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Wesley Chapel/New Tampa Sports

Wesley Chapel soccer team wins state title

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Wesley Chapel Soccer Club has always had hard-working, athletic players who enjoy the game and strive to improve. But even with a variety of teams ranging in age from U9 to U18, they’ve never had a state champion.

That is, until now.

Natalie Gonzalez gets past the defense in Wesley Chapel's 4-2 semifinal win. They won the state President's Cup, with a 3-0 victory in the final. (Courtesy of Alex Vilutini)
Natalie Gonzalez gets past the defense in Wesley Chapel’s 4-2 semifinal win. They won the state President’s Cup, with a 3-0 victory in the final.
(Courtesy of Alex Vilutini)

The U15 Girls White Team captured the Region C title — also a first for the club — to participate in the four-team state tournament for the President’s Cup earlier this month. The Flames then got past the Florida Blast (4-2) and Creeks Krush (3-0) in convincing fashion to earn the cup in Auburndale, marking the club’s first state championship since it began more than a decade ago.

“The whole team was thrilled. They were filled with excitement,” said assistant coach Jeff Olsen.

The team was able to execute its team philosophies on its way to the President’s Cup. They utilized a “strike first” mentality, scoring within the first few minutes of both the semifinal and final. But after that they preach a defensive mindset, calling on every player, regardless of position, to be on guard when the other team has the ball. The end result is a quick-strike offense and a challenging defense that was too much for their opponents in the tournament.

They also have a specific plan when it comes to fouls: Don’t do it. Even when the other team plays an overly aggressive style, Olsen said, the players know that the proper response isn’t retaliation. It’s determination.

“We play harder and smarter, but we like to play clean, too,” Olsen said. “We focus on the game.”

That focus allows them to concentrate on scoring and playing sound defense when an opponent might be struggling with a yellow card, which signals a warning, or even a red card, which signals an ejection.

Carrie Greene, a midfielder and team captain, agrees.

“We understand that if we play to the best of our abilities, the rough play won’t matter,” she said.

Playing their best comes easier because the players know each other so well, Greene said. Many have played together for years in the competitive system, as well as the recreational one. That familiarity allows them to predict each other’s movements and play better as a team. As a result, they can set the tone of the game and face challenges with confidence.

The Flames now face a couple of new challenges.

They’ll travel to Lafayette, Louisiana, to represent Florida and to compete in the Region III President’s Cup in June.

And, they have to find a way to pay for it.

The team has less than six weeks to raise around $20,000 for travel, lodging and expenses for 17 players and two coaches.

They plan to reach out to individuals and businesses, as well as host fundraisers, to meet their goal.

Since goals — especially those on the field — seem to come naturally to the team, it is looking forward to its out-of-state competition in June.

Claiming the state regional title, and then the state’s President’s Cup, has already taught players the value of staying focused and playing as a team.

It’s also brought notoriety to the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, proving that the philosophy of good sportsmanship and enthusiastic-but-clean play can bring results on the scoreboard, too.

“It shows that hard work, dedication, and loyalty to your club and your community pays off in the end,” Olsen said.

The club will have competitive tryouts at the end of May.

For information about the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, visit WCAASports.org. To help with the U15 team’s fundraising efforts, visit their donation page at gofundme.com.

Published April 22, 2015

Wiregrass Ranch boys claim first regional soccer title

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When the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls reached the regional semifinals last year, the team was experiencing its best season ever.

But that milestone lasted just one season, because this year the team took another step forward, by winning its region and advancing to the state tournament.

Wiregrass Ranch High School junior Brendan Duran races past Melbourne players during the regional final. Duran scored the game's only goal to lift Wiregrass Ranch to its first state tournament. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Wiregrass Ranch High School junior Brendan Duran races past Melbourne players during the regional final. Duran scored the game’s only goal to lift Wiregrass Ranch to its first state tournament.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

This time around, the Bulls won their region by shutting out Melbourne — last year’s state champion in Class 4A — by a 1-0 margin in the final.

The team’s first trip to the state competition ended in a 1-0 loss to Chiles, the tournament’s eventual champion. But no one at Wiregrass Ranch is hanging his head in defeat.

“From the moment that we ended up losing, I was proud of the boys,” said coach David Wilson, who also coaches the school’s state champion tennis team and serves as athletic director. “We hung tough and played well, but just not well enough to win.”

Wiregrass Ranch played well enough to win the vast majority of its games, racking up 25 victories against just two defeats and one tie. Wilson attributes the team’s success to a wealth of talent but also to a spirit of camaraderie and chemistry — a combination that he believes is critical in building a winning soccer program.

“It may be more important than having talent,” Wilson said of team chemistry. “If they don’t work together and pull for each other and push each other and everything else, then you could have all the talent in the world (and not succeed).”

Wilson said that he’s coached teams with more raw talent than his current regional champions, but never one that could rival both their talent and chemistry.

It’s also important for the players to take ownership of the team at Wiregrass Ranch. They hold each other accountable and can even run portions of their practices on their own. They also know that if things don’t go well, they need to find ways to bounce back. That characteristic was tested earlier in the year, said Brendan Duran, a junior.

“After we came back from our loss (a 2-0 defeat to Sickles in December) we regrouped and focused ourselves again, and just went from there,” he said. They wouldn’t lose again in their regular season, and went 12-0-1 until their exit in the state semifinals.

One of those wins was a 3-2 victory at Sunlake in January, and Duran said it was an important one. Given Sunlake’s track record of success — this season they reached their state tournament for the third year in a row — the win helped earn the Bulls some notoriety, and had people taking note of their skills and accomplishments.

While notoriety, victories and titles are the mark of a successful program, Wilson isn’t getting there by coming down hard on the athletes or getting animated when they don’t perform. He’d rather create a program they want to join, and let them motivate themselves into keeping it strong and reaching their goals.

“My philosophy the whole time has been the experience has to outweigh the outcome. If you go in and you keep screaming and yelling and everything else, it’s not worth doing. We don’t run a program like that,” Wilson said. “I think our kids really, really enjoy the experience of playing.”

They also enjoy the fruits of the team’s success. When the Bulls won their regional final game in the waning minutes, the sizeable home crowd provided vocal support. For Duran, who scored the game’s only goal, it was a highlight of the season.

“We had a ton of people at the game, and they all stormed the field after,” he said. “That was once-in-a-lifetime moment. I didn’t think that so many people actually cared about soccer until then.”

Soccer fans at Wiregrass Ranch might have more reasons to cheer in the future. Most of the players, including three goalkeepers, are eligible to return next season. In fact, out of 22 members on the team, only six will graduate this year.

Wilson also will look to the successful junior varsity soccer team, which went 13-1 in its recent season, to supplement the roster.

With that much talent coming back and their chemistry intact, this current “best season ever” achievement may not hold up long.

“Assuming everybody returns, we should be better next year than we were this year,” Wilson said.

Published February 25, 2015

Sign Here: Local athletes commit to colleges

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High school seniors are used to writing.

On Feb. 4, though, a number of student-athletes did some writing that will change their lives.

Family members surround Mark Hutchinson, left, and Jaye Miner of Wiregrass Ranch High School as they sign their letters of intent to play college football. They're the first players in the school’s history to sign with NCAA Division I schools. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo
Family members surround Mark Hutchinson, left, and Jaye Miner of Wiregrass Ranch High School as they sign their letters of intent to play college football. They’re the first players in the school’s history to sign with NCAA Division I schools.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo

“It feels good,” said Austin Yeloushan, a senior at Sunlake High School. “Finally, I’m committed and ready to go play somewhere.” Yeloushan was one of thousands of athletes around the country who participated in National Signing Day, the first day that a high school football player can sign a binding letter of intent with a member school of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Yeloushan accepted an offer to attend Jacksonville University, where he’ll also play on defense for the Dolphins. In addition to the football opportunity, he was impressed with the school’s academic offerings and its location. He plans to study business.

He’s also working out several times a day and adding in a lot of running in order to get ready to play football at the collegiate level. Although he had a stellar high school career, Yeloushan knows that the level of competition is tougher in college, and he wants to be prepared.

“I feel like everyone that’s really good from their high school goes to college. So it’s just going to be like a big all-star game,” he said.

Jaye Miner, a linebacker from Wiregrass Ranch High School, feels the same way.

“In college it’s like an all-star team every game,” he said. “I know I can’t take anything easy. Everyone’s going to be bigger, stronger, faster.” Miner received 14 offers to play football at the next level, and chose Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton on National Signing Day. He plans to study photography, sports medicine or marine biology in the classroom, and learn from his more experienced teammates on the football field.

He might be getting some early experience himself when the Owls’ season starts. Due to a lack of linebacker depth at FAU, Miner said he has a good chance of starting games early in his career.

If he’s in the starting lineup when the Owls play Florida International University on Oct. 31, he’ll face off against a former teammate’s new school. Mark Hutchinson, a Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver, sat next to Miner on Feb. 4 and signed his own papers to play at the next level. He chose FIU and will attend on a full scholarship.

Not bad for a kid who was cut from his seventh-grade football team.

“It was my first year. I was scrawny. I was a skinny little boy,” Hutchinson recalled. “So I had to put in a lot of work, a lot of effort and focus. Because I knew this was something I wanted. I wanted to be an athlete in high school.”

Now that he’s completed a standout athletic career in high school, Hutchinson knows he’ll have something to prove when he enters college as a freshman. But working his way up is nothing new for Hutchinson. He started his freshman year on the junior varsity team before earning a promotion to varsity. He’s focusing on adding strength in the off-season to be prepared when they call his number.

Miner and Hutchinson are good friends and have been playing together for years. And even before they were seriously thinking about Division I college football and making big life decisions, this is a moment they considered.

“In Mark’s room right now, he has a chalkboard wall. It says ‘D-1 bound.’ We wrote that when we were in seventh grade,” Miner said.

Friends and family were in attendance at National Signing Day to congratulate the athletes, coaches praised their abilities, and the schools served cake to help celebrate the event. And while they’re proud of their athletes and have confidence in them at the next level, those athletes are leaving big shoes to fill on their football teams. When the new season comes around, the coaches will have to replace their talented athletes who have moved on from Friday night games to playing on Saturdays.

“You miss all your seniors. You really do,” said Sunlake coach Bill Browning at Yeloushan’s signing event. “And he’s been really successful here, so we’ll miss him.”

Published February 11, 2015

Freedom High shocks district with playoff berth

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When a soccer team finishes the regular season with a 2-8-3 record and a seven-game winless streak, most people wouldn’t expect them to advance past their district tournament and into the regional playoffs.

Not even their coach.

Senior Ruben Gutierrez fights to maintain control on the field. In the district tournament, Freedom fought past a tough season to earn a spot in the regional playoffs. (Courtesy of Freedom High School)
Senior Ruben Gutierrez fights to maintain control on the field. In the district tournament, Freedom fought past a tough season to earn a spot in the regional playoffs.
(Courtesy of Freedom High School)

“Realistically, no,” said Freedom High School boys’ soccer coach Charlie Haueter. The team finished a tough early part of their schedule 2-2-2, and he felt like they had a good chance to finish strong with their remaining opponents. But when that didn’t happen and the losses piled up, he thought it just wasn’t their year.

But, the Patriots proved a lot of people wrong.

In the first round of their district tournament, they knocked off Mitchell High School, who had a 17-5-1 record at the time. In the second round, they scored a season-high five goals and defeated Chamberlain High School. That doubled their season win total, put them in the district finals and earned them a berth in the regional tournament.

“I think my seniors realized it was about to end, and they didn’t want it to (end),” Haueter said. Their good play didn’t end there, either: Although they lost in the finals to Wiregrass Ranch, who was 23-1-1 at the time, they took a 1-0 lead in that game and were tied at the half.

Even though the Bulls won the district title by a 3-1 score, Freedom’s effort wasn’t lost on Wiregrass Ranch coach David Wilson.

“They’re one of those teams that put all the pieces together at the right time,” he said. “The coach did a really nice job with them, too.”

Haueter’s job was pretty tough this year, overcoming a number of obstacles on the team’s way to the playoffs. First, their star player, Mohammed Saad, missed most of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He had scored five goals in the first six games, and they missed his skills on the pitch.

He also had disciplinary problems during the season. The better high school players tend to play club level soccer in addition to high school soccer, Haueter explained. With the majority of his players also participating in club soccer, many of them weren’t giving enough attention to their high school team.

So he had them sign a contract, agreeing to give their full effort and participation. And when they failed to live up to that promise, there were consequences.

“We had to bench guys,” Haueter said. “I don’t think they believed that we were going to stick to the rules.” That means benching seniors, playing freshmen, and suffering losses. Throw in more injuries and the negative attitudes that can stem from losing, and a district run seemed out of the question at the end of the year.

But when they bought in to the system, and started being accountable for their participation, they pulled together and earned a berth in the regional tournament. Seeing the players overcome their early struggles was rewarding for the coach, who also teaches Advanced Placement classes at Freedom.

“Anytime you see kids maturing in high school, it is a great and wonderful thing,” he said.

Unfortunately, the regional playoffs didn’t have a great or wonderful ending for the team. They lost to Kathleen on Jan. 29 by a 3-1 score that included several disciplinary cards issued and Haueter being ejected toward the end of the game. The coach said the ejection was unwarranted, there were many complaints about the officiating that day, and he’s writing a letter to the Florida High School Athletic Association.

But regardless of the final outcome, Freedom went from a two-win team in the regular season to playing in the regional tournament. And playing younger players while others were being disciplined means, they’ll have more experience when next season rolls around.

And, since the team knows that full effort is required to participate in Freedom soccer, Haueter thinks next year’s team will be more dedicated and able to focus on winning.

“I’m a pretty firm believer that we’re not going to have any of the same issues,” he said.

Published February 4, 2015

 

Wiregrass Ranch is ready to defend state tennis title

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The Wiregrass Ranch boys’ tennis team earned a share of the Class 3A state championship last season. As a result, they knew expectations would be high headed into 2015. For his part, coach David Wilson has already admitted he doesn’t think the team will be as good as last year.

He thinks it will be better.

Alejandro Feliciano is a nationally ranked player by the United States Tennis Association, and he’s just one of many threats that opponents will face when they challenge Wiregrass Ranch on the court. (Courtesy of Alejandro Feliciano)
Alejandro Feliciano is a nationally ranked player by the United States Tennis Association, and he’s just one of many threats that opponents will face when they challenge Wiregrass Ranch on the court.
(Courtesy of Alejandro Feliciano)

“This will be the deepest team we’ve had,” Wilson said of the current lineup. “We actually added depth and strength to our team.”

Part of that depth and strength will come from a familiar last name.

Augie Moreno, defending state champion and a top player on the team, will welcome his little brother, Daniel, to the squad as a freshman. And with the championship team mostly intact from last year, the Bulls look to be stronger than ever.

That’s a significant statement, since Wiregrass Ranch has had successful tennis teams almost from its inception. Wilson has built a strong program since he took the job for the school’s opening athletic season in 2006-07. While the tennis title was the first state championship in school history, it was their third trip to the state tournament. And the district title was nothing new, either. Wilson said it was the team’s fifth-straight district championship.

Part of the team’s success stems from the excellent competition they face in practice. Wilson said the top players are all very competitive, and are capable of beating each other on any given day. So, honing their skills against each other makes the team stronger.

“If you’re always playing against competitive players within your own team, then you’re just going to keep getting better,” Wilson said.

Senior Alejandro Feliciano, who was ranked fourth on the team last season, agrees that the team has taken steps forward as it tries to defend its title.

“We actually have better players this year,” he said.

Feliciano is one of those great players, with a United States Tennis Association ranking inside the top 100 and a national ranking around 306 for players 18 and under.

While sheer talent gives Wiregrass Ranch a clear advantage over most schools, Feliciano said that their coach plays a big role as well. Instead of trying to force them to adapt to his strategies, he gives them the leeway to simply put their talent on display while he provides support however he can.

“I think it’s the fact that he bonds with us as if he were somebody our own age,” he said. “It’s like he’s one of us.”

Wilson is part of the tennis program because he had a characteristic nobody else had when the school began athletic play: He was willing to do it.

“When I took the job, nobody else wanted it,” he said. A recreational player, he knows that many of his players can beat him on the court. But his job is to provide support, let them have fun and create a positive experience that keeps them wanting to participate in high school sports.

Creating that desire is no easy accomplishment, since many players have their own personal coaches, a bright future in tennis and don’t really need the high school team to further their careers.

“I think that’s the one thing that makes me the proudest, is that kids want to play in my program,” Wilson said. “My saying for all my sports (Wilson is also the school’s boys’ soccer coach and athletic director) is the experience outweighs the outcome. If it’s not a great experience for them, what’s the sense of doing it?”

Part of that experience includes hitting the road to face elevated competition. Wiregrass Ranch will travel to Florida State University in Tallahassee next month to face Pensacola Catholic High School, one of the state’s top tennis teams. In March, they’ll travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the national high school tournament.

Wilson isn’t concerned about a letdown after achieving a state title. The team is full of skilled players with plenty of experience and a good working relationship together. But they also know that they had to share their state title with Barron Collier High School in Naples, since they finished with the same amount of points in the competition.

Being “co-champion” helps to motivate them to claim the title for themselves in 2015, Wilson said.

“The fact that we weren’t outright champions by ourselves, we still have something to prove,” he said.

Published January 21, 2015

Table For One: Local Claims Silver at Senior Games

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Bruce Holck of Wesley Chapel won a silver medal at last month’s Florida International Senior Games & State Championships. But the road to that medal began seven decades earlier in a New Jersey home.

“My father had a table in the basement,” Holck said. “That’s what started it all.”

At 78 years old, Bruce Holck of Wesley Chapel is still taking home medals for table tennis. He placed second (and qualified for the national tournament) at the Florida International Senior Games & State Championships last month. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
At 78 years old, Bruce Holck of Wesley Chapel is still taking home medals for table tennis. He placed second (and qualified for the national tournament) at the Florida International Senior Games & State Championships last month.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The game was table tennis, also known as pingpong, and he learned how to play as a young boy. It stayed him over the years, from starting a table tennis club in Delaware to regular games in New York. He then decided to see how he stacked up by joining the Senior Games.

That was 20 years ago.

Holck, 78, competed in the New York Senior Games for a couple of decades, earning medals in both individual and doubles matches. By finishing in the top three in his age group he also earned several berths into the national games, which are held every other year. He won the doubles competition at the national games around 10 years ago.

So when he came to Wesley Chapel last year, Holck knew he wanted to participate in Florida’s version of the games. But with more players here, he had to qualify through a regional system. He attended several regional competitions throughout the state, even after he qualified, to get a feel for the state’s talent and scout out some of the competition.

Holck said the state has excellent players, and he enjoys competing against Florida’s best. He also appreciates playing people in his own age group, which isn’t always possible when he plays recreationally.

“I play in Land O’ Lakes (at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex), and I’m quite sure I’m the oldest person playing there. I’m playing people who are younger and can move quite a bit better than I can now,” Holck said. “When you play in the Senior Games you’re playing somebody in your own age group.”

While Holck said the game is still fun for him — he even enjoys watching competitive table tennis — playing at a top level can be serious business. The game has changed a bit over the decades, he said, from reducing the number of points that make up a game to playing with a slightly larger ball.

But one of the biggest changes is in the paddle. Over time, it’s become a complicated piece of sports equipment. At one time there were simply the traditional rubber dimples on a paddle with nothing behind it. Now there’s a sponge-like material behind the rubber, and different groove designs that will cause different reactions with the ball. And when paddles have different designs on each side, they have different colors so the opponent might predict how the ball will be responding.

For Holck, another thing that’s changed is his age. Over the years he’s retained his hand-eye coordination, but isn’t as fast as he used to be. But he still plays at a high level, so when he defeats a young player, he’s philosophical about the victory.

“I’ll congratulate them and say ‘Well, that’s the last time I’ll be able to beat you because you’re getting better and I’m slowing up,'” Holck said.

But he isn’t slowing up too much, as evidenced by his second-place finish last month in Estero. He also qualified for the national tournament in singles and doubles, but isn’t sure if he’ll travel to Minnesota for the competition next year. His current schedule usually involves weekly play with the locals, and he also has a table at home, like his father did, so he can play when the mood strikes him. Holck even has a special robot that can simulate serves instead of just playing alone against a flat surface.

He also has a supportive wife of 55 years, Louise, who used to play herself. As she got older she let the game go, but she still cheers on her husband in his competitive contests.

“He takes it very seriously. It’s his passion,” she said.

And while he loves table tennis and plans to keep playing, he knows it’s not the most important thing in his life.

“She sometimes claims I think more of table tennis than her,” he said with a laugh. “But that’s not right, of course.”

Bull Run: Wiregrass Ranch soccer team still undefeated

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Sunlake High School is considered a powerhouse boys soccer program in Pasco County.

And for good reason: The Seahawks have a long track record of success, a winning coach, and they’re undefeated so far this season.

But they’re not the only ones.

Brendan Duran and his soccer teammates at Wiregrass Ranch High School are off to a perfect start. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Brendan Duran and his soccer teammates at Wiregrass Ranch High School are off to a perfect start. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Wiregrass Ranch High School has had five straight winning seasons, and the sixth already is in the bag after just 13 regular season games.

The Bulls are 13-0, including 5-0 in Class 4A-District 8. They’ve scored 62 goals compared to just five against, with nine shutouts. Their closest opponent in the district standings, Mitchell High School, lost 2-0 to Wiregrass Ranch last week.

And according to coach David Wilson, they don’t need to be micromanaged to succeed.

“They’ll run the first 25 minutes of practice without me having to do anything,” he said. “I say one thing to them, and they’ll be gone. They go on their run, they come out and stretch, they do their preliminary practice stuff and their preparation stuff.

“There’s expectations that we’ve set and these kids know what to do when they come in.”

Part of knowing what to do comes from playing at the local club level, Wilson said. Including the junior varsity team — which also undefeated — around 90 percent of their players participate in club soccer.

While the Bulls are dominating offensively and defensively, the coach said their strength lies in their depth. Injuries, sickness and club soccer commitments have required the team to dig deep into the roster frequently, and their bench players are able and ready to perform at a high level when called to the pitch.

“There’s not a drop-off when we have to go to the bench,” Wilson said. “You can wear teams down if you can go to your 20th player and have the kid not drop off too much from your No. 11 player.”

There isn’t any drop-off when they switch goalkeepers, either. While the shutouts and low goals against are impressive, it doesn’t come from one standout player. The Bulls actually rotate dominating goalkeepers, including Wilson’s son, Payton.

They have another goalie getting work at the junior varsity level, so an area that causes some teams to struggle is a very deep position at Wiregrass Ranch.

Wilson hopes that depth helps the team go farther than they did last year, even though it was a successful season. They reached the regional semifinals before falling to district rival Mitchell, 5-1.

That loss — at home, no less — stung some of the players. Providing a little payback with a 2-0 victory on Dec. 9 was an important win for them.

“That felt great. It was sweet revenge,” said Brendan Duran, the team’s assist leader.

After not playing their best in their final game last year, he said it’s important to start out this year strong and keep expectations high so they can advance farther.

But expectations alone won’t get it done, and Duran believes the team has the skill to reach the state finals. But even skill isn’t enough, and he knows what else is required to reach their potential.

“It’s going to have to take dedication,” Duran said. “And definitely hard work.”

His coach agrees that the team has the ability to compete for a state title, but he won’t be running around on the sidelines and screaming at his team to get there. Wilson isn’t that kind of coach, preferring to keep things in perspective and build strong foundations that aren’t swayed by the emotions of one game.

But he’s proud of the program, noting that alumni frequently come to games or practices to support the current players and reminisce with him about previous seasons.

Wilson, who also coaches tennis and is the school’s athletic director, has been coaching soccer for 26 years. But if other schools are hoping he might hang it up soon and give them a chance to topple Wiregrass Ranch, they’ll probably have a long wait.

“There’s really nothing else I want to do,” Wilson said. “I still really enjoy it.”

Published December 17, 2014

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A spike in success: PHSC finishes eighth in national volleyball tournament

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When Pasco-Hernando State College began spring preparations for the 2014 volleyball season, only four players showed up.

That wasn’t a sign of poor attendance. They really only had four players at the time.

The Lady Quistas brought a stout defense into the NJCAA Division II national tournament last month. Their successful season ended with an eighth-place finish for Pasco-Hernando State College. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
The Lady Quistas brought a stout defense into the NJCAA Division II national tournament last month. Their successful season ended with an eighth-place finish for Pasco-Hernando State College. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

While the athletes were honing their skills, the coaching staff was busy recruiting a class of 11 freshmen players. And with all the new faces came a lot of questions.

“Bringing in 11 freshmen, you have no idea if they’re going to be able to manage the practices and how they’re going to get along together,” Coach Kim Whitney said. “You can’t really predict all that. There’s a lot to factor in.”

Whitney might have seen a lot of potential in her young team, but it would have been tough to predict the kind of success they had this year. Of those 11 freshmen, nine players stuck with the team, and they finished with a regular season record of 35-5.

They qualified for their regional tournament, which has happened every year at PHSC during Whitney’s successful 11-year tenure as coach. But they also won that tournament, held Nov. 7-8 in Wilmington, North Carolina. That accomplishment qualified them for the National Junior College Activities Association national volleyball tournament for Division II, held Nov. 20-22 in Phoenix, where they finished eighth.

The national tournament appearance ended up being the second-best finish in school history, slotted only behind their national title run back in 2010. Overall, they closed out the season with a 39-8 record.

Earning the regional championship was a special moment for both the coach and the team.

“Getting that win at regionals was really big,” Whitney said. “It was a moment I really celebrated, and I know the girls really celebrated also. It’s not just a given. You have to work hard no matter how well your season has gone.”

While their regular season went well, it didn’t start out that way. The Conquistadors were just 5-3 after eight games, and even making their regional tournament was no sure thing. But they pulled together like a family, Whitney said, with the sophomores guiding and encouraging their younger teammates.

As a result, they went on two separate 15-match win streaks and established themselves as a successful and talented group.

So talented, in fact, that they overcame some jitters to win their first game against Waubonsee Community College of Illinois in straight sets at the national tournament, which put them in the winners bracket. But afterward, they ran into tough opponents from Columbus State Community College of Ohio, Des Moines Area Community College, and Illinois Central College. Despite some tinkering with the lineups, PHSC closed out its national tournament appearance with three losses.

While that isn’t the finish they wanted, Whitney said the experience — including coming up short at the end — was good for her team.

“I definitely think you learn a lot when you go through losses,” she said. “You hate to go through them. And the kids who hate losses, you know that those are the kids who are competitive and they want to win.

There wasn’t a dry eye among the players after their first tournament defeat.

“Sometimes you have to face those moments,” Whitney said. “But I think sometimes they make you better.”

Even though they lost their final contest against Illinois Central, she said, they played more like their regular selves and battled hard in a close, five-set match.

While Whitney is proud of the team’s accomplishments, she knows the future looks pretty bright for PHSC volleyball as well. The team is losing its experienced sophomores, yet the coach believes the regional success and tournament experience will help her freshmen when they take the court in 2015.

In fact, Whitney’s players are so enthusiastic about their prospects, they aren’t waiting for next year.

“They’re playing volleyball already,” she said. “You’d expect them to be like, ‘I just need a break, and this has been a long season.’ But they’re out there ready to play.

“I think that they’re really excited about the group that’s coming back.”

Published December 10, 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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Rebels fall to Miami in FBA title game

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The Tampa Bay Rebels, a semi-professional basketball team that plays its home games at Freedom High School, always seem to finish their seasons the same way: In the Florida Basketball Association championship game.

Hard work during training camp led to another strong season for the Tampa Bay Rebels, which fell just short of the title for the second year in a row. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rebels)
Hard work during training camp led to another strong season for the Tampa Bay Rebels, which fell just short of the title for the second year in a row.
(Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rebels)

For the third year in a row, the Rebels were one of two teams left standing. But while they took the title in 2012, the last two years have ended with a loss — this time a 98-82 defeat to the Miami Midnites on Aug. 10.

While it was a disappointing end to the year — it was the first time they were held to under 90 points all season, and just the second time they were held to under 100 — it was still another impressive campaign. A 10-2 record meant they’ve compiled a 31-4 mark over the past three regular seasons.

Finishing with a loss to the Midnites was a tough-but-familiar feeling for the club. Miami was the only team that beat them all year: The Rebels lost two home contests to Miami while winning one against them on the road during the regular season.

Add in a third loss to the Midnites in the title game, and those setbacks mean Tampa Bay had a successful 2014 season, but finished runner-up to Miami in 2014.

The Rebels’ 2015 season will begin next spring. For more information, visit TampaBayRebels.com.

Published September 10, 2014

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