid practice squad player, according to NFL.com reporter Tom Pelissaro, earning $28,235 per week, totaling up to $451,760 for the entire season. (The minimum amount a team can pay their practice squad player is $7,600 per week totaling up to $120,000 for the regular season.)

McGough is one of three quarterbacks on the Seahawks roster, behind four-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson and fourth-year veteran Brett Hundley.

Path to the pros
McGough became FIU’s most decorated passer and set numerous school passing records across four years as a starter.

For his career, he completed 807 of 1335 passes (60.4 percent completion rate) for 9,091 yards, 65 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. He also rushed for 535 yards and 16 touchdowns.

McGough, surprisingly, was rather under-looked coming out of Gaither High School — where he tallied nearly 5,000 passing yards and more than 50 passing touchdowns in three varsity seasons — earning just two college scholarship offers (FIU and Colgate University, in upstate New York).

He’s certainly proved any doubters wrong, becoming just the fifth player from a Hillsborough County high school to be drafted as a quarterback in the last 50 years. The others are Robinson’s John Reaves (1972), Leto’s Gary Huff (’73), Chamberlain’s Dean May (’84) and Plant’s Aaron Murray (2014). (McGough transferred from Wesley Chapel High School to Gaither following his freshman year.)

Locals placed on NFL injured reserve for the 2018 season:

TJ Mutcherson, safety—Seattle Seahawks
College: University of Central Florida, Iowa State
High School: Freedom High School

Trey Johnson, cornerback—Pittsburgh Steelers
College: Villanova University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
High School: Steinbrenner High School

Locals cut during the course of NFL preseason training camp

Jacob Pugh, linebacker—cut by the Seattle Seahawks
College: Florida State University
Schools: Godby High School (Tallahassee); Jefferson County High School (Monticello); Pasco Middle School (Dade City native)

Shaheed Salmon, linebacker—cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
College: Samford University (Homewood, Alabama)
High School: Land O’ Lakes High School

Published September 19, 2018

Local golfer headed to regional championships

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He’s only been golfing competitively for about two years, but Fab Laude has picked up the sport with relative ease.

He made the Wiregrass Ranch boys varsity golf team as a freshman last year, developing into one of the Bulls’ top players — and is now one of the better players in the county.

Wiregrass Ranch High School sophomore Fab Laude will compete in the Drive, Chip & Putt regional championships on Sept. 29 at TPC (Tournament Players Club) Sawgrass, in Ponte Vedra Beach. He qualified for the event after finishing runner-up in the boys 14-15 division at the Drive, Chip & Putt sub-regional qualifier last month at Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs. (Courtesy of Cliff Laude)

But, before the 15-year-old gets too deep into his sophomore campaign, there’s another golf competition he’s got on his mind.

On Sept. 29, Laude will compete in the Drive, Chip & Putt regional championships at TPC (Tournament Players Club) Sawgrass, in Ponte Vedra Beach.

He qualified for the event after finishing runner-up in the boys 14-15 division at the Drive, Chip & Putt sub-regional qualifier last month at Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs.

There, he and Tampa’s Suraj Kollegal (who placed first in the boys 14-15 division) outperformed numerous competitors from Miami, Naples, Sarasota and other areas.

Outdueling other top golfers in his age group from the southern half of the state was “very humbling,” Laude said.

At the same time, he noted, “it gave me a lot of confidence, like, ‘Yeah, I can hang with these guys,’” he said.

Unlike traditional golf, a higher score is better in the Drive, Chip & Putt event, where points are accumulated from the three fundamental skills of golf.

Driving points are calculated on yardage distance and accuracy — where a shot must finish within a 40-yard-wide fairway.

For chipping and putting, points are awarded based on how close a ball is to the hole from a series of different distances (chips from 10 to 15 yards; putts from 6 feet, 15 feet and 30 feet, respectively).

The short game is where Laude particularly excelled — something he also takes pride in his regular golf game.

“My game inside 100 yards is just on point for me,” said Laude, who grew up in Wesley Chapel. “What I believe is, you get your scoring from your short game, so I try and work on that a lot, because you can hit the ball long, but if you’re not good at your short game, you’re not going to really get anywhere.

“Even if I hit a bad shot and I know I’m 160, 170 yards out, I know that I’ll make par or at least bogey,” he said.

In between high school practices and early season matches this year, Laude has taken extra time to prepare for the upcoming Drive, Chip & Putt competition. He’s also spending his weekends honing skills and working on the different shots at his home course at Pebble Creek Golf Club, in Tampa.

Drive, Chip & Putt is a free nationwide junior golf development competition for ages 7 to 15 aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. The competition is a joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and The PGA of America. (Courtesy of United States Golf Association)

Laude’s personal motto: “Train like no one else, so you can play like no one else.”

“I’m out there working every day,” Laude said. “Even if I’m doing good or bad, it just gives me momentum for me to play even better. My main goal is to play college golf, so when I see these college players and stuff I’m like, ‘I want to get to their level,’ so I try to work as hard as them.”

The regional skills tournament is the last step before the 2019 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, the Sunday before the Masters Tournament.

Result notwithstanding, Laude plans to soak in stepping foot on TPC Sawgrass, which is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and hosts The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s signature event. It is also widely viewed as one of the top golf courses in the United States and the world, ranking No. 10 in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.”

Said Laude: “I’d have to say that this is probably like my best career moment, going to a professional course that a lot of pros play at every single year. …It’s going to be a very nice first time, putting on really fast greens, with pretty good rolling fairways, too.”

Growing up, Laude’s first love was basketball, with golf always on the backburner.

It wasn’t until a couple years ago that he realized his potential for golf, getting lessons from his godfather and other instructors in the Tampa Bay area.

Laude was always told he had “a natural swing,” as he’s since worked to fine-tune his alignment and more advanced mechanics.

It’s something longtime Wiregrass Ranch boys golf coach Mike Horrigan has noticed, when he observes Laude, who averages in the low 40s per nine holes.

“His swing is gorgeous, and he’s very polished on the course,” Horrigan said. “He just goes through the process of a pre-shot routine, and he’s very deliberate in everything that he does, and I suspect he’ll be shooting in the upper 30s before the end of this season.”

The coach added: “What impresses me about Fab is he has a very well-rounded game. When you watch him play, he’s improved in all facets of his game.”

Horrigan undoubtedly will be rooting for Laude at the Drive, Chip & Putt regional, describing him “as one of the most respectful, nicest kids I’ve ever coached.”

“I think the competition he’s gone through is just tremendous, to qualify to go (to TPC Sawgrass), so I’m really happy for him,” Horrigan said. “He loves golf, and he’s worked awful hard to become a very, very good player.”

Published September 12, 2018

Ian Flores receives state, national honors

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His high school soccer career is over, but Ian Flores is still picking up accolades for his contributions at Wiregrass Ranch High School.

Last month, Flores was named the 2018 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Florida State High School Player of the Year.

That followed another prestigious designation he earned recently: 2017-2018 United Soccer Coaches Winter-Spring Boys High School All-America.

Wiregrass Ranch product Ian Flores, right, was recently named 2018 NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Florida State High School Player of the Year. He’s pictured here with Wiregrass Ranch head coach Dave Wilson. (Courtesy of Carlos Flores)

Flores, who graduated in May, was one of just two players from Florida (and 20 total nationwide) to be selected to the All-America team.

In the last six years, just 11 players from Florida have received the award.

As a senior, Flores tallied 20 assists in more than 1,900 minutes of play— an integral part of a Bulls team that went 24-6-1 and reached the Class 5A regional semifinals.

Flores, however, wasn’t anticipating such individual honors as he played out his senior season.

His main goal instead was to try and help his teammates win a state title.

“Really, getting All-America or high school player of the year wasn’t in my head at all. It just kind of happened just from playing naturally with my teammates,” said Flores, also a First Team All-Sunshine Athletic Conference selection.

Even so, the state and national recognition is “very exciting” to Flores, who was a team captain and three-year varsity player at Wiregrass Ranch.

“I know that not a lot of people have gotten such honors like that before,” Flores said. “I didn’t know that would reach Pasco County.”

Flores and other 2017-18 United Soccer Coaches All-Americans will be formally recognized at the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago, Jan. 9 to Jan. 13.

Longtime Wiregrass Ranch head coach Dave Wilson said the postseason awards bestowed on Flores are well-deserved.

“Skill-wise and talent-wise, he was fantastic. The little things that make one a great player is really where Ian shined, too,” Wilson said.

“There were games that he would score goals, and there were other games we’d score goals because of him,” Wilson said. “He was pretty much picture perfect on the field.”

Size, or lack of it, is a trait Flores often had to overcome to become a top player.

At 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds, Flores has relied on his soccer IQ as much as his quickness, footwork and passing skills.

“It’s always about being smarter than your opponents,” Flores said. “If someone’s bigger than you, you have to adjust. If you’re going up against a 6-foot-4 striker, you have to play smarter to beat him to the ball.”

The impact on the field speaks for itself.

But, Flores’ leadership qualities stood out, too, his high school coach said.

“He was such a good leader and such a good, positive role model,” Wilson said. “Even when he was younger, just his work ethic and everything he did, he was just so positive that it’d be really hard to measure how important he was to our team.”

Wilson has had many elite players come through the Bulls over the years. As many as 14 of his players have gone on to play collegiate soccer scholarships.

Flores, however, was the most sought after in program history, receiving dozens of scholarship offers and inquiries from over 60 colleges of all levels — Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA schools.

Said Wilson: “He had more offers and more interest from colleges than any player we’ve ever had. To have someone get as many offers as Ian did and then all the accolades that came along with it — it’s pretty impressive.”

Out of the many postsecondary suitors, Flores signed with Oglethorpe University, a Division III program in suburban Atlanta.

Flores feels it’s the right fit over other Division I and Division II schools and the handful of professional invites he received.

“I was looking for a place where I was just going to be happy playing. I knew that if I came here, I would’ve had a great opportunity to play,” Flores said.

Now in preseason practices at Oglethorpe, Flores is adjusting to a higher level of play and training. That includes 5 a.m., daily workouts.

“The level is much more intense once you get into college,” Flores said. “The level of play is much more different, much more faster. More people play one, two touch instead of dribbling.”

But, Flores seems to be handling the transition well, looking to make an immediate impact.

He recently recorded the top mark of all Oglethorpe freshmen in the program’s Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test, used to measure a player’s cardiovascular fitness level.

The feat obviously caught the eye of Oglethorpe head coach Jon Akin, who played soccer at Saint Leo University and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1999.

“Everything that we recruited him for he’s delivering on,” Akin said of Flores. “He fits in well with the team, and I think he’s going to be a player who — on a very, very talented team— will be able to contribute this season.

“We’re very glad he’s with us. We think he’s going to be extremely successful,” Akin said.

Published August 29, 2018

Land O’ Lakes girl is all-star golfer

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Hailey Stricker already has collected a fair number of medals and trophies competing in youth tournaments throughout Tampa Bay.

The 12-year-old from Land O’ Lakes is seeking an addition to her trophy case — as a member of the Clearwater Jr. PGA All-Star team.

The 10-member all-star team will compete on Aug. 26 in the PGA Jr. League North Florida Section Championship at Orlando’s Grand Cypress Golf Club.

Land O’ Lakes resident Hailey Stricker, 12, has notched several top finishes within the Greater Tampa Bay Junior Golf Association. This summer, Stricker was selected to the Clearwater Jr. PGA All-Star team. She is a seventh-grader at Rushe Middle School.
(Courtesy of Brian Stricker)

Earlier this month, the group won a sectional qualifier at Apollo Beach Golf Club, besting a handful of other all-star teams from Tampa, Sarasota and Odessa.

A top finish this weekend would allow the team to advance to the PGA Jr. regional tournament in St. Augustine. Winners from 12 regional tournaments across the country then earn a spot in the seventh PGA Junior League Championship in November in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Stricker, who’s been golfing since age 8, already has made a name for herself within the Greater Tampa Bay Junior Golf Association.

Over the past two years, she’s collected five top-three finishes for her age group. That includes a pair of first place titles she won last October and November, at Wentworth Golf Club and Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, respectively.

Orlando will mark the longest distance that Stricker has traveled to compete in a golf tournament.

She’s optimistic about the team’s chances, even against tougher competition.

“I’m looking forward to our team pulling through it and winning, so we can go to St. Augustine and do that tournament,” said the seventh-grader, who attends Rushe Middle School.

Stricker is one of three girls on the Clearwater Jr. PGA All-Star team.

She was named to the select squad after strong showings all summer in the PGA Junior League at Westchase Golf Club, in Tampa.

Stricker considers it a special honor.

“It’s kind of cool because I tell people I’m on the all-star team, and they’re proud of me. I just feel really good about it because I’ve practiced and worked hard for this moment,” she said.

Her grandfather, Brian Stricker, is enjoying the moment, too. He’s the one who encouraged the young golfer when she showed an interest in the sport four years ago.

“She kind of took to (golf) in a natural way,” her grandfather said. “She can stand up on the tee and, when she gets a good swing on the ball, she can hit the ball 160 yards straight. She has a pretty well-rounded game, and she just has a passion for it that’s really impressive.”

Stricker said she plans to play golf in high school and “definitely” wants to play in college.

Her ultimate goal? “To play on the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Tour,” she said.

Stricker appears to be on the right path for playing at a high level someday, according to Michael Cestone, who operates the Cestone Golf Academy at Westchase Golf Club.

The golf instructor said Stricker has “great promise” and a “very good skillset.”

“She has all of the basic fundamentals of the game,” said Cestone, who nominated Stricker to the Clearwater all-star team. “She has a good swing. She can chip. She can putt. She can do pretty much any of the shots that you need to play golf — it’s just a matter of getting better.”

Cestone noted Stricker regularly shoots in the high 80s and low 90s from the ladies tees.

He “very soon” foresees Stricker reaching the high 70s and low 80s — a striking feat for a young girl.

“If she stays on the track that she’s on, she’ll play college golf,” Cestone said. “Whether she wants a DI (Division 1) or D2 (Division 2) school, that’ll depend on how much time she’s willing to put into this game,” Cestone said.

Published August 22, 2018

High school football kickoff week

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Jonesing for the return of high school football?

Here’s a look at all the Friday night matchups for teams in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. All Week 1 games are at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 24, unless otherwise noted.

Hillsborough County

St. Petersburg Catholic Barons at Carrollwood Day Patriots (7 p.m.) — Both teams come off losing seasons, but the Patriots feature a large senior class and one of the area’s top quarterbacks in senior Chris Butash.

Freedom Patriots at Steinbrenner Warriors — The Warriors have reigned supreme in this matchup the last three years (and hold the series lead 4-1). However, the Patriots will have arguably the best player on the field in senior receiver/safety Jeremiah Ashe, who boasts over a dozen Division I FBS scholarship offers.

Gaither Cowboys at Chamberlain Chiefs — The Cowboys’ strong running attack (262.5 yards per game in 2017) will be imperative to keep the Chiefs offense and senior quarterback Tyler Riddell off the field; Riddell, a University of Akron commit, threw for 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.

Pasco County

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic Hurricanes at Shorecrest Prep Chargers (7 p.m.) — Last time these teams met was in 2013, where the Hurricanes were shut out 40-0. The Hurricanes should have better luck this time around, with Shorecrest Prep coming off a 1-6 campaign.

Cypress Creek Coyotes at Gulf Buccaneers — The Coyotes are seeking its first official win in program history after it was forced to forfeit its 12-0 victory against Gulf last season.

Coming off a 10-2 mark, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs and head coach Nick Carroll, right, figure to again be one of Pasco County’s top teams this fall. They play Wiregrass Ranch on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (File)

Land O’ Lakes Gators at Citrus Hurricanes — Gators first-year head coach Chad Walker faces a relatively manageable test against a Hurricanes squad that has just six seniors and is without several key contributors from last season.

Pasco Pirates at Hudson Cobras — Pasco won last year’s matchup 22-10 and holds the overall series lead, 6-2. A victory here would be a good start for the Pirates, who are seeking their first winning season since 2014.

Sunlake Seahawks at Wesley Chapel Wildcats — Wesley Chapel handily beat Sunlake last year (42-24). Doing so again likely won’t be as easy, as the Wildcats have lost some of the county’s top offensive and defensive players from 2017, including Isaiah Bolden, Dexter Leverett, Malik Melvin and Austin Wittish.

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls at Zephyrhills Bulldogs — Two of Pasco County’s top squads square off in what should be an exciting, back-and-forth affair. Adding fuel to the fire: Former Zephyrhills head coach Reggie Roberts is now an assistant at Wiregrass Ranch.

Later Week 1 games:

North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) at Zephyrhills Christian Warriors (Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m.) — A good barometer for both teams coming off eight-win seasons and appearances in the FHSAA Class 2A playoffs.

Donahue Catholic Shamrocks (Ave Maria) at Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (Sept. 7, 7 p.m.) — The defending FCAPPS eight-man state champions shouldn’t have much trouble against the visiting Shamrocks; the Wildcats won last year’s contest 36-0.

Compiled by Kevin Weiss

Published August 22, 2018

Prep football primer

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With high school football practices in full swing and games beginning Aug. 24, here’s a look at teams, players and games to watch as the 2018 season unfolds, for programs in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Teams to watch:

Academy at the Lakes will aim to defend its FCAPPS eight-man state title. (File)

Academy at the Lakes Wildcats
The defending Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ (FCAPPs) eight-man champions — who also went 11-1 — appear to be in line for another solid campaign, even with the exodus of a handful of top players such as running back/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez, receiver Isaiah Smith and defensive back Jordan Oladokun, who transferred to Gaither High School for his sophomore season.

The talent cupboard isn’t completely bare, with a roster that includes a combined 17 juniors and seniors. Along with FCAPPS Coach of the Year Shawn Brown, the Wildcats return a handful of All-Conference or All-State players in sophomore quarterback Jalen Brown, sophomore offensive lineman Andrew Kilfoyl and senior defensive lineman Dylan Price. Also expect significant contributions from senior tailback Jamaal Johnson (1,093 all-purpose yards, nine touchdowns) and senior tight end/defensive end Tioma Stepanets (221 yards, four touchdowns; 52 tackles, four sacks).

New Land O’ Lakes head coach Chad Walker looks to steer the Gators to its first winning season since 2013.

Land O’ Lakes High Gators
The Gators will look to secure its first winning season since 2013, under new head coach Chad Walker. The 34-year-old played professional football in Italy and Sweden, and spent several years as a college assistant, before delving into the high school coaching ranks. Walker inherits a sizable roster that includes 1,000-yard rusher Kyle Leivas and leading tackler Myron Bloom (76 tackles, five tackles for loss). Aside from those senior standouts, the Gators must find consistent quarterback play and additional offensive contributors.

The schedule doesn’t offer a ton of favors for the new Gators coaching staff. A tough district slate includes Mitchell and Springstead, along with other formidable opponents, such as Anclote, Hernando, and Lakeland Christian — each of which had winning seasons last year.

Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls
Wiregrass Ranch will have to move on from having one of the county’s most highly recruited football prospects in years — defensive back Jordan Miner, now at Penn State — plus a bevy of top contributors on offense such as 1,000-yard rusher Adrian Thomas, now at Division III Thiel College (Greenville, Pennsylvania).

The Bulls, however, should have enough reinforcements in place for a third straight winning season, after going 9-3 last year and 7-4 in 2016 under head coach Mark Kantor.

Incumbent quarterback Grant Sessums returns for his senior year after throwing for 1,483 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Other key returnees include senior receiver/defensive back Dorien Green, senior defensive lineman Kasean Ridgel, and junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph, who tallied 89 tackles, and led the team in sacks (15) and tackles for loss (23). Also expect contributions from several up-and-coming players who’ll move up from a junior varsity team that went 6-1 last season.

Coming off a 10-2 mark and District 8-5A crown, Zephyrhills High could be in store for another dominant season.

Zephyrhills High Bulldogs
Zephyrhills fans will have to get used to rooting for a new quarterback, following the graduation of Charles Harrison III — who became one of the county’s most prolific signal callers in his three years as a starter.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, whoever takes snaps certainly won’t lack throwing options, with arguably the region’s top receiving corps — seniors Ja’Quan Sheppard (35 catches, 797 yards, 13 touchdowns), Tre’ Pavis Mobley (41 receptions, 640 yards, 10 touchdowns) Cartrell Strong (25 receptions, 410 yards, four touchdowns) and Tyreese Wigfall (15 receptions, 286 yards, seven touchdowns). Another constant is third-year head coach Nick Carroll, who’s tactfully built off the sustained success of former coach Reggie Roberts, going 10-2 and 8-3 his first two seasons, respectfully. With a collection of Division I and college talent, don’t be surprised if the program secures its eighth straight winning season. Last year the Bulldogs outscored opponents by a margin of 562-209 and went undefeated in District 8-5A. That included several blowouts against the likes of Sunlake (36-7), Ridgewood (59-7), Fivay (70-0), Gulf (70-0), Hudson (63-0) and Pasco (43-13).

Zephyrhills Christian Academy’s Malik Jones (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Christian Academy)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
The Warriors have transitioned to 11-man football under head coach Mike Smith, going 8-3-1, 7-2 and 4-4 the past three years, respectively. Now coming off a playoff appearance in the Class 2A ranks, the team figures to have another big season, as 24 of its 27 players are juniors or seniors. Among that senior group, on offense, is starting quarterback Jacoby Braxton, leading receiver Kavbion Marbra, and Javion Hanner, who tallied over 1,000 all-purpose yards and led all skill players with 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, on defense, most contributors return to a unit that last season allowed fewer than nine points per game and racked up 51 sacks and 16 interceptions. Among the standouts are Marbra (five interceptions at cornerback) and defensive end/linebacker Jalen Spencer (21 sacks). The team’s second-leading tackler from last season, Eugene Davis (94 total tackles), also returns.

Five more players to watch:

Chris Butash, quarterback, Carrollwood Day School, senior
The skinny: Butash, who lives in Wesley Chapel and formerly attended Academy at the Lakes, is coming off a season where he threw for 2,088 yards and 18 touchdowns/15 interceptions, and rushed for 570 yards and six touchdowns. Verbal commit to Division I FCS Holy Cross (Worcester, Massachusetts).

Darrion Robinson, receiver, Pasco High School, junior
The skinny: Coming off a breakout season where he caught 25 balls for 577 yards and eight touchdowns. His 23.1 yards per reception ranked tops in Pasco County.

Malik Jones, offensive/defensive lineman, Zephyrhills Christian Academy, junior
The skinny: The 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman is an intimidating force on both sides of the trenches, particularly on defense posting 60 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and four sacks last season. A multisport athlete, Jones is also one of the state’s top heavyweight wrestlers, finishing third at the 2018 FHSAA Class 1A State Championship in March. Holds a scholarship offer from Division III Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio).

Freedom High’s Jeremiah Ashe (Courtesy of Freedom High School)

Jeremiah Ashe, receiver/safety, Freedom High School, senior
The skinny: Formidable two-way player that snagged six interceptions on defense, while posting 945 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns on offense. Claims over a dozen Division I FBS offers, including Cincinnati, South Florida and Rutgers universities.

Jeromy Reid, running back, Gaither High School, senior
The skinny: Rushed for 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Tallied five 100-yard games, including a monstrous 267-yard, two touchdown performance against Brandon High early last season. Holds Division I FBS offers from Western Kentucky and South Florida universities.

Games to watch:

Wiregrass Ranch at Zephyrhills  (Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m.) — Two of Pasco County’s top squads last year square off in the first week of the 2018 season.

Sunlake at Land O’ Lakes (Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m.) — The annual “Butter Bowl” rivalry has been one-sided of late — Sunlake has won eight straight (including one via forfeit in 2011) — but Land O’ Lakes figures to be more competitive with the matchup on its home turf and the Seahawks coming off an uncharacteristic losing season (4-6 in 2017).

Zephyrhills at Pasco (Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.) — The annual 9-Mile War may be more heated after Pasco head coach Tom McHugh this summer accused Zephyrhills’ coaches of recruiting improprieties, based on a July letter sent to Pasco County athletic director Matt Wicks. While the Pirates lead the all-time series 40-20, Zephyrhills has won the past three contests by a combined 138-29.

Zephyrhills Christian at Victory Christian (Lakeland) (Oct. 5, 7 p.m.) — The Warriors seek to avenge its 12-0 loss in the first round of last year’s FHSAA Class 2A playoffs.

Gaither at Wiregrass Ranch (Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m.) — Matchup could decide the District 8-7A runner-up — as it has the past two years — assuming Plant High repeats as district champs.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their 2017 records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 2-7 overall, 1-2 district
Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-6 overall, 2-4 district
Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-4 overall, 5-1 district
Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 2-7 overall, 1-5 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 11-1 overall, 7-0 district
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 3-7 overall, 2-2 district
Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 0-11 overall, 0-0 district
Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-5 overall, 1-3 district
Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-7 overall, 0-4 district
Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-6 overall, 2-2 district
Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 6-4 overall, 4-3 district
Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 9-3 overall, 4-2 district
Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 10-2 overall, 7-0 district
Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 8-3 overall, 0-1 district

Published August 15, 2018

Wesley Chapel boxer has big goals in sight

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From the likes of Jeff Lacey and Keith Thurman, to Winky Wright and Antonio Tarver, the list of world boxing champions with ties to Tampa Bay runs deep.

Wesley Chapel’s Evander Lamourt wants to be next.

Since turning pro in 2016, the 26-year-old super featherweight has compiled a 4-1 record and actively ranks among the top 100 boxers in the United States for his weight class.

Lamourt, who moved to Wesley Chapel from New Jersey at age 14, was an accomplished amateur fighter before that.

Lamourt, who graduated from Wesley Chapel High School and attended Saint Leo University, was one of the nation’s top amateurs before turning pro in 2016. (Courtesy of Joe Mestas)

From 2013 to 2015, USA Boxing ranked him among the top ten fighters in the light welterweight elite division. Across 65 amateur bouts, Lamourt was a seven-time state champion, two-time Florida State PAL (Police Athletic/Activities League) boxing champion, and 2013 Florida Golden Gloves state champion.

Beefing up his professional boxing resume is the next focus for Lamourt, who graduated from Wesley Chapel High School and studied at Saint Leo University.

He plans to schedule five to seven more fights through the end of next year. The next likely will be in September at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, through Fight Night Promotions.

The busy slate is all in hopes of hitting the radar of any one of boxing’s four sanctioning bodies: World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization.

In order to be considered for a title fight, pro boxers typically must have at least seven to nine fights under their belt, said Roi Maya, who represents Lamourt through Urban Athlete Management.

“I would like to next year win some junior belts. They’re not world titles, but they’re belts that help you climb the ladder against some better opposition and, if not by the end of next year, by 2020 I would like to be fighting for a world title,” said Lamourt, who trains at the St. Pete Boxing Club and Punch Boxing Wesley Chapel.

Known as a boxer-puncher, Lamourt and his trainers of late have focused heavily on honing his strength and power.

Lamourt explained: “Last couple fights I’ve been very patient, trying to get the rounds in. But this next fight, we’re really emphasizing power, and we’re expecting these next couple fights to end with knockouts.”

The quest for a world title goes beyond a personal ambition. It’s also to support his wife and future family.

“I love boxing,” he said, “but my ultimate goal is to be able to put my kids through college before they’re even born.”

Wesley Chapel’s Evander Lamourt hopes to be the next in line of Tampa-area boxers to win a world championship. Since turning pro over two years ago, the 26-year-old super featherweight has compiled a 4-1 record and actively ranks among the top 100 boxers in the United States for his weight class.

Though he didn’t start boxing competitively until he was 15, the sport’s been entrenched in Lamourt’s family, of which several members were boxers at one point, including his father.

In fact, Lamourt was named after four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

He also grew up watching boxing greats like Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and, of course, Holyfield.

“It was always something I wanted to do, a passion of mine,” said Lamourt

His boxing career hasn’t been without some punches.

Lamourt admits to losing a lot of fights early in his amateur career, as he often faced more experienced and skilled boxers.

Going toe to toe against better competition early on served him well later on, however.

“I was fighting some very accomplished amateur fighters. I wasn’t winning, but I was learning every time,” Lamourt said.

“I definitely had some talent, but I didn’t know from the beginning that I would become as good as I have now. I always worked hard, but I was a slow learner. I struggled at the beginning a lot — a lot of ups and downs to get to where I am now.”

Along the way Lamourt picked up the nickname “Lionheart,” from his brother.

Said Lamourt, “Everybody that’s always seen me fight since I was a kid, any fight, people knew they were in for a tough fight because I had a lot of heart, even if the other guy was more skilled.”

Whatever comes of a world title shot, Lamourt said he expects to continue boxing through his early 30s. From there, he’s considered opening a slew of boxing gyms to inspire and mold the next generation of young fighters.

“It’s all about desire,” Lamourt said of being a successful fighter. “Coming up, I could’ve stopped boxing several times if I would’ve listened to other people saying, ‘It’s a rough sport, it’s this, it’s that, you’re not talented enough for it…’ People pigeonhole boxers into like a specific type of person. If you love something and have the work ethic, you can achieve anything.”

Published August 8, 2018

Land O’ Lakes youth reaches motocross championship

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Colt Golembeski’s dream of racing in the sport’s premiere amateur competition is coming true this week.

The 10-year-old Land O’ Lakes resident is competing this week in the 37th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, held at the iconic Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

Colt Golembeski began riding dirt bikes at age 6. Qualifying for amateur nationals isn’t the only accomplishment the young rider has had. In 2017, Golembeski won the Florida Winter Amateur Series 65cc 7-9 division. In 2016, he won the Dade City MX Triple Crown Series for his age group. (Courtesy of Brian Golembeski)

Golembeski, who began racing at age 6, endured a series of area and regional qualifiers in multiple states to earn one of 1,446 coveted spots, out of about 22,000 hopefuls. The national championship event runs through Aug. 4.

The lengthy qualification period ran from April through June, and took Golembeski throughout Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio and Virginia.

His performance culminated with a fifth-place finish in the 65cc 10-11 division at the Loretta Lynn’s Northeast Regional Qualifiers at Birch Creek Motorsports Park, in Sutherlin, Virginia. Only the top six finishers in each racing class from each regional earned a spot to amateur nationals.

Golembeski said the feeling “was awesome” when he crossed the finish line and realized he qualified for the Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals: “I mean, I was like yelling, ‘Yeah!’”

“Man, we were ecstatic,” added Golembeski’s father, Brian, who travels race to race with his son. “It’s hard to explain to people that are outside the sport, but it’s like going to the Super Bowl — it’s huge.”

Not unlike the Super Bowl, just reaching the exclusive national race is an achievement in itself, said Golembeski’s father.

It requires an immense amount of time, effort and skill — not to mention a little luck, he said.

The Loretta Lynn AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is regarded as the premiere amateur national series in the United States, and the proving grounds for America’s future professional Supercross and Motocross riders. Colt Golembeski earned one of the 1,446 spots, out of approximately 22,000 hopefuls. (Courtesy of MX Sports Inc.)

He explained: “You can fall, you can have bike problems, you have all the different variables, different tracks, different guys, and, on top of it, they’re all good (riders),” he said.

“There’s tons of skill and all that, but then you’ve gotta put all of it together and on that day have everything go right,” he added.

Loretta Lynn’s, as it’s simply called, is “a Holy Grail of sorts” for motocross riders, as it tends to be the final stop for amateur riders before entering the pro ranks.

Many of America’s top professional motocross racers, including James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Ryan Dungey, have won AMA Amateur National titles at Loretta Lynn’s.

Golembeski, who’s entering the fifth grade at Florida Virtual School, will compete in 65cc and 85cc classes. In total, there are 35 different classes of competition, for children as young as age 4, all the way up to a senior division for riders over 50.

Racers will compete in three 15- to 20-minute races per class over the course of the week.

The track contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles, all designed to test the skills and stamina of racers.

That could work to Golembeski’s advantage, who said he likes to ride on “really rough, deep rutted tracks.”

Golembeski trains locally at Dade City MX, Tampa MX and Spyder MX in Wildwood. He said he’s worked to “just get better at riding everyday,” specifically getting faster out of the starting gate.

In addition to the tracks, Golembeski said he’s “done tons of stuff” to up his strength and endurance in preparation for the event — everything from riding his road bike and running regularly, to weightlifting and other bodyweight exercises.

The fitness component, his father said, may be the key to gaining an edge against competitors: “One of the big parts of this race is not only being a good rider, but being physically super-fit,” he said.

“That’s what really separates guys, because they all get really good and then the strongest guys are able to hold that for the entire Moto,” he added.

Golembeski is no stranger to success at big races.

In 2017, he won the Florida Winter Amateur Series 65cc 7-9 division. The year before that, he won the Dade City MX Triple Crown Series for his age group. He’s also collected several other top-five and top-10 finishes in other major during the past couple years.

“He’s done really, really well, in a short period. He’s a good rider,” Golembeski’s father said. “He’s a strong, physical rider.”

Determined to perform well in his first appearance at Loretta Lynn’s, Golembeski also wants to have some fun and take in the entire experience with his mom and dad, who are all trekking to Tennessee in an RV.

Besides the races, the weeklong event hosts many family friendly activities, including swimming, a talent show, concerts and live entertainment, making it an ultimate family vacation.

“I just want to do the best I can and see where that is — if it’s first (place) or it’s 15th,” Golembeski said.

Loretta Lynn’s isn’t the only big race for Golembeski this year, however.

He also plans to compete in the Ponca City (Oklahoma) MX Amateur Nationals in October and the Thor Winter Mini-Olympics (Alachua) in November.

He estimates he’s raced in more than 60 events since picking up the sport nearly four years ago.

“I just love riding my bike and feeling free. It’s just like my whole other world,” the 10-year-old said.

Published August 1, 2018

Academy at the Lakes gets a new baseball coach

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Just two months after guiding Carrollwood Day School to the state final four, Ken Akins looks to achieve similar results at another local private school.

Akins is the new head baseball coach at Academy at the Lakes (AATL), replacing John DiBenedetto, who left the Wildcats program after three seasons for an athletic director position at Mother of Teresa Calcutta Catholic School, a kindergarten through eighth grade school in Lutz.

Ken Akins is the new head baseball coach at Academy at the Lakes. This past season he guided Carrollwood Day School to a 24-4 record and state final four appearance. (Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

Under DiBenedetto, AATL achieved its first winning season in program history, a 12-10 record and 6-4 district mark in the 2A ranks. He exits as the program’s winningest coach with 29 career wins.

With a solid foundation in place, Akins is tasked with taking the Wildcats program to even greater heights — like he did at his previous stop.

Carrollwood Day went 24-4 and reached the Class 3A state semifinals — its best finish in program history — in Akins’ lone season as head coach. Moreover, all six of his graduating seniors on that squad signed to play college baseball. Prior to that, Akins previously served as an assistant coach at the school for five seasons.

Akins, however, said the AATL position “was one that I just really couldn’t turn down.” He also noted a “tighter community” and “stronger academics” for his two children.

“We did have success at Carrollwood Day, but I love to build programs, and that opportunity on the baseball side was very, very inviting,” Akins said. “The thought process of putting a two-to-four year program together is extremely exciting for me.”

An initial goal is increasing overall participation for the program’s varsity roster, while establishing full-fledged junior varsity and middle school teams, said Tom Haslam, AATL’s athletic director.

The Wildcats had just 13 players on the 2018 varsity roster. Four of those players were middle-schoolers.

“We need that roster right away,” Haslam said, acknowledging that’s usually a challenge for smaller schools like AATL. “Baseball is one of the hardest sports to build because you need a number of players.

“There’s a big difference in having 13 players on your varsity roster and 20 players on your varsity roster,” he said.

Academy at the Lakes baseball celebrated its first-ever winning season with the help of a roster chock-full of young players, including, from left: freshmen Jack Teeter, Andrew Kilfoyl and Spencer Boynton. It will now look to build upon that success with new Wildcats head coach Ken Akins. (File)

To solve this dilemma, Akins said he plans to tap into baseball connections throughout Hillsborough County to find more players and encourage kids already enrolled at AATL to try out for the team.

“There’s no question that we’ve gotta build the numbers at Academy,” Akins said. “It starts with getting the Academy name out there in the community. I think spreading the word inside the hallways is a great way to get it going.”

Another designated goal for Akins is drumming up more support for an on-campus baseball field.

Last season they played their “home” games nearly 45 minutes away from the school campus, at Northwest Little League near Leto High School. They also hold practice at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

“There is no question that Academy needs its own home facility,” Akins said. “You build facilities and kids will come. You put a quality facility out there and that just adds to the complete package that Academy can offer.”

Meantime, Akins is focused fielding a quality team come springtime, and, perhaps competing for district crowns in the crowded 11-team District 5-2A.

The Wildcats appear to have talent to do so someday, provided most of the players from last season return, aside from its two graduating seniors.

In 2018, the team batted a collective .347 with a .455 on-base percentage, setting a program record in about every offensive statistical category, from home runs (nine) and doubles (34), to RBIs (144), runs scored (171) and stolen bases (94).

The pitching staff combined to post a 3.94 team ERA and 179 strikeouts in 126 innings pitched that season.

“You’ve gotta buy into the program,” Akins said of building a top-notch contender. “The bottom line is the kids need to, obviously, understand what the goal is and then to be able to buy into the daily routine, which in turn, creates success.”

The school’s athletic director believes Akins is up to the task — citing his overall baseball acumen and dedication to coaching.

“He’s just a grinder,” Haslam said of the new baseball coach. “He’s one of those guys that just works hard all year round and that’s what we needed. It’s one thing to be a good coach in-between the lines, but there’s so much that a small-school high school coach has to do year-round to promote his program and build something, especially if it’s not an already established program.

“We’re not starting from scratch, but we’ve basically been in the middle of our district for the last several years, and we think Ken, with his passion and work ethic year-round, can get us to that next level and vie for district championships, consistently.”

Published July 25, 2018