The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local Sports

Prep football regular season recap

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With the 2018 prep football regular season coming to a close — and playoffs set to begin — here’s a look at some of the storylines and highlights from schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Zephyrhills notches perfect campaign
The 2018 campaign will be one to remember for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs.

Zephyrhills High finished the regular season with an undefeated 10-0 mark. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

They finished 10-0 and captured their second straight Class 5A, District 8 title — becoming the only public school in Pasco County to finish the regular season undefeated, and, marking the first time the program has had a perfect regular season since 1995.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs closed the year with a 49-0 shutout of the Pasco Pirates — the largest margin of victory in the long-standing 9-Mile War rivalry game that dates back to 1941.

Of course, the Bulldogs recent success is no fluke.

The program has posted eight straight winning seasons and five playoff appearances under its last two coaches, Nick Carroll and Reggie Roberts. Carroll is now 28-5 through his first three seasons as head coach. That includes 19 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

Now Zephyrhills hopes for a deeper run in the playoffs than last season, when they lost an emotional 52-49 home contest to Green Cove Springs Clay in the Class 5A regional semifinals. They host Crystal River (8-2) on Friday in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals.

Gaither finishes strong to reach playoffs
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Gaither Cowboys were on the outside looking in to the Class 7A playoffs. But, a remarkable 21-20 win over Tampa Bay Tech in the regular season finale — as part of a three-game winning streak — propelled them to a No. 6 seed in the Class 7A, Region 2 bracket.

The win gives Gaither (7-3) some momentum in notching its second straight playoff berth, something the Cowboys will need this Friday against Plant (9-1) — a team they haven’t beaten in 10 contests, including a 44-34 loss back on Sept. 21.

But, don’t totally discount the Cowboys, who feature a balanced offensive attack and a dangerous pass rush to hang with many teams.

Land O’ Lakes thrives under new head coach
While the Land O’ Lakes Gators narrowly missed the playoffs, it was undoubtedly a successful  season for first-year head coach Chad Walker.

The Gators (7-3) notched its first winning season since 2013.

And, they finally upended crosstown rival Sunlake in the annual Butter Bowl game — winning for the first time in the series since 2009.

The big question is whether Land O’ Lakes can maintain the newfound success after losing a large senior class that includes a bevy of contributors on offense and defense. Working in the team’s favor, however, is the expected return of junior quarterback Ethan Forrester, who posted a 51.6 completion percentage for 1,252 passing yards and 12 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Local private schools are playoff-bound
It’s been a solid year for private schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, as Carrollwood Day School, Zephyrhills Christian, and Academy at the Lakes (eight-man) each qualified for the playoffs. Carrollwood Day (5-5) and Zephyrhills Christian (7-3) locked up No. 3 seeds in their respective Class 2A regions. Carrollwood Day is making its first playoff appearance since 2015, while Zephyrhills Christian is making its third straight postseason appearance.

Academy at the Lakes (6-0), meanwhile, with one regular season game remaining, has already secured the No. 1 seed in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) eight-man playoffs. The defending FCAPPs state champions, Academy at the Lakes, is on a 15-game winning streak.

Sunlake head football coach Bill Browning retires as one of Pasco County’s most accomplished coaches. (FIle)

Farewell to longtime Sunlake coach
After 29 years as a high school football head coach in the North Suncoast, Sunlake’s Bill Browning is hanging up his headset and putting away his playbook. The longtime coach made the announcement over the weekend after the Seahawks wrapped up its second straight 4-6 campaign.

Browning built the Seahawks program from scratch in 2007, turning it into one of Pasco County’s most dominant programs across the last decade, with a string of seven straight winning seasons. Browning now retires as the seventh-most winningest coach in Pasco County history (73). Prior to Sunlake, Browning coached a combined 17 years for Springstead and Hernando high schools, racking up a combined 92 wins— second all-time among Hernando County coaches.

Browning at Sunlake
2018: 4-6
2017: 4-6
2016: 7-3
2015: 8-3 (district runner-up)
2014: 9-3 (district champion)
2013: 9-2 (district runner-up)
2012: 8-2
2011: 10-2 (district runner-up)
2010: 9-1
2009: 4-6
2008: 1-9
2007: 0-10

Stat Stuffers
A look at some individual players who shined during the 2018 regular season

Dylan Ridolph

Doug Crawford, Zephyrhills, senior quarterback: Ranked among the region’s most efficient signal-callers, with a 72.3 completion percentage for 1,010 yards and 17 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, junior linebacker: Leads the state with 20 sacks, to go along with 77 total tackles and 30 tackles for loss.

Kyle Benedict, Carrollwood Day School, senior receiver: Extremely productive wideout tallied 42 catches for 742 yards and six touchdowns. Has over 116 career receptions for over 2,000 yards in four years on varsity.

Kyle Leivas

Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior tailback: Posted 2,180 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. Also eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second time with 1,252 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry.

Kavbion Marbra, Zephyrhills Christian, athlete: Seven interceptions is tied for fourth-most in the state.

Nyhohn Moody, Zephyrhills Christian, senior linebacker: Tackling machine ranks fifth in the state with 132 stops. Also has six tackles for loss and a sack.

Schools in The Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their 2018 regular season records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 5-5 overall, 2-2 district

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 4-6 overall, district 2-4

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 6-0 overall, 6-0 district (One regular season game remaining)

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 4-5, 4-1 district

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 3-7 overall, 1-0 district

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 7-3 overall, 2-2 district

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 2-8 overall, 0-4 district

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-6 overall, 1-3 district

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 10-0 overall, 6-0 district

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 7-3 overall, 1-0 district

FHSAA football playoff pairings for local schools
All kickoff times are set for Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Class 7A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 Gaither (7-3) at No. 3 Plant (9-1)

No. 8 Wiregrass Ranch (7-3) at No. 1 Lakeland (10-0)

Class 5A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 7 Crystal River (8-2) at No. 2 Zephyrhills (10-0)

Class 2A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 St. Francis Catholic Gainesville (4-5) at No. 3 Zephyrhills Christian (7-3)

Region 3 Quarterfinals
No. 6 Southwest Florida Christian (2-8) at No. 3 Carrollwood Day School (5-5)

Published November 7, 2018

Local schools receive Special Olympics honor

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Land O’ Lakes High School’s Unified Special Olympics program received international attention more than three years ago, when its coed soccer team won the bronze medal at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

Now, the school’s Unified program has earned another prestigious honor — 2018 Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Unified program has had many years of success. Under coach Vicky King in 2015, its coed soccer team won the bronze medal at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, defeating China 2-1. (File)

The designation, based on the 2017-2018 school year, means Land O’ Lakes met 10 standards of excellence set forth by Special Olympics International. These standards focus on four key areas: Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, Whole School Engagement and sustainability for the program.

Land O’ Lakes was one of just 13 schools in Florida — and 132 schools nationally — to receive the designation. New Port Richey’s Longleaf Elementary School and Seven Springs Middle School also were named Unified Champion Schools.

The Unified Special Olympics sports program pairs special needs athletes with nondisabled peers, called partners. Together, these athletes and partners compete year-round against other unified programs in sports, such as basketball, soccer, swimming, golf, and others.

According to Special Olympics Florida’s website, the Unified program enables Special Olympics athletes to not only learn and play new sports, but also experience meaningful inclusion. Each athlete is ensured of playing a valued role on the team. The teams also provide a forum for positive social interaction.

All participants are of similar age and ability, and unified teams are designed to provide training and competition opportunities that meaningfully challenge and involve all athletes.

Special Olympics sports rules, moreover, make sure that everyone has “a fair and enjoyable competitive experience.”

The national honor brings satisfaction to Vicky King, who’s coached Special Olympics programming at Land O’ Lakes for more than 30 years.

“It means that we’ve done a lot,” King said, “and, we have a student body and community that is very involved, because it’s all about inclusion and acceptance everywhere, not just in athletics, but just as a school and a community.”

According to King, the Land O’ Lakes Unified program last year featured more than 20 coed athletes and nearly 40 partners, representing a solid participation rate based on the school’s ESE (Exceptional Student Education) population.

For the 2018-2019 academic school year, the Pasco County school district relocated its special education unit —and Unified program— to Sunlake High School.

Before the transfer, King estimates the Unified program was installed at Land O’ Lakes sometime in the early 2000s, after the school had a traditional Special Olympics sports program.

King noted the Unified program did wonders for involvement between the school’s students with special needs and the rest of the student body. “If you look at some Special Olympics athletes in some places, they’re singled out, they’re not included; but when our athletes were here, they were just other kids,” King said.

Club keeps students involved with Special Olympics
While Land O’ Lakes no longer has its own Unified teams, the school still remains active in Unified sports programming. The school has an organization called the Student Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), which numbers about 90 students who volunteer at local Special Olympics events and/or become Unified partners.

Through the club, Land O’ Lakes sophomore Courtney Eckel became a Unified partner. She also volunteers with other Unified sports, as a scorekeeper in flag football and a lane assistant in bowling.

Courtney wanted to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, Haley Eckel, who’s volunteered for Special Olympics for several years and was a Unified partner on the Land O’ Lakes soccer team that went to the World Games. (Haley is also a former standout varsity soccer player at Land O’ Lakes and now a sophomore midfielder at Florida Southern College.)

The involvement has proven rewarding for Courtney.

“It’s really great,” she said of being a partner. “It’s so nice to see (the athletes) when they can do something good and score, and see the excitement on their face and know that they can do whatever they want to, and, it’s nice to play with them and help them achieve their goals.”

Courtney, too, believes Unified programming has been beneficial for promoting acceptance among all students.

“I think it’s really important because it keeps everyone included,” she said. “It teaches people how to be inclusive, even if someone’s not special needs. Just teaching how to include everyone and almost be like more understanding and respectful to everyone and their needs.”

King noted many Unified partners and volunteers develop bonds and tight-knit relationships with the athletes, adding that many continue as Special Olympics volunteers and participants through adulthood.

“It becomes just like a way of life,” said King, who still remains in touch with many of the athletes even after they’ve graduated from Land O’ Lakes.

In addition to the bonds they form, King noted that many local Unified athletes excel in their sport — regardless of intellectual or developmental disabilities.

King put it this way: “Sometimes the developmental delay is only academic. It has nothing to do with your physical capabilities, so a lot of our athletes are awesome athletes, so that’s why a lot of times on the field we’ll get called for player domination, rather than partner domination. Everything’s supposed to be equal, but we have some really good athletic partners and good athletes, so it makes a great combination.”

In all her years working in Special Olympics, King’s favorite memory comes as no surprise — the 2015 trip to Los Angeles.

“World Games was the best event — opening ceremonies and just the whole experience,” King said. “When we were out there, everyone just wanted to take pictures with us.”

Making Pasco proud
Pasco County has about 1,100 athletes and 500 Unified volunteers participating in more than a dozen sports, according to Special Olympics-Pasco co-director Val Lundin.

Having a trio of Pasco schools earn national recognition for their Unified programs is a testament to the commitment of those athletes, volunteers and coaches, she said.

“We’re very proud. We’re proud of all our athletes and our coaches,” said Lundin, who’s been involved with Special Olympics for more than 35 years, oversees the county’s Unified programs.

“It amazes me — Pasco County’s pretty small in comparison to many of the counties around the state, yet when we take our (state games) delegations, we’re always in the top five, as far as the amount of athletes, so we’re up there competing with the Orange and Miami-Dade (counties), which I think reflects well upon our program here. We’re obviously doing something right.”

Lundin also heaped plenty of praise towards King, who she said helps set the standard for many other Unified school programs in the county.

King was named Special Olympics Florida Coach of the Year in 2015.

In addition to dedicating her time toward Special Olympics, King is one of the state’s top varsity girls soccer coaches — guiding Land O’ Lakes to the state semifinals the last three years and winning a state title in 2003.

“There’s not enough you can say about Vicky,” Lundin said. “She’s just an amazing coach. She’s an amazing person. She just has a way about her that can bring the best out in her athletes and her partners. It’s just a reflection upon her and her club — the CEC club is one of the largest in the county. It takes a lot of time and work, and on top of it, she’s one of the top varsity soccer coaches in the county. She’s tireless, and she works hard. She believes in the program and her students, and it shows every day.”

National Banner Unified Champion School standards
A National Banner School must meet 10 standards of excellence among four categories, including unified sports, inclusive youth leadership, whole-school engagement and sustainability.

  • Unified Sports is offered in at least two seasons throughout the school year.
  • Unified Sports participation occurs regularly over the course of each sport season or school term and includes competition.
  • An adult coach for each sport has received training on Special Olympics Unified Sports.
  • Unified Sports is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other athletics and activities.
  • A Unified Club or student group offers leadership opportunities and training for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
  • The inclusive club meets at least once per month throughout the school year.
  • The inclusive club has an adult liaison and is officially recognized by the school in a similar style as other clubs.
  • At least two whole-school engagement activities are implemented per school year.
  • Students with and without disabilities are involved with planning and leading the awareness activities.
  • The school is currently self-sustainable or has a plan in place to sustain the three components into the future.

These 10 standards of excellence were developed by a national panel of leaders in education and Special Olympics. A school meeting the standards is eligible to receive national banner recognition.

Land O’ Lakes High School is one of 13 Florida schools to be named a 2018 Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School.

Other recipients are: Seabreeze High School, Stirling Elementary School, Homestead Senior High, Park Vista High School, Lely High School, Longleaf Elementary School, Seven Springs Middle School, Plant City High School, Lawton Chiles High School, Leon High School, Tavares Middle School and Immokalee High School.

Published October 31, 2018

Foundation offers tennis lessons to Pasco youths

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Construction has yet to begin on the Sarah Vande Berg Memorial Tennis Center in Zephyrhills — but that hasn’t stopped the community from working to serve up more tennis opportunities to its underserved population.

Well before the new $3.5 million, 11-court facility opens off of Simons Road, dozens of underprivileged youth in east Pasco will get opportunities to learn the game through a new nonprofit —  the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Foundation.

Pascal Collard, center left, and Nick Bollettieri, right, stand at the net with some of the Nick Bollettieri and Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Clinic’s participants. (Fred Bellet)

The foundation is headed up by professional tennis instructor Pascal Collard, who will also manage the daily operations of the new tennis center bearing the same name.

Its overall purpose is to instill character, leadership and academics to children, through the game of tennis.

The foundation’s first major fundraiser was on Oct 5, at Arbor Green in New Tampa.

About 60 participants and another 40 volunteers turned out for a tennis clinic and gala headlined by International Tennis Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri.

Bollettieri, 87, is renowned for grooming 10 world No. 1 players, including Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova and Dade City’s Jim Courier, among many others.

The legendary coach also is known for founding the IMG Academy in Bradenton — formerly the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy — which opened in 1978 as the world’s first full-time tennis boarding school.

The gala helped raise more than $10,000, which will be used to purchase tennis rackets and subsidize tennis camps for youth, who will begin learning the sport on the courts at Zephyr Park and will transition to the city’s new state-of-the-art facility expected to open in late 2019.

“This is going to help a lot of kids — kids that have probably never seen a tennis ball,” said Collard, a former tennis director at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy in Wesley Chapel from 2003 to 2006.

His training includes working with several widely known tennis pros, including Younes El Aynaoui and Martin Verkerk, both of whom coincidentally ranked as high as No. 14 in the ATP Tour rankings back in 2003.

It’s not Collard’s first outreach program.

While he was tennis director at The Merion Cricket Club — a private club in Haverford, Pennsylvania — Collard created a similar foundation called Down the Line and Beyond.

The Philadelphia-based nonprofit, which has grown to serve more than 1,600 underprivileged youths from 7 through 17, facilitates positive character and education development through tennis lessons.

Some of those youths have earned collegiate tennis scholarships.

“None of them would’ve played tennis — none— without the foundation. We are going to do the same thing over here (in Zephyrhills),” Collard said.

The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Foundation will begin its program with 25 kids to 50 kids, and hopes to grow it from there, Collard said. “We have to touch one life at a time.”

In preparation for the start of the tennis clinic, instructor Vincent Suillerot, 24, of Paris, France makes sure a sufficient number of tennis balls were on hand for each of the courts.

The foundation — and tennis center— is named after the former Zephyrhills High School district champion who became a scholarship player on the University of South Carolina Upstate women’s tennis team. Vande Berg, the daughter of the Zephyrhills planning director Todd Vande Berg, died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in October 2015.

And, it’s all drawn the support of Bollettieri, a longtime friend of Collard’s.

Bollettieri, who lives in Sarasota, plans to visit Zephyrhills every six weeks to eight weeks to pitch in with foundation clinics and other events.

Instead of his well-documented coaching achievements, Bollettieri said he wants to be remembered for helping children, particularly those from inner cities and of lower socio-economic status.

He, along with fellow tennis Hall of Famer Arthur Ashe, started the Ashe-Bollettieri Cities Tennis program in the late 1980s, which introduced thousands of youth to the sport and helped hundreds achieve athletic or academic scholarships.

Of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Foundation, Bollettieri said: “First of all, when you do things for charity, there’s no greater reward than helping out for a great cause. Pascal’s going to give an opportunity for a lot of boys and girls to make it in life.”

Tennis center to be draw for Zephyrhills
The tennis legend, too, is impressed with the design plans of the forthcoming Sarah Vande Berg Memorial Tennis Center.

“I think a lot of thought has gone into it,” Bollettieri said. “The big thing is, someday, if they could get a few indoor courts, whether it’s open on the sides or, if they can have at least a covered area, that would help tremendously.”

Renderings of the facility show 11 full-sized outdoor courts — a mix of clay and hard surfaces — built to U.S Tennis Association (USTA) professional standards.

Additionally, an 8,000-square-foot tennis center is expected to include a fitness/wellness center and cryotherapy room, a pro shop, a restaurant, conference and multipurpose rooms, a kid’s club and playground, a common area, office spaces and other features.

At some point, there’s also a possibility of phasing in a covered/indoor tennis court building that would have four full-size courts.

Though its architectural design plans are not yet final, the tennis center is expected to be complete “in about a year,” Steve Spina, who is city manager for Zephyrhills, said during the foundation fundraiser.

Preparing to check-in at the registration table, Lisa Strickland of New Tampa was among the 60 or so who participated in the Nick Bollettieri and Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Clinic at the Arbor Greene Community Center. Vande Berg was a former Zephyrhills High School district champion who became a scholarship player on the University of South Carolina Upstate women’s tennis team. Vande Berg, the daughter of the Zephyrhills planning director Todd Vande Berg, died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in October 2015.

Along with city dollars, funding assistance for the project is coming from the state, recreation impact fees, USTA grants and Penny for Pasco, among other sources.

Besides its public recreational use, the facility will also be used to draw an assortment of regional and national tournaments to East Pasco.

“I think it brings us to a whole new level,” Spina said. “It’s just a facility like we’ve never seen, to really make us a player, nationally.

“I think it’s huge for the community,” added Collard. “It’s going to be a great impact in terms of visibility and awareness of Zephyrhills, and put them on the map.”

Vande Berg remembered on, off the court
Meantime, Todd Vande Berg is appreciative of having his late daughter’s name memorialized through the tennis foundation and the facility.

“If I lived in Tampa, I’m not sure this happens,” he said, “but to have a small, interlocked community like we have, that know the people and care for the people and support each other,  it’s pretty unique and special.”

Aside from her achievements on the court, Sarah Vande Berg was known for her friendliness and outgoing personality, her father said.

“She was super competitive on the court,” Todd Vande Berg said, “but the complete opposite off the court. Sarah loved people. She was super social. She befriended all the athletes, and not just the tennis athletes.”

Sarah, too, was known for her work with children with special needs.

“Sarah had a special place in her heart towards special needs kids,” her father said. “They just seemed to gravitate to her.”

Published October 24, 2018

Records are shattered at conference swim meet

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A swimming and diving team — that is not named Land O’ Lakes High School — can finally lay claim as tops in Pasco County.

Sunlake girls show off their Sunshine Athletic Conference trophy from inside the pool at the New Port Richey Aquatics and Recreation Center. (Fred Bellet)

The Land O’ Lakes High School’s boys squad had won every conference meet dating back to 2001, while the girls squad had won the conference meet since 2009.

But, this time around, the Gators boys finished behind Mitchell High, and the girls squad was unseated by Sunlake High, at the 2018 Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference Meet, held Oct. 13 at the New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center.

Though no longer county champions, the Gators proved they’re still a force to be reckoned with, as both squads combined to sweep 10 out of 24 events — more than any other program. That mark was narrowly followed by Sunlake, whose boys and girls squads combined to win nine events.

Meantime, several individual event conference records were set by individuals and relay teams.

New conference records:

Girls
200-Yard Medley Relay (Sunlake, 1:53.05)

200-Yard Freestyle Relay (Land O’ Lakes, 1:41.55)

100-Yard Breaststroke (Elise Ballash, Sunlake, 1:07.60)

Mitchell High School boys swim team proudly hoist the trophy they won at the 2018 Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference Meet held at the New Port Richey Aquatics Center. Coach Lorin MacDonald is at bottom right.

Boys
200-Yard Medley Relay (Land O’ Lakes, 1:42.24)

50-Yard Freestyle (Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, 21.23)

500-Yard Freestyle (Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, 4:47.52)

100-Yard Backstroke (Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, 51.98)

400-Yard Freestyle Relay (Land O’ Lakes, 3:18.63)

The county’s 13 high schools will square off again at district meets, which begin the week of Oct. 22 for 3A and 4A schools, and the week of Oct. 29 for 1A and 2A schools.

A closer look at the results:

2018 Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference Meet

Sunlake High School’s senior Hannah Barton gets a few strokes ahead of Land O’ Lakes’ Romina McCloskey in the final girls 100-yard freestyle.

Girls-Team Scores
Sunlake (508 points)

Land O’ Lakes (463)

Mitchell (314)

Wiregrass Ranch (227)

River Ridge (171)

Hudson (122)

Fivay (87)

Cypress Creek (83)

Wesley Chapel (72)

Pasco (69)

Gulf (30)

Zephyrhills (23)

Land O’ Lakes sophomore Luan Mantilla made a splash at the Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference Swim Meet.

Event Winners
Girls 200-Yard Medley Relay: Sunlake — Amber Ewald, Hanna Barton, Elise Ballash, Tori Eurell (1:53.05)

Girls 200-Yard Free: Taylor Ward Land O’ Lakes, sophomore (1:55.76)

Girls 200-Yard Individual Medley: Audrey Ballash, Sunlake, junior (2:18.23)

Girls 50-Yard Free: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, junior (24:10)

Girls 1-Meter Diving: Katelyn Kirves, River Ridge, senior (391.25 score)

Girls 100-Yard Fly: Hanna Barton, Sunlake, senior (1:01.46)

Girls 100-Yard Free: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, junior (53.52)

Girls 500-Yard Free: Taylor Ward, Land O’ Lakes, senior (5:02. 60)

Girls 200-Yard Free Relay: Land O’ Lakes — Taylor Ward, Amaya Henry, Margarita Czupryn, Romina McCloskey (1:41.55)

Girls 100-Yard Back: Amber Ewald, Sunlake, freshman (1:03.57)

Girls 100-Yard Breast: Elise Ballash, Sunlake, senior (1:07.60)

Girls 400-Yard Free Relay: Land O’ Lakes — Taylor Ward, Amaya Henry, Margarita Czupryn, Romina McCloskey (3:40.70)

Boys-Team Scores
Mitchell (430)

Land O’ Lakes (381)

Sunlake (281)

River Ridge (223)

Wiregrass Ranch (207)

Cypress Creek (155)

Wesley Chapel (134)

Fivay (108)

Zephyrhills (92)

Pasco (68)

Hudson (51)

Anclote (26)

Gulf (12)

Event Winners
Boys 200-Yard Medley Relay: Land O’ Lakes— Patryk Pilkowski, Zachary Smith, Griffin Sutek, Zuri Ramsey (1:42.24)

Boys 200-Yard Free: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, sophomore (1:47.45)

Hopeful for a teammate to win the heat, Isaiah Lawrence, of Zephyrhills, watches the action at the New Port Richey Aquatic Center, site of the 2018 Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference Meet. Lawrence swam in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle. He said the water was a cool 65 degrees to 68 degrees.

Boys 200-Yard Individual Medley: Colin Wilkins, Sunlake, junior (2:06.84)

Boys 50-Yard Free: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, senior (21.23)

Boys 1-Meter Diving: Colin Dempsey, Mitchell, senior (382.45 score)

Boys 100-Yard Fly: Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sunlake, junior (53.71)

Boys 100-Yard Free: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore (48.75)

Boys 500-Yard Free: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, sophomore (4:47.52)

Boys 200-Yard Free Relay: Land O’ Lakes — Jack Kaatze, Zachary Smith, Griffin Sutek, Ravidu Idippili (1:37.06)

Boys 100-Yard Back: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, senior (51.98)

Boys 100-Yard Breast: Austin Erickson, Mitchell, junior (1:04. 28)

Boys 400-Yard Free Relay: Land O’ Lakes — Zuri Ramsey, Jack Kaatze, Ravidu Idippili, Patryk Pilkowski (3:18.63)

Published October 17, 2018

State champion gymnast has bigger dreams in sight

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Zachary Myers’ gymnastics talent became apparent early on.

When he was just 3, he was doing flips on the couch and performing perfect cartwheels throughout the family’s Lutz home, his parents said.

He’d even tumble around the fields at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex during his Lutz Little League baseball days.

“We could see the natural ability in him,” said his father, Andy Myers. “He’s just got freakish ability.”

Zachary Myers, 10, of Lutz, has won three state titles and two regionals titles as a Level 4, 6 and 7 gymnast. On Oct. 13, he’ll compete in the 2018 Region 8 Future Stars and Technical Sequence Evaluation at Evo’s Gymnastics, in Sarasota. (Courtesy of the Myers family)

During four years of organized gymnastics, the 10-year-old has racked up his fair share of accolades.

He’s captured three state titles and two regional titles as a Level 4, 6 and 7 gymnast, along with winning numerous other local events.

His biggest achievement so far came last November.

That’s when he made the USA Gymnastics National U10 Development Team, after a 14th place finish at the Future Stars National Championships at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Only the top 16 finishers earned a spot on the development team.)

Zachary’s next big event comes Oct. 13, when he’ll compete in the 2018 Region 8 Future Stars and Technical Sequence Evaluation at Evo’s Gymnastics, in Sarasota.

Scoring at least a 76 will again get him to the Future Stars National Championships.

A trip back to Colorado Springs is well within reach.

Zachary recently posted an 82 at the Florida Future Stars Evaluation — the highest mark in the state.

He’s shooting for an even higher score at the region qualifier, as he fine-tunes his training at LaFluer’s Gymnastics, in Tampa.

Said Zachary: “My goal is to get an 85 at regionals. That is a 9.2 average. My coach also wants me to get that to try to make that my goal.”

The young gymnast doesn’t have to look far to see where he gets some of his talent.

His mother, Deanna Myers, herself is a former gymnast and a two-time member of the USA Women’s Junior Olympic Team.

Forced to retire at 18 due to nagging wrist and ankle injuries, she coached and judged gymnastics throughout nursing school.

Deanna, however, was always hesitant about putting Zachary into gymnastics, understanding the  commitment and dedication required for success.

She finally agreed after Zachary’s relentless pleading to get lessons.

Deanna explained: “I didn’t want Zachary missing out on things. When he first said he wanted to do gymnastics, I just kind of brushed it off. But, he consistently asked me for six months straight and then I was like, ‘OK, maybe I need to go ahead and take him.’”

Zachary’s passion for gymnastics remains strong
Though he sometimes misses playing baseball and time for other activities, he wouldn’t trade gymnastics for anything.

“I mean, I really like doing it. It’s just really fun once you get like really good at it,” Zachary said, noting he gets a lot of support from his fellow teammates at LaFleur’s.

His favorite event is the pommel horse, an apparatus fitted with a pair of curved handgrips, used for a gymnastic exercise consisting of swings of the legs and body.

“I like the agility if it. I get to move around and use my arms,” he said. “I used to play baseball and I used to have a lot of arm strength, and I like pommels because I can use my arms.”

That strength — combined with his mental focus and flexibility— has molded him into an elite gymnast for his age group.

LaFleur’s Gymnastics instructor Steven Schmerber said Zachary’s success is a “combination of a lot of things.

“He just kind of has this natural ability,” said Schmerber. “Even though all our other kids (at LaFluer’s) are still doing really well, he kind of has that little extra ‘oomph’ that just kind of pushes him a little bit.

“He’s a tiny dude—very flexible, very strong— so his strength to weight ratio is very big,” the coach added.

Hard work is also part of the equation.

Zachary practices six days a week, for more than 20 hours per week.

During the summer, he’ll practice as much as five hours per day.

When Zachary’s not perfecting his gymnastics routine, he’s buried in his studies.

As a fifth-grader at McKitrick Elementary School in Lutz, Zachary is a member of the National Elementary Honor Society. He has made the principal’s honor roll multiple times and he serves on the school’s safety patrol.

“He doesn’t need any push,” Deanna said. “He does everything without us asking him, so he’s self-motivated on his own. We don’t have to give him any pep talk. We don’t have to remind him to do anything. We don’t have to be concerned or ask him, ‘Hey, did you do your homework?’ because we already knows it’s been done.”

Deanna, meanwhile, is happy to see her son flourish in the sport she also loves. She’s his biggest fan and cheerleader.

“It’s exciting,” she said, “but I have to say, I’m more nervous watching him than when I ever was when I competed. My nerves are more watching him because I have no control, and I can’t go out on the floor.”

While many boys his age are wrapped up in video games and other toys, Zachary is mapping out his gymnastics future.

He’s shooting for a scholarship at Stanford, Michigan or Oklahoma universities.

He dreams of qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics and following in the footsteps of his idol, Sam Mikulak, a five-time U.S. national all-around champion and two-time Olympian.

His plan to achieve those lofty goals?

“Try my hardest,” he said, “and don’t give up.”

For information on Zachary’s fundraising efforts to nationals, visit tinyurl.com/ydhwpoxc.

Published October 10, 2018

Sunlake High girls swimming primed for another big splash

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The Land O’ Lakes High varsity football team upending Sunlake High in the 12th annual Butter Bowl wasn’t the only long-running sports streak broken between the two rival schools.

The other came in girls swimming and diving — with Sunlake finally getting the upper hand against its crosstown foe.

The Seahawks girls defeated the Gators in a dual meet 108-78, on Sept. 19 at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex Pool.

It marks the first time Sunlake has defeated Land O’ Lakes in a head-to-head competition.

Further, it’s just the third time that Land O’ Lakes has lost a dual meet since 2004.

The Gators entered the season with a 144-2 streak in this type of meet, according to longtime Gators head coach Robin Hilgenberg.

The Sunlake High girls swimming and diving team looks to build upon last season’s fourth-place finish at the Class 3A state championships. Shown here are coaches and members of the 200 free relay that placed first at states, from left: Coach Shelly Koutras, Tori Eurell, Audrey Ballash, Hanna Barton, Chloe Grimme and Coach Lorin Macdonald. (File)

Sunlake head coach Lorin Macdonald said the momentous win — plus the sizable point margin — is “a big confidence builder” as the team enters its conference and state series meets later this month.

“We ended up beating (Land O’ Lakes) by a lot more points that I was anticipating,” she said, noting the scores are usually much closer between the two schools.

Sunlake’s rare victory against one of the state’s perennial swim programs is no fluke.

Last year, the Seahawks girls team were regional champions in the Class 3A-Region 3 meet.

They followed that performance with a fourth-place finish (out of 48 schools) at the Class 3A state finals, shattering numerous school records along the way.

This year’s squad, however, may be even better.

It’s certainly deeper and more experienced.

Just about every key contributor returns from last season.

That includes junior Chloe Grimme, who at last year’s state meet won the 50 free (23.11) and placed second in the 100 free (51.18), earning All-American honors.

She was also part of the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay that placed first and third at states, respectively.

Other Sunlake standouts include future Division I talents in seniors Elise Ballash (verbal commit to University of North Florida) and Hanna Barton (verbal commit to University of South Carolina), along with Tori Eurell, Audrey Ballash and Alex Sprague.

With a roster of 31 swimmers, the Seahawks also have added depth, buoyed by a formidable freshman class paced by Amber Ewald and Leah Fonnotto.

“We have a really, really strong team this year,” Macdonald said. “There’s a lot more drive, especially behind our girls who went to states last year. They have a lot of drive and they have a lot of hunger to do very well this year.”

Barton, a team captain, put it like this: “We definitely are stronger (this year). “I think we are closer because we won last year and so we were all like really proud of each other. I think it’s even more close-knit this year. We all definitely are a lot more motivated and realize what we’re capable of doing.”

Fellow team captain Elise Ballash added: “We are the strongest, most positive and close-knit that I think we’ve been in the past four years. I’m really looking forward to this season.”

Grimme’s presence felt
There’s no question what Grimme’s impact means to the team — as an individual state

champion and the 2017 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Swimmer of the Year.

Aside from her swimming ability, Grimme’s everyday drive has also set the tone for the team.

As a freshman, she earned the nickname, ‘Beast Mode.’

When Grimme hits the water, Macdonald said she’s “like a machine.”

“The amount of focus that she has is crazy,” Macdonald said. “She just goes for it. There’s no turning back when she’s got her mindset on it.”

Such presence and determination serves as a motivator for everyone else, teammates say.

“She’s a good teammate,” Ballash said. “She like amps up the training atmosphere and the standard of training that we have here, too.”

“We want to be able to contribute as much as Chloe does and do what Chloe can do,” said Barton, “so it definitely pushes all of us, and it also just gets us more excited for each other because we know that with her, we are capable of doing some pretty cool things.”

Grimme, surprisingly, didn’t begin swimming until middle school.

She had played just about every sport until deciding to give competitive swimming a shot.

Her initial feelings toward the water-based sport: “Well, let’s see how it goes.”

The star swimmer admitted she “didn’t really know how to do anything” when she first hopped into a pool.

She was immediately drawn to the 50 freestyle, because it was the shortest event.

Fair to say, it became a natural fit.

“The more I worked on it, the speed of my stroke (improved), so I really tapped into the 50,” she said.

This year, Grimme hopes to repeat as 50 free state champion and win a state title in the 100 free.

She’s also striving to break her own records.

“I’ve always wanted to be the best at what I do. I want to reach my full potential,” she said.

In the meantime, Sunlake’s coaching staff is focused on keeping the team grounded and supportive of one another in advance of the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet, on Oct. 13 at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center.

It’s another event — like the dual meet — Sunlake hopes to capture from Land O’ Lakes, which has won every year since 2009.

“Even though we have such a strong team, I don’t want us banking on the fact that we have a strong team and going in overly confident,” Macdonald said. “If we go in overly confident then there’s that chance we take a misstep.”

Published October 3, 2018

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