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Tony Bartalo

Over 50 local athletes sign with colleges

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More than 50 local high school athletes signed their letters of intent (LOI) earlier this month to various colleges and universities as part of National Signing Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in February.

From The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, Steinbrenner High and Wiregrass Ranch High each had the most signings with 10 apiece, followed by Sunlake High (seven) and Wesley Chapel High (six). Bishop McLaughlin, Carrollwood Day School, Cypress Creek, Freedom, Land O’ Lakes, and Zephyrhills Christian Academy also were well-represented as part of the signing day festivities.

Locals signed to play at the next level for the following sports — acrobatics & tumbling, baseball, cheerleading, cross-country, fencing, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball and track.

Wesley Chapel High School softball standout Jordan Almasy is headed to the University of Central Florida. She holds several school pitching records. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School softball)

Here is a closer look at some of the notable signees and their high schools:

Jordan Almasy, Wesley Chapel, softball (University of Central Florida) – The 5-foot-7 right-hander has etched her name in Wesley Chapel softball history — eclipsing school records for strikeouts in a game, strikeouts in a season, pitching wins, and innings pitched her junior year. Through three varsity seasons, she has compiled 31 wins, a 1.99 earned run average, 365 strikeouts and a .203 opponent batting average in 306.1 innings pitched. Also, Almasy was a freshman ace in the Wildcats softball program’s first ever winning season, in 2017.

Gaither High School quarterback Tony Bartalo, pictured with head coach Kirk Karsen, smiles upon signing to play college football at Bethune-Cookman University. (Courtesy of Gaither High School Athletics)

Tony Bartalo, Gaither, football (Bethune-Cookman University) — The 6-foot-2, 210-pound signal-caller put together a senior campaign to remember, ranking second in the state in passing yards (3,194 yards) and guiding the Cowboys to a 12-2 mark and the Class 6A state semifinals. Bartalo’s other passing figures were likewise impressive — 62.6% completion rate and 50 total touchdowns with just 14 interceptions. Bartalo’s teammate, linebacker Chance Coleman, also signed to play Division I football, at Florida International University.

Ethan Jones, Wesley Chapel, baseball — The 6-foot-5 lefthander posted a 1.64 earned run average and 73 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched last season, guiding the Wildcats to an appearance in the Class 6A regional tournament. Jones, ranked one of the state’s top 200 baseball prospects by Perfect Game, also broke out on the travel ball circuit — part of the 2019 Perfect Game Super 25 national championship team and named to the WWBA (World Wood Bat Association) World Championship All-Tournament Team.

Malik Jones, Zephyrhills Christian, football (Florida Atlantic University) — The 6-foot-2, 328-pound Jones starred defensively as a nose tackle at Zephyrhills Christian, but is expected to start his Division I college football career as an offensive lineman — likely at guard or center. He ranked third in Florida in sacks (26) in 2019, despite being double-teamed on almost every play. A consensus three-star recruit, Jones held offers from University of Southern Mississippi and Troy University, among others. Aside from his gridiron play, Jones also is a state champion wrestler, winning the Class 1A heavyweight division title in 2019.

Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch, soccer (University of North Florida) —The 6-foot team captain midfielder helped the Bulls to four straight conference championships and is a two-time All-Conference first team selection with more than 60 career goals, 45 assists and counting. In addition to prep soccer, Lewis has been training with the Tampa Bay Rowdies professional USL (United Soccer League) team as a potential future prospect.

Cooper Smith, Freedom, golf (University of North Florida) — The four-year letterman capped off his senior campaign with a 16th place individual finish at the Class 2A FHSAA boys golf state championships, firing a 77 in both 18-hole rounds. Smith, a three-time All-District and with 15 junior wins to his name, was a freshman on Freedom’s second state finals appearance in program history, in 2016. He joins a North Florida signing class that also includes Mitchell High’s Nick Gabrelcik, a Trinity native.

Liina Winborn, Sunlake, cross-country (University of Florida) — In inking with the University of Florida, Winborn became Sunlake cross-country’s first Division I signee in program history. The decorated distance runner set several school records, claimed multiple conference and district individual titles, and earned fourth-place and sixth-place individual finishes the past two years at the 3A state cross-country championships. (At the state meets, she clocked an 18:11.16 in 2019 and 18:06.57 in 2018). Winborn also is a two-time Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East girls’ cross-country runner of the year and defending girls track runner of the year.

Three Land O’ Lakes High School athletes signed to play collegiate sports. From left: Brooke Stanley (St. Petersburg College, softball), Chris Fergueson (Lake Sumter State College, baseball) and Ethan Stephens (Polk State College, baseball). (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)
Ten Wiregrass Ranch High School student-athletes signed with various colleges and universities in the following sports — acrobatics & tumbling, baseball, cheerleading, football, and soccer. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bishop McLaughlin’s Marcus Bezerra, left, will play football at Southern Virginia University, and Adam Berry will play baseball at Pasco-Hernando State College. (Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Athletics)
Cypress Creek High School saw four student-athletes sign their National Letters of Intent. From left: Anna Margetis (Daytona State College, softball), Carter Corrao (Lee University, soccer), Matt Snyder (Saint Leo University, baseball) and Abigail Murphy (Saint Leo University, soccer). (Courtesy of Cypress Creek High School Athletics)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven Sunlake High athletes signed to play collegiate sports, for cross-country/track and lacrosse. (Kevin Weiss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a roundup of all known high school athlete signings in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Baseball
Adam Berry — Pasco-Hernando State College

Football
Marcus Bezerra — Southern Virginia University (Buena Vista, Virginia)

Carrollwood Day School
Fencing
EJ James — Drew University (Madison, New Jersey)

Soccer
Emma Architetto — Rollins College

Cypress Creek
Baseball
Matt Snyder — Saint Leo University

Soccer
Carter Corrao — Lee University (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Abigail Murphy — Saint Leo University

Softball
Anna Margetis — Daytona State College

Freedom
Golf
Cooper Smith — University of North Florida

Softball
Kylie Coffin — University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Ellis Erickson — Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, Illinois)
Niyah Pope – Eastern Florida State College
Chloe Potts — Florida Southern College

Gaither
Cheerleading
Emily Kochan — Saint Leo University

Cross Country
Gabby Marshall — Pasco-Hernando State College

Football
Tony Bartalo — Bethune-Cookman University
Chance Coleman — Florida International University
Deveon Knighton — Iowa Central Community College

Land O’ Lakes
Baseball
Chris Fergueson — Lake Sumter State College
Ethan Stephens — Polk State College

Softball
Brooke Stanley — St. Petersburg College

Sunlake
Lacrosse
Jacon Schwarz — Barton College (Wilson, North Carolina)
Roberto Valentin — Webber International University

Cross Country/Track
Luke Scheid — Flagler College
Gavin Kennedy — Saint Leo University
Drew Knobl — Southeastern University
Albert La Red — Saint Leo University
Liina Winborn — University of Florida

Steinbrenner
Baseball
Michael Blackwood — Central Connecticut State University (New Britain, Connecticut)
Donovan Garcia — Flagler College
Griffin Garcia — Flagler College
Brayden Heidel — Saint Leo University

Football
Matthew Adcock — University of West Florida
Dean Patterson — University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio)

Lacrosse
Grady Frey — Huntingdon College

Softball
Sierra Carter — College of Central Florida
Mikayla Johnson — Nova Southeastern University
Frankie Raeckers — Florida Southern College

Wesley Chapel
Baseball
Ethan Jones — University of West Virginia (Morgantown, West Virginia)

Soccer
Noah Leonard — Saint Leo University

Softball
Jordan Almasy — University of Central Florida
Allison Fraley — Pasco-Hernando State College
Morgan Herndon — Lake Sumter State College
Aubrey McLeod — University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland)

Wiregrass Ranch
Acrobatics & Tumbling
Kenley Karlon — King University (Bristol, Tennessee)

Baseball
Derek Baker — Florida Southern College
Cody Costa — Limestone College (Gaffney, South Carolina)
Chase Wills — Miami-Dade College

Cheerleading
Layla Gilyard — Saint Leo University
Macie Pickard — Saint Leo University

Football
Connor Lenczden — Stetson University

Soccer
Avery Damjanovic — Governors State University (University Park, Illinois)
Kylee Ehman — Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Indiana)
Malcolm Lewis —University of North Florida

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Football
Malik Jones — Florida Atlantic University

Published February 19, 2020

Prep football midseason review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New coaches finding their way

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

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

Hillsborough County

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

Pasco County

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

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

Hillsborough County:

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

Pasco County:

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

Published October 2, 2019

Prep football midseason review

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With five weeks of high school football in the books, the midway point of the 2018 season has been reached.

Here’s a look at some of the storylines and highlights from schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Boisterous Bulldogs
No Charles Harrison III? No problem. The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have maintained their winning ways, even without the prolific and record-setting signal-caller, who graduated last season and now plays for Division III Brevard College in North Carolina.

The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have successfully built off last season’s 10-2 campaign with a 4-0 start in 2018. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

The Bulldogs offense (29.3 points per game) isn’t quite as prolific as last season when Harrison III was under center (41 points per game), however, they’ve managed with a balanced attack through the air and ground.

Meanwhile, an extremely stingy defense (13 points allowed per game) has made life difficult for the opposition.

Zephyrhills could foreseeably run the table for the regular season, considering just one of its remaining foes has a winning record — Wesley Chapel High School, at 3-2 overall — and that’s a home game, where the Bulldogs are 13-2 since 2016.

Further, the Bulldogs arguably have the most talented squad in Pasco County, with bona fide Division I  FBS talent in receiver/defensive back Ja’quan Sheppard and running back/defensive back Cartrell Strong, among other future college prospects.

Also noteworthy: Bulldogs third-year head coach Nick Carroll is off to one of the best coaching starts in county history, with a remarkable 23-5 record since taking over for former coach Reggie Roberts in 2016. That includes 13 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

Galvanized Gators
The hiring of Chad Walker, a first-time high school head football coach, is thus far paying off for the Land O’ Lakes High Gators.

The Land O’ Lakes High Gators are off to a 3-1 start under first-year head coach Chad Walker. (File)

At 3-1, the Gators are off to their best start since 2013, when the program last had a winning season and finished 8-2.

Whatever happens the remainder of 2018, this season will go down in lore for Land O’ Lakes.

That’s because the Gators broke an eight-game losing streak in the annual Butter Bowl rivalry game against Sunlake High, with a convincing 34-25 home win on Sept. 14. The historic win also coincided with the renaming of the press box at John Benedetto Stadium to the Mike Connor Family Press Box, after the longtime athletics booster and former Voice of the Gators.

Besides a road game against Mitchell High on Oct. 26, the Gators have a manageable slate and very well could complete what’s been a long time coming: a winning season. It also doesn’t hurt that the Gators have one of the county’s top offensive playmakers in senior tailback Kyle Leivas, who’s already tallied 613 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, including two straight 200-yard rushing performances against, respectively, Cypress Creek Middle High (224 yards on 25 carries) and Sunlake (223 yards on 19 carries).

Cool, confident Coyotes
After going winless in its first season as a program, victories are finally coming to the Cypress Creek Middle High Coyotes and second-year head coach Mike Johnson.

Cypress Creek captured the program’s first-ever win on Sept. 7, defeating Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High 42-22 on the road. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek Middle High School)

The upstart program already has two wins on the year, against Bishop McLaughlin Catholic and Pasco high schools.

Also, unlike last season, the Coyotes actually have a senior class.

Among the 12 seniors, the Coyotes have received significant contributions from tailback/safety Tim Ford-Brown, receiver/linebacker/punter Quinton Spears and receiver/safety/defensive end Devin Santana, among others.

Meantime, twin brothers Jehlani Warren, a junior quarterback, and Jalen Warren, a junior receiver, have made the Coyotes a fun watch, as they’ve hooked up for a bevy of big plays and touchdowns this season.

Going forward, expectations should remain modest for a program stepping into the ever-growing competitive area.

Yet, don’t be shocked if the Coyotes pull out another win or two before the end of the 2018 season.

Slow start, strong finish?
While Land O’ Lakes High is experiencing its best start in years, crosstown rival Sunlake High  is struggling with a 1-3 mark.

For the second straight year, Sunlake has opened with a 1-3 mark. (File)

Besides Land O’ Lakes, the Seahawks have faced stiff competition out of the gate, losing to Wiregrass Ranch High and to Zephyrhills High, in overtime.

The Seahawks did, however, open the season with a 25-0 road win over Wesley Chapel High — never an easy task.

The second half of the season shouldn’t be quite as daunting. However, it does include a string of three straight road games in October against Cypress Creek, Pasco and Brooksville Central high schools, respectively.

Interestingly, Sunlake also started off 1-3 last season, before rolling to a 4-6 finish — its first losing season since 2009.

Earl Garcia (File)

Major milestone
Former Gaither High/Boca Ciega High and current Hillsborough High head coach Earl Garcia is one win away from tying former Chamberlain High coach Billy Turner as the all-time winningest coach in Tampa Bay history (254).

Garcia, who coached at Gaither from 1987 to 1991, has a career record of 253-103, including nine 10-win seasons.

Garcia was recently inducted into Gaither’s inaugural football Hall of Fame, joining Greg Callahan, Denny Haywood, Kenny Huebner, Terry Jordan, Chad Muilenberg, Cesar Paz, James Puckett and Lydell Ross.

Garcia at Gaither
1987 — Gaither (7-4)
1988 — Gaither (6-4)
1989 — Gaither (4-6)
1990 — Gaither (3-7)
1991 — Gaither (5-5)

Stat Stuffers
—Tony Bartalo, Gaither High, junior quarterback: Most efficient quarterback in the always tough District 8-7A, completing 72.4 percent of his throws for 627 yards and seven touchdowns.

Land O’ Lakes High senior tailback Kyle Leivas (File)

—Desmin Green, Pasco High, junior quarterback: One of the county’s most effective quarterbacks, completing 56 percent of his passes for 602 yards, and nine touchdowns and four interceptions; also has 227 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns

—Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes High, senior tailback: County’s second leading rusher with 613 yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries; in total has 977 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.

—Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek Middle High, junior receiver: County’s second leading receiver with 16 catches for 321 yards and five touchdowns.

Wiregrass Ranch High junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School)

—Logan Kilburn, Steinbrenner High, senior linebacker: Second in the state with 70 total tackles; also has four sacks and eight tackles for loss.

—Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch High, junior linebacker: Tied for state lead with 14 sacks; also has 44 total tackles and 21 tackles for loss.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their current 2018 records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 3-1 overall, 1-1 district

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 1-4 overall, district 0-2

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 1-1 district

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 1-4 overall, 0-2 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 2-0 overall, 2-0 district

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 2-1, 2-0 district

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 2-3 overall, 0-0 district

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 3-1 overall, 1-0 district

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 2-2 overall, 0-0 district

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 1-3 overall, 0-1 district

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 2-0 district

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 1-1 district

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 4-0 overall, 1-0 district

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 2-2 overall, 0-0 district

Published September 26, 2018