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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zephyrhills and East Pasco Sports

Bulldogs look past playoff loss to promising future

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The Zephyrhills Bulldogs played approximately 540 minutes of football this season — but it was the final two minutes that were the most disappointing.

Zephyrhills Bulldog junior linebacker Kevin Lee swats down a pass from Sunlake quarterback Dayton Feiden during the final game of the season that Zephyrhills won 22-7. The Bulldogs would lose a heartbreaking first-round playoff game, while the Seahawks would move to the next round after beating Ocala’s Vanguard High School. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Zephyrhills Bulldog junior linebacker Kevin Lee swats down a pass from Sunlake quarterback Dayton Feiden during the final game of the season that Zephyrhills won 22-7. The Bulldogs would lose a heartbreaking first-round playoff game, while the Seahawks would move to the next round after beating Ocala’s Vanguard High School. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

The team came up short on a fourth-and-one that would have sealed a victory in their first playoff game in eight seasons. Instead, their opponent — Suwannee High School from Live Oak — drove down the field quickly and scored a touchdown.

Suwannee then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff for another score. And just like that, Zephyrhills’ season was gone.

But not forgotten.

“We’re a little disappointed about the loss, not getting the win up in Live Oak, especially being ahead most of the game,” Bulldogs head coach Reggie Roberts said. “But we played good football to get there, and we played good football when we got there. But we just have to finish at that level.”

As the sting of not finishing a winnable playoff loss subsides — the team led 24-9 at the half — it will be replaced by memories of the good football that brought them to that point in the first place. Their 8-3 final record is the best of Roberts’ tenure, which began in 2010.

It was their fourth straight year with a winning record, and the playoff appearance snapped an eight-year drought without postseason play. The Bulldogs took the field for that game ready to play their brand of football, not like a team that was just happy to be there or wanted to play conservatively.

For his part, Roberts has no regrets about going for it on that critical fourth down at the end of the game. Converting that yard would have meant a victory, he said, and the circumstances at that time and the field position dictated it was the best move for the team.

But that decision was made and the playoff game is over. And Roberts, like all successful coaches, doesn’t like to dwell in the past. He’s already looking ahead to 2015, and he likes what he sees.

While he admits that replacing offensive cogs like quarterback Ty Tanner, receiver Tyler Kirby and running back Jaylen Pickett won’t be easy, Roberts believes the team’s depth will step up and fill the gaps.

“Our seniors will be missed, but by the same token, we have a lot of young players that know how to play football,” he said.

The Bulldogs will welcome back known talent like receiver Jackie Tucker and running back Antwione Sims, who distinguished himself this season and in the playoff game. They also have a number of junior varsity players who are ready to graduate to varsity and contribute immediately.

If there’s an early area of concern, it’s the kicking game. Somebody will need to fill punter and kicker Zach Gleaton’s spot, but there’s time to find a replacement. But from offensive line to other skill positions, the coach feels good about the talent he’ll carry into 2015.

“I like what we have coming back,” Roberts said.

He also likes the renewed community interest in Zephyrhills football, and the fact that coaches are now coming to him asking for advice on how to build and maintain a successful program.

The returning players will bring a renewed desire to win and a lot of pride in what they’re building, but they’ll also carry some bitterness about the way the season ended. After the playoff loss, he found the younger players hurting after the game, even if they didn’t get on the field much.

They were upset at the way things ended for the team, and the coach wants them to use that frustration as fuel for next season.

“They’re going to remember that pain,” Roberts said. “They’re going to remember this experience. They’re going to remember it takes blood, and hopefully that’s going to just energize them and motivate them to get back there (to the playoffs) every year.”

If Roberts is looking for indications that the team will learn from this year’s lessons, he’s already seen some positive signs as the long off-season gets underway.

The players aren’t interested in taking extended breaks, even when offered by the coach at the end of a hard-fought playoff game and a successful 2014 campaign.

“I gave the kids two weeks off, and the kids were in the weight room” four days after the playoff game, he said. “If that doesn’t tell you anything, it tells me a lot.”

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Bulldogs pick up pieces after tough South Sumter loss

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At least they know where they stand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published October 1, 2014

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Pasco wants to build on challenging 2013 season

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After three straight undefeated regular seasons, Pasco High School slipped to 7-3 in 2013. They failed to win their district, making the playoffs as a runner-up in Class 5A-District 6.

That record would represent a great season for many schools, but expectations run high at Pasco. And it’s a drop in production from what the Pirates have usually accomplished under Tom McHugh.

The Pirates hope their hard work at practice will help them contend for a district title this season after finishing runner-up in 2013. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
The Pirates hope their hard work at practice will help them contend for a district title this season after finishing runner-up in 2013.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Still, don’t expect the head coach to be disappointed in that outcome.

“Last season with the things that happened within the team internally and the players, I think that we actually overachieved,” McHugh said. “I was proud of the way everybody reacted.”

The team’s starting quarterback was dismissed from the team early in the year, causing an entire overhaul of the offense. The Pirates had planned to run a read-option scheme, where the quarterback reads the movement of the defender on the edge, and either gives the ball to the running back or keeps it himself, based on what he sees. But the team had to shift to a more traditional offense once the season started.

Abandoning the game plan you had all off-season with a full schedule ahead of you would be a challenge for any team. Add in more dismissals and injuries, and the Pirates simply weren’t the team they thought they had at the start of the season.

As a result, they went 2-3 to start the year, including 0-2 in the district. But as the players settled into their new scheme, the Pirates closed the regular season with five straight wins and kept their playoff streak alive by beating Zephyrhills High School to claim the runner-up spot in the district.

Now, with a full off-season to prepare their quarterback Grant Starling for the lead role, McHugh feels like they can not only run their offense more efficiently, but add a few tweaks to make it more effective.

“Now that we’ve run it, we can put some chrome on it now,” he said.

Starling believes having the off-season to work as the starter has already paid dividends with regard to his confidence and effectiveness.

“It really helped a lot,” Starling said. “I feel a lot more comfortable. The players feel more comfortable around me. We’ve worked together more so we have more chemistry.”

The game, he said, is slowing down for him, and he’s doing a better job of reading defenses than he did last season.

The defense also should be in good shape, with the defensive line mostly intact from last season and a strong point headed into 2014. The defensive backfield also stood out and impressed McHugh in seven-on-seven competition over the summer.

“I was really happy with those guys,” he said. “They worked well together.”

Despite some losses on the offensive line, the coach said they also have some returning playmakers and expects that part of the team to be in decent shape.

The Pirates will have some time to get things in order before facing their district opponents. After a preseason game, which McHugh said will be used to evaluate who’s in shape and how the team reacts to in-game situations, Pasco starts the season with three non-district contests.

But there’s no reason to ask McHugh about them, because he has no idea who they are. The coach doesn’t look past the first game — figuratively or literally.

“I know it sounds like I’m making it up, but I don’t ever look ahead,” McHugh said. ”I couldn’t tell you who the second game of the season is until after we play Sunlake.”

While the coach is looking to get back to his accustomed level of success and have fewer struggles than last season, he’s not sorry it happened. He said that the younger players have now learned that they can’t just step onto the field and expect everything to go their way. After fighting through last season and still finishing with a winning record and a playoff berth, McHugh hopes his athletes can apply the lessons from 2013 to have a stronger campaign in 2014.

“Sometimes you can get kind of complacent and you think it’s (winning games) just going to happen, and sometimes a swift kick in the butt will help you,” McHugh said. ”No one likes to lose, so I think in a way it’s probably a good thing that things like that happen once in a while.”

For his part, Starling knows that just being a quarterback for Pasco High School comes with expectations. But he feels the team has the ability and chemistry to live up to them.

“If you go around town, everyone knows Pasco football,” he said. “They expect a lot from you, so you’ve got to show up for them.”

PASCO PIRATES:
LAST YEAR: 7-3
4-2 in district play
Second place in Class 5A-District 6

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Bowman Archibald, tight end, defensive end
Andrew Ivie, defensive tackle

PLAYER TO WATCH
Jamal Mention, offensive line
“He’s got the football mentality. When he gets his hands on you, it’s a tough thing. I’m looking forward to seeing what he’ll do.” — Coach Tom McHugh

2014 Pirates Schedule
8/29 — Sunlake
9/5 — at Fivay
9/12 — at Wesley Chapel
9/26 — at Nature Coast Tech
10/3 — at South Sumter
10/10 — Weeki Wachee
10/17 — Hernando
10/24 — at Central
10/31 — Zephyrhills
11/7 — River Ridge

Published August 20, 2014

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Zephyrhills coach focused on playoffs, not Pasco

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Three years ago, a late-season loss to Pasco High School derailed the Bulldogs’ chances at the playoffs.

The following year, it happened again: The Pirates won, and Zephyrhills High School stayed home for the postseason.

From left, Tyler Kirby, Ty Tanner, Jalen Pickett and Jackie Tucker will drive the Zephyrhills Bulldogs’ offense in 2014. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
From left, Tyler Kirby, Ty Tanner, Jalen Pickett and Jackie Tucker will drive the Zephyrhills Bulldogs’ offense in 2014.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Last season the division rivals played again, with both sides needing a victory to make the playoffs. And just like the previous two contests, Pasco came out ahead and Zephyrhills was left out.

The rivalry might have fans circling this year’s matchup on their calendar, but to Zephyrhills head coach Reggie Roberts, it’s still just another game on the schedule.

“It’s not something I sit around and think about,” Roberts said. “Contrary to what people believe, I’m not worried about Pasco. We have a lot of games. If we lose all our games and win the Pasco game, we’re still not in the playoffs.”

Making the playoffs is the next step for the Bulldogs and Roberts, who is now entering his fifth year as the school’s coach. The team has finished with a winning record for three straight years, but has fallen short of the postseason each time in Class 5A-District 6.

To build on their success and make the playoffs, Zephyrhills will need to improve over last year, and Roberts likes what he’s seen so far. The team has been working out hard, getting stronger and faster, and has impressed in seven-on-seven drills.

In particular, Roberts thinks the Bulldogs will be known as a defensive force.

“They swarm to the football,” he said. “They’re very speedy, but these guys are strong, too. They’re very strong guys who will hit you.”

But Roberts expects a more dynamic offense on the field as well. With playmakers at the receiver position like Jackie Tucker and Tyler Kirby, Roberts wants to see the offense stretch the opposing defense and not allow them to focus on the running game.

Zephyrhills also will benefit by having more players focus on just offense or defense instead of having to play both ways, Roberts said. In the past, with perhaps just 26 or 27 players on the team, there simply wasn’t enough talent to let athletes concentrate on one side of the ball. This year the coach wants to suit up 40 players, allowing them to stay fresher during the games and focus on where they can best help the team.

He thinks that change alone will make a difference for the Bulldogs this season.

“That was our problem the last three or four years, ever since I took over this program,” he said. “That always hurts when kids have to go both ways.”

It also hurts when a team loses talented seniors, and Roberts admits the Bulldogs took a hit on the offensive line. They lost four seniors at that position, and other players will need to step up and fill those roles.

Roberts feels optimistic about the team’s ability to take the next step, however, in part because he’s been able to change the attitude in the locker room. With a tenure that’s eclipsed a high school athletic career, all the players on the team know Roberts, his philosophy, and his expectations.

They have years of winning under their belts (Zephyrhills has gone 20-10 in its last three seasons) and Roberts has installed an attitude that winning is not only attainable, it’s expected, when they give their best effort.

“Every year is getting easier, I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “It was a little easier last year. It’s hard to change a locker room and the kids from my first year are gone. Right now these kids have the attitude that we can win every time we get on the football field.”

One goal for the Bulldogs is to get off to a strong start (three of their first four games are at home) so they aren’t scrambling for wins later in the year. If it comes down to beating a rival, the team will give it their all, Roberts said.

But he expects the team’s fortunes to be set before they face Pasco at the end of October in their last district game of the year.

“I have a feeling that the playoffs are going to be set long before that game,” he said.

ZEPHYRHILLS BULLDOGS
LAST YEAR: 7-3
4-3 in district play
Third place in Class 5A-District 6

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Ty Tanner, quarterback
Jalen Pickett, running back/wide receiver/safety

PLAYER TO WATCH
Jackie Tucker, wide receiver
“I guarantee you Jackie Tucker is going to be known after this year. He’s a tall kid who’s already gathering a ton of attention.” – Coach Reggie Roberts

2014 Bulldogs Schedule
8/22 – Wesley Chapel
9/5 – Gulf
9/12 – at Mitchell
9/19 – South Sumter
9/26 – at Weeki Wachee
10/10 – Nature Coast Tech
10/16 – Central
10/24 – at Hernando
10/31 – at Pasco
11/7 – at Sunlake

Published August 6, 2014

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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

Early turnover costs Zephyrhills playoff trip

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An early miscue during a punt in the wrong end zone proved to be fatal for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs, as they miss the playoffs once again at the hands of their longtime rival, 24-16.

Both the Bulldogs and the Pasco Pirates needed a win Friday to secure a spot in the playoffs. And record-wise, Zephyrhills seemed to be in a driver seat at 7-1, plus had home-field advantage. But the Pirates came ready to play, especially senior wide receiver Malik Johns, who ran 157 yards — including a 62-yard run late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory.

The Bulldogs had a rough start in their second drive, going three-and-out pinned inside their own 10-yard line. The snap for the punt went sailing over the kicker’s head, allowing the Pirates to recover in the end zone, giving them an early 7-0 lead.

The Pirates would never give up the lead, although Zephyrhills came close late in the third quarter when freshman running back Antwione Sims ran eight yards to bring the Bulldogs to within a field goal, 17-14.

Two minutes later, after the Bulldogs held the Pirates to a three-and-out, Pasco had its own punt miscue, resulting in a safety for Zephyrhills, a one-point deficit, and possession of the ball with a little more than a quarter remaining.

The Pirates defense, however, held strong, stopping four drives and limiting the Bulldogs to a net gain of no yards before their final full drive with five minutes remaining, and Pasco up 24-16.

Quarterback Ty Tanner burst for 28 yards on the ground, with junior Jaylen Pickett chipping in 24 more to bring Zephyrhills within sight of the Pirates territory.

But then the Bulldogs turned to their passing game, which had been virtually non-existent for both sides up to that point. And this was no different with a pair of sacks on Tanner and sophomore Tre’un Everett ending Zephyrhills’ last gasps.

Senior Devon Brockington rushed for 89 yards for the Bulldogs in the loss, while Tanner finished with 59 on the ground, and Pickett 48.

Pasco’s only other runner was senior Jaquan Clower, who rushed for 46 yards, in the win.

Zephyrhills finishes its season against Sunlake (8-1) this Friday, while Pasco will take on River Ridge (3-6) on their way to the playoffs.

Pirates-Bulldogs: Winner gets playoffs, loser goes home

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In high school football, every game is meaningful. If it involves two good teams, it’s a little more important. And if the playoffs are on the line, that ups the ante.

But if it’s a rivalry game, it has the makings of something really special.

Friday’s match up featuring the 5-3 Pasco Pirates and 7-1 Zephyrhills Bulldogs qualifies as all of the above.

ZHPascoGrid
Bulldogs coach Reggie Roberts has beaten the Pasco Pirates more than once as a player, but now he’s looking for his first win against his rival as a coach. And the playoffs are on the line. (File photo)

When Pasco visits Zephyrhills, the game will feature two strong teams in the top half of 5A-District 6 in terms of points scored and points allowed. And while South Sumter sits atop the standings in both district and overall play (already clinching the top spot in the district), the Pirates and Bulldogs are battling for second place and the trip to the playoffs that goes with it.

The winner of this game earns that spot, while the loser has to accept defeat and will be sent home at the hand of their rival.

While making the playoffs is a goal for every team, Zephyrhills is looking to end a long post-season drought. The Bulldogs haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, with just two winning seasons in that span (both occurring since Head Coach Reggie Roberts took over in 2010).

Pasco, on the other hand, is used to post-season appearances. During the years that Zephyrhills has been kept out the playoffs, Pasco has earned six district championships and three undefeated regular seasons.

Now, with one game determining who makes the playoffs, Zephyrhills will either break their streak of futility, or Pasco will continue its run of success. With a 4-1 district record, Zephyrhills’ Roberts is excited about his team’s prospects.

“We’re a better football team than we have been in the past,” Roberts explained. “The last two years, we tasted a little bit of the possibility of the playoffs, and these kids really want to get there. And they’re playing like that right now. I’ve got a bunch of motivated kids on my hands.”

Two of those motivated kids are sure to be the focal points of Zephyrhills’ offense, and the biggest concerns for Pasco’s defense. Senior Devon Brockington is not only one of the rushing threats in the Bulldogs’ run-first scheme, but he’s also the top target when they throw the ball. But if the Pirates find a way to contain him, they’ll still have to contend with Jaylen Pickett, a senior who serves as the lead back and workhorse when Zephyrhills does their damage on the ground.

There’s no question the Bulldogs have had a good year, as evidenced by Roberts being named Coach of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association for District 10. But Roberts, who attended Zephyrhills in his playing days, still has some unfinished business with Pasco. As a linebacker and tight end, his Bulldogs teams were undefeated against their rival, but it’s been a different story as a coach: In three previous opportunities, he has yet to win when facing the Pirates.

And while the game is important for reasons that go beyond his personal history with the team, he’s aware of the disparity in records as a player and coach.

Roberts and the Bulldogs are also aware of the rivalry aspect of playing Pasco. Whatever his coaching staff designs in preparation for the contest, manufacturing motivation and excitement among the players won’t be necessary.

“That’s our rival. The kids always get up for that football game,” Roberts said. “It’s always a good match up; a good rivalry. They’re going to be ready to play. Now you put the district on top of that, and the possibility of the playoffs on top of that? Yeah, it’s not going to be hard to get up for this football game.”

Overcrowding creates challenges at Wesley Chapel District Park

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When Wesley Chapel District Park opened in 2007, the county hoped that residents would use the 140-plus acres for a variety of activities.

And they have. Football, baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading and soccer draw thousands of participants each year. The park has become a magnet for local youth sports, and that’s considered a good thing.

Only now it might be too much of a good thing. Overcrowding is creating a difficult situation for concurrent activities, but a few fields also need repair, and that means even less space for everyone.

Repair work at Wesley Chapel District Park has gone on longer than expected, with the commute to Zephyrhills creating concerns about attracting new players to the various recreational sports there.
Repair work at Wesley Chapel District Park has gone on longer than expected, with the commute to Zephyrhills creating concerns about attracting new players to the various recreational sports there.

As a result, some participants have been pushed out of the area altogether until the repair work is done: Eight soccer teams and 120 players now have their practices and games at the Samuel W. Pasco Recreation Complex in Zephyrhills. That extra 20-mile round trip can be a challenge to participating families, despite the fact that they paid a convenience fee to park at the Wesley Chapel Park.

Jeff Olsen, a soccer coach whose daughter now plays in Zephyrhills, says the situation is anything but convenient.

“It places a burden on the families. There’s lost time as a family, there’s lost time for homework,” he said. “There’s an extra rush on the evening schedule and extra costs for gas. So there’s a burden there.”

The teams started their season on Aug. 1 and estimated they’d be displaced for about six weeks. But more than two months later, there’s still no timetable for return.

Aside from the inconvenience, playing outside Wesley Chapel can impact the area’s reputation regarding youth soccer. Gil Gonzalez, a coach who also leads public relations efforts for the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, says local parents want their children to play locally. If their first taste of local youth sports is a lot of inconvenience, it affects their impression of the organization.

“I think the biggest impact, in my opinion, is for newer parents, who don’t have the background in terms of understanding that this is really a temporary issue,” he said. “But if we have new parents and new players, I think it creates a negative experience for them.”

If word of mouth is negative as a result of those experiences, families might start considering competing programs for their children. If not resolved, those issues could affect recruiting and the program’s ability to grow.

The displaced teams aren’t the only ones dealing with issues related to overcrowding, Gonzalez said. The players and teams who are still at the park have to contend with their own problems.

Scheduling can be a challenge, with some teams dealing with later practices. The games themselves also are affected: Gonzalez said that matches are so close together that parents cheering at one game might have to duck incoming soccer balls from a nearby contest.

Throw in some long walks due to crowded parking lots, and it’s a situation everyone hopes is resolved quickly.

Unfortunately, predicting how and when the county will provide a satisfactory resolution is a bit more difficult. Interest and participation in youth sports has increased since the park opened, while related budgets have decreased. According to the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, the county has decreased park and recreational spending by more than 28 percent since 2006.

Still, Gonzalez — whose daughter also now practices in Zephyrhills — is hopeful that there will be both short-term solutions (resodded fields at Wesley Chapel District Park) and long-term solutions (more space) on the horizon, whenever that may be.

“I think what will happen is there will be continued discussions for the county to acquire additional property near the district park to expand it as well,” he said.

If there’s a silver lining, it might be that player interest in soccer hasn’t really waned as a result of the extra challenges. Olsen said that even those who have to play in Zephyrhills still enjoy the sport and the competition.

“Do they mind? They like to play,” Olsen said. “But nobody wants to take a 30-minute drive out there when the rains start coming down, then take a 30-minute drive home.”

Wanted: Your best football photos

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Think you have the best eye when it comes to prep football pictures? Then your work could end up in this very section, complete with your own photo credit.

The Laker/Lutz News is looking for photos at football games, whether they are of the cheerleaders, crowds, or even game play if you can zoom in well enough. We’ll publish our favorite ones right in this section. (File photo)
The Laker/Lutz News is looking for photos at football games, whether they are of the cheerleaders, crowds, or even game play if you can zoom in well enough. We’ll publish our favorite ones right in this section. (File photo)

The Laker/Lutz News wants your pictures from local gridiron games. Whether it’s of a special play, a new routine from the cheerleaders, or even screaming fans from the grandstands — we want you to send it.

Each week, we’ll select the best pictures and post them to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TheLakerLutzNews, and our favorite could actually end up in print in the paper’s sports section.

Pictures should be submitted by email, but only one picture per email. Each entry must include the full name and address of the photographer, which game the photo was shot at, and identify all the prominent people in the photo.

They should be submitted no later than 3 p.m. each Monday to .

Anything can happen on any given Friday, and here’s your chance to be a part of it.

Youth movement: Eighth-graders anchor Academy volleyball

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Most people expect to see teams full of seniors in varsity sports. Sometimes there are a number of talented juniors, and maybe even a sophomore or two. Once in a while, a special freshman might make his or her way onto the roster.

Academy at the Lakes volleyball coach Brian Gonzales rallies his young team during last weekend’s tournament at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. The Wildcats have welcomed four eighth-graders to the team this year, a chance for them to build for the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Academy at the Lakes volleyball coach Brian Gonzales rallies his young team during last weekend’s tournament at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. The Wildcats have welcomed four eighth-graders to the team this year, a chance for them to build for the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But even at a private school, you probably wouldn’t expect to find eighth graders. And at Academy at the Lakes, there isn’t a single eighth-grader on their varsity volleyball team: There are actually five of them. And four are starters.

But if opponents think they can take the young team for granted, the Wildcats say that would be a big mistake.

“I hope they don’t underestimate us,” said Julia Mollick, one of the starting eighth-graders on the volleyball team. “If we didn’t have some of them (young players), we wouldn’t have the team we have today. We’re a lot better with them.”

The older players have embraced the addition of their young teammates, Mollick said, offering advice and support as they prepare to face juniors and seniors from other schools.

While starting young talent has been good for team chemistry, it’s not a decision the coach made easily. Brian Gonzales, now in his second season with the team, had to really think about front-loading his varsity squad with eighth-graders.

“I went back and forth a little bit,” said Gonzales, who has nearly a decade of volleyball coaching experience. “I didn’t want to put that much pressure on them. I wanted to make sure they could handle that, being as young as they are.”

But after going through school-wide tryouts, those players emerged as the best options for the team, and he didn’t want them to be held back due to their age.

The need for experience also played a role in his decision, Gonzales said. While the girls could have participated as junior varsity players, the level of competition is very different and he didn’t think it would prepare them for high school-level opponents.

So far, he believes the girls have adjusted well to being varsity players, and meshed well as a motivated team. Mollick, who only started playing volleyball a couple of years ago, supports that belief with a real passion for her chosen sport.

“When you’re up in the air and you’re hitting that ball, I love it,” she said. “When I’m playing, my mind is clear.”

While Academy at the Lakes has had an up-and-down start to the season — they started at 3-6 after playing some big schools — Gonzales also has an eye toward the future when it comes to his team. With growing experience and years of eligibility left for his young athletes, he sees successful seasons in the future for the academy’s volleyball program.

“Two or three years down the road we can really have something there if we keep them all together,” he said.

Mollick agrees. She’s enjoying her time on the varsity team this year, but she knows the team could be something special if the young players grow and compete together in the future.

“I can’t wait to see how far we get,” she said.