Local Sports

Seniors hope to take Wiregrass volleyball to next step

August 21, 2013 By Steve Mistretta

By Jeff Odom

As Mindy Kantor walked into the Wiregrass Ranch gymnasium recently, the Bulls’ volleyball coach took a moment to glance at the row of championship banners hanging from the rafters.

Football, baseball, soccer, cross-country and track are just a few that are christened with seasons of titles, glory and remembrance of their respective accomplishments.

Then, there’s volleyball — blank.

“They believe in themselves. They’re determined,” said Kantor, the only coach since the school opened in 2007. “We’ve built this team on respect for everything — the uniform, the school, the coach and yourself, big time. And if you have the confidence to believe all of that, it’s in your court, and it’s what they put out on that court that’s going to go up on that banner.”

It’s that kind of confidence that has the Bulls believing that this can be the year they get over the hump and into the postseason, which they fell one win short of last season after losing to Freedom in the district semifinals.

One of the major factors that could lift them to the title this time around is leadership from the program’s nine returning seniors, many of whom have grown through the program since they were freshmen and sophomores.

“We’ve gone so far and then the ups and downs and the disappointments, but they’ve taken those disappointments and they feed off of it,” Kantor said. “They’ve wanted (to win the title) from all the way back in June, when we started open courts and conditioning. They gave it through the summer, they gave it through camp … you name it, they gave it, and it’s now transpiring into practices. It’s nonstop.”

One of the benefits of bringing back that many seniors, according to Kantor, is the return of what she refers to as the “Big Three” — outside hitter Grace Olsen, setter Teddi Wright and libero Izah Deang.

Olsen, who was one of Pasco County’s leader in kills with 305 and added 252 digs, said it’s a huge advantage to return so many familiar faces, because it means the team’s chemistry will still be on the mark.

“I’ve gotten to know these girls over the past three, four years and even playing with them (during practice), I’ve noticed that we mesh as a team, we play well and no one gets mad at each other,” Olsen said. “Everything is always moving forward. We never take any steps back.”

Deang, who is referred to by her nickname, “The Beast,” led all Bulls with 337 digs and has anchored her squad’s back row as a quick defender. A family atmosphere surrounds the team both on and off the court, she said.

“We’ve all really grown together,” Deang said. “We really want to see us succeed as a team, and it’s a very big advantage because most teams don’t have as much family-wise as we do or have a very close knit group.”

If Wiregrass Ranch is able to win its first Class 7A-District 8 championship this season, the route to it won’t be easy.

Aside from Freedom, the Bulls will also have to defeat newcomer Sickles — winner of three straight district titles — and Steinbrenner, which has won its district each year since the school opened in 2009 and is a perfect 22-0 all-time in district matches, dropping just one set in four years.

Wright, who had a team-high 79 assists last season, said it will take a lot more work to get past those teams, but it’s nothing they can’t handle.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work from us,” Wright said. “Once we step onto the court, we know it’s time to be serious. Yeah, we can have fun, but we also know when we go, we are all out, and we never give up and we always push each other to the max.”

Added Kantor: “They want that district title, they want that (Sunshine Athletic Conference) title and they can almost taste it. They’re not being cocky about it and they’re not overconfident, but it’s a goal they want and it’s a goal that they really want to reach their senior year.”

Wiregrass Ranch opens its season on the road against Fivay on Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Steinbrenner aims higher than fifth straight district title

August 21, 2013 By Steve Mistretta

By Jeff Odom

Capturing four district crowns in as many years and coming off the best season in program history, the Steinbrenner High School volleyball team has been nothing short of dominant since the school was opened in 2009.

The Warriors made their first trip to the Class 7A region finals last year before falling to eventual state champion Venice in three straight sets. And while another district championship would be special, the players want more this time around, said second-year coach Laura Stegenga. Like winning a state title.

Steinbrenner outside hitter Rachel Matheson helped lead the Warriors to the Class 7A region finals last season with a team-high 257 kills. (File photo)

“I have the athletes; we’ve just got to put the work in,” said Stegenga, who took over the team for Jennifer Graham in May 2012. “The biggest thing I want my players to focus on is not just going for championships, but practice and what happens there. That’s how you achieve those kind of goals, and I think it’s a goal that we can achieve if we work hard.”

That road to states may be a little tougher for Steinbrenner this season because of the addition of one extra game against each district opponent and Sickles entering Class 7A-District 8.

The Gryphons are coming off three straight championship campaigns of their own in which they most recently defeated Strawberry Crest to win Class 6A-District 11 last year.

Adding Sickles into the mix of league opponents will make competition more interesting, Stegenga said, but she insists it’s nothing the team can’t handle.

“I know (my seniors) are really driven, and I know that they’re extremely good leaders,” she said. “It’s really neat to have them a part of it and also setting the tone for the younger ones.”

Any competition that challenges the team will only make them better, Stegenga said, even if it results in a loss.

“It’s OK in my eyes,” she said. “By adding Sickles, I think it’s a positive thing for us, because it’s just more competition.”

Another potential concern the Warriors face this season is replacing the leadership of the team’s three graduated seniors. They include libero Natalia Campos and starting outside hitter Madison Seuzeneau.

Seuzeneau, who now plays at Spring Hill College in Alabama, was second on the team in kills last season with 255, second in aces with 40, and third in blocks with 14, based on stats entered by coaches to MaxPreps.com.

Campos, now at Valdosta State University in Georgia, had a team-high 377 digs to go along with 39 aces and 15 assists.

Filling the void left behind by their departure are senior outside hitter Rachel Matheson (257 kills, 169 digs, 30 aces and 11 blocks), setter Casey McLean (199 assists, 158 digs and 66 aces) and opposite hitter Maddy Powell (seven kills).

The opportunity to step into a leadership position is something the trio relishes, Stegenga said.

“They’ve definitely made their comments about their seniority over things,” she said, with a laugh. “They’re anxious, excited, and every emotion that they’re feeling is probably very positive for our program. They don’t want anything to change, even though we lose players every year. They don’t want what has been happening the past few years to change, so I feel like they’re willing and ready, and they have the desire to go in and take those roles, all three of them.”

Steinbrenner hosts Armwood to open the regular season on Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Another week, another college for Suttles

August 21, 2013 By Steve Mistretta

By Jeff Odom

He may have never stepped foot on a college gridiron, but former Gaither High School defensive end Ernest Suttles is set to join his third college team since graduating in May.

Ernest Suttles, a former defensive end standout at Gaither High School, has finally settled on Memphis as his college home after being dismissed from the University of Nebraska earlier this year. (File photo)

After he was dismissed from the University of Nebraska following an off-campus incident, Suttles thought he had found a new home in Coral Gables at Miami last week. But, the Hurricanes denied his transfer request, which left the 2012 All-Laker/All-Lutz News Defensive Player of the Year without a team again.

But not for long.

Memphis has accepted Suttles’ transfer request, and he officially joined the Tigers, which compete in the American Athletic Conference.

“He was involved in an unfortunate situation,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente told the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper on Aug. 14. “But we got letters of recommendation from an associate athletic director at Nebraska, from his high school principal, his high school football coach, a high school teacher, and we talked to two assistant coaches at Nebraska. They all had nothing but unbelievable things to say about him. They said he was a really good kid who made a mistake and was in a bad situation.”

Suttles joined Memphis for practice on Aug. 11, but will still have to sit out one year due to NCAA transfer rules, according to the Commercial Appeal. He will have four years of eligibility starting in 2014.

Memphis started last season 1-8, but rebounded with three straight wins to finish with an overall record of 4-8.

Can Anclote be stopped in Class 5A-District 7?

August 14, 2013 By Jeff Odom

As the 2013 high school football season fast approaches, The Laker/Lutz News sports staff is previewing the new districts marked up by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Our fourth installment in the series takes a look at Class 5A-District 7.

For past editions, go to LakerLutzNews.com.

Meet the teams
Anclote (6-5, 5-2 in 5A-6)
Gulf (0-10, 0-7 in 5A-6)
Hudson (3-7, 3-4 in 5A-6)
Ridgewood (1-9, 1-6 in 5A-6)
River Ridge (3-7, 1-6 in 6A-6)
Wesley Chapel (3-7, 2-5 in 5A-6)

ANCLOTE’S TITLE TO LOSE
The Anclote Sharks made the playoffs last season as a district runner-up behind region semifinalist Pasco, and are the only team in 5A-7 that had a winning record last season.

Anclote’s Willie Barrett nearly eclipsed the 2,000-yard rushing mark last season. If he does it again, the Sharks will be hoisting the championship trophy at season’s end. (File photo)

And the bad news for fellow opponents — all signs point to coach Matt Wicks’ team keeping its foot on the gas pedal.

Though they lost a few key offensive linemen, the Sharks return one of the top running backs in the North Suncoast in senior Willie Barrett.

Barrett rushed for 1,901 yards on 20 carries last season, and finished with 22 total touchdowns. He was also invited to compete in the Under Armour All-America underclassmen combine, which was at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg in January, and featured some of the best players in the country.

If Anclote can keep running the ball with Barrett and find a good replacement for quarterback John Forgione — who graduated in May after passing for 906 yards with 15 touchdowns his senior season — the Sharks will be very hard to knock off, and could cruise to their first district championship in program history.

KANTOR TURNS AROUND HUDSON
Former Gaither coach Mark Kantor came to Hudson without any real expectations other than to win a couple games here and there.

But after his first season, which saw the Cobras improve from an 0-10 record in 2011 to 3-7 last year, Kantor might just sneak Hudson into the playoffs in his second year.

The Cobras return a host of playmakers, including running back Noah Siegrist, who rushed for 656 yards and four touchdowns during his junior season. Under an experienced leader like Kantor, Siegrist could thrive in 2013.

Another big key for Hudson this season will be the development of quarterback Joey Caruso. As a sophomore, Caruso appeared in six games for the Cobras last season and passed for 266 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Though those are not Joe Montana-like numbers, Caruso will continue to get better, especially with one year under his belt in Kantor’s system.

WILDCATS GET STRONGER
With interest back in its program, Wesley Chapel has high hopes for the future.

The Wildcats struggled to draw players into its program under Ben Alford last season, and it showed as only 26 players were on the spring roster in 2012.

But optimism is shining bright this season under first-year coach Tico Hernandez, who took over for Alford after he left Wesley Chapel to take a director job in Iowa. And that could be a major impact for the young Wildcats.

Hernandez has instilled a new motto for his players — Building Men for Others — and that doesn’t just ring true in the community, but on the field, too.

Wesley Chapel lost 12 seniors to graduation after last season, but returns a host of leaders, including quarterback Ty Tanner, who passed for 445 yards with four touchdowns during his sophomore campaign.

Still, even with a new culture, there are bound to be some bumps in the road.

Question marks swirl around the Wildcats’ offense, which loses leading-rusher Daquan Caesear (671 yards on 125 carries) and top-receiver Jordan Primus (222 yards on 18 receptions). On defense, Wesley Chapel returns Nalu Fraticelli (108 total tackles) and Mark LaBarbera (67 total tackles), but loses Kudiel Gomez, who had 57 total tackles, including five for losses.

It won’t be easy going up against the likes of Anclote and nondistrict opponents in Pasco and Sunlake. But Wesley Chapel has enough quality players to get close to a playoff spot this season.

KEEP AN EYE ON …

Willie Barrett, running back, Anclote
Barrett represents the Sharks’ biggest bite out of the backfield. The senior has one offer on the table from South Alabama, but expect Division I programs to line up at the door for his services if he is able to repeat or better his near-2,000-yard season in 2012.

Marcus Hayne, wide receiver, Wesley Chapel
Hayne has been one of the best players for the Wildcats’ athletic program, but on the hardwood, not the gridiron. The 6-foot-7 senior is giving football a try after helping lead the Wesley Chapel boys basketball team to its first district title in seven years. With that kind of experience, he will be an appreciated member of the locker room and possibly even an under-the-radar playmaker that will give Tanner a nice target down the field.

CAN’T MISS MATCH-UP
Wiregrass Ranch at Wesley Chapel, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.

Yes, it’s a nondistrict game. Yes, Wiregrass Ranch has never defeated its cross-town foe in the regular season. And, yes, this could be one of the dark horse picks for the best game in Pasco County this year.

‘Nuff said?

This game won’t have implications for the district championship, but a reloaded, hungry to win Wiregrass against a scrappy Wesley Chapel bunch will make for some big fireworks.

And if the spring meeting between these two teams in early June was any indication of what’s to come in November, you better buckle your seatbelts. It’s going to be a dogfight.

Projections
1. Anclote
2. Hudson
3. River Ridge
4. Wesley Chapel
5. Gulf
6. Ridgewood

Performance-enhancing drugs hit high school level

August 14, 2013 By Jeff Odom

In light of the recent Biogenesis scandal that put a black eye on Major League Baseball, the Florida High School Athletic Association is conducting a major review of its policies against the use of performance-enhancing drugs for student-athletes.

In a release by the organization, which regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public and private schools, FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing asked the Sports Medicine Advisory committee to perform a “top-to-bottom review” of existing policies to determine what can be done to eliminate PED use.

“The FHSAA’s overriding priority is the safety, well-being and constructive development of young student-athletes, whose bodies and character are still forming,” Dearing said. “Performance-enhancing drugs undermine every aspect of this goal, and so it is imperative that our student-athletes adhere to a zero tolerance policy toward these inherently unfair and dangerous substances.”

Existing FHSAA policies and bylaws state that student-athletes can be suspended from competing if they have used PEDs, but Dearing said it isn’t enough. Especially after a report by the Miami Herald alleged that two current high school baseball players were clients of the Biogenesis Anti-Aging Clinic in South Florida where many professional baseball players, including New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun and Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, were found to have allegedly obtained banned substances.

In total, MLB officials suspended 13 players for their involvement.

Dearing said the issue starts and ends with coaches.

“Here is the bottom line for me: As executive director of FHSAA, I believe we must draw a line in the sand against performance-enhancing drugs,” Dearing said. “School districts simply cannot tolerate coaches who encourage or look the other way when athletes use PEDs. Therefore, these coaches cannot be allowed to keep their jobs or have anything to do with young athletes.

“This is more than safeguarding fair play. It’s about saving lives.”

According to the release, Dearing has asked the 15-member committee, which includes 11 physicians, as well as athletic trainers, former coaches and educators, to review a full range of issues related to PED use, including but now limited to:

–Whether existing policies and procedures provide sufficient authority for schools to test and discipline student-athletes who may be using banned substances.

–The legal, policy and fiscal implications of heightened policies against performance-enhancing drugs; and

–Whether the FHSAA prohibition of PEDs would be more effective if set out as a stand-alone policy rather than existing as a part of a broader policy on sportsmanship.

Dearing was joined in his pledge for a review by State Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who is a former school principal and superintendant and now serves as chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.

“Performance-enhancing drugs pose a very real, very dangerous threat to high school student-athletes, both physically and psychologically,” Montford said in the release. “I commend the FHSAA for being proactive in addressing the challenge presented by coaches, parents and young athletes who want to get ahead by any means possible, whatever the personal cost.”

Jennifer Roth Manyard, an assistant professor of family and sports medicine with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and member of the FHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, said the organization is making positive strides to eliminate PEDs.

“Teenagers are still developing … and PEDs have no place in their lives,” Maynard said in the release. “Whatever the FHSAA can do to stop PEDs from being used by high school student-athletes is a step in the right direction.”

Saint Leo names new women’s golf coach

August 14, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Tommy Baker has been named the new women’s golf coach for Saint Leo University.

Baker, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, makes his way to Saint Leo after serving as the head men’s and women’s golf coach at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C.

“I am extremely honored and excited to be joining the Saint Leo family,” Baker said. “I am very excited about the future of Saint Leo women’s golf. The program has established itself as a regional power, and I feel they are on the verge of bursting onto the national scene.”

Under Baker’s tutelage at Coker, the women’s golf program was transformed into a regional competitor. During the 2012-13 season alone, the Cobras had three top-5 finishes, and they completed eight of nine events in the top 15. In addition to the women’s success, Baker guided his men’s program to 12 total tournament victories. The men’s team also captured the 2012 Conference Carolinas Championship.

“We are excited to add Tommy Baker to our staff and the leadership he brings to our women’s program,” said Athletic Director Francis X. Reidy. “His accomplishments at his previous positions on and off the golf course are a great fit for our athletic mission and university values.”

In his five years with the Cobras, Baker helped to produce more than 70 Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll recipients, 32 All-Tournament Team selections, 17 All-Conference Team selections, 11 team tournament victories and 10 individual medalist honors.

In addition, he led six Golf Coaches Association of America All-Region Selections, two GCAA All-Freshman Team selections, one Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, one Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, and one Ping First Team All-America selection.

Along with numerous awards, Baker’s teams spent 29 consecutive weeks ranked in the Golf World/Nike Coaches’ Poll in 2012-13. He also led the Cobras to six NCAA Regional Appearances and one NCAA National Championship appearance. In 2012, his women’s golf team also won the Conference Carolinas Team Sportsmanship Award. Adding to his resume, Baker was named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the year in 2009.

Prior to his success with the Cobras, Baker was an assistant men’s and women’s golf coach at his alma mater, UNC Pembroke, for two years.

As a member of the UNC Pembroke golf team from 2002-06, Baker was a four-time letterman, as well as a four-time Peach Belt Conference Honor Roll Selection. He received a bachelor’s of science with honors in exercise in sport science, as well as his masters in sports administration.

The Fayetteville, N.C. native will serve Saint Leo as the fourth head women’s golf coach since the program’s inception in 2002.

Class 6A-District 6 up for grabs

August 7, 2013 By Jeff Odom

During the next few weeks leading up to the first game of the 2013 high school football season, The Laker/Lutz News sports staff is previewing the new districts marked up by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Our third installment in the series takes a look at Class 6A-District 6:

Meet the teams
Fivay (6-4, 5-2 in 5A-6)
Land O’ Lakes (4-6, 2-5)
Mitchell (6-4, 3-4)
Springstead (9-2, 6-1)
Sunlake (8-2, 5-2)

GATORS’ DYNAMIC DUO
Land O’ Lakes’ success in 6A-6 this season may rest on the arms of quarterbacks James Pensyl and Ethan Weilant.

Land O’ Lakes quarterback James Pensyl looked impressive in the spring game and has plenty of offensive weapons to get the Gators back into the postseason for the first time in two years. (Photo by Tim McCLain)

Pensyl looked impressive at times during the Gators’ spring game loss against Pasco on May 23 finishing 8-of-17 with one touchdown and one interception. He also added 30 rushing yards. And Weilant, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, turned plenty of heads with his performance in the North Suncoast 7-on-7 summer league. He even lined up at wide receiver at times.

While Pensyl looks to be the favorite to land the starting job in Week 1 after he passed for 946 yards last season, the battle could end up down to the wire for Land O’ Lakes, which is looking to end its two-year playoff drought and get past the dark cloud of recruiting violation penalties handed down by the FHSAA in 2011.

The Gators have the offensive weapons to do just that, but their final place in the standings will depend on how they use them against the slate of tough district opponents.

SEAHAWKS HOPE TO KEEP SOARING
Sunlake has been one of the most dominant teams in Pasco County during the past three seasons, racking up back-to-back wins over rival Land O’ Lakes and 26 total wins.

However, the Seahawks didn’t have the best spring jamboree by losing to Wiregrass Ranch 7-0, but fared better in their 21-0 win against a young Wesley Chapel squad.

“We got our feet wet,” Coach Bill Browning said after the game. “At times we swam, at times we treaded water, and at times we drowned.”

Growing pains early in the season are to be expected, and projected starting quarterback Esteban LeWallen, who is Sunlake’s fourth starter in as many seasons, did not even step onto the field in the spring games due to personal reasons.

But the loss of quarterback Josh Zifer, 1,000-yard rusher Eddie Burgos and linebacker Ray Busbee to graduation might be too much to overcome, especially after the Seahawks missed the playoffs with an 8-2 record last season. And with the way the district is shaping up again, they may have to repeat that performance to earn a shot at a postseason berth.

KEEP AN EYE ON …
Ben Wood, inside linebacker, Sunlake
Wood was a key part of Browning’s defense last season by racking up 86 tackles (56 solo), seven sacks and three forced fumbles. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior also split time on offense at tight end. If Wood and company can repeat his masterful performance, expect Sunlake to be in the playoff conversation once again.

Austin McGuire, halfback, Land O’ Lakes
McGuire was impressive against a tough Pasco High defense in the Gators’ spring game, helping stage a late comeback against the Pirates by scoring a touchdown and leading multiple drives down the field. The junior, along with teammate Larenz Scroggins, could be Land O’ Lakes’ go-to-guy this season after racking up 145 yards on 10 carries last year.

Danny Fernandez in familiar territory at Florida Tech

August 7, 2013 By Jeff Odom

Danny Fernandez arrived at Steinbrenner High as a sophomore in 2009 without knowing what to expect from the brand new school.

The field had never been played on. The weights had never been lifted. To him, it was a clean slate, the chance to prove his value to a budding program.

Former Steinbrenner gridiron player Danny Fernandez said he is excited about the unique opportunity to start two football programs in his career. (File photo)

Fast forward five years later and Fernandez is at it again — building a program from scratch.

This time, however, more than 100 other players are helping do the same at a much higher level. They are laying the foundation to mold first-year Florida Institute of Technology, a Division II program, into a future college football powerhouse.

***

Former Steinbrenner coach Floyd Graham can remember the first time he saw Fernandez during summer workouts prior to the school’s inaugural year.

His overall size wasn’t all that impressive, but one thing about Fernandez stuck out to Graham above all 71 other players on the roster — his passion for the game.

“With Danny, what we had is a kid who came in what I call the Napoleon syndrome,” Graham said with a laugh. “He was undersized, but he had a huge heart, and he won over the players the first year.”

Fernandez soon began to take a leadership role among his teammates, and when Graham and his assistants allowed the players to pick the squad’s first team captains, there was no hesitation at who should get a nod.

“He was a great leader, never missed workouts, was always in the weight room, and he always fought to get bigger, faster and stronger,” Graham said of Fernandez. He was a utility player for us, and at one time, we actually had him as a backup quarterback. He played that, running back and corner, and he did everything we asked.”

Fernandez, who came to Steinbrenner after playing at Sickles his freshman year, said he always felt from Day 1 that he needed to prove his worth and show how badly he wanted to make Steinbrenner into a successful program.

“Coach Graham didn’t really know who we were, he didn’t know a lot of guys’ skill levels either, so once we suited up and got on the field, we just had this open opportunity to truly show how we can play,” Fernandez said. “When I got to Steinbrenner, I was one of only a few guys who had played varsity football, so I knew from the start that I had to step up. I had to try and be a vocal leader.”

Fernandez’s leadership paid off for the Warriors as they steadily improved from 0-6 in 2009 to 5-5 in 2010 and 7-3 in 2011, one win away from a playoff berth. But one thing hadn’t improved by his senior year — a chance to play at the college level for a major university.

However, a late season recruiting fair changed everything for Fernandez when he was offered to play for Florida Tech, which had just made the decision to expand its athletic department to include football beginning in 2013.

There was no hesitation from Fernandez. He was going to play at Florida Tech.

“I think it’s definitely just awesome this kind of scenario to be put into, because nothing was established,” Fernandez said. “A lot of guys go to college for the first time and they’re kind of nervous, and they start looking at sitting the bench for three years or having a few All-Americans ahead of them or a solidified starter or team captain. But getting to Florida Tech, nobody knew anybody.

“The coaches, when it came down to it, didn’t really know who could play and who couldn’t, because they were kind of just basing us off of film and some players were watched live. So, it was just so up in the air, which everyone was able to just make a statement, and that’s how Steinbrenner was as well.”

Graham, who left Steinbrenner in 2012 following the team’s best season in program history, said he felt like the decision was a perfect match for Fernandez.

“I think they go hand in hand, except (Florida Tech) is probably a much larger scale than high school,” Graham said. “He’ll know the obstacles that we had to get through like, for example, equipment not being there, to taking care of new facilities, to being a part of just the team that plays the very first game at this school.

“This is one of the things he used to talk about to his teammates. I remember he used to say we’re not following anybody, everybody is going to follow us, so we’ve got to set the standard right now. He took a lot of pride in that.”

***

With Florida Tech’s program not starting for another year when he enrolled for classes last fall, Fernandez had to essentially take a year off from football.

During that time, Fernandez worked with Florida Tech coach Steve Englehart to develop his game to a higher level and began developing chemistry with his teammates through practices and scrimmages.

Away from the field, Fernandez took a part-time job at the school and made sure to focus on his academics as he pursues a degree in biomedical engineering.

“It was really easy for me to sink in and focus on what I need to do, because I don’t have to take on any burdens,” Fernandez said. “At Steinbrenner, I knew I was one of those guys that had to come in right away and say something, but it was much easier at Florida Tech, because I’ve had a whole year to build up to it.”

***

Fernandez has had Sept. 7 circled on his calendar for more than a year.

That’s when Florida Tech will host, under the lights, Stetson University, which will restart its football program this season after a 57-year hiatus.

While he can’t describe how he will feel walking out onto the field for the first time in a college uniform, Fernandez said he knows it will be a memory to last a lifetime.

“The fact that we’re going to be in the history books and just have that excitement and build up this program is making us work that much harder,” Fernandez said. “We want to accomplish that goal of winning that game and being able to say to a team that’s only an hour north that we beat them is incredible.”

Graham echoed his former player and added that he believes this entire experience stretches far beyond the gridiron and into life itself.

“I think that is a tremendous asset for Danny,” Graham said. “Imagine what that’s going to be like for him in life. You think about it, you’re only a father for the first time, you’re married for the first time, and you buy your first house. He took so much pride in doing something for the first time (at Steinbrenner), that he wanted to see that moment and make the best of that moment.

“I think (starting the program at Florida Tech) is just going to be a tremendous, tremendous asset for him in life, because he’s a great young man.”

Steinbrenner working to keep team chemistry intact

August 7, 2013 By Jeff Odom

For the first time ever, Steinbrenner High girls basketball coach J.R. Allen is faced with the task of rebuilding going into the team’s fifth season.

For the past two seasons, Steinbrenner has been one of the most successful programs in the county, from their first Class 7A-District 9 title in 2011, to its first playoff win against St. Petersburg last year, with back-to-back 20-plus win seasons.

Junior power forward Rachel Briere said the team needs to stay mentally strong in order to get through tough situations on the court this season. (File photo)

But gone is 1,000-point scorer Bailey Hooker. Gone is all-time assists leader Justice Thigpen. And gone is Lauren Shedd, along with four other seniors, who departed after graduation in May.

But the biggest thing missing from this year’s squad is strong leadership and on-court team chemistry, which may be deeper than the loss of statistics.

“One thing that I will say is, as a head coach, our assistants and even to an extent some of our kids, have been very spoiled by consistency in terms of the people that were here,” said Allen, the only coach in program history. “When we opened five years ago, we were brand new and it was a majority of freshmen and sophomores. So, it was something at the beginning where we knew we were going to eventually take some lumps and hits, but that’s all part of character building and going through things where you want to struggle in the beginning. So they understand what it takes to be successful.”

One of the ways Allen is trying to keep his team on the same page prior to the start of the season in November is through summer youth camps.

The clinics, which drew more than 200 total kids during the two-week-long sessions, give his players the unique opportunity of working with children from around the community, teaching them the fundamentals of basketball.

“A lot of times when kids get time off, a lot of things can happen,” Allen said. “It keeps our girls out of trouble, gives them something to do and it keeps them around basketball, which is what we want. We want them to be thinking about it and staying in basketball shape, but most importantly to pick up other life skills, communication and develop a relationship with the local community.”

Junior power forward Rachel Briere, who was Steinbrenner’s second-leading scorer last season with 9.3 points per game, said the team’s chances of maintaining its success in the district will all rest on how they react to stressful situations.

“It’s going to depend all on our mental toughness,” Briere said. “Coach has already been so specific and clear that that’s exactly what we’re going need, because we’ve played in tournaments this summer and it shows that if we get tired then our mentality is not there, and we let the refs get inside their head or other teams, so it’s all about staying focused on exactly where we want to be.”

Away from the court, the team has its own time for bonding.

Whether it’s going out to eat, weekend slumber parties or huddling around the television to watch their favorite show, the players enjoy each other’s company and, as senior Morgan Gonzalez puts it, they’re all best friends.

“When we went to Gainesville last season for a tournament, we had a team night where we all got in one of the rooms and all watched ‘Pitch Perfect’ and stuff like that,” Gonzalez said. “We are a family, and we just go so much further out than any other team that I know. We’re inseparable.”

Senior point guard Taylor Thigpen added it will take that attitude toward each other in order to get past opponents like Sickles, Wiregrass Ranch and last season’s 7A region champs, Freedom.

“We’re just trying to incorporate every new player that we have and just trying to play Steinbrenner basketball,” Thigpen said. “We’ve just got to learn how to play with each other, because we’re all great friends, but it’s different from being friends outside the court to on the court.

“We’ve got to build chemistry, and I think if we do that, we should have another good season.”

Bishop McLaughlin football enters new era after joining district

July 31, 2013 By Jeff Odom

Bishop McLaughlin quarterback R.J. Perciavalle says his team is excited about joining a major district for the first time in program history, and expects to be competitive in each game this season. (File photo)

For the first time in the program’s nine-year history, the Bishop McLaughlin Hurricanes are in a major district — Class 3A-District 4 — that will now make them eligible for the postseason for the first time sine 2007.

That has players excited for what could be coming down the road.

“We’re a private school and still a very young program,” senior quarterback R.J. Perciavalle said. “Moving into a district was necessary for moving the program forward.”

District 4, Perciavalle said, is one of the best districts in the state, and that’s going to be a challenge for the Hurricanes.

“Obviously we’re going to go out and try to win every game,” he said. “We know we’re young, but we’re trying as hard as we can, and we want to go out and prove ourselves.”

In its first district appearance since the 2007-08 season when it was in the now-defunct Class1B-District 8, Bishop McLaughlin will match up with Berkley Prep, Tampa Catholic, Fort Meade, Frostproof and Lakeland Christian. Three of those teams made the playoffs last season, and none had a losing record.

Bishop McLaughlin, however, finished last season at 4-7 as an FHSAA Independent in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference.

Intimidated? Not at all, Perciavalle said.

“We’ve been picked last in a lot of preseason rankings and stuff like that, and we just want to show that we’re here to fight and not just some pushover team,” Perciavalle said.

One of the blueprints to how Bishop McLaughlin plans to reach its success can be found in the school’s cross-town rivals — Carrollwood Day School.

Though the Hurricanes lost to the Patriots 41-7 in their inaugural spring game back in May, the young program has drawn plenty of comparisons to Carrollwood Day, which went to the Class 2A region finals last season just three years after moving into its first district, 2A-5, because of how they are building their program.

Perciavalle threw for 1,319 yards with 15 total touchdowns last season and expects to use those numbers to help lead the team to a stronger upcoming season. Third-year coach Derrick Alexander said after the spring game that it will take leadership from players like Perciavalle to set up the program for success.

“We want to get stronger and in better shape,” Alexander said. “Just because we don’t have the big numbers, our guys have to be in maximum shape, because they’re playing on both sides of the ball.”

That’s even more important this season with a much tougher schedule ahead of Bishop McLaughlin.

“We’re trying to put in some extra work in the weight room, on the field and just do everything you can do to just better prepare ourselves,” Perciavalle said. “We know it’s not going to be easy, but we’re definitely up for the challenge.”

–Statistics as entered by coaches on Maxpreps.com