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Local Sports

2017 Hillsborough County All-Western Conference teams

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Hillsborough County’s All-Western Conference teams have been released for the fall high school athletic season. The conference includes all public schools within Hillsborough County, but is broken up into three divisions. Coaches from teams within those divisions vote on the honor. All information is as provided by the Hillsborough Athletic Department. Local student-athletes and coaches who made the list include:

Football
American Division

Offense
First team
Coach of the Year: Kirk Karsen, Gaither

Center—Camden Roth, senior, Gaither

Running back—Jeromy Reid, senior, Gaither

Utility—Cayden Jordan, senior, Gaither

Second team
Donovan Jennings, senior, Gaither

Utility—Brandon Garcia, senior, Steinbrenner

Defense
First team
Lineman—Connor Jewel, senior, Gaither

Linebacker—Charles Stephens, senior, Steinbrenner

Second team
Lineman—Danny Craig, senior, Steinbrenner

Specialists
Second Team
Returner—Deon Silas, freshman, Steinbrenner

National Division

Offense
First team
Guard—Tyler Gray, senior, Freedom

Second Team

Running Back—Jeremiah Ashe, junior, Freedom

Tackle—CJ Viola, senior, Wharton

Specialists
Punter
First team
Andrew Ilclen, junior, Wharton

Place kicker

Second team

Mahdi Fawaz, senior, Wharton

Boys Golf
American Division

First team
Tyler Wilkes, sophomore Gaither

Blake Kolano, senior, Steinbrenner

Second Team

Cade Alfieri, senior, Steinbrenner

National Division

First team
Cooper Smith, sophomore Freedom

Cy Storlien, senior, Freedom

Deven Rabeiro, senior, Wharton

Caden Fletcher, junior, Wharton

Second team

Matthew Daniello, senior, Freedom

Coach of the Year: Dan Sidwell

Volleyball
American Division

First team
Jacquilyn Ramsey, senior, Steinbrenner

National Division

First team
Amarachi Eziakonwa, junior, Wharton

Jeanette Henderson, sophomore, Wharton

Second team

Coach of the Year: Eric Barber, Wharton

Graciela Viloria, junior, Wharton

Alanis Ortega, junior, Wharton

Girls Golf
American Division

First Team
Anna Jansen, senior, Steinbrenner

Lindsey Kolano, senior, Steinbrenner

Second Team

Coach of the Year: John Crumbley, Steinbrenner

Posie Farrelly, freshman, Steinbrenner

Alexis Castillo, sophomore, Steinbrenner

McKenzie Kane, freshman, Steinbrenner

National Division

First Team
Helena Noel, freshman, Freedom

Haley Good, sophomore, Freedom

Second team

Isabel Pliska, sophomore, Freedom

Compiled by Kevin Weiss

Recalling some top moments in sports for 2017

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Coaches were celebrated, state titles acquired and local athletes turned in outstanding performances.

The past year brought countless moments and lasting memories in sports, from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, across to Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

Here’s a look back at some of the top sports happenings from 2017:

Florida Hospital Center Ice opens
Hockey and ice-skating enthusiasts rejoiced when the largest ice sports facility in the Southeastern United States finally opened its doors in Wesley Chapel.

Florida Hospital Center Ice has been a hit since it opened in January. The five-rink facility is on pace to draw 1.5 million visitors in its first year. (File)

The 150,500-square-foot Florida Hospital Center Ice, unveiled in January, took about 2 ½ years to complete.

The main attraction of the $22.5 million complex, of course, is its four full-size rinks (one Olympic, three National Hockey League) and one kid-size rink.

Previously, many Pasco and northern Hillsborough residents would trek to Brandon’s Ice Sports Forum to get their hockey and skating fix. Others may have used the Clearwater Ice Arena or the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar.

Besides serving local hockey players, skaters and curlers, the facility already has scored on Pasco’s sports tourism initiative by hosting a number of camps, collegiate competitions and other tournaments — drawing an estimated 1.5 million visitors in its first year.

It has also become the training home of the U.S. women’s national hockey team, as members prepare for the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Land O’ Lakes High wins state softball title
It had been nearly 25 years since a Pasco County school won a state softball title — until May 20.

On that day, Land O’ Lakes seized the Class 6A state softball championship, unseating powerhouse Plantation American Heritage 3-1, at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach.

Land O’ Lakes High School ended Pasco County’s state softball title drought, after defeating American Heritage 3-1 in the Class 6A state championships on May 20. The victory marked the first fastpitch title for the Gators, and first for a Pasco school since 1992

The achievement marked the first fastpitch title for Land O’Lakes and the first for a Pasco County program since Ridgewood High won in 1992.

What made the victory even sweeter for the Gators was downing the same team that eliminated them in the 2016 state semifinals.

They did it in comeback fashion, too.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Land O’ Lakes unearthed timely hits and capitalized on opposition mistakes to build the lead for good — against an American Heritage program that was making its fourth-straight championship game appearance and had previously won seven state titles.

The Gators ended the year with a 29-3 record.

And, the accolades didn’t stop there.

In July, Gators coaches were named the 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) High School Coaching Staff of the Year, beating out staffs from other top-tier programs in California, New Jersey, Illinois and Kansas. The recognition went to Gators fourth-year head coach Mitch Wilkins and assistants Edwin Rodriguez, Janet Sciales and Vinny Guarracino.

Paralympic athletes excel at nationals
It was another banner year for Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay.

The team in July won its second straight Small Team Division at the National Junior Disability Championships in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Three athletes — Eric Lowry, 17, of Land O’ Lakes; Danielle Kanas, 12, of Lutz; and 16-year-old Logan Krepop of Parrish — earned a combined thirty-three medals and set nine national records. In total, they collected 18 gold, 11 silver and four bronze medals.

Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay this July won its second straight Small Team Division at the National Junior Disability Championships in Middleton, Wisconsin. Lutz resident Danielle Kanas, a single-arm amputee, earned 15 gold medals and set six national records this year.

Kanas — a single-arm amputee, missing her left arm below the elbow — herself collected 15 gold medals and set six national records this year.

That included a javelin throw of 19.66 meters, shattering the previous record for her age group by six meters.

After the season, Kanas earned Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay’s “Spirit of Excellence” award. The club’s highest honor, it recognizes courage, strength, determination and demonstration of a positive attitude as a role model.

Beyond athletics, Kanas is a “straight-A” student at Martinez Middle School, and member of the National Junior Honor Society, a Girl Scout, and patient ambassador at Shriner’s Hospital for Children-Tampa. She’s also a talented guitar player.

The others likewise have overcome various hardships to shine in athletics.

Lowry has spina bifida and competes from a wheelchair. It didn’t stop him from benching 190 pounds, earning a gold medal and setting an Adaptive Sports Junior national record.

And Krepop, who has cerebral palsy, earned a gold medal in the 400-meter run. His time of 1:33.14 set a new Adaptive Sports record for his age group.

Zephyrhills High honors winningest football coach
It was the perfect time for Zephyrhills High School to honor its winningest football coach.

The Bulldogs earned a district championship, won a playoff game, and finished the season with 10 wins.

That was all last done in 2002 — under former longtime coach Tom Fisher.

This year, the school’s Bulldog Stadium was formally renamed Tom Fisher Field at its Oct. 27 homecoming

During the school’s Oct. 27 homecoming, Zephyrhills High’s Bulldog Stadium was officially renamed Tom Fisher Field after its longtime coach of 21 years. Fisher retired in 2008 as the program’s winningest coach, with 124 career victories.

The dedication ceremony was attended by Fisher, and drew dozens of former players and coaches, as well as many of his family members and friends.

Fisher — regarded as a hard-nosed, no nonsense type who voraciously studied game films — retired in 2008 after 21 years as head coach.

In his tenure, Fisher won 124 games (most in program history) and led Bulldogs teams to eight playoff berths, four conference championships and three district titles; he also was a four-time conference coach of the year.

Moreover, the Zephyrhills football program had gone 47 years without a state playoff appearance until Fisher’s arrival, making it in his first season in 1989.

Another example of Fisher’s extensive impact: The Bulldogs’ past two head coaches, Nick Carroll and Reggie Roberts, both played for him over 20 years ago.

The most successful player under Fisher was defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, who played 14 years in the NFL, mostly for the St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers. Pickett, a 1998 Zephyrhills graduate, started as a freshman at Ohio State, left after his junior season to play professionally and was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Though its been nearly a decade since the 65-year-old Fisher last roamed the sidelines, he still can be found in the stands at many Bulldogs home games.

Academy at the Lakes wins state football title
Following three straight losing football seasons, Academy at the Lakes football experienced a remarkable turnaround in 2017 — capped by its first eight-man state title on Dec. 9 with a 30-9 win over Jacksonville Old Plank Academy.

The Wildcats, under fourth-year head coach Shawn Brown, finished the season 11-1, with a 7-0 district mark.

Many of their wins came in dominating fashion, with an average scoring margin of nearly 34 points.

Academy at the Lakes football overcame three straight losing seasons to win its first eight-man state title on Dec. 9. They finished the season 11-1, after going a combined 9-20 the past three years.

It was quite the contrast from past years.

The team went 2-8 in 2016, after finishing 4-7 and 3-5 the prior two seasons.

This year’s success harkens back to its summer offseason program, which included weightlifting sessions three days a week, participating in Division I college camps, and competing in various seven-on-seven tournaments — sometimes facing 11-man schools from Classes 7A and 8A.

The Wildcats’ solid talent base didn’t hurt its gridiron performances, either.

Senior tailback/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez was the most productive two-way player in the eight-man ranks— rushing for 1,125 yards and 24 touchdowns on offense, and tallying 138 tackles and 7.5 sacks on defense.

Several others made significant impacts as well, including freshmen Jalen Brown and Jordan Oladokun, juniors Jamaal Johnson and Dylan Price, and senior Isaiah Smith, among others.

The football program’s last state title came in 2006, when Academy at the Lakes played in the six-man ranks.

Some other notable highlights from 2017:

  • Wesley Chapel High varsity softball has first winning season in program history
  • Cypress Creek High varsity football wins its inaugural game against Gulf High
  • Wesley Chapel hoops product Erik Thomas appears in NCAA Tournament
  • Academy at the Lakes athlete Alexis Kilfoyl makes 2017 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team
  • Land O’Lakes’ Jabari Ramsey becomes the first boys swimmer from Pasco County to win three-straight state titles in the same event (100 breaststroke).
  • Carrollwood Day School volleyball wins the Class 4A state title, to earn the school’s first state championship in any sport.

• Steinbrenner baseball alum Kevin Merrell is selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Published December 27, 2017

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 2017-2018 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.

Fall Sports (Boys)
2017-2018 SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Cross Country
Coach of the Year: Chris Loth, Wiregrass Ranch
Runner of the Year: Alex Normandia, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team All-Conference
Alex Normandia, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Kevin Jaaves, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Giovanni Duran, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, junior

Devin Pollay, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Edward Scheid, Sunlake, sophomore

Joseph Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second-Team All-Conference
Jericho Cooey, Pasco, senior

Adam Hahn, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Josiah Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Carlos Cruz, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, junior

Anthony Dimarco, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Abdallah Mbowe, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, sophomore

John Rowsell, Cypress Creek, freshman

Sunlake High’s Jordan Sarhaddi was named 2017-2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East Boys’ Golfer of the Year. The junior took first place at the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet in October. He later won the districts and was runner-up at regionals before finishing 16th at the Class 2A state championships in Orlando. (File)

2017-2018 SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Golf
Coach of the Year: Shaun Van Patten, Zephyrhills
Golfer of the Year: Jordan Sarhaddi, Sunlake

First-Team All-Conference
Jordan Sarhaddi, Sunlake, junior

Damien Rhule, Sunlake, senior

Jarrod Smith, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Wyatt Pisarski, Zephyrhills, senior

Gabriel Fleck, Pasco, senior

Second-Team All-Conference
Zach Bauer, Wesley Chapel, senior

Cade Darbyshire, Pasco, senior

Brendan Schmied, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Landon Ogilbee, Zephyrhills, senior

Honorable Mention
Max Budd, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Zach Holiday, Land O’ Lakes, senior

2017-2018 SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Swimming & Diving
Coach of the Year: Brian Vaile, Land O’ Lakes
Swimmer of the Year: Jabari Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes
Diver of the Year: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)— Patryk Pilkowski, Jabari Ramsey, Zachary Davis, Zuri Ramsey

200 Freestyle: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

200 Individual Medley: Colin Wilkins, Sunlake, sophomore

50 Freestyle: Dominic Ortanez, Sunlake, sophomore

100 Butterfly: Jabari Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Freestyle: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, junior

500 Freestyle: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)—Brendon Thai, Dominic Ortanez, Colin Wilkins, Jay Jay Fonnotto

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

100 Breaststroke: Jabari Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, senior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)— Patryk Pilkowski, Jabari Ramsey, Zachary Davis, Zuri Ramsey

Diver: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

Second-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Zephyrhills)—Julian Jennings, Houston Neal, Peyton Lebron, Zayne Trebour

200 Freestyle: Quinn Crouse, Cypress Creek, freshman

200 Individual Medley: Jack Kaatze, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

50 Freestyle: David Garbutt, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

100 Butterfly: David Garbutt, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

100 Freestyle: Danny Amaya, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

500 Freestyle: Quinn Crouse, Cypress Creek, freshman

200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)—Daniel Amaya, Brennen Choate, Jayden Rogers, Dominick Slay

100 Backstroke: Ravidu Idipplil-Pathiran, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

100 Breaststroke: Griffen Sutek, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

400 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)— Nathan Doris, Diego Hernandez, Ryan Juarez, Paul Scavino

Diver: Rick Pritchard, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Quentin Carren, Pasco, freshman

Land O’ Lakes High’s Rachel Michner was named 2017-2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East Volleyball Player of the Year. The junior hitter on the season tallied 201 kills, 60 blocks, 30 aces and 53 digs. The Gators (18-10) reached the Class 7A regional semifinal. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Fall Sports (Girls)
2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Volleyball
Coach of the Year: Michelle Davis, Wiregrass Ranch
Player of the Year: Rachel Michner, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team All-Conference
Destanie Aydt, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Sydney Bade, Wesley Chapel, senior

Rachel Michner, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Caroline Schoonover, Sunlake, sophomore

Shayna Heymann, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Llanek Davis, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Abbie Hindersman, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Second-Team All-Conference
Peyton Patterson, Wesley Chapel, senior

Jaizah Anderson, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Sydney Hiner, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Elizabeth Spalding, Sunlake, senior

Kamea Nash, Sunlake, junior

Elanny Breton, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Rebecca Wolff, Pasco, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Shayla Fleshman, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Land O’ Lakes High’s Natalie Abernathy was named 2017-2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East Girls’ Runner of the Year. The junior was seventh at the Class 3A state meet (18:39.30). Her top time this season was 17:51.59, which ranks fourth overall among girls in the state regardless of classification. (File)

2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Cross Country
Coach of the Year: Randy Reeves, Sunlake
Runner of the Year: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes

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

Liina Winborn, Sunlake, sophomore

Estefania Acosta, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Shannon Gordy, Sunlake, freshman

Emily Jenkins, Sunlake, sophomore

Reis Ehman, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Kylee Ehman, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Second-Team All-Conference
Guadalupe Guerra, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Emma Skantze, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Olivia March, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Mariah Morales, Sunlake, junior

Brenna Moran, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Anna Moore, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Breanna Preiser, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Honorable Mention
Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, freshman

Madison Kaylor, Pasco, senior

Josalyn Wingo, Zephyrhills, junior

2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Golf
Coach of the Year: Kathleen Dorkowski
Golfer of the Year: Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team All-Conference
Maggie Schmock, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Emily Alderman, Zephyrhills, junior

Kacie Huber, Pasco, senior

Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Hannah Sullivan, Zephyrhills, junior

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

Loryn Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Sofia Clark, Sunlake, sophomore

Maddie Wagner, Sunlake, sophomore

Callisa Kwiat, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Hannah Collin, Wesley Chapel, senior

Cydnee Jonas, Wesley Chapel, freshman

2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Swimming & Diving
Coach of the Year: Tanner Schmitz, Land O’ Lakes
Swimmer of the Year: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake
Diver of the Year: Taylor Watson, Wesley Chapel

First-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake)—Tori Eurell, Hanna Barton, Elise Ballash, Chloe Grimme

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

200 Individual Relay: Audrey Ballash, Sunlake, sophomore

50 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, sophomore

100 Butterfly: Margarita Czupryn, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

100 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, sophomore

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

200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)—Tori Eurell, Chloe Grimme, Audrey Ballash, Hannah Barton

100 Backstroke: Tori Eurell, Sunlake, junior

100 Breaststroke: Elise Ballash, Sunlake, junior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)— Taylor Ward, Romina McCloskey, Margarita Czupryn, Ashley Schrader

Diver: Taylor Watson, Wesley Chapel, senior

Second-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)— Daniela LaFlamme, Kieligh Grace, Kyra Johnson, Delaney Smith

200 Freestyle: Alex Sprague, Sunlake, freshman

200 Individual Relay: Alex Sprague, Sunlake, freshman

50 Freestyle: Brooke Duncan, Wesley Chapel, senior

100 Butterfly: Kyra Johnson, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

100 Freestyle: Brooke Duncan, Wesley Chapel, senior

500 Freestyle: Daniela LaFlamme, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

200 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Jessica Adcock, Amaya Henry, Jennifer Zartman, Rowan Rees

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

400 Freestyle Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)— Daniela LaFlamme, Delaney Smith, Kieligh Grace, Kyra Johnson

Diver: Alexa Scalchunes, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention:
Gianna Nuguit, Cypress Creek, freshman

Mykenzy Neal, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Abigail Fisher, Pasco, junior

Published December 27, 2017

Land O’ Lakes swim teams celebrate ‘dream’ season

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Land O’ Lakes High School’s 2017 swim season was a memorable one.

The Gators thrived in the Class 2A swim meet last month, earning medals and shattering school records in jaw-dropping fashion.

The girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams) — marking the highest combined finish at states on record for both teams.

They collectively earned eight medals and set five school records.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Swimming & Diving team wrapped up perhaps its most successful season ever. At the Class 2A swim meet last month, the girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams) — marking the highest combined finish at states on record for both teams. Both teams also won conference and districts meets, and were regional runners-up. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Swimming & Diving Team)

The state championships capped an otherwise noteworthy campaign for the Gators, consistently one of the county’s top high school swim programs.

They won district and Sunshine Athletic Conference titles, and were regional runners-up. The conference titles marked the 17th straight for the boys team and ninth straight for the girls.

Both teams also went undefeated (7-0) in their dual-meets this season.

Those moments and more were celebrated during the program’s end-of-year banquet on Dec. 5

“We’ll never have another season like this; this is like your dream season,” boys coach Brian Vaile said, of the 2017 campaign.

Ramsey reflects on historic career
Senior Jabari Ramsey was already a household name, but his final go-round further cemented himself as one of the Gators most accomplished swimmers.

He earned his third straight state gold medal in the 100 breaststroke, with a time of 56:11.

And with that, he became the first boy swimmer from Pasco County to win three straight titles in the same event.

“This whole season went incredibly well. It’s something that as swimmer you dream of,” Ramsey said.

His favorite memory though, was that of being a key member of the Gators 200 medley relay team.

He joined forces with Patryk Pilkowski, Zachary Davis and younger brother Zuri Ramsey to win the state 200 medley relay in 1:35.97 — smashing last year’s school record of 1:39.09 —becoming the first-ever Pasco County relay team to win gold at the Class 2A state championships.

“It still gives me goose bumps,” Ramsey said of the event. “It’s amazing to do it with the team. To win it is great, but to win it with individuals who care just as much as you do just means that much more.”

Ramsey’s four gold medals altogether is also a new county record — surpassing former Mitchell standout Devin McCaffrey, who earned three individual titles during his prep career.

The accomplished Gator has received looks from several universities since the season ended, from the likes of Nevada-Las Vegas and Grand Canyon, as well as Florida and Florida State.

Wherever Ramsey lands, he won’t soon forget a remarkable high school career and the countless relationships forged.

“The group of people, especially this year, has been amazing. It’s been a dream come true,” Ramsey said. “It’s been my pleasure to be a part of a team like this. We’re not selfish. We treat everyone equally. From the slowest person to the fastest person, everyone comes together.”

Beyond the pool, Ramsey will be remembered for his leadership qualities. He’s been a team captain since sophomore year.

He said his goal was just to make the team better and not necessarily become the “best swimmer.”

“I wanted to put the team in a better place every single year,” Ramsey said. “To be able to, after four years, being with a team like this, making the memories, records, everything altogether — it’s been a true blessing.”

Ramsey, who is home-schooled, just recently began taking a few classes on campus. It never deterred him from setting positive examples, however.

“I’ve seen him develop a lot as a leader; he has great leadership skills,” said Vaile, who’s coached high school swimming since 1997.

Vaile noted many home-schoolers can be shy and withdrawn, but insists “Jabari is not that.”

Said Vaile, “He’ll be a good coach. He loves swimming. His knowledge of swimming…is really good, and he generally likes helping people that don’t know. Yes, he got faster, but he developed more as a person.”

Foreign student makes immediate splash
Ramsey wasn’t the only individual boys swimmer to reach the state podium. 

Pilkowski was another recognized medalist, earning third place in the 100 backstroke (51:75) — a time that broke the previous school record by a full 3 seconds.

He also set a school record in the 100 free (47.66) earlier this season.

The junior this year moved from Poland to Land O’ Lakes, staying with his aunt so he could study in the United States.

An accomplished swimmer in his native country, Pilkowski’s arrival was a pleasant surprise for the team, which was in need of a backstroke specialist.

“Talk about a godsend,” Vaile said, “because he is fast.”

The Gators coach still recalls when Pilkowski showed up for the team’s first practice; tryouts had already taken place.

The Gators boys 200 medley relay team became the first-ever Pasco County boys relay team to win gold at the Class 2A state championships. From left: junior Patryk Pilkowski, senior Jabari Ramsey, senior Zachary Davis and freshman Zuri Ramsey.

“I looked at him and could tell he was a swimmer,” Vaile said.

The coach said the English language was often a barrier for Pilkowski, but noted “it got better as the year went by.”

Pilkowski explained it was his “dream” to one day study in America, when he visited the country two years ago.

He acknowledged being on the swim team eased the transition culturally.

“I met a lot of friends here,” Pilkowski said. “Everyone helped me because I’m coming from a different country, and it’s stressful. Everyone was very friendly. Everyone smiled and every time would say to me, ‘Good Luck.’”

Pilkowski is still deciding whether he’ll remain at Land O’ Lakes for his senior year or return to Poland.

“I’m just going to say a little prayer, see if Patryk can maybe bring a friend of two,” Vaile said, jokingly.

Proper sendoff for Schmitz, Schrader
The girls team’s fifth place finish at states was its highest ever — and a marked improvement from previous years.

The group finished 13th last year and 11th in 2015.

It was also a sendoff of sorts for third-year coach Tanner Schmitz, who is stepping away to pursue a master’s degree and a career as a school administrator.

“It was such a great way to finish,” said Schmitz, who previously coached at Wiregrass Ranch and Mitchell high schools.

“We walked out of (states) with our heads high, and the girls were ecstatic to be able to accomplish that.”

The Gators girls 200 free relay team became the first-ever Pasco County girls relay team to finish top three at the state championships. From left: junior Taylor Ward, senior Ashley Schrader, junior Margarita Czupryn and junior Romina McCloskey. 

The team medaled in five events at states — 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 relay and 400 relay.

And, it was all was done by just four girls — juniors Taylor Ward, Romina McCloskey, Margarita Czupryn and senior Ashley Schrader.

The quartet became the first girls relay team in Pasco County history to record a top-three finish at states after they placed third in the 200 free relay in 1:39.71—a school record.

The feat was something Schmitz predicted would happen when he witnessed the budding talent on his first day of practice three years ago.

“I’d been looking at their times and the very first day, I crouched down next to the lane where they were at and I said, ‘Look at each other. Before you graduate, you will be the first Pasco County relay team to finish in the top three.’ …To have that goal that they set as freshman and then do exactly what they set out to do, just as a coach, it doesn’t get better.

“It’s been a really amazing group of girls, to watch and mature through their high school years,” he added.

The 2017 season is likewise nostalgic for Schrader, the relay team’s lone senior.

“This was definitely my favorite year,” she said.

Schrader exits Land O’ Lakes as a three-time state qualifier and a part of three school records (200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay).

She plans to swim at New York University next season.

“It’s so sad being gone because now I won’t be there for them anymore, but it was so much fun,” she said of the 2017 season. “There were so many memories. It was just a really good experience.”

Schrader will also miss Schmitz’s coaching influence the past few years. She noted he “helped bring the team all together” after longtime coach Robin Hilgenberg retired in 2015.

Unfinished business for Ward
Besides being a key cog on the Gators 200 and 400 free state relay teams, junior Taylor Ward also delivered a pair of silver medals in the 200 and 500 freestyle races.

Now, she has gold in her sights.

“Definitely the goal for next season is to win a state title,” Ward said.

Her title aspirations seem well within reach.

The 500 free could be wide open considering three of the top four medalists (besides Ward) were seniors.

Meanwhile in the 200 free, Ward again will likely compete against Bayshore junior Ryley Ober (first place) and Clay freshman Sara Stotler (third place).

“If I had money to bet on it, I think she’s going to get a state championship next year,” Schmitz said of Ward.

“That’s her ultimate goal. She came so close this year… .I think she’ll break through next year.”

Ward’s dedication to the sport certainly won’t hurt. She trains year-round, only taking a week off in the summertime.

In addition to swimming daily, her regimen consists of two-a-day practices, or “doubles” on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. She also lifts weights and runs twice a week, to boost strength and endurance.

Yet her biggest strides in the water have been cerebral.

“I feel like I’m definitely stronger physically, but not only physically, but mentally with my swimming,” Ward said. “I feel like I’m a lot more strategic with my races…so rather than swimming harder, I’m swimming more smarter.”

Land O’ Lakes High School Swimming & Diving
Class 2A state medalists

Boys
200 Medley Relay (1:35.97; first place): Patryk Pilkowski (junior), Jabari Ramsey (senior), Zachary Davis (senior), Zuri Ramsey (freshman)

100 Breaststroke (56.11; first place): Jabari Ramsey

100 Backstroke (51.75; third place): Patryk Pilkowski

Girls
200 Freestyle (1:50.27; second place): Taylor Ward

100 Freestyle (53.07; sixth place): Romina McCloskey

500 Freestyle (4:56.57; second place): Taylor Ward

200 Free Relay (1:39.71; third place): Romina McCloskey (junior), Margarita Czupryn (junior), Ashley Schrader (senior), Taylor Ward (junior)

400 Free Relay (3:38.54; fourth place): Margarita Czupryn,

Romina McCloskey, Ashley Schrader, Taylor Ward

Published December 20, 2017

SAC All-Conference football teams announced

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The Sunshine Athletic Conference All-Conference football teams were recently announced for the 2017 season.

Wiregrass Ranch defensive back Jordan Miner was named 2017 Defensive Player of the Year for the Sunshine Athletic Conference. Miner, a Penn State University commit, tallied 39 tackles, four interceptions and five passes defensed. (File)

Selections were made by high school coaches for both the East and West Division, reflecting Pasco County’s 14 public high schools.

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

SAC East All-Conference Teams
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School (9-3; 4-2 district)
Coach of the Year: Nick Carroll, Zephyrhills
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Charles Harrison, Zephyrhills
Defensive Player of the Year: DB Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Offense:​
QB – Charles Harrison, Zephyrhills, senior

RB – Elijah Thomas, Zephyrhills, senior

RB – Dexter Leverett, Wesley Chapel, senior

WR – Ja’quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, junior

WR – Tre’Pavis Mobley, Zephyrhills, junior

OL – Cameron Tucker, Zephyrhills, senior

OL – Seth Petty, Wesley Chapel, junior

OL – Corbin Doers, Land O’ Lakes, junior

OL – Tyler Estep, Sunlake, senior

​OL – Zach Williams, Pasco, senior

TE – Devaun Roberts, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Utility- Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, junior

Defense:
DL – Sterlin Williams, Zephyrhills, senior

DL – Matt Geiger, Land O’ Lakes, senior

DL – Chaz Neal, Wesley Chapel, senior

DL – KaSean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

LB – Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

LB- Austen Wittish, Wesley Chapel, senior

LB – Adam Jarvis, Sunlake, senior

LB – Myron Bloom, Land O’ Lakes, junior

DB – Malik Melvin, Wesley Chapel, senior

DB – Dexter Leverett, Wesley Chapel, senior

DB – Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

P – Hayden Wills, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

K – Daniel Chacon, Zephyrhills, junior

Second-Team
Offense:
QB – Grant Sessums, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

RB – Adrian Thomas, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

RB – Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, junior

WR – Darrion Robinson, Pasco, sophomore

WR— Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, junior

OL – Alex Sherman, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

OL – Justin Collier, Land O’ Lakes, senior

OL – Nkem Asomba, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

OL – Ethan Vest, Zephyrhills, junior

OL – John Alford, Zephyrhills, junior

TE – Tylor Winn, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Utility – Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Defense:
DL – Xavier Arroyo, Land O’ Lakes, senior

DL – Samuel Bergeron, Zephyrhills, junior

DL – Miguel Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

DL – Matt Severson, Wesley Chapel, senior

LB – Nick Gaziano, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

LB – Zac Masci, Zephyrhills, senior

LB – Cameron Lee, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

LB – Cameron Smith, Pasco, senior

DB – Nate Howard, Land O’ Lakes, junior

DB – Daniel Biglow, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

DB – Kwesi Littlejohn, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

P – Daniel Chacon, Zephyrhills, junior

K – Fletcher Martin, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Honorable Mention: FB/LB Nathan Miller, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Published December 13, 2017

Saddlebrook Prep student-athletes strive for success

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Cosette Anderson moved clear across the country from Seattle when she was in seventh grade to attend Saddlebrook Preparatory School — with the hope of developing her golf game.

Tennis player Noah Schachter also ventured to the school from the Pacific Northwest.

Meanwhile other athletes, including Aline Krauter and Sifan He, moved even greater distances to attend the renowned prep school. They crossed international waters, with Krauter coming from Germany, and He making the trek from China.

Four student-athletes from Saddlebrook Preparatory School penned their National Letters of Intent at a signing ceremony last month. From left: Cosette Anderson, signed with Elon University; Sifan He, signed with Pepperdine University; Aline Krauter, signed with Stanford University; and Noah Schachter, signed with Texas A&M University.
(Courtesy of Chris Rosenke)

Students arriving on the Wesley Chapel campus have specific goals in mind. They are aiming to earn a Division I college athletic scholarship and to compete in professional sports.

Anderson, Schachter, Krauter and He have achieved part one. Each of them signed National Letters of Intent during a signing day ceremony on Nov. 9.

Schachter signed with Texas A&M University; Anderson signed with Elon University in North Carolina. Krauter and He, meanwhile, intend to spend the next four years golfing in California, for Stanford and Pepperdine universities, respectively.

The fall signing period wrapped up last month, whereby several student-athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area went from prospective recruits to college signees.

The designated period allowed athletes who have made verbal commitments to a university to officially accept a scholarship by signing with their chosen school.

It holds particular meaning for sports academies, including Saddlebrook, where many students have professional sports aspirations, and work tirelessly everyday to reach that goal.

Saddlebrook Prep has 85 students, and caters to grades 3 through 12; all but three students actively compete in tennis or golf.

Tuition for the prep school and golf academy costs nearly $49,475 annually for non-boarding students and $64, 875 for boarders. Its tennis academy — combined with prep schooling — is slightly less expensive, at $42,060 a year for non-boarders and $60,665 for boarders.

School leaders say Saddlebrook’s “world-class training facilities and strong academic focus” set it apart from other tennis or golf boarding schools.

Student-golfers are coached on the resort’s two Arnold Palmer-designed courses, while tennis players train daily with their coaches on 45 tennis courts.

Both sports programs allow students to participate in local, regional and national tournaments, traveling as part of the Saddlebrook Prep team, or individually, depending on the tournament and player.

More than 50 percent of its student-athletes wind up signing a college scholarship or some type of grant-in-aid agreement, headmaster Chris Wester said.

Making international connections
Saddlebrook Prep’s record of success annually attracts dozens of boarding students from more than 20 countries, including such places as Sweden, Germany, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Australia and Brazil, among others.

About half of Saddlebrook’s enrollment consists of international students.

Many discover Saddlebrook Prep by competing in international tournaments and by word of mouth.

That was the case for China’s Sifan He, who enrolled in September.

The Chinese student said a friend recommended the school to her, and she believes the boarding school experience has proven worthwhile — socially, academically and athletically. Her college of choice—Pepperdine— consistently fields one of the nation’s top 10 Division I women’s golf programs, and is widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier private institutions.

Saddlebrook Preparatory School has 85 students, catering to grades 3 through 12. More than 50 percent of its student-athletes wind up signing a college scholarship or some type of grant-in-aid agreement. The school attracts students from more than 20 nations, primarily from Asia and Europe.

She gave Saddlebrook high marks. “The program here is very good. All the people here are very friendly, and they’re willing to help you. I like all the staff here — they’re really, really nice. And, the facilities here are very good.”

Aline Krauter arrived at Saddlebrook during her sophomore year, from Germany.

Krauter, an elite golfer in her own right, won the 2016 German International Amateur Championship. More recently, she finished seventh this year at the Portuguese International Ladies Amateur and 22nd at the Annika Invitational in Sweden. She also placed in the final 64 at the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, and competed in the European Girls Team Championship in Finland.

Krauter said the move from Germany to Wesley Chapel wasn’t a huge transition, having attended an international school in her native country.

“I was used to having an international environment, so it wasn’t too much of a difference,” she said.

Something she couldn’t do in Germany, however, was golf everyday.

As soon as she finishes school at 12:05 p.m., she can head straight out to the golf course, she said.

Saddlebrook’s daily schedule is modeled after the NCAA format for athlete participation; twenty hours is the maximum number of organized practice hours at the NCAA level.

High school students have classes from 7:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. They then practice from 1 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. — which includes fitness time.

The boarding program, meanwhile, requires additional responsibilities of its students, such as washing clothes, cleaning dishes and making beds — helping to create a collegial atmosphere on campus.

“Our kids master time management, whereas kids that maybe went to a public school and went to golf every other day…they may not have the same time management skills that our kids would have, because they’ve been living it for a period of time,” Wester said.

Some sports academies are criticized for not emphasizing academics enough.

Wester argues that’s not the case for Saddlebrook Prep, which is fully accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI), and the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS).

Seventy percent of the school’s faculty members hold master’s degrees.

Said Wester, “If you look at where our student-athletes matriculate to, and the pathways that we’ve created with universities, our academics are deemed to be rigorous enough for Stanford, Texas A&M, Virginia, Florida from last year, Vanderbilt, Duke. They all know — because we have sent students there previously — what they’re going to get.”

In addition to the four athletes that signed last month, Wester anticipates more than 11 more seniors — out of its 22-member senior class — to sign some sort of scholarship in the spring signing period in March.

Besides strong academics, advanced sports instruction helps make the reality of a college scholarship possible.

All of Saddlebrook’s tennis and golf instructors played at the collegiate level; a majority played their sport professionally, too.

Mark Hirschey is the director of instruction for Saddlebrook Golf Academy.

He said coaches and athletic trainers assist students on technique, decision-making and in-game strategy.

Hefty focus is also given to strength and flexibility training, and mental fitness—encompassing visualization, proper breathing during to pre- and post-shot routines, and positive self-talk.

Being around other motivated, likeminded athletes, too, provides an invaluable experience.

“It creates a competition that helps them improve and, at the same time, learn to handle the pressure. They not only learn from the coaches, but also by the example the better players set,” Hirschey wrote in an e-mail to The Laker/Lutz News.

Saddlebrook also accommodates a tournament travel schedule during the school year where athletes can compete throughout Florida and the U.S., and even the Bahamas and Cayman Islands. Athletes can compete, as long as they make up their classwork when they return.

“We have designated time for them to come back and get one-on-one instruction with their teachers, so that they stay academically sound,” Wester explained.

Schachter, who is rated as the No. 23 player in the 2018 class by tennisrecruiting.net, considers that option “the best part” about Saddlebrook.

“Academically, it’s helped me a lot,” he said, “because I can travel to tournaments where I would normally not be able to at a regular school, and they’re really flexible here, and I’m allowed to make up my work easily. It’s made for athletes and that’s been like a huge help, because I don’t feel stressed whenever I want to travel to tournaments.”

Schachter earned a career-best ITF (International Tennis Federation) ranking of No. 185 in February, after earning ITF points from wins at several sanctioned tournaments.

“The biggest thing that’s helped me develop as a player is just having a good schedule and being able to have private instruction with the coaches, and also being able to hit with like really good players,” Schachter said.

The daily grind can be demanding.

In the long run, Anderson said, that will serve her well.

“I feel like the structure and everything is definitely a component where your life is set up in a way where you’re taught to practice no matter how you feel, so it’s good and bad, but I mean in the end, after high school, after it’s all done and you’ve graduated, all those days that you put into practice, you’ve grown as a person and feel like a stronger athlete,” she said.

Besides golf, Anderson serves as Saddlebrook Prep’s council president for the Class of 2018.

She appreciates the small, tight-knit environment the program creates.

“Everyone gets really close, so you have a sense that you’re a family in the community,” Anderson said.  “And, that’s helped me a lot as a person because I’ve been able to build really, really close relationships with people from all over the world, and I can go to a lot of different places and know people from there, and have a connection.”

Published December 6, 2017

This special league puts the focus on fun

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Wins and losses don’t matter in this softball league.

But having fun does.

Some members of the Idlewild Baptist Church Special Needs Softball League get together for a group shot. (Fred Bellet)

Every fall and spring, Idlewild Baptist Church (IBC) in Lutz hosts a softball league for the special needs community in Tampa Bay.

It’s called the IBC Champions Division.

And, together it brings children and adults of all ages, with varying physical and mental disabilities.

Some players have autism. Others have Down syndrome. It has even accommodated a blind player in the past.

“We have them all, and we love them all,” said Louise Faust, one of the league’s volunteers.

Christine Hoerner, 30, of Wesley Chapel avoids an inside pitch for a ball as she takes her turn at bat. Christine knocked one to the wall. Catcher David Johnson of Spring Hill looks on.

Faust, along with a handful of others, serve as designated “Field Buddies.” They keep the games moving along and shielding players from any hard-hit balls.

The league draws more than two dozen special needs players from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Church membership isn’t required to participate.

“It’s not all folks from within our church congregation,” said Deana Troyer, manager of Idlewild’s special needs. “There are people from the community here that may be part of the church or part of no church, but this commonality draws them together.

“We all come out and have a blast,” she added.

Troyer noted the special group bonds over their relative circumstances.

“They look out for each other. They operate like a family,” she said.

The six-game fall season ran from Oct. 7 to Nov. 18.

Special Needs Softball League player Alan Alvarez gets a big hug for a great game from Deana Troyer, manager of the special needs ministry at Idlewild Baptist Church.

Games are played for about an hour on Saturday mornings at Idlewild’s Champions Field, a fenced-in complex made of rubber pavement — from recycled tires — to safely accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, and help prevent injuries from accidental falls. Donations to the church’s foundation helped build the facility in 2011.

Unlike other recreation sports, the rules of this league are lenient and accommodating.

There are no practices. No one keeps score. Players can opt to hit off a tee or receive pitches from a designated coach or player. Anyone can hit a home run and run the bases if they so choose. And, teams are split in half, based on who shows up each week.

“We have our own rules,” Faust said. “It’s just for fun and everybody enjoys it. I enjoy it, too.”

Count 52-year-old Kelly West among those who look forward to games each week during the season.

Designated catcher David Johnson, right, helps Colton Smith, 24, of Tampa cross home plate as a teammate bats him in during a game of the Idlewild Baptist Church Special Needs Softball League.

West, who has Down syndrome, is accompanied to each game by her mother, Donna West. The pair were among the first arrivals at a recent Nov. 11 contest.

“It’s cute and it’s fun, and they really enjoy it. I know my daughter does,” Donna West said.

Kelly proved one of the game’s standouts, eking a standup triple out of a groundball. Her energy and enthusiasm never wavered.

What does she adore most about the league? “We’re a family,” she said.

Another player, 36-year-old Tim Culver, has played in the league for the past four years. “Making friends” keeps him coming back.

Kelly West,52, of Carollwood is all smiles after being safe at third base during the Idlewild Baptist Church Special Needs Softball League.

Christine Hoerner, too, has been in the league for several years. The 30-year-old is known among her peers for her hitting power — slugging her share of home runs. In fact, the field clears to the dugout when she steps to the plate. “I like to hit it over the fence,” she said.

Besides its players, Champions Division softball holds significant meaning for its volunteers.

Kathy Alvarez has helped as a coach, since the league began more than a decade ago when games were played on regular fields, until the Champions Field was constructed.

Alvarez said the program provides an opportunity for special needs players to learn new skills, while getting exercise and having an all-around good time.

“They look forward to it and they’ll see me at church and say, ‘Coach, baseball’s coming soon,’ and it might be in June and they’re already looking towards October.”

She added some newcomers are initially hesitant to participate, but eventually warm up to the idea once seeing others play.

Tim Culver,36, of Tampa, a member of the Idlewild Baptist Church Special Needs Softball League gets a hit as designated catcher, David Johnson of Spring Hill watches the special needs adult get a hit at the church’s sports complex off Van Dyke Road.

Alvarez explained: “What’s interesting about it is I can get a new kid…and they won’t want to get out of the car, or they’ll sit on the bench and won’t want to play, which is fine. Then the next week, they say, ‘Hey, I’ll come up to bat,’ and in a couple weeks they know that they hit the ball, they run the bases. They learn on their own just by watching; it’s an awesome thing to go through.”

Henry Morales, another volunteer, likewise has seen the progression of players firsthand, since he began volunteering over six years ago. He supports his niece, Christine Hoerner.

Said Morales, “Some of them have never played any kind of baseball or anything before coming here, so you kind of start them off on the tee ball like a 3-year-old. And when we first started in 2011, a lot of them were doing that. Now, almost all of them are taking pitched balls and hitting them.”

The softball program also puts regular life into perspective for David Johnson, another “Field Buddy.”

Rounding the bases, Tim Jabadoss, of Lutz, can sometimes be confused with his twin brother, Thomas Jabadoss. They both play on the same team.

He explained: “We go through our everyday lives, stressing, ‘Man, I’ve got to do this…’ We think we have a big burden on our shoulders, but when you stand behind home plate and you watch them play and laugh and give you high-fives, your problems don’t seem that bad.”

He added: “Every time they give me high-fives and give me hugs, it just makes my day. There are some things you just can’t forget. It sticks with you; it stays with you.”

In addition to softball, Idlewild Baptist Church offers a comprehensive special needs program.

Among the highlights are a fishing program, called Fishing, Faith and Fun, beginning in January. There’s also a Christmas pageant, featuring special needs participants, on Dec. 3.

For more information on the programs, visit Idlewild.org/category/special-needs/.

Published November 29, 2017

Academy at the Lakes football relishes playoffs, breakout season

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Academy at the Lakes football head coach Shawn Brown anticipated a team turnaround before the season.

He was right.

After three consecutive losing seasons in the eight-man football ranks, the Wildcats are in the midst of one of its best in program history, with a state title in reach.

The team currently stands at 9-1, including a 7-0 mark in Florida Christian Region 2 — worthy enough for a No. 2 ranking in the state among all eight-man schools.

And, they’re just a win away from reaching the FCAPPS (Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools) championship game.

Most recently, the Wildcats downed Canterbury 54 to 6 in the state quarterfinals on Nov 17.

Academy at the Lakes’ offense is averaging a staggering 51 points per game this season, aiding the team during its eight-game winning streak. The Wildcats downed Canterbury 54 to 6 in the state quarterfinals on Nov 17.
(Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

The playoff blowout isn’t a shock. The Wildcats have scored an average of 51 points per game this season while allowing just 15.2 points per game.

That season-long dominance has allowed Brown and his coaching staff to build depth among its 24 active players — utilizing backups in place of starters during second-halves of several games.

“It’s been really neat to watch the whole dynamics of a true team, overall,” said Brown, who is in his fourth season as head coach. “Our starters giving up a lot of playing time for our backups to get in, and our backups this year have gotten a lot of playing time.

“Most teams don’t beat people like we have, where the backups get a lot of playing time.”

The team’s next game is Dec. 1 against Orlando’s Eastland Christian (10-1) — the only team to defeat the Wildcats this season, back on Sept. 7.

The Wildcats lost that matchup 50-35, despite entering halftime with a 28-14 lead. Brown explained dehydration and cramping issues among several starters stymied the team in the second half.

“We probably needed to be humbled,” Brown said, of the September loss. “We, as coaches, are reminding them that we’ve been on that losing side for so long, so we tell them to, ‘Respect the game.’”

Academy at the Lakes went 2-8 in 2016, after finishing 4-7 and 3-5 the prior two seasons.

Much of the past struggle can be credited to youth and inexperience.

This year’s team, however, is dotted with upperclassman and skill players.

Brown expected improvements this season, though not to this extent.

“Has it been a surprise to me to how we played? Absolutely. But, I can’t say we were going to come here and mop people like we have,” he said.

“At some point we were going to have a breakout season. It just happened to be this season,” he said.

Brown credits the team’s summer offseason program, which included weightlifting sessions three days a week, participating in Division I college camps, and competing in various seven-on-seven tournaments, sometimes facing 11-man schools from Classes 7A and 8A.

The work, Brown said, taught Wildcats “to be competitive.”

Pure talent and execution on offense is another key reason for the team’s historic run, added offensive coordinator Landon Smith.

Freshman quarterback Jalen Brown has displayed composure and maturity, throwing 11 touchdowns and just one interception.

Seniors Daniel Gonzalez (889 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns) and Isaiah Smith (17 receptions, 495 yards, 13 touchdowns) have been explosive playmakers, as has junior Jamaal Johnson (642 scrimmage yards, eight touchdowns).

“From one game to the next, we probably run about seven plays, and they just execute those plays very well. These kids are getting chunks of yards with the same play over and over,” Landon Smith explained.

“A lot of these kids have been here since eighth-graders, so at this point, they’ve had a number of years to learn this system. I like to think it’s the play calling, but I think it’s more of the kids and their talent and execution that’s making us, offensively, as good as we are,” he said.

The team’s defense likewise has flashed, posting a combined 59 sacks and 90 tackles for loss, 18 forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions — which includes 10 picks by freshman cornerback Jordan Oladokun, the younger brother of University of South Florida quarterback Chris Oladokun.

“I think what’s really leading to our success this year is we’re having fun,” said Jalen Brown, the son of head coach Shawn Brown.

“We’re winning, and starting new traditions and everything. The atmosphere is totally different this year than it was last year. We’ve got handshake celebrations and everything. Our defense cheers for our offense, and our offense cheers for defense.”

Seniors, too, are cherishing the 2017 campaign and what remains.

“It’s been an honor. It’s been an awesome ride,” Daniel Gonzalez said. “I wouldn’t want to end my senior year any other way. This is a heck of a ride. I’m having a lot of fun; all these guys are so into it, and everyone wants to win a state championship this year.”

Isaiah Smith defined this season as “awesome and inspiring.”

“Last year it was like having training wheels, and we were just getting our feet wet, to be honest. Now, this year, it’s kind of showing what we can do now,” Smith said.

“I think it’s just a statement of how far we can go to reach the top.”

Game-by-game results:
Aug. 25: at Citi Christian Academy (40-22 win)
Sept 7: Eastland Christian (50-35 loss)
Sept. 22: Canterbury (48-16 win)
Sept. 28: Solid Rock Community (80-0 win)
Oct. 2: at Saint Lucie Christian (49-12 win)
Oct. 13: Lakeside Christian (40-21 win)
Oct. 20: at Donahue Catholic (36-0 win)
Oct. 27: Seacoast Christian Academy (68-7 win)
Nov. 3: at Hernando Christian Academy (57-29 win)
Nov. 17: Canterbury (54-6 win)

Published November 22, 2017

Local high schools shine at state swim meets

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The 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Swimming & Diving Championships wrapped up its meets across all four classes on Nov. 11.

Land O’ Lakes High School shined in the Class 2A swim meet on Nov. 3 at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center in Stuart. The girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams). (Courtesy of Brian Vaile)

Among local schools, Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake displayed the strongest showings at the state event, held at Sailfish Splash Water Park in Stuart.

The Sunlake High School girls team placed fourth (out of 48 schools) in the Class 3A meet, marking the highest finish of any team in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The showing yielded six state medals and six school records.

Seahawks sophomore Chloe Grimme exhibited perhaps the most impressive performance, placing first in the 50 free (23.11) and second in the 100 free (51.18), earning All-American honors.

Grimme also teamed with Tori Eurell, Elise Ballash and Hanna Barton win the 200 free relay (1:36.88). She, too, teamed with Eurell, Barton and Audrey Ballash to finish third in the 200 medley relay (1:48.13).

Other Seahawks highlights included Elise Ballash’s seventh-place finish in the 100 breast (1:06.10) and Audrey Ballash’s 11th-place finish in the 200 individual medley (2:09.91).

On the Sunlake boys side, sophomore Dominic Ortanez placed fourth in the 50 free (21.63), and sophomore Jay Jay Fonnotto placed 19th in the 100 fly. His time of 53:43 is a school record.

Sunlake High’s swim and dive program had several strong performances at the Class 3A state meet, including a fourth place finish by the girls team, along with strong individual performances on the boys side. Pictured front, left: Jay Jay Fonnotto (sophomore) and Dominic Ortanez (sophomore). Pictured back, from left: Coach Lorin Macdonald, Elise Ballash (junior), Audrey Ballash (sophomore), Alex Sprague (freshman), Hanna Barton (junior), Tori Eurell (sophomore), Chloe Grimme (sophomore) and Coach Shelly Koutras. (Courtesy of Shelly Koutras)

Land O’ Lakes High School, meanwhile, thrived in the Class 2A swim meet.

The girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams).

Two-time defending state champion Jabari Ramsey earned his third straight gold medal in in the 100 breaststroke, with a time of 56:11.

The Land O’ Lakes senior became the first boy swimmer from Pasco County, and just the fifth from the area, to win three straight titles in the same event.

He tied former Mitchell standout Devin McCaffrey for the most career individual titles by a North Suncoast swimmer with three.

The hardware didn’t end there for Ramsey. He teamed with Patryk Pilkowski, Zachary Davis and Zuri Ramsey to win the 200 medley relay in 1:35.97, smashing last year’s school record of 1:39.09 — becoming the first ever Pasco County relay team to win gold at the Class 2A state championships.

Along with Jabari Ramsey, Pilkowski reached the podium as an individual with his third-place finish in the 100 backstroke. His mark of 51:75 broke the previous school record by a full three seconds.

On the girls side, junior Taylor Ward earned a pair of second-place finishes in the 200 free (1:50.27) and the 500 free (4:56.57).

Ward also teamed with Romina McCloskey, Margarita Czupryn and Ashley Schrader for third in the 200-yard free relay (1:39.71) and fourth in the 400 free relay (3:38.54) — both school records.

Another school record was set by McCloskey in the 100 free (53:07). The individual time was good enough for an eighth-place finish at states.

The FHSAA championships wrapped up an otherwise notable season for the Gators, historically one of the county’s top high school swim programs.

Both boys and girls squads won district and Sunshine Athletic Conference titles, and finished runner-up at regionals. The conference titles marked the 17th straight for the boys team and ninth straight for the girls.

Other schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area with teams or individuals represented in the state meet were: Academy at the Lakes, Freedom, Steinbrenner and Wesley Chapel high schools.

2017 FHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships results:

Class 4A
Boys

Steinbrenner High School (22nd place—26 points)

Notable(s): Kyle Stoker finished seventh in the 200 free (1:42.67) and with teammates Max Martino, A.J. Harkness and Bradley Stoker 11th in the 200-yard free relay (1:29.81)

Girls

Steinbrenner High School (14th place—63 points)

Notable(s): Freshman Lexie Mulvihill placed second in the 50 free (23.16) and with teammates Justine Answeeney, Taylor Holmes and Mackenzie Hall fifth in the 200 free relay (1:38.16) and ninth in the 400 free relay (3:36.83)

Class 3A
Boys

Sunlake High School (25th place—24 points)

Girls

Sunlake High School (fourth place—131 points)

Freedom High School (10th place—86 points)

Notable(s): Sophomore Abigail Leisure finished fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:07.35), third in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.30) and with teammates McKaley Goldblum, Genevieve Clark and Hannah Labohn seventh in the 400 free relay.

Class 2A
Boys

Land O’ Lakes High School (10th place—92 points)

Girls

Land O’ Lakes High School (fifth place—114 points)

Wesley Chapel High School (29th place—23 points)

Notable(s): Senior Brooke Duncan placed fifth in the 50 yard free (24.52)

Class 1A
Girls

Academy at the Lakes (23rd place—24 points)

Notable(s): Freshman McKenna Smith placed fourth in the 100 free (51.10)

Published November 22, 2017

Land O’ Lakes High head football coach resigns

By

Land O’ Lakes High School’s varsity football program will have a new leader in 2018.

Brian Wachtel, the Gators head coach since 2011, stepped down following the team’s final regular season game on Nov. 3 — a 36-6 win over Fivay High School.

Wachtel, 39, announced his decision to principal Ric Mellin prior to the game.

Land O’ Lakes athletic director Michael Frump said the school will advertise the coaching vacancy after the Thanksgiving holiday

Brian Wachtel has stepped down as Land O’ Lakes High’s varsity football coach. A search for his replacement will begin after the Thanksgiving break. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

The Gators finished the 2017 season 4-5 overall, with a 1-3 district mark.

Wachtel’s entire seven-year run offered mixed results.

He posted just one winning season (8-2 in 2013) and a combined 25-42 record — including an 0-10 mark in 2011 where games were forfeited as a result of an ineligible player.

The Gators also failed to register a victory over rival Sunlake High School in the annual “Butter Bowl” during that period.

Wachtel came to Land O’ Lakes with considerable fanfare in 2011, after posting a 13-7 record in two seasons at Mitchell High School. His career as a coach began nearly 15 years ago as an assistant at his alma mater River Ridge High School, where he quickly rose up the ranks in the profession.

Land O’ Lakes historically has fielded one of the top football programs in Pasco County, earning a string of 14 straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2009 under coaches John Benedetto and Matt Kitchie.

However, the recent success of other programs in the county and an ever-challenging district made winning consistently a tall task.

While the Gators win-loss column left much to be desired, Wachtel and his staff mentored several athletes who advanced to the college ranks, at the NCAA Division I, II and III, and NAIA levels. Among them is Samford University’s Shaheed Salmon, a preseason FCS All-American who’s quickly developed into one of the nation’s most productive linebackers.

Additionally, Wachtel this year coached five players who’ve been selected to the Pasco County Senior East-West Classic—wide receiver Taylor Winn, offensive tackle Justin Collier, offensive guard Guston Farr, defensive tackle Xavier Arroyo and linebacker Matt Geiger.

Projecting forward, the Gators next coach should have budding talent to work with — on both sides of the ball — in 2018.

Leading rusher Kyle Leivas, who tallied 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, is expected to return for his senior season, teaming up with a promising quarterback Ethan Forrester, who will be a junior next year.

And, that’s not all.

The Gators defense is expected to return its top three tacklers in linebackers Myron Bloom (76 tackles, two sacks) and Clayton Hendriksen (75 tackles, 1.5 sacks), and safety Nate Howard (66 tackles, one interception).

Published November 15, 2017