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Playoff foe awaits district champ Sunlake

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Each year, high school football teams enter the season with specific goals. Some achieve them, and others fall short.

For Sunlake High School, the goal since the school’s inception has been to claim a district title. And every year they’ve fallen short of that goal.

Until this year.

Sunlake High School junior Nick Valdes, left, and the rest of the Seahawks hope to make the most of their first playoff berth as district champions. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Sunlake High School junior Nick Valdes, left, and the rest of the Seahawks hope to make the most of their first playoff berth as district champions. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

The Seahawks survived a three-way tiebreaker on Nov. 3 that had teams playing one quarter of football against each other to determine a winner. As a result, they’ll enter the playoffs with the title of district champion of Class 6A-District 6, an accomplishment that’s not lost on head coach Bill Browning.

“It’s very gratifying. The kids worked very hard for it,” said Browning, who has been with the school since it opened in 2007.

Back then, the team was essentially a junior varsity squad, he said, and were out-matched at every turn. But over the years, Browning and his staff have built a successful program, finally claiming that elusive district title this season.

As a result, Browning let himself enjoy the moment. For a few hours, anyway.

By the next morning, it was on to game preparations, and getting his team prepared for the games in front of them.

“You meet one challenge and then you go on to the next challenge,” he said. “That’s the competitive nature.”

The challenge in the playoffs will be a home tilt against Vanguard High School on Nov. 14. Located in Ocala, the Knights don’t seem too formidable on paper. They’re just 4-5 on the season, and claimed a playoff spot as runner-up in District 5 with a 2-2 record. They were 1-4 on the road, and gave up an average of nearly 47 points in their five losses.

But Browning and the Seahawks won’t make any assumptions with regard to Vanguard. They’ve faced them in the playoffs before, winning a close contest, and know that any team that makes the postseason has talent.

To be successful, Sunlake will rely on the players like Naejaun Jackson, a running back and receiver who has given the offense a spark in the second half of the season. Browning described Jackson as the “lightning” to running back Nathan Johnson’s “thunder.”

While the experience of entering the playoffs as a district champion is a new experience for Sunlake, it’s nothing new for Browning. A high school coach for 25 years, he also earned district titles for Springstead High School and Hernando High School before taking the job to start the Seahawks’ program from scratch.

But this one is special, in part because his biggest fan isn’t here to watch the games anymore. His father, Maurice, passed away this past summer at age 95.

During his son’s tenure the older Browning attended every Sunlake football game. In the last contest he saw, the spring classic game, Browning’s father saw the team that would eventually earn the school its first district title.

And his assessment of his son’s team at the time?

“After the classic, his words to me were, ‘You’ve got your work cut out for you,’” Browning recalled.

After a lot of hard work, Sunlake is not only a district champion for the first time, but a playoff host as well. Browning hopes those advantages will help the team go farther this year than during previous campaigns.

“The farthest we’ve gotten is the second round in the playoffs,” Browning said. ‘That’s our goal now, to go farther than any Sunlake team has.”

While Sunlake has been able to console themselves with playoff runs while they sought a district title, it was a different story for Zephyrhills High School. But they snapped an eight-year playoff drought with their own tie-breaker game, and will head to the playoffs as the Class 5A-District 7 runner-up.

While the Bulldogs can be proud of accomplishing a major goal for 2014, there’s just one problem: The actual playoffs haven’t even started yet.

So now what?

“You feel really good for a short time, but you know you’ve got to get back to work and start over,” Zephyrhills coach Reggie Roberts said. “Our objective is not just to get there. It’s to perform once we get to the playoffs.”

Soon after he was drenched in a celebratory bath from the water cooler, Roberts already was thinking of the Bulldogs’ playoff strategy.

And Zephyrhills isn’t expecting a warm welcome in their return to the postseason. Their first match-up will be Nov. 14 at Live Oak to face Suwannee High School, a team that didn’t need any tiebreakers to qualify for the playoffs. With a perfect 9-0 overall record headed into their final regular season game, Suwannee dominated District 5 with a 6-0 mark. The Bulldogs finished at 9-1 after a 42-14 loss to Columbia High School from Lake City.

The team — also nicknamed the Bulldogs — has held opponents to seven points or less four separate times, while being held under 30 themselves just once.

The key to the Zephyrhills’ success, according to Roberts, will be not changing things just because it’s the playoffs. From coaching to practice to execution, he wants his team to utilize the same strengths that helped them reach the postseason.

“We have to go with what got us there, and we have to do what we’ve done all year long,” he said. “We have to play consistent football on both sides of the ball.”

Roberts knows first-hand the importance of ending the season strong. As an all-state linebacker for Zephyrhills, he made the playoffs in his senior season back in 1989. His defensive coordinator, Booker Pickett, also was on that team. But they lost their playoff game, a match-up Roberts still remembers well and thinks they could have won.

He doesn’t want his team ending their year with a feeling that they could have done more in the postseason, and his focus is on getting them as prepared as possible to be successful.

But Roberts also wants them to enjoy the moment the way he did when he played in the postseason, and appreciate the special atmosphere.

“The crowd, it was so packed there was no room to sit,” Roberts recalled. “It was tremendous. It was like a college atmosphere. It was great small-town football.

“That’s why you want to get there. To create those memories.”

Nov. 14
Vanguard at Sunlake, 7:30 p.m.
Zephyrhills at Suwanee, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $8
If Sunlake (8-2) wins, Seahawks take on winner of Mitchell (6-4) at Gainesville (5-5).
If Zephyrhills (8-2) wins, Bulldogs take on winner of North Marion (8-2) at South Sumter (10-0).

Published November 12, 2014

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Success in Szczecin: Wesley Chapel brothers excel in karate

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There’s a little more gold, silver and bronze in Wesley Chapel thanks to the Vo brothers. But they had to go to Poland to get it.

The brothers — Derick, Jason and Andrew — were part of a team representing the United States at the World Union of Karate-Do Federations World Karate Championship in Szczecin, Poland, last month. All three had strong showings at the karate event, which is designed for juniors and children.

Derick Vo, left, battles an opponent from Portugal at the karate championship in Poland. His performance helped him earn bronze in the event. (Courtesy of Duy-Linh Vo)
Derick Vo, left, battles an opponent from Portugal at the karate championship in Poland. His performance helped him earn bronze in the event. (Courtesy of Duy-Linh Vo)

And even beyond bringing home medals, it’s a trip oldest brother Derick, 16, won’t soon forget.

“It was an amazing experience because it was the first time me and my brothers were all able to travel together and compete in the world championships,” he said.

Derick, a junior at Wesley Chapel High School, trains with his brothers at Keiko Shin Karate Academy in Wesley Chapel.

Derick won second place in kata, which involves being judged on choreographed movements. He took third place in individual and team kumite, which is a form of competitive sparring.

When he was younger he didn’t enjoy kumite as much, Derick said. But in his 10 years in karate, he’s come to appreciate both forms of competition, and enjoys excelling in both disciplines.

At just 5-foot-4, Derick had to face opponents who were several inches taller than he is. He made up for reach deficits by using his own strengths to his advantage.

“I really concentrate on speed, and I also rely on counter-attacking,” he said.

Middle brother Andrew, 12, also performed well, but admitted to some pre-competition jitters.

“I was nervous,” he said. “I just didn’t think about it and did what I had to do.”

When he calmed his nerves, he defeated opponents from countries like Romania, Belgium and Italy to claim the gold in kumite.

Having his brothers with him was an advantage, Andrew said, as they provided support and advice to help him succeed. The experience was hard work, but also fun because he could share it with family.

That included youngest brother Jason, 11, who finished outside the top three in kata and kumite, but overcame more challenging odds to succeed. He had to compete against some opponents who were 12 years old, meaning they often had a significant size and height advantage.

Still, Jason finished fourth in kata and fifth in kumite, proving his skill in two categories while facing around two dozen competitors from all over the world. And he recognizes the significance of his accomplishment.

“I feel great because not many people (finish) that high,” Jason said.

While the brothers often faced different opponents and brought different levels of skill to the competition, they all felt the advantage of having their father, Duy-Linh Vo, with them on their trip.

“My dad has always been there for me from when I first started until now,” Derick said. “He’s always right there helping me, encouraging me and giving me tips.”

Andrew agrees. “He always helps me and he’s always there for me, cheering me on,” he said.

For Duy-Linh, traveling with his sons was about supporting them and giving them opportunities he didn’t have growing up. A Vietnam native, Duy-Linh wasn’t able to study the Japanese art of karate in his home country, even though it interested him.

“In Vietnam they were very limited in dojos (karate learning centers) in rural areas,” he said.

So when the boys had an opportunity to represent the United States, Duy-Linh made sure they were able to participate. He estimates the trip cost around $20,000 for the family, with donations from friends and relatives helping fund expenses.

The end result was not only success and recognition for his children’s karate skill, but validation for the work they put in at their dojo, and at home. And when he saw Andrew claim gold, he was overcome with emotion and pride for all three of his sons.

“I pushed my tears back so I would not let people see I was crying,” he said. “My children, they work so hard.”

Published November 5, 2014

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Sunlake really wants state soccer title

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The Sunlake Seahawks boys soccer team went undefeated in their district last season on their way to a 29-2-1 record. And for the second straight year, they lost in the state semifinals.

Having two dominating seasons in a row would be a source of great satisfaction for any high school. But when it comes to competitive soccer, Sunlake isn’t just any school, and team members aren’t satisfied with bowing out in the final four.

If teams want to get past Sunlake’s soccer team, they’ll have to first get past star goalkeeper Daniel Hrenko, who has a habit of shutting out opponents. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
If teams want to get past Sunlake’s soccer team, they’ll have to first get past star goalkeeper Daniel Hrenko, who has a habit of shutting out opponents. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“It’s disappointing, really, to go all that way twice and not win the championship,” goalkeeper Daniel Hrenko said. “Getting to the semifinals is a good accomplishment, but I feel like we could go farther, and we should have gone farther.”

Teammate Connor Spencer agrees.

“I kind of look back on it as a negative thing because it’s two years we’ve gone back to the same spot,” he said. “We’ve finally got the school behind us and supporting us, and then we just come up short every year.”

If players feel badly about their recent playoff results, that could be bad news for Sunlake’s opponents. Even though the season hasn’t started yet, the Seahawks are focused and working on taking a serious attitude into the beginning of the schedule as they try to get over the hump and claim a state title.

They’ll also take a familiar lineup into the season as well. Eight out of 11 starters are returning to the team, and Coach Sam Koleduk said the team’s veteran leadership makes them at least as dangerous as his previous teams.

“We know what it takes now,” Koleduk said. “I think we’re just as talented, maybe even better than last year.”

Last year’s team had plenty of talent itself, with Remi Pimm leading the nation in scoring. Pimm’s status with the team is uncertain at this time, and Koleduk said they’re preparing to not have him this season.

But with scorers like Spencer — who already has more than 90 career goals — they expect to be in good shape up front. And with solid goalkeeping from Hrenko, who led the nation in shutouts last season, opponents should be challenged to put goals on the board once again.

Sunlake’s team also benefits greatly from its athletes’ participation in club play, Koleduk said. While some teams might have just a few players who participate in local club soccer, all 26 members of his varsity team — from starters to reserves — play at the club level. That gives the Seahawks a higher caliber of talent, consistent focus on the game, and the depth to overcome injuries as they occur during the season.

Chris Wilkinson, another offensive-minded player, agrees that extensive club experience gives the Seahawks an advantage over many opponents.

“At the club level, you really know what you need to do,” he said. “A lot of other schools have some kids that play (club soccer) and some kids that don’t, and they struggle to gel in that sense.”

But all teams have weaknesses, and Koleduk acknowledges that defense is an area they had to retool in the lineup. The team lost talented starters from last year, so that’s something of an unknown headed into the season. But if practice is any indicator, Spencer says the defense looks ready to provide solid support while he tries to score goals.

“From what I’ve seen from the defense, they’re good enough to where I don’t need to worry about, ‘Are they going to mess up?’ at all,” he said. “I’m confident enough in them that they’re going to do their job and they know what to do.”

Having a capable defense makes things easier for him as a scorer, since he doesn’t have to worry about converting every opportunity or be concerned that the opposing offense will have an easy time connecting when they have the ball in Sunlake territory.

While it looks like another strong season is likely for Sunlake, it won’t be good enough for them unless it ends with a state title.

“We need to win it all,” Koleduk said. “That’s how I look at it, but we’ll definitely give it our best shot for sure.”

Published October 29, 2014

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Set for success: PHSC volleyball qualifies for tournament

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Sometimes it’s good to know your schedule in advance.

The Pasco-Hernando State College women’s volleyball team still has around seven games left on their schedule, but they already know where they’ll be next month: Competing in their regional tournament at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina.

With a team full of talented freshman athletes like Amanda Turley, Pasco-Hernando State College had to find their chemistry. With a 29-4 record so far, they’ve found a regional tournament berth as well. (Courtesy of Len Umhoefer)
With a team full of talented freshman athletes like Amanda Turley, Pasco-Hernando State College had to find their chemistry. With a 29-4 record so far, they’ve found a regional tournament berth as well. (Courtesy of Len Umhoefer)

The Lady Quistas have already qualified for District P, which covers three collegiate regions.

PHSC punched their tournament ticket with a current mark of 29-4. Because they aren’t in close proximity with other schools in their region, the team must be .500 or better during the regular season in order to earn a bid into the tournament.

They technically qualified back with their 20th win, but have compiled even more victories with both a potent offense and stifling defense to improve on their strong record.

Coach Kim Whitney is glad to have gotten tournament qualification out of the way with plenty of games to spare.

“We have that expectation for that goal, but once you get into the season, you’re not really sure how you’re going to match up with your opponents,” she said. “It was a big deal for us to get to that point.”

Part of that uncertainty was the makeup of this year’s team. Of the 15 players, 10 are freshmen. And while they were recruited for their ability, the coach said, one never knows how they’ll actually perform under pressure.

Now it’s clear this year’s squad will fit in nicely with other teams during Whitney’s 11-year tenure at PHSC. The school tends to expect this kind of success each year, and Whitney has the track record to justify those expectations.

In her previous 10 seasons as volleyball coach, PHSC qualified for their regional tournament every year. They’ve reached the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament four times, and took home their division’s national championship in 2010.

Earlier in the season, continuing that regional tournament streak was no sure thing. PHSC started their season just 5-3, and were still trying to determine their most effective lineup and how best to match up with their opponents.

But those early losses motivated the team, and now the coach thinks the early-season struggles were character building and a positive experience for her athletes. She was particularly happy to see them bounce back from a poor game against the College of Central Florida with an excellent one against Hillsborough Community College.

“We didn’t really play well in that match, and the following night they played phenomenal,” Whitney said. “I think it did make us better and stronger.”

And 15 consecutive wins later, the Lady Quistas were playing more to their potential and sewing up a tournament berth.

Freshman Amanda Turley is one of the impact players helping her team reach that potential. Recruited from Franklin High School in Tennessee, Turley accepted a scholarship to play volleyball for PHSC, partially because of its coach.

“She was one of the main reasons why I decided to come here,” Turley said of Whitney. “She’s so smart and knowledgeable about the game, and what we need to do.”

Part of the coach’s plan was to get her young team prepared early in the year and acquire important game experience ahead of their opponents. Whitney purposely scheduled many games at the beginning of the season so they’d have an opportunity to gel as a team and get several college-level matches under their belts while their opponents were still easing into the season.

The team also faced Santa Fe College for that school’s first-ever home volleyball game. Whitney’s team had to perform in a hostile environment with a crowd of around 500 cheering against them. The coach hopes those intangibles will help the Lady Quistas if and when they face adversity on the court later in the year.

In the meantime, as the PHSC volleyball team keeps achieving their goals, Whitney keeps creating new ones for them. They reached their first goal, a .500 season, relatively early. Then they were challenged to reach 27 wins.

With that accomplished, the coach has a new one: Fewest losses in her tenure as coach. All her previous teams finished the regular season with at least seven losses, she said. The current team has the opportunity to beat that mark and go into their tournament, which begins Nov. 7, with a great deal of momentum.

And at that point, she’ll probably have a new set of goals to keep her team focused.

“When you don’t have something you’re driving for and you’re trying to reach, you lose that vision,” Whitney said.

Whatever that next goal is, Whitney has a history of success that says she can help them reach it, and a team full of eager players who are listening and ready to do what it takes to accomplish it.

“She’s really balanced,” Turley said of her coach. “She never gets too angry, but is never too calm. She still always has something to tell you, even if we’re up by a lot.

“I can trust everything that she says.”

Published October 22, 2014

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Sunlake wary of Land O’ Lakes ahead of rivalry game

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The Sunlake Seahawks have had a strong start to the 2014 season. They’ve given up a total of just 26 points in seven games, including four shutouts.

Their 6-1 record includes a district loss, but the team is still in good position to capture a playoff berth if they take care of business the rest of the way.

If the Gators want to take this year’s rivalry game from the Seahawks, they’ll have to find a way to stop running back Nathan Johnson. (Fred Bellett/Photo)
If the Gators want to take this year’s rivalry game from the Seahawks, they’ll have to find a way to stop running back Nathan Johnson.
(Fred Bellett/Photo)

Toward the bottom of the Class 6A-District 6 standings is Land O’ Lakes. The Gators are just 3-3, including an 0-1 district record. They have given up the second-most points in the district. In fact, in three of their contests, they’ve surrendered more points than Sunlake has given up all year.

But if you think those statistics mean the Seahawks will have an easy time when they visit the Gators on Oct. 17, you should probably keep that opinion to yourself. That’s because Sunlake head coach Bill Browning doesn’t want to hear any talk about taking games for granted.

“Oh, no. Absolutely not,” Browning said. “Land O’ Lakes has a good football team. They obviously have a very good throwing game, so we have to be able to get lined up right and be able to defend the pass against them.”

Browning recognizes there’s more to the Gators than a .500 record. Their quarterback, James Pensyl, already has thrown for more than 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns. They’ve scored 192 points, which is more than Sunlake and everyone else in the district. And while they’ve lost three times, two of those defeats were by a touchdown or less.

Sunlake might be catching the Gators at a bad time, too. Their running game — supposedly a weak spot of their offense — came alive for nearly 300 yards versus Hudson on Oct. 10 in a convincing 55-30 victory that snapped a two-game losing streak.

Sunlake boasts its own offensive weapons, of course. Running back Nathan Johnson paces the offense, and receiver Naejaun Jackson has been a reliable receiver for the passing game while mixing in several carries as well.

And road games haven’t been a problem for Sunlake this year: They’re a perfect 4-0 so far when playing in hostile territory.

But records don’t mean much when you’re talking about Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes, according to Browning. There’s another word that begins with an “R” that means a lot more.

“It’s a rivalry game, so you can throw the records out of the book when it’s a big rival,” he said.

The rivalry wasn’t much of a competition when it first started. Browning has been with the Seahawks since its program began in 2007, and admits his teams had a “little brother” mentality when it came to the Gators in those early years. They didn’t even score the first two times the teams played, and didn’t register a victory until their fourth meeting.

But Sunlake hasn’t lost since, and now holds a 4-3 edge over their rival.

When two schools are less than 10 miles from each other, both teams can expect fans in the stands and an opponent who is ready to play hard regardless of record. But throw in an important district contest with playoff implications on the line, and it’s easy to predict a hard-fought contest with both schools doing everything they can to come out ahead Friday night.

“All the players know each other,” Browning said. “We’re right in each other’s backyard. It makes for a great rivalry game.

“You approach it the same way as any other game, but it always means a little bit more when you face your rival … for both sides.”

Published October 15, 2014

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Sunlake volleyball collecting wins, gaining fans

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When Deann Newton took over as coach of the Sunlake High School volleyball team, the Seahawks had never had much success with the program. So if you wanted to see them play, you could sit pretty much anywhere you wanted.

Sunlake volleyball coach Deann Newton huddles with her team during a match at Land O’ Lakes High School Oct. 2. The Seahawks won the match to remain undefeated in district play. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Sunlake volleyball coach Deann Newton huddles with her team during a match at Land O’ Lakes High School Oct. 2. The Seahawks won the match to remain undefeated in district play. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“I think we maybe had five kids in the stands,” Newton said of her first games coaching. “And some of them might have been siblings.”

Now in her second year, good seats are harder to find. She estimates between 50 and 75 students go to their games, and they even had a strong turnout for a recent road contest against Land O’ Lakes High School.

The sudden interest in girls volleyball at Sunlake isn’t a coincidence. Newton has turned around a program that spent its first seven seasons in what seemed like a continuous losing streak. Their best record during that span was a 6-18 season, with multiple years where they won just one or two games. They even had a winless season.

But things changed in 2013. Under Newton, the Seahawks went 16-10, winning more games in one season than in all previous years combined. But a 5-2 record in Class 5A-District 8 wasn’t good enough for the postseason, so Sunlake had to be satisfied with a great turnaround and a bright future.

This year the team picked up where it left off, marching out to a 14-4 record so far, including a perfect 6-0 district mark. And while having four losses is no reason to be ashamed, it should be noted that all of those defeats came in tournament play, which Newton scheduled so they could get experience playing a variety of teams. The team is 11-0 outside of their tournaments.

The difference in the Seahawks before Newton came aboard and now comes down to how they approach the game from a mental standpoint.

“The attitude was like, ‘We’ll kind of try to win,’” she said of the team she inherited. “You have to go in with the (proper) mindset. It’s a very mental game.”

Now the Seahawks expect to win and focus on playing up to their capabilities.

But there were more than mental changes. The team started improving their conditioning and began working out together back in May to prepare for the upcoming season. It was a new schedule for the team, but the additional work was necessary to show that they were serious about improving on last year’s record, and becoming a stronger, fitter and more dangerous squad.

It was clear from the beginning that Newton was bringing something different to the team, said Gianna Basulto, a junior who has been on the team for three seasons.

“Before it wasn’t as serious,” she said. “But when Coach Newton showed up, it was like game on. This is how we’re going to do it.

“She was very straight-forward, and I love that about her because that’s the type of coach that I and the whole team need.”

The earlier conditioning has not only made the team more effective in long rallies, Basulto explained, but also helped the team develop important chemistry before the season even began.

That chemistry will be important as the season progresses toward the last few games of the regular season. While Newton said the team is taking things one game at a time, they haven’t forgotten their goals. They want to make the playoffs for the first time in school history, and they want to keep winning when they get there.

In order to keep getting better, Newton sets different goals for the team when they play, in addition to simply winning the match. They’ve been working on blocking and defense, for example, because the coach considers them areas where improvement is needed and will be required as they face stronger competition.

A strong mental attitude also will be required, and there’s plenty of confidence that didn’t exist a couple of years ago. As a result, if the team continues to improve, the school’s first postseason appearance could become a reality.

“I think we can go to (the district tournament) and I think we can win,” Basulto said. “Our coach is really pushing us, and we’re pushing ourselves.”

Newton, while still focused on fixing areas of weakness and getting better as a team, shares that optimism.

“Our goal is to get out of district with the one or two seed, preferably the one seed,” she said, which would qualify Sunlake for a first-ever trip to the regional tournament. “I think when we get to that point, I think good things are going to happen.”

Published October 8, 2014

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Fun to spare: Special Olympics hosts county bowling competition

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If you wanted to do some bowling in Zephyrhills on Sept. 19, you probably had a long wait.

Around 200 Special Olympics bowlers were knocking down pins, laughing and showing off hard-earned ribbons at Pin Chasers, 6816 N. Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Pine View Middle School student Maryanne Meeker knocks down some pins at the Special Olympics bowling event Sept. 19, which was part of its Fall Classic schedule. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Pine View Middle School student Maryanne Meeker knocks down some pins at the Special Olympics bowling event Sept. 19, which was part of its Fall Classic schedule.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Athletes from eight area middle and high schools packed the lanes in two sessions at the event, which was part of Special Olympics’ Fall Classic season. Gymnastics and softball also are part of the season, which begins with county games before moving to area competition and the state games in November.

According to Judy Brunner, county coordinator for Special Olympics Florida, the athletes get excited about bowling day, which combines competition with socialization and fun.

“They look forward to it for weeks and weeks,” Brunner said. “They love being here, they love showing off their abilities. They especially love getting that ribbon to take home.”

The event is good for family members as well, she said. Like little league or other organized sports activities for traditional students, parents come out to Special Olympics events to support their athletes, watch them perform, and see them interact in a social setting.

Holland Meeker was one of those proud parents at the bowling alley. Her daughter, Maryanne, has learning and speech disabilities, and doesn’t usually enjoy social settings. But Special Olympics bowling was different, and she had been looking forward to the event.

“Since (Maryanne) found out she was going to be participating, she was super excited,” Meeker said. “She’s enjoying herself greatly.”

Her attitude was a welcome surprise for her grandmother, Pamela Stewart, who also came out to watch Maryanne bowl.

“It’s great because she’s an introvert. Even if she’s at my house, she just sits there by herself,” she said. “Maryanne couldn’t wait to come.”

Maryanne, an eighth-grader at Pine View Middle School, said she likes her classes and enjoys math in particular. But it can’t compare to her first bowling event with Special Olympics, where she stared down the pins instead of studying.

“It’s fun,” she said. “I get to miss school.”

Fun is what Special Olympics is all about, Brunner said. And in her 34 years with the organization, she’s seeing more people having fun over the years.

When she first started, there was one season with just 250 athletes participating. Now there are different seasons and separate events for east and west Pasco participants.

In all, around 1,200 students and adults participate in Special Olympics in Pasco County.

Having that many participants means plenty of volunteers are needed to keep events running smoothly. At the bowling event, Zephyrhills High School students were on hand to help. Students from Land O’ Lakes High School helped with a similar event in west Pasco.

Special Olympics benefits from having around 100 volunteers for the Fall Classic season, Brunner said, and they make a big difference to the organization.

“We couldn’t do it without the volunteers,” she said. “They’re crucial, and they’re so good with our athletes. They give them a lot of extra attention and a lot of kudos, and make them feel good about themselves.”

Brunner also credited the Pasco County school system with handling transportation and letting them organize events on school days, which increases participation.

The result is full lanes, a lot of smiles, and a desire to continue participating in Special Olympics. Even for athletes like Maryanne, who don’t normally look forward to social events and interacting with new people, it’s something fun to mark on the calendar.

“She’s already looking forward to the next one,” Stewart said.

Published October 1, 2014

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Bulldogs pick up pieces after tough South Sumter loss

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At least they know where they stand.

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs are a very good football team, as evidenced by their first three games — winning by a combined score of 146-44.

Zephyrhills kicker No. 15 Zach Gleaton punts as he gets protection from Bulldog’s Lorine Parker, 32, as he blocks South Sumter’s Carson Wells during game action Sept. 19 at Zephyrhills. South Sumter was up at the half, 28-10. (Fred Bellett/Photo)
Zephyrhills kicker No. 15 Zach Gleaton punts as he gets protection from Bulldog’s Lorine Parker, 32, as he blocks South Sumter’s Carson Wells during game action Sept. 19 at Zephyrhills. South Sumter was up at the half, 28-10. (Fred Bellett/Photo)

But they’re clearly not the class of their district after taking a 45-10 loss at home to defending Class 5A-District 6 champion South Sumter. And according to Head Coach Reggie Roberts, the Bulldogs definitely are not the kind of team that can hurt themselves and expect to beat a school of that caliber.

“We knew that we can’t make mistakes with that team and survive, and we did that,” he said.

The Raiders had a strong start against Zephyrhills, building an early 21-point lead. But the Bulldogs fought back, scoring a touchdown and getting in position to score another. Instead, they settled for a field goal, later gave up the ball on a muffed punt, and allowed another touchdown before halftime.

That took them from a more manageable 21-14 or 21-10 halftime deficit, to instead trailing 28-10 at the break — a big blow in a game marked by poor weather.

“That’s tough to do against a very good football team,” Roberts said. “I think that was a turning point.”

While it’s tough to lose a district game, it’s also disappointing to see some players not bring their best to such an important contest, Roberts said. Yet a few did answer the call and gave their best in difficult conditions. Players like offensive linemen Austin Larkin and Jonah Thomas caught the coach’s eye for their effort the entire game, and senior Jaylen Pickett was singled out for his mental and physical toughness, and efforts to motivate the team.

“I saw him all game trying to get the guys up,” Roberts said of Pickett. “He’s a competitor.”

While bouncing back after a tough loss isn’t easy, Roberts isn’t giving the team any other option. Zephyrhills had some good practices following the loss, and are working to get back to the dominant play they displayed earlier in the year. And with the rest of their district games coming up in consecutive weeks, there’s no room for error — and not much time to right the ship.

“We have to roll from here on out,” Roberts said. “We can’t lose anymore.”

The Bulldogs also can’t dwell on the loss. They have to have a short memory and focus on the opponents in front of them, Roberts said.

And if the team finds their early-season form and gets back to their winning ways, the coach doesn’t rule out a rematch with the Raiders down the road. It will take a consistent, strong effort, fewer mistakes, and a winning streak, but the postseason and another shot at South Sumter is possible.

“That’s the moral of the story here. We have to play hard,” Roberts said. “That’s a good football team. If we continue to win and don’t lose again, we’ll see them again.”

Published October 1, 2014

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Strong start: Saint Leo cracks top 10 in men’s soccer

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They’re only a few games into the season, but it’s never too early to get some national recognition.

The Saint Leo men’s soccer team (2-0-2) has earned a ninth-place ranking in the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. The poll was released before their two most recent games: a 1-0 victory over 21st-ranked West Alabama on Sept. 19, and a scoreless tie against the University of West Florida Sept. 21.

Just a few games into the season, Saint Leo goalkeeper Manny Schoenhuber hasn’t allowed any goals and the Lions haven’t lost any games. They’re ranked in the top 10 of the most recent NSCAA poll. (Courtesy of Mike Carlson)
Just a few games into the season, Saint Leo goalkeeper Manny Schoenhuber hasn’t allowed any goals and the Lions haven’t lost any games. They’re ranked in the top 10 of the most recent NSCAA poll.
(Courtesy of Mike Carlson)

While they’ve won just two games in the new season, the first was a big one: The Lions toppled second-ranked Carson-Newman University out of Tennessee, 2-0. The victory boosted the 17th-ranked Lions up to the 11th spot in the poll, and a scoreless draw against Clayton State propelled them into the top 10.

According to coach Keith Fulk, a good showing against Carson-Newman — which also was last year’s national runner-up — was important to establish momentum at the beginning of the season.

“We’ve built the program for four years now, and if you’re going to try and get to the final four or get to win a national championship, you have to play the best,” he said.

Even with the confidence he has in his Lions, Fulk admitted to being a bit surprised at how well the team came together so quickly and dominated the second half of that game.

While Saint Leo’s defense has shined with three shutouts, opponents are spending a lot of time trying to keep the Lions from scoring. The team has outshot its foes 87-35 so far, including commanding 35-10 advantage in shots on goal.

While Saint Leo is playing well in both aspects of the game, Fulk believes his offense is the team’s strength right now. The team is pressing forward well and displaying a dynamic style that’s giving opponents problems.

That offensive style is making it harder for teams to get many shots on the Lions, so their goalkeeper doesn’t have to work as hard. It’s been a recipe for success, but Manny Schoenhuber, now in his third year, actually wishes he was a bit busier.

“I like getting a lot of shots on goal, to be honest. It keeps me ready,” he said. “Of course I’m glad I get shutouts and all that, but I’m also here to save the ball. I like my job. I like being a goalie.”

Schoenhuber has had plenty of time to learn to like his job. Now 22, he started playing soccer when he was 5, and was involved in club soccer at 7. He hails from a small town near Munich, Germany, and played at the professional club level before coming to the United States.

Now in his third year with Saint Leo, he’s become a team leader and has seen a great change in the Lions’ approach to the game.

“When I first came here, the biggest issue we had was discipline,” Schoenhuber said. “It was just not a very professional way of thinking among the players. But that’s changed a lot now.”

Fulk credits a lot of that change to players like Schoenhuber, who have joined the team from other countries. Saint Leo has a number of players from Germany and France on the team, and having athletes who come from countries where soccer is so important makes everyone better, he said.

“I think the difference is their experience, their culture, their knowledge, their confidence. It’s contagious to the younger players,” Fulk said. “The Florida kids have learned. A kid said to me the other day that he’s learned more in three weeks than he learned in 15 years. And a lot of that is learning from the other players.”

For now, Saint Leo is having to learn to play with some national recognition and status associated with their name. They won’t be able to sneak up on teams, Fulk said, and playing in the tough Sunshine State Conference means there aren’t any easy games on the schedule.

Fellow conference member Lynn University was ranked No. 6 in the same poll, for example. Since then, the Fighting Knights lost their first match on Sept. 20.

While the Lions are proud of their ranking and excited about the attention, they all agree that the goal isn’t to ascend in polls, accumulate statistics or earn votes. They want to keep winning games and play well when it matters most at the end of the year, and in the playoffs.

“We want to be there in November and December playing,” Fulk said. “That’s our real target.”

And Schoenhuber agrees.

“At the end, the only thing that matters is that we win as a team,” he said. “I don’t care if I have 15 shutouts this season or only two. If we win the national title, that’s all that matters to me.”

Published September 24, 2014

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Still in effect: No changes to county’s athletic transfer policy

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Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy for athletes isn’t going anywhere.

Earlier this month, the Pasco County School Board declined to make any changes to the policy, which requires students who switch schools to sit out a calendar year before playing for their new school. They can appeal the one-year ban, but unless they meet certain criteria, the student isn’t playing.

Students who change schools are subject to Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy, which could mean sitting out a calendar year before playing for their new school. That affects all high school sports, including the more popular ones, such as football. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Students who change schools are subject to Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy, which could mean sitting out a calendar year before playing for their new school. That affects all high school sports, including the more popular ones, such as football.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The purpose of the policy is to prevent students from changing schools simply due to athletic considerations. However, some consider it stringent and controversial. The policy brings both positives and negatives to the table, said Land O’ Lakes High School athletic director Karen Coss.

Having the policy adds an extra check between the school and the Florida High School Athletic Association, she said.

“Having that extra check is a benefit. Without a policy, the schools make their own decisions, which can be ill-informed, or they need to navigate the FHSAA bylaws and policies,” Coss said.

On the other hand, schools have to identify affected students in order to request an appeal, Coss said. There’s also additional paperwork, which can put a further burden on an athletic director’s time.

Many athletic directors also are teachers — Coss teaches American government and human geography, for example — so the extra work can be challenging.

School board member Steve Luikart has been a critic of the policy as it’s being applied. But some have portrayed him as being against the policy itself, he said, and that’s not the case.

“I was never trying to rewrite something,” Luikart said. “We don’t have real big issues with the policy. We’ve had some big issues with the procedures and how they’re being implemented.”

Luikart believes there is some ambiguity in terms, such as what constitutes an enrolled student or a transfer student, he said. As a result, there are athletes being forced into an appeals process based on these interpretations when they should already be eligible to play sports.

“I’m under the impression that, according to the FHSAA, if a student lives inside their attendance zone, and they live with a legal guardian and they’ve enrolled in school on the first day of school, then they’re an enrolled student,” Luikart said. “There is no definition of being transferred from one place to the other.”

For the public, one of the sources of confusion is in relation to the FHSAA and the county. They aren’t the same organization, and while they work together to create athletic opportunities for students, they have different roles.

“The county is not determining eligibility,” Coss said. “They are deciding if they will allow the student to participate in sports. Some students still have to be ruled on by the FHSAA in addition to the county, so it is possible that a student is permitted to participate by the county, but ineligible by the FHSAA, and vice versa.”

Creating a policy and applying it can be two different things, and it’s the application that has concerned Luikart. It’s also the source for some degree of optimism.

Instead of expressing disappointment that the policy wasn’t changed or rescinded at the last meeting, Luikart feels like they’re working on a clearer explanation of how to apply it.

While nothing formal has been sent to the board to review, he’s heard that some adjustments in the procedures could be made. At that point he’ll review the adjustments and see if it fits with what he considers a fairer implementation of the policy.

In that regard, even though the policy is still in place and no changes to it were made, Luikart believes he got what he wanted.

“I thought I won,” he said. “My whole argument was that the process was flawed. The procedures were totally flawed.”

Published September 17, 2014

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