The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local Sports

Locals named to All-State football teams

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Athletes within The Laker/Lutz News coverage were well-represented on the FloridaHSFootball.com’s All-State teams for the 2018 season.

Zephyrhills High School senior athlete Cartrell Strong was named Class 5A first-team All-State. Four other Bulldogs also made the All-State team. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High Athletics)

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

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

Zephyrhills High School and Zephyrhills Christian Academy were most represented among local schools, with five selections apiece to the Class 5A and Class 2A All-State teams, respectively.

Zephyrhills High — which went undefeated in the regular season and reached the Class 5A regional semifinals — had two first-team selections (senior defensive tackle Samuel Bergeron, senior returner/athlete Cartrell Strong), a second-team selection (senior utility Tre’ Pavis Mobley), and two honorable mentions (senior quarterback Doug Crawford and junior offensive guard Demetris Wright).

Senior tailback Javion Hanner was one of five football players from Zephyrhills Christian Academy selected to the Class 2A All-State team. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Christian Academy Athletics)

Bergeron, though undersized at 5-feet-9 and 192 pounds, registered big numbers with 104 total tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 21 hurries and eight forced fumbles.

The same can be said for fellow Bulldogs first-teamer, Strong.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound returner/athlete finished the 2018 campaign with 1,709 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns.

Also a defensive standout at cornerback/safety, Strong added 98 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, nine passes defensed and three forced fumbles.

Mobley, the Bulldogs second-teamer, also generated impressive numbers on each side of the ball.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete registered 51 tackles, four interceptions and four passes defensed on defense, and 759 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns on offense.

Senior quarterback Chris Butash was one of three football players from Carrollwood Day School named to the Class 2A All-State team. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School Athletics)

He also served as the team’s kickoff specialist, where he averaged nearly 39 yards per kick and had three touchbacks.

Zephyrhills Christian — which finished with a 7-4 mark and reached the Class 2A regional semifinals — had two first-team selections (senior utility Javion Hanner, senior cornerback Kavbion Marbra) and three second-team selections (junior offensive guard Malik Jones, senior defensive end Jalen Spencer, senior outside linebacker Nyjohn Moody).

The 5-foot-9, 188-pound Hanner posted 1,408 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games played. His 1,201 rushing yards ranked sixth in all of Class 2A.

Marbra’s nine interceptions and Moody’s 162 total tackles each ranked first among all Class 2A players; those numbers ranked third (tied) and fourth among all classes statewide, respectively.

Wiregrass Ranch junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph was a Class 7A first-team All-State pick. His 22 sacks were second-most in the state, among all classifications. (File)

Spencer, who played in seven games, ranked eighth in 2A in tackles per game (11.3).

Other schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area also had multiple selections on the All-State list.

Steinbrenner had four selections to the Class 8A All-State team.

Senior middle linebacker Logan Kilburn (132 tackles, 8.5 sacks) was a second-team selection, while junior offensive tackles Matthew Adcock, junior punter Cameron Brown and sophomore returner Deon Silas were third-team picks.

Silas tallied 1,198 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns.

Brown averaged 35.6 yards per punt, including a long of 53 yards, and 15 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line.

And, in addition to Zephyrhills Christian, Carrollwood Day School had three representatives on the Class 2A All-State team.

Senior linebacker Logan Kilburn was one of four Steinbrenner High School football players selected to the Class 8A All-State team. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School Athletics)

Senior quarterback Chris Butash (2,466 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions) and senior wide receiver Kyle Benedict (843 yards on 49 receptions, six touchdowns) were second-team offensive selections, while junior athlete Shelton Quarles Jr., was named honorable mention.

Gaither (Class 7A) and Land O’ Lakes (6A) each had two All-State selections.

Wiregrass Ranch (7A), Sunlake (6A) and Wesley Chapel (5A) each had one representative, for  their respective classifications.

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

2018 FloridaHSFootball.com All-State teams

Class 8A
Logan Kilburn, Steinbrenner, senior, linebacker (second-team defense)
Matthew Adcock, Steinbrenner, junior, offensive tackle (third-team offense)
Cameron Brown, Steinbrenner, junior, punter, (third-team special teams)
Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, sophomore, returner (third-team special teams)

Class 7A
Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, junior, linebacker (first-team defense)
Jordan Oladokun, Gaither, sophomore, cornerback (second-team defense)
Brysen Roth, Gaither, senior, linebacker (honorable mention)

Class 6A
Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior, running back (honorable mention)
Collin Corrao, Land O’ Lakes, senior, kicker (honorable mention)
Clark Cooley, Sunlake, senior, punter (honorable mention)

Class 5A
Samuel Bergeron, Zephyrhills, senior, defensive tackle (first team defense)
Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior, returner (first-team special teams)
Tre’ Pavis Mobley, Zephyrhills, senior, utility (second-team defense)
Doug Crawford, Zephyrhills, senior, quarterback (honorable mention)
Demetris Wright, Zephyrhills, junior, offensive guard (honorable mention)
Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, junior, utility (honorable mention)

Class 2A
Javion Hanner, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, utility (first-team offense)
Kavbion Marbra, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, cornerback (first-team defense)
Chris Butash, Carrollwood Day, senior, quarterback (second-team offense)
Kyle Benedict, Carrollwood Day, senior, wide receiver (second-team offense)
Malik Jones, Zephyrhills Christian, junior, offensive guard (second-team offense)
Jalen Spencer, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, defensive end (second-team defense)
Nyjohn Moody, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, outside linebacker (second-team defense)
Shelton Quarles Jr., Carrollwood Day, junior, athlete (honorable mention)

Published February 27, 2019

Sunlake girls weightlifting celebrates state title

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The Sunlake High School varsity girls weightlifting team perennially has been among the more dominant programs in the area, wielding multiple conference and district titles over the years.

But, their latest feat places them on an entirely new level.

The Seahawks claimed the 2019 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A girls weightlifting state championship, on Feb. 8 in Panama City Beach.

The Sunlake High School varsity girls weightlifting team claimed the Class 2A state championship earlier this month. They join competitive cheerleading as the Sunlake’s only boys or girls sports program to win a state title since the school opened in 2007. (Courtesy of Sunlake High girls weightlifting)

The Seahawks tallied 22 points as a team, besting the second-place finisher, Vero Beach High School (19 points) by 3 points.

The title marked the end of the sport’s longest active streak of consecutive team championships held by Navarre High School — four titles won between 2015 through 2018 — who tied for seventh place with 11 points.

It also marks Sunlake’s second state championship among all boys or girls sports; the school’s competitive cheerleading won a state title back in 2014.

Sunlake’s girls weightlifting program has endured solid finishes in previous years in the state meet — including an eighth-place tie in 2018.

This year’s group, however, featured more than a handful of top-flight performances across multiple weight classes.

Six of Sunlake’s eight state lifters earned points with top-six finishes in the bench press and clean-and-jerk aggregate lifts:

  • Madison Guincho, sophomore—fourth place, 119-pound (170-155—325)
  • Loah Castro, senior—third place, 129-pound (165-160—325)
  • Gianna Levy, junior—fifth place, 139-pound (170-170—340)
  • Juliette Pacheco, junior—second place, 154-pound (205-170—375)
  • Abigail Schmook, junior—fourth place, 183-pound (170-170—340)
  • Antoinette Farmer, junior—second place, 199-pound (195-170—365)

Sunlake’s other two individual state qualifiers, senior Valerie Busot (129-pound) and junior Brianna Caban (169-pound) tied for seventh and ninth place, in their respective weight classes.

Hoisting the state championship trophy still leaves longtime Sunlake head coach Denise Garcia speechless at times.

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Garcia, who’s in her 11th season coaching. “I’m so happy. I sit there sometimes and am like, ‘Holy crap, we just did that with six girls. That’s amazing.’”

Absent of any individual state champions this year, Garcia noted the team’s strategy was to “nickel and dime” its way to the 2A crown.

And that they did.

“It’s about placing. If you have enough girls where you can accumulate points, then you’re going to win. And, we won by three,” Garcia explained.

Entering the 2018-2019 season, the coach had an inkling she had a special group on her hands.

Garcia saw the team had the drive, attitude and work ethic required to contend for a state title, alongside natural ability, and mastering the sport’s techniques and fundamentals.

“They wanted it so bad,” Garcia said. “The key is being coachable and accepting everything I give them, and all of them did it. …I’ve always said we’re the hardest working team.”

The coach credited the leadership of the team’s two captains — senior Loah Castro and junior Antoinette Farmer.

Garcia noted both helped keep the team’s entire roster of 32 girls in check through encouragement and positivity.

“You’ve got to have leaders,” Garcia said. “The captains, I think, really made a difference. They help their teammates. It’s like having another coach there.”

Castro joined the weightlifting team her sophomore year.

While many of her high school peers opted for traditional sports like softball or volleyball, she wanted to try something different.

Said Castro: “When I first started I didn’t go in thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to win a state title.’ I genuinely wanted to try it because I had never really done a sport before, so I was like, ‘Maybe this is something I could be good at.’”

She surely did — placing at states her junior and senior years.

“It was a lot of hard work,” Castro said. “It’s really a mindset type of thing. Like, this whole sport is a mind game.”

Castro first noticed the team’s potential for a state title at the end of last year’s state meet, realizing there’d be many returning lifters poised to make improvements.

Then, by the time this year’s Sunshine Athletic Conference meet came around — which Sunlake also won — Castro was convinced the team had enough to become state’s top 2A program.

Castro put it like this: “I was like, ‘There’s no way we’re not winning states. We’re going to work way too hard and everything, and, there’s no way we’re not taking the title.’”

Just like her coach, Castro is in awe being able to say she’s a member of a state championship program.

“It’s so surreal, especially because it’s my senior year,” Castro said. “I call us the dream team.”

Weightlifting was a relatively new venture for the team’s other captain, too.

Farmer’s sights were originally set on playing basketball in high school.

However, she was encouraged to give lifting a try by Sunlake graduate and family friend Brianna Anderson, who won the 183-pound state weightlifting title as a senior year back in 2016.

Farmer was hooked almost instantly when she tried out as a freshman.

“I didn’t even know that you could do that,” Farmer said of weightlifting. “After my first summer conditioning with coach, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this.’”

Farmer’s performance this season is arguably the most splendid, among her other teammates who placed at states.

That’s because she had surgery on a torn meniscus back in late September, right before the season started.

She methodically worked her way back to full health, to finish state runner-up in the 199-pound division, and set a county record for her weight class with a 180-pound clean.

Farmer remains unsatisfied, though.

The junior is gunning for an individual state title next year — motivated to unseat Niceville High sophomore Melaina Bryant, who edged her by 15 pounds in the bench and 10 pounds in the clean, respectively.

“I’m just a stepping-stone away from that first place,” Farmer said. “I want it.”

Her coach has little doubt it will happen

“She’s going to win next year,” Garcia said, confidently. “She’s closing the gap.”

Sunlake’s Juliette Pacheco is yet another that has a shot to claim an individual title next year. The junior finished state runner-up in the 154-pound division, just five pounds shy of top finisher, Oakleaf High senior Lexi Perez.

“They’re going to both be No. 1,” Garcia proudly said, of Farmer and Pacheco.

In the meantime, Sunlake’s prospect for winning another state crown next year also seems well within grasp.

The Seahawks expect to return every lifter that placed at states, aside from the graduating Castro; several others are projected to step up as well, Garcia said.

“Every year we get better and better,” the coach said. “Next year, it’s going to be even more.”

State results from area weightlifters and teams

Class 2A
Team results
Sunlake High—First place (22 points)
Land O’ Lakes High—10th place (tie) (seven points)
Wiregrass Ranch High—No placing (0 points)

119 pounds
Madison Guincho, sophomore, Sunlake: fourth place; 170-155—325

129 pounds
Loah Castro, senior, Sunlake: third place; 165-160—325
Valerie Busot, senior, Sunlake: seventh place (tie); 155-160—315
Gianina Rios, junior, Wiregrass Ranch: 17th place; 170-0—170

139 pounds
Gianna Levy, junior, Sunlake: fifth place; 170-170—340

154 pounds
Juliette Pacheco, junior, Sunlake: second place; 205-170—375

169 pounds
Veronica Salazar, senior, Land O’ Lakes: first place; 200-185—385
Alyssa Kremer, junior, Land O’ Lakes: seventh place; 200-160—360
Brianna Caban, junior, Sunlake: ninth place (tie); 180-170—350

183 pounds
Abigail Schmook, junior, Sunlake: fourth place; 170-170—340

199 pounds
Antionette Farmer, junior, Sunlake: second place; 195-170—365

Class 1A finals
Team results
Pasco High—14th place (tie) (five points)
Zephyrhills High—14th place (tie) (five points)
Wesley Chapel—No placing (zero points)

Bench press-clean-and-jerk—Total (in pounds)
101 pounds
Prestine Carter, senior, Pasco: second place; 115-135—250

139 pounds
Sarah Davis, junior, Zephyrhills: sixth place; 160-150—310

154 pounds
Kayla Robbins, junior, Zephyrhills: eighth place; 160-150—310

169 pounds
Lakisia Thomas, junior, Zephyrhills: sixth place; 160-165—325
Dinah Harden, senior, Wesley Chapel: 13th place; 145-145—290

199 pound
Cynthia Wilkes, senior, Zephyrhills: 14th place; 155-145—300

Unlimited
Abby Shaffer, senior, Zephyrhills: fourth place; 230-220—450

Published February 20, 2019

Cypress Creek celebrates inaugural signing day

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Unlike just about every other high school in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, Cypress Creek Middle/High School last year didn’t have a National Signing Day event for student-athletes moving on to the college ranks.

That’s because, the then first-year school on Old Pasco Road had no seniors, as it pulled strictly underclassman from Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools.

Cypress Creek’s athletics department made up for lost time this year, however.

Cypress Creek Middle/High had its inaugural National Signing Day ceremony on Feb. 6. Seven athletes from four sports signed their National Letters of Intent to play college athletics at various institutions. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek athletics)

Dozens of students and friends, coaches, teachers and staff, and parents and family members gathered inside the school’s media center on Feb. 6 to celebrate the school’s inaugural signing day, as seven senior student-athletes representing four sports signed their National Letters of Intent (LOIs) to various institutions.

National Signing Day is held annually on the first Wednesday in February, a day where thousands of athletes nationwide can sign a binding letter of intent with a member school of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The school’s softball program yielded the most signees, with four — Payton Hudson (Pasco-Hernando State College), Jasmine Jackson (Savannah State University), Ashley Nickisher (Newberry College) and Neely Peterson (Colorado State University).

Baseball (Ray Camacho, Saint Leo University), football (Devin Santana, Lindenwood University-Belleville) and girls’ lacrosse (Jordan Alvis, Huntingdon College) had a signee apiece, respectively.

Among the group of seven, Peterson arguably represented the most notable signing.

The All-State catcher is one of the nation’s top softball players — ranked No. 63 on the Extra Innings Softball Extra Elite 100 national rankings for 2019.

Her stats underscore the national standing.

As a junior last season, Peterson posted a .544 batting average, seven home runs, 14 doubles, 27 runs and 43 RBIs. Defensively, she registered a .984 fielding percentage, with 57 putouts and five assists.

Peterson will set foot upon Colorado State’s campus in August as the Division I softball program’s first signee from the state of Florida.

She verbally committed back as a freshman — after being the first high school freshman offered a scholarship by a Colorado State athletic program.

Peterson boasted offers from several other blue-blood softball programs.

But, she fell in love with the Fort Collins, Colorado-based campus and the coaching staff’s family-like atmosphere at a softball camp there. Additionally, she has a chance to make her mark quickly, in line to be the team’s starting catcher next season.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” Peterson said, of finally signing the dotted line. “It feels great.

“I love making history, so it’s great to be able to do this for our school,” she added.

Peterson also expressed joy for her fellow softball teammates who signed alongside her; each was redistricted from Wesley Chapel following their sophomore seasons.

Said Peterson, “It’s really awesome, because just to see that everything they’ve worked for is  kind of paying off, just as much as it is for me, because I get to see them hustling and all the hard work they put on the field, so just to see them find their future home makes me feel good.”

The inaugural signees were each met with balloons and celebratory cake, along with countless cheers and photo requests during the hourlong event, as memorabilia from each choice institution was visible in the room brimming with onlookers.

“It’s great, like being around all these great athletes, just knowing I’m a part of that, of creating a culture of great athletes for this school,” Devin Santana, who will play wide receiver at Lindenwood, said of the ceremony.

Becoming Cypress Creek’s first college football signee has added significance for Santana, who transferred from Wesley Chapel after his sophomore season.

“It’s crazy, like it’s a great feeling,” he said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking, because there’s a lot of pressure on me, but like I feel like I have the tools around me to be successful.”

Cypress Creek athletic director Justin Peliccia coined the event “a good look for our program.”

“It’s amazing to be able to put on this ceremony for the athletes, their parents and their coaches,” the athletic director said. “Having seven athletes move on to the next level, it’s just an awesome experience for myself as the athletic director, and the program.”

Peliccia was particularly complimentary of the varsity softball program — and its four signees — which collectively posted a 15-9 record and 10-4 district mark last spring.

“It was great to see a program roll out the end of the year and kind of bring us into, ‘Look, we have opportunities, we have chances, we do have athletes here, and we can make some noise.’”

Peliccia acknowledged that although many of the school’s varsity sports programs struggled in the school’s first year, strides have been made this year. He mentioned boys’ and girls’ soccer, and football, as a few who’ve upped their win totals.

“All of our programs this year have taken a step up,” he said. “Everything has taken a step ahead, which is what we want. Everything needs to develop and grow.”

Cypress Creek National Signing Day

Baseball
Ray Camacho—Saint Leo University

Football
Devin Santana—Lindenwood University-Belleville (Belleville, Illinois)

Lacrosse
Jordan Alvis—Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Alabama)

Softball
Payton Hudson—Pasco-Hernando State College
Jasmine Jackson—Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia)
Ashley Nickisher—Newberry College (Newberry, South Carolina)
Neely Peterson—Colorado State University

Published February 13, 2019

Local athletes sign with colleges

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In addition to Cypress Creek, several other local athletes signed their letters of intent (LOI) on Feb. 6 to various colleges and universities as part of National Signing Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in February.

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

Carrollwood Day School’s Ally-Reese Williams (volleyball) and Kyle Benedict (football) both signed their letters of intent (LOI) to NCAA Division I athletic programs, Siena College and Stetson University, respectively. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School athletics)

Carrollwood Day School
Football
Kyle Benedict—Stetson University

Volleyball
Ally-Reese Williams—Siena College (Loudonville, New York)

Freedom
Acrobatics & Tumbling
Mackenzie Maddox—Saint Leo University

Baseball
Jeremy Carrick—Norwich University (Northfield, Vermont)
Mitchell LeRoy—Hillsborough Community College

Soccer
Kelsey Skendzie—Piedmont College (Demorest, Georgia)

Land O’ Lakes
Football
Nate Howard—University of West Florida
Ian Coleman—Sterling College (Sterling, Kansas)

Pasco High soccer standout Brianna Luna signs her National Letter of Intent to Florida College, an NAIA program. Her future college coaches, Brooke Bennett, left, and David Castillo stand behind her. (Courtesy of Pasco High athletics)

Pasco
Soccer
Brianna Luna—Florida College

Steinbrenner
Soccer
Madison McElhone—Florida Atlantic University

Track
Jameson Miller — Georgia Tech

Sunlake
Baseball
Anthony Mannarino—Flagler College
Ryan Rodriguez—Glenville State College (Glenville, West Virginia)
Nick Shumek—Glenville State College

Football
Tevon Davies-Nnorom—Catawba College (Salisbury, North Carolina)
Jonathan Hoback—Stetson University
Chase Walls—Webber International University
Hunter Watts—New Mexico Highlands University

Wesley Chapel
Baseball
Thomas Byron—Roosevelt University (Chicago, Illinois)

Lacrosse
Dinah Hardin—Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Softball
Logan Coward—Lander University (Greenwood, South Carolina)

Wiregrass Ranch
Baseball
Andres Medina—Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy, Massachusetts)

Beach Volleyball
Destiny Aydt—University of Louisiana Monroe

Cheerleading
Alexis Marquith—King University (Bristol, Tennessee)

Football
Dorien Green—Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan)

Soccer
Jessica Amis—Florida College
Katherine Llanos—Florida College
Ysa Novak—Chowan University (Mufreesboro, Tennessee)

Local softball sensations make junior national team

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They’ve bewildered hundreds of batters.

They’ve won state titles.

They’ve earned state player of the year honors.

They’ve signed with powerhouse Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools.

Academy at the Lakes’ Lexi Kilfoyl and Land O’ Lakes High School’s Callie Turner have raked in their fair share of achievements across their prep fastpitch softball careers.

And, the latest, places the pitching sensations together on the national stage.

Academy at the Lakes senior pitcher and Alabama signee Alexis Kilfoyl is one of just 20 athletes nationwide chosen to the 2019 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team. She also made the team in 2017. (Courtesy of USA Softball)

Kilfoyl and Turner are among just 20 athletes nationwide chosen to the 2019 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team.

The high school seniors made the under-19 team following a three-day tryout in Clearwater in December; they were evaluated by members of the Women’s National Team Selection Committee.

Kilfoyl and Turner represent the only selections from Florida. Others on the roster represent just eight additional states (Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Virginia, Texas).

Both being from Land O’ Lakes — and close friends, at that — makes the prestigious designation that much sweeter.

Kilfoyl and Turner’s friendship began when they played Little League together, and has been forged through high school and travel ball.

The bond is sure to continue, even as college rivals at the University of Alabama and University of Tennessee, respectively.

“We’re just like really close,” said Turner. “I’d probably say she’s one of my best friends with all that stuff.”

“It’s definitely crazy how things worked out,” Kilfoyl said, “because…we’ve been there for each other pretty much our entire softball careers.”

That was the case in point during the national team tryouts.

Kilfoyl, a 6-foot-1 right-hander, made the squad back in 2017 — then the team’s youngest member as a 16-year-old sophomore.

Knowing what to anticipate, Kilfoyl guided Turner throughout the tryout process, calming her nerves.

“She was kind of my mentor,” said Turner, a 5-foot-10 left-hander. “If she wasn’t there, I’d probably be a little bit more uncomfortable but, since she was there, it really helped me with being comfortable.

Alexis Kilfoyl

“It was really like nerve-wracking at the beginning, just because like everyone that was there deserved to be there because of their talent.”

Kilfoyl added, “Being there two years ago, I knew what to expect, so I explained it to her and it helped a little bit more, and she knew what was coming and there were no surprises for her.”

Turner recalls “tears of joy” upon discovering she made the team.

“I was crying,” she said, “just because it was definitely a hard-work experience getting there, so when you find you find out that your hard work actually paid off in some ways, it was really exciting.”

Kilfoyl, meanwhile, felt some added pressure to make the team a second time around as an older, more mature pitcher.

“It was definitely a relief knowing that they wanted me back again,” Kilfoyl said. “Getting the (selection) email was definitely a relief to know that all the hard work paid off.”

Proud to represent their schools, and Land O’ Lakes
“It really isn’t about one person,” Kilfoyl said. “It’s definitely about the whole team and the whole school.”

“I think it did bring a lot of pride,” Turner said. “People are still congratulating me to this day because it’s such an honor.”

Kilfoyl and Turner will compete in a training camp and exhibition games in Columbus, Georgia, at the 2019 USA Softball International Cup, throughout June and July.

The roster then will be trimmed to 17 athletes to participate in the WSBC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) Junior Women’s World Cup, in August, in Irvine, California.

Kilfoyl said the experience back in 2017 helped heighten her overall level of play.

Specifically, because she was practicing alongside the nation’s top talents, facing elite international competition, and getting instruction from renowned Division I college coaches.

“It was very beneficial,” Kilfoyl said. “I really got a feel of like what is expected at that age and how you have to be able to do everything right. You can’t leave balls over the plate when you’re pitching. You have to be able to locate very well, and you have to spin very well.”

Land O’ Lakes High School senior pitcher and Tennessee Callie Turner joins Kilfoyl on the U.S. junior national team. She made the team after a three-day tryout in December.

But, before they go off and compete for the United States this summer, Kilfoyl and Turner are gearing up for their high school softball swan songs.

Kilfoyl posted a 23-1 mark in the circle last season, with a 0.32 earned run average and 249 strikeouts in 154 innings pitched. She guided Academy at the Lakes to a 26-4 record and the Class 2A state championship.

She also produced a .482 batting average with five home runs, 35 RBI, a .585 on-base percentage and a .788 slugging percentage.

The play earned Kilfoyl 2017-2018 Gatorade Florida Softball Player of the Year honors, distinguishing her as the state’s best high school softball player.

Both players aim for continued excellence
Defending the team’s state championship this season is among Kilfoyl’s top priorities in 2019.

She wants the team to make it as far as it did last year.

“Winning a state championship would be crazy again, and I know we’re going to have a huge target on our backs and it’s going to be that much harder, but definitely want to do that again,” she said.

“As far as personal goals, I guess I’d like to push myself a little bit more.

“I definitely want to go into this year pitching every game like it’s a state championship game, striking out as many as I can and just having a bunch of energy,” Kilfoyl said.

Callie Turner

Turner has similar goals in mind.

After winning the Class 6A state crown in 2017, Land O’ Lakes fell just short of another last season. They went 25-7 and finished state runner-up after falling to Plantation American Heritage 5-1 in the Class 6A state championship game in May.

“I definitely want to end up on top this year,” Turner said. “Last year was kind of rough, just not getting over the peak, especially for our seniors.”

The two-time Class 6A Pitcher of the Year and 2018 Class 6A Player of the Year surely did her part for the team.

Turner posted a 17-6 mark with a 0.78 earned run average and 252 strikeouts in 153.1 innings pitched, including 20 complete games, a no-hitter and six shutouts. She also batted .309 and six RBIs in 65 plate appearances

In the quest to win a second state title in three years, Turner is fine-tuning her repertoire of pitches — changeup, curveball, riseball and dropball.

Turner said she wants to “keep on feeling comfortable with my pitches” and “try to get them more consistent.”

“Sometimes they don’t work, and I just want to be able to like rely on the pitches every time,” Turner said, “so just the practice of the basic things is what I really want to work on this season.”

Kilfoyl and Turner will likely match up against each other on April 23, when Academy at the Lakes hosts Land O’ Lakes in a nonconference game.

Published February 6, 2019

Cypress Creek girls soccer finds success in year two

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They went from one of Pasco’s worst, to one of the firsts.

That’s one way to describe the turnaround the Cypress Creek varsity girls’ soccer team experienced this season.

After winning just three games in its inaugural campaign during the 2017-18 season, the Coyotes this year emerged as one of the county’s top programs.

They finished the season with an 11-4 mark — quite the contrast to last year’s 3-13 finish.

It included wins against such rival schools as Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch, each of whom have fielded top-flight squads over the years.

The Cypress Creek varsity girls soccer team recently won the first conference championship among all sports in school history. (Courtesy of Jennifer Richardson)

In fact, the Coyotes went undefeated against all of its Pasco opponents.

The team’s only defeats came against private schools: Berkeley Prep, Clearwater Central Catholic, Academy of the Holy Names, and a season-ending 1-0 loss in the District 9-2A quarterfinals to Tampa Catholic.

The Coyotes biggest accomplishment, however, was winning the Sunshine Athletic Conference East championship.

It marked the first conference championship for any boys’ or girls’ sport for the second-year Wesley Chapel-based school.

They claimed the title after securing late-season conference wins against Pasco (5-0) and Wiregrass Ranch (2-1), respectively.

“It’s super exciting,” Coyotes second-year head coach Jennifer Richardson said of the conference crown. “It’s a great accomplishment for the team, for the school. The girls were very excited and they knew what was on the line in the last game, and they came and they played hard.”

Said senior sweeper Katelyn Leavines: “It makes me proud that I know I can end my senior year like this, and, like helping the school bring its first conference championship in history…makes me really happy.

She added, “Going from winning three games last year to now being conference champs, it just shows like the dedication that we all have and the hard work that we put in to make it happen.”

So, how exactly did Cypress Creek secure a winning season so quickly?

An influx of talented newcomers — including a group of eight freshman — bolstered a roster that previously lacked much soccer experience.

“Last year we didn’t have as many players that were soccer players. We had people that came out to the team that had never played soccer before, so this year, more people came out to play that had played soccer previously,” Richardson explained.

The most significant addition perhaps was junior goalkeeper Alina Vizza. She joined the team after not playing last year.

Vizza’s contributions can be summed up in the team’s goals allowed per game.

This year the team surrendered less than two goals per game, with three shutouts.

Compare that to last season, when the Coyotes gave up an average of 5.5 goals per game.

“She made a huge difference in our game,” Richardson said. “She’s tall. She knows how to move in the right spot and cut the angles. She wants to win.”

Freshman striker Emily Dominguez was another key addition. She finished the season as one of the team’s top scorers with nine goals.

Meanwhile, the Coyotes returned some experienced playmakers in juniors Raegan Bourne (who led the team in with 12 goals and five assists) and Sophia Mitchell (nine goals).

The new-look squad brought a hard-nosed approach to each game.

“We’re physical players,” Richardson said. “We’re tough, physical players. Our midfield is strong, physical.”

An upbeat mindset and newfound confidence also helped throughout the season’s course, players said.

Leavines put it this way: “Every week we always kept it positive no matter who we were playing, and, we never had an attitude of, ‘Oh, this team’s going to beat us’ or like, ‘Oh. they’re better than us.’ We just kept it positive and knew that we had a chance every single time, and, to just play our hardest.”

Added Dominguez: “It was like after our fifth game, and we kept winning, and all we could think about was winning. so we practiced hard…and it like improved us.”

Losing just three seniors and all but one starter expected to return next season, Cypress Creek figures to be more than just a one-year wonder.

“The majority of our starting team will be back next year, which is good,” Richardson said, “and I know that there’s middle school girls that know how to play that are coming up, so it’s exciting to know for the future that we’re still going to have players for next year, and we’re going to be a contender again.

“I think we shocked a lot of people, because last year we had three wins.”

2018-2019 Cypress Creek girls varsity soccer roster

  • Head coach: Jennifer Richardson
  • Abby Murphy, junior, midfielder
  • Alina Vizza, junior, goalkeeper
  • Anna Margetis, junior, defender
  • Briana Rivera, freshman, midfielder
  • Brianna Sharpe, freshman, midfielder
  • Emily Dominguez, freshman, striker
  • Hailey Canady, freshman, goalkeeper/striker
  • Katelyn Leavines, senior, sweeper
  • Raegan Bourne, junior, forward
  • Riley Copeland, junior, defender
  • Rylee Crawford, freshman, defender
  • Rylie Showalter, freshman, defender
  • Sierra Rivera, senior, midfielder
  • Sofia Ibata, freshman, midfielder
  • Sophia Mitchell, junior, midfielder
  • Tiffany Pike, senior, goalkeeper/defender
  • Ximena Garcia, freshman, midfielder

Game-by-game results for 2018-2019 season
Nov. 12: Gulf (8-1 win)

Nov. 14: Wesley Chapel (3-2 win)

Nov. 15: at Brooke DeBartolo Collegiate (5-0 win)

Nov. 26: Sunlake (3-1 win)

Nov. 27: Berkeley Prep (3-0 loss)

Nov. 29: Tampa Prep (2-1 win)

Dec. 4: Clearwater Central Catholic (4-1 loss)

Dec. 7: at Land O’ Lakes (3-2 win)

Dec. 11: at Fivay (4-2 win)

Dec. 13: at Academy of the Holy Names (8-0 loss)

Jan. 9: at Tampa Prep (1-0 win)

Jan. 11: Tampa Catholic (4-1 win)

Jan: 18: Pasco (5-0 win)

Jan. 22: Wiregrass Ranch (2-1 win)

Jan. 25: District 9-2A quarterfinals Tampa Catholic (1 – 0 loss)

Published January 30, 2019

AATL football earns awards

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Accolades keep piling up for the back-to-back eight-man football state championship-winning Academy at the Lakes Wildcats.

Team members were well-represented on the 2018 Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) all-state, all-conference and miscellaneous award selections, which were recently announced.

The 2018 Academy at the Lakes Wildcats culminated a perfect 10-0 season by winning the FCAPPS (Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools) eight-man state championship in December. Eight players earned FCAPPS postseason awards, as well as head coach Shawn Brown, who was named the league’s coach of the year. (File)

A total of eight Academy players were recognized, including sophomore quarterback Jalen Brown, who won the FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner award, and senior linebacker Dylan Price, who was named FCAPPS Defensive Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Brown completed nearly 58 percent of his throws for 1,105 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns on 93 carries.

Brown marks the Wildcats’ second FCAPPS Heisman Trophy winner in as many years. He follows former Wildcats running back/linebacker Dylan Gonzalez, who won the 2017 Heisman  award, after putting up big numbers on offense (1,125 yards, 28 total touchdowns) and defense (138 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception) during his senior year.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Price, meanwhile, registered 99 total tackles, 17 sacks and four forced fumbles. (Also a running back, Price rushed for 566 yards and six touchdowns on 73 carries.)

Other Academy players receiving honors included: sophomore lineman Dwight Downing, junior defensive end Elijah Freedman, senior defensive back Jullian Jennings, sophomore lineman Andrew Kilfoyl, junior lineman Matthew Martin and senior tight end/defensive end Tioma Stepanets.

Additionally, Wildcats head coach Shawn Brown was named FCAPPS Coach of the Year, for the second straight year.

The 2018 Wildcats wrapped up a perfect 10-0 campaign after defeating Miami Citi Christian 36018 in the FCAPPS eight-man state championship game at Southeastern University in Lakeland; they also won the 2017 state title after beating Jacksonville Old Plank Christian Academy.

The team will enter the 2019 season on a 20-game win streak.

Academy at the Lakes will be formally recognized at the FCAPPS Players’ Awards banquet on April 14 at noon, at Hillsborough Baptist School, 6021 Williams Road in Seffner.

Academy at the Lakes football FCAPPS honorees:
•  Head Coach Shawn Brown — FCAPPS Coach of the Year

  • Jalen Brown, sophomore — FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner/All-State Quarterback
  • Dwight Downing, sophomore – All-Conference Center
  • Elijah Freedman, junior – All-Conference Defensive End
  • Jullian Jennings, senior — All-State Defensive Back
  • Andrew Kilfoyl, sophomore — All-State Offensive Lineman
  • Matthew Martin, junior — FCAPPS Sportsmanship Award
  • Dylan Price, senior — FCAPPS Defensive Player of the Year/All-State Defensive End
  • Tioma Stepanets, senior — FCAPPS Spiritual Inspirational Award

Published January 30, 2019

Zephyrhills High names ‘Alan Reed Court’

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

From now on, anyone stepping on the gym floor will be walking on “Alan Reed Court” — which has been visibly stenciled along the sidelines.

Zephyrhills High School game-goers in the front row seats sit near the newly inlaid name of retired basketball coach Alan Reed. Reed was honored in between the junior varsity game and the varsity game, against Pasco High School. (Fred Bellet)

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

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

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

His teams claimed two district titles and a final four appearance. He was conference basketball coach of the year three times.

His coaching efforts goes beyond hoops, too.

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

To this day, he remains a volunteer coach at the school.

In that role, Reed spends countless hours with players in the weight room, scouting, and of course, offering strategy advice when broached.

“It beats sitting on the couch,” Reed said of volunteering. “It keeps me busy. I love the game. It’s what I do. It’s who I am. It’s my whole life.”

Before embarking on a lengthy coaching career, Reed played high school basketball in Pennsylvania and then for Florida Southern College in Lakeland. In-between, Reed spent four years in the U.S. Air Force where he reached the rank of sergeant, and also played hoops.

Alan Reed was presented with a basketball career memento signed by former teammates, players and coaches who attended the surprise, special event.

At Zephyrhills, Reed’s most successful basketball teams came 40 years apart from each other.

In his second season — 1976 — the Bulldogs went 21-7 and won a district title.

Fast forward to 2016 — his final year as a head basketball coach —and that squad went 27-5 and reached the 5A state semifinals. It also marked the program’s first final four appearance since 1966.

There were many other memorable seasons scattered throughout, too.

Said Reed: “There’s a lot of ’em. I  had a lot of special teams that didn’t have good winning records, but were much better at the end of the road (season) than the beginning.”

Yet, Reed’s biggest contributions to the school is more than just wins and losses, Zephyrhills athletic director Bruce Cimorelli said.

“The guy knows his basketball,” Cimorelli said, “but, he’s just a really good influence on the kids — teaching them work ethic, being on time, those sorts of things.”

Reed’s impact was undoubtedly apparent in the welcoming he received at the pregame dedication.

Dozens of former players and coaches — as well as a handful of Reed’s former teammates — joined hundreds of Bulldogs fans in congratulating Reed and giving him a rousing ovation when the gymnasium floor was officially named for him.

For Reed, the special event was “totally unexpected.”

“I can’t even put it into words,” Reed said. “I love this community. I love this high school. It’s just an honor.”

In that group of cheering attendees was Academy at the Lakes varsity football and basketball coach Shawn Brown, who once served as an assistant junior varsity basketball coach for Reed at Zephyrhills and also as a football coach at Stewart Middle School.

Prior to the presentation of a special basketball memento and dedication ceremony, Zephyrhills High School athletic director, Bruce Cimorelli, left, asked coaches, former players coached by Reed and former teammates who played basketball with Reed to sign a memento to honor Reed’s great coaching career. Here, former student Joe Galyan, of Zephyrhills, signs the memento. He was coached by Reed from 1975 to 1978.

“He was straight old school,” Brown, who has won back-to-back eight-man state football titles at the Academy, said, describing Reed.

“He was good with adapting to the new style of everything, but he was strict on his ways and his philosophy. That never wavered. When he did something, he did it that way.

“I thought one thing he did really good was he always invested everything with the team and the community. He made sure the kids always had team shoes, uniforms. It was always a top-of-the-line type program.”

Brown added the Zephyrhills hoops coach is “definitely a person I learned a lot from.”

“I run some basketball drills that I learned from him — a couple of different plays I stole from him,” Brown said, with a hearty chuckle.

Meanwhile, the renaming of the hoops court comes at a good time for the Bulldogs’ boys squad, which stands at 12-4 overall and 8-2 in district play, as of Jan. 21.

Solid record and all, it didn’t keep Reed from giving an honest assessment of the roster he volunteers with each day.

“We’re not playing to our potential,” Reed said while the Bulldogs sported a 31-17 halftime lead over Pasco. “We’re struggling a little bit in a lot of areas. We just haven’t put it all together yet. We’ve got some good players, some good kids. We have a lot of inexperience…so they’re still catching up.”

Published January 23, 2019

Pasco High gets new football coach

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Pasco High School will have a new head football coach roaming the sidelines, for the first time in more than a decade.

The school recently announced its next head coach is Jason Stokes — a coaching mainstay in the Tampa Bay area, most notably at Gaither High School.

Jason Stokes has been named Pasco High School’s football coach. (File)

Stokes, 43, replaces longtime Pasco coach Tom McHugh, who was relieved of his coaching duties following four consecutive losing seasons, including a 2-8 mark this past year.

Stokes most recently coached at Lake Region High School, in Polk County. The perennially struggling program went winless in his lone season there.

Stokes has achieved coaching success elsewhere, however.

In 2017, he served a season as offensive coordinator at Indian Rocks Christian High School, which went 9-3 and reached the 2A regional finals.

He’s best known for his time at Gaither, from 2011 to 2016 — steering that program to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons. (He later resigned in the middle of the 2016 season after reports surfaced about using ineligible players, which led to three games forfeited that year.)

Before that, Stokes was the head football coach at Bloomingdale (7-5 in 2008) and Middleton (10-10 combined record in 2009-10) high schools.

In taking over for McHugh, Stokes undoubtedly has big shoes to fill.

McHugh compiled an 86-50 mark in 12 seasons, winning six district titles (2007-12) and two regional titles (2008, 2011).

He is the county’s fifth winningest coach in public schools, behind John Benedetto (195 wins at Land O’ Lakes), Tom Fisher (124 wins at Zephyrhills), John Castelamare (103 wins at River Ridge, Mitchell) and Scott Schmitz (94 wins at River Ridge, Mitchell).

McHugh also coached a trio of Pasco players who would go on to the NFL— Josh Johnson, a former San Diego Charger and Jacksonville Jaguar cornerback who now plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League; Janarion Grant, a wide receiver currently on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad; and, Joey Ivie, a defensive tackle currently on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.

Yet, the Pirates have struggled in recent years under McHugh, going a combined 10-30 the past four years. Moreover, the program suffered four straight defeats to crosstown foe Zephyrhills High School in the annual 9-Mile War rivalry game, losing those games by an average margin of nearly 40 points.

Despite the difficulties of late, the Pirates do have a young roster stocked with promising players.

That includes linebacker Gabriel Barnes, tailback Malcolm Gibbs, receiver Darrion Robinson and lineman Savion Spaights, who will all be juniors next season, as well as rising seniors in quarterback Desmin Green, defensive back Jordan Mclaughlin and offensive/defensive tackle Cody Rand, among others.

New Sunlake football coach Trey Burdick, left, pictured with former Sunlake all-star linebacker Adam Jarvis. (Courtesy of Trey Burdick)

Meanwhile, Pasco isn’t the only local school to undergo a coaching change this offseason.

In early December, Sunlake High School named assistant Trey Burdick as its next head coach, to replace the now-retired Bill Browning, the only head varsity football coach in the school’s history.

Burdick, 36, has been an assistant at Sunlake since 2008, where he’s coached linebackers, tight ends, special teams, and served as the team’s recruiting coordinator; he’s also been the school’s head track coach for six years, a role he’ll continue as head football coach.

Prior to Sunlake, Burdick was an assistant for two years at Tallahassee Godby High School, working under Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Famer Shelton Crews. He also played football for Tallahassee Lincoln High School, where he was a member of the 1999 6A state championship team.

Sunlake is coming off back-to-back 4-6 marks. Before that, from 2010 to 2016, the Seahawks strung together seven consecutive winning seasons and four playoff appearances.

Published January 16, 2019

All-Pasco County fall awards announced

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High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2018-2019 fall sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West division.

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

Here is a listing of the recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

The Sunlake boys and girls cross-country teams each won the Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference East meets. Both squads later qualified for the FHSAA 3A state meet, where the boys finished fourth and girls tenth, respectively. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Fall Sports (Boys)
East All-Conference Boys’ Cross Country

Team Champion: Sunlake

Coach of the Year: Randall Reeves, Sunlake

Runner of the Year: Edward Scheid, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Edward Scheid, Sunlake, junior

Devin Pollay, Wesley Chapel, junior

Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Joseph Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, junior

Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior

Josiah Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Brandon Castillo, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Drew Knobl, Sunlake, junior

Colby Robbins, Sunlake, freshman

Felix Nieves, Sunlake, junior

Cade Whitfield, Sunlake, sophomore

Alex Medina, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Adam Hahn, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Jose Valeriano, Pasco, senior

Mason Bragg, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Samuel Flook, Cypress Creek, senior

The Zephyrhills boys golf team won the Pasco County Boys High School Golf Conference championship. They also joined Sunlake as the only boys golf teams from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to quality for the FHSAA state meet. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Golf
Team Champion: Zephyrhills

Coach of the Year: Shaun Van Patten, Zephyrhills

Golfer of the Year: Tristan McCool, Zephyrhills

First Team All-Conference
Tristan McCool, Zephyrhills, senior

Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills, junior

Fab Laude, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Jarrod Smith, Cypress Creek, junior

TJ Floberg, Pasco, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
Cole Darbyshire, Pasco, senior

Dylan Brooks, Wesley Chapel, junior

Christian Nieves, Pasco, senior

Preston Rollinson, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Trevor Myers, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Jordan Sarhaddi, Sunlake, senior

Max Barile, Sunlake, sophomore

The Land O’ Lakes boys swimming and diving team experienced one of its best seasons ever, with a third-place finish at the FHSAA state meet, tops among all local schools. Shown here is its relay team from left: Zuri Ramsey, Patryk Pilwoski, Ravidu Idippili, Jack Kaatze, along with coach Brian Vaile, which won state titles in the 200-yard free and 400-yard free relay events. (Courtesy of Brian Vaile)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Swimming & Diving
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes

Coach of the Year: Brian Vaile, Land O’ Lakes

Swimmer of the Year: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes

Diver of the Year: Rick Pritchard, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake)—Jay Jay Fonnotto, junior; Brendon Thai, senior; Colin Wilkins, junior; Dominic Ortanez, junior

200 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, sophomore

200 Individual Medley: Colin Wilkins, Sunlake, junior

50 Freestyle: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Butterfly: Patrick Frain, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

100 Freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

500 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, sophomore

200 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Patryk Pilkowski, senior; Ravidu Idippili, junior; Jack Kaatze, junior; Zuri Ramsey, sophomore

100 Backstroke: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Breaststroke: Griffin Sutek, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Patryk Pilkowski, senior; Ravidu Idippili, junior; Jack Kaatze, junior; Zuri Ramsey, sophomore

Diver: Rick Pritchard, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)—Parker Munari, freshman; Douglas Lankton, junior; Noah Porter, freshman; Matthew Gomez, sophomore

200 Freestyle: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

200 Individual Medley: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

50 Freestyle: Charles Fields, Wesley Chapel, junior

100 Butterfly: Parker Munari, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

100 Freestyle: Matthew Gomez, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)—Danny Amaya, junior; Charles Fields, junior; Dewey Slay, senior; Alex Hayden, junior

100 Backstroke: Parker Munari, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

100 Breaststroke: Danny Amaya, Wesley Chapel, junior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)—Dewey Slay, senior; Alex Hayden, junior; Dominic Slay, sophomore; Izek Thomas, sophomore

Diver: Nicky Vreeland, Cypress Creek, freshman

Honorable Mention
Quentin Carrero, Pasco, sophomore

Peyton Lebron, Zephyrhills, senior

Fall Sports (Girls)
SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Cross Country
Team Champion: Sunlake

Coach of the Year: Randall Reeves, Sunlake

Runner of the Year: Liina Winborn, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior

Shannon Gordy, Sunlake, sophomore

Ashley Spires, Sunlake, sophomore

Justine Ruleman, Sunlake, senior

Emma Burleson, Sunlake, freshman

Guadalupe Guerra, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
Destiny Saltzman, Sunlake, junior

Madison Poe, Zephyrhills, freshman

Emily Flaherty, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Madelyn Abrahamson, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Kate Moore, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Breanna Preiser, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Agnes Hernandez, Pasco, sophomore

Avery Lillibridge, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

The Wiregrass Ranch girls golf team won the Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference championship meet, for the third consecutive year. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Golf
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch

Coach of the Year: Jerry Scott, Sunlake

Golfer of the Year: Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch

 First Team All-Conference
Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Emillie Alderman, Zephyrhills, senior

Sarah Robison, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Taylor Zachary, Sunlake, freshman

Calissa Kwiat, Cypress Creek, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Loryn Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Hannah Sullivan, Zephyrhills, senior

Sofia Clark, Sunlake, junior

Cydnee Jonas, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Helena Potter, Sunlake, freshman

Honorable Mention
Hannah Galbraith, Pasco, senior

Karlye Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

The Sunlake girls swimming and diving team won its first-ever Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference championship meet in 2018. They followed that up with a sixth place finish at the FHSAA 3A state meet. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Swimming & Diving
Team Champion: Sunlake

Swimmer of the Year: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake

Diver of the Year: Isa Monagas, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake)—Elise Ballash, senior; Chloe Grimme, junior; Amber Ewald, freshman; Hanna Barton, Sunlake

200 Freestyle: Taylor Ward, Land O’ Lakes, senior

200 Individual Medley: Audrey Ballash, Sunlake, junior

50 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, junior

100 Butterfly: Elise Ballash, Sunlake, senior

100 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, junior

500 Freestyle: Taylor Ward, Land O’ Lakes, senior

200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)—Tori Eurell, junior; Alex Sprague, sophomore; Hannah Barton, senior; Chloe Grimme, junior

100 Backstroke: Amber Ewald, Sunlake, freshman

100 Breaststroke: Elise Ballash, Sunlake, senior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Taylor Ward, senior; Margarita Czupryn, senior; Amaya Henry, junior; Romina McCloskey, senior

Diver: Isa Monagas, Sunlake, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Jessica Adcock, senior; Catherine Pinkos, freshman; Jennifer Zartman, junior; Apryl Paquette, sophomore

200 Freestyle: Apryl Paquette, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

200 Individual Medley: Maryam Khalil, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

500 Freestyle: Leah Fonnotto, Sunlake, freshman

200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)— Victoria Vail, freshman; Alexa Amaya, freshman; Annalyse Rogers, freshman; Jilian Choinski,

100 Backstroke: Jessica Adcock, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Breaststroke: Maryam Khalil, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

400 Freestyle Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)—Maryam Khalil, freshman; Delaney Smith, junior; Kyra Johnson, senior; Katie Wieckoweski, freshman

Diver: Tifani Farquhar, Wesley Chapel, junior

Honorable Mention
Mykenzy Neal, Zephyrhills, junior

Hannah Davidson, Pasco, junior

Rylie Howard, Cypress Creek, freshman

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Volleyball

The Sunlake girls volleyball team went 24-4 and reached the Class 7A regional finals, under first-year head coach Brian Gonzales. It marked a significant turnaround from the prior season’s 5-10 mark. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Team Champion: Sunlake

Coach of the Year: Brian Gonzalez, Sunlake

Player of the Year: Kylie Ciani, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Jaizah Anderson, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Caroline Schoover, Sunlake, junior

Brette Heymann, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Abbigale Hindersman, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Rachel Michner, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Bianca Vieria, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Jordan Danielson, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Chanel Rinck, Sunlake, senior

Kamea Nash, Sunlake, senior

Rebecca Wolff, Pasco, junior

Zoi Evans, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Shayna Heymann, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Taylor Moore, Pasco, junior

Compiled by Kevin Weiss

Published January 16, 2019