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This week’s Sunlake softball game benefits Wounded Warrior

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The Sunlake softball team doesn’t have a winning record. After their home finale against the Zephyrhills Bulldogs, the team won’t be thinking about a state championship.

The Sunlake Seahawks are closing out their home softball schedule with green camouflage shirts to commemorate their benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project on April 10. Their opponents, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs, also are participating with special shirts for the game. (Courtesy of Nelson Garcia)
The Sunlake Seahawks are closing out their home softball schedule with green camouflage shirts to commemorate their benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project on April 10. Their opponents, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs, also are participating with special shirts for the game.
(Courtesy of Nelson Garcia)

The game also won’t affect the Class 5A-District 8 standings, where the Seahawks are near the bottom.

Still, the game on April 10 might be the most important one of the season.

Sunlake’s game will not only feature two softball teams looking for a win, it will serve as a benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance and services to injured military service members. Attendees can support the organization by making a direct donation at the game, or by purchasing arts, crafts or T-shirts that will be on sale from a variety of booths.

A portion of those proceeds will go to the organization.

Coach Nelson Garcia, who organized the event with his wife Denise, isn’t surprised that a team starting four freshman would endure some growing pains in the win-loss column. But he believes that supporting charitable organizations as a team — the Seahawks also had a Pink Out event earlier in the year to support breast cancer awareness — helps them grow in important ways that go beyond the playing field.

“They’re learning not only goals of softball, but in life and giving back to the community also,” Garcia said. “They’re very excited to do it. They can’t wait.”

Garcia spent 14 years with the fire department, so he understands the importance of serving the community. But while the team is eager to show support for the military and will wear special green camouflage shirts during the game (Zephyrhills also is participating, and will don orange camouflage shirts), the issue is particularly important for their coach and his family.

Garcia’s son, Sgt. Anthony Michael Garcia, was wounded in 2011 during his first tour in Afghanistan. He was approximately 15 feet away from an improvised explosive device, more commonly known as an IED, when it exploded.

Garcia’s son recovered and is now serving in his second tour of the region. But he realizes that many members of the military have worse outcomes and often need support, and the organization helps with everything from prosthetics to post-traumatic stress disorders.

“It seems like people forget that they go over there and they’re serving right now and they’re getting wounded,” Garcia said. “How many don’t come back, or don’t come back all intact? The great thing about the Wounded Warrior Project is they help all the military personnel in all the branches to get their lives back together when they come back.”

The event is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m., with the game starting at 7. There also will be giveaways, a hospitality tent for active and retired military, and a U.S. Army recruiting booth.

Sunlake High School is located at 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

For information about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit WoundedWarriorProject.org.

Published April 9, 2014

New coach, no problem: Wiregrass Ranch baseball team keeps winning

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For the past five seasons, the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls boys baseball team has finished the year with a winning record. Last year, they reached the playoffs for the first time in school history and made it all the way to the regional final.

Zachary Drury, one of Wiregrass Ranch’s seniors, said that new coach Marshall McDougall has been a great fit for the Bulls as they build on last year’s success. (Courtesy of Michael Drury)
Zachary Drury, one of Wiregrass Ranch’s seniors, said that new coach Marshall McDougall has been a great fit for the Bulls as they build on last year’s success.
(Courtesy of Michael Drury)

But this year, they entered the season with a coach who wasn’t involved in the team’s previous success. Marshall McDougall had not only never coached at Wiregrass Ranch before, he had never coached at the high school level before.

For a team on the rise, it might seem like a risky move to put the team’s future in such inexperienced hands. But about halfway through the season, that move looks like a brilliant one.

Wiregrass Ranch currently has a 10-4 record, and is in the hunt for the Class 7A District 8 title with a 4-2 record. That mark includes an impressive 12-2 win over district foe Steinbrenner on March 25, and their new coach is pleased with the team’s strong start.

“As a whole, our team is pretty solid all the way through,” McDougall said. “It’s a matter of keep pushing the kids, keep improving and keep playing hard, and I think our kids can go a long way.”

While he hasn’t spent much time as a coach, McDougall makes up for it in real-world baseball experience. He played professional baseball for more than a dozen years, including a stint with the Texas Rangers. And his baseball days aren’t far behind him: At 35 and retired from the game for just two years, he’s able to not only instruct the team verbally, but go out on the field and show them exactly what he means.

McDougall believes the ability to participate with his team allows them to learn in non-verbal ways and buy into his system since it’s coming from someone who can still play the game at a high level.

And his players agree.

“Sometimes he’ll go out there and show us we’re not as good as we think we are,” said senior Ryan Girard, who pitches and plays first base for the team. “He’s definitely still got all the skills, and he passes them on to us as best he can.”

The team sees that McDougall knows what he’s doing, Girard said, and they can follow his lead knowing it comes from experience and knowledge of the game.

Zachary Drury, a senior who is a pitcher and plays third base for Wiregrass Ranch, also believes that McDougall’s ability to show the team how to execute plays is an advantage. But he said that his coaching style also helps the team succeed by allowing them to grow without over-the-top yelling and unproductive pressure.

“He doesn’t really get mad. I mean, he gets mad, but he doesn’t make you afraid to make a mistake,” Drury said. “He’s a really cool guy and we enjoy having him.”

And while the Bulls are enjoying a winning record, McDougall doesn’t want them getting complacent. The coach sets up individual competitions in practice so the players get used to trying to win on a regular basis regardless of record.

And there are small consequences for losing, such as a few laps or cleaning up after practice. Just enough, McDougall said, to keep them from being OK with losing or not hungry enough to continue improving.

While he believes Wiregrass Ranch can go far this year, McDougall is adamant that his goals don’t really matter. It’s the players, not the coaches, who must have the drive to set high objectives and then find the will to achieve them.

“My goal is to help them reach their goal. That’s the best way I can put it,” he said. “We (the coaches) are not playing. It’s up to them to decide what they want. My job is to teach them small things and try to make them reach the goal they want.”

Wiregrass Ranch baseball, at a glance
Feb. 7 – Win vs. Strawberry Crest, 4-2
Feb. 13 – Win vs. Hudson, 13-0
Feb. 18 – Win at Freedom, 8-2
Feb. 21 – Win vs. Steinbrenner, 4-2
Feb. 25 – Win at Sickles, 4-2
Feb. 28 – Win vs. Mitchell, 4-1
March 4 – Loss vs. Gaither, 3-1
March 13 – Win vs. Zephyrhills, 5-0
March 18 – Win at Weeki Wachee, 15-1
March 19 – Loss vs. Springstead, 3-2
March 20 – Win vs. Bishop McLaughlin, 8-4
March 25 – Win at Steinbrenner, 12-2
March 27 – Loss at Sunlake, 6-5
March 28 – Loss at Sickles, 2-0
March 31 – at Pasco, late
April 1 – vs. Ridgewood, late
– Courtesy of MaxPreps

Published April 2, 2014

Zephyrhills tests whether everybody knows your name

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Finding success in politics most definitely is a game of “who you know,” or at the very least when a voter is looking at a long list of names, “who has heard of you.”

If familiarity is key to winning a seat on the Zephyrhills city council, former Pasco County educator Alan Knight may have this one in the bag.

The moment people drive into Zephyrhills, they know there’s an election brewing between Alan Knight and incumbent Jodi Wilkeson. Who will win is decided April 8. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
The moment people drive into Zephyrhills, they know there’s an election brewing between Alan Knight and incumbent Jodi Wilkeson. Who will win is decided April 8. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“Being in education, I would honestly think I have touched the lives of at least 75 percent of the people of this town — either as students, athletes, church members, etc.,” Knight said. “I know the people of Zephyrhills, and I know their feelings.”

However, while Knight may have worked as an administrator and even a head football coach for Zephyrhills High School in the mid-1970s, he hasn’t been working on the city council during the past six years like Jodi Wilkeson. As a councilwoman and a business owner — as well as someone who likes to stay active — there is rarely a Zephyrhills event that she’s not a part of.

“On the campaign trail, no one ever says to me, ‘Where have you been?’” Wilkeson said. “They know I’m always just a phone call away. When they have a problem, I know who to call and how to get it solved.”

Knight fears spending too much time on the council can create a stale look at the problems. To him, a fresh face brings fresh ideas and proposals, and gets away from “we have always done it that way.”

Wilkeson, however, says she’s never stuck to the status quo.

“’Fresh perspective’ shouldn’t be synonymous with ‘little relevant experience’ when competing for a position as an elected municipal official,” Wilkeson said. “There’s a steep learning curve when taking office. I prefer to see folks run for office only after they’ve invested a year or more in service as a volunteer city board member.”

And Knight, she says, has done just that, getting a “good start” with his work on the Parks & Recreation Board dealing with what to do with the closed Hercules Park on County Road 54.

One thing both seem to agree on, however, is that neither wants to rush to judgment on embattled city manager Jim Drumm. Wilkeson has publicly sought to hold off any decisions while more information is gathered, and Knight feels the same way.

“I have often been asked about the Drumm issue, and my response is that until elected, I can make no judgment,” he said. “Once there, I will totally scrutinize the situation, seek advice from the citizens, (and) talk to Mr. Drumm and all involved. In other words, I do not take this lightly, but as a situation that not only has to be addressed, but one that must be addressed with close, well-defined facts.”

Knight’s primary platform focuses on communication inside the government and with residents, something he says has fallen to “a new low.” Wilkeson, on the other hand, wants more attention paid to the Zephyrhills Police Department, where low wages can’t compete with neighboring communities.

“Our citizens want a strong, well-trained police force, but we continue to lose talent to bigger communities offering better wages and benefits,” Wilkeson said. She may have voted against a tax increase that would’ve funded a new detective position with the police department, but that hasn’t stopped her from voting for pay increases to entry-level patrol officers.

Knight said he agrees, and expands that a step further.

“I feel that support of all our city workers is a must,” he said, “from the chiefs of fire and police, to the man riding on the garbage truck.”

For other parts in our Experience vs. New Blood story package, click here. 

Published April 2, 2014

On the upswing: Saint Leo ranked No. 29 in men’s golf

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The latest polls are out, and for the Saint Leo Lions men’s golf team, there’s good news and bad news.

Freshman Ryan Gendron, thanks to help from coach Chris Greenwood, has helped the Saint Leo Lions reach the No. 29 ranking in the recent coaches’ poll. (Courtesy of Mike Carlson)
Freshman Ryan Gendron, thanks to help from coach Chris Greenwood, has helped the Saint Leo Lions reach the No. 29 ranking in the recent coaches’ poll.
(Courtesy of Mike Carlson)

The good news is that they’re ranked 29th in the nation among Division II schools in the Golf World/Nike Golf Division II College Coaches’ Poll. The ranking, compiled in a collaboration with Golf World magazine, Nike Golf and the Golf Coaches Association of America, means that the Lions are considered a top program and one of the best in the country.

Now the bad news: That 29th-place ranking, while excellent when judging schools around the country, is good for just sixth in their own conference.

The Sunshine State Conference is comprised of nine schools, but seven of them received votes in the poll, and five finished in the top 25. The top-ranked team, Barry University, is a member of the SSC. The second-ranked team, Lynn University, is a member as well.

Nova, Florida Tech and Florida Southern also are conference schools that are ranked in the top 20, ahead of Saint Leo.

So where does that leave the Lions, who are considered a top golf program yet underdogs in their own conference? According to coach Chris Greenwood, it leaves them motivated.

“It’s like the old saying, ‘If you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.’ Competition is a good thing and being in a strong conference is a good thing,” he said.

While the rankings show the continuing strength of the SSC, they aren’t much of a surprise to Saint Leo or anyone else. Last year’s NCAA championship was decided in a close match-up, with Barry edging Lynn.

And Greenwood has a lot of experience with Lynn. While this is his first year coaching Saint Leo, he spent seven successful years at Lynn. He was named conference Coach of the Year twice and led the team to 16 tournament titles and four appearances at the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Tournament.

Greenwood said that taking over a struggling Lions program has had some challenges — he can’t use a history of success to recruit like he could with Lynn — but he believes that, with the right personnel, the team can achieve great things.

“As much as I can teach the game, it’s more about what’s inside of them and their desire,” Greenwood said. “It’s not all about what you’re born with (talent-wise). There has to something inside you and there has to be a drive. If you have the right individuals, it can be done.”

Greenwood has found one of those individuals in Ryan Gendron, a golfer who is contributing to the team in just his freshman year. In March, he shot a third-round 69, with a three-round total of 210, and earned medalist honors at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate in Georgia.

Gendron believes the team has the right mentality and work ethic to keep improving.

“We’re all very positive, and we all push each other to do our best,” he said. “We practice every weekend when we don’t have scheduled practices.”

Gendron acknowledges that playing golf in college is different than when he played for Tampa’s Plant High School. Where his team might have faced off against one or two excellent players, teams are filled with talent at the college level.

But he believes that playing against those players, and the well-respected teams in their conference, is part of the fun and provides a good measuring stick for the Lions.

Gendron also believes the ranking shows the progress Saint Leo has made.

“I’m extremely happy from where we were in previous years,” he said. “We’ve made huge improvements, and (No.) 29 is not anything to be ashamed of. I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

And while Greenwood isn’t ashamed of the team’s ranking, he’s not satisfied with it, either. His goal is to see the team finish the year in the top 25, and make the Lions’ turnaround even more impressive.

“It’s nice to see us ranked 29, but I think we’re even better than that. We just have to get out there and play and show it,” he said.

Published April 2, 2014

Wesley Chapel sensei leads karate students to success

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In some athletic leagues everyone earns a medal, ribbon or trophy for participating. In others, awards only are handed out to those who win them.

Sensei Ernesto Fuentes, far right, leads the dojo in some routine moves with his son, Alex, who is a sensei as well. Fuentes’ daughters, Sashi and Alexa, also are leaders in the academy, and accomplished students themselves. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Sensei Ernesto Fuentes, far right, leads the dojo in some routine moves with his son, Alex, who is a sensei as well. Fuentes’ daughters, Sashi and Alexa, also are leaders in the academy, and accomplished students themselves.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

So when 34 students from the Keiko Shin Karate Academy competed in the United Traditional Karate Alliance district championships and all 34 came home with medals, one might wonder how they got them.

But make no mistake, those weren’t participation medals. Every student earned at least one award in the competition, showing off their karate skills and bringing home a haul of 60 medals total from the event, held March 1 at the University of South Florida.

Their sensei, Ernesto Fuentes, was very proud of their success, but said that shiny medals aren’t the reason he teaches.

“For me, seeing a medal is not as important as seeing the face of the kid achieving and winning something, the satisfaction of achieving something,” he said.

Child development is ingrained in the dojo — the place where martial arts are taught — because it’s an important issue for Fuentes. In his native Venezuela, he was a successful trial attorney, often dealing with custody cases. He also has a master’s degree in child psychology.

While his academy teaches students of all ages, he takes special pride in seeing the accomplishments of his young students and watching them succeed.

But that success is not limited to the dojo or at a competition. Fuentes’ program stresses that the discipline and respect taught by martial arts should be applied to all parts of a student’s daily schedule.

“Karate and marital arts is a way of life. I talk to my students every day,” Fuentes said. “I say ‘The same way you behave at the academy is the way you behave in school and behave at your house. It’s a 24/7 commitment to be a better person and a good citizen.’“

Parents will often recruit him for guidance to solve a school or home issue, and he makes himself available to advise students when they need it.

And his students respond in ways that sometimes even surprise themselves.

“I wasn’t the best kid. I used to get in trouble a lot,” admits Caleb Embry, 13.

A regular C student, once he started taking karate about a year ago, his grades went up to A’s and B’s. Martial arts also has challenged him to learn new things and compete, and he responded at the district championships with two first-place medals.

He attributes his success to karate and Fuentes’ teachings.

“Karate helped me stay straight,” he said. “It keeps you focused.”

Jose Gomez, 15, also is direct about the impact martial arts has had on him.

“It changed my life, especially in the education area. It made me a better student,” he said. “I’ve been doing better in my life in general. Not only physically, but emotionally.”

Where he used to go home after school and play video games, he’s now focused on karate, competing, and improving himself.

That focus led to a couple of medals at the district competition, but improvement also has been seen in the classroom.

“I was a C student, and when I started doing karate, I became an A student,” Gomez said.

As a result, he received Long Middle School’s Turnaround award for his improvement. He even mentioned the influence that karate has had on him in his speech at the awards banquet.

While Fuentes is soft-spoken, his martial arts resume speaks for itself. He was a national champion for 10 years running in Venezuela, and won an American championship in 1989. He said that seeing his students succeed brings out the same feelings he experienced in his own competitions.

“It’s a little deja vu. Watching them compete, I get the same emotions, nerves, butterflies in my stomach,” he said. “The same things as when I was a competitor. And multiply it by 34.”

While Fuentes challenges his students and drives them to constantly get better, he said the motivation isn’t a one-way street. He feels a strong responsibility to live up to the high standards he sets for everyone in the dojo.

“They force me to learn. I need to be better for them every day,” he said. “I need to study for them every day, because I want them to be challenged every day.”

The dojo is located at 3753 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For information about Keiko Shin Karate, visit WesleyChapelKarateAcademy.com, or call (813) 994-9253.

Published March 26, 2014

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No swimming off-season for Wesley Chapel’s Duncan

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When you’re already a state champion in your freshman year, a swimmer might have trouble pushing herself to new heights and staying focused as she continues her athletic career.

Not Abbey Duncan. Not even in the off-season.

“We’re always training for the next season to do our best,” said the Wesley Chapel High School swimmer, who won the Class 2A state championship for the 200-yard freestyle last November. “I swim nine times a week.”

Not only is she in the pool after school, but she gets up early on Saturdays to swim, and avoids junk food and sodas to stay in shape.

She also competes in different swimming events outside of school competition. Last month, she took part in the Orlando Grand Prix at the YMCA Aquatic Center. Duncan had to qualify to get into the open event, which means it was not categorized by age. In Group C she competed against athletes who were years older, but not necessarily better. Yet, Duncan took first in the 100-meter fly and 100-meter back, and sixth in the 200-meter back.

In Orlando she also got to meet stars in her sport, including Olympic athletes like Ryan Lochte, who has 11 medals in his Olympics career and holds the world record in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter individual medley. While Duncan wouldn’t rule out an Olympic opportunity for herself, it’s not the main focus in her swimming career.

She is, however, already considering her athletic career beyond high school and plans to swim in college. Duncan said that a school’s swimming program would weigh into her decision.

But before the Olympics, or college, or even her sophomore swimming campaign, there’s the daily practice schedule and an emphasis on continuing to get better. Duncan said that repetition is important because being a successful swimmer is about more than speed.

“You have to focus on your technique. You have to be focused on swimming as fast as you can, and you have to be focused equally on your technique,” she said.

And that focus has to come before the actual competition. Thinking about maintaining her form is actually the last thing she wants to do while she’s competing, Duncan said. The practice time is designed to create a comfort level with the different strokes, allowing muscle memory to take over and letting her swim as fast as possible without thinking about it too much in the pool.

Those quick responses, which come from the regular practice routines, give her a slight advantage over a swimmer who has to concentrate on their form and technique during a race. And any advantage in a competition measured in fractions of a second can be the difference between winning and losing.

Travis Ten Brink, one of Duncan’s swimming coaches at Wesley Chapel High, said Duncan has not only succeeded in winning, but she’s made her teammates step up their game when they competed together.

“Especially when it comes to relays, they wanted her to succeed as well,” he said. “It seems to me that it brought up the other swimmers. They wanted to compete at a higher level.”

Duncan also spent time with less-experienced swimmers with their turns, starts and stroke technique to accelerate their improvement, he said.

While Duncan motivated her teammates to do a better job, Ten Brink admitted that her determination had a similar effect on him as well. While he’s an experienced swimmer who swam for Zephyrhills High School in his youth, this is his first year coaching.

Duncan’s ability allowed Ten Brink to spend extra time with other swimmers, giving them more personal attention that helped the team overall.

He’s also well aware that she’s just a freshman, and is looking forward to building a strong team in the years to come around a talented young swimmer.

“I’m absolutely excited. I was just telling some colleagues that I can’t wait for swim season,” he said. “I coach soccer, too, and after soccer was over I was like ‘When does swimming start?’”

Published March 19, 2014

A perfect season: Weightman girls go 8-0 in soccer

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When a soccer team goes 7-0-1 in a season, capturing a championship in the process, what’s left to accomplish the following year?

The Weightman Middle School Wildcats celebrated an 8-0 season — the first in school history for girls soccer — and a second consecutive sectional title. Members of the team include, from left, Carrie Greene, Karissa Olsen, Jillian Skairus and Jessica Brunner. (Courtesy of Brian Dorkowski)
The Weightman Middle School Wildcats celebrated an 8-0 season — the first in school history for girls soccer — and a second consecutive sectional title. Members of the team include, from left, Carrie Greene, Karissa Olsen, Jillian Skairus and Jessica Brunner.
(Courtesy of Brian Dorkowski)

For Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel, that question was answered: A perfect 8-0 season for their girls soccer team and another sectional title.

“The girls are outstanding kids and outstanding soccer players. It was the most talented group that I’ve ever coached,” said coach Brian Dorkowski.

While he wasn’t the coach for last year’s title, Dorkowski isn’t a complete newcomer to Weightman, either. He coached both boys and girls soccer at the school before leaving to coach Wesley Chapel High School boys soccer for 11 years. Upon his return, Weightman not only logged their second consecutive title, but the first perfect season for girls soccer in school history.

The Wildcats didn’t just win all of their games. They dominated most of them, scoring at least five goals in five of their eight matches. In fact, two of them ended 8-0 due to the school system’s mercy rule.

And while they were offensively dominant, their defense was just as good, recording five shutouts as well.

In fact, their starting goalkeeper, Logan Coward, only allowed one goal the entire season. The other goals allowed came when they substituted backups to finish the games, but they only gave up four more in those circumstances for a total of five goals against for the entire season.

Since there are no playoffs at the middle school level, their record earned them the title for their section of Pasco County.

While the numbers suggest that the Wildcats overpowered their opponents, Dorkowski said he was impressed with the level of overall play he found upon returning to middle school soccer.

“It’s been a while since I coached middle school and coached girls, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the talent at the other schools,” he said. “We won by wide margins, but most of our games were against talented teams. The other teams had very talented players as well. These were good teams that we were beating.”

Dorkowski implemented a few strategies to keep his team sharp during the year. When the matches were already in hand, Dorkowski would give the girls in-game challenges to keep up their interest and focus, such as only allowing each girl to score one goal, which forced them to pass more and help their teammates score.

He also would instruct them to only touch the ball three times before passing or shooting, requiring them to make quick decisions on their possessions.

According to forward Tori Mitchell, who was on last year’s championship team and plays club soccer with the Wesley Chapel Flames, Dorkowski also brought a few new strategies to the table.

“He has a lot of background knowledge in coaching. He taught us some new set plays,” Mitchell said, referring to methods for free kicks and corner kicks that led to additional success.

“He definitely knows what he’s doing and helped some newer players who weren’t so familiar with the game.”

Mitchell also said that last year’s season began with a tie, so they knew a perfect season wasn’t possible. This year perfection was definitely a goal for the team, and even though they had the title wrapped up heading into the final game, they wanted to finish 8-0. Once they did, it was time to celebrate with post-game parties and an announcement at school the next day.

Next year will bring new challenges, as some students will graduate to high school, while others might attend different middle schools. But Dorkowski said that, as the school’s physical education coach, he sees plenty of sixth-graders with talent to share with the team next year.

He feels good about their potential next season and he’s proud of what the Wildcats accomplished this season.

“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had as a coach,” he said. “I told the girls at the end of the year that if we hadn’t won any games I would have felt the same way because they were just so pleasant to coach, just the way you’d want them to be.”

Published Masrch 12, 201

Gators, Warriors girls hoops teams reach new highs

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When a high school team makes the playoffs, it’s an impressive achievement. But they also know that, unless they win the state title, their entire season and postseason will end with a loss. It’s just a matter of time.

The Steinbrenner Warriors reached the regional finals for the first time, falling to Harmony in a close game. (Photo courtesy of Josee Briere)
The Steinbrenner Warriors reached the regional finals for the first time, falling to Harmony in a close game. (Photo courtesy of Josee Briere)

Often a school measures success not just by reaching the postseason, but how far they get in the tournament.

In that regard, two girls basketball teams are holding their heads very high.

The Steinbrenner Warriors (26-4) and Land O’ Lakes Gators (23-5) both closed out the year on the losing side of a playoff game, but they each went far beyond any other team in school history.

For Steinbrenner, that was the Class 7A regional championship game, where they fell to the Harmony Longhorns, 44-40.

For Land O’ Lakes it was a step farther: The Gators lost in the state semifinals for Class 5A to the Southeast Seminoles, 49-24.

Land O’ Lakes trailed for most of the game in a contest that didn’t turn out to be very close. But Southeast, from Bradenton, lost just one game all year and finished the season with a 27-game win streak and the state title.

Coach Phyllis Crain said her team didn’t play a perfect game, but they played a team they knew would provide a big challenge.

“They’re a very good team,” Crain said about the Seminoles. “Yes, we could have done things differently, but I don’t know if it would have made the result better. Bradenton Southeast is a very good team.”

Land O’ Lakes proved they’re also a good team themselves this season, and Crain attributes the school’s first regional title to a commitment to teamwork and playing well together. The Gators were considered underdogs headed into the postseason — they finished as district runner-up to the Gulf Buccaneers — and had to come from behind in two of their three playoff victories.

But Crain saw their confidence build and is proud of how far their teamwork took them.

“I’m very pleased with the season and I’m very proud of my girls,” she said. “They played well together.”

Steinbrenner also is proud of their accomplishments, but the end of their playoff run is more bittersweet because they were very close to advancing to the state semifinals. The Warriors had a sizeable lead in the second half, but a run by Harmony evaporated that advantage, and they lost by four.

“We had everything you could want for a team that was trying to get to a Final Four: Hosting a regional final, having a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter and playing a great game for the first 24 minutes,” Coach J.R. Allen said. “Unfortunately, the last eight minutes of the game we weren’t true to who we were the whole season.”

But Allen also admitted that before the season started, he thought Steinbrenner would be hard-pressed to get anywhere close to the regional final. For each of the four years the team has been in existence (led by Allen since the beginning), the Warriors have gotten better. But after last season, the team lost their main offensive weapons and it looked like they might struggle.

Allen challenged the girls to live up to the success of the previous group, even telling them he wasn’t sure they would be as tough as their predecessors. He hoped they would respond in a positive way, and was pleased when he got his answer.

“They bought in. They really bought in and they responded to the challenge well,” he said, noting the team took on a strong defensive identity he plans to carry over into next season. In addition to taking another step forward in the playoffs, Steinbrenner also had their first holiday-season success this year, taking the Indian Rocks Christian tournament back in January.

Both coaches are pleased with their respective campaigns, and can look back on the year with pride. Plus, they understand that the last game has to be put in context of the entire season, since almost all good teams end the year on a sour note.

“The only person who’s not going to hurt at the end of the season is going to be the champion,” Crain said.

Published March 5, 2014

National soccer scoring title belongs to Sunlake’s Pimm

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Any soccer team that played the Sunlake Seahawks this season knew that Remi Pimm was a scoring threat. The sophomore forward was by far the best scorer on his team this season.

Sunlake’s Remi Pimm led the nation in scoring this past soccer season with 64 goals. That mark also makes him the new Pasco County single-season record holder. (Photo by Michael Murillo)
Sunlake’s Remi Pimm led the nation in scoring this past soccer season with 64 goals. That mark also makes him the new Pasco County single-season record holder. (Photo by Michael Murillo)

Of course, he also was the best scorer in the district.

And the region.

And the state.

In fact, Pimm finished the year as the top scorer … in the nation. He had 64 goals and 39 assists. Pimm’s total not only was good enough for this year’s national honors, he broke the all-time record for most goals in a season by a Pasco County player of either gender.

Pimm said he takes the substance of the game seriously, but likes adding a little style as well.

“I like to create and have fun with the game, take defenders on, create scoring opportunities,” he said. “When I play I just like to have a good time. I like to do it the right way but also play with flair and good style.”

But flair and style wasn’t on everyone’s mind when he first joined the team this season. Pimm said that people would ask him if he was going to break the county record that had been recently set by another Sunlake player. Connor Gilboy — who joined the University of Florida’s football program and was red-shirted as a freshman this year after graduating from Sunlake — held the mark with 60 goals after last season.

Known for his soccer skills, Pimm said the pressure was on for him to claim the mark for himself. So he was glad to have accomplished that task in his sophomore season.

“Beating his record was my goal at the beginning of the year, and I beat that,” he said. “And I eventually got the Pasco record. I felt really good.”

One goal that the team didn’t accomplish was a state title. The Seahawks fell to Merritt Island 1-0 in the Class 3A state semifinals on Feb. 13. But the team finished with a perfect 16-0 district record and a 29-2-1 overall record.

While the Seahawks wanted to win the title, Pimm said he was proud of the team for playing hard, not giving up, and staying positive.

In fact, a positive mindset is a big part of Pimm’s game. He studies the best professional soccer players — he wants to be one someday — and noticed they bring an intensity and focus even if thing aren’t going exactly the way they want on the pitch.

Pimm believes good players need to have a positive attitude that things will go well, but a short memory if they don’t.

“The secret to scoring this many goals is to quickly forget when you miss one,” he said. “Also studying the game — which is a huge part — watching the professionals do it, and visualizing myself in their position.”

While the Seahawks’ season is over, soccer is still on Pimm’s mind. He plays for the FC Tampa Rangers, a local club based in Lutz, and will participate in the State Cup for the team’s Under-16 boys group, which begins next month.

But wherever he plays, Pimm has learned to keep his attention on the contest at hand, taking deep breaths to regain his focus when necessary.

And he’s also learned patience. While he might score multiple goals in some games, in others those opportunities might not be there in the beginning. He believes the key is to not dwell on a lack of success, but focus on taking advantage at the next available opportunity.

“At no point in the game should you ever hang your head and give up,” he said.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.

A little coincidence: Three Bulls headed to Bethel

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At first glance, the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls didn’t have a spectacular football campaign last season.

Jordan Mutcherson, center, make a key tackle for Wiregrass Ranch in a game against Ridgewood last season. Mutcherson and two other teammates will continue to play together at Bethel College in Kansas. (Courtesy of Sniper-shots.com)
Jordan Mutcherson, center, make a key tackle for Wiregrass Ranch in a game against Ridgewood last season. Mutcherson and two other teammates will continue to play together at Bethel College in Kansas. (Courtesy of Sniper-shots.com)

They finished 0-5 in Class 7A-District 7 play, and 4-6 overall. However, their points for and points against numbers were respectable, and a couple games were losses by just one score. But their performance on the field attracted the interest of some college football teams.

One school in Kansas was paying particular attention.

Bethel College, a Christian liberal arts college in North Newton, will welcome three Wiregrass Ranch football players as incoming freshmen this fall: Jordan Mutcherson, Giomani Davis and John Harris-Scott IV. And the players consider having familiar faces in the locker room to be an advantage.

“I feel like I’ll have somebody to rely on. Two people, now,” said Harris-Scott, who will play at either running back or safety for Bethel.

Harris-Scott said David and Mutcherson were his good friends, but they didn’t discuss going to Bethel together until they had individually decided to accept their offers.

Davis, who will available at tailback and slot receiver, agrees that it helps to know some teammates before setting foot on campus.

“It’s like good competition, to see who’s doing better and see who’s seeing the field first,” he said. “Also they’re people to motivate you because they know your full potential and what you can do.”

The Bethel College Threshers play in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, which is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. While the NAIA represents smaller colleges than the more-famous National Collegiate Athletic Association, it represents more than 250 schools and has almost two dozen championships across various sports.

Although games might not be in the mammoth 80,000-seat stadiums found in NCAA Division I football, Mutcherson is looking forward to suiting up. He isn’t worried about how many people are in the stands – Thresher Stadium seats 2,500– as long as he can compete.

“I have love for the game so it really doesn’t matter,” he said. “Many people don’t get the opportunity to go to the next level and play a little football.”

Mutcherson will be considered at linebacker and defensive end for his college team.

The trio will look to help out a Threshers football program that has struggled recently. The team has produced two winless seasons and a pair of two-win seasons over the past four years. But they ended last season with a victory, have a new coach at the helm and an incoming group of freshmen who hope to contribute immediately.

The Wiregrass Ranch players aren’t intimidated by the pressure to improve a struggling program, Mutcherson said, because they just did the same thing this past football season.

“We had a big turnaround for the school here,” he said.

The Bulls’ 4-6 record looks average on paper, except Wiregrass Ranch was coming off back-to-back 0-10 seasons. First-year coach Mike Lawrence gave the team a new attitude and work ethic, and that translated into success and respectability on the field.

“Coach Lawrence instilled more discipline. We just had a change in thinking, and we were working out harder,” said Davis, who endured one of the winless seasons before the turnaround. “It just changed our program.”

The players believe they can bring the same intensity to Bethel College.

They’ll also have to get used to a change in climate, as snow could be a part of their football forecasts. But Harris-Scott said it won’t be a concern for him.

“It’s going to be real cold. I’m from up north, so I’m OK with the snow,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the change” in weather.

Of course, there’s more to college life than football, and all three said they want to direct their studies toward business. Harris-Scott wants to focus on the home health field, Mutcherson is looking toward sports management, and Davis wants to consider entrepreneurial opportunities.

The three student-athletes are planning a group trip to Kansas in the near future and are looking forward to college life in the fall. And whatever happens on the field and on campus, they know they won’t have to face it alone.

“When we signed, we sat next to each other,” Mutcherson said. “After we signed we shook each other’s hands and said ‘See you in Bethel.’“

Published Feb. 19, 2014