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FHSAA

Local sprinter has big dreams

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By the time Evan Miller graduated from Zephyrhills Christian Academy (ZCA), he was already among Florida’s fastest sprinters, laying claim to three state titles.

During his senior year he won the Class 1A crown 100-meter dash (10.75) at the 2018 FHSAA State Track & Field Championships. He also was a member of the school’s medalist 4×100 relay team that won back-to-back state crowns in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

The Zephyrhills native has made plenty of strides since, now morphing into one of the nation’s top college sprinters as a rising junior at NCAAA Division I University of South Carolina track and field program.

His present bests thus far are 10.39-second 100-meter dash, 20.93 200-meter dash, and 6.73 60-meter dash.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy graduate Evan Miller is now one of the nation’s top collegiate sprinters at the NCAA Division I University of South Carolina. The rising junior mainly competes in the 60-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter races. He aspires to run professionally and qualify for the Olympics. (Courtesy of University of South Carolina athletics department)

To put that in context, Miller’s 200-meter personal record was the 26th fastest-time recorded in the 2019-2020 NCAA Division I men’s indoor track ranks. Moreover, it’s the sixth-fastest time in South Carolina program history.

After finishing 19th in the 200 meters at the 2020 SEC (Southeastern Conference) Indoor Championships in late February, the sprinter was poised for a promising outdoor track season.

Then COVID-19 happened, cutting short the remainder of his sophomore campaign.

“It was really disappointing, because the 200 (meter), I was actually decreasing my time like every meet,” Miller said. “I was ready to run outdoor and try to make it to nationals in one of my events…so there were just a lot of plans for the outdoor season that we didn’t get to do, unfortunately, so it was tough.”

Since the spring college athletics season was canceled — and classes headed virtual — Miller has been keeping in shape in his hometown, linking up with his private track coach Bernard “BB” Roberts, who runs the Wesley Chapel-based Speed Starz Track/Running Club.

The two have been training together since March, regularly practicing two-a-days in the mornings and evenings.

With parks closed throughout much of the pandemic, Miller was relegated to working out on grass fields until Roberts was able to get permission to use Wiregrass Ranch High School’s track and field complex a few weeks ago.

However and wherever Miller trains, Roberts sees this time as a prime opportunity to improve, estimating most college track athletes are simply taking this summer off.

Roberts explained, “I basically talk him into it, ‘Hey, keep going. We have our goals in place. Don’t let this pandemic that we’re going through right now mess you up. Use this time to your advantage. Use the time to get better. Let’s get ahead of the game, keep training.’”

Fine-tuning his form
Together, they’ve been working on such details as block starts, posture, arm swing action, and relaxation techniques.

“A lot of stuff goes into speed, working faster,” said Roberts, a former college sprinter who claimed multiple track records from his time at Wesley Chapel High School in the early 2000s. “The average person thinks you just take off from ‘Point A’ to the finish line, and it doesn’t work like that at all. There’s a lot of strategy and lots of technique that’s never-ending.”

Wesley Chapel-based athletic trainer Bernard ‘BB’ Roberts has organized workouts for Evan Miller locally since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. (File)

Besides his burgeoning college career, Miller is thinking bigger picture.

He hopes to run professionally someday, traveling the world competing against other elite athletes.

The local track star looks to be on the right path. He recently was extended an invitation to register as a potential participant for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, which has tentatively been moved to 2021.

To qualify for the U.S. Olympics Team Trials, rescheduled to June 2021, Miller has to reach certain benchmarks in whichever events he chooses to run. For instance, he may need to run 10 seconds flat in the 100-meter dash or a 20.3 200-meter dash.

With additional time on his side, being on the U.S. Olympics Team’s radar has given him extra motivation to live out his dream.

“I definitely want to compete in the Olympics,” Miller said. “(The invitation) gave me a lot of hope, gave me a lot of confidence, seeing that all my work’s paying off. I was really excited to get that email. It just made me want to work harder and practice my craft more, and get better until then.”

His private coach has no doubt Miller has the talent to achieve those goals.

“He definitely has the potential to be an Olympian,” Roberts said, confidently.

Aside from having an ideal body frame, stride length and athleticism, Miller’s greatest quality might be his willingness and dedication to learn, Roberts said.

“He definitely has the work ethic,” the coach said. “He has an open mind to receive or take criticism. I’m hard on him for a reason, and he’s willing to take that and use it as motivation, which is what I like about him.”

Miller got a taste of what it takes to become a world-class sprinter during the July Fourth weekend.

Competing at the V12 Athletics Summer Games in Alachua, Miller raced alongside world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Steven Gardiner (Bahamas), Asa Guevara (Trinidad and Tobago) and Quantaveon Poole (United States) in the 300-meter dash. Miller placed fourth among the group, clocking 35.44 seconds. Gardiner won the race in 31.83 — setting a new Bahamian national record in the process.

It marked Miller’s first time lacing up spikes and competing in an official race since the SEC Indoor Championships. It also served as a barometer of where he stands in comparison to some  top-ranked pros.

“It was pretty cool, to have an opportunity to race them and compete with them,” said Miller. “It felt really good to be able to run again, and be able to compete again against other runners.”
Meanwhile, Miller is looking forward to heading back up to Columbia, South Carolina, by summer’s end, where he can rejoin his Gamecock teammates and have access to the athletic program’s nutritionist, rehabilitation and training resources. He’s also poised to add to his family’s legacy at South Carolina. His father, Selvesta, played football at South Carolina from 1994 to 1997 and later spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

“It’s been a good experience for me,” Miller said of his college career thus far. “It’s just like crazy to think that I turned out at South Carolina from ZCA. It was just one of those dream schools to go to because my dad played there and everything, so it’s just great to see that I’m doing things like this.”

Published July 22, 2020

Local javelin standout ready for bigger stage

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New Tampa resident Zach Godbold was poised to conclude his high school athletic career on top of a winner’s podium.

At Wharton High School, Godbold had wrapped up his final varsity football and soccer seasons in the fall and winter, respectively.

His attention then turned to track and field.

He envisioned hoisting up the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)’s first state-sanctioned title in the javelin throw, in the modern era.

Wharton High’s Zach Godbold had eyes set on winning the first official state javelin title in the modern era, until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of spring sports. (Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

After all, in 2019 Godbold won the FHSAA’s exhibition state title in javelin — as part of a provisional period for the track and field offering.

He picked up right where he left off this spring.

Godbold was ranked No. 1 in the state with a rubber-tip javelin throw of 55.15 meters. The mark was well ahead of the state’s No. 2 thrower, Pompano Beach Highlands Christian Academy junior Nick Veynovich, who had a personal best of 49.36 meters.

Then COVID-19 happened — wiping out the remainder of the Florida high school sports season in early March.

And, just like that, Godbold’s shot at making history vanished. His status as the de facto favorite to become the first officially recognized javelin state champion since 1950 was erased.

The FHSAA discontinued the javelin in 1950, due to safety concerns. It brought it back with some new procedures, such as using a rubber tip instead of a steel tip seen in college and Olympic-level competitions.

“It being my senior year and my first official chance, it was obviously disappointing,” Godbold said, in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

He felt for his fellow teammates and other athletes, too.

“I lost my season, but so did every other spring sport for every level, so everyone’s in the same boat,” Godbold said.

But, time has healed his wounds.

He missed out on a would-be historic state crown, but he has since shifted focus to his next challenge — competing on the University of Florida men’s track and field team.

He signed a college athletic scholarship, in May, to attend UF.

So, a missed opportunity that was completely out of Godbold’s control has become motivational factor for his burgeoning college career.

He has lofty expectations for his freshman season at Florida.

He’s aiming for a steel-tip javelin throw of at least 70 meters; his current top mark in the steel-tip throw is 60.38 meters.

As he prepares to move to Gainesville, the athlete has been keeping sharp through gym workouts and javelin throws, which he makes multiple times each week at Hunter’s Green Community Park in New Tampa.

“I’m hoping to come out and improve my personal best so much that no one sees it coming,” Godbold said. “I’m kind of eager to get out there and show what I can do after improving for a whole year.”

Wharton High track and field coach Kyle LoJacono sympathizes with Godbold’s missed opportunity to claim a historic achievement.

New Tampa resident Zach Godbold has signed with University of Florida men’s track and field, where he’ll compete in the javelin throw. Godbold recently graduated from Wharton High School.

“My heart went out to the kid because of how much he’s done, he wanted to get that state championship,” LoJacono said.

Right up until the final meet of the season on March 7, Godbold went the extra mile both in training and at meets, the coach said.

LoJacono said the athlete lifted weights early in the morning and practiced track in the afternoon, while also juggling what was left of his soccer season.

“You would think that somebody’s who’s No. 1 might get a little bit complacent, but this year there was really none of that…because he really did everything as far as that strength and conditioning side,” LoJacono said.

His attitude, the coach said, was: “How can I make myself better?”

While Godbold’s senior season ended abruptly, LoJacono is eager to see Godbold’s potential for growth, as he heads to a Division I national powerhouse that’s claimed nine combined NCAA titles and 11 SEC crowns since 2009.

Said LoJacono: “It really is going to be special to see what he can do over the next four years.”

Javelin creates more opportunities
As Godbold heads off to new challenges, LoJacono is looking forward to the competitive growth of the javelin throw among the Florida high school ranks.

This season, the coach observed an uptick in participants in both local and county meets among boys and girls, compared to when it was a provisional, unscored offering the past couple years. “I’ve seen a lot more people do it. It’s already taken off in a positive way,” he said.

The discipline essentially requires an athlete to throw a spear for distance, and gaining momentum by running within a predetermined area.

In boys competition, the spear weighs 800 grams and has a length of 260 centimeters to 270 centimeters. In girls competition, it’s 600 grams and 220 centimeters to 230 centimeters long.

Mastering javelin requires a combination of sprint speed, strength, explosiveness, athleticism, and technique from the legs all way up to the throwing motion, LoJacono said. “It’s that whole kinetic chain.”

The recent reintroduction of javelin by the FHSAA ultimately could lead to more track and field scholarships for Florida high schoolers.

LoJacono explained those scholarships — namely at Florida colleges and universities — have been going to athletes from other states that offered javelin as a sanctioned high school event.

Bringing javelin back into the fold was forward-thinking on the FHSAA’s part, LoJacono said, because, “there was this whole talent base of kids who were not being served.”

Godbold is a prime example of that, as he first achieved statewide and national recognition in javelin on the AAU circuit as a teen.

Now that it’s a state-sanctioned event, Godbold, too, envisions a wave of youth and high school athletes who may discover an otherwise hidden gift.

“With (javelin) being in meets, and teams caring about points and trying to win meets, they would test out people in practice and throw people out there, so I think coming up in Florida, there’s going to be a lot more good javelin throwers than there have been,” Godbold said.

And, the greater exposure to javelin may create new opportunities, he added.

“I think there’s a lot of people who are playing other sports, maybe they’re a baseball pitcher or something, who have the talent to be able to go Division I in track and field,” Godbold said.

Published June 24, 2020

Cypress Creek receives FHSAA sportsmanship award

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The Cypress Creek High School athletics department has made numerous strides in on-field performance since the school first opened in 2017.

But, it’s the way the school’s student-athletes, coaches and fans conduct themselves before and after athletic events that has garnered statewide attention.

Cypress Creek earned the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award for Class 4A for the 2019-2020 school year. In total, 14 high schools and two middle schools received the notable honor on June 4. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek athletics department)

Cypress Creek earned the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award for Class 4A for the 2019-2020 school year. In total, 14 high schools and two middle schools received the notable honor on June 4.

As part of the award, the Wesley Chapel-based school will receive a commemorative plaque and a $2,500 check, to go toward ongoing athletic department funding.

Cypress Creek, also known as the Coyotes, originally was nominated for the award because the school had not received any disciplinary actions or ejections among all athletes and coaches; the school also was required to submit information to the FHSAA outlining the athletic department’s overall philosophy and how it fosters good sportsmanship among all participants.

Cypress Creek athletic director Justin Pelliccia labeled the honor as “something we’re definitely very proud of” and “great publicity for Pasco County as a whole.”

“It’s definitely a huge honor for all of us, all of our coaches, all the countless hours that they’ve put in and dedication that they’ve put into their programs,” said Pelliccia, who’s served as athletic director since 2018.

“Sportsmanship is always key,” he said, noting if kids are respectful and they buy in and they are respectful to the coach and to other teams, it contributes to success.

The statewide award has been presented annually since 1991. It is named in honor of FHSAA Commissioner Emeritus Fred E. Rozelle.

This is the first time since 2014 that a school in The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area has received the distinction. Land O’ Lakes-based Rushe Middle School received the honor in 2014 and Sunlake High School received it for the 2012-2013 school year.

Cypress Creek athletic director Justin Pelliccia (Courtesy of Justin Pelliccia)

Cypress Creek principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles is elated the school received the prestigious designation.

“I am absolutely thrilled about our students, fan base, and coaches being recognized with this award,” she wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

“This is truly an honor! This honor is a testament to the dedication of our coaches, community & students and their commitment to our H.O.W.L. mission, which is to Have a growth mindset, Own their education, Work as a Community, and to Lead responsibly. I am proud of our entire Coyote Nation for being honored with this award!”

When it comes to promoting good sportsmanship, the Cypress Creek athletics department takes a multi-faceted approach.

Student-athletes, for instance, are advised to keep a positive outlook on social media sites, and partake in various community service and fundraisers, such as pancake breakfasts and car washes.

In general, the school’s athletes are “very respectful” to opposing teams before and after competitions, Pelliccia said.

Also, Coyotes coaches “go above and beyond” in the name of setting a good example, Pelliccia said. As an example, he said many coaches make it a point to recognize rival schools’ student-athletes — in addition to their own —  during Senior Night ceremonies.

Moreover, the school is revered for its active spirit group — student fans who attend countless sporting events each year, both home and away.

The athletic director explained school administration outlines guidelines, ideas and expectations for appropriate student section behavior.

“I know you can go to some schools and their student sections are crazy and ruthless, so we’ve kind of taken the step to make sure that sportsmanship is their focus. We’ve had meetings with them, we go through kind of things they can use while they’re at the games, and they were great this year,” Pelliccia said.

The Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award honors schools whose athletic teams demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship during the regular season and the FHSAA State Series. The award is presented to one school in each classification whose entire sports program best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship as demonstrated by its coaches, players and spectators. (File)

Meanwhile, Cypress Creek athletics as a whole has come a long way since its inaugural year — when softball was then the only program to achieve a winning campaign.

Pelliccia acknowledged it was initially difficult for the upstart school to field competitive athletics teams. It also proved challenging for students rezoned from rival high schools — Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch — to gel.

Pelliccia observed: “All these kids came from different schools, so getting them to be a cohesive unit in Year One was our struggle; they were still all sort of enemies at that point.”

However, as the school embarks on its fourth year in existence, triumphs have begun to show.

Besides the sportsmanship designation, the Coyotes had a banner year in terms of on-field success.

The school’s football team made its first playoff appearance; the boys soccer and girls weightlifting teams were district champions; and, boys cross-country and girls weightlifting were district runner-up, among other notable benchmarks.

“The kids are taking pride in their athletic teams, and the success is coming and definitely showing,” Pelliccia said.

The athletic director himself has picked up some individual recognition, while serving as the school’s varsity boys soccer coach. Pelliccia was named Sunshine Athletic Conference East Boys Soccer Coach of the Year, after guiding the program to an 11-6 mark and a Class 4A regional semifinals appearance this past year.

Published June 10, 2020

Cancellation of spring sports leaves many dejected

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There was at least a glimmer of hope the 2020 Florida high school spring sports season would resume, even amid concerns about coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

But, optimism vanished when the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) on April 20 announced it would cancel all FHSAA-affiliated events.

The cancellations include the state series and championships events, for spring sports.

Due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) on April 20 announced it would cancel all FHSAA-affiliated events, including the state series and championships events, for spring sports. (File)

The statewide sports organization also announced no additional eligibility will be granted for spring sport athletes, including seniors, “under the guidance of the Florida Department of Education regarding grade level retention, and upon review of Florida Statutes and FHSAA Bylaws.”

And, just like that, high school senior athletic careers have come to an end.

It happened months sooner than expected, with no clue for athletes that a game, match or meet around mid-March would officially be their last.

The reality has left many local senior athletes feeling dejected, including Sunlake High’s Gianna Levy.

“It was really hard on me,” said Levy. “I cried. To be honest, I cried a lot.”

The prep track and field season offered Levy a final chance to boost her stats and times, to get on the radar of NCAA Division I college programs, as a heptathlete. She’s still holding out hope of being able to compete on the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) circuit this summer to get those college looks, but even that’s no guarantee.

“It definitely is really taking a really big toll on me,” Levy said. “This was a lot of people’s out ticket (to college) and now we don’t have that out ticket.”

Levy was only able participate in a couple track events before the varsity season came to a screeching halt. She was nursing a hip injury, which arose in February after she won a state title in girls weightlifting.

Though she’d already been a three-time state track and field qualifier and holds the school’s 400-meter dash record, Levy was dogged to put forth a banner senior campaign. “I just had so many goals in mind,” she said.

Other seniors had similar ambitions for their high school swan song.

Land O’ Lakes High senior Courtney Piltaver is a two-time Sunshine Athletic Conference East Girls Tennis Player of the Year. She was poised again to shine in her final high school tennis season, coming off a district title and state finalist.

From left: Wiregrass Ranch High softball seniors Kailey Riddlesworth, Cassidy Eason, Lexi Gaiefsky and Loryn Finn. These athletes only played nine games of a 27-game regular season schedule, due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy of Tyler Finn)

“I was pretty upset because it was my senior year, and it really sucks that I didn’t get to enjoy the full season with my team and my coaches, and kind of just close out,” said Piltaver, who’s signed with NCAA Division II University of Montevallo in Alabama.

The tennis standout added that not having the typical ceremonial senior night celebration, “was kind of heartbreaking, because that was something I was really looking forward to since my freshman year.”

Senior infielder Loryn Finn was in the midst of her best hitting season on the Wiregrass Ranch High softball team, sporting a .360/.467/.440 slash line through nine games.

The team captain also was chasing the 100 career hit milestone — a possibility with 18 regular season games remaining on the schedule, until athletics activities were scrapped.

Finn won’t be playing college ball. She hasn’t quite come to grips that a March 11 loss to Wesley Chapel High is perhaps the final time she’ll pick up a bat, ball and glove competitively.

“It’s definitely hard. I’m kind of in shock,” Finn said, bluntly.

Aside from game action, Finn still longs for those last few “bus rides to games, and just jamming to music with players and teammates.”

With a tinge of despair in her voice, Finn labeled her four-year softball experience as “just always been fun.”

Wiregrass Ranch assistant softball coach Tyler Finn feels for his senior daughter and the many other players on the team: “It’s really just not the seniors, it’s freshmen, it’s everybody. It’s tough on them, too. It affects every player, all of them; their season was cut short.”

He also observed his daughter’s high school athletics career coming to an abrupt halt.

Besides softball, Finn was a three-time All-Conference golfer: “She’s gotten to the point where she just wants to get into college and get the education going. She had a really good high school softball career and golf career. …She’s going to miss those kids that she played with since she was little — that’s the hard part.”

Though the traditional season is done, the assistant coach is looking for some way to hold a final showcase in the summer that would bring together various senior high school softball players countywide, assuming restrictions on parks and gatherings are lifted.

“The kids deserve it,” he said.

‘I knew it was coming’
Back on March 31, the FHSAA issued a statement that left open the possibility of a spring sports season, saying they could run from as soon as May 3 through June 30.

The FHSAA also had indicated if a spring sports season is canceled altogether, it was working on a solution to create additional athletics eligibility for students who were unable to participate.

FHSAA-sanctioned spring sports include baseball, flag football, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track & field, boys volleyball, water polo and boys weightlifting.

However, as days and weeks pressed on, many saw the writing on the wall that spring sports would not return this year, due to the pandemic.

Sunlake High senior track and field standout Gianna Levy was looking to get on the radar of Division I college athletics programs before the spring season was cut short. (Courtesy of Gianna Levy)

“I knew it was coming. I didn’t want to admit it to myself, I didn’t want to accept it, but I knew it was coming,” said Academy at the Lakes (AATL) varsity baseball coach Ken Akins.

“Once the FHSAA said, ‘OK, we’re thinking about extending it into summer and deep into June,’ there was a little bit of hope there, but once you get into June you start messing with all the travel sports — baseball and softball are huge in the summertime.”

Academy at the Lakes athletic director Tom Haslam offered a similar take on the FHSAA’s decision: “We kind of knew this was coming, but we hated to hear the actual directive.”

He added: “It’s understandable, they have to do it, so we don’t disagree with it, we expected it.”

The directive came at a time when multiple AATL programs were hitting their stride.

The AATL baseball team was on its best start in program history, already matching its win total from 2019  —  thanks to contributions from four seniors.

The school’s boys tennis team, meanwhile, was expected to contend for a state championship, like the prior season.

Of course, the FHSAA’s salvo wiped out the Land O’ Lakes-based private school’s softball, track and field, and boys weightlifting teams.

All told, there were 17 seniors among those five teams.

“It affects everybody’s season,” Haslam said, “but the seniors, you really feel for it.”

He added, “It’s not just athletic seniors, but seniors in anything. You’re talking about proms and special events that just aren’t going to happen. It’s just sad. Sad’s the best word I have for it.”

Though much attention has been brought to how this year’s seniors are affected, and rightly so, the longtime athletic director also believes the canceled spring season could have major ripple effects for juniors looking to get recruited by various college programs.

Haslam put it like this: “It hurts a lot of the juniors, because not only are they putting stats on paper, but they’re also missing workout time, and it’s going to be hard to develop their skills as normal, because they can’t get in the cages and gyms, and there’s no spring ball, and there may not even be travel ball in the summer.

“It’s pretty far-reaching, so it doesn’t just affect seniors on that level. You can’t even go out in a park and shoot hoops,” he said.

Published April 29, 2020

Coronavirus cancels many sports events

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As fears regarding coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) continue to ramp up, so do cancellations on the sports landscape — nationally, regionally and locally.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) announced there have been no final decisions concerning state series or state championship events. Furthermore, spring sport rankings will not be released until further notice. (File)

The unexpected cancellations began on March 10 when The Ivy League, a Division I collegiate athletic conference comprised of private schools in the Northeast, announced the cancellation of its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, and it said it would limit the number of spectators that can attend spring sports — as a direct response to accelerated coronavirus cases across the country.

In short order, many other sports organizations — professional, collegiate, amateur, recreational and youth — followed suit by postponing or canceling events during ensuing days.

The NBA and the NHL League suspended their seasons indefinitely. The MLB canceled spring training games and pushed back the start of the 2020 regular season.

Even WWE’s WrestleMania 36 — scheduled for April 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa — has been moved to a “fanless” venue at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

Meanwhile, the NCAA on March 12 canceled Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments (more widely known as March Madness), as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, in light of ever-evolving news regarding the public health threat of COVID-19.

In a similar move, the NJCAA (National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association) on March 16 canceled all upcoming basketball championships, as well as spring competition, effective immediately.

The NCAA and NJCAA decisions means that Saint Leo University (Division II NCAA) and Pasco-Hernando State College (Division II NJCAA) have canceled the remainder of the spring season, as well as all activities for all fall, winter and spring sports until further notice.

The Saint Leo athletic department, in a release, said: “The health, safety and welfare of all of our staff and student-athletes is paramount. Taking these precautions now will help keep our student-athletes healthy so they can successfully complete their academic coursework and resume competition in Fall 2020.”

In accordance with the NCAA, Saint Leo University has canceled the remainder of the spring sports season, affecting such sports as softball. Meanwhile, all activities for all fall, winter and spring sports have been suspended until further notice. (File)

Postponements and cancellations also have affected high school sports.

All athletics activities at Hillsborough and Pasco county public schools are canceled until at least April 15, as part of a statewide directive from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Academy at the Lakes has canceled all sporting events, including games and practices, through at least March 29. Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School also has canceled athletic practices, games and non-school functions until at least April 15.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) also announced there have been no final decisions concerning state series or state championship events. Furthermore, spring sport rankings will not be released until further notice.

“As we receive information from state authorities and health departments, the FHSAA will continue to make decisions for each sport individually, moving forward,” the statewide athletics organization said, in a release.

Many local youth and adult sports leagues have postponed or canceled their spring seasons, too.

Pasco County Parks announced all events, activities, youth and adult sports leagues, field reservations and so on have been canceled until at least May 1.

County parks will continue to remain open for day-use only, however recreation complexes and community centers remain closed until further notice. That includes the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, Heritage Park Community Center, James Irvin Community Center, Odessa Community Center, among others.

Likewise, Hillsborough County recreation centers are closed and athletic activities have been canceled until at least April 13, but Hillsborough County parks are open.

Meantime, large sports leagues put on by local churches also have been postponed or shuttered.

Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz has canceled the entire spring season for youth baseball, youth softball and men’s softball. Pending developments with the coronavirus, the church plans to ramp up sports registration on July 1 for its fall youth soccer and adult coed soccer leagues.

Grace Family Church, which has campuses in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, has postponed its basketball, kickball and softball leagues, until further notice.

Published March 25, 2020

Sunlake girls weightlifting state champs — again

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Since taking its first-ever state title last year, Sunlake High School’s varsity girls weightlifting had a newfound target on their back — as hungry competition looked to dethrone the team all season long.

Some opponents went so far to say it to their face.

The Sunlake High School varsity girls weightlifting team are back-to-back state champs. After winning the program’s first state title last year, the Seahawks again took gold at the 2020 FHSAA State Weightlifting Championships in Panama City Beach. (Courtesy of Denise Garcia)

“We knew there were going to be people trying to take the title and trying to overcome us in general,” Sunlake senior Antoinette Farmer said. “We even had people straight up telling us, saying they were going to beat us.”

Apparently, their foes spoke too soon — as Sunlake again won the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A State Weightlifting Championships in Panama City Beach last month.

Along the way, the Sunlake team took district and regional crowns, too.

The Seahawks tallied 28 points to edge second-place finisher Navarre High School (26) and third place Winter Springs High School (24) — to become back-to-back state champions.

The program also experienced another milestone — with two weightlifters earning individual state titles in the same year: Seniors Gianna Levy (139 pounds) and Juliette Pacheco (169 pounds) took first place in their respective weight classes. Pacheco set a state record 225-pound bench press in her weight class.

All told, five of Sunlake’s seven state lifters earned points with top-six finishes in the bench press and clean-and-jerk aggregate lifts.

  • Madison Guincho, junior — second place, 119-pound (180-160 — 340)
  • Gianna Levy, senior — first place, 139-pound (175-180 — 355)
  • Juliette Pacheco, senior—first place, 169-pound (225-185 — 410)
  • Brianna Caban, senior — third place, 183-pound (200-170—370)
  • Antoinette Farmer, senior—second place, 199-pound (210-190 — 400)

“We were ready for the challenge,” Farmer said of winning states again.

She said she and her teammates fed off the “good competition energy” sent their way throughout the 2019-2020 campaign.

Pacheco concurred: “We all just have a really competitive mindset, and when we hear that people are saying they’re going to beat us… it just motivates us more.”

Pacheco also credits the team’s overall success to the myriad multi-sport athletes on the team’s weightlifting roster. Many have participated in cheerleading, softball, swimming, and track and field, among other sports.

There are many “all-around athletes,” Pacheco said, noting “we all have really high goals for every aspect of our lives, and we all just put it together and do what has to be done.”

Pacheco has a lengthy background in gymnastics and cheerleading, both of which she said have helped her build upper body strength over the years.

She also holds the school’s pole vault record in track and field.

“It’s just like every sport that I’ve done has aided me in (weightlifting),” Pacheco said.

Sunlake head coach Denise Garcia acknowledged there was more pressure to win a second state title, but praised her group for maintaining a positive mindset and working hard throughout the journey.

This team embraced challenges
Garcia noted several girls balanced schoolwork, other sports and extracurriculars, and part-time jobs to get their work done in the weight room.

Her message to the team entering the year: “Nothing will work unless you do.”

It’s something the team bought into it from the get-go, she said.

“They came together again, they wanted it again,” said Garcia. “They worked even harder, if that’s even possible. They’re such good workers, their work ethics are amazing.”

She added: “It just warms my heart that they succeeded, that they did what they wanted to, and that they put their heads together themselves and they did it. That’s a big accomplishment for them, individually, as well as a team.”

Garcia has led Sunlake’s weightlifting program for more than a decade. Her specialty and strategy comes in teaching proper bench press technique, trying to maximize the potential from each of her lifters. Pacheco’s state record is a case in point, but Garcia noted she strives to get everyone to bench at least 150 pounds.

“I love the bench,” Garcia said. “They say clean-and jerk-wins everything, but bench is good, too, because it’s the total (score), and if I can get them high in the bench, it puts pressure on the other girls (from opposing teams) to do even more.”

Though Garcia will be without four state-placing seniors, she believes the program is shaped up for another strong showing next season.

The team figures to center around, among others, rising senior Madison Guincho, who placed second at the state meet in the 119-pound division. “She’s one to look out for,” Garcia said. “She’s my future.”

Guincho likewise has high expectations for what’s to come: “I think we still will be good next year, because we have a lot of good up-and-coming girls that nobody really knows about yet. I think overall, we’re still going to be one of the best.”

Elsewhere locally, Zephyrhills High School’s varsity girls weightlifting team finished third at the FHSAA Class 1A State Weightlifting Championships. Bulldogs senior Lakisia Thomas won an individual state title in the 183-pound division, posting a 190-185 — 375. She was one of four Zephyrhills lifters who earned points with top-six finishes at the meet.

Class 2A
Team results
Sunlake — first place (28 points)
Wiregrass Ranch — no placing (0)

Bench press-clean-and-jerk—Total (in pounds)
Individual results

101 pounds
Alexandria Black, junior, Wiregrass Ranch: no placing (scratch)

110 pounds
Gabriella Schwarz, sophomore, Sunlake: 12th place (tie); 125-125 — 250

119 pounds
Madison Guincho, junior, Sunlake: second place; 180-160 — 340

139 pounds
Gianna Levy, senior, Sunlake: first place; 175-180 — 355
Gianina Rios, senior, Wiregrass Ranch: seventh place; 185-140 — 325

169 pounds
Juliette Pacheco, senior, Sunlake: first place; 225-185 — 410
Daniella Vance, junior, Sunlake: 13th place (tie); 145-160 — 305

183 pounds
Brianna Caban, senior, Sunlake: third place; 200-170 — 370

199 pounds
Antionette Farmer, senior, Sunlake: second place; 210-190 — 400

Class 1A
Zephyrhills — third place (18 points)
Bishop McLaughlin — no placing (0)
Cypress Creek — no placing (0)

Bench press-clean-and-jerk—Total (in pounds)
101 pounds
Andje Costa, sophomore, Cypress Creek: seventh place (tie); 95-125 — 220

139 pounds
Kayla Zine, senior, Zephyrhills: 18th place; 125-130 — 255

154 pounds
Sarah Davis, senior, Zephyrhills: third place; 185-160 — 345
Madison Aguillera, junior, Zephyrhills: fourth place; 135-185 — 320

169 pounds
Kayla Robbins, senior, Zephyrhills: second place (tie); 180-170 — 350

183 pounds
Lakisia Thomas, senior, Zephyrhills: first place; 190-185 — 375

199 pounds
Kyleigh Smith, senior, Zephyrhills: seventh place (tie); 160-145 — 305

Unlimited
Adorina Lee, senior, Bishop McLaughlin: seventh place (tie); 210-150 — 360
Diamond Cowart, junior, Zephyrhills, 15th place; 175-165 — 340

Published March 11, 2020

Locals finish strong at state swim meet

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Several local schools and individuals in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area put up solid showings at the 2019 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state swimming and diving championships, held last month at Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center, in Stuart.

The Steinbrenner High swimming and diving program put together a solid showing at the Class 4A meet, as its boys squad finished 13th (out of 45 schools) and girls squad finished 17th (out of 39 schools). (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School Athletics)

A total of eight area schools were represented across all four classifications —  Academy at the Lakes (Class 1A), Cypress Creek Middle High (2A), Freedom High (3A), Land O’ Lakes High (3A), Steinbrenner High (4A), Sunlake High (3A), Wesley Chapel High (2A) and Wiregrass Ranch High (3A).

Of those schools, Sunlake posted the strongest overall team performance, with its boys squad finishing in seventh place (out of 50 3A schools) and girls finishing ninth (out of 43 schools), respectively; the Land O’ Lakes’ boys team (ninth place in 3A) represented the only other top-10 team finish among local schools.

Another notable overall team showing came from Steinbrenner, who’s boys finished 13th (out of 45 4A schools) and girls finished 17th (out of 39 schools). Also, the Freedom boys team finished 14th in 3A and the Academy at the Lakes girls finished 16th in 1A.

The Sunlake High swimming and diving program put together the best combined team finish among all local schools, as its boys team finished seventh (out of 50 Class 3A schools) and girls team finished ninth (out of 43 schools). (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

Aside from team showings, there were a number of noteworthy individual and relay performances.

On the boys side, Land O’ Lakes junior Zuri Ramsey collected four medals, including gold in the 3A 50-yard freestyle, clocking 20.58. He also placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (45.71), and teamed with senior Jack Kaatze, junior Griffin Sutek, and senior Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran to place fifth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.61) and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.24), respectively. Ramsey is the younger brother of Jabari Ramsey, who was a three-time FHSAA 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.

Crosstown rival Sunlake also had a four medalist standout in senior Jay Jay Fonnotto. He placed fourth in the 3A 100-yard backstroke (52.19), sixth in the 100-yard butterfly (51.04), and teamed with sophomore Sammy Grimme, senior Colin Wilkins and senior Dominic Ortanez to collect fourth place finishes in both the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.19) and 200-yard freestyle relay (1:27.75).

Land O’ Lakes High junior Zuri Ramsey won gold in the 50-yard freestyle in the Class 3A state meet, clocking a 20.58. He also medaled in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)

Elsewhere, Cypress Creek junior Clyde Crouse took silver in the 500-yard freestyle (4:34.48) and placed sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.01).

On the girls side, Steinbrenner junior Lexie Mulvihill took gold in the 4A 50-yard free (22.46) and silver in the 100-yard free (49.58). She also anchored Steinbrenner’s 200 free relay and 100 free relay teams, which finished 11th and 12th, respectively.

Freedom sophomore Michelle Morgan collected a pair of silver medals in the 3A 200-yard individual medley (2:02.17) and 500-yard free (5:47.38). She also teamed with junior Hannah LaBohn, sophomore Alexa Valdez-Velez and sophomore Carly Joerin to place fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:35.85).

Academy at the Lakes junior McKenna Smith collected a pair of bronze medals in the 1A 50-yard free (23.05) and the 100-yard free (50.11)

Also, Sunlake freshman Gisella Wright tallied four medals. She finished eighth in both the 3A 100-yard freestyle (54.34) and 100-yard backstroke (1:00.64), and was a leg on Sunlake’s fourth-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:39.80) and its sixth-place 200-yard medley relay (1:50.07).

Here’s a look at all the results among locals at the state meet:

Class 4A
Boys
Steinbrenner (13th place, out of 45 schools)
Events:
200 medley relay: (Eighth place, 1:36.93) — Shane MacGregor, junior; Garrett Sykes, sophomore; Max Martino, senior; Bradley Stoker, senior

200 free: Matthew Ross, sophomore (19th, 1:43.97)

200 individual medley: Bradley Stoker (16th, 1:57.40)

500 free: Max Martino (10th, 21.28)

100 fly: Max Martino (17th, 51.50)

100 free: Matthew Ross (ninth, 47.07)

200 free relay: (sixth, 1:26.89) — Matthew Ross, Bradley Stoker, Shane MacGregor, Max Martino

100 back: Shane MacGregor (16th, 54.26)

100 breast: Bradley Stoker (20th, 1:00.05)

Girls
Steinbrenner (17th place, out of 39 schools)
Events:
50 free: Lexie Mulvihill, junior (first, 22.46)

100 free: Lexie Mulvihill (second, 49.58)

200 free relay: (11th, 1:38.62) — Justine Answeeney, junior; Mackenzie Hall, junior; Jada Kamuf, senior; Lexie Mulvihill

100 free relay: (12th, 3:34.82) — Justine Answeeney, Mackenzie Hall, Kayla Daley, freshman; Lexie Mulvihill

Class 3A
Boys
Sunlake (Seventh place, out of 50 schools)
Events:
200 medley: (fourth, 1:37.19) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, senior; Sammy Grimme, sophomore; Colin Wilkins, senior; Dominic Ortanez, senior

50 free: Dominic Ortanez (sixth, 21.38)

100 fly: Jay Jay Fonnotto (sixth, 51.04)

100 free: Dominic Ortanez (16th, 49.13)

200 free relay: (fourth, 1:27.75) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sammy Grimme, Colin Wilkins, Dominic Ortanez

100 back: Jay Jay Fonnotto (fourth, 52.19)

Land O’ Lakes (Ninth)
Events:
Diving: Mason Gandy, junior (eighth, 303.65)

200 medley relay: (fifth, 1:37.61) – Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, senior; Griffen Sutek, junior; Jack Kaatze, senior; Zuri Ramsey, junior

50 free: Zuri Ramsey (first, 20.58)

100 free: Zuri Ramsey (fourth, 45.71)

200 free relay: (sixth, 1:28.24)— Jack Kaatze, Griffin Sutek, Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, Zuri Ramsey

100 back: Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran (23rd, 56.19)

100 breast: Griffin Sutek (16th, 1:02.03)

Wiregrass Ranch (35th)
Events:
200 free: Douglas Lankton, senior (21st, 1:47.54)

400 free relay: (10th, 3:18.71) – Douglas Lankton, Yueng Chen, sophomore; Noah Porter, sophomore; Manny Silva, junior

Freedom (36th)
500 free: Zachary Kopel, junior (sixth, 4:38.74)

Girls
Sunlake (Ninth place, out of 43 schools)
Events:
Diving: Isabela Monagas, junior (sixth, 374.55)

200 medley: (sixth place, 1:50.07) — Amber Ewald, sophomore; Audrey Ballash, senior; Gisella Wright, freshman; Alex Sprague, junior

50 free: Alex Sprague (12th, 24.90)

100 free: Gisella Wright (eighth, 28.49)

200 free: (fourth, 1:39.80) – Tori Eurell, senior; Audrey Ballash, Alex Sprague, Gisella Wright

100 back: Gisella Wright (eighth, 1:00.64); Amber Ewald (13th, 1:00.65); Madison Houck, freshman (17th, 1:00.86)

100 breast: Audrey Ballash (ninth, 1:06.24)

400 free relay: (14th, 3:46.63) — Tori Eurell, Leah Fonnotto, sophomore; Lilli Hilt, sophomore; Madison Houck

Freedom (14th)
Events:
200 individual medley: Michelle Morgan, sophomore (second, 2:02.17); Carly Joerin, sophomore (18th, 2:11.74)

50 free: Hannah LaBohn, junior (16th, 25.09)

100 free: Hannah LaBohn (13th, 54.72)

500 free: Michelle Morgan (second, 4:47.38); Carly Joerin (15th, 5:06.67)

400 free relay: (fourth, 3:35.85) — Hannah LaBohn, Alexa Valdez-Velez, sophomore; Carly Joerin, Michelle Morgan

Wiregrass Ranch (40th)
Events:
Diving: Abby Galo, sophomore (18th, 204.50)

100 breast: Maryam Khalil, sophomore (15th, 1:08.05)

Individual: 200 free — Apryl Paquette, junior, Land O’ Lakes (19th place,  1:58.86)

Class 2A
Boys
Cypress Creek (21st, out of 46 schools)
200 free: Clyde Crouse, junior (sixth, 1:44.01)

500 free: Clyde Crouse (second, 4:34.48)

Wesley Chapel (33rd)
Boys
50 free: Charles Fields, senior (seventh, 21.69)

Girls
Individuals: Diving — Tifani Farquhar, senior (19th, 215.30)

Class 1A
Girls
Academy at the Lakes (16th place, out of 45 schools)
50 free: McKenna Smith, junior (third, 23.05)

100 free: McKenna Smith (third, 50.11)

Published December 11, 2019

Land O’ Lakes cheerleaders win ‘Best of Pasco’

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After a long history of struggles, the Land O’ Lakes High School varsity girls competitive cheerleading team is finding its groove.

The Gators won the prestigious ‘Best of Pasco’ Sunshine Athletic Conference Cheerleading Competition on Nov. 16.

At the event, hosted by Land O’ Lakes High, the Gators claimed a score of 78.4, defeating 12 other county high schools. The school’s crosstown rival, Sunlake High, scored 76.2, to earn second place.

The Land O’ Lakes High School varsity girls competitive cheerleading team won the ‘Best of Pasco’ meet on Nov. 16. (Courtesy of Ashley Linden)

The last time Land O’ Lakes won a ‘Best of Pasco’ meet was so long ago that Gator cheerleaders and coaches can’t be sure when it was.

“It’s a very big deal for us,” said third-year coach Ashley Linden. “It’s been a very long time,” she added, noting it’s been at least since the early 2000s.

Senior team captain Sarah Spitzig thinks it might have never happened before.

In any case, it marks a striking accomplishment for a program that had not garnered much of a reputation through the years.

Spitzig said it’s the first competition the Gators have won during her four years in the program. “We’re all super excited about it. It’s just boosted the team’s confidence a lot,” she said.

The coach added of the ‘Best of Pasco’ achievement: “Seeing them be successful is just the best feeling, because some of them have been there for competitions where they didn’t do so great, and they still stuck it out and still kept coming back.”

Like other cheer programs, the Gators 2½-minute routine combines an array of acrobatic and athletic tumbling, stunts, cheers and dances — to the sound of upbeat music.

Linden described the team’s routine as “creative” combined with “a lot of really great tumbling.”

Many of those advanced skills were fine-tuned at summer Universal Cheerleaders Association camp, Linden said.

The offseason reps must’ve helped, as Linden said the team’s execution of the routine was “clean” and “sharp” at the countywide meet.

The team’s newfound taste of victory extends beyond just technical skills, however.

Linden said it also can be explained by better attitudes and coachability overall, plus more pronounced leadership from a quartet of team captains (Spitzig, along with seniors Laura Madison and Gabriela Miller, and junior Emma Runkel).

The Gators competitive cheer routine combines an array of acrobatic and athletic tumbling, stunts, cheers and dances, all to the tune of upbeat music.

All those qualities, the coach said, “makes or breaks a team.”

“Everything has just taken like a huge turn for the better,” said Linden, a former high school cheerleader herself with experience coaching All-Star and recreational teams. “This group of girls is just different; they want it this year.”

It’s an assessment Spitzig can agree with.

“It’s less about the skills sometimes, but more about the attitudes,” the cheerleader said. “We won even without the highest skills that we could’ve been doing; it was more just about attitude coming together and working for it.”

Hand in hand with that is a stable and dedicated coaching staff, as Linden and assistant Gators cheer coach Karlee Roach have been working in tandem for three years to rebuild the program; Roach actually served as the team’s head coach the previous two seasons, then reversed roles with Linden this year.

When it comes to their efforts, the coaching duo goes the extra mile, cheerleaders say.

Runkel noted that the coaches “care so much for us.”

She added: “Personally speaking, I had such a negative attitude my freshman year that they really helped me grow as a person, and personality-wise, I’ve grown so much from them. “They’ve always been there supporting us, on and off the mat,” she added.

Spitzig concurred: “We’ve all just developed into more of a family having them here. They give up so much time, we just appreciate it.”

The signs of a budding 2019-2020 campaign were in the works toward the end of last year as the Gators placed fifth in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A medium division state championships.

At the beginning of the season, Linden felt the team had the opportunity to build on that.

She was optimistic despite the fact that 13 seniors graduated and the team would be relying heavily upon four freshman flyers.

The current 25-member roster consists of five seniors, 13 juniors, three sophomore and five freshman.

“I’ve been saying it since the beginning of the season that, ‘This is our season,’” Linden said.

“People probably thought we were going to be in a rebuilding year, and here we came. To win (‘Best of Pasco’), no one expected that. We kind of came out from under.”

And, what made the ‘Best of Pasco’ victory even more special — was earning bragging rights over a Sunlake cheer program that for years has been a local powerhouse.

“They’ve always been out for us and always proved that they’re better than us, but this year we’re actually coming up on top of them,” Runkel said.

“I’ve heard they’re coming back for us — but we’re coming back for them,” Runkel said.

2019-2020 Land O’ Lakes competitive cheer roster
Head coach: Ashley Linden
Assistant coach: Karlee Roach
Team manager: Mayah Ocasio

  • Christina Agovino
  • Mia Allen
  • Lexi Brown
  • Ariana Butler
  • Aysiah DeBernardi
  • Peyton Fields
  • Elizabeth Harmon
  • Alex Heck
  • Grace Huff
  • Maddy Huff
  • Lauren  Jones
  • Madelyn Macaluso
  • Laura Madison
  • Gabriela Miller
  • Leah Mixson
  • Gianna Ocasio
  • Katy Quandt
  • Paige Randall
  • Emma Runkel
  • Skyler Sander
  • Sarah Spitzig
  • Camryn Steele
  • Alyssa VanMeter
  • Nevaeh Vercellona
  • Kaitlyn Wall

Published November 27, 2019

Steinbrenner boys cross-country wins first state title

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After finishing runner-up at the past two 4A state championships, Steinbrenner High’s varsity cross-country team won it all this year — defeating 31 other teams.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) 4A state championships were held on Nov. 9 at Tallahassee’s Apalachee Regional Park.

The Steinbrenner Warriors were paced by senior Josh King, who finished in sixth place overall, crossing the finish line in 15:52.32 The rest of the team’s top five runners were senior Blake Walker (19th,16:05.88), senior Gabriel Lara (32nd, 16:19.79), junior Zachary Harrigan (45th, 16:26.18) and senior Rama Jonnalgadda (56th, 16:30.95).

The Steinbrenner High varsity boys cross-country team won its first state championship earlier this month. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High Athletics)

Steinbrenner’s 129 points were enough to edge out second-place team finisher Nease High (140), despite the latter having three of the race’s top five finishers.

Steinbrenner’s showing marked the program’s first-ever state title.

After falling just short of that elusive crown in 2017 and 2018, winning it all meant that much more.

“You see how hard these guys work, and for them to have that moment, it’s unreal, you can’t really describe it,” Warriors head coach Allison Szponar said. “It was kind of surreal to be a coach…and you really appreciate all that goes into it and how hard that these guys have worked day in and day out in their absolute, unyielding commitment to the team and our mission.”

That was especially the case for King, who battled injuries each of the last two years. He missed all his sophomore year with a stress fracture, and only ran a few races as a junior before he was sidelined again.

Said King, “I kind of wanted to show who I am and prove my potential, and try to really lead the team because we’ve been runners-up for two years in a row, and we were really hungry for it and I wanted to contribute to it.

“I think ending on a high note is really great for me because this is really like all I wanted and this is what I worked for, for so many years.”

King worked to become the team’s No. 1 runner this season. His personal record of 15:50, in September at the Don Bishop Invitational, broke the school’s 5K record of 15:56 set in 2012 by Matt Magee, who went on to run cross-country and track at Florida State University.

Having his name attached to a state title and a school record humbles King: “I mean, that’s kind of crazy to me, because I thought we’d never be able to reach that record that’s been held for a long time now. Our school’s relatively young, but the guy who formerly had it was like a stud, so we all like thought it wasn’t reachable.”

Besides King’s running prowess this season, Szponar said the senior leader served as the team’s quasi-athletic trainer, offering recovery advice and encouragement to fellow runners who went through various aches and pains.

King’s own personal recovery also was a team motivator, the coach said.

“He leads by example, which is the most important part,” Szponar said, also noting King has a 5.7 weighted GPA. “He worked back from (injuries) to become an even stronger and better runner by finding what worked with him, and the younger guys will see that, so when they’re complaining of the shin splints or they tweak an ankle or something like that they know that, ‘Hey, all is not lost.’”

The team’s motto this season was “DNA: Doubt Not Allowed.”

Since the start of summer workouts, the team’s mindset for each practice and race was to push hard and not make excuses, Szponar said.

“We never give up and we don’t doubt what we’re doing,” the coach said. “If we gave up, we definitely would not have been state champions this year after coming off two straight years of being runners-up. A lot of guys would lose their focus and their drive, but our guys, it spurred them to work even harder and motivated them to achieve what they achieved this year.”

King echoed those sentiments, noting the program’s success comes from “a winning culture.”

King explained: “We have a team mentality here at Steinbrenner, and we have younger guys that look up to the seniors and kind of try to replicate what they do, and we have an incredible coaching staff.”

He added: “Cross-country is such a unique sport in that what you put into it is what you get out of. Like, you don’t line up to the line and (are) naturally 2 minutes faster. It’s literally the hard work that we put into it, and our team worked really hard this year to achieve our goals.

“We had a lot of talent and we worked really hard, so I think the outcome that we got was definitely something that we were looking for, and it was really great.”

Leading into the state meet, Szponar said the team was confident they could win the whole thing. After all, the Warriors swept its district and regional meets, and had the needed depth across its varsity squad.

“The message was, ‘This is y’all’s to lose, and the only team that can beat you are yourselves…so all you have to do is do what you’re supposed to do and you get to hoist that trophy at the end of this meet.’”

That, they did.

Here’s a roundup of all local teams and individuals at the 2019 FHSAA cross-country state championships:

Boys
4A
Steinbrenner (First place)
Josh King, senior (Sixth place— 15:52.32)

Blake Walker, senior (19th — 16:05.88)

Gabriel Lara, senior (32nd — 16:19.79)

Zachary Harrigan, junior (45th — 16:26.18)

Rama Jonnalgadda, senior (56th — 16:30.95)

Paul Foreman, senior (125th — 17:11.57)

Ethan Bhatt, junior (172nd — 17:37.16)

Wharton (26th place)
Jared Hamill, junior (10th — 15:55.30)

Jackson Blanchard, senior (111th — 17:05.96)

Thomas Walter, junior (159th — 17:27.20)

Alexander Olson, senior (208th — 18:16.55)

Amir Aboroomi, sophomore (232nd — 19:41.54)

Emanuel Camacho, sophomore (236th — 20:50.51)

Kevin Tran, junior (237th — 21.02.16)

Individual(s)
Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (49th — 16:28.06)

3A
Sunlake (Fifth place)
Colby Robbins, sophomore (19th — 16:29.59)

Gavin Kennedy, senior (44th — 16:51.30)

Drew Knobl, senior (49th — 16:55.06)

Alejandro Pena, freshman (60th — 17:06.29)

Kaden Knopp, senior (70th — 17:11.51)

Albert Lared, senior (82nd — 17:16.58)

Edward Scheid, senior (99th — 17:26.42)

2A
Cypress Creek (20th place)
Justin Ludwig, sophomore (59th — 17:15.49)

John Roswell, junior (102nd — 17:58.38)

Devin Payne, sophomore (106th — 18:00.27)

Lathen Falk, sophomore (18:35.88)

Sebastian Lebron, junior (18:41.55)

Zachery Poekert, freshman (18:52.56)

Dominic Fonseca, junior (19:45.29)

Individual(s)
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, senior (33rd — 16:54.85)

No local teams or individuals in 1A

Girls
4A
Wharton (26th place)
Brooke Reif, sophomore (91st — 20:15. 10)

Nia Rivers, senior (128th — 20:46.80)

Alexandria Frye, sophomore (136th — 20:54.30)

Callie Zack, junior (152nd — 21:14.20)

Jinia Johnson, senior (173rd — 21:42.70)

Jessica Perez, senior (199th — 22:29.10)

Michelle Sullivan, senior (203rd — 22:34.40)

Steinbrenner (28th place)
Reyna Simpson, freshman (105th — 20:27.60)

Anna Breede, sophomore (139th — 20:56.60)

Anne Sullivan, senior (150th — 21:11.20)

Ayden Krueger, senior (151st — 21:11.20)

Kaitlyn Arko, senior (183rd — 21:56.60)

Nina Pardo, freshman (191st — 22:10.20)

Rebekah Hurwitz, senior (212th — 23:17.40)

3A
Sunlake (Sixth place)
Liina Winborn, senior (Fourth place — 18:11.16)

Shannon Gordy, junior (25th— 19:39.29)

Ashley Spires, junior (56th — 20:16.99)

Emily Jenkins, senior (92nd — 20:49.42)

Emma Burleson, sophomore (113th — 21:22.12)

Annie Winborn, freshman (117th — 21:27.73)

Destiny Saltzman, senior (184th — 23:04.31)

No local teams or individuals in classes 1A and 2A

Published November 20, 2019

Charter sports league enjoying growth

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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