Morgan Hendrix a Yellowjacket
Wiregrass Ranch High offensive tackle Morgan Hendrix recently signed with the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets in Minnesota. The junior college was the 2009 Minnesota College Athletic Conference Southern Division champion and went 10-2.
Morgan was named to the all-SAC second team and also made the second team in weightlifting and third team in track. He is 6-foot-1 and weighs 285 pounds.
“Morgan is a dominant lineman and tough player,” said Wiregrass Ranch coach Jeremy Shobe. “He will do whatever it takes to get better.”
All-conference softball team
The Sunshine Athletic Conference, which includes all public high schools in Pasco County, recently released its all-conference team. The east first team includes:
(BULLET THESE)
Alex Rogers, Jr., INF, Sunlake
Courtney Durbin, So., OF, Sunlake
Kasey Murray, Sr., INF, Land O’ Lakes
Lauren Pasquale, Jr., P, Zephyrhills
Lacey Cook, Sr., INF, Zephyrhills
Geanna Arnold, Sr., OF, Zephyrhills
Courtney Brandt, Jr., P, Pasco
Lizzy Burchfield, Fr., INF, Pasco
Megan Newsome, Sr., C, Pasco
Kelli Parker, Fr., OF, Pasco
Zephyrhills coach Craig Milburn was also named SAC east coach of the year and Pasquale and Brandt earned east co-player of the year honors.
Bulldogs loses soccer boys coach
Zephyrhills High principal Steve Van Gorden announced boys soccer coach Dee Dee Castro is resigned from her position May 27.
“Coach Castro has stepped down to continue to pursue her goal to be an assistant principal in Pasco County,” Van Gorden wrote in an e-mail. “She will still continue to coach in a limited capacity in the local recreation leagues. I wish coach Castro continued success as she pursues the advancement of her career.”
Gaither’s Kelley joins Tigers
Gaither High defensive end Austin Kelley has signed with the Campbellsville University Tigers in Kentucky.
The school is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church. The Tigers are an NAIA school and play in the Mid-South Conference.
Kelley had 32 tackles, one sack and two passes defensed as a senior for the Cowboys last season.
Adult tennis at Lake Padgett
United States Professional Tennis Association member and Sunlake High girls tennis coach Karen Turman is starting a summer adult tennis round robin from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday beginning June 8 at Lake Padgett Estate East’s courts.
The courts are located at 4533 Savannah Way off Parkway Boulevard. Players of all skill levels invited to play, but should bring a can of new tennis ball with them. The events are free for Lake Padgett residents and $3 for everyone else.
For more information call, Turman and (813) 468-1047.
Zephyrhills names track coach
Zephyrhills High principal Steve Van Gorden announced May 25 that John McDougall will take over as boys track and field coach next year.
McDougall graduated from Zephyrhills in 1986 and lettered in three sports — football, basketball and track. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in physical education.
It is McDougall’s second time coaching boys track at Zephyrhills. He previous led the Bulldogs in the mid to late 1990s and has also coached sports at Centennial Middle.
“I am very confident that coach McDougall will continue to build upon the traditions (former) coach David Jones has left with the program,” Van Gorden wrote in an e-mail. “Coach McDougall will use his talents and community connections to provide a quality track program for the Zephyrhills community.”
Land O’ Lakes Lightning tryouts
The Land O’ Lakes Lightning swim team has started its summer program, which will run through Aug. 20 at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center’s pool on Collier Parkway.
Swimmers of all ability levels ages 5 to 18 can register to participate at www.lollightning.org. Tryouts for new swimmers are available at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
During the summer the team practices daily and participates in numerous swim meets. The Lightning are a U.S. Swimming sanctioned organization and has been in Land O’ Lakes for nearly 20 years.
South Pasco Pop Warner clinics
The South Pasco Pop Warner Predators will host clinics for players and coaches this summer at Predator Field, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.
The youth football camp, called Gridiron Techniques, is from 6 to 8 p.m. June 7 to 10 for players ages 7 to 15. Players will be instructed by Tampa Bay area high school coaches and taught proper fundamentals and technique at their positions. The cost is $50. To register, visit www.southpascopredators.com.
The coach’s clinics are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 5 and July 10. New coaches will learn how to organize practice, establish the best drills for individual, group and team periods and develop offense and defense schemes. The cost is $25 per person or $700 for organizations with 30 or more coaches. For more information, call (813) 388-1838.
-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches as of May 28. Kyle LoJacono can be reached at or (813) 909-2800.
