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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Carrollwood Day School

Area swimmers make a big splash at state meet

December 8, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

Records were broken and titles were claimed by area athletes at the 2020 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state swimming and diving championships, held last month at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center, in Stuart.

A total of nine local schools were represented across all four classifications —  Academy at the Lakes (Class 1A), Carrollwood Day School (1A), Cypress Creek Middle High (2A), Freedom High (3A), Gaither High (3A), Land O’ Lakes High (3A), Sunlake High (3A) and Wiregrass Ranch High (3A) and Steinbrenner High (4A).

Two of these programs registered top-10 finishes— the Freedom Patriots girls team finishing eighth among the 41 schools competing in 3A, and the Land O’ Lakes Gators boys team winding up eighth out of the 43 schools competing in 3A.

Another notable combined team showing came from the Steinbrenner Warriors, whose girls team finished 11th (among 32 schools competing in 4A) and boys team went 17th (among 37 schools competing in 4A).

The most striking showings came in the way of individual and relay performances.

On the boys side, Land O’ Lakes senior Zuri Ramsey captured three medals, headlined by his second-consecutive gold medal in the 3A 50-yard free, clocking 20.51. That bested his state title in the event last year, when he posted 20.53.

Ramsey also took second in the 100-yard free (45.87) and fifth in the 200-yard medley relay, teaming with sophomore Michael McCloskey, senior Griffin Sutek and freshman Garret McNab, who combined to post a 1:37.12 in the race.

Ramsey is the younger brother of former Gators standout Jabari Ramsey, who was a three-time state champion in the 100-yard breast and a one-time champion in the 200-yard medley relay — making him the swimmer to win the most gold medals in Pasco County history.

Cypress Creek senior Clyde Crouse captured multiple 2A medals for the second-straight year — placing fourth in the 200-yard medley free (1:42.43) and fifth in the 500-yard free (4:40.35) Last year, Crouse took silver in the 500-yard freestyle (4:34.48) and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.01).

Other medals (top-eight finish) were collected in diving by Land O’ Lakes senior Mason Gandy and Cypress Creek freshman Jace Beckwith. Gandy went eighth in the 3A event (scoring 340.55) and Beckwith took seventh in the 2A event (322.40).

Also, Freedom senior Zachary Kopel earned an eighth-place medal in the 3A 500-yard free (4:39.62)

Steinbrenner High senior Alexis Mulvihill won gold and set a state record in the 4A 50-yard free, clocking 22.22. The Auburn University signee also took gold in the 100-yard fly (53.16). (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School)

A slew of banner performances took place on the girls side of the pool, as well.

Most notable was Steinbrenner senior Alexis Mulvihill, who took gold in both the 4A 50-yard free (22.22) and 100-yard fly (53.16).

The Auburn University signee’s 50-yard free time is a new state record.

The previous mark of 22.30 was set in 2002 by Gulliver Prep’s Christina Swindle. Interestingly, Swindle went on to swim at Auburn and competed at the 2003 Pan American Games, winning gold in the 400-meter free and silver in the 100-meter free.

Of note: Mulvihill was about a half-second shy of the national high school swim record in the girls 50-yard free clocked at 21.59 — set in February by Gretchen Walsh, of Nashville, Tennessee.

And, Mulvihill wasn’t the only local girls swimmer to earn a state crown.

Freedom junior Michelle Morgan took first in the 3A 200-yard medley, clocking 2:00.92.

She also took silver in the 500-yard free (4:48.43) and anchored bronze in the 400-yard free relay with senior Hannah Labohn, and juniors Alexa Valdez-Vellez and Carly Joerin, who combined to swim the event in 3:32.58.

Other local female swimmers captured multiple medals, too.

Academy at the Lakes senior McKenna Smith — a Duke University signee — took third in both the 1A 50-yard free (23.15) and 100-yard free (50.34).

Carrollwood Day School freshman Adele Sands medaled in the 200-yard free and 100-yard free, in the 1A state meet. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)

Carrollwood Day School freshman Adele Sands went fifth in the 1A 100-yard free (51.96) and seventh in the 200-yard free (1:52.60).

Wiregrass Ranch junior Maryam Khalil went fifth in the 3A 100-yard breast (1:06.53) and eighth in the 50-yard free (24.48).

Land O’ Lakes senior Apryl Paquette took eighth in the 3A 200-yard free (1:57.62) and anchored an eighth-place finish in the 200-yard free relay, teaming with freshmen Jahzara Ramsey and Abigail Hahm, and junior Catherine Pinkos, as the group clocked 1:41.29 in the event.

Other medal performances came out of Sunlake, where it’s 3A 200-yard free relay team took seventh (1:40.17), while senior Isabella Monagas finished eighth in diving (342.25). The podium-earning relay team consisted of sophomore Madison Houck, juniors Amber Ewald and Lillian Hilt and senior Alex Sprague.

Results among locals at the state meet:

4A Boys
Steinbrenner (17th place, out of 37 schools)

Events:
200-yard freestyle relay: Jayden Repak, freshman; Alex Harkness, senior; Shane MacGregor, senior; Gavin Peck, freshman (ninth, 1:27.35)
100-yard backstroke: Shane MacGregor (11th, 52.81)
100-yard breaststroke: Garrett Sykes, junior (16th, 1:01.65)
400-yard freestyle relay: Shane Macgregor; Jayden Repak; Alex Harkness; Gavin Peck (ninth, 3:13.06)

Girls
Steinbrenner (11th, out of 32 schools)

Events:
50-yard freestyle: Alexis Mulvihill, senior (first, 22.22)
100-yard butterfly: Alexis Mulvihill (first, 53.16)
400-yard freestyle relay: Alexis Mulvihill; Emma Brown, senior; Kayla Daley, sophomore; Gavriela Daniels, freshman (ninth, 3:34.30)

3A Boys
Land O’ Lakes (eighth, out of 43 schools)

Events:
200-yard medley relay: Michael McCloskey, sophomore; Griffin Sutek, senior; Garret McNab, freshman; Zuri Ramsey, senior (fifth, 1:37.12)
50-yard freestyle: Ramsey, senior (first, 20.51)
Diving: Mason Gandy, senior (eighth, 340.55)
100-yard freestyle: Ramsey (second, 45.87)
200-yard freestyle relay: McCloskey; Sebastian Arbelaez, senior; McNab; Ramsey (12th, 1:31.58)
100-yard breaststroke: Griffin Sutek (ninth, 59.53)

Wiregrass Ranch (16th)

Events:
200-yard intermedley: Noah Porter, junior (14th, 2:03.21)
100-yard freestyle: Yuheng Chen, junior (14th, 49.30)
50-yard freestyle: Emanuel Silva, senior (12th, 22.17)
200-yard freestyle: Emanuel Silva; Matthew Gomez, senior; Noah Porter; Yuheng Chen (10th, 1:31.03)
400-yard freestyle relay: Noah Porter; Matthew Gomez; Emanuel Silva; Yuheng Chen (ninth, 3:19.97)

Freedom (25th)
500-yard freestyle: Zachary Kopel, senior (eighth, 4:39.62)

Gaither (tied 41st)
100-yard freestyle: Zachary Cannon, junior (15th, 49.64)

Girls
Freedom (eighth, out of 41 schools)
200-yard intermedley: Michelle Morgan, junior (first, 2:00.92)
50-yard freestyle: Hannah LaBohn, senior (tied 15th, 24.15)
100-yard freestyle: Hannah LaBohn (10th, 53.77)
500-yard freestyle: Michelle Morgan (second, 4:48.43); Carly Joerin, junior (11th, 5:03.06)
400-yard freestyle relay: Hannah LaBohn; Alexa Valdez-Vellez, junior; Carly Joerin; Michelle Morgan (third, 3:32.58)

Sunlake (14th)
200-yard medley relay: Amber Ewald, junior; Lillian Hilt, junior; Madison Houck, sophomore; Alex Sprague, senior (ninth, 1:53.64)
50-yard freestyle: Alex Sprague (tied 13th, 24.92)
Diving: Isabela Monagas, senior (eighth, 342.25)
200-yard freestyle: Madison Houck; Amber Ewald; Lillian Hilt; Alex Sprague (seventh, 1:40.17)
100-yard backstroke: Madison Houck (13th, 1:00.39)

Land O’ Lakes (23rd)
Events:
200-yard freestyle: Apryl Paquette, senior (eighth, 1:57.62)
Diving: Madison Burnstein, senior (20th, 199.75)
200-yard freestyle relay: Jahzara Ramsey, freshman; Abigail Hahm, freshman; Catherine Pinkos, junior; Apryl Paquette (eighth, 1:41.29)

Wiregrass Ranch (tied 24th)
Events:
50-yard freestyle: Maryam Khalil, junior (eighth, 24.48)
Diving: Abby Galo, junior (12th, 307.20)
100-yard breaststroke: Maryam Khalil (fifth, 1:06.53)

2A Boys
Cypress Creek Middle High (tied 19th, out of 48 schools)
200-yard medley freestyle: Clyde Crouse, senior (fourth, 1:42.43)
Diving: Jace Beckwith, freshman (seventh, 322.40)
500-yard freestyle: Clyde Crouse (fifth, 4:40.35)

Girls
No local schools or individual placed finishers

1A Boys
No local schools or individual placed finishers

Girls
Academy at the Lakes (18th, out of 48 schools)
50-yard freestyle: McKenna Smith, senior (third, 23.15)
100-yard freestyle: McKenna Smith (third, 50.34)

Carrollwood Day School (tied 20th)
Events:
200-yard freestyle: Adele Sands, freshman (seventh, 1:52.60)
100-yard freestyle: Adele Sands (fifth, 51.96)

Published December 09, 2020

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Abigail Hahm, Academy at the Lakes, Adele Sands, Alex Sprague, Alexa Valdez-Vellez, Alexis Mulvihill, Amber Ewald, Apryl Paquette, Carly Joerin, Carrollwood Day School, Catherine Pinkos, Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek Middle High, FHSAA, Florida High School Athletic Association, Freedom High, Gaither High, Garret McNab, Griffin Sutek, Hannah Labohn, Isabella Monagas, Jabari Ramsey, Jace Beckwith, Jahzara Ramsey, Land O' Lakes High, Lillian Hilt, Madison Houck, Maryam Khalil, Mason Gandy, McKenna Smith, Michael McCloskey, Michelle Morgan, Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center, Steinbrenner High, Sunlake High, Wiregrass Ranch High, Zachary Kopel, Zuri Ramsey

Locals stand out at state golf championships

November 24, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

If one thing has been learned over time — simply qualifying for Florida’s high school state golf championship tournament is an accomplishment in itself.

The Carrollwood Day School varsity girls golf program achieved a milestone in qualifying for its first-ever state finals appearance as a team. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School athletics department)

It’s an opportunity this year reserved for a combined 45 boys teams and 45 girls teams across three classifications. Including individual qualifiers, fewer than 300 boys and golfers apiece — among the countless thousands of prep golfers — were able to showcase their skills and lay claim among the state’s elite.

Within those numbers were two teams and another four individuals from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The 2020 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state golf championships ran from Oct. 27 through Nov. 4, at Mission Inn Resort & Club, in Howey-in-the-Hills. Boys competed at the Lake County resort’s 6,764-yard El Campeon Course, while girls played the 5,455-yard Las Colinas Course.

Steinbrenner High sophomore Kavya Ajjarapu finished 12th overall at the Class 3A state golf championships. It concluded an impressive campaign for Ajjarapu, who also took home a 3A-9 district crown. (Courtesy of Kathleen Kane)

Perhaps the most noteworthy showing came from the Steinbrenner High varsity girls team— as it marked its ninth straight year the program has qualified for states as a team.

Coached by John Crumbley, the Warriors finished 10th out of 13 schools in the two-day Class 3A tournament.

They were paced by sophomore Kavya Ajjarapu, who carded an 8-over par across two rounds (70-78 — 158) to finish tied for 12th out of 78 golfers.

It marked the end to an impressive season for Ajjarapu, who also took home a 3A-9 district crown after shooting a 2-under 69 at TPC Tampa Bay back in early October.

Other Steinbrenner golfers were McKenzie Kane (+11), Posie Farrelly (+11), Zoe Spanos (+70) and Paige Maginness (+121).

Wiregrass Ranch High senior Norah Catlin wrapped up her fourth straight state golf finals appearance. She tied for 32nd overall in the Class 3A tournament. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School athletics department)

The 3A match also experienced solid individual performances from Sunlake High freshman Alyssa Mixon and Wiregrass Ranch High senior Norah Catlin. Both tied for 32nd, shooting 14 strokes above par across the 36 holes.

For Catlin, it marked her fourth straight state title appearance, going down as the most decorated female golfer in her school’s history. She’s also a three-time Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

In 2A, Cypress Creek boasted a pair of individual qualifiers in sophomore Tiffany Colin and freshman Connor Newbold.

Colin went 14 over par to finish 16th among 95 girls golfers. She was key to her team during a  banner season — helping the Coyotes finish with a 5-0 regular season mark and runner-up in the Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament.

Newbold logged a 14 over par to finish 29th out of 97 boys golfers. He also was integral as the No. 1 golfer on the Coyotes boys team, which reached the 2A-2 region tournament at Dubsdread Golf Course in Orlando.

Meanwhile, in the 1A ranks, the Carrollwood Day School varsity girls team made its first state appearance in program history.

The Patriots — who placed 14th — were pushed by seventh-grader Sophia Dyer, who finished 31st overall after posting an 11 over par (77-78 — 155).

Dyer comes from a something of a legacy golf family. Her older brother, Blake, is a former standout on the University of Florida men’s golf team who also finished runner-up at the 2016 Florida State Amateur. Her father, Kevin, lettered for the Florida Gators from 1984-1988 and was on the 1985 SEC Championship team.

Other Carrollwood Day golfers included Elyse Meerdink (+16), Olivia Hasselbach (+76) Mikaela Arey (+97) and Paige Bhuniak (+149).

By comparison, last year’s state tournament saw one team and another six individual qualifiers from our coverage area.

Class 3A
Boys

No local schools or individuals

Girls
Individual qualifier(s)

Alyssa Mixon, Sunlake (tied 32nd) 78-80 — 158
Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch (tied 32nd) 80-78 — 158

Steinbrenner (10th place) 338-334 — 672
Kavya Ajjarapu (tied 12th) 70-78 — 148
McKenzie Kane (tied 24th) 80-75 — 155
Posie Farrelly (tied 24th) 72-83 — 155
Zoe Spanos (tied 75th) 104-110 — 214
Paige Maginness, (77th) 117-148 — 265

Class 2A
Boys
Individual qualifier(s)
Connor Newbold, Cypress Creek (29th) 80-78 — 158

Girls
Individual qualifier (s)
Tiffany Colin, Cypress Creek (16th ) 80-78 — 158

Class 1A
Boys
No local schools or individuals

Girls
Carrollwood Day
(14th place) 366-358 — 724
Sophia Dyer (31st) 77-78 — 155
Elyse Meerdink (tied 40th) 82-78 — 160
Olivia Hasselbach (56th) 89-79 — 168
Mikaela Arey (94th) 117-124 — 241
Paige Bhuniak (95th) 145-148 — 293

Published November 25, 2020

Cypress Creek High School was represented by a pair of state qualifiers in sophomore Taylor Colin, left, and freshman Connor Newbold. Colin finished 16th in the Class 2A girls tournament, while Newbold finished 29th in the 2A boys match. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek High School athletics department)

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Alyssa Mixon, Carrollwood Day School, Connor Newbold, Dubsdread Golf Course, Elyse Meerdink, FHSAA, Florida High School Athletic Association, John Crumbley, Kavya Ajjarapu, McKenzie Kane, Mikaela Arey, Mission Inn Resort & Club, Norah Catlin, Olivia Hasselbach, Paige Bhuniak, Paige Maginness, Posie Farrelly, Sophie Dyer, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake High School, Tiffany Collin, Wiregrass Ranch High, Zoe Spanos

Charter sports league enjoying growth

October 9, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

The Tampa Charter Athletic League (TCAL) started with just five middle schools when it launched in 2013.

In a few short years, the league has ballooned to 22 schools and nearly 5,000 athletes throughout Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Ten-year-old Agustin Aljure of Plant City, center, cheers on his older sister, Sophia, as she runs the track for the Tampa-based Trinity School for Children. His friend, 11-year-old Tyler Faucett of Tampa is on his right. (Christine Holtzman)

Of those schools, seven are in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area: Carrollwood Day School, Imagine School Land O’ Lakes, Learning Gate Community, Lutz Preparatory, North Tampa Christian, Sunlake Academy and Union Park.

Sports offerings include basketball, cross country, flag football, soccer, street hockey, track and field, and volleyball.

Other sports are on tap, with baseball and softball possibly next.

The upstart league is chaired and founded by Lutz Preparatory athletic director/physical education teacher Chad Mollick.

In designing the league, he envisioned something that would create more extracurricular activities for students and also foster some healthy competition.

The message spread quickly.

Simple “word of mouth” among other Tampa Bay area charter schools has grown the league where it is now, he said.

“It’s amazing to see just the massive amount of growth. I honestly never thought it would get to being this big,” Mollick said.

The league generally follows the rules and regulations of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) “with a couple of small twists,” Mollick said.

For instance, the TCAL allows schools to field multiple teams for a sport, so that a large group of students that try out don’t have to get cut. Another wrinkle different from traditional public schools — fifth graders are grouped in as middle schoolers, so they can join teams and get in on competitive play earlier on.

“The biggest thing for me is just having more opportunities for the kids,” he said. “We pretty much added one or two (new) sports every other year.”

Before the league formed, Mollick said there really weren’t any organized leagues for charter middle schools. A couple schools would scrimmage some Tampa Bay area private schools, but that was the extent of it.

“Six years ago, no one did anything. There was nothing, really,” he said.

A recent cross country meet at Lutz Preparatory School underscored the league’s expansion and reach.

Holding on to his megaphone, Coach Chad Mollick jokes around with one of the parents in the crowd, after the start of the Boys cross country race. Mollick is the athletic director and physical education teacher at Lutz Preparatory School, as well as chairman of the Tampa Charter Athletic League.

Roughly 300 boys and girls runners across a dozen schools (and at least another 100 spectators and volunteers) turned out for a regular season meet on a steamy Friday afternoon in September.

Mollick was on the front lines, working out race logistics with a walkie-talkie and golf cart and, setting up the course, corralling volunteers and getting everything else in order.

It’s the TCAL chairman pulling events together like that, which has impressed other charter middle school athletic directors.

“He does an incredible job,” said Bill Martin, athletic director/coach at Imagine School. “We all are really thankful that he’s able to do so much and really be able to keep things organized and everybody engaged. Every season’s always been successful. We make it work one way or another.”

Trinity School for Children athletic director/coach Kara White added this: “Chad puts in so many hours. I mean, we all do as athletic directors, but that man goes above and beyond, and if it wasn’t for him, this wouldn’t happen. We help, but he doesn’t get enough credit for what he does. I don’t think there’s anyone in the league who’d step up to do what he’s doing, and, teaching. It’s not easy. It’s a full time job.”

White, who’s been at Trinity for nearly two decades, also mentioned the league’s competition level “has come a long way” in the last few years.

“The schools that have been in it long enough now are understanding what they need to do to be competitive,” she said. “In different sports it varies, but I think it’s a pretty high level for middle school sports in Hillsborough County; I think we’re pretty far ahead.”

With the added competition, natural school rivalries have formed, also.

Lutz Prep and Imagine School is one of the more notable.

“We’re always battling for first or second place in two or three sports throughout the year,” Mollick said. “When you start seeing the competition in the championship games, it gets pretty intense.”

Meanwhile, Mollick said the “biggest issue” for the expanding league is finding enough gym and field space to put on events.

The league chairman said most charter schools don’t have their own gyms, so they have to go about renting county facilities which he said can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour to put on sporting events.

“The hardest thing for us is facilities are hard to find,” he said. “These schools, every game they play, they’re paying to play.”

Aside from the league as a whole, Mollick has gone about increasing athletic participation within the Lutz Prep student body.

Mollick said roughly 90 percent of the school’s middle schoolers, or about 250 students, are now involved in some type of athletics.

Mollick also has developed an intramural sports program at Lutz Prep — including a running club for the school’s elementary student body, or grades one through four.

It’s something Lutz Prep parent Shelly Walsh appreciates, in getting students to take pride in the school and ingrained in sports programs.

“It’s a great way to get the kids to love it,” said Walsh, who has two sons at Lutz Prep. “They do a little bit of it in P.E., but not as much as coming after school, they get that feeling of, ‘This is fun, I like staying after.’”

That’s the way Lutz Prep sixth-grader Eva Hsi sees it. She plays flag football and soccer, and runs cross country for the school.

“I have fun,” Hsi said. “To get to meet the older kids and play with them, and not just stay with my grade, I enjoy it.”

So, too, does fellow Lutz Prep sixth-grader Declan Heuman, who runs cross country and track for the school, and plays baseball outside of it.

He said Lutz Prep “is really fun with all the sports we have here.”

He added cross country is his favorite because “I like how you get to run and meet all your friends doing it.”

Tampa Charter Athletic League schools

  • Avant Garde Academy
  • Carrollwood Day School
  • Classical Preparatory
  • Community Charter
  • Hillsborough Academy
  • Henderson Hammock Charter
  • Imagine School Land O’ Lakes
  • Learning Gate Community
  • Legacy Prep
  • Lutz Preparatory
  • New Springs
  • North Tampa Christian
  • Pepin Academy – Hillsborough
  • Pepin Academy – Pasco
  • SLAM Tampa
  • Sunlake Academy
  • Tampa Day School
  • Terrace Community
  • Trinity School for Children
  • Union Park
  • Village of Excellence
  • Woodmont

Published October 09, 2019

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Bill Martin, Carrollwood Day School, Chad Mollick, Declan Heuman, Eva Hsi, FHSAA, Florida High School Athletic Association, Imagine School, Imagine School Land O' Lakes, Kara White, Learning Gate Community School, Lutz Preparatory, North Tampa Christian, Shelly Walsh, Sunlake Academy, Tampa Charter Athletic League, Trinity School for Children, Union Park

Prep football midseason review

October 2, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

The 2019 Florida high school football regular season has reached the midway point. Here’s a closer look at how teams and players are faring from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Gaither Cowboys are off to a blistering 5-0 start and are ranked among the state’s top 10 teams in Class 6A.
(Courtesy of Gaither Athletics)

Perfect performers
At the midway mark, there are three programs sporting undefeated records — Academy at the Lakes, Gaither and Steinbrenner. What do each have in common? Potent offenses backed by efficient, veteran quarterback play.

  • Academy at the Lakes is averaging over 39 points per game. Junior quarterback Jalen Brown, a fourth-year starter, has completed 55% of throws for 785 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also the team’s leading rusher (445 rush yards, six touchdowns).
  • Gaither is averaging over 38 points per game. Senior quarterback Tony Bartalo, a two-year starter, has completed 63% of throws for 1,320 yards, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. He currently boasts multiple Division I offers.
  • Steinbrenner is averaging over 48 points per game. Senior quarterback Haden Carlson, a three-year starter, has completed 64% of throws for 783 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. He is a FIU (Florida International University) verbal commit.

Also notable: Wiregrass Ranch (5-1) has received stellar quarterback play from sophomore Rocco Becht, who’s posted a 56% completion rate, 936 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators went 7-3 last year, but have struggled much of this season with a 1-5 mark thus far. (File)

Surprising struggles
Entering the 2019 season, Land O’ Lakes and Zephyrhills were expected to build off winning seasons and compete for a playoff spot in their respective classifications. But early season struggles has all dampened those hopes for both teams.

  • The Gators finished 7-3 last season — its first winning campaign since 2013. But, they’ve hobbled to a 0-5 start before finally securing a 44-0 win over Freedom last week. A team thin on seniors and an anemic running game has magnified the struggles.
  • One of the most consistent and dominant programs in Pasco County in recent years, the Bulldogs haven’t lost four or more games since 2012 and haven’t missed the postseason since 2013. But after losing 22 seniors from last year’s 11-1 squad, the Bulldogs have shown less bark this season. They lost their first three games, but have begun to show life with recent road wins against Wesley Chapel and Tarpon Springs, respectively.

New coaches finding their way

  • Sunlake has jumped to a respectable 3-3 mark under first-year head coach Trey Burdick, holding his own in assuming the role previously held by one of the county’s winningest coaches in Bill Browning. Under Burdick, the team is on pace to surpass the 4-6 mark the program has had each of the past two seasons. Better yet, Burdick, a longtime assistant under Browning, steered the Seahawks to a 34-23 victory over crosstown rival Land O’ Lakes in the annual ‘Butter Bowl’ showdown.
  • New Pasco head coach Jason Stokes already has led the struggling program to as many wins as it did all of last season. And while the 2-4 mark doesn’t seem all that great, the Pirates have battled hard in one possession losses to Sunlake and Springstead, respectively. With that, this year’s “9-Mile War” rivalry game against Zephyrhills should provide some more intrigue; Zephyrhills has won the past four contests. Stokes is no stranger to being a head coach in the Tampa Bay area — he steered Gaither to three playoff appearances between 2011 to 2016, and also had stints at Bloomingdale and Middleton, respectively.

Stat stuffers
Here’s a look at a top statistical performer from each high school in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Hillsborough County

  • Reggie Johnson II, Carrollwood Day, junior defensive end: 15 tackles, three sacks
  • Hussein Hafiz, Freedom, senior linebacker: 12 tackles (five for loss), three sacks
  • Deveon Knighton, Gaither, senior receiver: 28 receptions, 431 yards, six touchdowns
  • Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, junior tailback: 828 all-purpose yards, 11 touchdowns

Pasco County

  • Adrian Leverette, Academy at the Lakes, junior tailback: 379 scrimmage yards, five touchdowns
  • Jack Miller, Bishop McLaughlin, freshman receiver: 19 receptions, 502 yards, three touchdowns
  • Jehlani Warren, Cypress Creek, senior quarterback: 57% completions, 515 passing yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions
  • Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, senior quarterback, 39% completions, 790 passing yards, seven touchdowns, four interceptions; 336 rushing touchdowns, five touchdowns
  • Gabriel Barnes, Pasco, junior linebacker: 49 tackles, 20 hurries, three sacks
  • Mark Anderson, Sunlake, junior receiver: 475 all-purpose yards, three touchdowns
  • Brenden Maddox, Wesley Chapel, senior fullback/linebacker: 269 rush yards, four touchdowns; 45 tackles (six for loss)
  • Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior receiver: 735 all-purpose yards, 10 touchdowns
  • Tyler Davis, Zephyrhills Christian, senior tailback: 616 rush yards, six touchdowns
  • Zyree Roundtree, junior tailback: 483 rush yards, four touchdowns

Schools in Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their current 2019 records)

Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots (0-5 overall)
  • Freedom High School Patriots (1-4)
  • Gaither High School Cowboys (5-0)
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors (5-0)

Pasco County:

  • Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man) (4-0 overall)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (1-5)
  • Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (2-3)
  • Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (1-5)
  • Pasco High School Pirates (2-4)
  • Sunlake High School Seahawks (3-3)
  • Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (2-3)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (5-1)
  • Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (3-2)
  • Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (2-3)

Published October 2, 2019

Filed Under: Land O' Lakes Sports, Local Sports, Lutz Sports, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa Sports, Zephyrhills and East Pasco Sports Tagged With: 9-Mile War, Academy at the Lakes, Adrian Leverette, Bill Browning, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Bloomington, Brenden Maddox, Butter Bowl, Carrollwood Day School, Cypress Creek Middle High School, Deon Silas, Deveon Knighton, Ethan Forrester, Florida, Florida International University, Freedom High School, Gabriel Barnes, Gaither High School, Haden Carlson, Hillsborough County, Hussein Hafiz, Jack Miller, Jalen Brown, Jason Stokes, Jehlani Warren, Keith Walker, Land O' Lakes High School, Mark Anderson, Middleton, Pasco County, Pasco High School, Reggie Johnson II, Rocco Becht, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake High School, Tampa Bay, The Laker/Lutz News, Tony Bartalo, Trey Burdick, Tyler Davis, Wesley Chapel High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills Christian Academy, Zephyrhills High School, Zyree Roundtree

Volleyball team seeks to avenge state title defeat

September 18, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

The Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes volleyball team lost just one game last season — but, that loss came in the FHSAA Class 3A state championship.

The Hurricanes had won 30 consecutive games through the regular and postseason before losing to Doral’s Divine Savior Academy Sharks, in three straight-sets at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers.

The Bishop McLaughlin Hurricanes volleyball team’s only loss last season came in the Class 3A state championship. They believe they’re up to the task to win the whole thing in 2019. (Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Athletics)

The scores were 25-16, 25-16 and 25-22.

Much of the damage was done by Sharks then-junior Fabiana Castro, a Bryant University commit, who led all players with 24 kills.

If the Hurricanes had won, it would’ve marked the school athletic program’s first-ever team state crown.

“You know, everybody has their excuses about what happened, but what actually happened was they were better than we are. That was the bottom line,” longtime Hurricanes volleyball head coach Doug Chinchar said.

“They had one kid we could not stop and that was it,” he said.

As devastating as the Nov. 17 loss was , the coach has used the experience as a learning tool for this season.

He has challenged his team to become tougher mentally and physically, particularly when it comes to facing top-level teams in raucous environments — like the state title game.

“The other team threw the first punch and we didn’t punch back. That was the heartbreaker. I want to punch back,” said Chinchar, now in his 11th year at the school.

“If there’s one thing I worry about is how tough we are. How tough are we going to be when we go into some team’s gym and they’re all over all us,” he said.

To attack that concern, Chinchar has pursued the most challenging regular season slate possible, to gear up his team for another deep postseason run.

That includes road matches this season against Alachua Santa Fe, Clearwater Central Catholic, Carrollwood Day, Sarasota Riverview high schools and others.

Bishop McLaughlin Hurricanes volleyball coaches Doug and Sara Chinchar lead the team through an early-season practice. Last season the Hurricanes went 30-1 and finished Class 3A state runner-up. (Kevin Weiss)

“We’re trying to schedule 25 losses. We want to play the best of the best,” the coach said.  Veteran players believe the team has grown from last season’s defeat and is on a restored track this year. The Hurricanes presently sit at 9-1, as of Sept. 16.

The team entered the new season more motivated and “wanting to work harder,” senior middle hitter Sarah Perciavalle said.

“I think we have more heart from last season, and more energy during our practices and games,” Perciavalle, of Lutz, said, “so I think we’re better in that sense.”

Last season’s end was “really upsetting,” she said.

“We were expected to win, going in undefeated, so it was definitely a hard loss,” she said.

Junior outside hitter Audrey Koenig said the team has gained more confidence and has learned “definitely to not underestimate a team and not to let big crowds affect you.”

The 6-foot-3 FSU commit and Wesley Chapel resident recalled it took her “at least a week” to get over that last year’s title game defeat.

She recalls being very sad about the loss, noting “everybody was expecting us to win, so like all the hype and momentum built up to it and then it just kind of fell.”

So it may seem like a tall task to top a nearly unblemished 30-1 campaign, but the Hurricanes insist they are even deeper this year.

Nearly all of the players are returning from last year, including four seniors.

They’ve also added a handful of talented freshman — paced by 6-foot-3 Maddie Snider and 6-foot-1 Ali Waldon, the daughter of former University of South Florida men’s basketball standout B.B. Waldon.

Height and offensive firepower figure to be an advantage again this season, as the group boasts three 6-footers and four other players 5-foot-9 or taller.

“We definitely have the intimidation factors,” said Koenig, who leads the team with 95 kills and 20 aces.

Added Perciavalle: “I think we’re definitely more powerful at the net. All of our hitters have definitely gotten stronger, so I think we’re definitely better.”

The team is also out for revenge this time around, in their quest for that elusive state crown.

“It’s kind of like redemption,’ Perciavalle said. “Like, we were so close last year that now we’ve got to finish it up.”

The Hurricanes coach imagines it can done, based on what he’s seen thus far.

“It should be a fun little run here,” Chinchar said. “We have a chance to go the whole way, that’s the most exciting part. Everybody wants to beat us, and we want to beat them.”

“We want the whole thing,” he said.

2019 Bishop McLaughlin Hurricanes volleyball roster
Head coach:
Doug Chinchar

  • Adrianna Lopez, junior
  • Alexandra Postlethwaite, junior
  • Ali Waldon, freshman
  • Audrey Koenig, junior
  • Autumn Martinez-Robinson, freshman
  • Cahley Woods, freshman
  • Ezzie Thompson, freshman
  • Gabriella Koenig, senior
  • Kayla David, senior
  • Maddie Snider, freshman
  • Sarah Perciavalle, senior
  • Terah Nejman, senior
  • Zina Grechniw, junior

Published September 18, 2019

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Alachua Santa Fe, Ali Waldon, Audrey Koenig, B.B. Waldon, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Bryant University, Carrollwood Day School, Clearwater Central Catholic, Divine Savior Academy, Dough Chinchar, Fabiana Castro, Maddie Snider, Sarah Perciavalle, Sarasota Riverview High School, Suncoast Credit Union Arena, University of South Florida

Title Teams

May 15, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

A trio of local middle school sports programs earned team titles at last week’s Tampa Charter Athletic League (TCAL) championships. Winning teams included: Carrollwood Day School boys ball hockey, Lutz Preparatory School girls ball hockey, and Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes girls flag football. The TCAL is one of state’s largest charter school leagues, consisting of about 20 schools and 14 sports.

Published May 15, 2019

Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes girls flag football defeated Lutz Prep 6-0 in triple overtime, to claim a league championship. (Courtesy of Chad Mollick)
Carrollwood Day School boys ball hockey won a Tampa Charter Athletic League (TCAL) championship after edging Lutz Prep 5-4.
Lutz Prep girls ball hockey beat Learning Gate 5-1 in the TCAL title game. Lutz Prep ended the season with an undefeated 8-0 mark.

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Carrollwood Day School, Imagine School of Land O' Lakes, Lutz Preparatory School, Tampa Charter Athletic League

Spring football preview for area teams

April 24, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

High school football is back in session, as spring football practices are now underway statewide.

And, while the 2019 prep season remains months away, Florida high school football fans still will get a taste of how their teams are shaping up with a series of exhibition games and jamborees in late May.

Florida high schools are allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions from April 22 through May, according to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) guidelines. The first allowable day for full-contact tackling is April 27.

Take a look at these five area teams to watch as spring practices ramp up:

Academy at the Lakes will seek its third straight eight-man title in 2019. The team is currently on a 20-game winning streak dating back to 2017. (File)

Academy at the Lakes Wildcats
The back-to-back defending eight-man Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) state champion Wildcats will have another target on its back as it enters the new season on a 20-game winning streak (including a win by forfeit) dating back to September of 2017.

But, that shouldn’t faze an Academy at the Lakes squad that again returns the father-son combo of head coach Shawn Brown and rising junior quarterback Jalen Brown.

Shawn Brown is a two-time reigning FCAPPS Coach of the Year, while Jalen Brown won the 2018 FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner award, given to the eight-man league’s top player.

Last season the 6-foot-2, 180-pound quarterback completed nearly 58 percent of his throws for 1,105 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns on 93 carries.

In addition to Jalen Brown, the team returns All-Conference standouts in center Dwight Downing and defensive end Elijah Freedman. Also expect significant contributions from the likes of tailback Adrian Leverette, receivers Cole Lallanilla and Caleb Yann, and linebacker Denzyl Downing, among others.

Perhaps the biggest question for the Wildcats is finding ways to replace the production left behind by graduating All-State linebacker Dylan Price and All-State defensive back Jullian Jennings, as well as All-State offensive lineman Andrew Kilfoyl, who has since transferred to Gaither.

Land O’ Lakes Gators
Under new head coach Chad Walker, the Gators achieved its first winning season since 2013, going 7-3 and narrowly missing out on a playoff berth.

Land O’ Lakes is looking to build off last season’s 7-3 campaign under head coach Chad Walker.

The turnaround season also included a 35-24 win over crosstown foe Sunlake to crack an eight-game losing streak in the annual ‘Butter Bowl’ rivalry game.

Naturally, fans of the storied Pasco County program will expect similar success again this year.

It won’t come easy, however, as the team moves on from a sizable senior class that included its leading rusher, leading receiver, leading tackler and top kicking specialists.

Working in the team’s favor, though, is the return of one of the area’s top signal callers in rising senior quarterback and two-year starter Ethan Forrester.

Last season the 6-foot-3, 220-pound athlete completed nearly 52 percent of his passes for 1,429 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Gators have put together a tough 2019 regular season slate that includes five teams that made the playoffs last season — Gaither, Mitchell, Tampa Catholic, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills Christian, respectively.

Steinbrenner Warriors
Following a disappointing 2-7 output in 2017, the Warriors rebounded last year to finish 6-5 overall with a 4-2 mark in District 6-8A, including a four-game winning streak to close out the season.

Steinbrenner has plenty of weapons to build off last year’s 6-5 mark.

With a bevy of returning talent, the momentum should continue into 2019 under longtime head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo.

The Warriors feature multiple NCAA FBS Division I football targets, such as receivers Aidan Bitter and Dean Patterson, and Matthew Adcock, a 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive lineman.

The squad is stacked with other playmakers, too.

Quarterback Haden Carlson, the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jeff Carlson, is poised to build off a junior campaign where he completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,418 yards, 10 total touchdowns and four interceptions.

The rising senior will have plenty of weapons at his disposal in the likes of Bitter (32 receptions, 568 yards, six touchdowns), Patterson (39 receptions, 391 yards, two touchdowns), Jett Law (22 receptions, 212 yards) and Deon Silas (1,198 all-purpose yards), among others.

The Warriors also return several of its top players on the other side of the ball, including rising junior linebacker Austin Brannen, who registered 130 total tackles, including 12 for loss.

Meanwhile, special teams figure to be another strength, with All-State punter Cameron Brown, kicker Trevor Haire, and a return game that collectively averaged 28.2 yard on kick returns and 13.2 yards on punt returns.

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls
With a string of three consecutive winning seasons and playoff appearances under head coach Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch seems positioned for another year as one of Pasco County’s premier programs.

With a large senior class, Wiregrass Ranch will seek its fourth straight playoff berth in 2019.

And, most any win will be hard earned in 2019, particularly with new district foes in Class 6A state runner-up Armwood, East Bay and Tampa Bay Tech.

In fact, every opponent on the Bulls’ 10-game schedule sported a winning record last season, aside from crosstown rival Wesley Chapel, who finished with a 5-5 mark. Of those teams, half qualified for the playoffs from their respective classification.

Fortunately for the Bulls, the team has the benefit of experience on its side with about two dozen rising seniors.

That includes one of the Sunshine State’s most productive defensive players in first team All-State linebacker Dylan Ridolph.

Ridolph’s 22 sacks last season ranked second in the state, trailing only Winter Garden Foundation Academy’s Warren Sapp II (24). The 6-foot, 215-pound Ridolph already holds the county record for most career sacks (37).

Some other upperclassman to keep an eye on include defensive back Jonavon Tills (five interceptions) and tailback Keith Walker (667 all-purpose yards, nine touchdowns).

Meantime, the Bulls will have to break in a new quarterback with the graduation of two-year starter Grant Sessums.

Such duty will likely fall to promising rising senior dual-threat quarterback Hunter Helton.

Last season Helton served as the team’s backup quarterback option, but showcased his athleticism as the team’s leading receiver (16 receptions, 315 yards, four touchdowns).

His last extended action under center came as a sophomore on junior varsity, where he completed nearly 54 percent of his throws for 557 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception.

Zephyrhills Bulldogs
Going undefeated in the regular season on its way to securing its second straight district title, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs in 2018 put together one of the more notable campaigns in recent memory.

Coming off back-to-back district championships, Zephyrhills will look to several new faces to make an impact in 2019.

It also added to the program’s tally of winning seasons, which now numbers eight straight dating back to 2011.

Maintaining their sustained dominance this year may prove challenging, though, as the Bulldogs say farewell to 23 seniors from last year’s 11-1 squad, 10 of whom earned All-Conference honors.

Among that group is the team’s starting quarterback, several leading receivers, multiple leading tacklers and top special teamers.

Serving another blow to the team’s 2019 depth: All-Conference linebacker Ja’varrius Wilson recently announced his intention to transfer to Clearwater Academy International for his senior year. He was fourth on the team in tackles (91) and second in tackles for loss (18).

On the bright side for Zephyrhills, up-and-coming head coach Nick Carroll returns for 2019, looking to build upon a combined 29-6 mark his first three seasons.

Of course, the Bulldogs won’t be totally devoid of impactful playmakers in 2019.

Rising senior two-way lineman Demetris Wright (40 pancake blocks, 30 tackles), and rising juniors Zyre Roundtree (541 rushing yards, six touchdowns) and Tre Gallimore (45 tackles, two interceptions) are a few to watch, among others.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their 2018 records)
Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots: 6-6 overall, 2-2 region
  • Freedom High School Patriots: 4-6 overall, 2-4 district
  • Gaither High School Cowboys: 7-4 overall, 4-2 district
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors: 6-5 overall, 4-2 district

Pasco County:

  • Academy at the Lakes Wildcats: (10-0 overall, 7-0 district)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes: (4-5 overall, 3-1 district)
  • Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes: (3-7 overall, 1-0 region)
  • Land O’ Lakes High School Gators: (7-3 overall, 2-2 district)
  • Pasco High School Pirates: (2-8 overall, 0-4 district)
  • Sunlake High School Seahawks: (4-6 overall, 1-3 district)
  • Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats: (5-5 overall, 4-3 district)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls: (7-4 overall, 4-2 district)
  • Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors: (7-4 overall, 0-1 region)
  • Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs: (11-1 overall, 6-0 district)

Spring game schedule
May 16
East Ridge at Zephyrhills
Zephyrhills Christian at Fivay
Jamboree: Freedom, King, Wharton at Hillsborough
Jamboree: Gaither, Sickles, Steinbrenner at Alonso

May 17
Anclote at Sunlake
Cypress Creek at Pasco
Land O’ Lakes at Wesley Chapel
Wiregrass Ranch at East Lake

May 18
Bishop McLaughlin at Carrollwood Day

May 24
Jamboree: Academy at the Lakes, Master’s Academy, Lakeside Christian, Solid Rock at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center

Player to watch from each area team
Hillsborough County

  • Shelton Quarles Jr., Carrollwood Day, athlete
  • Tawfiq Thomas, Freedom, defensive tackle
  • Chance Coleman, Gaither, linebacker
  • Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, athlete

Pasco County

  • Jalen Brown, Academy at the Lakes, quarterback
  • Adam Berry, Bishop McLaughlin, tailback
  • Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek, athlete
  • Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, quarterback
  • Darrion Robinson, Pasco, receiver
  • Jonathan Wallace, Sunlake, defensive end
  • Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, athlete
  • Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, linebacker
  • Zyre Roundtree, Zephyrhills, tailback
  • Malik Jones, Zephyrhills Christian, defensive lineman

Published April 24, 2019

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Academy at the Lakes, Andres Perez-Reinaldo, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Carrollwood Day School, Chad Walker, Cypress Creek Middle High School, Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools, Freedom High School, Gaither High School, Land O' Lakes High School, Mark Kantor, Nick Carroll, Pasco High School, Shawn Brown, Spring prep football, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake High School, Wesley Chapel High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills Christian Academy, Zephyrhills High School

Locals named to All-State football teams

February 27, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

Athletes within The Laker/Lutz News coverage were well-represented on the FloridaHSFootball.com’s All-State teams for the 2018 season.

Zephyrhills High School senior athlete Cartrell Strong was named Class 5A first-team All-State. Four other Bulldogs also made the All-State team. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High Athletics)

In total, 24 players from nine local schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties were named first-team, second-team, third-team or honorable mention for their respective classifications.

The All-State teams were compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com, along with the consideration of coaches nominations and consultation of all-area/all-county teams and members of the media from around the state.

Zephyrhills High School and Zephyrhills Christian Academy were most represented among local schools, with five selections apiece to the Class 5A and Class 2A All-State teams, respectively.

Zephyrhills High — which went undefeated in the regular season and reached the Class 5A regional semifinals — had two first-team selections (senior defensive tackle Samuel Bergeron, senior returner/athlete Cartrell Strong), a second-team selection (senior utility Tre’ Pavis Mobley), and two honorable mentions (senior quarterback Doug Crawford and junior offensive guard Demetris Wright).

Senior tailback Javion Hanner was one of five football players from Zephyrhills Christian Academy selected to the Class 2A All-State team. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Christian Academy Athletics)

Bergeron, though undersized at 5-feet-9 and 192 pounds, registered big numbers with 104 total tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 21 hurries and eight forced fumbles.

The same can be said for fellow Bulldogs first-teamer, Strong.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound returner/athlete finished the 2018 campaign with 1,709 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns.

Also a defensive standout at cornerback/safety, Strong added 98 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, nine passes defensed and three forced fumbles.

Mobley, the Bulldogs second-teamer, also generated impressive numbers on each side of the ball.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete registered 51 tackles, four interceptions and four passes defensed on defense, and 759 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns on offense.

Senior quarterback Chris Butash was one of three football players from Carrollwood Day School named to the Class 2A All-State team. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School Athletics)

He also served as the team’s kickoff specialist, where he averaged nearly 39 yards per kick and had three touchbacks.

Zephyrhills Christian — which finished with a 7-4 mark and reached the Class 2A regional semifinals — had two first-team selections (senior utility Javion Hanner, senior cornerback Kavbion Marbra) and three second-team selections (junior offensive guard Malik Jones, senior defensive end Jalen Spencer, senior outside linebacker Nyjohn Moody).

The 5-foot-9, 188-pound Hanner posted 1,408 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games played. His 1,201 rushing yards ranked sixth in all of Class 2A.

Marbra’s nine interceptions and Moody’s 162 total tackles each ranked first among all Class 2A players; those numbers ranked third (tied) and fourth among all classes statewide, respectively.

Wiregrass Ranch junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph was a Class 7A first-team All-State pick. His 22 sacks were second-most in the state, among all classifications. (File)

Spencer, who played in seven games, ranked eighth in 2A in tackles per game (11.3).

Other schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area also had multiple selections on the All-State list.

Steinbrenner had four selections to the Class 8A All-State team.

Senior middle linebacker Logan Kilburn (132 tackles, 8.5 sacks) was a second-team selection, while junior offensive tackles Matthew Adcock, junior punter Cameron Brown and sophomore returner Deon Silas were third-team picks.

Silas tallied 1,198 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns.

Brown averaged 35.6 yards per punt, including a long of 53 yards, and 15 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line.

And, in addition to Zephyrhills Christian, Carrollwood Day School had three representatives on the Class 2A All-State team.

Senior linebacker Logan Kilburn was one of four Steinbrenner High School football players selected to the Class 8A All-State team. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School Athletics)

Senior quarterback Chris Butash (2,466 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions) and senior wide receiver Kyle Benedict (843 yards on 49 receptions, six touchdowns) were second-team offensive selections, while junior athlete Shelton Quarles Jr., was named honorable mention.

Gaither (Class 7A) and Land O’ Lakes (6A) each had two All-State selections.

Wiregrass Ranch (7A), Sunlake (6A) and Wesley Chapel (5A) each had one representative, for  their respective classifications.

There were no All-State representatives in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area from Classes 4A, 3A or 1A.

2018 FloridaHSFootball.com All-State teams

Class 8A
Logan Kilburn, Steinbrenner, senior, linebacker (second-team defense)
Matthew Adcock, Steinbrenner, junior, offensive tackle (third-team offense)
Cameron Brown, Steinbrenner, junior, punter, (third-team special teams)
Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, sophomore, returner (third-team special teams)

Class 7A
Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, junior, linebacker (first-team defense)
Jordan Oladokun, Gaither, sophomore, cornerback (second-team defense)
Brysen Roth, Gaither, senior, linebacker (honorable mention)

Class 6A
Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior, running back (honorable mention)
Collin Corrao, Land O’ Lakes, senior, kicker (honorable mention)
Clark Cooley, Sunlake, senior, punter (honorable mention)

Class 5A
Samuel Bergeron, Zephyrhills, senior, defensive tackle (first team defense)
Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior, returner (first-team special teams)
Tre’ Pavis Mobley, Zephyrhills, senior, utility (second-team defense)
Doug Crawford, Zephyrhills, senior, quarterback (honorable mention)
Demetris Wright, Zephyrhills, junior, offensive guard (honorable mention)
Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, junior, utility (honorable mention)

Class 2A
Javion Hanner, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, utility (first-team offense)
Kavbion Marbra, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, cornerback (first-team defense)
Chris Butash, Carrollwood Day, senior, quarterback (second-team offense)
Kyle Benedict, Carrollwood Day, senior, wide receiver (second-team offense)
Malik Jones, Zephyrhills Christian, junior, offensive guard (second-team offense)
Jalen Spencer, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, defensive end (second-team defense)
Nyjohn Moody, Zephyrhills Christian, senior, outside linebacker (second-team defense)
Shelton Quarles Jr., Carrollwood Day, junior, athlete (honorable mention)

Published February 27, 2019

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Carrollwood Day School, Florida High School Football, Gaither High School, Land O' Lakes High School, Steinbrenner High School, Wesley Chapel High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills Christian Academy, Zephyrhills High School

Local band primed for big stage

February 20, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

They’ve been featured on radio stations, such as 102.5 The Bone and 88.5 WMNF.

They’ve performed gigs at major venues, including The Orpheum and State Theatre.

Now, they’re poised to release their first EP.

Not too shabby for a two-year-old band made of three local high school graduates, all still under the legal drinking age.

The band is called Sick Hot.

Local up-and-coming band Sick Hot is releasing their first EP on March 1. From left, bassist Chris Erickson, guitarist and vocalist Nik Wilson, and drummer Cory Bernardi. (Courtesy of Jim Chambers)

It features a pair of Land O’ Lakes High School graduates — guitarist and vocalist Nik Wilson and bassist Chris Erickson— along with Carrollwood Day School graduate Cory Bernardi, who’s on the drums.

For the past six months they’ve been perfecting a three-song EP, titled “House of Delight.” It will be unveiled during a release party on March 1 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Crowbar in Tampa.

There, Sick Hot will perform an hourlong set of originals and covers. Other local bands slated to perform include Cannibal Kids, The Raine, and Up From Here.

The young trio is described as “classic rock, with a little modern tinge on it,” by Jim Chambers, the band’s manager and founder.

“You’re going to see a young band that performs well beyond their years,” said Chambers, a longtime music industry executive who now operates Jim Chambers Music Box in Carrollwood.

“They’re fantastic, accomplished players, and at such a young age, the music sounds very mature.”

Wilson and Erickson are both 19. Bernardi is 20.

Shaped by their parents’ love of music — and mainly classic rock — each have been playing various instruments since grade school.

Sick Hot’s three-song debut EP, ‘House of Delight,’ will be celebrated with a release party at Crowbar on March 1.

That passion for creating music has stayed with them since.

“I just like playing, especially with (Nik and Cory) because they’re always challenging me to be better and keep it interesting,” Erickson said. “We’re always bouncing stuff off each other, but I think the three of us enjoy playing more than anything.”

“We’re always kind of force each other to be better than we could,” Bernardi said.

Wilson undoubtedly stands out, as Sick Hot’s lead guitarist and vocalist.

So does his long, wavy hair, slender frame, and tattoo of Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page on his left wrist.

The bandleader doesn’t read music. Instead, he’s able to play back virtually any record after hearing it a few times, keying in on different tones and so forth.

“I can read tabs, but I can’t read like actual music,” Wilson said. “I have a musician’s ear, I guess.”

However Wilson does it, Chambers describes him as “kind of a wunderkind.”

Bernardi and Erickson, meanwhile, mostly let their instruments do the talking.

Aside from Led Zeppelin, of course, Sick Hot draws influences from Rush, Aerosmith and Ted Nugent. They also twist in their own “technical, funky vibes.”

The band swears their sound isn’t just another ’70s rock band clone.

“That’s the one thing we’re trying to avoid,” Erickson said. “No one wants to hear the same thing over and over.”

Added Wilson: “It’s like keeping the spirit of classic rock, like in our generation.”

Sick Hot’s lyrics, meanwhile, have a “kind of psychedelic” feel in the mold of Jimi Hendrix and Cream, band members agreed.

Some of the band’s songs are based on a historical narrative. One track, for instance, revolves around the Prohibition Era.

“I think the idea is we’re kind of like telling a story, rather than singing about a personal thing or something that happened in your life,” Erickson explained. “Kind of telling a story from the outset.”

Whatever they are, Chambers sees a bright future for Sick Hot.

He noted recent Grammy Award-winning Greta Van Fleet has opened the door for other bands to bring classic rock “back into the fray.”

Chambers would know. He won three Grammys with Maroon 5, the Dave Matthews Band and Flyleaf, as a record executive.

“I see classic rock coming back into the modicum of everything, and so with that, they’re poised to be shopped (to record labels),” Chambers said. “I have no doubt I’ll be shopping this record personally to New York City, trying to get them a deal.”

In the meantime, Sick Hot plans to flood the local market with their sound, then take a small summer tour somewhere out of state.

They’re currently shooting a music video for one of their EP tracks, titled “Lost and Forever Gone,” which is set to be released later this month.

A full-length album is also being considered by the up-and-coming band.

“We definitely have enough material to make a whole other album, a full LP,” Bernardi said. “That’s definitely an idea we’ve thought of before.”

Sick Hot’s  “House of Delight” EP release party
When: March 1, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: Crowbar, 1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City
What: Celebration of Sick Hot’s debut EP, “House of Delight,” with live music performances from several local bands
Cost: $10, all ages
Tickets: Visit Eventbrite.com, and search “Sick Hot”

Published February 20, 2019

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: 102.5 The Bone, 88.5 WMNF, Aerosmith, Cannibal Kids, Carrollwood Day School, Chris Erickson, Cory Bernardi, Crowbar, Dave Matthews Band, Flyleaf, Greta Van Fleet, Jim Chambers, Jimmy Page, Land O' Lakes High School, Led Zeppelin, Maroon 5, Music Box, Nik Wilson, Rush, Sick Hot, State Theatre, Ted Nugent, The Orpheum, The Raine, Up From Here

Top moments in sports during 2018

December 26, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Teams captured state titles and local athletes turned in outstanding performances, during a year that brought shining moments and lasting memories.

Here are some of the highlights, from across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

USA Women’s Hockey, fans celebrate gold in Wesley Chapel
Just days after celebrating a gold medal win in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the USA women’s ice hockey team returned to where their remarkable journey started — Wesley Chapel.

The U.S. women’s national ice hockey team posed for pictures on Feb. 28 at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel. The team spent more than five months training at the facility and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. (File)

That’s where the team spent more than five months preparing for the Winter Olympics, training at Florida Hospital Center Ice and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. It’s also where daily practices, off-ice testing and intra-squad scrimmages were used to determine the 23 players selected in May for the Team USA roster.

The team spent the better part of an hour on the afternoon of Feb. 28 greeting fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs at the Center Ice facility.

The event drew excitement from hockey enthusiasts, such as Wesley Chapel’s Rob Simonelli, who was prideful of the fact the Olympic team trained in his hometown.

“I just was excited that this was their home base. Just following them when they made this their home was kind of cool,” Simonelli said, at the time.

“They’re really friendly, and it’s nice that they decided to come and just kind of say ‘Hey’ to the people,” he added.

The surprise visit was part of a nationwide media blitz that also took them to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York City.

The week prior, the team defeated Canada in a 3-2 shootout to win gold, ending a 20-year drought for the women’s hockey program.

Florida Hospital Center Ice was picked as Team USA’s training ground over such hockey facilities in Boston, Chicago and other cities — placing a feather in Pasco County’s cap in its quest to become a top-notch sports tourism destination.

The time spent by the Olympic gold medalists in Wesley Chapel led them to later be dubbed by some residents as ‘Pasco’s team.’

The stay in Wesley Chapel likewise proved special for the elite athletes, from top-flight training digs and hospitality, to the warm, sunny weather.

Said defenseman Cayla Barnes, then the youngest member of Team USA at 19 years old: “These facilities were awesome, the staff here was amazing, and they really helped us with everything we needed. It was great to be down here, such nice weather, and really nice to train out here in preparation for the games.”

Added two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne: “Hockey in Florida was new to a lot of us, but I don’t think it took long for us to realize that hockey is serious in Florida.”

Local small-school sprinter wins state title
It’s not often a small-school athlete gets to celebrate on a big stage.

But, that’s what happened to Zephyrhills Christian Academy senior Evan Miller.

He captured the Class 1A boys 100-meter dash title in a blistering 10.75 seconds at the Florida High School Athletic Association Track & Field 2018 Championships, at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy senior Evan Miller won first place in the 1A boys 100-meter dash in 10.75 seconds at the Florida High School Athletic Association Track & Field 2018 Championships.

The senior was also the final leg of the school’s gold-medal winning 4×100-meter relay team that scorched the competition with a 42.10 second mark — joining junior NyJohn Moody, sophomore Tyler Davis and senior Calvin Samuel.

Those marked the only first-place finishes at the state track & field meet among athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

It’s also noteworthy, considering Zephyrhills Christian has about 250 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade and was in just its second year offering a boys and girls track & field program.

For Miller, the memorable showing had been a year in the making.

The previous summer, the multi-sport athlete suffered a broken ankle during a 7-on-7 football tournament.

The injury forced Miller, a standout defensive back, to miss several games in the fall as a member of the Zephyrhills Christian varsity football team.

Unable to hit the gridiron, Miller hit the starting blocks instead, as part of his rehabilitation process.

The newfound sport proved to be his true calling.

Miller linked up with well-regarded AAU track coach and personal trainer BB Roberts, who runs the Wesley Chapel-based Speed Starz Track Club, and lists NFL and MLB athletes as training clientele.

Roberts, a former track star in his own right at Wesley Chapel High School and Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, worked to correct Miller’s running form and technique, among other tips.

The fixtures shaved Miller’s 100-meter personal record from a still-impressive 11.2 to a 10.69 — which he set at the Steinbrenner High Invitational in early April.

Miller is now a freshman sprinter at Division I University of South Carolina, where he’s training under the Olympic pedigree of legendary head coach Curtis Frye.

Academy at the Lakes wins first state softball title
Buoyed by a longtime Division I coach in Diane Stephenson, one of the state’s top arms in Lexi Kilfoyl, and a potent offense averaging nearly seven runs per game, the 2018 Academy at the Lakes varsity softball team lived up to the preseason hype — finishing with a remarkable 26-4 record and winning its first-ever Class 2A state championship.

The state crown was a follow-up to an impressive 20-win season and regional final appearance in 2017.

Academy at the Lakes varsity softball won the FHSAA Class 2A state title on May 22 after defeating Monticello Aucilla Christian 1-0 in 11 innings. The Wildcats finished the season 26-4.

For the Wildcats, the most dramatic moment of the 2018 campaign came in its most important game.

Academy at the Lakes outlasted Monticello Aucilla Christian 1-0 in 11 innings on May 22 at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, in a game that featured a pitcher’s duel through wet, muddy conditions.

Kilfoyl, then a junior, outlasted Aucilla Christian senior and Florida signee Elizabeth Hightower by unleashing a 13-strikeout, fourth-hit shutout.

The softball sensation and Alabama signee also did some work with the bat.

Kilfoyl was responsible for the game-winning single that allowed freshman shortstop Brooke Blankenship to score on a two-out single in the 11th inning — unseating an Aucilla Christian program that had won state crowns two of the last three years.

Forecasting ahead, a state title repeat for the Wildcats  in 2019 certainly seems within reach.

Kilfoyl and Stephenson return, as do much of the key contributors from its state-winning squad.

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex breaks ground
The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex’s June 7 groundbreaking represented a major step for Pasco County, as it looks to become a premier sports tourism destination in the years ahead.

Expected to open in late 2019, the $44 million, 98,000-square-foot complex is slated to feature eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, a cheer and dance studio, a fitness center, and sports medicine and athletic training offerings.

The $44 million Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex is expected to open in late 2019. The 98,000-square-foot complex will have eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, a cheer and dance studio, a fitness center, and sports medicine and athletic training offerings. Also, besides the indoor gym, the complex will have seven outdoor sports fields, an amphitheater with an event lawn, walking trails, pavilions and a playground.

In addition to its indoor offerings, the complex will have seven outdoor sports fields, an amphitheater with an event lawn, walking trails, pavilions and a playground.

The complex — being built off State Road 54, near The Shops at Wiregrass— will operate on Monday through Thursday as a community-based sports center for youth, adults and seniors, while weekends will be set aside to host tournaments, competitions and other events that will generate hotel stays and tax revenues for the county.

The county will own the facility and share in anticipated profits with RADD Sports, a private company that will operate and manage the sports complex.

Officials say annual economic impact would be about $6.5 million for the new facility. Over 10 years, about $8 million or more in sales and use taxes would be generated, not including tourism taxes from hotel stays, officials say.

The  complex adds to a growing list of premier, state-of-the art sports facilities in east Pasco — and further markets the area as a sports tourism destination primarily for youth and amateur sports.

Other nearby offerings include Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, which opened in early 2017 as the largest hockey complex in the southeastern United States; Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, an upscale resort renowned for world-class golf and tennis training; and, Wesley Chapel District Park, which sits on 144 acres and contains 10 full-size athletic fields, and lighted outdoor tennis courts and basketball courts. Efforts also recently began in a quest to build a premier aquatics facility in Land O’ Lakes, as well as a multimillion dollar tennis complex in Zephyrhills.

Land O’ Lakes High honors ‘Voice of the Gators’
For Land O’ Lakes High School, the 2018 ‘Butter Bowl’ will go down as one of the most historic, as the Gators football team finally cracked an eight-game losing streak to crosstown rival Sunlake High School, with a 35-24 home victory.

Matt Connor, top, and Meaghan Connor of Land O’ Lakes positioned Mike Connor on the sideline area for a dedication of the press box in his name.

The most enduring moment of that Sept. 14 evening, however, happened right before kickoff.

That’s when a special dedication ceremony was held to honor longtime athletics booster Mike Connor. The press box space at John Benedetto Stadium named the Mike Connor Family Press Box.

The dedication drew dozens of friends and family, as well as current and former Gators coaches, who showed their support and appreciation for Connor, who passed away a month later at age 69.

Connor, a volunteer at the school since 1989, was instrumental in building a sustainable athletic and football booster club. His efforts also helped established a yearly scholarship fund for a male and female at the high school.

Connor, too, served as the ‘Voice of the Gators,’ calling the action of every Friday night home game for nearly two decades, and creating catchphrases, such as ‘a gaggle of Gators.’

An area business owner and Land O’ Lakes resident since 1982, Connor operated Taco John’s on the corner of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, as well as Beef O’ Brady’s in Wilderness Lakes. He was also noted for being a key part of the early successes of the Flapjack Festival and, later, in helping to create the Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest.

Academy at the Lakes wins its second straight football title
Following last year’s historic eight-man state title run, questions swirled about how the Academy at the Lakes football program would handle a newfound target on its back and the loss of several impactful players.

The team responded with aplomb— finishing with a perfect 10-0 record and winning its second straight eight-man state title, downing Miami Citi Christian Academy Fire 36-18 in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) championship game on Dec. 8, at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

In contrast to last year’s Wildcats team that relied heavily on do-it-all running back/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez — the  2017 Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) Heisman Trophy winner — the 2018 squad was forced to play together in all phases of the game.

Filled with new faces and inexperience at some positions, the Wildcats proved to be greater than the sum of its parts, winning games by way of stout defense and timely offense.

The Wildcats, too, showed their share of resiliency throughout the season.

For instance, they withstood a nagging early season injury to senior tailback Jamaal Johnson, who was expected to be one of the most dynamic players on offense; instead, he was only able to play bits and pieces of games from mid-October through the end of the season.

Meanwhile, in the playoffs, the Wildcats overcame a 16-0 halftime deficit in the state semifinals game against Duval Charter, ripping off 27 unanswered points to send them to the state championship game. The state title game also proved to be a test of mettle, as the Wildcats held onto a 22-18 lead late into the fourth quarter before pulling away for good.

Here’s a rundown of some other notable highlights throughout 2018:

  • Zephyrhills shuffleboard great Earl Ball surpasses 1,000 career points
  • Steinbrenner High School baseball coach John Crumbley enters the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame
  • Gaither High School alum/Florida International University quarterback Alex McGough is drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft
  • Land O’ Lakes High School’s Sydny Nasello wins Class 3A Player of the Year, and is named a 2018 Miss Soccer finalist
  • Saint Leo men’s lacrosse becomes the state’s first lacrosse program to make a national championship appearance
  • Carrollwood Day School varsity baseball reaches program’s first state final four
  • Academy at the Lakes varsity baseball celebrates its first winning season
  • Land O’ Lakes High School is one of three Pasco Schools named a Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School
  • Land O’ Lakes youth resident Brett Swanbom wins a world championship as a member of the 2018 U.S. Junior Barefoot Water Ski Team
  • Sunlake High School girls swimming & diving team unseats Land O’ Lakes High School to win the 2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference Championships
  • Former Gaither High School/current Hillsborough High School football coach Earl Garcia becomes all-time winningest coach in Tampa Bay
  • Wiregrass Ranch junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph sets the Pasco County record for career sacks, with 37
  • Longtime Sunlake High School football coach Bill Browning retires following a 29-year head coaching career throughout the North Suncoast
  • Zephyrhills High School football records an undefeated 10-0 regular season
  • Wesley Chapel High School basketball coach Doug Greseth wins 500th career game

Published December 26, 2018

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Academy at the Lakes, Alex McGough, BB Roberts, Beef O' Brady's, Bill Browning, Brett Swanbom, Brooke Blankenship, Calvin Samuel, Carrollwood Day School, Cayla Barnes, Coffeyville Community College, Daniel Gonzalez, Diane Stephenson, Doug Greseth, Duval Charter, Dylan Ridolph, Earl Ball, Earl Garcia, Elizabeth Hightower, Evan Miller, Flapjack Festival, Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools, Florida High School Athletic Association, Florida Hospital Center Ice, Heisman Trophy, Jamaal Johnson, John Benedetto Stadium, John Crumbley, Kendall Coyne, Land O' Lakes High School, Lexi Kilfoyl, Miami Citi Christian Academy, Mike Connor, Monticello Aucilla Christian, North Suncoast, NyJohn Moody, RADD Sports, Rob Simonelli, Saddlebrook Resort, Saint Leo University, Special Olympics, Speed Starz Track Club, State Rod 54, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake High School, Sunshine Athletic Conference, Swamp Fest, Sydny Nasello, Taco John's, The Shops at Wiregrass, Tyler Davis, U.S. 41, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina, USA Women's Hockey, Wesley Chapel District Park, Wesley Chapel High School, Winter Olympics, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, Zephyrhills Christian Academy

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The Dade City Garden Club will host a virtual general membership meeting on Jan. 18 at 9:30 a.m., via Zoom. The program will feature a presentation by Madonna Wise, author of “A Haunted History of Pasco County.” Wise’s husband, Ernest, also will present a short demonstration on pressing flowers. Non-members can attend. Registration is through email at by Jan. 17. For information, visit DadeCityGardenClub.com. … [Read More...] about 01/18/2021 – Garden club

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a “Best of Craft Tuesdays: Playlist” on Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out a video at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary to learn about some of the craft programs that are worth revisiting from the past year. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 01/19/2021 – Best of crafts

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present “Virtual Backyard Gardening with Jo Ann” on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m., via Zoom. Registration is required to receive an email on how to join the meeting. For information, email . … [Read More...] about 01/19/2021 – Virtual gardening

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer these upcoming story times: Jan. 20, for birth to age 5: Participants can tune in anytime between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary, to hear “Private I. Guana.” For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . Jan. 21 at 10 a.m.: “Virtual Baby Time with Miss Cindy.” Visit Facebook.com/cplib. Jan. 21 at 10 a.m., for ages 2 to 5: “Virtual Story Time with Miss Jenn.” For information, call Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – Library story times

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The LOL Book Club from the Land O’ Lakes Library will meet on Jan. 20 at 2:30 p.m., to discuss “Beartown” by Fredrik Backman. Register online for a Zoom link, which will be sent out via email a day ahead of the discussion. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – LOL Book Club

01/20/2021 – Mouse bookmark

Learn to make a folded paper mouse bookmark on Jan. 20. Participants will use the art of origami to make the bookmark. Watch the instructional slide show, all day, on the South Holiday Library Facebook page. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – Mouse bookmark

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