Growing up, Victoria Mitchell always knew she wanted to serve her country with a career in the military. She’ll soon get the chance, when she’s officially inducted into the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on June 28. The 17-year-old recent Wesley Chapel High School graduate received her official appointment to the Navy in late March — about 10 months after she verbally … [Read more...]
Local athletes sign with colleges
February 8, 2017 By
The athletic talent pool continues to flourish throughout north Hillsborough, and east and central Pasco. 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 … [Read more...]
Thomas leads makeshift AATL hoops team
December 14, 2016 By
Imani Thomas has had to adapt —and lead — in the face of mass exodus. The Academy at the Lakes senior, like others, wasn’t even sure if the private school would field a basketball team prior to the 2016-2017 season. The program had lost its uber-successful coach — Karim Nohra— who “retired” then wound up at Carrollwood Day School. It lost its most prolific scorer — junior Audra Leipold … [Read more...]
Freedom student is going to West Point
March 9, 2016 By
A Freedom High student recently received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. Dean LaGattuta received word that he’d been accepted into the prestigious service academy on Jan. 20. He accepted the appointment on Jan. 31. Ironically, LaGattuta, 18, was visiting the West Point, New York campus when he received the good news. “It was just complete disbelief. I really … [Read more...]
Anderson lifts Sunlake’s girls weightlifting
January 6, 2016 By
Buoyed by the performance of senior Brianna Anderson, the Sunlake Seahawks girls wrestling team has been on a tear of late. The Seahawks most recently placed first (out of six teams) in the Eastside Girls Weightlifting Tournament at Zephyrhills High School on Dec. 16. Competing in the 183-pound weight class, Anderson recorded a 160-pound bench press, and maxed out a 195-pound clean-and-jerk … [Read more...]
Student is military academy nominee
December 30, 2015 By
Dean LaGattuta’s interest in attending a U.S. Service Academy first piqued when he was an adolescent and he learned his grandfathers, on both sides of his family, served in the Navy. His interest in joining the service deepened through watching programs on the Military Channel and History Channel. “The family legacy and then getting into military history really sparked my interest in serving … [Read more...]
Chamber director ready to move forward
October 21, 2015 By
Ideas come readily to Rod Mayhew; sometimes they can wake him up in the middle of the night. The city of Zephyrhills and its future growth are where his thoughts have been focused, day or night, for the past two weeks. He is the new executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, stepping into the leadership role held by Vonnie Mikkelsen for six years. Mikkelsen … [Read more...]
Petters, Davidson to speak at Saint Leo commencement
April 16, 2014 By
The newest graduates at Saint Leo University will get a sendoff from a native brother and sister duo who have a lot to share about their experiences. C. Michael Petters and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Susan Davidson will deliver the guest commencement address at Saint Leo May 3 for graduate and undergraduate students at the university. Petters, chief executive officer at Huntington Ingalls … [Read more...]
