The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local Sports

Sunlake sends four to state weightlifting meet

By

The move to a more competitive division this season hasn’t fazed the top members of the Sunlake Seahawks girls weightlifting team.

They’ve embraced the challenge of moving from Class 1A to Class 2A.

Juniors Hayley Parks (169-pound weight class) and Caroline Winstead (139), and seniors Brianna Anderson (183) and Ajani Bell (unlimited) each will compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 2A Girls Weightlifting Finals on Feb. 6 in Kissimmee.

From left, Sunlake’s Brianna Anderson, Ajani Bell, Caroline Winstead, Katelyn Veddern and Hayley Parks recently competed in the Class 2A-Region 7 Girls Weightlifting Meet at Charlotte High on Jan. 20. Anderson, Bell, Winstead and Parks advanced to the Class 2A Girls Weightlifting Finals on Feb. 6 in Kissimmee. (Courtesy of Denise Garcia)
From left, Sunlake’s Brianna Anderson, Ajani Bell, Caroline Winstead, Katelyn Veddern and Hayley Parks recently competed in the Class 2A-Region 7 Girls Weightlifting Meet at Charlotte High on Jan. 20. Anderson, Bell, Winstead and Parks advanced to the Class 2A Girls Weightlifting Finals on Feb. 6 in Kissimmee.
(Courtesy of Denise Garcia)

Parks, Winstead and Anderson all claimed individual titles in the Class 2A-Region 7 meet at Charlotte High on Jan. 20. Bell finished second in her weight class at the regional.

Anderson led the way for the Seahawks with a combined total of 375 pounds from the bench press and clean-and-jerk, followed by Bell (330), Parks (325) and Winstead (285).

Seahawks head coach Denise Garcia wasn’t the least bit surprised by the results.

“I knew if they hit their (bench press) lifts and clean-and-jerk that it was going to happen,” Garcia said. “They all have good work ethics. It comes from their desire; they’re passionate and they’re dedicated.”

Part of that dedication includes following proper practice habits, healthy eating and getting plenty of rest.

Having the “right frame of mind” and “lifting with confidence” are other factors in the girls’ achievements, Garcia said.

In advance of the state finals, Garcia has kept track of weightlifting results of competitors from other schools to use as a benchmark for her squad.

“You have to see what everybody else is doing to see where you should go, knowing, ‘This girl does this or this girl does that,’” she said. “You kind of have to do your homework to set goals.”

Out of the 10 different weight classes at the state meet, each class will feature 20 individuals. Based on qualifying results, Anderson is ranked No.1, Parks is ranked No. 5, Bell is No. 13 and Winstead is No. 20 in each of their respective weight classes.

“I’m hoping they’ll all do better than where they’re (currently) at,” Garcia said about the girls’ bench press and clean-and-jerk results. “The competition is very hard.”

Garcia’s motto for each weightlifter is “be better the next day.”

In preparation for the looming event, Garcia said practices have been “much more intense.”

While practices aren’t necessarily longer, there’s more of a “sense of urgency in the weight room, with a focus on lifting shorter reps of heavier weights,” the coach said.

After the conclusion of the state meet, Garcia said the team is taking a two-to-three week break before hitting the weight room again for the 2016-2017 season.

Due to FHSAA bylaws, the Seahawks coach won’t be able to provide training during the sport’s offseason months.

However, Garcia said Sunlake’s more experienced weightlifters will help guide the team’s underclassman along during open gym sessions.

“They know what they’re doing. They know it’s a year-round sport, and that goes to any sport,” Garcia said. “It’s not something you can just pick up and go, ‘OK, I think I want to be competitive, but I haven’t done it in eight months.’ You just can’t do that.”

Published February 3, 2016 

Fishing for fun — and bragging rights

By

The South Pasco Bassmasters (SPBM) has been around “forever.”

At least that’s what its longtime members say.

The Land O’ Lakes-based fishing club prides itself on its “camaraderie, sportsmanship, and commitment to worthwhile activities in the community.”

The South Pasco Bassmasters are always looking for more fishing teams to compete in their year-round tournaments. (Photos courtesy of South Pasco Bassmasters)
The South Pasco Bassmasters are always looking for more fishing teams to compete in their year-round tournaments.
(Photos courtesy of South Pasco Bassmasters)

Each year, the club hosts 12 tournaments across various freshwater lakes in Central Florida, including their two-day “Club Classic” at Lake Okeechobee in December.

The club, which has 28 members, accepts new participants at all times during the season — the only condition being that new teams (made up of two members) must have a boat they can utilize.

If you don’t have a boat, club president John Medvid said you can still join the club as an alternate in the event that another team’s member is unavailable for a particular competition.

“It’s a good excuse to get out and get together,” Medvid said about the fishing club. “The majority of us have regular jobs, and we’re weekend warriors.

“We’re in it for fun most of the time,” he said.

While it’s mostly friendly competition, there is “some seriousness” to it.

According to Medvid, the contests can get “wild” for the 14 two-member teams.

“The guys are all buddy-buddy until it comes to the competition,” the club president said. “Some of these guys are really competitive and want to win. Sometimes there’s trash talk, where, ‘Hey, I’m going to beat you.’ Then another guy steps in and says, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to take you all on.’”

Medvid, who’s fished for more than 50 years, said fishing in Florida is a “different animal,” compared to fishing in other states.

Members of the South Pasco Bassmasters typically arrive to their tournament location before 5 a.m., and then begin fishing as the sun rises throughout the morning.
Members of the South Pasco Bassmasters typically arrive to their tournament location before 5 a.m., and then begin fishing as the sun rises throughout the morning.

“Florida’s one of the most difficult states to fish, because of all the changes with the weather,” he explained. “The average lake is about 6 (feet) to 10 feet (deep), then you go out of the state and lakes are 20 feet; some are even 200 feet in some of these reservoirs. “Water temperature plays a big factor…in Florida.”

The best places to fish vary, based on the time of the year, Medvid said.

During winter months, fisherman search for bass that are “bedding” in the water, he said.

“They want to hit the big lakes like (Lake) Kissimmee and Lake Harris,” Medvid explained. “Even (Lake) Tarpon is not a bad lake…but because it’s centrally located near St. Petersburg and Clearwater, there are a lot of people using it, and there’s a lot of boat traffic on it.”

For those new to fishing, Medvid recommends immersing yourself in trade publications and watching video tutorials in gaining a deeper understanding of the activity.

“Study as much as you can. Do your research,” he advised.

Of course, he added, it’s important to “get out into the water and experience all the different conditions.”

But, doing a little homework can help, he reiterated.

“Reading does help — it gives you different ideas, different techniques, and then you go out there and try to apply them.”

Even after decades of fishing, one aspect never gets old for Medvid: Seeing the sunrise, as he prepared for a club outing.

“It can be very peaceful. When the wind’s not blowing and the conditions are right, you (live) for those days,” he said. “It’s a great way to start the day.

“And, then when you catch fish — that’s a plus.”

For more information, email John Medvid at , or call (813) 996-3377.

Published February 3, 2016

New Wesley Chapel football coach settling in

By

It’s been a while since the Wesley Chapel High School football team has celebrated a winning season—since 2011 to be exact.

Anthony Egan, the new head coach, hopes to change that.

Egan coached both the offensive and defensive line at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey for the past three seasons. He was named the Wildcats’ head coach in early January.

He officially begins working for Wesley Chapel High on Feb. 1 as an autism spectrum disorder specialist.

Anthony Egan was recently named the new head football coach at Wesley Chapel High School. He spent the past three seasons as an assistant offensive/defensive line coach at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey. (Courtesy of Anthony Egan)
Anthony Egan was recently named the new head football coach at Wesley Chapel High School. He spent the past three seasons as an assistant offensive/defensive line coach at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.
(Courtesy of Anthony Egan)

His first few weeks as Wesley Chapel’s head football coach have been a bit of a challenge logistically, as he’s had to drive from River Ridge to Wesley Chapel to orchestrate the football team’s offseason workouts and conditioning sessions.

Egan replaces Tico Hernandez, who stepped down after three tough seasons at Wesley Chapel, where he finished with a combined record of 4-26.

Despite the football program’s struggles over the past few seasons, Egan is confident he can improve the record, noting the program’s foundation and culture have already been instilled by the previous coaching staff.

“I’ve been checking out some of the talent we have, and I’m pretty excited about the quarterback, some returning running backs, and (we) even have a really good returning running back/linebacker, so I’m excited about coaching the kids that are coming back,” Egan said. “I’ve met the kids, and the kids seem to be excellent kids. …The (coaches) in the past have instilled that character in the kids.”

Quarterback Jacob Thomas, who’ll be a senior next season, is expected to be the centerpiece of the offense after throwing for more than 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2015.

“That quarterback, J.T., is pretty good, so definitely I’m going to try to give him opportunities,” Egan stated. “If that means running a little bit of the spread (offense), that’s fine, but I definitely want to give him his due opportunities because he was a very good quarterback for (Wesley Chapel) last year.”

While Egan plans to implement some principles of the spread offense to accommodate the skillset of Thomas, he also plans to put his own stamp on the team’s offensive philosophy, with the hope of giving them a better chance to win more regular season games.

“They struggled at times last year when they tried to spread it out and run that type of offense, and I think they’d be a lot closer in some of those games, and maybe have a chance to win some of them at the end, if they’d kept it closer with a little bit more ball control,” said Egan, who’s a former high school offensive lineman. “Maybe by taking a different approach and what I’m going to try to do with the (team), we can try to get the wins up and the losses down.”

Despite a lackluster record in 2015, the Wildcats had opportunities for more wins —losing three games by a margin of 7 points or less, and another by just 12 points.

Besides a different offensive philosophy from the previous coaching staff, Egan will also implement a pressure-oriented, 4-3 defense on the other side of the ball.

“It’s an aggressive, run-stopping defense with a lot of blitzing,” Egan explained. “It’s kind of a newer defense, and I don’t know if a whole lot of people know about it.”

As he transitions to his new post, Egan is also in the process of filling out his coaching staff at Wesley Chapel. He retained both Leon Haynes and JV coach Kudura Douglas from Hernandez’s staff, but is looking to add two, or possibly, three more assistants.

Egan joins a solid list of River Ridge alums who’ve gone on to become high school head football coaches at some point in their careers. The others include Mike Gregory (Tampa Catholic), Ryan Benjamin (River Ridge), Andy Schmitz (Mitchell High School), Brian Wachtel (Land O’Lakes High School) and Justin Fenton (Hudson High School).

Published January 27, 2016

New recreational tennis league starting up

By

A new recreational tennis league for adults soon will be up and running.

The Tri-County Men’s and Women’s Tennis League will encompass Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Walt Bockmiller, the league’s organizer, plans to form a dividing line in which north Hillsborough and Pasco would be one league, west Hillsborough would be a separate league and Pinellas County would have a league, too.

Teams will be formed from each of those leagues, which will be made up of both singles and doubles matches. Matches will be played at various “home and away” locations throughout the three counties, and points will be awarded for each set won.

“It’s not you as an individual that would be named champion, but it’s your team,” Bockmiller explained about the points system. “So, your team would amass points in doubles and singles play.”

From left, Walt Bockmiller of Land O’ Lakes, Jesse Thomas of Tampa and Bill Rosenberg of Lutz are three prospective members of the new Tri-County Tennis league. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
From left, Walt Bockmiller of Land O’ Lakes, Jesse Thomas of Tampa and Bill Rosenberg of Lutz are three prospective members of the new Tri-County Tennis league.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

Bockmiller, who worked in parks and recreation management for 47 years across three states — Florida, Maryland and Louisiana — wants to mold the Tri-County Tennis League after the Greater Volusia Tennis League, on the east coast of Florida. The league includes residents from Volusia and Flagler counties.

“We started with only a couple hundred (players) and now there’s over 13,500,” Bockmiller said, referring to the Greater Volusia Tennis League. “They play seven days a week. Every day of the week, there’s something going on (there). That’s what we need here,” he said.

This area lacks sufficient structure to generate increased play, he said.

From his experiences as a former parks and recreation director, Bockmiller, 73, believes the lack of tennis structure among the three counties is due to the amount of effort needed from a number of people to form a sizable league.

In drawing on his decades of experience in creating and operating various sports leagues and programs, Bockmiller believes that an organized tennis league would help area residents in terms of socializing with others, and advancing one’s skillset.

The structure encourages competition among different players, which helps players develop their skills, he said.

“All of a sudden, you’re meeting new players with different styles and start saying, ‘My gosh, what did (that player) do to me?’ and you pick up that knowledge, and then you start to try to pick that shot up.

“All of a sudden, your game goes up one, two or three times your ability level than what you’re playing at now, just in picking up one shot or two or three,” he said.

The league organizer also noted that when tennis players, especially novices, compete against several different people, there’s a greater the likelihood they will elevate their understanding of the game, too.

Over time, he said, players then learn how to exploit another opponent’s weakness—like backhand shots, for example.

“For a serve, you’re looking to set up a negative impact on a player…most players can hit with the forehand, but many cannot hit backhand, so where do you think I’m going to serve?

“A lot of people have no strategy for the game,” added Bockmiller, who plays tennis three days a week. “They might say, ‘I hit the ball into a box.’ No, you don’t; there are four or five spots in the box that you’re (supposed to be) aiming at. …I’m going to look for the weakest spot and put it there, and hopefully set up for an easy point.”

As people gain more experience, Bockmiller said players also start to use various weather conditions and court surfaces to their advantage.

“Wind is a big factor in the game,” he said. “If it’s really windy, I can make you run from one side of the court to the other side of the court very easily. …Once you play on a different court, it changes the game. You can hit a spin (shot) on a clay surface, and it’s like throwing a loaf of bread on the other side of the net; it doesn’t bounce, and it lies there like a wet towel.

“You’ll learn all this stuff and…if you’re astute, you’ll pick it up readily.”

Bockmiller, who also organizes softball and golf outings for senior citizens, has already made a number of connections in Pasco County, and is trying to work his way through Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to rate tennis players for the league.

“We’re doing really well in Pasco,” Bockmiller said about tennis players interested in the league. “I’ve (covered) Trinity and Odessa, and I need to go down to the Dale Mabry part of the area, as well as Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg, Plant City, Sun City, Clearwater, and all down in there.

“I just have to take time to go down and do it,” he said.

The process for joining the league is a simple one. Bockmiller meets with prospective players to test out their serves, volleys, and forehand and backhand shots. From there, Bockmiller gives out a rating, ranging from a low of 1.0 to a high of 4.0, to reflect a player’s skill level.

The rating will help match players with similar abilities to compete against each other.

Ultimately, Bockmiller hopes the league will grow to the point where there are organized tennis matches in both the fall and winter. He noted there will be a small league fee, ranging anywhere from $10 to $25, for the purpose of keeping stats and presenting awards at the end of each season.

The location of the matches will be determined later.

New recreational tennis league
What: A tri-county men’s and women’s tennis league for adults of all ages; singles and doubles play
Where: Various tennis courts across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties
For more information, call Walt Bockmiller at (813)-527-8211.

Published January 27, 2016 

 

Academy weightlifters advance to regionals

By

Just two years after forming a girls weightlifting team, Academy at the Lakes is sending some of its team to regionals.

Seniors Maggie Hull and Natalie Davis will compete on Jan. 22 in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A Regionals at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.

Academy at the Lakes girls weightlifting coach Maria Oliver provides some encouragement and tips to senior Grace Faith during the district meet. (Photos courtesy of Jim Faith)
Academy at the Lakes girls weightlifting coach Maria Oliver provides some encouragement and tips to senior Grace Faith during the district meet.
(Photos courtesy of Jim Faith)

At districts last week, Hull, in the 129-pound weight class, recorded a 110-pound bench press and a 130-pound clean-and-jerk for a combined total of 240 pounds.

Davis, competing in the 154-pound weight class, benched 80 pounds and clean-and-jerked 110 pounds for a total of 190.

This year’s team has seven members, which is quite impressive considering there was just one weightlifter in the program’s first year, when former the academy’s former football coach John Castelamare was overseeing the program.

After Castelamare’s retirement, Marla Oliver took over as the girls weightlifting coach this season.

Oliver, who also doubles as the girls basketball coach, used her knowledge as a certified personal trainer to develop a specialized weightlifting program.

The program is geared toward strengthening the muscles used in the bench press and the clean-and-jerk.

“I did a lot of research to find different (activities) they could do if things weren’t working or building up their lifts,” Coach Oliver said. “We just started using resistance bands with the bench press. I did a lot of research on that and I have probably two or three girls that increased their bench by 10 pounds in two weeks.”

Coach Oliver, an avid weightlifter herself, implemented exercises that centered on using a barbell to perform the military press, bent-over rows and squats. She also emphasized the use of free weights and body weight exercises like pushups.

“All of (the girls) have seen tremendous gains,” she said. “Every girl in the program.”

Her program also stresses a proper diet — ensuring girls get the proper ratio of proteins and carbohydrates so their bodies can recover, and also see improvement in their results.

“When they start working out and they start seeing results, they want to eat better and healthier,” Oliver said.

Oliver has been influence on Davis, who’s also a captain on the cheerleading team, to take the next step in her development as a competitive lifter.

“I like having a coach that wants you to do better and not really be easy. I love our coach,” Davis explained. “She’s the best because she pushes us, but she’s not mean about it and I really like that. She knows what we can do and pushes us for that.

“She’s so motivating, especially at meets,” Davis said.

Senior Natalie Davis clean-and-jerks 110 pounds at the district meet.
Senior Natalie Davis clean-and-jerks 110 pounds at the district meet.

Grace Faith, a fellow senior, regards Coach Oliver as her “biggest motivator.”

“Coach definitely cracks us into shape,” Faith said. “I don’t think I can do certain things and she will tell me: ‘You are 100 percent capable of doing it.’ I wouldn’t be lifting half of what I’m lifting now if I didn’t have somebody telling me I could do it.”

This year, the interest in the academy’s girls weightlifting team flourished with the help of Hull, as she encouraged some of her friends to give weightlifting a shot.

“I just kind of went like, ‘You should try it,’ for those that were on the fence about it,” Hull said. “I was like, ‘Just come for a practice and see how you feel.’”

Hull’s support helped fellow classmates like Faith to stick with the sport once they tried it out for he first time.

“I couldn’t even lift the bar at the beginning of the season when I started and Maggie told me: ‘It’s going to be okay. You’ll gain,’” Faith said. “She’s been giving me advice all season.

“The first meet was definitely intimidating. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I saw all of these girls who have been doing it for years and I was intimidated, but then I realized I wanted to just do my best,” she added.

With regionals looming for both Hull and Davis, the key for them is to get into the proper mindset during the event.

“Weightlifting is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical,” Hull explained. “At a meet a couple weeks ago, I went to bench 100 or 105, which I’ve done thousands of times before and for some reason I scratched out. …That got in my head and I did terrible the rest of the meet. It’s just about trying to get your mental game strong.

“Its like a mental block. It’s not a physical one,” Davis added. “I know I can do stuff. You just have to push through it.”

To advance to the state championships on Feb. 4, both Hull and Davis will likely have to add at least 5 pounds or 10 pounds to their current lifts, which is much easier said than done.

“It’s a lot more than you think,” Hulls said about the challenge of adding just a few more pounds to current lifts. “You think, ‘Oh, 5 pounds is not a big deal and then you actually lift it, its like: ‘Oh, my gosh.’ It’s crazy how much of a difference it makes.”

While academy’s program is still in its infancy, Oliver is confident it can continue to grow — even though the team is losing three seniors from its roster.

Senior Maggie Hull gets ready for a bench press rep at the district meet in River Ridge on Jan. 13.
Senior Maggie Hull gets ready for a bench press rep at the district meet in River Ridge on Jan. 13.

“I just think it’s a great sport,” the coach said.  “Some girls never even thought they would do weightlifting, but once they get started, it’s addictive.

“It just shows the girls that they can do more than one sport or do something that may not be in their comfort zone,” she said.

Seeing more peers get involved in the sport could also lead to more interest in the future.

“Growing up, I never really saw a lot girl weightlifters and never really had anybody to look up to,” said Faith, who plans to attend West Virginia University next year. “But, seeing people from this school who have succeeded so much in the sport of weightlifting is really cool. It’s growing a lot.”

Davis, who plans on attending the University of Florida next year, believes the recent shift in adolescents’ attitudes toward fitness will also lead to more girls getting involved in weightlifting.

“It’s becoming a lot cooler to work out and that sounds kind of weird, but there was a big phase in teenagers where it was a lot cooler to be like: ‘I don’t work out. I just like to stay at home and watch Netflix,’” Davis said. “But now, people like to work out and like to have a gym buddy. That’s really cool because it’s a lot of fun.”

Published January 20, 2016 

Girls fast-pitch coming to Lutz

By

Dwindling registration in recent years has prompted the Lutz Leaguerettes girls’ softball organization to add a recreational fast-pitch league for the first time in its 37-year history.

The league expects 15 teams, across four age groups, and the deadline for registrations is Feb. 1.

Girls in the fast-pitch league will transition to new bats, which are several ounces lighter than bats designed for slow-pitch softball. (Courtesy of Lutz Leaguerettes)
Girls in the fast-pitch league will transition to new bats, which are several ounces lighter than bats designed for slow-pitch softball.
(Courtesy of Lutz Leaguerettes)

The Lutz Leaguerettes, a nonprofit organization, has provided slow-pitch softball to girls ages 5 to 18, making it the lone recreational slow-pitch girls’ league in Hillsborough County.

Other softball programs — the Brandon Leaguerettes, North Tampa Leaguerettes, Tampa Bay Velocity and FishHawk Miss Tampa Bay Softball — all transitioned exclusively to fast-pitch over the past few seasons.

“The Lutz Leaguerettes is the last of a dying breed,” said Mike Cook, president of the Leaguerettes.  “Slow-pitch is kind of dying out, because a lot of people want to play fast-pitch, and they see all these college girls playing fast-pitch; there’s just a lot more interest in fast-pitch.”

Jennifer Parry, who’s the league’s secretary, said the increased desire for young girls to play in high school also has had an influence.

“I think with the popularity of (former Olympic gold medalist softball pitcher) Jennie Finch, the Olympics and all these girls playing softball in college, it’s really changed softball for kids,” she said. “So many more kids want to play softball in high school, so they’re having to learn how to play fast-pitch. The registration numbers are dwindling for slow-pitch, so now we’re adding fast-pitch. …We’re trying to get girls excited and out there playing.”

The Lutz Leaguerettes girls’ softball recreation league is adding a fast-pitch program for the first time in its 37-year history.
The Lutz Leaguerettes girls’ softball recreation league is adding a fast-pitch program for the first time in its 37-year history.

Before the rise of fast-pitch, Cook said the Leaguerettes once had 400-plus girls playing in the league. Now, the league has around 120 girls participating in the slow-pitch category.

The dip in participation has made scheduling difficult, and the competition monotonous.

“Last season, my daughter played in the Pixie (ages 5-9) division and there were five teams, and this season there’s only three,” Parry said. “Just for the kids, to be able to keep it going, you got to have more participation.”

Ideally, the Leaguerettes would like to offer both slow-pitch and fast-pitch leagues, with the former running from November to January, and the latter starting in February each year.

“We’re going to see what happens. If we have to give up slow-pitch by the wayside, then we’ll make a decision when the time comes,” Cook said. “Until then, we’re going to try to continue with both leagues.”

Cook noted that “fast-pitch isn’t all that different from slow-pitch,” but there will be a few adjustments. For example, there are a few rules that differ for fast-pitch, as well as the type of equipment required for players to be safe and effective.

Additionally, the offensive strategy for fast-pitch softball contrasts with slow-pitch.

In fast-pitch, the general offensive approach is to play ‘small ball,’ where bunting, slapping and hitting singles are heavily relied upon to generate runs. Conversely, offensive players in slow-pitch softball are often taught to hit the ball as far as possible, due to the relative ease at making contact.

Typically, fast-pitch age divisions are separated every two years, but the Leaguerettes will start with just four age divisions: 8U (ages 6-8), 12U (ages 9-12), 16U (ages 13-16) and 18U (ages 17-18).

The deadline for registrations is Feb. 1. The league expects 15 teams, across four age divisions
The deadline for registrations is Feb. 1. The league expects 15 teams, across four age divisions

“I’d be willing to bet we’ll have 15 teams divided up among the divisions,” said Parry, who expects about 150 girls in the league’s inaugural fast-pitch season. “The 18U is our toughest (to fill) right now, because the girls at that age don’t want to transition from slow-pitch to fast-pitch, because they’ve been playing slow-pitch their entire life, and that’s a big adjustment…but, the 12U division is blowing up and is by far the fullest.”

A majority of the games will be played at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz, with the league hoping to host some tournaments that feature rec teams throughout Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Brandon and Temple Terrace.

The league has already been selected to host the all-county Early Bird Tournament from Feb. 26 to Feb. 28, which will include up to 10 different leagues.

“We’re in the process of scheduling some tournaments,” Cook said. “We’d love to have some tournaments at our field, because it’s a wonderful fundraiser, and it just creates a buzz at the field like no other. …When you have three fields going — three different games, six different teams playing, concession stand buzzing — it just gives a feeling of belonging.

“The concession stand is, bar none, the best you will find in the county. It’s clean, they provide quality service and have monthly specials, and it’s volunteers that run it all,” he said.

Getting the league back to its height of popularity isn’t the only goal. League officials also stressed the importance making sure the participants’ experiences are rewarding and enjoyable.

“It’s an opportunity for the girls to make new friends. All the girls can commiserate and create friendships that last a lifetime,” the league president said. “The lessons that they learn are lessons they’ll carry for the rest of their life — patience, understanding, tolerance and communication.

“There’s a number of things the girls learn and a number of tools they receive that they utilize for life that they don’t even realize at the time,” Cook said.

Published January 20, 2016

Carrollwood Day School soon to get home field advantage

By

A $1 million matching gift donation program has paved the way for the construction of a new athletic complex at Carrollwood Day School.

Located near the west entrance of the school’s Bearss Avenue campus, the new athletic complex will be a well-lit, multi-use space for the private school’s football, baseball and soccer teams.

This $2 million multipurpose sports complex at Carrollwood Day School will also include a baseball facility. After this season, the baseball program will no longer have to travel to Citrus Park to play their home games. (Photos courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)
This $2 million multipurpose sports complex at Carrollwood Day School will also include a baseball facility. After this season, the baseball program will no longer have to travel to Citrus Park to play their home games.
(Photos courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)

Billionaire entrepreneur Todd Wagner, and his wife, Keri Wagner, made the donation program possible by agreeing to put forward a $1 million pledge in August, contingent on the school also raising $1 million.

The school reached the $1 million mark by mid-December, through contributions from numerous other families with ties to the school.

“It kept coming in bunches,” said Head of School Ryan Kelly. “We had a number of families step forward from smaller amounts to larger amounts, from three figures to six figures.

“It just was a community effort, and I’m just thrilled that families stepped up and supported it.”

The multi-use athletic complex is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, just in time for the high school football season. And, instead of playing on a grass surface, home football games will be played on turf.

Carrollwood’s soccer program has played their home games on a leased parcel of land. Next year, their games will be played in the new sports complex.
Carrollwood’s soccer program has played their home games on a leased parcel of land. Next year, their games will be played in the new sports complex.

“There aren’t that many (turf fields) around here, so I think from that standpoint, we’ll be one of the few independent schools that have a turf field,” said Kelly, who has been at the school for eight years and has been head of school for three years.

The school’s athletic director, Baker Mabry, also is enthused about the turf field, which he referred to as the “shiny piece” of the new complex.

“We really pushed hard for turf,” said Mabry, who’s in his ninth year as the school’s athletic director. “Anybody that has to manage a field that has natural grass knows the headaches with that. I think everybody is pretty excited about the turf.”

Being able to have stadium lights at the complex is another feature that stands out for Mabry, who noted other private schools like Tampa Catholic have “had to wait years” before getting approval for lights.

“To be able to host night games, you know everybody loves the ‘Friday Night Lights’ with football, but just for athletics across the board…I think it’s really going to be a neat thing for our school,” Mabry added.

The complex, which will also include a press box and enough bleacher seating for 500-plus people, should make Mabry’s job easier, as he won’t have to worry about leasing off-site fields for the various athletic programs’ practices and home games.

Carrollwood Day School’s new athletic complex will feature a football field with a turf surface. Previously, the football program played their home games at Skyway Park.
Carrollwood Day School’s new athletic complex will feature a football field with a turf surface. Previously, the football program played their home games at Skyway Park.

“It should streamline everything,” he said. “Having everything on campus, for me personally, will really help streamline that process, but I also think it’s going to raise expectations for our program, which is a great thing also. It keeps our coaches motivated. It keeps our athletes motivated. Hopefully, we’ll just continue to build.”

Mabry believes the new complex will increase athletic participation and has other benefits, too.

“I think it increases school spirit, and I think it’s going to increase participation across the board with our sports,” he explained. “We’re also hoping it increases enrollment, as people see our facilities and people see that we are a school on the move, and a school that’s growing. It entices more families to attend CDS (Carrollwood Day School).”

Mabry said there’s been an added emphasis over the past years to get the school’s athletic facilities up to par with its highly regarded academic facilities.

“The No. 1 thing that we hear is the academic facilities are fantastic,” he said. “But people would ask, ‘When are the athletic facilities coming in line?’”

The athletic complex is the second phase of the school’s capital campaign program, known as Patriot Pride. The first phase of the program, a 25,000-square-foot gymnasium, is currently under construction. Once completed, it will house three volleyball courts, two full-size basketball courts and a weight room.

The facilities are a step forward for the school, Kelly said.

“For our campus, I think it’s going to be a huge enhancement for our athletics and also our PE (Physical Education) program. We’ll be able to match what we do on our athletic side with what we do on our academic side,” he said.

Carrollwood’s athletic director concurs with that assessment.

“I think it’s just one of the final pieces that makes Carrollwood Day School one of the top schools in the area,” Mabry said.

Published January 13, 2016 

Imani Thomas scores 1,000 points

By

When it comes to scoring points, Academy at the Lakes’ Imani Thomas is in rare company.

The Wildcats’ junior post player became the fifth player in school history to surpass the career 1,000-point mark when she scored 17 points in a 79-45 victory over Cornerstone Orlando on Dec. 2.

“It was great,” said Thomas who is coached by Karim Nohra.

“When I got to 1,000 points, coach called a timeout and my (teammates) all gave me a hug and congratulated me.”

Coach Nohra put the achievement in perspective.

Imani Thomas goes up for close-range shot during a recent contest. The junior center is averaging a double-double in points and rebounds this season. (Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)
Imani Thomas goes up for close-range shot during a recent contest. The junior center is averaging a double-double in points and rebounds this season.
(Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

“It’s a huge accomplishment because not everybody gets to a landmark like 1,000 (points),” said Nohra, who’s in his sixth year coaching the Wildcats. “She actually did it early in her junior year, which is even more impressive.”

Standing at 5-foot-10, Thomas plays with a bruising mentality, utilizing her strength to gain position in the post and get easy baskets, even against taller opponents.

“She goes up against 6-footers and has no problem because she uses her size and abilities to her advantage,” Coach Nohra said. “She has good feet and she jumps pretty well for her size. When she comes to play it’s like, ‘Oh, my goodness, she’s tough to stop.’ ”

In addition to averaging 13.2 points per game, Thomas is able to leverage her size and leaping ability to average 13 rebounds per game.

Since her freshman year, Thomas has continually refined her game by improving her post up moves and shooting ability, while learning to efficiently dribble with her left hand.

“As a freshman, I was still learning and trying to develop my skills,” said Thomas, who’s been playing basketball since the sixth grade. “Now, I’m putting up more shots, rebounding more and taking the ball to the basket harder than I was my freshman year.”

Coach Nohra added that Thomas, who has an offer to play college basketball at Flagler College in St. Augustine, has a better understanding of the game, and also has more control over her emotions compared to when she was younger.

“I think she’s grown as a player in that a lot of things used to upset her and now, they don’t upset her as much,” he said. “Before, as a freshman, I had to sometimes yank her out of the game to calm her down because she’d be like, ‘I got fouled, Why didn’t (the referees) call a foul on me?’ ”

As she’s matured, Thomas has used the lack of foul calls as a motivating factor to play tougher defense and make plays at opposite end of the floor.

“I’m a lot bigger than my other teammates and I know I’m not going to get the foul,” Thomas stated. “It’s frustrating, but I know when I get back on defense I’m going to get a stop and I’m going to come back down (the floor) and score.”

Coach Nohra believes Thomas doesn’t get more foul calls because the general consensus from refs and officials is that “she can take a beating” because of her unique combination of size and strength.

“She’s got people draped over her and when you hit her, she doesn’t flinch,” he said. “She absorbs those hits. That’s how strong she is.”

With just a few games left in the regular season before district play, Coach Nohra is hoping to lead the Wildcats to the Class 2A girls basketball state championships for a fifth consecutive year.

“It’s something that no team in the area can say,” Nohra remarked about reaching the state finals the past four years. “Our overall goal is always to win the district, be one of the best teams in the area and get to Lakeland for the state championships. … We have a great shot to get there.”

Nohra, who’s been coaching for 23 years — with stops along the way at Tampa Catholic, Cambridge Christian and Wesley Chapel high schools — subscribes to a philosophy that focuses on playing up-tempo, utilizing defensive pressure systems and scoring baskets quickly in transition.

He refers to his coaching methods as “choreographed chaos.”

“If you looked at our team, you’d say, ‘What in the heck are they doing? That’s not what normally happens,’” said Nohra, who’s amassed over 500 career wins. “We do not follow standard basketball protocol…like a point guard must dribble down the middle of the court or when you line up for a free throw, you have two people from your team on the line.

“I think our success lies in the fact that we do things so differently than other teams do.”

From a player’s perspective, Thomas said many of Coach Nohra’s drills seem peculiar in practice, but end up benefitting the team in live-game situations.

“Every practice we go through drills and sometimes I’m thinking like, ‘What is he doing? These drills are not made for me. This is not going to work,’ ” Thomas said. “And then, when he explains it we go into a game and we do it and he says, ‘This is the drill I told you to do. This is the drill we’ve been working on…they’ll work for you.’”

With the likelihood of playing several more games in the postseason, Thomas and her fellow teammates are focused on sending the roster’s two seniors, Janise Cassanello and Luz Santiago, out on a high note.

Thomas believes this year’s team has the formula to do just that.

“We connect outside of basketball and inside of basketball,” Thomas said. “We connect with each other and that’s what a team is. If you connect, you’ll play well on the court.”

Published January 13, 2016

Sunlake’s Hrenko sets national mark for shutouts

By

A lack of height isn’t an issue for Sunlake High soccer phenom Danny Hrenko.

The 5-foot-10 Hrenko, a senior goalkeeper on the Sunlake Seahawks soccer team, achieved his 75th shutout on Dec. 14, setting a new national career record for the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations).

“Once I broke the record, it was definitely a good feeling,” said Hrenko, who has started as Sunlake’s varsity keeper since his freshman year. “I definitely felt a huge sense of accomplishment over my last four years here playing high school soccer.”

Sam Koleduk, head Seahawks soccer coach, put the accomplishment in context.

Sunlake High goalkeeper Danny Hrenko set the national career shutout record on Dec. 14. (Courtesy of Sam Koleduk)
Sunlake High goalkeeper Danny Hrenko set the national career shutout record on Dec. 14.
(Courtesy of Sam Koleduk)

“You’ve got to look at the record, and if you put it into perspective, he’s going to average over 20 shutouts a season, which is quite remarkable. I think it’s the biggest accomplishment in probably Pasco County soccer history and, probably, in the state of Florida.”

Thomas Gallagher, who played at St. Louis Christian Brothers College High School in Missouri, set the previous record of 74 career shutouts in 1997.

Interestingly, Hrenko had “no idea” how close to the shutout record he was before the start of the 2015 season, until someone gave him the heads-up, so he could keep track of the statistic.

“At the beginning of the season, I was made aware of it, and I started counting down game after game, ‘only 12 more, only 4 more,’ or whatever it was,” he said.

With a significant chunk of the season remaining in both the regular season and postseason, Hrenko has an opportunity to put the longstanding record even more out of reach for high school goalkeepers across the nation.

“He’s not only going to break the record, but he’s probably going to shatter it by 10 or 12 by the end of the season,” his head coach said. “I think it’s pretty remarkable.”

Hrenko, who has played soccer since age 3, has only been a goalkeeper for the past seven years. The position change happened by accident after he tried it out one day in practice and quickly realized he had a knack for it.

With additional instruction from Koleduk and Tampa Rangers coach Mike Connell, Hrenko was able to take his goalkeeping production to new heights by improving his footwork, leaping ability and overall comprehension of the game.

“I got the proper training and the proper coaching, and everyone was behind me,” said Hrenko, who used to be a midfielder. “And, I definitely worked on being the best I could be at my position.”

Also, not having an interest in playing other sports like football or baseball allowed Hrenko to put all of his focus on soccer, where the additional experience allowed him to develop his skillset even more.

“Playing so many games for high school, playing so many games for club and training all the time, it definitely has added another dynamic to my game,” said Hrenko, who has played in more than 100 high school soccer games.

While his natural athleticism allows him to be a physical presence in front of the net, it’s Hrenko’s leadership skills on the field that really stand out, whether it’s organizing the team’s defensive structure or giving his teammates direction during a game.

“It’s like having a coach on the field,” said Koleduk, praising his standout goalie. “He basically instructs everybody where to be… like if a kid makes a couple of bad passes, he’ll get up to him and talk to him. And, he does it in a good manner. He’ll get up and explain what his teammates are doing wrong, even during the game he’ll do it, and I think the kids appreciate that.”

Hrenko’s consistency and eye-popping statistics over the past four years have drawn the interest of several Division II, Division III and NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) college soccer programs. However, he has yet to land a coveted Division I offer from a major university.

Both Hrenko and Koleduk agree that the main reason Division I programs haven’t called yet is because he’s less than 6-feet tall.

“I’d say it’s 100 percent his height,” Koleduk explained. “And, in his case, it doesn’t matter. It’s almost like an NFL quarterback like Drew Brees or someone that’s kind of shorter. There are certain guys that can do it and some that can’t. But, for some reason, a lot of the DI coaches want somebody that’s 6-foot-4 or 6-(foot)-5.”

“Not (being) tall enough is one of the main things, but I don’t let that get me down,” Hrenko said about the absence of Division 1 offers. “I try to play to the best of my ability, and I try to showcase myself in the best manner possible. I’ll just do my best and hope for the best. That’s all I can do.”

While the soccer player hasn’t received a Division 1 offer yet, Koleduk believes there is still a good chance one will come Hrenko’s way, possibly by March or April.

“Soccer’s a weird thing for scholarships,” Koleduk explained. “Even for the best field players…so much of it is done last minute because it’s not like (college) football where (programs) just have tons of offers and scholarship money. So, for soccer it’s a little bit more difficult; you’ve got to kind of wait it out a little bit.

“I think by the time it’s said and done, someone’s going to offer him that’s not scared of the height issue,” the coach said.

While Hrenko is proud of his individual accomplishments, he said the “ultimate goal” this season is to win a state championship with his team come February. The Seahawks have reached the state semifinals in the playoffs three consecutive years, falling short to the eventual state champion on each occasion.

Coach Koleduk noted this year’s Seahawks squad doesn’t have quite as many “superstars” as the past years, but the players have better cohesion and chemistry as a unit on the field.

“I think this year we’re maybe not as strong as we were last year, but I think we’re a better team,” Koleduk said. “We play better together.”

His senior captain agreed.

“This year, I think we have more camaraderie, more teamwork, more understanding of each other,” Hrenko said. “They’ve all been great squads over the past four years, but I think this squad has something special.”

Published January 6, 2016

 

Anderson lifts Sunlake’s girls weightlifting

By

Buoyed by the performance of senior Brianna Anderson, the Sunlake Seahawks girls wrestling team has been on a tear of late.

The Seahawks most recently placed first (out of six teams) in the Eastside Girls Weightlifting Tournament at Zephyrhills High School on Dec. 16.

Competing in the 183-pound weight class, Anderson recorded a 160-pound bench press, and maxed out a 195-pound clean-and-jerk for a 355 total, a tournament best.

While Anderson didn’t reach her goal of a 225-pound clean-and-jerk, she still felt comfortable with her performance.

“I was pretty confident, I guess,” she said about her results. “I knew if I (completed) all of my benches, and my first clean-and-jerk, I was going to get first (place).”

Several teams from the Eastside tournament go through bench press warm-up drills. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Several teams from the Eastside tournament go through bench press warm-up drills.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

A relative newcomer to the sport, Anderson showed an interest in weightlifting as a high school sophomore, hoping to become more physically active to boost her athleticism for basketball and track.

She proved to be a natural in her first year competing, reaching the 2013-2014 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Finals, placing 19th overall in the 199-pound weight class.

As a junior last year, Anderson became more focused on improving her weightlifting totals. She altered her diet and spent more time on proper weightlifting technique, utilizing the expertise of Sunlake High head coach Denise Garcia.

The extra dedication paved the way for Anderson to drop to a lower weight class (183) and enhance her strength enough to place third in the 2014-2015 finals.

“The most improvement I would have to say is clean-and-jerk as far as my technique and going up in my max,” Anderson said. “My favorite is the clean-and-jerk, so for the bench (press) I just try my hardest. My lower body is stronger than my upper body.”

Coach Garcia commended Anderson’s work ethic and believes she has a great chance to win a state title in February.

“I’m hoping that she continues to go up and get that gap, because there’s other girls that are great up there, but with her passion and her wanting it, I know she’ll be on top.”

For Anderson and her Sunlake High teammates, the overall goal is to perform better at the FHSAA State Finals on Feb. 5 in Kissimmee, where the group finished 12th last year.

Before they can look ahead to the state championships, they must first compete in a district qualifier on Jan. 13 at Mitchell High School in New Port Richey. The district meet will determine qualifiers for the 2016 Girls Weightlifting regional meet on Jan. 20 at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, which then determines who qualifies for the state finals.

Garcia believes this year’s group, which features 22 members, is unique because of their overall “commitment and dedication.” She also noted the team’s camaraderie.

“They listen, and they’re coachable,” said Garcia, who’s been coaching girl’s weightlifting at Sunlake High for 10 years. “They’re always working on their personal bests, and there’s no drama.

“They’re all great kids.”

Coaching weightlifting is sometimes a logistical challenge for Garcia, who was to divvy up one-on-one coaching among 22 pupils.

Garcia is typically forced to organize her practice schedule around other sports the girls compete in, such as cheerleading and basketball. Practices are usually held for two hours every weekday (and sometimes weekends), with a focus on strengthening different muscle groups.

For girls that are novices to competitive weightlifting, Coach Garcia said the key is to focus on proper technique and not necessarily how much weight is being lifted.

“It’s always about technique first,” Garcia said. Don’t worry about what the other person is doing. If 55 (pounds) is all you can do, it better be the best 55 (pounds) technically, because if not, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

While Coach Garcia’s team isn’t as large as others she’s had in the past, she’s optimistic about the sport’s future growth, which she attributes in part to the popularity of CrossFit.

“The girls are getting more exposed to it,” she explained. “CrossFit is big, so it’s (transitioning girls) into weightlifting. It’s not just a boy’s sport. The girls are coming in and doing it well.”

Anderson, who plans to join the U.S. Naval Academy after she graduates high school, credits Coach Garcia for her marked improvement over the past three seasons.

“She got me when I couldn’t even clean-and-jerk 100 pounds,” she said. “And now, I can do 200.”

Published January 6, 2016