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Shelby Lansing

Local athletes sign with colleges

February 8, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

The athletic talent pool continues to flourish throughout north Hillsborough, and east and central Pasco.

Zephyrhills High’s Antwione Sims will play football for the U.S Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He missed the 2016 season after tearing his ACL last March.
(Courtesy of Antwione Sims)

Dozens of local high school athletes signed their letters of intent (LOI) on Feb. 1 to various colleges and universities as part of National Signing Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in February.

Once again, schools in our coverage area were well-represented.

Wiregrass Ranch High School led the way with 13 signings, followed by Land O’ Lakes High with nine. Other high schools, including Gaither and Steinbrenner, featured a handful of signings.

While Zephyrhills High had just one signing, it was arguably the most memorable.

Bursting with emotions and tear-filled eyes, senior running back/safety Antwione Sims signed his LOI to play football at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The day signaled a redemptive moment for Sims, who missed his entire 2016 senior season after tearing his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) last March.

A trio of Freedom High School athletes signed to various colleges on Feb. 1. From left: Kalijahe Spann (Warner University), Megan Clark (Tennesee Tech University) and Tyler Bray (Maryville College).
(Courtesy of Freedom High School)

Oftentimes, football players — even those as talented as Sims —have athletic scholarships withdrawn after a serious injury, particularly from Division I programs.

But, Navy upheld its offer.

“It’s a blessing to have (this) opportunity,” Sims said, “because not everyone has that…”

Putting pen to paper marked the end of a “long journey” for the 5-foot-11, 208-pound gridiron star.

It, too, signals the beginning of a new one.

“It’s not about the next four years,” Sims said, “it’s about the next 40.”

Sims, one of the most dynamic athletes in Pasco County, was one of just four football players from the county to sign with a Division I football program.

The others were Wiregrass Ranch quarterback/kicker Chris Faddoul (Florida A&M University) and defensive lineman Jason Winston (Stetson University), and Wesley Chapel safety Ellrie Allen (Florida A&M University).

Four athletes from Wesley Chapel High School participated in National Signing Day on Feb. 1. From left: Bailey Hern (Saint Leo University), Lauren Campoe (Ave Maria University), Jacob Thomas (Mars Hill College) and Ellrie Allen (Florida A&M University).
(Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School)

Sims, though, is the most high-profile prospect of the group.

At one point, the consensus three-star recruit had scholarship offers from nearly a dozen schools.

His recruitment picked up steam after he rushed for a school-record 2,093 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2015.

Despite that production, he won’t likely play in Navy’s offensive backfield.

Instead, he’s expected to contribute in their defensive backfield, as a safety.

Sims noted he started closely following Navy’s football program “ever since they started recruiting me.”

On the surface, he made a solid selection.

Navy, renowned for its vaunted triple-option offense, went 9-5 in 2016. Under coach Ken Niumatalolo, they’ve had a winning season in eight of the past nine years.

Sims’ choice is about more than football, however.

“I feel like making this decision will allow me to set myself up for life,” he said.

A roundup of signings of athletes in our coverage area:
Gaither
Football
Decalon Brooks—Florida State University
Estefano Feliciano—Old Dominion University (Virginia)

Soccer
Ben Hickson—Florida College
David Garzon—Florida College

Softball
Kasey Heslin—Pasco-Hernando State College

Freedom
Basketball
Megan Clark—Tennessee Tech University

Football
Kalijahe Spann—Warner University (Florida)

Golf
Tyler Bray—Maryville College (Tennessee)

Land O’ Lakes
Baseball
Troy Klemm—Palm Beach Atlantic University
Max Law—University of North Florida
McCabe Sargent—Saint Leo University
Dustin Harris—St. Petersburg College

Football
Spencer Childress—Lyon College (Arkansas)

Soccer
Devyn Cabral—Erskine College (South Carolina)
Haley Eckel—Florida Southern College

Cross Country
Skylen Acuna—Pasco-Hernando State College

Steinbrenner
Basketball
Mary Katherine Miller—Hillsborough Community College

Football
Devon Connors—U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado)
Noah Ruggles—University of North Carolina

Soccer
Claire Morrison—Stetson University

Softball
Emmalee Jansen—University of Tampa

Sunlake
Football
Tyler Peretti—Southeastern University (Florida)

Softball
Casey Gottschall—Broward College (Florida)
Shelby Lansing—Southeastern University
Haley Kirinsky—Flagler College (Florida)

Wharton
Softball
Mackenzie Allen—University of Tampa

Volleyball
Kathryn Attar—Yale University (Connecticut)
Alexandria Schneider—Florida College

Wesley Chapel
Football
Jacob Thomas—Mars Hill University (North Carolina)
Ellrie Allen—Florida A&M University

Soccer
Lauren Campoe—Ave Maria University (Florida)
Bailey Hern—Saint Leo University

Wiregrass Ranch
Golf
Morgan Power—King University (Tennessee)

Football
Chris Faddoul—Florida A&M University
Jason Winston—Stetson University

Tennis
Noah Makarome—University of Pennsylvania

Soccer
Connor Nixon—Presbyterian College (South Carolina)
Erin Brenner—Huntingdon College (Alabama)
Ysabelle Borgstadt—Andrew College (Georgia)
Sydney Chase—Saint Leo University
Maddie Moore—Shaw University (North Carolina)
John Pease—Jacksonville University (Florida)

Softball
Alexis Ridolph—Hillsborough Community College
Samantha Hiley—Edward Waters College (Florida)
Jaime Valenta—St. John River State College (Florida)

Zephyrhills High
Football
Antwione Sims—U.S. Naval Academy (Maryland)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Football
Serion Bellamy—Shorter University​ (Georgia)

Published February 8, 2017

 

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Alexandria Schneider, Alexis Ridolph, Andrew College, Antwione Sims, Ave Maria University, Bailey Hern, Ben Hickson, Broward College, Casey Gottschall, Chris Faddoul, Claire Morrison, Connor Nixon, David Garzon, Decalon Brooks, Devon Connors, Devyn Cabral, Dustin Harris, Edward Waters College, Ellrie Allen, Emmalee Jansen, Erin Brenner, Erskine College, Estefano Feliciano, Flagler College, Florida A&M Universitry, Florida College, Florida Southern College, Florida State University, Gaither High School, Haley Eckel, Haley Kirinsky, Hillsborough Community College, Huntingdon College, Jacksonville University, Jacob Thomas, Jaime Valenta, Jason Winston, John Pease, Kalijahe Spann, Kasey Heslin, Kathryn Attar, Ken Niumatalolo, King University, Land O' Lakes High School, Lauren Campoe, Lyon College, Mackenzie Allen, Maddie Moore, Mars Hill University, Mary Katherine Miller, Maryville College, Max Law, McCabe Sargent, Megan Clark, Morgan Power, National Signing Day, Noah Makarome, Noah Ruggles, Old Dominion University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Pasco-Hernando State College, Presbyterian College, Saint Leo University, Samantha Hiley, Serion Bellamy, Shaw University, Shelby Lansing, Shorter University, Skylen Acuna, Southeastern University, Spencer Childress, St. John River State College, St. Petersburg College, Steinbrenner High School, Stetson University, Sydney Chase, Tennessee Tech University, Troy Klemm, Tyler Bray, Tyler Peretti, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, University of North Carolina, University of North Florida, University of Pennsylvania, University of Tampa, Warner University, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Yale University, Ysabelle Borgstadt, Zephyrhills High School

Senior nears Sunlake home run record    

April 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

From Courtney Durbin to Stephanie Frances, Sunlake softball coach Nelson Garcia has seen his fair share of power hitters in his five seasons at the school.

Perhaps none is more powerful than senior catcher/third baseman Gianna Basilone, who leads all Tampa Bay area hitters with seven home runs, through 19 games. One more dinger and she’ll tie Sunlake’s single-season home run record set by Samantha Dittman in 2009. In addition to her home run total, Basilone has 28 RBIs to go along with an eye-popping .448 batting average.

Sunlake senior Gianna Basilone is one of the top power hitters in the Tampa Bay area. She has a scholarship offer on the table from Oklahoma State University. (Courtesy of Nelson Garcia)
Sunlake senior Gianna Basilone is one of the top power hitters in the Tampa Bay area. She has a scholarship offer on the table from Oklahoma State University.
(Courtesy of Nelson Garcia)

The senior’s performance, both at the plate and behind the plate, has led to a scholarship offer from Oklahoma State University, which is coached by Kenny Gajewski, a former assistant with the Florida Gators.

The Sunlake slugger is still waiting on a financial package from the university before she commits.

Coach Garcia called Basilone a “coach’s dream” because of work ethic, leadership and, of course, on-field results.

“You get these certain players, I won’t say every year, but you get these players, you can’t replace them. They’re irreplaceable,” Garcia said. “Somebody can come in and say they can hit eight home runs or nine home runs, but it doesn’t replace these players. As people, they’re awesome, and as teammates and leaders. It’s the same thing with (former players) Stephanie Francis or Courtney Durbin.”

While Basilone has always been known for the pop her in her bat—she mashed six home runs last season—she’s become an even more imposing slugger after Garcia implemented a team weight-training program in the offseason.

The program has helped Basilone get stronger and quicker — aspects that are imperative for making an impact at the Division I level.

“There’s always things I can like improve on,” said Basilone, who started attending Sunlake as a sophomore after moving from Pittsburgh. “It’s such a higher pace up in college.”

As Basilone has filled up the stat sheet, some opposing teams have started to approach her at-bats differently. Instead of giving her pitches to hit, teams have resorted to giving her a free pass to avoid facing her.

“After my first few at-bats, they try to find a weakness that I have. Or, some people just walk me or hit me,” Basilone said.

“There was one game (against Hudson on Feb. 26) she had two home runs. …I was surprised they pitched to her the second time,” Garcia said, adding, “I wouldn’t have pitched to her.”

The strategy of avoiding Basilone’s bat only works so well, as Sunlake (13-7) features a lineup with seven everyday players batting over .350.

In his lineups, Garcia opts to place senior Cassidy Roberts (.435 batting average, 16 RBIs) ahead of Basilone, and freshman sensation Shelby Lansing (.438. 20 RBIs) behind her in the lineup.

“I like to try to do to people what the (New York) Yankees used to do from a few years ago,” Garcia said. “I want (teams) to be tired by the time they get through our order. Then we can go small ball.”

With a 7-3-district mark, the Seahawks have aspirations of winning their district, and making a deep run into the postseason.

“I’ve told these girls from Day 1 when we started practicing that I’m very confident that if we play our game, and stay within ourselves, we can go out and compete against anybody out there,” Garcia said.

Basilone added this year’s team is “definitely” the best one she’s been on in her three seasons at Sunlake.

“All the girls that I’m playing with want to go to college, and they all are here for a reason,” she said. “They give their full effort…and they’re just all really competitive.

“That’s how we all click, too.”

Published April 6, 2016

Filed Under: Land O' Lakes Sports, Local Sports Tagged With: Cassidy Roberts, Courtney Durbin, Florida Gators, Gianna Basilone, Nelson Garcia, New York Yankees, Samantha Dittman, Shelby Lansing, Stephanie Frances, Sunlake High School

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03/08/2021 – Tomato garden

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a virtual poetry discussion group on “Female Power!” on March 9 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older, via Zoom. Participants can share a favorite poem or take part in discussions on poems about women or written by women poets. Themed poems will be sent out to help with the session. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or . … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a Technology Tuesday: Robots & Machines on March 9, through a curbside pickup activity. The kit will help kids learn more about technology, from robots to coding, through online and hands-on activities. The pickup is limited to 35 participants and must be reserved ahead of time. A book bundle can be included. Kits must be picked up between March 9 at 10 a.m., and March 13 at 5 p.m. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Technology Tuesday

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present Fandom Trivia: High School Musical on March 10 at 4 p.m., for grades eight to 12. Participants can test their knowledge of the High School Musical movies. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or . … [Read More...] about 03/10/2021 – Fandom trivia

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Marchman Technical College, 7825 Campus Drive in New Port Richey, will host a socially distanced book signing with student-author and illustrator Chris Angilell on March 10 at 10 a.m. Angilella is a first-time author who has Asperger's Syndrome. He wrote the book, "Dotty's Freckles," to "inspire people who have a disability, hoping to send a message that they are exceptional and can accomplish anything," according to a news release. The book was independently published last August and can be purchased on Kindle or in paperback through Amazon. The book signing will be outdoors. Masks will be required. Angilella will sign books for attendees who bring their own copies. A limited number of paperbacks also will be for sale at the event. … [Read More...] about 03/10/2021 – Student-author book signing

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