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Colorado State University

Hometown kids shine in 2019 college football season

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The college football season has come to a close, and it was one in which many players with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area showcased their skills.

Dozens of area athletes are a part of programs at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) levels, as well as Division II, Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and junior college ranks.

Here is a look at some of them.

Noah Ruggles
College: University of North Carolina, sophomore kicker
High School: Steinbrenner High (Odessa native)

Steinbrenner High product Noah Ruggles (Courtesy of University of North Carolina Athletics)

The Steinbrenner product appears entrenched as UNC’s long-term answer at kicker, as he enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign, converting 19 of 27 field goal attempts, including a long of 49 yards, and converting all 45 of his extra-point attempts.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Ruggles was nearly automatic on kicks inside 40 yards, but struggled on some longer kicks, including going 0-for-3 on attempts of more than 50 yards.

Arguably, his most defining moment came when he kicked the game-winning field goal in a 20-17 home win against conference rival Duke University on Oct. 26. It was a just week removed from UNC head coach Mack Brown benching Ruggles, after he missed two overtime field goal attempts in a road loss to Virginia Tech.

While at Steinbrenner, Ruggles developed into one of the nation’s most coveted kicking prospects, ranked as the No. 9 kicker by 247sports.com and the No. 12 kicker by ESPN.com for the 2017 recruiting class.

Chris Faddoul
College: Florida A&M University, junior punter
High School: Wiregrass Ranch High (Wesley Chapel native)

Since he stepped foot on FAMU’s campus as a freshman in 2017, Faddoul’s leg has been put to good use.

Wiregrass Ranch High product Chris Faddoul (File)

A three-year starter, Faddoul again earned consecutive All-American honors after another banner season for a team that went 9-2 and undefeated in conference.

His average of 46 yards per punt ranked second in Division I FCS (Football Championship Series). The 5-foot-11, 210-pound specialist tallied 40 punts for 1,841 yards, with 19 punts placed inside the 20-yard line, 16 punts of 50 yards or longer, and only five touchbacks. He also registered a career-long punt of 72 yards in an Oct. 20 overtime win over nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T State.

At Wiregrass Ranch, Faddoul was something of an athletic unicorn, playing football, soccer, tennis, and also competing in track and field. His senior year on the gridiron, Faddoul guided the Bulls to a state playoff appearance in 2016, as the team’s starting quarterback, kicker and punter.

Michael Penix Jr.
College: Indiana University, redshirt freshman quarterback
High School: Tampa Bay Tech/Pasco High (Dade City native)

Dade City native Michael Penix Jr. (Courtesy of Indiana University Athletics)

The Dade City native got off to a roaring start as Indiana’s starting signal-caller in 2019, helping guide the Big Ten program to its best start since 1993, up until he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November that required surgery.

Indiana was 5-1 in games played by Penix, who completed 69% of his throws for 1,394 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, and tallied 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound lefty made history by becoming the first freshman quarterback to start an opener for the Hoosiers since Antwaan Randel El in 1998.

While Penix seemingly has a bright future ahead, injuries have become a concern. He also suffered a season-ending ACL injury in 2018 as a true freshman.

For his prep career, Penix played his first two seasons at Pasco High, then transferred to Tampa Bay Tech, finishing with 6,986 total yards and 76 touchdowns. He is something of a Pirates legacy, as his father was an All-State tailback/defensive back at Pasco High in the early ’90s; his uncle played there, too.

Donovan Jennings
College: University of South Florida, sophomore left tackle
High School: Gaither High (Tampa native)

Gaither High product Donovan Jennings (Courtesy of University of South Florida Athletics)

The 6-foot-5, 328-pound Jennings has established himself as a reliable and consistent protector for USF quarterbacks’ blindside, playing in a combined 22 games his freshman and sophomore seasons. He began the 2019 season at right guard, before moving to and finishing the season on the left side of the offensive line.

The Gaither High product this past season was USF’s highest-graded offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus (66.9), a website that focuses on thorough analysis of the National Football League and NCAA Division I football.

Jennings has been lauded by coaches for his pass protection skills and effectiveness in the run game, because of combination of quick feet, balance and strength. He often was tasked with blocking opponent’s top pass-rushers in one-on-one situations last season.

Jennings is actually a late bloomer to the gridiron, as he didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school because he exceeded the size limit for youth football leagues. He instead turned his attention to basketball, where he played four years on varsity at Gaither.

His future, however, was found in football.

He developed into an All-State player and a three-star prospect, earning scholarship offers from Central Florida, Virginia, Marshall, Old Dominion and Toledo universities.

Nate Craig-Myers
College: Colorado State University, redshirt junior wide receiver (Auburn transfer)
High School: Tampa Catholic/Pasco High (Dade City native)

Dade City native Nate Craig-Myers (Courtesy of University of Colorado Athletics)

After transferring from Auburn early in the 2018 season, the Dade City native and former blue chip prospect put together his most productive college season, becoming Colorado State’s fourth-leading receiver in 2019, hauling in 23 receptions for 329 yards and a touchdown, in nine games.

Before his transfer, Craig-Myers seemed like a star-in-the-making for the powerhouse SEC (Southeastern Conference) Alabama-based school.

He posted 16 catches for 285 yards and three touchdowns for Auburn’s 2017 squad that went 10-4 and reached the SEC Championship.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pound athlete was expected to break out for Auburn in 2018, but a lack of targets in the early going led him to seek opportunities elsewhere. His half-brother and former Pasco High standout, Jayvaughn Myers, also left the team around the same time.

Craig-Myers wasted no time making an impact with Colorado State this past year, making five catches for 88 yards in his first game against Toledo on Sept. 21. He followed that up with strong showings in his next two games against Utah State (three catches, 97 yards) and San Diego State (four catches, 68 yards, touchdown), respectively.

In the prep ranks, Craig-Myers spent two seasons with Pasco High before finishing his career at Tampa Catholic High. He was one of the nation’s most touted football recruits, a consensus four-star prospect with more than 40 scholarship offers, including from the likes of Ohio State, Florida and Florida State universities, among others.

Other notables

  • University of Miami redshirt senior defensive end Scott Patchan (IMG Academy/Freedom High) finished with a career-high 33 tackles, including six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, in 13 games and six starts.
  • Florida State University junior tight end Tre’ McKitty (IMG Academy/Wesley Chapel High) collected 23 receptions for 241 yards, in 11 games.
  • Samford University redshirt sophomore tailback Antwione Sims (Zephyrhills High) racked up 108 all-purpose yards, in 11 games.
  • Florida State University redshirt sophomore DeCalon Brooks (Gaither High) tallied 15 tackles, in 11 games.
  • Florida State University freshman defensive back Isaiah Bolden (Wesley Chapel High/Jacksonville Bartram Trail) collected eight tackles, two pass breakups and an interception, in 12 games.
  • Morehouse College freshman defensive back Cartrell Strong (Zephyrhills High) registered 15 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception, in eight games.
  • University of Cincinnati freshman safety Ja’quan Sheppard (Zephyrhills High) had five tackles, in four games.

Complacency kills: Get ready for Hurricane Season 2019

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Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced their 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season outlook on May 23.

They predicted nine to 15 named storms, including four to eight hurricanes – and, two to four that could become major hurricanes.

Hurricane Michael devastated communities in Florida’s Panhandle. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council)

That compares to Colorado State University’s hurricane research team’s forecast in April, which predicted 13 named storms, including five hurricanes and two which will become major hurricanes.

Remember: No matter what the experts predict — the bottom line is that it just takes one disaster to hit that is so destructive it will have devastating effects for years.

So, if you haven’t already done so, begin making your preparations now — and ramp them up, as the threat level increases.

Remember, as the old saying goes: “Better safe than sorry.”

To help you prepare for Hurricane Season 2019, we’ve put together some checklists. Look through them and use them to improve your personal preparations for the season, which officially begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

Before a hurricane, protect your property:

  • Keep your trees and shrubs trimmed.
  • Clear out clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Store outdoor furniture, windchimes, garbage cans, decorations, potted plants and other items that could become projectiles in high winds.
  • If you have a boat, determine how and where to secure it.
  • Cover windows with pre-cut plywood or hurricane shutters.
Pasco County didn’t feel the full fury of Hurricane Irma’s wrath, but some other communities were less fortunate. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council)

Protect yourself

  • Assemble an emergency kit: Be sure it has enough food and water to last at least three days.

It should include 1 gallon of water per day per person for drinking and sanitation.

It also should include nonperishable foods that are easy to store and prepare, including protein bars, dried fruit, canned pastas, soups, canned tuna, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, raisins, beef jerky. (Be sure to include a can opener in your kit.)

  • Don’t forget the baby formula and baby food.
  • Pack paper cups and plates, plastic utensils, too.

Safety and sanitation

  • Your safety kit should include filter masks to protect your mouth and nose
  • Medications
  • A first aid kit
  • A whistle to signal for help
  • A battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  • Moist towelettes for sanitation
  • Garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

Shelter

  • Have a sleeping bag for each family member.
  • Duct tape and heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting (for shelter-in-place)
  • A wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

Protect important family documents

  • Put valuable documents in a waterproof container and store it on a shelf, or take with you if you evacuate. Those documents should include bank account records, marriage certificates or divorce decrees, driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, titles, deeds, income tax information, trusts, wills and birth certificates.
Generators can keep things running when the power goes out, but be cautious when using them. If used improperly, they can kill. (Courtesy of The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute)

Prepare an emergency kit for your pet

  • Your kit should include: sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or a carrier; pet food, drinking water, bowls, cat litter, a litter pan; pet health records, current photos of your pets, in case they get lost; pet beds and toys.

Have a plan: Should you stay or should go?

  • Know your zone and be prepared to leave, if authorities tell you to do so. Particularly vulnerable areas include mobile homes, high-rise buildings, coastal areas, near rivers or inland waterways and land below sea level. No matter where you live, you should evacuate if you feel unsafe.
  • If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone, prepare an evacuation plan that includes transportation routes and destinations, and considers all family members and pets. Know which hotels and motels along your evacuation route accept pets. Ask if no-pet policies can be waived in an emergency.
  • If you plan to shelter in place, notify out-of-area contacts of your decision to stay. Be sure you have assembled your emergency kit and have a safe place to stay in your home.
  • If you are staying in place, fill up bathtubs or buckets with water to use for cleaning and toilet flushing.
  • Stay informed. Listen to an NOAA weather radio, or regularly check local forecasts and news reports.
  • Keep your vehicle’s gas tank three-quarters full at all times and have cash on hand.

During the storm

  • Close all interior doors. Secure and brace exterior doors. Take refuge in a small interior closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
  • Stay away from windows and glass doors.
  • Don’t be fooled by a lull in the storm. It could be the eye of the storm and the winds could resume.
It’s important to know if you live in an evacuation zone and, if you do, what route you will use if evacuation becomes necessary. Make a plan in advance. Can you stay with friends? Will you need a shelter that accepts pets? Do you have any special medical needs? (Courtesy of The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute)

After the hurricane passes

  • Stay aware of threats from flooding and tornadoes.
  • Do not drive into water when you can’t see the bottom of the road; avoid flooded areas.
  • Do not walk in standing water; it may contain contaminants, it might be deeper than it looks; it may have a strong undercurrent; or, it may be electrically charged with a downed wire.
  • Be careful about the foods you eat. If the power is out, your food may be spoiled.

If you have a cooler, be sure to have lots of ice and freezer packs to help foods stay cool longer.

  • Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning: Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, tents, garage, vehicle or fireplace. Do not use gas-powered generators indoors or in a garage.
  • If you’re using a generator, be sure to give it plenty of room for ventilation. Place it outside and away from windows, doors and vents to prevent poisonous carbon monoxide from coming indoors.

If you have damage

  • Call an agent.
  • Take photos of the damage.
  • Make emergency repairs to avoid more damage and keep receipts for tarps, lumber, etc.
  • Keep alert to potential scams.

Published May 29, 2019

Cypress Creek celebrates inaugural signing day

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Unlike just about every other high school in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, Cypress Creek Middle/High School last year didn’t have a National Signing Day event for student-athletes moving on to the college ranks.

That’s because, the then first-year school on Old Pasco Road had no seniors, as it pulled strictly underclassman from Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools.

Cypress Creek’s athletics department made up for lost time this year, however.

Cypress Creek Middle/High had its inaugural National Signing Day ceremony on Feb. 6. Seven athletes from four sports signed their National Letters of Intent to play college athletics at various institutions. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek athletics)

Dozens of students and friends, coaches, teachers and staff, and parents and family members gathered inside the school’s media center on Feb. 6 to celebrate the school’s inaugural signing day, as seven senior student-athletes representing four sports signed their National Letters of Intent (LOIs) to various institutions.

National Signing Day is held annually on the first Wednesday in February, a day where thousands of athletes nationwide can sign a binding letter of intent with a member school of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The school’s softball program yielded the most signees, with four — Payton Hudson (Pasco-Hernando State College), Jasmine Jackson (Savannah State University), Ashley Nickisher (Newberry College) and Neely Peterson (Colorado State University).

Baseball (Ray Camacho, Saint Leo University), football (Devin Santana, Lindenwood University-Belleville) and girls’ lacrosse (Jordan Alvis, Huntingdon College) had a signee apiece, respectively.

Among the group of seven, Peterson arguably represented the most notable signing.

The All-State catcher is one of the nation’s top softball players — ranked No. 63 on the Extra Innings Softball Extra Elite 100 national rankings for 2019.

Her stats underscore the national standing.

As a junior last season, Peterson posted a .544 batting average, seven home runs, 14 doubles, 27 runs and 43 RBIs. Defensively, she registered a .984 fielding percentage, with 57 putouts and five assists.

Peterson will set foot upon Colorado State’s campus in August as the Division I softball program’s first signee from the state of Florida.

She verbally committed back as a freshman — after being the first high school freshman offered a scholarship by a Colorado State athletic program.

Peterson boasted offers from several other blue-blood softball programs.

But, she fell in love with the Fort Collins, Colorado-based campus and the coaching staff’s family-like atmosphere at a softball camp there. Additionally, she has a chance to make her mark quickly, in line to be the team’s starting catcher next season.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” Peterson said, of finally signing the dotted line. “It feels great.

“I love making history, so it’s great to be able to do this for our school,” she added.

Peterson also expressed joy for her fellow softball teammates who signed alongside her; each was redistricted from Wesley Chapel following their sophomore seasons.

Said Peterson, “It’s really awesome, because just to see that everything they’ve worked for is  kind of paying off, just as much as it is for me, because I get to see them hustling and all the hard work they put on the field, so just to see them find their future home makes me feel good.”

The inaugural signees were each met with balloons and celebratory cake, along with countless cheers and photo requests during the hourlong event, as memorabilia from each choice institution was visible in the room brimming with onlookers.

“It’s great, like being around all these great athletes, just knowing I’m a part of that, of creating a culture of great athletes for this school,” Devin Santana, who will play wide receiver at Lindenwood, said of the ceremony.

Becoming Cypress Creek’s first college football signee has added significance for Santana, who transferred from Wesley Chapel after his sophomore season.

“It’s crazy, like it’s a great feeling,” he said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking, because there’s a lot of pressure on me, but like I feel like I have the tools around me to be successful.”

Cypress Creek athletic director Justin Peliccia coined the event “a good look for our program.”

“It’s amazing to be able to put on this ceremony for the athletes, their parents and their coaches,” the athletic director said. “Having seven athletes move on to the next level, it’s just an awesome experience for myself as the athletic director, and the program.”

Peliccia was particularly complimentary of the varsity softball program — and its four signees — which collectively posted a 15-9 record and 10-4 district mark last spring.

“It was great to see a program roll out the end of the year and kind of bring us into, ‘Look, we have opportunities, we have chances, we do have athletes here, and we can make some noise.’”

Peliccia acknowledged that although many of the school’s varsity sports programs struggled in the school’s first year, strides have been made this year. He mentioned boys’ and girls’ soccer, and football, as a few who’ve upped their win totals.

“All of our programs this year have taken a step up,” he said. “Everything has taken a step ahead, which is what we want. Everything needs to develop and grow.”

Cypress Creek National Signing Day

Baseball
Ray Camacho—Saint Leo University

Football
Devin Santana—Lindenwood University-Belleville (Belleville, Illinois)

Lacrosse
Jordan Alvis—Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Alabama)

Softball
Payton Hudson—Pasco-Hernando State College
Jasmine Jackson—Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia)
Ashley Nickisher—Newberry College (Newberry, South Carolina)
Neely Peterson—Colorado State University

Published February 13, 2019

Offense, cohesion carry Cypress Creek softball

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In east and central Pasco County, softball programs such as Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, and Sunlake have garnered much of the attention of late.

And, rightly so.

As of March 25, there’s just a single loss combined among the three schools—Sunlake suffered its lone loss to Land O’ Lakes on March 2— and each team ranks among the state’s top 20 or so softball programs.

But, there’s another local program on the rise — quickly proving itself as a force in the Tampa Bay region.

The Cypress Creek Middle High Coyotes sit at 9-4 overall and 6-2 in district play.

The team entered spring break on a four-game winning streak.

Instant success hasn’t come without adversity, however.

A first-year program with no seniors, the Coyotes were forced to play much of their pre-spring break schedule on the road because the team’s new softball field wasn’t game-ready until a week ago.

Team captains, left to right, Anna Margetis, Neely Peterson and Ashley Nickisher are all transfers from Wesley Chapel High School. The trio is no stranger to winning, helping guide the Wildcats to its first winning season and first playoff appearance in 2017.
(Courtesy of Gigante Productions)

Ongoing maintenance also prevented the upstart Coyotes from participating in fall practices together; instead many were forced to train with their respective travel squads up through January, until they were able to practice with Coyotes coaches.

The team also suffered an unexpected depth setback before the season began, forcing a freshman into action and reducing the varsity roster to just 10 regulars.

Outfielder Cassidy Middleton, a .308 hitter as a sophomore last season at Wesley Chapel High School, tore her ACL while playing on the Cypress Creek girls basketball team. She’s been replaced in the lineup by Emma Coon, who’s batting .381 through 46 plate appearances as the team’s lone freshman.

Challenges aside, Cypress Creek sits just a game back of Nature Coast Tech for second place in the District 7-5A standings; each are chasing division-leading Hernando High (10-2 overall, 8-0 districts).

First-year head coach Mike Peterson credited the group’s effort, teamwork, and perseverance for contributing to the team’s strong start.

“They’re working hard in practice, knowing it’s not where we start, it’s where we end. They’re all on the same page. There’s nothing but fight in the girls, which is nice,” Peterson said.

Despite its thin roster, Cypress Creek is heavy on talent.

Opponents facing them quickly discover that the Coyotes feature some of the hottest bats in the region.

The team is batting a combined .403 and averaging about 10 runs per game.

The most potent of the bunch is junior catcher Neely Peterson, the head coach’s daughter and one of the team’s many transfers from Wesley Chapel.

A Colorado State University commit, Peterson sports a whopping .636 average with four home runs, 10 doubles and 29 RBIs — all team highs. Her batting average is second in all of Pasco, trailing only River Ridge’s Hailey Smith (.708).

The standout catcher said she’s become more comfortable and relaxed at the plate, after batting .443 as a sophomore and .290 as a freshman, respectively.

Becoming more relaxed, at the plate
“As I grow older, the less pressure I put on myself the better that I’ll do, because I know that my freshman year, I was really tense to like, ‘I need to make a statement,’ but now I just let my play speak for me,” Neely Peterson said.

Other Coyotes batting over .400 include sophomore first baseman Anna Margetis (.485) and junior infielders Payton Hudson (.471) and Jasmine Jackson (.429).

Juniors Jordan Rosenberg (.382) and Ashley Nickisher (.333, two home runs) join Coon as players hitting above .300.

That menacing offensive skill has helped gain early, sizable leads in road games, putting stress on home teams by making them play catch-up the rest of the way.

Employing that score early-score often strategy, the team has come to embrace road games, Neely Peterson said.

“We almost didn’t like playing at home because when you’re on the road you get to hit first so we like putting up those runs, so we kind of got acclimated to playing on the road. But, we like playing here (at home), obviously,” Neely Peterson said.

A prime example came in a recent 16-0 road victory against Fivay High School. The Coyotes scored 10 runs in the first inning and six in the second to mercy rule the host Falcons in three innings.

“When you’re able to score the first runs in the first inning you get that confidence of, ‘Oh, we’ve got this,’ whereas, at home, you have to hold them first and then go,” Nickisher said.

“Playing games on the road, you really have to get your mind set because you’re going into their house. And, you want to show what you have,” Margetis said.

Cypress Creek’s pitching—somewhat of a question mark entering the season—has also proven resourceful.

Junior Avery Lee—a Wiregrass Ranch High transfer—has a 2.47 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched.

“We have a solid foundation. Avery’s come in and has given us solid innings, solid outings, worked on her mental toughness; she’s been terrific,” Mike Peterson said.

Sticking together is key to success
While the team prides itself on strong hitting and crafty pitching, the Coyotes head coach stressed improvements must be made on the defensive end in order to hang against better competition. The team has committed 23 errors this season.

“I have no doubt that we can hit with any team. It’s just we get a couple of mental lapses in the field that have hurt us in a couple of games. We clean that up, we’ll be fine,” Mike Peterson explained.

“I tell them, ‘There’s nothing you guys can’t accomplish if you stick together as a team, play as a team, ” he added.

With their cohesiveness and unwavering attitude, players are confident the team can make some noise come playoff time in late April.

Many know the feeling because they were members of last year’s Wesley Chapel varsity squad that experienced its first winning season and playoff appearance in program history. That team went 19-7 and advanced to the regional semifinals.

“We work together and we trust each other…and we’re just able to work together and have each other’s back,” Nickisher said, acknowledging she was initially upset to leave Wesley Chapel.

“Everyone on this team wants to help each other, no matter if we’re doing good or not,” she added.

“I think we’re having a lot of fun with it, and that’s a big part,” Neely Peterson said. “I think that our mindset really is to win and, if we don’t, we’ll make it difficult for the other team to beat us. I think we’re all really competitive in the sense that we really want to win. We’ve had some tough losses, but we know that we’re going to play them again — teams like Hernando and Nature Coast — so we get a second chance so that’s good.”

Margetis added: “These games—they matter—but when districts come around, I feel like we’ll dig deep and find out what we really have to do to beat the opponents.”

School pride also is at stake.

Other boys and girls sports programs at Cypress Creek have mainly struggled in their first year, but the softball team is bucking that trend.

“It’s just wanting to be the team…that everybody can look to and say, ‘Hey, they’re doing something right.’” Neely Peterson said.

Cypress Creek Coyotes varsity softball roster

  • Alexis Aponte, outfielder, sophomore
  • Emma Coon, outfielder, freshman
  • Payton Hudson, middle infielder junior
  • Jasmine Jackson, middle infielder, junior
  • Avery Lee, pitcher, junior
  • Anna Margetis, first baseman, sophomore
  • Cassidy Middleton, outfielder, junior
  • Paige Mulford, outfielder, junior
  • Ashley Nickisher, third baseman, junior
  • Neely Peterson, catcher, junior
  • Jordan Rosenberg, utility/pitcher, junior

 

District 7-5A Standings (as of March 25)
Team records

  • Hernando — (10-2 overall, 8-0 district)
  • Nature Coast Tech — (9-5 overall, 7-1 district)
  • Cypress Creek — (9-4 overall, 6-2 district)
  • Hudson — (6-7 overall, 2-3 district)
  • Gulf — (3-9 overall, 2-5 district)
  • Central — (2-9 overall, 2-6 district)
  • Fivay — (0-12 overall, 0-6 district
  • Ridgewood — (1-13 overall, 0-7 district)

Published March 28, 2018

New coach named for Wesley Chapel High softball

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The Wesley Chapel High School varsity softball program, coming off its best season in school history, will look to continue its recent string of success under new leadership.

Bill Hoopes, who runs the Tampa Bay-based Florida Firecrackers U16 travel softball team, was recently named head coach of Wesley Chapel High School’s varsity softball program. (Courtesy of Florida Firecrackers)

Bill Hoopes, who runs the Tampa Bay-based Florida Firecrackers U16 travel softball team, last month was named the program’s head coach, replacing first-year coach Steve Mumaw.

In a public Facebook post dated Sept. 21, Hoopes wrote:

“This is an amazing school with a strong program that I look forward to building up even more over the years to come.

“Could not be more excited for this chance and opportunity to continue to make an impact on the game I love and helping these young ladies chase and achieve their dreams…”

A well-known name in the travel ball scene, Hoopes, also a teacher at Chasco Middle School in Port Richey, this past season guided the U16 Florida Firecrackers to a No. 3 ranking in the state and No. 67 in the nation, according to U.S. Softball Club rankings. Additionally, several of Hoopes’ travel players have landed scholarships and committed to Division I softball programs, including River Ridge High’s Jessica Bryson (University of Louisiana-Monroe) and Teah Steel (Alabama State University), and Mitchell High’s Alex Hare (Alabama State University).

Mumaw, meanwhile, guided the historically struggling Wildcats program to surprising feats in his lone season as head coach.

The 2017 Wesley Chapel varsity softball team achieved the program’s first winning season, going 19-7, with a 7-3 mark in district play. (File)

In 2017, the Wildcats achieved its first winning season, going 19-7, with a 7-3 mark in district play, and an appearance in the Class 6A regional semifinals.

The breakout campaign also featured a nine-game winning streak, including a shutout regular season victory over Land O’ Lakes High — the eventual Class 6A state champions.

In an email to the The Laker/Lutz News, Mumaw explained he decided to step down as softball coach, citing logistical issues between teaching at one school —Centennial Middle School in Dade City — and organizing practices at another — Wesley Chapel High.

Until Mumaw took over, the Wildcats softball program, which started in 2007, experienced years of futility, due to coaching instability and a dearth of talent.

In the program’s first five years, the Wildcats went 1-15, 2-20, 2-21, 1-22 and 2-21. Ensuing years were likewise taxing, as the program went 5-14, 0-24, 2-22 and 7-17.

Mumaw, also a former athletic director and baseball coach at Wesley Chapel High, credited the team’s rapid turnaround last season on its young, talented nucleus.

“It’s all the girls. When you have talent, it’s tough to mess that up,” Mumaw told The Laker/Lutz News in April.

Outside of one senior, the 2017 roster exclusively featured a collection of promising freshman and sophomores.

In addition to then-freshman ace pitcher/University of Central Florida commit Jordan Almasy (2.59 ERA, 130 strikeouts in 116.1 innings), the 2017 squad consisted of eight .300-or-better hitters.

Though many of those impact players are expected to return, some, however, have been redistricted to Cypress Creek Middle-High, which will force the new coaching staff to find added depth elsewhere.

One of those players certainly missed is catcher/Colorado State University commit Neely Peterson, arguably the Wildcats’ top all-around hitter last season.

Peterson, now a junior at Cypress Creek, paced the team in batting average (.443) on-base percentage (.566) and slugging percentage (1.207), and tied for the team lead in home runs (three) and RBIs (20).

Besides weathering key personnel losses, the new-look Wildcats have the ever-difficult task of again competing in District 7-6A, made up of perennial powerhouses Land O’ Lakes, coached by Mitch Wilkins, and River Ridge, coached by Kurt Goluba.

And, both programs are expected to compete at a high level again this season, with relatively minimal turnover.

Land O’ Lakes graduated four seniors — outfielder Jessie McCallister (.358 batting average), outfielder Lexi Turner (.293), outfielder/third baseman Justine Daniels (.280) and outfielder Maddie Burgett (.250) — while River Ridge graduated just one — catcher Brooke Vescey (.381).

The new Wildcats coaching staff will have an information meeting on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the school’s media center, for anyone interested in spring softball.

Most of the Wildcats’ 2018 schedule has been set:

Feb. 13: at Academy at the Lakes

Feb. 16: Sunlake High School

Feb. 20: at Land O’ Lakes High School

Feb. 22 River Ridge High School

Feb. 27: at Pasco High School

March 1: Zephyrhills High School

March 5: Mitchell High School

March 6: Anclote High School

March 8: Land O’ Lakes High School

March 13: at River Ridge High School

March 15: Pasco High School

March 20: at Zephyrhills High School

March 23: Palm Harbor Spring Break Tournament

March 24: Palm Harbor Spring Break Tournament

March 27: Anclote High School

March 28: York High School (Retsof, New York)

April 3: Academy at the Lakes

April 10: Wiregrass Ranch High School

2017 District 7-6A standings

  • Land O’ Lakes High (9-2; 29-3 overall)
  • River Ridge High (8-2; 16-9 overall)
  • Wesley Chapel High (7-3; 19-7 overall)
  • Pasco High (4-7; 7-11 overall)
  • Zephyrhills High (3-7; 6-15 overall)
  • Anclote High (0-19; 0-19 overall)

—Stats and information compiled using Maxpreps.com—

Published Oct. 4, 2017

Wesley Chapel softball on the rise

By

The Wesley Chapel High varsity softball program has never experienced a winning season — until now.

Years of futility were dotted by coaching instability and a dearth of talent, since the program began in 2007.
In the program’s first five years, the Wildcats went 1-15, 2-20, 2-21, 1-22 and 2-21. Ensuing years were likewise taxing, as the team went 5-14, 0-24, 2-22 and 7-17.

This season, however, is unlike any other.
The Wildcats — 13-5 overall, 7-3 district — are in the midst of a complete 180, under new head coach Steve Mumaw, and an influx of young standouts.
Besides one senior, the varsity squad consists entirely of freshman and sophomores.
While chockfull of underclassman, the newfound group has proven it can compete — and defeat — any opponent in District 7-6A.
That includes Land O’ Lakes (19-3) and River Ridge (13-5), two of the toughest teams in the Tampa Bay area.
Now enjoying a four-game winning streak, the Wildcats are arguably playing their best softball yet.
“It’s all the girls. When you have talent, it’s tough to mess that up,” said Mumaw, a former baseball coach and athletic director at the school.

And, the roster — top to bottom — is loaded with it.
Seven hitters in the regular lineup are batting .333 or better.
That includes sophomore catcher Neely Peterson, who’s pacing the team with a .459 average and .630 on-base percentage.

The Wesley Chapel varsity softball team is experiencing its first winning season in program history.
(Courtesy of Gigante Productions)

“I think we’re looking pretty good right now,” said Peterson, a verbal commit to Colorado State. “It’s very different than what it was in the past.”
The pitching staff, led by freshman ace Jordan Almasy (2.62 ERA, 90 strikeouts in 77.1 innings), has also proven vital to the program’s budding success.
“We’re just going to keep making progress,” said Almasy, a verbal commit to the University of Central Florida.
“We all pick each other up — it’s a team effort,” added sophomore third baseman Ashley Nickisher.

The team’s lone senior is Dana Mumaw, the daughter of Steve Mumaw.
She’s witnessed firsthand the program’s struggles in prior years. “It was tough,” she said, bluntly.
Yet seeing the team “come together” this season has been a memorable experience, in what has otherwise been a turbulent softball career at Wesley Chapel.
“I think from the first day on, we’ve developed and gotten better, especially with a bunch of new players,” Dana Mumaw explained. “I knew we were going to be pretty good, but I didn’t know if we were going to be this good.”
Being coached by her father has proven rewarding, too.
“I love having my dad as the coach,” she said. “It’s really great…and I learn so much from him.”
With four regular season games remaining, the attention soon will focus squarely on the district tournament, beginning the week of April 24. Should the Wildcats win or finish runner-up, they’d be making their first-ever appearance at regionals.
It would be a significant feat, considering the program had never even won a district tournament game until 2016, when they upset Pasco High.
“Our goal is to advance out of districts,” Steve Mumaw said, “and see what happens.”
“We’ve got something pretty special going on here,” he added.

Published April 12, 2017