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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Check This Out

Conference champs!

February 23, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

(Courtesy of Tia Grogan)

The Land O’ Lakes High School varsity wrestling team took first place overall at Pasco County’s Sunshine Athletic Conference championship meet, at Anclote High School in Holiday. Participating Land O’ Lakes wrestlers included Brandon Austin, Collin Bogle, David Dzuibek, Devyn Clearly, Tristan Grogan, Cole Henderson, Ryan Lebsack, Zayden Matthews, Elijah Newman, Morgan Ray, Isaac Tavo, Isaiah Tavo and Jarod Wright. The team is coached by Eddie Marley and Danny Miller.

Filed Under: Check This Out

1,000-point club

February 23, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

(Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School Athletics)

Carrollwood Day School senior forward Aryana Dizon eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her varsity basketball career. The 6-foot-2 Dizon, who guided the Patriots to a state title during the 2019-2020 season, is a University of Vermont commit.

Filed Under: Check This Out

Hole-in-one!

February 2, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

(Courtesy of Brian Stricker)

Fifteen-year-old Land O’ Lakes resident Hailey Stricker recently recorded a hole-in-one at Pebble Creek Golf Club in New Tampa. The feat occurred on the course’s 116-yard par-three, 12th hole, using an eight-iron and a Wilson Chaos ball. Stricker — a freshman at Sunlake High — earned second team All-Conference honors as a member of the school’s varsity girls golf team.

Filed Under: Check This Out

1,000 point club

February 2, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

(Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

Academy at the Lakes senior guard Caleb Yann recently crossed the ‘1,000 career points scored’ plateau. The 5-foot-11 Yann has averaged a combined 12.7 points per game across four varsity seasons, including a high of 17.7 points as a junior. Yann also played varsity football for the Wildcats, notably as a receiver, defensive back and punter.

Filed Under: Check This Out

Saint Leo volleyball coach resigns

February 2, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

Following the most successful season in program history, Saint Leo University head volleyball coach Jason Skoch announced his resignation to seek professional opportunities outside of coaching.

Skoch led the Lions to a 24-11 mark in his lone season as head coach in 2019, while capturing the program’s first NCAA South Region Championship and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.

Saint Leo indoor volleyball coach Jason Skoch huddles with his team during a game in the 2019 season. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University athletics department)

The program’s 2020 season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity provided me by (Saint Leo athletics director) Fran (Reidy) to coach at Saint Leo the past two years,” Skoch said in a release. “It was a great change of scenery for me and my family. I had fun with the challenges presented, and, as the team grew and matured, we found the ability to make history. Watching the players see the opportunity materialize right in front of their eyes was fun.”

Skoch led three different women’s volleyball programs to NCAA Tournament success (Saint Leo, West Texas A&M, Truman State). He leaves behind a coaching legacy that includes over 400 career victories, five coach of the year honors, nine 30-plus win seasons, 13 conference championships, 12 NCAA appearances, and six trips to the Elite Eight.

Saint Leo beach volleyball coach Mike Shearer will serve as named interim head coach of the indoor volleyball program. A coaching search will be conducted at a later date when COVID-19 protocols allow, the school says.

Published February 03, 2021

Filed Under: Check This Out Tagged With: Jason Skoch, Saint Leo Unversity

Idlewild men’s softball league

February 2, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

Registration is now open for Idlewild Baptist Church’s men’s recreational softball league. Games are played Monday evenings, from March 22 through May 24, at the church’s Lutz campus, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd. The league is open to all men in the community, 18 and older. Friends, co-workers, neighbors and so on are invited. Cost is $50 per player. Visit idlewild.org/recreation for more information or contact Jacob Martin at .

Filed Under: Check This Out

Dade City Little League registration

February 2, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

Registration is now open for Dade City Little League’s spring season. Divisions are being offered in baseball, softball and challengers (physical or intellectual disability), for youth ages 4 to 16. Opening day is scheduled for April 10. Games will be played at John S. Burks Memorial Park, 13220 Gene Nelson Blvd. Cost is $40 per player.

Visit Sports.bluesombrero.com/dadecityll to register.

For more information, email , or call 352-518-8222.

Filed Under: Check This Out

Banner soccer season

January 19, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

(Courtesy of Brian Dorkowski)

The Thomas E. Weightman Middle School boys soccer team finished their 2020 season with a perfect 7-0 record and were crowned champions of East Pasco County. Also notable: Weightman eighth-grader Cameron Brunner set a school record with 15 goals in seven games.

Filed Under: Check This Out

Local runner claims national title

January 19, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

Land O’ Lakes resident Elli Black recently won a national cross-country title in her age group. (Courtesy of Jacqueline Black)

Land O’ Lakes resident Elli Black took first place in AAU Cross-Country National Championships for the 11- to 12-year-old girls group — clocking a 10:13.24 in last month’s 3K race at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

Black’s 3K time set a course record, which equated to a 5:29 minute per mile pace.

Black is a home-schooled seventh-grader who runs varsity cross-country and track for Tampa’s Cambridge Christian School.

Prior to the national meet, the local youth finished runner-up at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A state championships, registering an 18:28.5 mark in the 5K race. (The winner of the 1A state race was Black’s prep teammate Caroline Lehman, a high school junior who clocked an 18:07.80.)

Filed Under: Check This Out

Pasco County athletes compete in 2020 Florida Senior Games

January 19, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

More than 1,700 athletes — age 50 and older — competed in 21 different sports at the 29th annual Florida Senior Games that ran from Dec. 5 through Dec. 13.

More than 50 senior athletes from Pasco County were among those competing.

Five of the 21 sports took place in Pasco. The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County hosted bag toss, basketball shooting, basketball 3-on-3 and volleyball. Pickleball was played at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center in Zephyrhills.

The Senior Games each year are presented by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida.

The event is described as “an Olympic-style sports festival for active adults.”

Here is a look at all the Senior Games athletes from Pasco and the sports they competed in:

5K Road Race
Cynthia Miller, Odessa
Gary Miller, Odessa

Archery
Ed Griffin, Land O’ Lakes
James Pettitt, Hudson
Diane Watson, Hudson

Bowling
David Henderson, Dade City
Jeffery Williams, Land O’ Lakes

Cycling
Duane Barker, Zephyrhills
David Sikes, Wesley Chapel
Doug Webster, New Port Richey

Golf
Kenneth Atwell, Hudson
Bill Demers, New Port Richey
David Parker, Port Richey
Kendal Shaw, Wesley Chapel

Pickleball
Mike Bernaldo, Wesley Chapel
Maria Bustos, Port Richey
Patricio Bustos, Port Richey
Pascal Collard, Wesley Chapel
Dale Delcamp, Zephyrhills
Ernesto Diaz, Zephyrhills
Peggy Griffiths, Dade City
Deborah Jean Jesseman, Zephyrhills
Robert Jesseman, Zephyrhills
Rita Jones, Zephyrhills
Kathy McCausey, Land O’ Lakes
Gary Penfield, Zephyrhills
Ron Perkins, Zephyrhills
David Peterson, Odessa
Lani Prilliman, Zephyrhills
Andrew Sorrentino, Zephyrhills
Jimmie Stokes, Zephyrhills
Val Thomopalos, Land O’ Lakes
Jason Young, Land O’ Lakes

Powerlifting
Paul Hampton, Wesley Chapel
Otis Perry, Wesley Chapel

Raquetball
James Adamek, New Port Richey
James Brown, New Port Richey
Samuel Fustaino, Dade City
Roy Joes, New Port Richey
Bob Kozyra, Wesley Chapel
Alan Leathers, Odessa

Shuffleboard
Earl Ball, Zephyrhills
Michael Zellner, Holiday

Swimming
Karen Westerman, Land O’ Lakes
Ann Guins, Hudson

Table Tennis
Bruce Holck, Wesley Chapel

Tennis
Terri Baun, New Port Richey
Scott Campbell, Land O’ Lakes
Peter Clapson, New Port Richey
Patricia Evanoff, Odessa
Dan McMullen, Holiday
Paula Kastenson, Trinity
Donovan Peterson, Land O’ Lakes
Kathryn Peterson, Land O’ Lakes
Janette Rice, Wesley Chapel
Thomas Trotta, New Port Richey

Track & Field
Samuel Alcott, New Port Richey
Susan Cooke, Odessa

Filed Under: Check This Out

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Avalon Applauds… Norah Catlin

February 23, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

CONGRATULATIONS to Norah Catlin, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Catlin, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch … [Read More...] about Avalon Applauds… Norah Catlin

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What’s Happening

‘Aladdin jr.’

Live Oak Theatre is now selling tickets for its Acorn Theatre production of “Aladdin jr.” Performances will be March 18 through March 28, at the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville. Seats are $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 13 and younger, when accompanied by an adult. For show times and tickets, visit LiveOakTheatre.square.site, email , or call 352-593-0027. … [Read More...] about ‘Aladdin jr.’

03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer “Foodie Feast: Apple Pie Bombs” on March 5. Participants can learn how to make tasty, apple pie bombs. Watch the prerecorded video between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., online at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

03/06/2021 – Bridal Trunk Show

The Gulfside Hospice New Port Richey Thrift Shoppe, 6117 State Road 54, will host a Bridal Trunk Show on March 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be more than 250 dresses to choose from, starting at $29.99 and many brand new. Admission is free, but limited spots are available to allow for social distancing. Brides must register online in advance, by March 3, at bit.ly/NPR-Bridal-Trunk-Show. All proceeds from the shop go to help hospice patients in Pasco County. For questions, contact Jeremi Sliger at , or call 727-842-7262. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Bridal Trunk Show

03/11/2021 – Economic security

The Pasco Unit of the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County will sponsor a panel discussion on “Economic Security in Pasco County During the COVID Outbreak” on March 11 at 7 p.m. Panelists will include Brian Hoben, community services director, Pasco County Public Services; Marcy Esbjerg, director of community development, Pasco County Public Services; Don Anderson, CEO, Pasco Homeless Coalition; and, Mike Bishop, director, Stakeholder Engagement, Pasco Economic Development Council. For information on how to register, email . … [Read More...] about 03/11/2021 – Economic security

03/13/2021 – ‘Grease’ event

T-Mobile will sponsor “Grease is the Word” on March 13 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. There will be a sing-along contest pitting Pasco County Fire Rescue against the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, a free movie “under the stars,” and a classic car show with prizes. There also will be food trucks and games. Admission is free. … [Read More...] about 03/13/2021 – ‘Grease’ event

03/13/2021 – Exhibitors needed

Demene Benjamin and UrEsteem will host “UrSelf: A Dabble in Self-Care” on March 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Exhibitors can be anyone who has a product or service to promote physical, mental and social health, including physical and massage therapists; counselors; churches; nail techs/hairstylists; yoga/pilates/exercise; or natural products. For information, call 813-334-6006, or email . … [Read More...] about 03/13/2021 – Exhibitors needed

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Grove Theater now open in Wesley Chapel

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Ash Wednesday events vary, across region

State testing should not be punitive, board members say

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SWFMD executive director wins geology alumni award

Perils on Pasco roads continue to climb

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Seniors keep active at East Pasco Family YMCA

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