Local Sports

Sunlake’s Anderson captures weightlifting title

February 24, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

After finishing third at the state weightlifting meet in 2015, Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson set her sights on winning a state title in her senior year.

That’s exactly what she did on Feb. 6, when she placed first in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships.

Anderson recorded a 165-pound bench press and a 220-pound clean-and-jerk for a total of 385 pounds — 20 pounds more than the second place finisher, Kendall Chavarria of Charlotte High.

Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson, right, is pictured alongside weightlifting coach Denise Garcia. Anderson won first place in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships on Feb. 6. (Photos courtesy of Denise Garcia) — Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson, right, is pictured alongside weightlifting coach Denise Garcia. Anderson won first place in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships on Feb. 6.
(Photos courtesy of Denise Garcia)

“I was really emotional, because it was like I finally accomplished a goal that I had since sophomore year, and all the hard work just paid off,” Anderson said about the result.

In addition to the state title, Anderson’s 220-pound clean-and-jerk was her highest mark ever recorded.

“It took her four months to go from 190 (pounds) to 220 (pounds),” said Denise Garcia, head coach of the Sunlake weightlifting team. “I think she probably would’ve had 230 (pounds), but she did her personal best, and she went out with a bang.”

Over the past three years, Anderson made significant gains in the clean-and-jerk once she was being taught the front squat method of lifting.

She also got used to the feeling of falling down after a failed attempt.

“Most people are afraid of falling or getting hurt, so if you get used to falling, that’s really half of it,” Anderson said about being successful in the clean-and-jerk.

“It’s all about dropping under the (bar) and getting your elbows up.”

As she prepared for the state meet, Anderson lifted twice a day during the school week, and mixed in some weekend training sessions, as well. When she wasn’t lifting, Anderson could be found at basketball practice or working on homework.

“I don’t even know how I did that,” Anderson said about managing two sports simultaneously. “I just put my mind to it. I knew that since I wanted to play both sports, that’s just something I had to do.”

Garcia admired Anderson’s ability to keep her composure and juggle her busy schedule all season long.

“Even as tired as she was, she went with it,” the coach said. “Sometimes, she would come to practice, looking at me, and I’d say, ‘Take 15 minutes. Have a little snack, regroup and get your mind set.’ The hard work she put into it paid off.”

Anderson credits Garcia for her development since joining the team as a sophomore, when she could barely clean-and-jerk 100 pounds due to spotty fundamentals.

“She taught me all I know about weightlifting,” Anderson said about Garcia’s influence on her success. “She’s pushed me. She’s really caring, and she knows how to win. She knows what workouts to do, and she knows how to teach good technique.”

Sunlake High’s Brianna Anderson won first place in the 183-pound division in the Class 2A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls Weightlifting Championships. She recorded a 165-pound bench press and a 220-pound clean-and-jerk for a 385-pound total.

For Garcia, replacing Anderson’s combination of production and leadership will be a tall task, as the decorated senior leaves behind a legacy similar to former Sunlake weightlifter Alexandra Ruiz, who won a state weightlifting title in 2013 at 119 pounds.

“Brianna is one of those student-athletes that you don’t get all the time,” explained Garcia, who’s in her 10th season coaching at Sunlake. “She’s so good, and everybody loves (her). She’s well-liked and respected by everyone — teachers, administration, peers — and she’s a leader.”

Garcia hopes someone on the roster can step up and become a leader for next season.

“Every year, you have girls that will come up to the plate, just like Brianna and Alex Ruiz did,” Garcia said. “I’m sure there’ll be someone else.”

Perhaps that girl is junior Hailey Parks, who finished in fourth place in the 169-pound division at the state championships.

The three weightlifters who bested her 335-pound total—Navarre’s Olivia Brahms and Hanna Vernetti, and Lake Mary’s Courtney Coyle—are all seniors, pegging Parks as a likely favorite in 2017.

Garcia believes a state title for Parks is within reach, as long as “she’s willing to put the work in.”

“It all depends on (her) work ethic,” the weightlifting coach explained. “She needs to challenge herself every meet, set goals and not worry about whatever another girl is lifting.

“I know she can. It’s about her wanting to do it,” Garcia said.

Published February 24, 2016

Academy falls short in state final

February 24, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

A sluggish start was too much for the Academy at the Lakes girls basketball team to overcome in the Class 2A state championship, as it fell to Tallahassee FAMU Developmental Research School 55-40 at The Lakeland Center on Feb. 17.

The Baby Rattlers’ full-court pressure proved to be problematic for the Academy early on, as the Wildcats faced a 20-6 deficit after the first quarter.

The Academy at the Lakes girls basketball team finished runner-up in the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A Finals, losing 55-40 to Tallahassee Florida Agricultural & University University (FAMU) Developmental Research School. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — The Academy at the Lakes girls basketball team finished runner-up in the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A Finals, losing 55-40 to Tallahassee Florida Agricultural & University University (FAMU) Developmental Research School.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

“In the first (quarter), we were really out of our element. That’s not how we play,” said Wildcats coach Karim Nohra, whose team committed 13 turnovers in the first quarter. “Once we settled in, we broke the press and got layups, even though we missed a few layups.

“Had we come out in the first quarter like we did the third and fourth, it would’ve been a totally different game,” Nohra said.

The Wildcats double-teamed FAMU’s top player, senior Jazmine Jones, the entire game, but it wasn’t enough to stop her from collecting a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds).

“Jazmine Jones makes all the difference in the world,” Nohra said. “You take any 2A team that was here and you put Jazmine on that team, that team wins state. She is the difference-maker.”

Jones, a University of Louisville basketball commit, was also a pest on the defensive end, collecting seven steals.

“(Coach Nohra) told us not to throw the ball towards Jazmine Jones, and some of the mistakes were because we did throw the ball towards her, and because she’s (lengthier) than all of us,” said Wildcats junior forward Imani Thomas. “She got the ball and that (led to) quick fast breaks for them.”

Making matters more difficult for the Wildcats was losing Thomas (7 points, 13 rebounds) for most of the second quarter after she sustained a blow to the stomach.

“You’re talking about Imani and (sophomore) Audra (Leipold) being the leaders of the squad in terms of scoring and people relying on them, so when one goes out, it works on the psyche a little bit,” Nohra explained.

“It was definitely tough,” said Leipold, who led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points. “She’s like my go-to girl, and I’m her go-to girl. “But, it was good to learn the leadership in a way and how to take (the team) in control.”

The Academy (26-4) has reached the state tournament five consecutive years, only to fall short of a title, losing to FAMU four times during that span.

“It’s a nice squad,” Nohra said about FAMU, which has won four state titles since 2012. “Not many 2A teams have beaten them. Do they deserve it? Absolutely.”

Leipold added that FAMU’s “athleticism and the way they run the floor” has been the challenge in facing them in recent years.

While the Academy will lose seniors Janise Cassanello and Lulu Santiago, they’ll return their top four scorers in Leipold, Thomas, Loren Wells and Nini Chester.

“It’s very exciting,” Nohra said about next year’s prospects. “My goal is always to get to state. I tell my kids, ‘We’re going to win our district. We’re going to be one of the best teams in our county, and I want to get to state.’”

With FAMU’s top player graduating, Thomas is confident the Wildcats will have a better showing next season.

“I think it’s going to be a great experience, and next time, we’ll win the whole thing,” Thomas said.

In preparation for next season, Leipold plans to work on “pretty much everything” to take her skills to the next level.

“I need to get more shots up, so I can get prepared for the depth perception at (The Lakeland Center). And, definitely finishing, creating off the dribble more, creating space,” she said.

Published February 24, 2016

Zephyrhills High gets new football coach

February 17, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

One of the challenges that will face Nick Carroll as the new head coach at Zephyrhills High will be to lead a program that’s been in the midst of turmoil.

The team was successful in the win-loss column, but its former coach was replaced after a report surfaced about an on-campus sex scandal implicating some members of the football team.

According to a Zephyrhills Police report, the alleged sexual assault occurred on Sept. 1, and involved one female and several members of the football team after class hours on school property.

On Oct. 20, the female dropped the case after having difficulty remembering details regarding the incident, records show.

Nick Carroll recently was named the new football coach at Zephyrhills High School. He is pictured with his wife, Jill, and two sons Zacary, left and Maison, right. (Courtesy of Nick Carroll) — Nick Carroll recently was named the new football coach at Zephyrhills High School. He is pictured with his wife, Jill, and two sons Zacary, left and Maison, right.
(Courtesy of Nick Carroll)

On Dec. 18, the case was closed after the Dade City State Attorney’s Office recommended no petition be filed because “the facts and circumstances do not warrant further prosecution,” records show.

Carroll, who graduated from Zephyrhills High, replaces Reggie Roberts, who amassed a solid 39-23 record in six seasons, including an 8-3 mark in 2015.

Carroll is excited about his first-time head coaching gig, which happens to be at his alma mater.

“It’s a great feeling, because I used to walk these hallways, and I used to walk into the same locker room,” said Carroll, who was a member of the school’s 1996-97 playoff team. “I can still imagine all the great times that we had.”

Prior to his current appointment, Carroll was as an assistant coach at Sunlake High for nine years.

Working under Sunlake head coach Bill Browning, Carroll was responsible for coaching defensive backs, wide receivers and special teams.

After “paying his dues” at Sunlake, Coach Browning feels Carroll is well-suited to lead the Zephyrhills football program.

“He’s a knowledgeable coach,” Browning said. “He has a passion for the game, and he works very well with the student-athletes.”

Also working in Carroll’s favor is his understanding of the “makeup of the Zephyrhills community,” Browning added.

However, the challenge of appeasing the football-crazed community won’t be an easy task, especially since Carroll is replacing a beloved coach in Roberts.

For Carroll, there’s pressure to be successful immediately – to silence doubters.

“Zephyrhills is notorious for having good football teams; you’ve got to win games,” said Carroll, who played college football at Mayville State University in North Dakota. “I take that as a great goal for me. …We’re going to do things…in a positive way, to where we can get the kids to play the best game possible.”

Since taking over on Feb. 9, Carroll has a lot on his plate. He’s currently juggling his duties as the school’s physical education teacher and the implementation of his football program.

In between classes, Carroll has been meeting with current members of the football team, analyzing last year’s game film and filling out his coaching staff.

“I’m taking it one day at a time,” he said. “I’m working my way around, trying to make relationships with these (players). I’m waiting until I get my staff in place until I have an actual players’ meeting. …That way we can get going in the weight room.”

Carroll has already spoken extensively with the team’s top returning player in running back Antwione Sims, who rushed for 2,093 yards in 2015, setting a single-season record for his team.

The prospect of utilizing Sims’ talent intrigues Carroll as he deliberates what type of offense he wants to construct for the 2016 season.

“He’s a great running back. He’s very determined,” Carroll said about the 5-foot-11, 196-pound rising senior. “If you watch him on film, his feet are always moving. His legs are real thick, and as the game progresses, (defenders) start to fall off his legs.

“He’s a very hard runner,” he said.

The opposite side of the ball won’t lack for playmakers either, as rising junior Zander Lemay and rising senior Brett Lemay will anchor a stout defensive line.

While ZHS returns a solid crop of playmakers, Carroll must find a way to replace several key seniors from last year’s squad, including wide receiver Jackie Tucker, offensive linemen Austin Larkin and Jonah Thomas, and linebackers Artonyo Lee and Kevin Lee.

The departure of several players will force the newly minted head coach to rely on youth in his first season.

“There’s a lot of young guys that are ninth and tenth graders that are going to play integral roles in the development of this team,” he said. “We’ve got to get these kids to believe.”

The development process starts with offseason workouts, Carroll said.

“The weight room is a huge, huge part of building success,” he said. “Discipline is a huge part of that, and making sure the kids are held accountable.

“That’s very important to me.”

Published February 17, 2016

Carrollwood soccer beefs up talent, schedule

February 17, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Jim Harte has seen a massive turnaround of Carrollwood Day School’s boys soccer program since he became head coach four seasons ago.

The Patriots varsity soccer program was just four years old when Harte arrived, and the team had been struggling mightily.

The team was winless in its first three seasons and had just won five games the year before Harte arrived.

Carrollwood boys varsity head coach Jim Harte (left) pictured with the team’s trainer, Dudu. (Courtesy of Denise Pironti) — Carrollwood boys varsity head coach Jim Harte (left) pictured with the team’s trainer, Dudu.
(Courtesy of Denise Pironti)

Under Harte’s tutelage, Carrollwood has amassed an impressive 55-24-14 mark in four seasons.

Harte left a cushy gig at Clearwater Central Catholic—winning six state titles in 25 years—to help lead the turnaround of Carrollwood boys soccer.

Harte relished the challenge, but also saw the program’s long-term potential.

“I thought, ‘Why not give it a shot? Why not take this blank canvas and see what we can do with it?’ I felt very confident the people coming up into the program were going to make it special,” he said.

Via his annual Marauder Soccer Camp—the longest running soccer camp in the Tampa Bay area, Harte was able to witness Carrollwood’s up-and-coming talent firsthand.

“A lot of CDS (Carrollwood Day School) kids came to my camp as second- and third-graders, and they were good players,” Harte, 59, said. “There was percolating talent in the school that just needed to be harnessed.”

To help steer Carrollwood soccer in a positive direction, Harte enlisted the help of several assistants, including a former Brazilian professional soccer player by the name of Dudu.

“Dudu played in Brazil with some of the greatest soccer players ever. He came up in the time that Pele was coming up,” Harte said. “He’s forgotten more soccer than all of us will ever know.”

The Carrollwood boys soccer program has thrived under the leadership of Coach Jim Harte. Since taking over four seasons ago, the Patriots have a combined 55-24-14 record. In building the program, Harte has focused on scheduling tough nonconference competition.

The Patriots finished the 2015-2016 season with a 15-8-2 record, but were 9-0 in conference play. Despite injuries to key seniors and a young roster that underwent growing pains, Harte said the season was “one of the most rewarding in my coaching career.”

While the team lost eight games — the most in a single year at the school since Harte became head coach — it’s because the team took on a substantially more difficult nonconference schedule compared to previous years, he said.

In an effort to “get better,” Harte scheduled games against the likes of Mitchell High, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic, Tampa Catholic and Tampa Prep.

“We proactively chose to give ourselves a harder schedule this past year. We picked some big fights,” Harte explained.

“If we had played the kind of schedule we’ve been playing in the past, we would probably be undefeated.”

Next year, Harte plans to follow a similar blueprint of scheduling tough nonconference games—hoping for matchups with Steinbrenner High and Palm Harbor University High.

In taking on such large public schools, Harte is trying to develop a team mindset of “picking on the bully.”

The tougher schedule could yield a couple of additional losses, but that doesn’t trouble Harte.

“Your record is a lot about how you schedule,” the Patriots coach explained. “You can schedule yourself a really good record, or you can schedule yourself an average record.

“We’ll be 1,000-to-1 underdogs in (those) games, but you never know until you play the game,” he said.

With a bevy of talented young players on the rise— the starting lineup included an eighth-grade goalkeeper, three freshmen, five sophomores and one junior — Carrollwood soccer figures to be a mainstay in the area for years to come.

Published February 17, 2016

Player returns to soccer, after 17 broken bones

February 10, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Jim Harte did not expect Spencer Peek to be playing soccer this year.

That’s because the head soccer coach for Carrollwood Day School didn’t see how Peek could recover from the 17 broken bones the teenager sustained in a single-car accident on Aug. 17, 2014.

Peek, 16 at the time, broke both arms and legs. He also broke his sternum and pelvis.

Carrollwood Day School’s Spencer Peek launches a kick during a soccer game from this past season. The senior center midfielder broke 17 bones in a car accident in 2014, and recovered in time to play in the 2015-2016 season. (Photos courtesy of Alyce Peek) — Carrollwood Day School’s Spencer Peek launches a kick during a soccer game from this past season. The senior center midfielder broke 17 bones in a car accident in 2014, and recovered in time to play in the 2015-2016 season.
(Photos courtesy of Alyce Peek)

The accident, occurred near Cheval Boulevard, at Wimbledon Court, in Lutz, when Peek’s car hydroplaned because of rainy conditions. The car hit a speed limit sign and an oak tree before sliding about 70 feet sideways on the road.

“To watch him come back was hard to imagine,” said Harte, who has coached at Carrollwood for four seasons. “I honestly thought he wouldn’t play again.”

The Patriots’ soccer season is over. The team fell 3-0 to St. Petersburg Catholic on Jan. 29 in the Class A region quarterfinals.

But, that doesn’t overshadow Peek’s impressive battle to get back onto the field, including four surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.

“When he first came out of the wheelchair, and I watched him move — and I’m an optimist — I was looking at him moving, thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know how he’s going to do it,’” the coach said. “To expect that he could be our starting center midfielder is amazing. He has come so far.”

The accident left Peek wheelchair-bound for about a quarter of his junior year.

Unable to play soccer during the 2014-2015 season, Peek helped Harte on the sidelines, serving as a sounding board, of sorts.

Harte often turned to Peek for advice on in-game strategy and the use of personnel.

“I would consult him during the games,” Harte said. “He was very engaged on that level. He was like an assistant coach.”

Peek said the opportunity to view the game from afar turned out to be a “pretty unbelievable experience.”

“Coach Harte is such an amazing coach, and for him to show me the respect that he did — being a junior in high school — and he still listened to me,” Peek said. “I did learn a lot from a different perspective, because I’ve always been a player on the soccer team. For him to have the conversations with me, to include me the way he did was…eye-opening.”

Peek’s work on the sidelines helped him gain a deeper understanding of the game, helping to offset his initial loss in foot speed, athleticism and conditioning.

Spencer Peek gets some instruction during a game from Jim Harte, head soccer coach at Carrollwood Day School.

“He got by on his will and his brains. He’s a very smart player, and he reads the game very well, which means he doesn’t have to run as much as someone who doesn’t read the game as well as he does,” Harte said about his team captain. “He anticipates and knows where to find a play, and think two or three passes ahead. He studies the opponent, and within the first 10 minutes of each game, he’s kind of got the opponent figured out.

“Getting up and down the field was very challenging, but he mitigated that by his ability to read the game,” Harte said.

Peek, also a former standout football player at Carrollwood, said one of the biggest challenges of performing on the soccer field was getting back into his “physical being.”

Before the car accident, Peek was a well-built 6-foot, 190-pound teenager. By the time he started walking again, Peek had withered to 140-pounds.

“I had lost so much weight, I was almost a skeleton. I felt so much skinnier and so much weaker,” said Peek, who has since returned to 190 pounds. “It was just physically about gaining back my size, my legs, getting my mass back. I feel much more solid than I did five months ago.”

Peek said the rehab and recovery process was a battle, and noted that being stuck in a hospital bed after the accident was tough.

“When you’re in that situation, at least for me, I couldn’t dwell on it,” he said.

Instead, Peek focused on the future.

“It was about mentally keeping myself on the track, and not straying off and feeling sorry for myself,” he said.

“I was unbelievably blessed to have my family and friends really rally around me. That was my source of strength,” he added.

Rendered completely immobile for three weeks after the accident forced him to “see the world through the eyes of somebody who’s permanently handicapped,” he said.

That broadened his understanding, he said.

“To even get a glimpse of what (handicapped) life is like just really shows you how strong the people are that face that situation permanently,” he said.

Despite the trials and tribulations, Peek said he wouldn’t change what he has gone through.

“The way I saw life before compared to now — you think more about things after experiencing something like that,” he said.

“I just feel like I’m more conscious of what I’m doing,” Peek said.

“Your entire outlook changes and you understand how quickly everything can be taken away,” he said. “I’m so much more grateful for everything now.”

Published February 10, 2016

Land O’ Lakes coach notches 400th win

February 10, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Land O’ Lakes boys basketball coach Dave Puhlaski got his 400th career win when the Gators defeated Sunlake High 76-40 on Feb. 3.

Many expected the longtime coach to reach the milestone on Jan. 29, when his team held a sizeable 20-point halftime lead over River Ridge, but the Gators collapsed and ultimately lost in overtime, 57-55.

Land O’ Lakes boys basketball coach Dave Puhlaski won his 400th career game on Feb. 3. He’s been coaching at the school for 27 years. (Courtesy of Ted Poore) — Land O’ Lakes boys basketball coach Dave Puhlaski won his 400th career game on Feb. 3. He’s been coaching at the school for 27 years.
(Courtesy of Tedd Poore)

“I thought we might get it then and could focus on the district (tournament) totally, but it didn’t work out,” said Puhlaski, who’s in his 27th season as head coach at Land O’ Lakes.

While a 400th win is an impressive coaching milestone, Puhlaski deflected credit for his accomplishment —instead praising his players, assistant coaches and his wife, Erika.

“It’s just been the combination of a lot of good players over a lot of years and a lot of good assistant coaches,” he said. “And, my wife — she’s been at every win and every loss — she’s been an integral part of it.

“It just means I’ve been around for a long time,” he added.

While Land O’ Lakes (14-9) enjoyed a 36-point victory over Sunlake (0-17), the Gators trailed 15-12 at the end of the first quarter in the Class 6A, District 8 semifinal.

“We were trying to do too much in the first quarter,” said senior guard Taddeus Dixon. “The team just came together and said, ‘We have to (work) together and not individually.’”

Puhlaski said both defensive breakdowns and turnovers were to blame for the early deficit against an overmatched Sunlake squad.

“They hit a few shots on us, and usually we try to live off our defense, but we weren’t collapsing or pushing the ball to the middle of the floor,” he explained. “We were not gelling.”

After the initial back-and-forth, the Gators pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Seahawks by a 39-15 combined margin in the third and fourth quarter.

“It felt really good for the whole team,” Dixon said about the win and his coach’s milestone. “We always say it’s never over ‘til it’s over.”

Land O’ Lakes athletic director Karen Coss said Puhlaksi’s 400th career win “definitely shows his dedication and his commitment to the school.

“That is one heck of a milestone, that’s for sure,” Coss said.

Puhlaski’s success over the years also can be attributed to his passion and his ability to motivate, said Tedd Poore, who’s had three sons — Max, Jake and Nick — coached by Puhlaski.

“Everybody ‘s real excited for Dave. He’s been an institution in this community for over 20 years,” Poore said. “A lot of kids have come through his program, and he’s been instrumental in advising and guiding boys when they needed it the most.

“He really cares.”

Puhlaski didn’t say how much longer he plans to coach at Land O’ Lakes, but there’s some indication he may stick around at least until his son David Jr., who’s a sophomore, graduates from the school.

Coaches in Pasco County serve on annual contracts, but Coss said she doesn’t foresee any changes occurring with Puhlaski’s role with the program “as long as he’s teaching (physical education) here and wanting to coach here.”

Prior to being named the Land O’ Lakes head coach in 1989, Puhlaski served as an assistant at Ocala Vanguard for three seasons. That was followed by a one-year stint as an assistant at the University of Tampa.

Published February 10, 2016

Sunlake sends four to state weightlifting meet

February 3, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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

February 3, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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.

“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

January 27, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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

January 27, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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